Observing Water at Spring Garden was, after all, only a Metropolitan Graduate poem. It was somewhat useful to Hanlin Academicians, but did little for a Peak Grand Academician like Fang Yun.
Only Observing Water at Spring Garden at the Third Realm or above could possibly provide Fang Yun with enough literary qi. The poem had existed for merely a few years, and every use exhausted all of the user's literary qi, making practice impossible. No one had reached the Second Realm yet.
As the Jing Kingdom army retreated, the halls and pavilions of the Sacred Academy, far away on Upside-Down Peak Mountain, convened an emergency meeting. The War Hall and Crafts Hall had jointly called it, and, as customary, the Eastern Sage Pavilion presided.
In a magnificent council chamber, Zong Ganyu, pavilion elder of the Eastern Sage Pavilion and head of the Zong Family, sat at the head of the assembly. The elders of the other halls and pavilions sat throughout the chamber.
"May I ask why the War Hall and Crafts Hall called this meeting?" Zong Ganyu's gaze was indifferent, as though his mind had wandered beyond the heavens and he cared nothing for the meeting.
Ye Hongyu, an elder of the War Hall, said, "Void Sage Fang went north to rescue Zhang Poyue and is now leading his troops back, with the Barbarian Race in relentless pursuit. The Sacred Academy ought to lend its aid."
Expressionless, Zong Ganyu said unhurriedly, "When the Ten Kingdoms were founded, the sages and the founding emperors of the kingdoms made a pledge: to use the Three Barbarian Regions and the Water Race as whetstones to hone the armies of the human race, lest our people lose their edge and follow in the footsteps of the Ancient Demon Clan. If demon barbarians from