Once the students' shock had subsided a bit, Feng Chutang continued, "The mishaps befalling two successive children of karmic destiny meant even the lofty immortal sects could no longer sit idly by. In truth, there was an even more important reason: back then, certain immortal sects had cared about their reputations, acting timidly and hesitantly, and so had barely managed to enclose any land. Other immortal sects had cared nothing for how unseemly it looked and aggressively seized vast swathes of territory.
"In the end, the former couldn't recruit decent disciples for years on end, while the latter had disciples gathered like clouds and saw their strength skyrocket. Naturally, conflicts arose between them. Those who hadn't claimed enough land demanded a redivision of territories, while the immortal sects that had staked their claims first naturally refused. Thus, both sides bickered over this for more than a century. Between overt clashes and covert scheming, they fought countless battles, and who knew how many mighty cultivators fell in the process.
"By that point, having learned their lesson through painful experience, the great immortal sects all felt reform was imperative. Just then, an extraordinary figure emerged out of nowhere and proposed the concept of sharing geniuses. Specifically, all cultivation seeds across the human domain should be shared among the major sects, with a unified sect entrance examination held to ensure no genius was overlooked. The sects, meanwhile, would be ranked into various grades according to their strength, with the superior sects picking first and the lower-grade sects left with only scraps and leftovers."
By now, the unified sect examination had already been in place for over a thousand years. Every student present had earned their place through this very examination, so they were naturally intimately familiar with its various regulations and took them as the natural order of things. Yet hearing this piece of secret history now, they still found that extraordinary figure truly incredible—to have conceived such an outlandish, imaginative idea back then.
Feng Chutang smiled faintly. "When I first learned of this history back in my day, I was just as astonished. Geniuses could actually be shared? Throughout the ages, no such principle had ever existed! As for open examinations and open selection, that was unheard of. Can any of you guess what kind of origin this extraordinary figure had?"
"The reincarnation of an ancient immortal?"
"An unparalleled genius?"
"A child of karmic destiny?"
The students offered one guess after another, but Feng Chutang merely shook his head. Only when no one had any guesses left did Feng Chutang finally speak: "He actually came from another world. And in that world, such practices were entirely commonplace."
Every student, including Wei Yuan, was astonished. Someone couldn't help asking, "There are other worlds?"
"Naturally there are. Not just one, but many. Once you cultivate divine abilities, you will naturally come to know."
One girl spoke up, "I know! It's an immortal's heart-manifestation world, right?"
Feng Chutang shook his head. "No, it is a real world. As for the specifics, wait until you reach Scenery Command to explore them yourselves. Once you stand upon higher ground, you will find your horizons broadened a thousandfold, and what you once saw and heard was merely the view of a frog at the bottom of a well."
The youths were immediately filled with yearning. This world truly held far too many secrets waiting to be uncovered. In the impetuous nature of youth, they wished they could grow up instantly so they could ride the winds, command flying swords, and explore the boundless worlds.
Feng Chutang continued with what followed:
"Once this method was proposed, the great immortal sects naturally favored it, and any objections from minor sects were useless. However, in the years that followed, the various sects fought for another century over superior and inferior ranks and higher or lower standings. In short, they eventually fought their way to a set of rules, resulting in the Great Tang Immortal Sect Disciple Recruitment Unified Examination, commonly known as the unified immortal examination. As for sect rankings, that established the system of immortal sects, grotto-heavens, blessed lands, and ordinary sects."
Wei Yuan asked, "Then what about the sects that haven't entered the system? Could they never recruit disciples?"
Feng Chutang nodded to Wei Yuan and said, "A good question. The solution was also proposed by that extraordinary figure: the capable rise while the mediocre fall, opening a channel between upper and lower ranks. Specifically, every hundred years, the sects undergo reevaluation and their rankings are reassessed. Those ranked lowest are demoted to the next tier, while the lowest-ranking sects among the fourth-rank sects are kicked out of the unified examination system, replaced by capable candidate sects. This way, rapidly developing minor sects could enter the examination system. With hope within reach, the minor sects outside the system focused their ambitions on joining the system rather than rebelling.
"In truth, that extraordinary figure had proposed this method when he first introduced the unified sect examination. However, the great immortal sects at the time were accustomed to looking down from above, all dreaming of ruling the martial world for tens of thousands of years. None was willing to let newcomers in to share the spoils. Only after a century of escalating tempers and mounting casualties did the sects finally turn back to this rule."
By then, the class period had ended. Feng Chutang said, "After you return, write an essay on the merits and drawbacks of this system. If you have better ideas, you may include those as well. Hand it in during the next class. If you finish early, you can leave it directly at my Hall of Affairs. I will review it when I arrive."
A girl suddenly stood up and asked, "Teacher, Eldest Senior Sister Liuli says that cultivators must be good at fighting. Are you very good at fighting too?"
Feng Chutang replied with a beaming smile, "I teach history. In the mortal world, I would just be a frail scholar, the sort who couldn't even truss a chicken. Fighting and killing—I'm not good at that sort of thing."
The next day brought Eldest Senior Sister Liuli's Dao Foundation class once more.
In the first class, Ji Liuli had provided a concise overview of the basic principles of cultivating a Dao Foundation and the six general cultivation methods; only starting with this class did the practical cultivation truly begin.
The students were divided into six groups according to their chosen cultivation methods. Those who had chosen the Jade Toad Gazing at the Moon Chart along with Wei Yuan were only Bao Yun and another boy who had received the ancestral master's bestowal. His surname was Cui and his given name Yu, a descendant of the world-renowned Cui family.
The Jade Toad Gazing at the Moon Chart had exceptionally demanding requirements for one's karmic destiny. Its merit was strengthening one's foundation, but its drawback was that it offered little else. The other five cultivation methods each had their own strengths without such stringent demands, so those electing to cultivate the Jade Toad Gazing at the Moon Chart were always the fewest in number.
Xiaoyu was also blessed with great karmic destiny, but he had long planned his own Dao path. He had not chosen the Jade Toad Gazing at the Moon Chart, instead opting for the Great Sun Sword-Embracing Scripture, the foremost in lethality among the six cultivation methods.
Once the groups were arranged, each student practiced on their own, while Ji Liuli sat high on the lecture dais, overlooking the entire hall.
By now, Wei Yuan had taken his second Chonglou Sea-Calming Pill, and the span of his visualized chart exceeded three zhang. In reality, subtracting the effects of the pills, his actual visualized chart was only two zhang and five chi.
Wei Yuan had been cultivating for nearly half a month. This speed could hardly be called fast—it couldn't begin to compare to the geniuses recorded in the archives. However, Wei Yuan had also discovered something: after Eldest Senior Sister cleansed and refined his foundation last time, his visualized chart had actually retracted by half a chi from its expanded state. Though smaller in scope, its texture and quality had noticeably improved.
Cultivation could not be accomplished in a single stride. Naturally understanding this principle, Wei Yuan did not fret over his exact progress, routinely taking in and exhaling the moon's radiance at set hours each day.
The shadow within the full moon remained there, never stirring. Wisp after wisp of black qi continuously entered Wei Yuan's body alongside the moon's radiance. As more black qi was absorbed, the speed at which Wei Yuan circulated the moon's radiance gradually increased as well.
Ji Liuli surveyed the entire hall, occasionally rousing a student with an issue from their circulation to offer guidance before letting them resume cultivation.
The class passed quickly. The chime of a sounding stone roused the students from their deep absorption. Sitting not far from Wei Yuan, Cui Yu suddenly raised his hand and said, "Eldest Senior Sister, I have completed my visualized chart."
Ji Liuli walked over, her pupils turning azure. After examining him for a moment, she nodded. "A six-zhang Gazing at the Moon Chart, with an anomaly close to supreme grade. Quite good! You may begin Body Casting."
Having received praise, Cui Yu was overjoyed. Looking at Ji Liuli with eager eyes, he asked, "Can I cast an immortal foundation?"
Ji Liuli shook her head, however. "A Heaven Tier is promising, but an immortal foundation depends on serendipity. Your root bone is only eight chi, which holds you back somewhat. When you return, you must have your family find ways to gather more heavenly materials, earthly treasures, immortal pills, and precious medicines that can improve your aptitude. Only then can you secure a Heaven Tier. You must not be stingy in this regard."
Cui Yu gritted his teeth and said, "Rest assured, Teacher! If my Cui family lacks resources, then no family under heaven can be called wealthy!"
Bao Yun rolled her eyes.
Chapter 42