Education for All—Why Set a Threshold?

Xuanjizi stepped onto the path through the Purple Bamboo Forest on the outskirts of Myriad Dao Academy. Filled with reverence and anticipation, he walked inward step by step.

Other beings who shared his thoughts—or who had come out of curiosity, to probe and test, or even with other motives—also arrived from all corners of the Primordial Era.

Like iron filings drawn by an invisible magnet, they gradually gathered outside this newly born Pure Land of Literary Radiance.

In but a short time, the jade-white beach beyond the academy, as well as the edge of the swaying Purple Bamboo Forest, had become crowded with all manner of figures.

There were Lesser Demons who had hurried over on demon winds, still carrying the Sha Qi of the wilderness; early Primordial Era beings dressed plainly, their eyes filled with bewilderment and longing;

Rogue Cultivators like Xuanjizi, their Daoist robes worn and their auras unremarkable;

There were even spirits awakened from spiritual plants and vegetation, timidly hiding in corners as they observed this unfamiliar land.

All Beings came in every form, their cultivation levels uneven—from Earth Immortals who had barely assumed human form to Golden Immortals like Xuanjizi. Yet without exception, all were awed by the vast Literary Qi and tranquil Dao resonance that enveloped the continent.

None dared venture deeper. They gathered here, whispering among themselves as discussion buzzed all around.

Their gazes were all helplessly drawn toward the depths of the Purple Bamboo Forest, as they guessed at the requirements for entering the academy and hearing a Sage expound the Dao.

"Sage Wanhua said, 'Education for All.' Surely he would not deceive us, would he?" a Lesser Demon with antlers asked his companion in a low voice, his tone filled with hope and uncertainty.

"Hmph, when has the Primordial Era ever offered such a good thing? I fear that after this 'for all' come further harsh conditions."

A gray-robed Rogue Cultivator with a sinister face sneered. He had once listened to teachings under a Great Power in the west and knew well how difficult it was to transmit the Dharma.

"Our origins are lowly and our cultivation shallow. I wonder whether the Sage will look down on us..."

A Spirit Race being clad in coarse hemp muttered to himself. His tribe had accidentally heard that a Sage was preaching the Dao here, and had crossed countless miles to reach this place.

Xuanjizi silently listened to the discussions around him, his heart equally unsettled. Hope stood right before him, but just how was that door to be opened?

Just as All Beings speculated and waited in anxious torment, the soaring Literary Radiance blanketing the academy suddenly rippled faintly.

A calm yet incomparably clear voice swept through the minds of all those gathered like a spring breeze. It carried not the slightest pressure, yet instantly stilled every stray sound:

"I have founded Myriad Dao Academy. Education for All—any being of the Primordial Era may come to attend lectures and comprehend the methods of the Confucian Dao."

It was Sage Wanhua's voice! Every being was instantly invigorated, holding their breath and focusing their minds, terrified of missing even a single word.

The voice continued, "Yet though the Great Dao is broad, only those sincere of heart and steadfast of will can bear it. To enter my academy and hear the Great Dao, you must pass the three trials of Clear Heart, See Nature."

"The three trials of Clear Heart, See Nature?" All Beings exchanged looks, not knowing what kind of tests these were.

"These three trials do not test your origins or cultivation, nor do they compare divine abilities or magical power."

Wanhua's voice carried a power that saw into people's hearts. "The first trial is before the Dao Seeking Stele outside the Purple Bamboo Forest.

"Observe the principles within the stele. If you can stir the clear radiance of its inscriptions and illuminate a thread of your own Original Heart, it proves that your heart sincerely seeks the Dao, and you may enter the forest."

"The second trial is to ascend the Willpower Forging Steps. The staircase itself bears pressure, testing the firmness of your will. Those who can climb step by step to the summit without their resolve wavering will show the determination of their Dao-seeking."

"The third trial is to enter the Heart Cleansing Pool. Its waters reflect and cleanse away worldly thoughts. If you can perceive your own 'true nature' within the pool, "and understand the direction of your own Dao path, then even if it is only the faintest glimmer of light, you will be deemed to have passed. You may enter the Outer Academy as a Registered Disciple and hear me expound the Dao."

The voice paused, carrying an indisputable majesty. "Only by passing all three trials may you reveal your character and earn the qualifications to receive my Confucian Dao teachings.

"If you fail the three trials, or harbor crooked intentions and hidden malice, yet force your way through—

"You will surely suffer backlash. At best, your soul will be damaged; at worst, your Dao Foundation will collapse, and your soul will scatter. Be cautious. Take heed!"

With that, the voice slowly faded away. Yet the rules of the three trials of "Clear Heart, See Nature" were branded into the hearts of every being seeking admission.

No test of origins! No test of cultivation! Only one's character, will, and Original Heart mattered!

This stirred even greater waves among All Beings!

Those of noble origins and considerable cultivation—such as Dragon Race scouts who had concealed their auras to investigate, or disciples of Great Powers—could not help feeling disappointed and resentful.

They were accustomed to judging status by strength and bloodline. Yet now they had to stand at the same starting line as the "ants" in their eyes, to undergo this so-called test of "character"?

Meanwhile, beings of humble origins and weak cultivation—Xuanjizi, the young Spirit Race man, the plant spirits, and the like—erupted into uncontrollable ecstasy after a brief moment of shock!

"It... it does not look at one's birth? It only looks at one's character?" The young Spirit Race man trembled all over with excitement. For the Spirit Race, who stood almost at the bottom of the Primordial Era, this was simply heavenly music!

"Wonderful! We have hope too!" The antlered Lesser Demon leaped and cheered.

Xuanjizi's tightly clenched fists slowly loosened, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

He knew that both his origins and cultivation were ordinary. But when it came to a heart that sought the Dao and a will of resilience, he had endured countless hardships without changing his resolve. Perhaps... he truly had a chance!

Before long, at the edge of the Purple Bamboo Forest, an ancient azure stele about three zhang tall and one zhang wide silently emerged. Its surface was smooth as a mirror, with no actual writing upon it.

There were only countless blurred Dao patterns flowing like ripples across water, radiating a hazy clear glow. This was the Dao Seeking Stele.

A hot-tempered tiger demon, trusting in his brute strength, was the first to walk before the stele. He widened his eyes and stared at its inscriptions, trying to discern something.

Yet no matter how he focused his spirit, the inscriptions remained blurred and utterly unresponsive, while the stele's clear radiance stayed dim.

He let out an impatient growl, and the demon power within him surged unconsciously as he attempted to force a connection.

The instant his demon power touched the stele, the Dao Seeking Stele shuddered violently. A gentle yet irresistible force rebounded outward.

It sent the tiger demon flying straight back. He crashed onto the beach, uninjured but dizzy and disoriented, unable to rise for a long while.

"An insincere heart and scattered intent will only bring trouble upon oneself." A cold voice came from nowhere, sending a chill through the hearts of the other restless beings.

Then another youth stepped forward, one born from a small tribe of innate Gods and Devils, with a trace of pride in his bloodline.

He walked up to the stele, yet all he thought about was how to pass as quickly as possible so he could return and boast to his clansmen. As a result, the Dao Seeking Stele remained utterly unresponsive.

Failures appeared one after another. Some had too many distracting thoughts; some came with the intent to steal teachings or cause destruction.

Others had merely come out of curiosity to join the spectacle... As they stood before the stele, its flowing Dao patterns were like stagnant water, without the slightest gleam of light.

All Beings gradually came to understand that this "Dao Seeking Stele" was truly wondrous. It could reflect the living beings standing before it.

The truest thought buried in the depths of their hearts—whether they truly possessed a pure longing and reverence for the "Dao."

It was Xuanjizi's turn. He took a deep breath and emptied his mind of every stray thought. He no longer thought of breaking through his bottleneck, no longer thought of enemies hunting him down, no longer envied the innate foundations of others.

He simply recalled the curiosity and desire to explore this vast world when he had first taken form;

He recalled that trace of persistence that had refused to let go even after countless failures; recalled the spark of hope that had ignited in his heart upon hearing the words "Education for All."

He walked before the stele, his gaze clear and focused. He no longer tried to "interpret" those Dao patterns, but instead used a pure intention to "feel" them, to "resonate" with them.

Gradually, in his eyes, the originally blurred, shifting Dao patterns seemed to come alive. They were no longer cold lines, but transformed into the paths of the wind.

The changing clouds, the growth of grass and trees, the revolutions of the river of stars... They expounded the simplest, yet also the most profound, principles of the world.

"Buzz—"

A faint tremor rang out. Amid the astonished gazes of All Beings, the ever-silent "Dao Seeking Stele" finally reacted!

A layer of warm, jade-like radiance spread from the stele, rippling outward like water and enveloping Xuanjizi within.

The radiance was not dazzling, yet it seemed able to shine straight through the soul. In that instant, Xuanjizi felt his mind become incomparably clear.

The confusion and fear of the past seemed to have been washed away by that radiance, leaving only an even firmer longing for the road ahead.

The Dao Seeking Stele's clear light shone forth, revealing his true heart! Xuanjizi had passed the first trial!

He successfully took his first step, entering the rustling Purple Bamboo Forest. His figure vanished into its depths, leaving All Beings behind with a back filled with hope and envy.

With Xuanjizi's success, some of the living beings behind him seemed to have found the trick.

That young man of the Spirit Race, carrying the pure wish that his people would no longer eat raw meat and drink blood, but would come to understand reason and righteousness, also successfully stirred the stele's radiance.

An Ancient Vine Spirit that had cultivated for a thousand years, bearing gratitude toward sunlight and rain, toward the creations of heaven and earth, along with a heart eager to explore them, also made the radiance light up...

Of course, there were still many failures.

That Dragon Race scout who had concealed his aura carried the Dragon Palace's mission and hostility toward the academy within his heart. No matter how he disguised himself, the Dao Seeking Stele remained cold toward him.

The beach and the edge of the Purple Bamboo Forest had become like a mirror reflecting the hearts of All Beings.

Those who succeeded entered the next trial full of hope. Those who failed either left dejectedly or lingered outside with unwilling hearts, trying to find another path.

The three trials of "Clear Heart, See Nature," especially this first trial, the "Dao Seeking Stele," were like the fairest of filters.

They had begun selecting, for Myriad Dao Academy, the first group of Dao seekers who truly embodied the core spirit of "Education for All."

It proclaimed to the entire Primordial Era: Enter this gate, and neither birth nor cultivation shall be judged—only this shall be asked: does your heart face the Great Dao?

And Xuanjizi and the others who had passed the first trial now stood before the winding, ascending Willpower Forging Steps, awaiting the test of their will.

The academy gates seemed within arm's reach, yet also as though separated by a thousand mountains and rivers. The true tempering had only just begun.