Great Qian, the Imperial Academy.
A bell rang in urgent peals, drawing the eyes of students all around.
It was called the Heaven-Mending Bell. Whenever a student brought back a fortuitous opportunity from beyond the heavens, it rang.
The more valuable the discovery, and the more it benefited the Great Qian Heavenly Dao, the faster the bell rang.
It had not sounded this urgent in ten years.
With Great Qian already facing troubled times, the students broke into heated discussion.
Meanwhile...
Li Shun's consciousness returned, and he looked at the Mind-Communicating Bead floating silently before him.
He knew perfectly well why the Heaven-Mending Bell rang so urgently, almost mournfully.
It was not merely the value of the Reincarnation Dao he had brought back.
It was also...
The Houtu God who had returned with him.
The Houtu God was unquestionably a foreign intruder, which had triggered the Imperial Academy's alarm.
Fortunately, the god was still reviving and probably could not stir up much trouble.
"After using the Mind-Communicating Bead to return to Great Qian, my consciousness returns to my body. But any Dao Marks I obtain go straight into the academy's repository..." Li Shun shook his head inwardly. He was more determined than ever to make a Mind-Communicating Bead of his own.
As he pondered this, a figure suddenly appeared beside him.
It was none other than the public head of the Imperial Academy, the Grand Chancellor.
"You brat, you really have given us an enormous surprise!"
The Grand Chancellor studied Li Shun, a half-smile on his face.
"The Reincarnation Grand Dao, of all things! It is precisely what the Great Qian Heavenly Dao has lacked for so long."
"Granted, you brought back some trouble along with it. In light of your contribution, we can let that pass."
Li Shun had