Hall of Inquiry

Hall of Inquiry

Seeing him say this, Cheng Zitong offered a reminder. "You'd better think this through. There's a certain amount of risk involved. If you fail, you'll be demoted back to a Class B Student, and everything you've fought for so far will be lost."

Chen Chuan said, "Teacher Cheng, there are bound to be gains and losses on the path of a Fighter. But what I've already learned won't be lost, and I have confidence in myself."

Cheng Zitong said, "Good. No matter what happens in the future, you are now my student—my only student. Since you've made this decision, I'll do everything I can to provide whatever help a teacher can provide."

Chen Chuan said sincerely, "Thank you, Teacher!"

Cheng Zitong said, "In that case, let's study this and resolve things one by one.

This examination does not include third-year students. It is only for first- and second-year students. Still, I believe there are very few first-years with your level of ability, so your main competitors will be second-year students.

There are six months from registration until the examination. Registration remains open until the end of the year, which means that over the next three months, you must complete at least three major assigned missions and receive evaluations of excellent or above before you qualify to register. I'll find a way to handle that for you. Your teacher still has a bit of influence.

But another requirement for registration is mastering force. There's no need to say more about that. If your Mutated Tissue keeps growing like this, it will threaten your life within three months. We must find a way to restrain it."

Chen Chuan thought, Yes. This was the most critical matter before him, and the premise for everything else. If he couldn't master it, nothing else mattered.

Looking at Chen Chuan, Cheng Zitong continued, "Now that you have the determination, it's time to act. The next priority is teaching you how to master force. Go change into your Cultivation Suit and come with me somewhere."

Chen Chuan said, "All right. Please wait a moment, Teacher."

He rose and returned to the bedroom. After thinking for a moment, he changed into that set of Azure Training Suit and tied that touch of azure cloth around his forehead as well.

When he came out, Cheng Zitong nodded unconsciously. This student had been good-looking to begin with, and now, dressed like this, he looked like a jade tree—handsome, elegant, and refined. Walking outside with him would make this teacher look good too.

He waved a hand. "Let's go."

He led Chen Chuan downstairs. After leaving the building, they walked to a white Perry Sedan. Cheng Zitong opened the door and motioned for Chen Chuan to get in, then took the driver's seat.

Once both had fastened their seat belts and settled in, Cheng Zitong started the sedan and drove east toward Wu Yi Academy.

About ten minutes later, the surrounding buildings gradually disappeared, and two small mountains three to four hundred meters high came into view ahead.

The Wuyi Academy campus covered a vast area and contained three small mountains. These two were called North Peak South Hill, located respectively to the north and south.

The sedan drove all the way to the foot of the mountain, then continued upward along the ring road. Before long, it arrived before a building at the summit. The building had an ancient style, with upturned eaves, white walls, and dark tiles. The plaza before it was paved with bluish bricks, and several tall, straight pines and cypresses had been planted on either side.

After the sedan came to a stop, the two got out. Standing there, Chen Chuan could clearly see the winding mountain stream on North Peak opposite him, as well as a large expanse of manor-like garden villas. That was where the recommended students lived.

Whether Class A Students or Class B Students, they normally had no dealings with those people and never saw them. Though they attended the same academy, they seemed like people from two different worlds.

Cheng Zitong walked up, greeted the security guard at the entrance, and called for Chen Chuan to follow him inside. They passed through the front courtyard, crossed a martial arts ground paved with square bricks, and arrived before the Main Building at the very back.

It was clear that the place had been built entirely with modern construction materials, merely adopting an imitation ancient style. Academy security personnel also patrolled back and forth nearby.

Cheng Zitong climbed the steps and came before two solid doors. He took out a key and inserted it. After unlocking the door, he pushed with one hand, and the two heavy doors slid inward. Turning back, he called, "Change your shoes before coming in."

Chen Chuan walked over and changed into a pair of thousand-layer-soled cloth shoes at the entrance. After entering and passing through the foyer, he found himself in a spacious training hall. The floor was polished bright enough to reflect people. Above the lower wall hung a plaque bearing the three words "Hall of Inquiry." Along both walls stood rows of old bookshelves, piled with bundles of old-fashioned bamboo slips that could no longer be seen anywhere today.

Once Chen Chuan came over, Cheng Zitong said, "Stand still."

Chen Chuan did as instructed.

Cheng Zitong walked behind him and used some technique to strike his back. "Do you feel any stabbing pain, numb soreness, or swelling?"

Chen Chuan answered, "No."

Cheng Zitong looked somewhat more relaxed. "You haven't developed any of the symptoms I mentioned before, which means you're adapting fairly well to the Breath Regulation Method, and the Mutated Tissue has not yet encroached upon your body. But as long as it keeps growing, that will happen sooner or later. The Breathing Method from before only laid a foundation for you. What comes next is the real beginning. Wait here first."

Chen Chuan answered yes.

Cheng Zitong walked through a side door nearby. After a while, he emerged wearing a dark brown Cultivation Suit. Though his face was round, the outfit gave him a rather different bearing.

He walked to the center of the hall and sat cross-legged on a cushion. "Sit."

Chen Chuan found a cushion opposite him and sat cross-legged as Cheng Zitong had. At that moment, he caught a trace of fragrance. Following it with his eyes, he saw that an Incense Burner had somehow been lit nearby. The scent was extremely pleasant, calming both mind and spirit. He could not help thinking, Teacher, you really have a sense of ceremony.

Cheng Zitong pointed upward behind him. "Do you know why this place is called the Hall of Inquiry? Because learning has no end, and one must maintain a reverent and cautious heart. A student may have faults, but a master may not be without faults either. One must constantly reflect on oneself. That is why Fighters of the past held exchanges between master and disciple beneath this plaque, questioning each other's shortcomings."

Chen Chuan nodded. He had noticed it too. Though this teacher spoke and acted casually, as if he cared nothing for those old rules, the Old Era had left deep marks in his bones.

Cheng Zitong said, "So we teachers and students won't do that one-man-rule nonsense. If you make a mistake, I'll definitely point it out. But if I make a mistake, if what I say is wrong, then you can point out anything you think is wrong as well. That would be good for your teacher too, understand?"

Chen Chuan shook his head. "No. Teacher Cheng is very good."

Cheng Zitong gave an exasperated sigh. "Don't say that. People always make mistakes. If I do something wrong, you must bring it up. You must."

After explaining that, he composed himself and said, "Starting today, I will guide you in the cultivation of force. Before I teach you, I first need to explain what force is.

You already understand that force is activated through Mutated Tissue. This is the first stage in which a Fighter actively guides and uses Mutated Tissue. From its beginning until it is restrained, this entire process is now called the 'First Limit.' In the Old Era, this step was called 'Nurturing True Seed.'

Of course, certain Old Era religious sects with unclear understandings called it 'Nurturing Demon Embryo.' Regardless of what it was called, this stage has been regarded as extremely important since the Old Era. It is the true beginning of using Mutated Tissue, and the real foundation supporting your path toward higher-level fighting arts. Hmm, is there anything you want to ask?"

After thinking for a moment, Chen Chuan said, "Teacher, I was wondering—today, we can use surgery and medicine to stimulate or suppress Mutated Tissue. How did the Old Era solve this problem?"

Cheng Zitong said, "Let me put it this way. Based on surviving records, cases of Mutated Tissue growing continuously without interruption were actually uncommon in the past. Most grew for a while, then stopped for a while. Situations like those today only began to gradually increase after the Algae Liquid Revolution.

As for the reason, some believe it was caused by the frequent use of various medicines and biotechnology after the Algae Liquid Revolution. Others believe it is simply because there are now more channels for exchanging information, so naturally more such cases are recognized. Still others believe it is merely because more people practice fighting arts. Each of these explanations makes some sense.

But you should know that before the advent of firearms, conflict was frequent in the Old Era. Whether in the military or among civilians, skilled martial fighters took part in it. The better their skills, the faster they died. So there were not many who actually lived out their natural lifespan. Some died before they even had the chance to develop problems.

There was another factor. In the Old Era, whether the imperial center or civilian martial arts masters, all had long-established and effective methods. They would seek successors suited to their fighting arts. Those who adapted would remain, while those who did not were weeded out early on. Or special methods would be used to cut off their path in martial arts, thereby indirectly preventing such things."

Chen Chuan nodded. "Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Teacher."

Cheng Zitong asked, "Is there anything else you want to ask?"

Chen Chuan looked at him, rose from the ground, and said earnestly, "This student understands. I ask that Teacher impart the methods of force to this student." As he spoke, he clasped his fists and bowed forward.