Jia Nan Academy

"Oh? People from Jia Nan Academy?"

After the ceremony, Yun Zimo had been managing everything in the sect, bored out of his mind. He hadn't expected a visitor to arrive after barely more than a month.

When he heard that the visitor was an elder from Jia Nan Academy, whose reputation had been rising across the Northwest Continent, he gave it a little thought and decided to meet him.

Though he didn't know how an academy devoted to educating people and a sect devoted to secluded cultivation, free from worldly struggles, had come to have dealings with each other, he wouldn't neglect the courtesies owed to a guest.

"Hall Master Yun, a pleasure to meet you."

The white-bearded elder wore a simple, long robe, with nothing but a Jia Nan Academy badge pinned to his chest. When he saw Yun Zimo appear, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He rose and greeted him warmly with cupped hands.

"I'm afraid our hospitality has been lacking. Please forgive us, Elder Lin."

On his way over, Yun Zimo had already learned that this was Elder Lin of Jia Nan Academy.

"I never would have expected that at such a young age, Hall Master Yun would already be a Dou Wang expert, and would manage such a vast sect so efficiently."

"Not at all. The elders and disciples each handle their own duties. I just sit back and let them do all the work."

The two seemed to get along quite well. After roughly the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Elder Lin finally revealed why he had come.

"Exchange students?"

Yun Zimo murmured under his breath. He glanced at Elder Lin's smiling face, bewilderment and hesitation stirring in his heart.

He knew that some academies on the continent had exchange student programs, but they had always involved students from one academy visiting another. How could the Misty Cloud Sect, a sect that had kept itself apart from the world, possibly...

"Elder Lin, forgive me for speaking plainly, but aren't these exchanges usually between academies? Why this year...?"

After pondering it without finding an answer, Yun Zimo voiced his doubts.

"The Misty Cloud Sect of the past naturally wouldn't have been qualified."

There was a hint of disdain in Elder Lin's words, yet strangely, not a trace of hostility.

"You..."

Yun Zimo stopped the Misty Cloud Sect elder behind him from losing his temper. He wanted to hear what this so-called qualification was.

"Hall Master Yun, what do you think an academy's purpose is?"

Elder Lin posed a question that seemed to have no difficult answer.

"To educate people without discrimination, give those with talent but no opportunity a chance, and brighten the path ahead for those with a promising future?"

Yun Zimo thought for a moment before replying.

Satisfaction showed in Elder Lin's eyes. He nodded, then shook his head.

"The doctrine of the mean. That is the essence of an academy's education: to guide students in freely and harmoniously developing their potential, so they can pursue a wider, brighter world. To accord with the laws of heaven and earth without falling into disorder, and to understand reason without taking things to extremes—that is the original purpose of an academy."

"All we do is guide each generation of students toward the choice that best suits them."

Yun Zimo seemed to understand, but still asked, "So this so-called qualification is about how a sect teaches its disciples?"

"Yes and no."

Elder Lin chuckled.

"What makes a power qualified is whether it takes the doctrine of the mean as its guiding principle, and whether it respects the natural order in how it treats people and conducts its affairs."

"There are countless powerful factions on the continent, but very few follow the doctrine of the mean."

"The Misty Cloud Sect may be only a minor power, but unexpectedly, it showed us the possibility of putting the doctrine of the mean into practice. A year ago—just as your name began to spread—the academy elders discussed the matter and decided to provisionally list the Misty Cloud Sect among the academy's affiliated powers and include it in the exchange student program."

Yun Zimo pondered. The academies on the Dou Qi Continent truly were different from the schools in his previous life. From what Elder Lin said, an academy was merely a form or title; even certain sects and empires could become "academies."

When Yun Zimo nodded, Elder Lin finally took out a document edged in gold. It was an exchange letter personally signed by Su Qian, the grand elder of Jia Nan Academy. The seal of the Inner Academy's dean was stamped upon it, and the unique aura of a Dou Zun expert lingered around it.

"The academy has set aside ten places: six for the Outer Academy and four for the Inner Academy. Those below Da Dou Shi can study at the Outer Academy, while those below Dou Wang can accompany me to study at the Inner Academy for a year."

Elder Lin explained the places allocated by the academy.

"But we also hope Hall Master Yun will visit the academy for a while. Quite a few old fellows there are intensely curious about a twenty-year-old Dou Wang like you!"

"That's all. I've delivered the message. Once this year's recruitment is over, you can return to the academy with the students."

"Oh? Jia Nan Academy is recruiting now, too?"

Elder Lin paused mid-step. Did Yun Zimo mean to send someone to take the entrance exam for Jia Nan Academy?

"This jade slip shows the recruitment teams' route. Starting tomorrow, ten teams will set out from the Jia Ma Imperial Capital, each heading to one of the ten cities with the largest surrounding populations to recruit students."

He gently set a jade slip on the table, then rose, bowed, and took his leave.

"Even an ordinary elder is a Dou Wang. Jia Nan Academy truly is the foremost academy in the Northwest Continent!"

After Elder Lin had left, Yan Shi sighed with envy.

"How come you never joined an academy to study?"

Yun Zimo toyed with the jade slip, asking with some curiosity.

"I wasn't talented enough, and I was too old."

Yan Shi spoke of his embarrassing past without a care.

"Besides, the people at the recruitment office were all so arrogant that year. I couldn't stand it, so I beat up a student from Jia Nan Academy. After that, I never took part in recruitment for any faction again."

Yun Zimo laughed in spite of himself. He hadn't expected the seemingly honest fellow to have such a spirited tale of settling scores in his past.

He patted Yan Shi on the shoulder. After some thought, Yun Zimo decided to report this to Yun Shan first, then gather the elders to discuss it.

"An invitation from Jia Nan Academy?"

Yun Shan looked over the exchange letter. His deep gaze swept across the dean's seal, confirming that Elder Lin really was from Jia Nan Academy.

"You're the acting sect master. You can decide everything yourself. Let the elders discuss how to distribute the places, then announce the decision to all the disciples."

"Remember, don't let those little brats go out and disgrace the sect."

Yun Shan gave him a pointed reminder. He knew all too well what schemes were turning over in the minds of those old fellows led by Yun Leng...

In the council hall, Yun Zimo looked at the elders seated uneasily on either side below him and couldn't help smiling.

"Why are you all so stiff today, elders? Speak freely. Think carefully about how we should distribute these exchange student places."

"Grand Elder, you start us off!"

When no one spoke, Yun Zimo called on Yun Leng by name.

Grand Elder Yun Leng, who had spent the past year under Yun Zimo's watchful eye, only wanted to keep his head down and stay quiet. But since Yun Zimo had called on him, he had no choice but to steel himself and speak.

"I believe the disciples who enter Jia Nan Academy should be the sect's best in both talent and character. There's no need to set strict requirements for their strength; after all, they'll be representing the sect."

Seeing no change in Yun Zimo's expression, Yun Leng exchanged a furtive glance with the other elders. None of them could tell what Yun Zimo was thinking.

"Open the airspace to the disciples and let them ride flying beasts down the mountain."

Yun Zimo suddenly spoke, then looked at the grand elder with approval.

"The grand elder is right. Character is what matters most."

"Have the elders lead them on a training trip, without revealing its purpose. We can use it to assess the results of this past year."

Many of the elders' hearts sank. Yun Zimo didn't want those pampered young masters going out and embarrassing themselves. This would weed out at least a large number of scions from powerful families.

The Misty Cloud Sect had always been lenient. As long as no one made a serious mistake, the Punishment Hall wouldn't make too much trouble for them. But this time, they would be representing the sect, so naturally...

"A month from now, I'll personally escort these disciples to Jia Nan Academy."