If a piece of information involved a celebrity, was sufficiently bizarre, and ran counter to common sense, then it had the foundation for widespread dissemination.
Yue Kingdom Prodigy Yang Ning had a certain degree of fame. Especially that poem, "Geese, Geese, Geese," which he had written when taking the child scholar exam at five years old—it had spread far and wide over the past seven years. People his age, and even those several years older, had basically all learned it.
Thus, Yang Ning was a celebrity.
On his very first day of class, this celebrity had started skipping lessons. His reason for doing so was not to play around, but because the library's knowledge was too captivating. That was bizarre, because anyone who had been to the library knew how inhumanly torturous the books inside were.
And this person's purpose in cultivating immortality was not to become powerful, not for authority, not even for immortality, but to gain a long life in which to pursue his hobbies!
That ran completely counter to common sense. After all, everyone cultivated immortality for power, for authority and beauties!
Artifact forging and pill refining—weren't those supposed to be choices made out of helpless necessity? Who was born liking to hammer iron beside a blazing furnace?
So, when those three elements came together, they became a viral piece of news!
The school term had only just begun, and there had been no major news. Everyone had been burying their heads in cultivation and classes, their lives unbearably dull, when this suddenly happened!
Thus, the topic of Yang Ning skipping class for a month, neither cultivating nor sleeping as he buried himself in books, and cultivating immortality merely to better pursue craftsmanship, instantly shot to the top of the hot searches and became Ascension Academy's most popular topic.
Debates erupted one after another over whether cultivation or hobbies were more important, and whether one should delay cultivation because of a hobby. The incident spread upward from first-year students level by level. Even sixth-year students nearing graduation and beginning to worry about their futures had started asking who Yang Ning was.
"Brother Ning, you're famous!" Xun Hu spotted Yang Ning in the cafeteria and excitedly slapped him on the shoulder. "Even in our godforsaken Yue Kingdom, tons of people know about you now!"
Behind him were Ning Rong, Zhao Bu, and Su Bai, whose undercover career had ended. All of them wore high-spirited expressions.
Yang Ning smiled bashfully. If he had been a local, he might truly have believed this incident had become popular by accident.
But he came from the modern era and had witnessed countless public opinion incidents. He knew perfectly well that without someone pulling the strings, something like this could never make the hot searches.
Who besides Ascension Academy itself could guide public opinion within Ascension Academy?
As for Ascension Academy's purpose, after investigating for the past month, he had figured that out as well.
One only needed to look at Xun Hu's schedule. He did not need to study pill refining, artifact forging, herbs, ores, and such knowledge. Everything he learned concerned Meridians, vital blood, vital blood control, all kinds of combat techniques, and weapon usage.
Cultivating immortality was for the sake of immortality. That was beyond doubt. Anyone who claimed cultivation was for pursuing hobbies was simply misleading the young.
Hobbies could wait until after one achieved immortality. By then, one could love whatever one wanted.
But if one delayed the immortal path because of a hobby, it would be too late for regret upon one's deathbed!
Ascension Academy had set up a great many courses unrelated to cultivation for bookboys and servants. Those courses wasted time and energy, yet aside from studying them, there was nothing else they could study.
The library had techniques, martial arts manuals, and scriptures, but those things were different from ores. Making a mistake identifying an ore did not matter much; at worst, the furnace would explode.
If one blindly practiced martial arts manuals without anyone to guide them, it could truly cost them their life!
On the surface, Ascension Academy openly shared knowledge. In secret, however, it had directly separated disciples of different backgrounds through their schedules. Some received elite education, while others received vocational education.
Nothing would be apparent in the short term, but after three to five years, the difference in combat strength between the two groups would become glaring. Six years later, Taiheng Sect could smoothly take away the disciples who could fight, then symbolically recruit a few talents in artifact forging and pill refining. Who could point out any problem with the whole operation?
Once inside the sect, because one had studied artifact forging and pill refining, one's combat strength still would not improve. Naturally, the sect would have no reason to value them. Even if they were fortunate enough to break through to the Qi Refining Stage, the sect would use their lack of combat power as a reason not to give them good Divine Abilities and Sorcery.
Then they could only serve the sect for the rest of their lives as a Pill Refining Master or an Artifact Forging Master.
Youngsters could not see through this arrangement at all. Even many veteran Artifact Forging Masters and Pill Refining Masters did not think there was anything wrong with it.
But Yang Ning came from a nation with five thousand years of history. He had seen countless political, economic, and public opinion struggles, and his experience was incomparably rich.
He had merely seen the schedules on several hundred jade plaques in the library and analyzed Taiheng Sect's entire talent cultivation plan. It was not because he was extraordinarily brilliant, but because he had seen far too much.
Since he had analyzed the core reason, he could also understand why Ascension Academy was driving this sort of public opinion. It was the same principle as persuading people to take off their long robes—hoping the disciples would willingly accept artifact forging and pill refining work.
"Tuo Buchuan really didn't lie to me." Yang Ning thought of Tuo Buchuan again.
If not for his reminder, Yang Ning would not have deliberately paid attention to such matters. He would have needed much longer to discover the truth.
"Why are you here?" Yang Ning asked.
"We're a team. Isn't it normal for us to come find you?" Xun Hu said with a smile.
Moreover, the teacher had said that on the path of cultivation, even relationships between fathers and sons or brothers were hollow. But the cultivation team structure established by Taiheng Sect, with one leader and three assistants, was quite dependable.
At least before the Qi Refining Stage, the only people he could rely on were these three teammates.
And these three teammates also had to rely on and protect him, because Ascension Academy's system dictated that if he were eliminated or killed, the remaining three would be unable to remain at Ascension Academy.
Xun Hu realized that he had been somewhat neglectful toward his companions before. After learning this principle, he had been trying to make up for it, but Yang Ning was never in his dormitory. Only later did he discover that Yang Ning spent all his time in the library.
However, Ning Rong had said that he wanted to specialize in artifact forging, which was good news.
Seeing Yang Ning stare steadily at him, Xun Hu raised both hands. "Fine, fine, there really is something. Do you know Demon Subduing Valley?"
"I do." Yang Ning nodded. "A secret realm. And?"
"There's a rumor that the Demon Subduing Valley secret realm will open in two months. When that happens, all of us will have to enter!" Xun Hu said.
"Even if it's only a prophecy spread as a rumor, this one is far too outrageous." Yang Ning frowned. "The Fierce Beasts in Demon Subduing Valley start at the Fourth Level of Body Refinement. Can we deal with them?"
"Apparently, we'll only take a look around the outskirts and won't enter the center. Teachers will also hold the line for us!" Xun Hu said excitedly. "In the past, this kind of combat training opportunity only came to second-years. We first-years have a chance to prove ourselves, so we absolutely can't miss it! If we can kill a Fierce Beast too, our names might instantly resound throughout Seacloud City!"
Demon Subduing Valley was a secret realm inhabited by a large number of Demon Beasts. Its entrance was controlled by Ascension Academy. Every year, Ascension Academy organized disciples to train inside it, and students who achieved good results there often became the talk of the town for a time.
Those who displayed talent within it would also gain the favor and sponsorship of Seacloud City merchants. Those with especially high popularity could even earn four or five years' worth of cultivation resources in a single wave!
"Were there activities like this before, where first-year students got to broaden their horizons?" Yang Ning asked.
"Uh, this should be the first time this year!" Xun Hu thought for a moment before saying, "It's also an opportunity for us to prove ourselves. Is there any problem?"
"Then there probably isn't a problem." Yang Ning nodded, though he was not optimistic inside.
The whole city would be watching. It was grand and righteous, seemingly without a single issue.
Yet it was precisely in such an environment that, if something went wrong, they could sever all connections to it.
Yang Ning had already drafted the statement for after an accident: this was the first time organizing such an event, and they were unfamiliar with the process; they had caused inconvenience to the people of Seacloud City and brought negative effects upon society, and so on and so forth.
Of course, perhaps Yang Ning was overthinking it. But this concerned lives and the immortal path—how could he not think more deeply? This was not LOL, where one could wait until fifteen minutes after losing lane and start another match.
"So, we need to start preparing now?" Yang Ning asked.
"Yes!" Xun Hu nodded. "Among the four of us, you're the smartest. See what we should do over the next two months. And aren't you studying artifact forging? Should you make some treasures to help us kill Fierce Beasts?"
"For the next two months, we definitely need to cultivate with all our strength. At the very least, we should advance to the Body Tempering Triple Layer." Yang Ning said, "As for artifact forging, I've only just started. I can't forge any high-grade treasures. Can't we buy them?"
"Didn't you read Ascension Academy's regulations? Students can buy pills, but they aren't allowed to purchase Magic Artifacts externally! Anyone discovered doing so will be expelled immediately!" Ning Rong said from beside them.
"There's such a rule? Why?" Yang Ning was stunned. This was not a society ruled by law—why prohibit buying weapons?
"They say pill refining costs enormously, consuming resources like a bottomless pit. It requires high investment for little return, so students generally cannot afford it. But artifact forging materials can be reused, with low consumption and high returns. To prevent students from developing the mindset that making is inferior to buying, students may not purchase Magic Artifacts externally while enrolled!"
"What if no one in a team knows artifact forging?" Yang Ning asked in shock.
"Then they're making a joke of their own team!" Xun Hu shrugged. "Fortunately, we have you!"
Tsk, tsk. One ring linked to another. Not only had they established separate tracks through the schedules, they had extended it deep into team organization and institutional design.
"All right." Yang Ning nodded. "But I don't have any money either. What about artifact forging materials?"
"I'll provide them!" Xun Hu slapped his chest. "Practice as boldly as you want. Whatever you forge, we'll use!"
"I won't get too wildly imaginative." Yang Ning asked, "So what kind of Magic Artifacts do you want? I'll research in that direction!"
"We were each given a Magic Sword when we enrolled, so we aren't lacking weapons!" Xun Hu said. "It would be best to make some defensive gear, like armor, shields, helmets. Oh, I nearly forgot—you were once the Minister of Works. You should understand these things better!"
"Then I'll decide." Yang Ning nodded. "I'll go back and think it over. Who will come to my room later to take the materials list?"
"I'll go!" Ning Rong said with a smile. "We live close by. I'm on the twelfth floor too!"
"Is there anything I can do?" Su Bai asked.
"Investigate Demon Subduing Valley's situation. What Fierce Beasts are there specifically? Is there a map? Are there pictures? How do the Fierce Beasts fight?" Yang Ning said. "Since Demon Subduing Valley opens every year, plenty of people should have this information."
"All right, I'll go ask right away!" Su Bai immediately stood up. He was best at communicating with outsiders.
"Then that's it for now?" Yang Ning looked toward Xun Hu. Taiheng Sect's institutional design made Xun Hu the leader, but their small team was actually centered around him.
Hopefully, no conflicts would arise in the future.
"Mhm!" Xun Hu nodded. "Then that's settled. I'll first look into material prices. There's a materials street in Seacloud City. Ning Rong, after you get the list, come find me there!"
"Okay!" Ning Rong nodded.
Before you continue