A New Morning, A New ResolutionBensheng woke to fine, clear weather. He stretched luxuriously and greeted Ananda perched on the window lattice."Morning, Ananda!"Ananda turned its head and sighed. "You can sleep so soundly. After last night, my heart is still pounding."Bensheng walked over and leaned in, staring intently at Ananda.Ananda was perplexed. "Why are you looking at me like that?""Ananda, you're not calling yourself 'this old one' anymore!" Bensheng grinned broadly. "This is much better! Before, listening to you talk always made me feel like I was about to be scolded by a grumpy old man."Ananda hung its head, thinking of Lucang... "Spending time with you brats, I'm being corrupted!" it muttered. It fluttered its wings, landed on Bensheng's head, and began messing up his white hair with its claws."You dare laugh at me!""Hahaha, stop! That tickles..."An Unexpected VisitorThe bell for the Five Sciences and Arts rang out. Bensheng was already sitting properly in his Internal Science classroom. Never before had he looked forward to a lesson so much. Like Ananda, his heart was also racing because of last night—not because of the bizarre experience, but because of the understanding he had gained.Just one Internal Science lesson from Sanbao had been immensely beneficial, raising countless questions he was determined to have Instructor Xiao Bai clarify.The classroom door slid open with a whoosh. Bensheng looked up
eagerly. However, the figure standing there wasn't Instructor Xiao Bai, but someone who absolutely should not be here."Yeluo?!"The disciples in the classroom looked up in unison."It's the 'Goddess' Yeluo, the strongest female disciple of our year!""Why is she here? She already passed the Academy Exam ages ago!"Yeluo endured the curious stares, scanned the room, and quickly found her target."Bensheng!"Swish—the focus of the entire room instantly shifted to Bensheng. A quiet fell, everyone waiting for her next words.Flustered, Yeluo coughed and managed, "You, come out," before quickly walking away, pretending not to hear the teasing laughter from the classroom."Bensheng, how do you know Yeluo?!""When did you get so familiar with the 'Goddess'? Spill it!"Bensheng, ears burning red from the ribbing, finally managed to escape the classroom.The Borrowed Sword and a Lofty GoalThey wordlessly walked to a deserted corridor. Yeluo breathed a sigh of relief and explained why she had come."This sword?"The pure azure longsword was the very one that had saved Yeluo and Sanbao during the previous night's battle.Yeluo looked embarrassed. "I accidentally brought it out from the Royal Underground Palace..."The intensity of the real battle last night had been so overwhelming that she'd forgotten she had switched swords mid-fight. Hearing this morning that all treasures in the palace had been inventoried and the Constabulary had relocked it, she found she couldn't return it.Remembering that the broken sword had been a recent gift from Court Supervisor Chiluo, she was at a loss. The model student Yeluo was finally flustered, leading her to seek out her "accomplice" Bensheng."You came to the right person!" Bensheng promised, giving a thumbs-up. "Leave it to me!""Are you sure?" Yeluo was skeptical."Putting on an act to fool Old Huang is something I do often!"
Realizing his slip, Bensheng stuck out his tongue, let Ananda out of his pocket, and the trio—boy, girl, and bird—huddled, whispering and scheming...Yeluo untied the sword and fastened it to Ananda, who flapped its wings strenuously and flew off with difficulty.Seeing Yeluo watch Ananda's retreating figure, Bensheng asked, "Yeluo, do you really like that sword?""Mn. During the fight, it seemed to understand my intentions perfectly, like an old friend. It would be wonderful if I could keep it properly!"As they talked, they passed a notice board standing by the path.The wanted posters were tattered from wind and rain. The two characters for "Sanbao" at the top were barely legible.Yeluo smiled wryly. "It seems Uncle really did steal a great many things."Bensheng remembered what Yeluo had said after Sanbao's story last night: 'The reason the Bell of the Instant is the world's most powerful divine artifact is because it controls what no other supernatural power can touch—time. A single toll defines a new temporal age for the continent, corrects chaotic time sequences, restoring peace and order to the world. So, Uncle, the artifact that can help you is the Bell of the Instant. And to ring it correctly requires one recognized by the Bell—an 'Enlightened One.'"He had heard the term "Enlightened One" from Gautama and from Court Supervisor Beimen, but only now did it gain a clear meaning in his heart.So, the Enlightened One was the most powerful practitioner, a hero who saved all living beings, an existence capable of helping everyone.A surge of passion stirred within Bensheng. He was about to share his thoughts with Yeluo when..."LU—BEN—SHENG—!"A familiar roar came from behind. Bensheng stiffened and instantly stood at attention."Skipping class again!" Old Huang stormed over, ready to unleash his temper, but stopped short upon seeing Yeluo beside Bensheng. Recalling Instructor Xiao Bai mentioning something about "Yeluo taking Bensheng away," his prepared speech forgotten, he stretched his lips into a doting, strained smile. "Yeluo, you're here too!""Well met, Court Supervisor Huang."Seeing Old Huang seemed to have words for Bensheng, Yeluo
bowed and took her leave.Old Huang watched Yeluo go with admiration, then looked down at Bensheng, his expression reverting to its previous fury, mouth opening for a lengthy lecture."Stop!" Bensheng held up a palm to halt the impending tirade. He raised his head, expression serious. "Old Huang, I have decided. I will become the 'Enlightened One.'""..."Old Huang found no humor in this joke. He rubbed his temples."Look. Do you know that registration for the Court Examination closes today at noon? The next one is in six years... Disciples who don't pass the Court Exam and graduate as Practitioners must leave the Seven-Leaf Country once their studies are complete. And then... only Practitioners are qualified to enter the Selection for the Enlightened One. As for you, who hasn't even passed the Academy Exam... the above two matters have nothing to do with you."Bensheng was dumbstruck."Waaaah... Old Huang, you have to do something!" Tears and snot of fright streamed down his face as he clung to Old Huang with all four limbs. "Can't you arrange the Academy Exam for me now? I'll pass this time, I know it... and before noon!"Old Huang peeled him off with disgust, frowning at the pitiful face with its messy hair.He sighed deeply."Fine. I'll lose face one more time." He marched straight towards the classrooms, dragging Bensheng along.The Academy Examination - A Test of WitsAfter hearing the reason, Instructor Xiao Bai sighed, doubtful, and wrestled with herself before finally saying, "Alright." She found a colleague to cover her class and returned to her quarters to prepare a test scroll."Instructor Xiao Bai, you're the best!" Bensheng was effusively grateful.Instructor Xiao Bai... smiled. She wouldn't say aloud her reason: 'Gambling on my performance review. Maybe Bensheng can pass, and I'll never have to see him snoring in class again!'While Instructor Xiao Bai prepared the questions, Bensheng eagerly posed the questions from his insights the night before."Instructor Xiao Bai, all things in the world follow the natural order, right?"
Instructor Xiao Bai, not stopping her writing, said, "Correct. The sun rises and sets, the moon waxes and wanes, people eat, horses need hay. These are all part of the natural order.""But supernatural powers can create 'exceptions to the norm'?"Instructor Xiao Bai looked up at him, surprised. "All supernatural powers can create 'exceptions to the norm'!""Then, can spells change things like the time or space of the target?" Bensheng recalled Sanbao's "Remote Manipulation" spell, which had changed their spatial position—first bringing Yeluo and Ananda from outside the door to inside, then transporting him from the palace into the pocket dimension."Now that you mention it, the scriptures seem to suggest that!" Instructor Xiao Bai raised a finger to her chin, thinking. "Lesser Vehicle spells can alter external factors, like the time and space you mentioned. Changes wrought by Greater Vehicle spells, however, affect internal factors—for instance, transforming Thing A into Thing B. But note, here A and B are still fundamentally the same type of object. Let me think... Ah, yes! The spell that 'recast your bones' and gave you a human form is a Greater Vehicle spell."So that's it. I am still me, but I am no longer a beast."Following that logic, do Secret Arts change the fundamental nature of an object?"Instructor Xiao Bai clapped her hands softly. "While the scriptures don't state it explicitly, summarizing it that way seems correct. And Secret Arts can create something from nothing."Create something from nothing... "Path Beneath the Feet" operates on this principle!Bensheng's mind raced with excitement. Containing it, he pressed on. "What about Immortal Arts?"Instructor Xiao Bai shook her head with a bitter smile. "Immortal Arts are completely different from spell craft and Secret Arts."Bensheng was startled. "Huh?""Because Immortal Arts—are arts for changing oneself.""Changing oneself?""The Five Supernormal Powers of Immortality: the Divine Eye, the Divine Ear, Knowledge of Others' Minds, Knowledge of Past Lives, and Supernormal Footwork. These are five kinds of unimpeded spiritual powers. The Divine Eye sees what ordinary people cannot. The Divine Ear hears sounds inaudible to ordinary people. Knowledge of Others' Minds perceives the thoughts of others. Knowledge of Past Lives knows the past events of oneself and others. Supernormal Footwork
allows flight, invisibility, and free transformation." Instructor Xiao Bai explained, "There are no barriers to learning Immortal Arts; even outsiders and ordinary folk can cultivate them. Precisely because Immortal Arts are about cultivating oneself.""But these powers... no matter how much you cultivate, they seem unattainable!" Bensheng said, troubled. "They far exceed what ordinary people are capable of.""If it were that easy, could they be called Immortal Arts?" Old Huang laughed behind them.So how exactly does one cultivate Immortal Arts? Bensheng lowered his head, lost in thought.He closed his eyes. Images flashed through his mind: memories of his mother, Zhong Lixi's teachings, Sanbao's blunt words. Finally, a passage of elegantly wild calligraphy surfaced in his heart."First, all conditioned phenomena are impermanent, subject to instantaneous birth and cessation. Second, all dharmas are without self. Third, quiescent extinction is Nirvana."Upon hearing this, both Old Huang and Instructor Xiao Bai were startled."What did you just say?" Instructor Xiao Bai repeated the words, counting on her fingers. "'First, all conditioned phenomena are impermanent, subject to instantaneous birth and cessation. Second, all dharmas are without self. Third, quiescent extinction is Nirvana.' Yes! If these three correspond to Spell craft, Secret Arts, and Immortal Arts... it fits perfectly!"Bensheng's eyes lit up. "I understand! The essence of Immortal Arts is Nirvana, which is 'extinction'! A practitioner must 'extinguish' the self to break through their own limits and cultivate the Five Supernormal Powers.""Where did you hear this profound statement?" Instructor Xiao Bai asked, curious.A drop of sweat slid down Bensheng's forehead. "Uh... I saw it on a stone wall. It was called 'Penetrating the Three Seals,' written by someone named 'Jiāyè'."Old Huang started violently. Jiāyè... The genius from Chaoyun Country over a century ago... The man who triggered the War of the Enlightened and brought disaster to the world. How could Bensheng have seen his words?Instructor Xiao Bai, being younger and unaware, simply said, "Well, you should thank him properly someday. Here! Your Academy Exam paper! It's on the essence of the Three Arts: Spellcraft, Secret
Arts, and Immortal Arts. Just like what we discussed... Ah, I didn't make it easy on purpose!" She had inadvertently used their discussion for the exam, a professional misstep. Instructor Xiao Bai blushed.Bensheng took the paper confidently.Old Huang glanced at the sundial in the courtyard. "You have one hour left. You..." He turned to Bensheng and found him holding the paper, eyes glazed over, looking faint.He quickly steadied him. "What's wrong?"Bensheng put down the paper and shook his head. "It's no use. Looking at the scripture characters still makes me dizzy.""Ah?"Old Huang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. After the smooth discussion, he'd really thought Bensheng might pass this time, only to stumble at the very first hurdle..."Old Huang, Instructor Xiao Bai, can't I use a spell to pass the Academy Exam?" Bensheng raised his hands, ready to form a seal. "The point of studying scriptures is to enable using supernatural powers, right? Since I can use them, that should count as passing!""No." Old Huang planted his hands on his hips, tapping a finger on Bensheng's forehead. "Scriptures are the foundation of all supernatural powers. Being able to perform one spell doesn't mean you can perform all spells. You're reversing cause and effect.""Ah?" Bensheng scratched his head in frustration and reluctantly picked up the paper again. But the familiar spinning and distortion started the moment he looked. He endured it a bit longer, nearly vomiting up his breakfast.No. I have to find a way...He looked at Old Huang, and an idea struck him."Old Huang! You said 'reversing cause and effect'?" Bensheng clapped his hands and jumped. "I know what to do!"He swiftly formed hand seals, brought his palms together, and silently chanted. Just as Old Huang was about to scold him, a few golden particles of light flickered in the air.More and more gathered, forming words mid-air: "First, all conditioned phenomena are impermanent, subject to instantaneous birth and cessation. Second, all dharmas are without self. Third, quiescent extinction is Nirvana." ... It was the Penetrating the Three Seals. Instructor Xiao Bai watched, mouth agape, as the beautiful, solemn golden characters floated around them."Change!" Bensheng commanded.The particles rapidly rolled and morphed, transforming into dense
lines of scripture text."Settle!"With another shout from Bensheng, the text descended onto the exam paper, imprinting itself neatly in the blank answer area.Bensheng picked up the paper and blew on it gently. "I used a Greater Vehicle spell, which doesn't change the object's fundamental nature, to transform the explained meaning from the Penetrating the Three Seals back into the unexplained scripture characters. Cause and effect reversed. So, does this pass?" He wiggled his eyebrows smugly."You little rascal!" Old Huang couldn't decide whether to be angry or amused."Ahem..." Instructor Xiao Bai interjected quietly. "The exam requires black ink. Gold is disqualified."Bensheng's smile froze on his face, sweat pouring down.The paper was plucked from his hand. "Oh, alright!" Instructor Xiao Bai winked. "We'll make an exception this time!"She took out a vermilion brush and made a gentle checkmark on the paper."Lu Bensheng, Academy Examination—PASSED!""YEAH—!"Bensheng jumped for joy.Old Huang looked at him with heartfelt relief, about to offer praise..."Old Huang, does this mean you're weaker than me now?" Bensheng counted on his fingers, grinning mischievously. "You said you only mastered Lesser Vehicle spells, but I know Secret Arts. And now I've passed the Academy Exam, I can learn even more powerful skills.""You brat, daring to mock me! I'll teach you a lesson!" Old Huang flew into a rage, took off his shoe, and advanced on Bensheng.Bensheng turned and fled. Old Huang gave chase, not forgetting his battlefield tactics, skillfully herding Bensheng towards a dead-end corner.Cornered and about to be thrashed, a sharp glint flashed in Bensheng's eyes. He clasped his hands, raised a foot, and stepped onto empty air.The path generated beneath his feet arched high, allowing Bensheng to sail directly over Old Huang's head."Hahahaha...! Old Huang, try and catch me now!" His taunting laughter faded into the distance.Instructor Xiao Bai stared, wide-eyed, struggling to process what
she had just witnessed. The child who napped in her class had not only passed the Academy Exam but also performed an advanced supernatural power. Was this really Bensheng?!"This child... shows the makings of one who masters the Five Penetrations."A voice, slow as a turtle's, came from nearby. Instructor Xiao Bai turned. The old Principal had arrived at some point."Is the Principal referring to... the manifestation of Supernormal Footwork, among the Five Penetrations?" Xiao Bai pondered this. "Because Bensheng runs fast?"There was no answer. The old Principal had already walked away.