Confucian-Martial Dual Cultivation

Shuidu Academy, Dark Document Hall.

This was a library pavilion for Academy students to read and study in.

"If advancing in rank can unlock the Golden Finger..."

Zeng Anmin sat in a chair, gazing thoughtfully at the Record of Strange Items in his hands.

"Then if I cultivate both literature and martial arts, wouldn't I get twice as much for free?!"

Ever since he had unlocked the Martial Arts Entry selection again yesterday, this thought had sprung up in Zeng Anmin's mind uncontrollably.

But he could get no clear answer from Dachun.

So he came to the place within the Academy specifically for students to read, hoping to find some possibility for Confucian Martial Arts dual cultivation.

Zeng Anmin opened the Record of Strange Items and slowly, carefully read through its contents.

The author was unknown, and it recorded many strange and bizarre occurrences across the Nine Provinces Continent.

For instance: there were beauties in the South Sea, like maidens of the Heavenly Palace, yet without true yin; they could only be admired.

Another example: female demons of the Demon Race who had taken human form were lustful. They drew off one's yang qi, leaving one tired for no more than a day. Still quite worth it.

Another example: the Eastern Cult of the Jiang Kingdom had the marvelous method Dream into Diagrams. One coin's worth of lifespan could be exchanged for an entire night of pleasure. A massive bargain.

The more Zeng Anmin read, the darker his face became.

Why did this author look more and more like a pimp?

Of course, there were some useful things as well.

For instance, there were four Heavenly Dao Diagrams in the world, passed down from ancient times to the present.

The Phoenix Strategy Diagram held by the imperial family of the neighboring Jiang Dynasty supposedly depicted an ancient multicolored phoenix.

The Taotie Diagram owned by the Southern Wilderness gathered the ferocious beast Taotie within its image.

The Sword Rise Diagram of the Dao Sect depicted the sword carried by the Dao Ancestor.

There was also a record of the Xi Huang Diagram, which had drifted into the Great Sage Dynasty but vanished without trace. It portrayed Xi Huang, the foremost ancestor of the ancient human race.

The four divine diagrams were not limited to martial cultivators. All cultivators could contemplate them; they were among the most extraordinary objects under heaven...

After reading the entire book, he still had not found what he was looking for.

Once he finished, he silently returned the book to its shelf, then found another volume, On Confucian Martial Arts.

The first sentence read:

"Since ancient times, there have been youths accomplished in both literature and martial arts, yet none who cultivated the Confucian and Martial Paths together."

At those words, Zeng Anmin's brow relaxed. This was what he wanted.

He held his breath and focused, reading carefully.

Skipping past a heap of introductory fluff, he found the important part:

"Literary Qi of the Confucian, water."

"The essence and soul of the martial path, fire."

"Water and fire do not blend; yin and yang cannot aid one another. Thus, they cannot be cultivated together."

Zeng Anmin's brows knitted deeply.

They could not be cultivated together?

Yet when he read the passages that followed, his Phoenix Eyes narrowed slightly.

"Confucian cultivators and martial cultivators alike begin by comprehending qi, gathering the qi throughout their bodies, breaking through the Purple Mansion, and transforming Literary Qi into Vast Righteous Qi."

"With Literary Qi coursing through the body, one naturally cannot cultivate martial qi any longer."

"The reverse is also true."

Zeng Anmin read for a long while, yet his brows remained tightly furrowed. Nothing in the book offered him any inspiration.

Instead, the more he read, the more muddled he became.

Just then, the bell for class rang.

Zeng Anmin stretched lazily, hurried to his feet, and headed out the door.

Shuidu Academy, Jiazi Classroom.

More than thirty pairs of students' eyes all turned toward Zeng Anmin.

Their stares made Zeng Anmin feel somewhat embarrassed.

He had not expected that in just one day, his comprehending Literary Qi within a quarter of an hour would be exaggerated so wildly.

The instructor was an old man named Wang Yuli, with a goatee. He was exceedingly courteous to Zeng Anmin. After arranging a seat for him, he began the lesson.

Zeng Anmin made his way to the last row, drawing appraising gazes everywhere he passed.

Everyone watched him with curiosity.

They all wanted to know what kind of person this genius who had comprehended Literary Qi in a quarter of an hour truly was.

Zeng Anmin did not resent those looks.

He knew that in his previous life, he had looked at top students the same way.

"When first attending class, there will naturally be much knowledge you cannot keep up with. If there is anything you do not understand, you may ask Zhang Lun."

The old instructor's voice rang out.

Zhang Lun?

Zeng Anmin looked up.

He saw the student seated in front of him smile and nod at him.

The student wore plain cloth robes and had a clear, handsome face. His eyebrows were thick, and merely looking at him made one feel that he was exceptionally dependable.

Zeng Anmin pondered this.

It seemed this Zhang Lun was the top student of their classroom.

"Ahem, yesterday's Academy examination results have already come out."

At that moment, the old instructor gave a light cough and slowly drew out a sheet of white paper from beneath his desk.

"Zhang Lun has taken first place in three consecutive major examinations."

As soon as those words fell, the entire classroom went silent.

Swish!

Countless eyes converged upon Zhang Lun's face.

Zhang Lun remained unruffled, his expression calm as he looked toward the instructor.

A smile appeared on the instructor's face as well. He took a jade pendant from his waist, slowly rose, and walked toward Zhang Lun.

"This Shuidu Order is an Academy reward. I hope you will continue striving forward and never grow arrogant."

The old instructor slowly handed the jade pendant to Zhang Lun.

"Thank you, Instructor."

Zhang Lun accepted the jade pendant with a respectful expression.

Zeng Anmin had no idea how valuable that jade pendant was.

But the discussions around him gave him the answer.

"A Shuidu Order. Looks like there is one fewer spot in the Library of Past Sages this year."

"Isn't that so? The Library of Past Sages stores the handwritten works of our Confucian Path predecessors. This is a tremendous opportunity..."

"Jealous..."

"Heh heh, just work harder next time."

"..."

Silence!

The old instructor's voice suddenly rose, suppressing every whispered conversation.

"Class begins now..."

Very soon, a lesson had ended, and the sky gradually darkened.

The instructor also left the classroom.

Just as Zeng Anmin was preparing to gather his things and return to his quarters—

A gentle voice arose.

"Though night has fallen, the heart that seeks learning must not slacken. Since the teacher has entrusted me with this task, I cannot disappoint his expectations. The night is just right; how about we stay and study together?"

Zeng Anmin slowly raised his head and saw Zhang Lun's gentle face.

A grind king?

He had appeared!

Zeng Anmin had hated grind kings when he was in school.

Yet today, he could not muster the slightest dislike for the grind king before him.

Grind kings were all deeply responsible. The teacher had merely mentioned it in class, yet Zhang Lun had taken it seriously to heart.

Very good!

"That is exactly what I had in mind."

Zeng Anmin was currently full of questions he wanted answered. Wasn't Zhang Lun the perfect candidate?

"Heh heh."

Seeing Zeng Anmin nod, an approving smile appeared on Zhang Lun's face. He slowly came over and sat beside Zeng Anmin.

"Whatever doubts you have, you may ask me. If even I do not understand, I shall ask the teacher afterward, then explain it to you."

Zhang Lun gently picked up a copy of the Imperial Academy and slowly opened it.

Naturally, Zeng Anmin would not let such an opportunity pass. He nodded earnestly. "Senior... ah, perhaps we should address one another by our courtesy names?"

"Oh, right. Zhang Lun of Two Rivers Prefecture, courtesy name Tongyu." Zhang Lun smiled and bowed to Zeng Anmin.

"So it is Brother Tongyu. I am Zeng Anmin, courtesy name Quanfu."

Zeng Anmin hurriedly returned the bow.

Quanfu was Zeng Anmin's courtesy name, given to him by his bargain-bin father.

"Brother Tongyu, although I have cultivated Literary Qi, I am unfamiliar with the Cultivation of Temperament Realm that follows. Could you explain it?"

Zeng Anmin's expression was serious.

Zhang Lun slowly nodded, his gaze solemn as he said:

"Upon cultivating one's first strand of Literary Qi, one may be called a Ninth-Rank Body Cultivation Realm practitioner."

"The human body has seven hundred and twenty major acupoints. Only when each acupoint has accumulated a strand of Literary Qi is one complete. After reaching completion, one may be called a Cultivation of Temperament Realm practitioner."

"However, the Cultivation of Temperament Realm is a process of accumulation. One must not rush, or it will have an immense impact on the body."

By the end, Zhang Lun's expression had become exceedingly grave.