Literary Qi Enters Sea of Consciousness

"Then there had to be a time limit, Dad?!"

Zeng Anmin shouted at his father's retreating back.

Cultivating the Confucian Path did not conflict with Zeng Anmin's plans in the first place, and he did not resist it.

But if he was not given silver... what fun was there in cultivation?!

His father paused slightly. After pondering for a moment, he gave Zeng Anmin his answer.

"Once you Open Purple Mansion, you may return."

At that time, Emperor Jianhong was still in Two Rivers Prefecture, and the mastermind behind the stolen Dragon Survey Map had yet to be caught.

Zeng Shilin did not want his son dragged into this.

Fine, then I could come back tonight...

Naturally, Zeng Anmin would never say that aloud.

Even if he did, it would have to wait until he had thoroughly uncovered the secret behind the Dragon Survey Map.

"Then I'll try to be quick." A relaxed smile appeared on Zeng Anmin's face.

His father did not stop. A faint trace of amusement merely surfaced on his face.

Quick?

How quick could he possibly be?

He, Zeng Shilin, had begun cultivating the Confucian Path at sixteen, and it had still taken him three full years to Open Purple Mansion.

And that had already counted as heaven-bestowed talent.

"Young Master, let's go. The carriage is outside the residence."

A foolishly honest voice rang out.

Zeng Anmin saw a brown bear... a man who looked remarkably like a brown bear walk in.

Qi Dachun.

Uncle Qi's son.

The man stood nine chi tall, broad-backed and thick-waisted. When he walked, he resembled an enormous door plank.

It was just that those eyes of his looked... a little too wise.

Shuidu Academy.

It stood south of Liangjiang Prefecture City.

With Peak Mountain at its back and Green River at its side.

Clear mountains and fair waters—a true paradise beyond the mortal world.

When Zeng Anmin saw the scenery surrounding Shuidu Academy, even his soul seemed cleansed by nature's splendid beauty.

Autumn had already arrived. The mountains were cool, and red maples blanketed the hills.

In his previous life, Zeng Anmin had lived in a modern city filled with industry. He had rarely seen such magnificent natural scenery, and for a moment, he sighed with feeling.

"Stop the carriage to... cough, cough. Frost-touched leaves are redder than flowers in the second month. Fine mountains, fine scenery."

"Hehe, it really is pretty."

Qi Dachun's simple, foolish laugh sounded.

Zeng Anmin turned to look.

Dachun currently carried bedding and daily necessities for two people, two large trunks, and four or five bundles on his back...

Even as a ranked Body Cultivator, he could not help panting for breath.

"Dachun, why are you picking up so many stones?"

Zeng Anmin stared at Dachun's hands.

Despite carrying so much, he was still clutching quite a few oddly shaped stones.

Dachun licked his thick lips.

"Ever since I was little, whenever I went out, I wanted to bring something back. It's a habit."

Zeng Anmin's mouth twitched. "No picking up lost property, right?"

"Ah?"

Dachun looked utterly bewildered.

"What... wet aunt?"

"If I don't pick something up off the road, I'll feel regretful."

Zeng Anmin explained it to Dachun.

Within a small courtyard of Shuidu Academy.

An old man was fishing. He held a Yellow Bamboo Fishing Rod in his hand, his face serene and content.

The old man had white hair and a youthful complexion, and was somewhat lean. Most striking of all were the eyes on his face, brimming with wisdom.

It was as though one need only meet his gaze to sense the mysteries of Confucian learning.

He was none other than Qin Shouchang, Dean of Shuidu Academy.

"Dean, Governor Zeng's only son has enrolled." The elderly steward reported respectfully.

"Mm."

Qin Shouchang nodded absentmindedly.

"Aren't you going to take a look?" The steward hesitated before asking.

After all, he was the Governor's son. Regardless of learning, even his status alone deserved some show of respect.

Qin Shouchang shot him a glance and sneered.

"As the son of a Great Scholar, he has spent sixteen years without gaining even the slightest reputation for talent. Do you think he could be a talent of our Confucian Path?"

"Say no more. I won't see him. I won't see him."

If word got out, would outsiders not laugh at me, Qin Shouchang, for currying favor with power?

Shuidu Academy was opening a new term.

Yet this time, it had not recruited many students.

Including Zeng Anmin, there were only a dozen or so new students.

Not every Confucian scholar was qualified to attend Shuidu Academy. One needed a recommendation.

The students who came to Shuidu Academy all shared one trait: they were relentless grinders.

During the first lesson of the term, no one drifted off in class. Every student listened to the instructor's lecture with complete concentration.

"On the Confucian Path, accumulation is paramount. Focus on comprehending the artistic conception within books. Those with awakened insight need only one year to comprehend Literary Qi."

"Only after comprehending a wisp of Literary Qi does one reach the first realm of the Confucian Path, known as the Body Cultivation Realm."

"The foundation of Literary Qi is the body's vital essence. Thus, one may only cultivate after reaching sixteen, when vital essence is abundant. Otherwise, at best one's lifespan will be reduced; at worst, one will die young."

The instructor appeared to be around forty.

He wore a Confucian robe, his expression solemn and his gaze placid.

Then he gently waved a hand.

A faint milky-white glow flickered from between his fingers.

"Ah..."

All the students, Zeng Anmin included, stared in shock at the white glow.

Anyone would be astonished upon witnessing such a supernatural phenomenon for the first time.

The instructor was already used to such reactions. He took a black jar from beneath the desk and gently opened it.

"Buzz!!!"

A mass of visible black qi instantly rushed out.

"This qi is Malevolent Qi. If an ordinary person becomes entangled by it, they will grow dizzy and disoriented, as though a heavy stone were crushing their body."

The instructor calmly explained to everyone.

The instant the black qi appeared, it circled the classroom beams several times before impatiently lunging toward one of the students.

"Ah!" The student's face turned pale with fright.

"Hmph!" The instructor's face chilled. With a flick of his finger, he sent the glow in his hand flying.

The milky-white radiance arrived in the blink of an eye.

"Sizzle~" A teeth-grating sound rang out.

In but a moment, the black qi dispersed into nothingness.

"Yet we Confucian Cultivators need only direct the slightest trace of Literary Qi, and it can crumble and disperse."

The instructor smiled as he turned to look at the students.

Sure enough, the dozen or so students were flushed red, their eyes shining green.

They could not wait to study desperately and master the Literary Qi of the Confucian Path on the spot!

Zeng Anmin was naturally among them.

"The Confucian Path has a long history. After generations of exploration by our predecessors, three books have been identified as the easiest for comprehending Literary Qi. They are on your desks..."

"Rustle..."

Before the instructor could finish, eager page-turning filled the classroom.

The first lesson after enrollment was meant to ignite the students' drive to learn. Throughout the entire Academy, he alone did this best.

For that, he had endured every hardship before finally gathering some Malevolent Qi...

The Confucian Path flourished under the Great Sage Dynasty, and ghosts and malevolent spirits were almost impossible to find.

Like the other students, Zeng Anmin turned his gaze toward the books on his desk.

They were respectively "Imperial Academy," "Yi Zi," and "Confucian Classics."

He casually picked up "Imperial Academy" and opened it.

The content within was obscure and difficult, but fortunately, Zeng Anmin had the foundation left behind by the former owner of this body, so he could barely understand it.

Just as he was about to put the book down.

His gaze suddenly sharpened.

The contents of the book imprinted themselves deeply in his mind, impossible to dispel!

At the same time, he felt a warm current arise within his mind and race straight toward the Sea of Consciousness Space...

Literary Qi!

A thoughtful look filled Zeng Anmin's eyes.