Translator: CinderTL
Only three fragmented memories surfaced in Xu Sanyan's mind.
He lowered his gaze, lost in thought. These were memories belonging to others. He didn't know who the woman and young man were; perhaps they had become children with drastically altered appearances, or perhaps they had vanished entirely.
Xu Sanyan pieced together what he could from these fragments.
They had entered this place as divine souls. Each strike of the Old Teacher's discipline ruler shattered fragments of their souls, and some memories were hidden within those fragments.
But I was struck by the discipline ruler as well, Xu Sanyan wondered. What memories did I lose...?
He strained to recall, but nothing came to mind. Yet his heart surged with alarm.
Because... his memories harbored secrets!
His identity as a transmigrator, his cheat panel, and the Heavenly Earth Treasure, the Blood-Red Dagger—all were forbidden knowledge.
He could only hope that the fragments of his divine soul he had lost didn't contain these secrets.
I'd rather the world learn of my intimate moments with Madam Wu, the chieftain's wife, than reveal those truths, he thought.
Xu Sanyan was still pondering when the Old Teacher's sharp, impatient voice cut through the air: "Take your seat."
"Yes, sir." Xu Sanyan obediently sat down.
The examination continued, and in the end, he was the only one to pass.
Xu Sanyan scanned the schoolroom, finding fewer than twenty students remaining. He suddenly noticed something odd: his perspective felt off. Had he... grown taller?
He couldn't tell exactly how much taller he was, nor did he dare move recklessly, the memory of the previous day's ordeal still fresh in his mind.
The Old Teacher sat upright in his wooden chair, a book in his hands, and began the lesson. "The sage's words are profound truths. We must study diligently and contemplate deeply. Today, we will discuss the Holy Words."
Xu Sanyan joined the others in swaying and chanting the text. He had never heard of these Holy Words before, nor did he recognize the sage the Old Teacher spoke of.
Yet in this Martial World, where the great power of Heaven and Earth converged, anyone daring to call themselves a sage must undoubtedly possess unparalleled virtue, integrity, and cultivation—a title utterly unattainable by ordinary mortals.
But the sage's pronouncements rang hollow to Xu Sanyan—empty platitudes about filial piety, respect for elders, and neighborly harmony. He had always scoffed at such tired bromides.
I'm no virtuous fool, he thought.
Time passed imperceptibly. Before he knew it, noon had arrived. Xu Sanyan had no idea how time was measured in this world. He hadn't felt the hours slip by, yet the midday sun confirmed it.
In a daze, it felt as if only a moment had passed.
The Old Teacher flipped his book upside down, raised his head, and scanned the room. "The sage taught that a gentleman's mind must never stagnate, nor his actions falter. Beyond scholarly pursuits, a gentleman should master other skills."
Reaching under his desk, the Old Teacher produced another book. With a flick of his wrist, the books in everyone's hands transformed into different volumes.
Xu Sanyan's pupils constricted. What kind of sorcery is this?
"The sage instructed his disciples in the Six Arts: Corpse, Gu, Soul, Fate, Calamity, and Slaughter. Each of you may choose one to cultivate."
Xu Sanyan stared blankly at the book in his hand. Is this what they call the Six Arts of a gentleman?
What kind of gentleman practices corpse refinement, soul refinement, or gu cultivation?
And what in the world were Fate, Calamity, and Slaughter? He'd never even heard of them, but their names alone reeked of impropriety.
The Old Teacher began his lecture. "The art of Corpse is the path of corpse refinement, a profound and intricate discipline..."
"Gu is the art of gu cultivation..."
Xu Sanyan listened intently. The three paths of Corpse, Gu, and Soul matched his expectations.
"Fate concerns life itself. By transforming essence, qi, and spirit into one's destiny, this path cultivates the self." The Old Teacher's voice sharpened as his deadpan gaze swept across the room.
"Calamity is the art of manipulating fate. By transferring one's ill-fated destiny onto others, this path is ethereal, elusive, and the most difficult to master."
"Slaughter, also known as dual cultivation or Yin-Yang Harmonization, involves practices like 'harvesting yin to replenish yang' and 'using human flesh as a cauldron for insect cultivation.' It drains others' vitality to nourish oneself."
Xu Sanyan blinked. This is dual cultivation? Isn't it just Yin-Yang Harmonization?
Though they might sound similar, dual cultivation and Yin-Yang Harmonization are fundamentally different.
Dual cultivation implies mutual benefit for all participants, and its methods represent the grand Dao of Heaven and Earth, the fundamental nature of humanity—a righteous path.
Yin-Yang Harmonization, on the other hand, is a violent plunder of another's cultivation level and life force to nourish oneself, no different from robbery. It evolved from dual cultivation methods, becoming a Demonic Dao.
Of course, Xu Sanyan had no objections to this. He loved "dual cultivation," especially with voluptuous, fair-skinned, and beautiful women.
Xu Sanyan flipped through the book, focusing on the sections detailing "slaughter." The descriptions were remarkably thorough, even including illustrations!
The illustrations were exquisitely detailed, not simple line drawings, but meticulous depictions of every anatomical feature—without any censoring. They even clearly labeled various positions and techniques.
More thorough than anything he'd seen in erotic novels!
Xu Sanyan's eyes darted across the pages, carefully examining the contents. Gradually, he realized... this stuff actually seemed learnable!
This damned place is actually teaching something real?
Xu Sanyan was astonished.
Xu Sanyan gazed at the old teacher on the podium, a sudden thought sparking in his mind.
This place really is like a school, he thought. The teacher imparts knowledge, and the students study diligently. Though the subject matter is... unorthodox, as long as I maintain clarity of mind, it might not be so bad.
The rules, however, were draconian, with penalties that could shatter one's soul at the slightest infraction.
"May I ask a question, Teacher?" Xu Sanyan rose slowly, cupping his hands in a respectful bow, eager to test his hypothesis.
"Speak," the old teacher replied.
Xu Sanyan's heart leaped with delight. The teacher hadn't punished him, confirming his guess: as long as questions followed the established rules, there would be no repercussions.
"Is it possible to study two disciplines simultaneously?" Xu Sanyan asked softly.
The old teacher shook his head. "A gentleman should be grounded in reality, not reach for the clouds."
Xu Sanyan bowed respectfully. "Understood."
What kind of so-called 'gentleman' are you anyway? he scoffed inwardly, rolling his eyes.
As he sat down, his eyes flickered with renewed purpose. He seemed to have found a way out.
If this is truly a school, he reasoned, how would one normally leave?
That's right, it was all about completing his studies—in other words, graduating! Xu Sanyan never imagined that even after embarking on the path of Cultivation, he still couldn't escape school.
The Old Teacher on the podium briefly introduced the Six Arts, inviting the disciples to choose their area of study. However, apart from Xu Sanyan, everyone else sat in a daze, their minds blank. Left with no other option, the Old Teacher randomly assigned them to different disciplines.
After careful consideration, Xu Sanyan ultimately decided to cultivate the soul. This decision stemmed from several factors. First, he possessed Heavenly Earth Treasures to enhance his physical body. Second, his cheat panel provided a direct path to increasing his cultivation level. Thus, focusing on the soul seemed the most logical choice.
The "slaughter" art, which primarily boosted cultivation levels, held no immediate appeal for Xu Sanyan. With a sigh of regret, he temporarily set it aside. Moreover, he could still learn other Great Daos later. Once he observed them, they would be recorded on his panel, allowing him to gradually enhance them using Vitality over time.
"Class dismissed. For today's assignment, thoroughly memorize the Great Dao you have learned. Tomorrow's assessment awaits—those who fail will receive three strokes of the disciplinary ruler."
"Respectfully farewell, Teacher," the disciples rose in unison, bowing deeply.
(End of the Chapter)
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