Chapter 41

In the back courtyard.

Lei Jun lowered his raised hand.

The entire courtyard, and even the Immortal Mountain outside.

All, in a very short time.

According to his thoughts.

Underwent a transformation.

The Immortal Mountain was mainly Stone Steps.

Descending from the Mountain Peak Academy, all the way to the foot of the mountain.

As for the academy itself...

Compared to the previous Small Courtyard.

The current academy.

Not only was it larger, but the various areas were also more distinct.

Before.

All cultivators were completely mixed together.

Without any order.

Now, based on their respective attributes and the Dharma Gates they cultivated, distinctions were made.

Orderly and structured.

For example, those originally belonging to the Innate Three Clans.

Were placed in locations that suited their attributes.

The Dragon Clan.

Such as Zulong, Yinglong, and others.

Naturally, they were in the water.

The Phoenix Clan, then, perched on the branches.

The beasts of the Qilin Clan roamed on the ground.

But it must be said.

No matter how magnificent their true forms were, here they had to restrain themselves.

First, the academy was only this big.

Second.

There was nothing ordinary anywhere in the academy.

Even if they revealed themselves, so what?

No one would be amazed.

In a certain sense, these Spirit Beasts were like...

Pets kept by Lei Jun?

Just as he had previously raised Fierce Beasts.

Large Spirit Roots.

Could be used for viewing the scenery.

Small Spirit Roots.

Could also be used as potted plants.

It could be said.

There was not a single ordinary place in the entire academy.

Any spot.

Possessed power that ordinary people could hardly imagine.

But these.

Were not the most important.

The most important were the academy in the Front Hall.

And the Small Residence in the Back Courtyard.

The former.

Was where Lei Jun imparted the Dao. Any cultivator who passed the trials could come here.

The latter.

This was where he rested.

Let alone the innate gods still on the road, even among the cultivators already in the courtyard.

Few beings could enter it.

As of now.

Only two.

Both had once been connected to Lei Jun.

One was the Laurel Tree, Youying.

Lei Jun had grown accustomed to lying beneath the tree, contemplating principles while gazing upon the Universe of Great Thousand Worlds.

What's more.

She had previously offered suggestions.

But the main reason still lay in her nature.

Just two words.

Non-contention!

She was very tranquil.

Without so many schemes, reverent yet not overly awestruck.

There was a difference between the two.

If the latter was excessive, then communication became dull. The other was Little Fox.

She was the opposite of Youying.

Overly awestruck.

Of course, this was also related to her lowly origins.

It could be said that within the entire Academy.

Her initial origins.

Were the lowest.

But when it came to cultivation, she was the highest beneath Lei Jun!

Even if Zulong underwent transformation.

He was no match for her.

Why?

The reason was simple.

She was the first in the Academy to be reborn, and the only one to cultivate Lei Jun's complete Dharma Gate.

That is, from Qi Refining all the way to the Three Lifetimes Body!

In contrast.

The others only cultivated one aspect among all of Lei Jun's Dao methods.

These Dao methods.

Were merely things Lei Jun did incidentally while cultivating Zuxi.

For example.

Cultivating a wisp of Immortal Spirit Qi.

In fact.

It could also be equated to cultivating the Immortal Dao.

Yin-Yang Qi.

Naturally corresponded to the Dao of Yin-Yang.

This was also why, when Lei Jun broke through realms, there were Strange Phenomena, and why the cultivators sensed opportunities.

It was also the true reason for the Academy's birth.

As for allowing Little Fox to come and go in the Back Courtyard.

What use did it serve?

In truth...

She was also a "steward."

When Lei Jun first resurrected her, he had not been without this intention.

It was just that at the time.

There had been no such need.

And then.

...then no other being could enter the Back Courtyard.

This was completely different from before.

Before.

The Small Courtyard actually had no clear front or back distinction.

Even cultivators near the gate.

Could still sense Lei Jun's Dao Body.

And gain insights from it.

Not anymore.

The Back Courtyard was now sealed by restrictions. No matter how strong one's cultivation, they could only remain in the Front Courtyard.

Although they could no longer directly comprehend the Dao Body, they could still cultivate through books and scrolls.

It was even simpler that way.

Yet many cultivators still felt lost and disappointed.

Because, Compared to being in the Celestial Venerable's presence directly.

This slight difficulty in gaining insights was nothing at all.

If possible.

A small number of beings even wished to return to how things were before.

But they could only dream.

Or...

Strive to earn entry into the Back Courtyard?

But how to achieve that remained a mystery for now.

Among those holding this thought.

Wangshu was one of them.

Yet after a bout of disappointment, she quickly rallied.

"Since I'm not like Sister Youying, it means I haven't been acknowledged yet!"

"I have to keep working harder!"

At the same time.

In the Back Courtyard.

Lei Jun looked at Youying.

And spoke.

"Do you truly need nothing?"

"Anything within my power, I can grant—for instance... allowing Wangshu to return here!"

"I have never been stingy with bestowing opportunities on others; you should be well aware of this."

"Or else..."

"In your view, are there things even I cannot accomplish?"

The Yuegui spirit branch swayed gently.

As if "shaking its head."

Then.

A clear female voice rang out.

"Celestial Venerable, allowing Youying to stay by your side here is already the greatest fortune for me!"

"Youying is merely a tree; I have no needs."

"It is enough to always accompany the Celestial Venerable!"

"As for Wangshu..."

Youying paused, then spoke again.

"Since she is in the Front Courtyard, it means she has not earned the Celestial Venerable's acknowledgment! Even if I helped her come here, it would only solve the surface."

"What difference would being in the Back Courtyard make? If she had the Celestial Venerable's recognition, even in the depths of Chaos, it would surely be the same, wouldn't it?"

"Moreover..."

"No matter the reason, I will revere the Celestial Venerable's will. Even if it means my own Dao's Fall, I will not hesitate for a moment!"

"From now on, the Celestial Venerable's will shall be my every thought and intention!"

Upon hearing this.

Even Lei Jun was slightly moved.

After a moment.

He then smiled.

"It seems..."

"That I made the right choice when I passed the Dao Diagram to you back then."

Lei Jun said.

His gaze pierced through space-time.

Falling upon the group of Innate Gods who had now drawn near the Immortal Mountain.

He spoke unhurriedly.

"All beings of heaven and earth, from the moment they are born from the Origin, must endure all kinds of trials."

"Even the Three Paths of Heaven, Earth, and Man are no exception."

"Let alone the countless multitudes?"

"Youying..."

"Do you think, if they can pass this trial, I would take them as disciples?"

Youying was silent for a moment.

Then she replied.

"Celestial Venerable..."

"You probably just want to test them, don't you?"

"For someone to become your disciple, how could it be that easy? Not to mention one trial—even ten, a hundred, would not be too many!"

"Hahaha~"

Lei Jun laughed heartily and shook his head.

"The trial is not about quantity, but whether it suits my intent."

"If I am satisfied, why would I need so many trials?"

"One is enough!"

Hearing this, Youying was taken aback.

Then she said.

"So, Celestial Venerable, this time you will take one of them as a disciple?"

"Youying, you are mistaken again!"

Lei Jun stopped being cryptic.

"I do have the intention of taking a disciple, but it has nothing to do with them, nor with the trial of the Stone Steps."

Saying this.

Lei Jun changed the subject.

And said directly.

"Youying..."

"Would you be willing to become my first disciple?"

Instantly.

Youying was stunned.

Become the Celestial Venerable's disciple?

She had not considered this possibility earlier—not because she hadn't thought of it, but because she dared not.

To be honest.

A long time ago, so long ago that she had not yet taken form.

She and Wangshu had once wondered.

Whether receiving the Dao Diagram passed down by Lei Jun counted as being his disciple.

In the end, they quickly reached a conclusion.

It did not count.

Not even as a Disciple-in-Name!

But this did not mean Youying was unwilling to become Lei Jun's disciple.

On the contrary.

She yearned for it so much that she dared not even think about it.

What is a stroke of fortune?

This is it!

In comparison, what was the Academy worth?

It was merely something Lei Jun had created.

Thus.

After snapping back to her senses, Youying reacted quickly.

She hurriedly called out.

"I am willing!"

In her urgency, even her self-reference changed.

This showed just how excited she truly was.

To this.

Lei Jun merely smiled faintly.

And spoke again.

At the same time.

He sent out a thread of opportunity, letting it sink into the branches of the Yuegui.

"Since that is so."

"Then you shall cultivate My Dao..."

"The Dao of Lianxi!"

"This realm can have but a single stage, or it can have countless stages—it all depends on your comprehension. Every cultivator's method of training is different."

"You need only remember: this Dao is the true path of cultivation!"

"All others, no matter how strong, are nothing but delusion!"

At these words.

Youying's heart shook violently.

What did it mean that only this Dao was real, and everything else was false?

What about those who cultivated Karma, Fate, Time, Space, and other Daos?

Were they not valid either?

For a moment.

Youying did not understand.

But it didn't matter.

Trusting what Lei Jun said was enough.

Nothing else was important.

"Youying... this disciple will keep it firmly in mind!"

Lei Jun nodded.

He said nothing more.

A trace of emotion flickered in his expression.

Up to this day.

He had to admit, it was somewhat slow.

In comparison.

If it were anyone else, they would have taken on countless disciples by now.

But Lei Jun had only accepted his first.

Still, it had to be said.

Lei Jun's pickiness was different from Yuanshi's.

Yuanshi valued talent.

Those without enough talent.

Could hardly enter his tutelage.

Lei Jun was different.

He valued temperament more.

Those whose temperament did not match, no matter how talented, he would not accept as disciples.

In fact.

Youying's nature was indeed quite suited to cultivating Lei Jun's Dao.

After all.

Many cultivators also possessed a heart of detachment.

This was very helpful for cultivation.

Thus.

Lei Jun was not worried about whether Youying could comprehend his Dao methods.

As for why take disciples...

Beyond transmitting the Dao.

It would also be more convenient if something came up later.

For instance...

Managing the Primordial Wilderness?

Lei Jun's gaze could not remain fixed on the Primordial Wilderness forever.

After realizing.

That beyond the Primordial Wilderness lay an infinitely vast world, and even many other Primordial Wildernesses.

Lei Jun had conceived the idea of cultivating managers.

At first.

The manager he had in mind was Hongjun.

But that fellow.

Would later merge with the Heavenly Dao, making him unable to serve as the conveyer of Lei Jun's will.

Therefore.

He had to find another candidate.

Clearly.

His own personal disciple was a fine choice.

With this thought.

Lei Jun had long harbored the intention of taking disciples.

Only back then.

He had planned to accept Youying merely as a Disciple-in-Name.

Along with.

The Fusang Tree, still on the Solar Star, which was just short of being able to take form.

Unexpectedly.

Now the plan had changed, and Youying had gone from Disciple-in-Name to personal disciple!

The Dao methods she cultivated.

Were also the true Dao methods that Lei Jun himself practiced.

As for the others.

They all had something held back, more or less.

For example, the Little Fox...

In reality.

She only cultivated the path of Qi Refining.

"Primordial Qi" and "Qi"—a single character's difference, yet a chasm between heaven and earth.

Perhaps it wouldn't show at first.

There might even be no difference in strength.

But one could lead to the ultimate, to the supreme, to the other shore.

While the other could only...

Spin in place.

Seeming to grow ever stronger, yet never able to undergo a qualitative change.

That is, transcendence!

In other words.

Until now, no being in the Primordial Wilderness had truly cultivated Lei Jun's Dao methods.

The rest.

Were merely fragments.

Incomplete.

As for whether other beings would come to be like Youying...

That depends on their fortune.

He thought.

Lei Jun once again cast his gaze beyond the Immortal Mountain.

To be precise, it was the area near the Immortal Mountain.

At this moment, a few more cultivators who had sensed the opportunity and fate appeared near the Immortal Mountain, following after Tongtian.

Although these cultivators were all quite different, without exception, they were all Innate Gods, and renowned ones at that.

These cultivators—

those with high cultivation were in no way inferior to Tongtian.

They too were at the peak of Da Luo.

But they were not the Tongtian who had obtained the opportunity from the Sword Grass.

The current Tongtian

was on the verge of a breakthrough.

Yet even if he had not broken through, he could not be compared to an ordinary peak Da Luo.

And besides the peak Da Luo, there were also early Da Luo.

Of course, whether early or peak, it made little difference to Lei Jun.

The same went for the Immortal Mountain and the Sword Grass.

There was no helping it.

A mere Da Luo realm was just that weak.

After all, this was not the Mythical Da Luo.

"Even I am not that."

"At present, I have only taken a single step on the path toward Mythical."

"I am still far from truly becoming Mythical."

Lei Jun thought to himself.

If even he was like this, others were even less capable.

They could not even recognize this fact.

But then again, if they could recognize it, they would not have come here.