Guixu Academy? Who Told You to Start a School?

Lu Chen felt things were developing in a very strange direction.

At first, he had merely taken in the Sea Spirit Clan for a hundred years.

Yet a hundred years later, they had turned the deserted island into the Northern Darkness Dao Palace.

Later, he had merely allowed the Sea Spirit Clan to remain while he entered seclusion for ten thousand years.

Yet ten thousand years later, the Guixu Inner Realm had become Guixu City.

Later still, he had merely bestowed the Book of Cause and Effect and told Lan Shuang to register the living beings entering the realm.

Yet the Bureau of Cause and Effect had been established.

The Register of Ten Thousand Tribes had been completed.

The order of Guixu had begun to take shape.

Now this was even more absurd.

He had merely used the Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Formation to suppress one disobedient youngster.

How had Guixu Academy appeared too?

Lu Chen listened to Lan Shuang's report, his feelings complicated.

"Emperor, there are increasingly more young people in Guixu now."

"The cultivation methods, rules, and temperaments of each tribe differ."

"If we rely only on the Realm Guard to restrain them, we will only treat the symptoms, not the root cause."

"This junior believes we should establish Guixu Academy to teach the children and young cultivators of all tribes literacy, cultivation, rules, and how to avoid tribulations."

"Only then can we prevent another incident like Han Jue's from happening in the future."

Lu Chen had originally wanted to refuse.

But after hearing her out, he felt she had a point.

Young people were full of energy.

If they were not given something to do, they would sooner or later start fighting again.

Fighting would affect the stability of the Inner Realm.

If the Inner Realm became unstable, it would affect the Guixu Womb Membrane.

If the Guixu Womb Membrane was affected, it would interfere with his seclusion.

Thinking it over, establishing an Academy really did seem necessary.

But the problem was that once this thing was established, Guixu would look even more like a proper faction.

Lu Chen pondered for a long time before asking, "You're only teaching rules?"

Lan Shuang nodded.

"Rules, basic cultivation, and how each tribe can avoid tribulations and preserve their lives."

Lu Chen felt somewhat relieved.

Avoiding tribulations and staying alive was good.

That was what he excelled at.

The system's voice rang out at that moment.

"Detected that Guixu Academy is about to be established. Please make a selection."

"One: Personally impart the Dao and accept the Ten Thousand Tribes as disciples. Reward: Scripture of Primordial Mysterious Water."

"Two: Close the Academy and avoid entanglement in the karma of master and disciple. Reward: three Tribulation-Evasion Talismans."

"Three: Bestow a basic cultivation method and strictly forbid its dissemination. Reward: increased stability of the Guixu Womb Membrane."

Lu Chen's eyelid twitched as he looked at the first option.

Personally impart the Dao?

Accept the Ten Thousand Tribes as disciples?

The karma involved was far too great.

If this bunch went out to fight in the future and someone asked about their master,

and they answered Mysterious Abyss Emperor,

wouldn't he end up shouldering a whole pile of blame for no reason?

The second option was not very suitable either.

Closing the Academy could avoid karma, but without anyone to manage the young people, trouble would eventually arise.

The third was best.

Bestow a basic cultivation method.

Strictly forbid its dissemination.

Accept no disciples.

Avoid getting entangled in too much karma.

And increase the stability of the Womb Membrane.

Lu Chen decisively said, "I choose three."

"Congratulations, Host. The stability of the Guixu Womb Membrane has increased."

"Please organize a basic cultivation method yourself."

Lu Chen fell into thought.

A basic cultivation method.

That would not be difficult.

He had the innate inheritance of the Black Tortoise True Body, as well as the Chaos Tortoise Breathing Method for reference.

Though he could not pass on a life-saving trump card like the Chaos Tortoise Breathing Method, creating a downgraded version was still possible.

The core concept was simple as well.

Move less.

Fight less.

Provoke less karma.

First learn to hide one's aura, then learn to preserve one's life.

If you could avoid fighting, do not fight.

If you could run, run.

If you could not run, defend yourself.

If you could not defend yourself, seek help.

The more Lu Chen organized it, the more satisfied he became.

This was the cultivation method truly suited to Guixu.

The Primordial World's habit of shouting about battle and slaughter at every turn would get people killed sooner or later.

If Guixu wanted to endure, everyone had to learn how to lie low.

One person lying low was not much of a skill.

When an entire faction lay low, that was true safety.

Several days later.

Lu Chen condensed a basic method into a jade slip and delivered it before Lan Shuang.

"This method shall be called the Guixu Stillness Art."

"It may only be taught within Guixu Academy."

"It must not be passed outside."

"Remember, the core of this method is not competing in strength or fighting fiercely. It is avoiding tribulations and protecting oneself."

Lan Shuang received the jade slip with both hands.

The instant it fell into her hands, she sensed an aura that was quiet, profound, and weighty.

It was neither sharp nor domineering, neither ostentatious nor flamboyant.

Yet it was as encompassing as the deep sea and as steadfast as a turtle shell.

She had only skimmed a few lines when her mind shook violently.

This method appeared basic, but it actually aligned with the Dao of Guixu.

Conceal one's aura.

Stabilize one's foundation.

Reduce karma.

Avoid killing tribulations.

This was no ordinary cultivation method.

It was a tribulation-avoidance method personally tailored for the Ten Thousand Tribes by the Emperor, founded upon the Return Ruins Great Dao.

Unconcealable excitement appeared in Lan Shuang's eyes.

"This junior understands."

"This method will never be passed outside."

Guixu Academy was soon completed.

It stood to the east of the Northern Darkness Dao Palace.

It was not luxurious.

But it was exceedingly spacious.

At the center of the Academy stood a black stone stele engraved with four lines.

Fight less, kill less, bear less karma, live longer.

Lu Chen thought these four lines were excellent.

Plain, sincere, and straight to the essence.

But when the various tribes of Guixu saw those four lines, they felt something entirely different.

Han Jue stood before the stone stele, his eyes filled with shock.

"Fight less does not mean never fight. It means not fighting meaningless battles."

"Kill less does not mean never kill. It means not killing recklessly."

"Bear less karma is so that we will not be implicated during the Great Tribulation."

"Live longer..."

He drew a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly.

"Only those who live until the end have the right to contend for the true Great Dao."

The young cultivators around him nodded one after another.

"So that's what it means!"

"The Emperor's four lines contain such profound meaning!"

"We only knew how to compete fiercely before. Only now do we understand that avoiding tribulations is also a Great Dao."

If Lu Chen heard those words, he would probably be quite gratified.

You finally understand the importance of lying low.

Unfortunately, Han Jue clenched his fists again in the next moment.

"The Emperor passed down this method so that we may avoid the edge of the Dragon-Han Cataclysm."

"Once the three tribes decline and Guixu emerges, it will be the time for us to sweep across the Northern Sea!"

If Lu Chen had been present, he would certainly have kicked him out.

Sweep across what Northern Sea?

Who told you to sweep across the Northern Sea?

The first lesson at Guixu Academy was personally presided over by Lan Shuang.

Young cultivators from thirty-six tribes gathered at the Academy.

Even before Ao Lie arrived and Dragon-Suppressing Pass was established, the young Realm Guard members of every tribe sat in neat rows.

Lan Shuang activated the jade slip.

"Today, we will discuss the Guixu Stillness Art bestowed by the Emperor."

"The first principle of this method."

"Stillness."

"What is stillness?"

"It is not inaction, nor is it cowardice. It is a heart that does not descend into chaos because of external tribulations."

"When the Great Tribulation of the Primordial World rises, the heavenly and earthly aura becomes chaotic. The Ten Thousand Tribes fight and slaughter, and the slightest carelessness may draw one into karma."

"Those who are still can observe tribulations."

"Those who restrain themselves can avoid tribulations."

"Guixu is the end of all currents, and also a place untouched by all tribulations."

"The Emperor passed down this method so that we may first learn how to survive amid the great calamity."

Those below listened with rapt attention.

This method was not complicated.

It was even more basic than the inherited teachings of many tribes.

But its strength lay in its universality.

Whether the Sea Spirit Clan, Ice-Scaled Tribe, Mystic Clam Tribe, Cold Whale Tribe, Water Ape, Merfolk, or Black-Shelled Turtle Tribe, all could cultivate it.

More importantly, after cultivating this method, their auras became steadier, and the circulation of their spiritual power became more restrained.

In the past, many weaker tribes had been too eager to break through during cultivation, often causing unstable foundations.

But the Guixu Stillness Art perfectly made up for that weakness.

One month later.

Among the first group of Academy disciples, more than a hundred had actually broken through minor realms.

Three months later.

After Realm Guard cultivators practiced this method, their formation stability increased by thirty percent.

Half a year later.

Among the children of all races who practiced this method, there were zero cases of cultivation deviation.

A year later.

The number of private fights in Guixu City had dropped by nearly half.

Lan Shuang held these reports, her heart shaken beyond measure.

Lady Mingzhu sighed softly.

"Though the Emperor's method appears basic, it is truly a Myriad Races Foundation Method."

"The weaker a race is, the more it needs a cultivation method like this—one that does not harm its foundation or draw external tribulations."

Lan Shuang nodded.

"The Emperor must have seen long ago that Guixu's future would not belong only to the Sea Spirit Clan."

"That was why he bestowed a method that all races could practice."

"This is not the method of a single race."

"This is Guixu's method."

She slowly raised her head and looked into the depths of Guixu.

"Though the Emperor is in seclusion, he has already seen Guixu ten thousand years into the future."

Lu Chen heard the system prompt at that moment as well.

"Guixu Academy is operating steadily."

"The Guixu Stillness Art has gained the recognition of Guixu's many races."

"The stability of the Guixu Womb Membrane has increased once again."

"The gestation speed of the Northern Dark Spirit Veins has increased."

Lu Chen paused.

There was actually such a benefit?

He had merely organized a survival technique on a whim.

He had not expected the results to be quite good.

It seemed that sometimes, one could grow stronger without fighting.

Very good.

That was more in line with his philosophy.

Lu Chen closed his eyes in satisfaction.

"Not bad."

"Everyone, go learn it."

"Everyone, lie low."

"Let's all live safely and steadily until Journey to the West."

Just as Guixu Academy was gradually getting on track.

Dragon-Suppressing Pass had yet to be built.

But the Bureau of Realm Patrol on Guixu's outskirts discovered an unusual thread of cause and effect.

A cultivator claiming to be from the Coldwater Fish Clan had entered the outer city three years ago.

He was usually honest and well-behaved.

He neither caused trouble nor competed for resources.

Yet when the Book of Cause and Effect revealed him, it discovered that deep within his causality thread was a pitch-black dragon silhouette.

Lan Shuang looked at the dragon silhouette emerging on the Book of Cause and Effect, her gaze turning cold.

"A Dragon Clan spy."

Lady Mingzhu frowned.

"So soon?"

Lan Shuang closed the Book of Cause and Effect.

"Guixu has founded a city and taken in thirty-six races. The Dragon Clan could not possibly have no reaction."

"I just didn't expect their spy to have already infiltrated us."

She looked toward the depths of Guixu.

"We must report this matter to the Emperor."

In the depths of Guixu.

Lu Chen had just prepared to continue cultivating.

The system's voice rang out once more.

"Detected a Dragon Clan spy infiltrating Guixu."

Lu Chen opened his eyes.

"..."

"I knew it."

"Once there are too many people, nothing good ever happens."