Page 36

Of course, the cultivation world had no notion of respecting the old and cherishing the young. Rank had always been determined by cultivation, and a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old Foundation Establishment cultivator could not be judged by age alone.

In short, Chi Yu had risen to an unimaginable height in Suoluo and Qiye's estimation.

After their chat, Suoluo and Qiye parted ways with Chi Yu-their Suffering Truth Academy lay in a different direction from his Path Truth Academy.

When Chi Yu reached his classroom, he was, unsurprisingly, the last to arrive again.

Chi Yu: "..."

He glanced at the time on his system panel. Yes, it really was six in the morning. Did none of you sleep?!

...Oh, cultivators really did stop needing much sleep after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage.

But Chi Yu still needed his sleep. Some habits could not be allowed to take hold lightly. His roots would always lie in the modern world, and eating and sleeping were things a normal person ought to do.

As for cultivation granting agelessness, immortality, and freedom from birth and extinction, Chi Yu had never really taken any of that too seriously.

The modern world was his home, his everything. He always kept that firmly in mind: only by remembering where he had come from would he know where to return.

However much of a Long Aotian he became, it was still the most exhilarating, most vibrant dream he could have at his age.

As before, Chi Yu sat beside the crown prince and greeted him with a smile. "Good morning, senior brother. Have you eaten?"

Xie Xiyi glanced at him. "We abstain from food starting at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Didn't you know?"

"Oh," Chi Yu said. "But satisfying the appetite can bring pure joy. Since you study Buddhism, senior brother, you ought to learn joy, so you should actually have something to eat."

Xie Xiyi said, "You seem very fond of showing off."

Chi Yu blinked and smiled naturally, his voice carrying its usual lively, clear ring. "Senior brother, I'm not showing off. Haven't you noticed? I'm trying to get closer to you. And since we both study Chan, this is an opening for a Chan exchange. If you have different ideas, you can debate with me. That's how people grow close-by debating back and forth."

"..." Xie Xiyi's golden eyes flickered, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly into a faint, cool smile. "You want to be close to me? Why?"

Chi Yu said, "Does there need to be a reason? Because of affinity, because of the Dharma, because of the natural affinity that comes from the heart."

The smile on Xie Xiyi's lips became a little more genuine. "Is that so?"

Chi Yu said, "Yes. And you're not the only one I want to get close to. I hope to become friends with everyone here."

A sharp-eared cultivator in the row ahead turned around and smiled at him. "I'd be happy to."

Chi Yu held out his hand. "Hello, hello. I forgot to ask your Dharma name last time, senior brother. What's your name?"

The cultivator looked at his outstretched hand in confusion. Chi Yu said, "Hold out your hand, senior brother."

The cultivator held out his hand. Chi Yu took it and shook it, asking cheerfully, "What's your Dharma name, senior brother?"

"Oh." The cultivator realized this was Chi Yu's way of greeting people and answered slowly, "My name is Lianchi."

Chi Yu beamed and said sweetly, "What a wonderful Dharma name, senior brother. The lotus rises from the mud unstained, bathes in clear ripples without becoming alluring. A lotus pond embodies black and white, yin and yang, purity and murkiness, motion and stillness, encompassing the natural workings of the Heavenly Dao. You really know how to choose a name."

Lianchi said in surprise, "No, I just happened to see a lotus pond when I was choosing my Dharma name, so that's what I chose. But none of what you said has ever occurred to me. What about you, junior brother? What's your Dharma name?"

Chi Yu: 0.0

That was just how Chinese children who had spent their whole lives doing reading comprehension were.

When Lianchi asked about his Dharma name, Chi Yu puffed out his chest and said with utter confidence, "My Dharma name is Long Aotian."

Lianchi had never imagined that this delicate-featured Foundation Establishment cultivator would have such a tacky Dharma name. He could not help asking, "...Huh? Does this Dharma name have any deeper meaning?"

Xie Xiyi, who had been ignored beside them, also turned his attention back. He wanted to see just what explanation this dragon could come up with.

Chi Yu, who often scored highly in Chinese class, could do reading comprehension with effortless ease. He spun those three utterly tacky characters into something unmatched before or since. "Naturally. First comes 'Long,' dragon. Everyone should be familiar with dragons, the most powerful demonic beasts in the cultivation world. But in the mortal world, dragons are a spiritual belief. People draw all sorts of strength from them: bravery and skill in battle, intelligence and wisdom, fearlessness before the powerful, and the courage to defy authority, even if failure means never being able to rise again.

"Dragons are mythical creatures that embody all the finest wishes of mortals. A creature of faith formed from the collective wishes and hopes of the masses is itself an everlasting, immortal existence. So to me, 'dragon' is a deeply mysterious word filled with beautiful wishes. As cultivators, we too contend with others, with heaven, with earth, and with ourselves. We should be like this spiritual totem: ambitious, brave and fearless, unbowed before the powerful, finding life in the face of death!

"'Aotian,' standing proud before heaven, is even simpler. I throw back my head in laughter and stride out the door-how could someone like me be a common nobody?[1] In cultivation, we cultivate truth, freedom from birth and extinction, effortless freedom. What vigorous, soaring ambition that is! Without such ambition, how could we speak of contending with heaven? Since I cultivate, naturally I intend to rise above the Heavenly Dao and forever be my own master!"

The entire Chan classroom fell silent. Lecturer Hong stood in the doorway without entering, and every gaze rested on Chi Yu.

There was always an irresistible magnetism to Chi Yu when he spoke. Every gesture drew attention, his voice ringing like gold and jade, strong and resonant, every word landing with weight.

He practically radiated light.

Xie Xiyi's golden eyes shone with shifting brilliance. He had never imagined those three characters could carry such rich feeling, that a mere three characters could condense so much meaning.

Once again, he took Chi Yu seriously. This person suited his tastes far too well.

Everyone was looking at Chi Yu, and none had noticed Lecturer Hong's arrival. Lianchi was positively dumbstruck. "So that's it," he murmured. "Your Dharma name really is very well chosen. It's just a little arrogant. That feels a bit inappropriate."

Chi Yu said, "Youth without wild abandon is youth wasted!"

As he spoke, he flashed a brilliant smile. "If I were in my twenties or thirties, I probably wouldn't dare be this wild. But I'm only in my teens, so indulge me a little."

How strange, everyone present could not help thinking. He's already a Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet he has this vibrant vitality none of us possess.

So dazzling. It feels as though he's about to scorch our eyes.

Just then, Lecturer Hong gave a soft cough. Only then did everyone realize he had arrived, and they hurriedly tore their gazes away from Chi Yu.

Chi Yu fell silent too, afraid of being caught again.

But his earlier speech and the one just now had plainly put him on Lecturer Hong's radar. After only a few remarks, Lecturer Hong could not resist calling on Chi Yu again and testing him. "Look at the leaves moving outside the classroom. What do you think is making them move?"

Chi Yu smiled. "Teacher, I haven't moved."

As though seeking confirmation, Lecturer Hong said, "You may answer again."

Chi Yu said, "Teacher, I really haven't moved. The leaves are moving, the wind is moving, but I haven't moved. I'm listening attentively to the lesson, so why would I notice the scenery outside the window? If the heart does not move, if no thoughts or ideas arise, all things are still."

Lecturer Hong smiled. "Sit down."

His gaze held immense, delighted surprise as he looked at Chi Yu, but he concealed it well.

Chi Yu sat down, inwardly smug. Normally, he would certainly have said the leaves were moving, but if a teacher asked him this question in class, the answer surely would not be an ordinary one. Stepping outside the two answers the other person was steering him toward and offering a third worked every time. He had also taken the opportunity to establish that he had not been daydreaming this time.

Chi Yu noticed Xie Xiyi's gaze and turned to look at him. At the sight of those brilliant golden eyes, he instinctively smiled.

Smiling before speaking had always carried negative connotations in mortal physiognomy, but Xie Xiyi knew very clearly that this was simply his purity and naturalness.

The corners of Xie Xiyi's lips lifted slightly, then quickly dropped again.

Wanting to be friends with him was one thing, but wanting to be friends with everyone?

That was far too greedy.

After class, another ring of cultivators gathered around Chi Yu, vying to speak to him.

"Junior Brother Long, you answered Lecturer Hong's question without even having to think! You really know how to use your head!"

"How did you come up with an answer like that? You're only sixteen! I bow to your superiority!"

Xie Xiyi disdained it all and rose to leave as usual-

But just then, Chi Yu apologized with a smile in his voice. "Sorry, let's talk next time. I have to go. Sorry about that."

With that, Chi Yu extricated himself from the crowd and called out to Xie Xiyi, "Senior Brother Xuanji, wait for me!"

Xie Xiyi paused, then slowed his steps as though nothing had happened.

Chi Yu caught up with him and said with perfect composure, "Senior brother, let's head back together."

Xie Xiyi said indifferently, "Aren't you going to spend a little longer with your friends?"

Chi Yu said, "Normally, that would be fine, of course, but it's time for my lunch. I need to hurry back and cook. It's fine if I go hungry, but I can't let our Xiaoqiu go hungry."

"..." Xie Xiyi said, "He'll take a Bigu Pill himself if he's hungry."

"Bigu Pills are only fit for dogs. Our Xiaoqiu deserves delicious, fragrant food." Chi Yu paused as realization struck him. "Ah, senior brother, I didn't mean you were a dog."

Xie Xiyi: "."

The corners of Xie Xiyi's lips lifted. "My young attendant can't get enough of your cooking. Now I'm curious."

Chi Yu readily followed his lead. "In that case, would you like to try some too, senior brother?"

Xie Xiyi said, "Very well."

Chi Yu soon returned to his quarters.

Xiaoqiu was already sitting on the threshold waiting for him. At the sight of Chi Yu, he was about to call out, only to spot Xie Xiyi behind him. His voice took an abrupt, awkward turn. "...Your Highness!"

Xie Xiyi looked at him expressionlessly. Although Xiaoqiu was nominally his servant, he was also a genuine member of the imperial family. Sitting on the threshold like a watchdog for the sake of a meal-what sort of behavior was that?

Xiaoqiu seemed to detect something in his gaze as well. He stood up guiltily and tugged at the hem of his clothes.