Chapter 250: The Patriarch Protects His Disciple

“Every eight hundred years, a Sage is born. The time for the next Sage to descend into the world is already not far off.”

“What we must do is hold this land and realm firmly until then, no matter the cost.”

The Right Chancellor spoke in a deep voice, delivering the final word and forcibly putting an end to the quarrel among the representatives of the Hundred Schools within the hall.

“As for repairing the [Myriad Ages Legacy Book], the sooner it is done, the better.”

The phantoms of the School Representative solemnly nodded in agreement.

“As for those two sealed Outer Gods…”

“This Chancellor will personally send them into the Forbidden Grounds.”

The moment these words were spoken, even the circulating currents of energy within the great hall seemed to freeze.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, the Right Chancellor slowly revealed a shocking secret.

“In those years, when [Taiyi Xuanpin] descended into the world, it plunged Bing Province into chaos and left its people suffering terribly.”

“At that time, the Hundred Schools exhausted all their accumulated foundations, while the soldiers of the three armies fought with their lives on the line. Yet even then, they were still unable to contend with it.”

“In the end, it was His Majesty who personally took action and finally suppressed it.”

Everyone in the hall naturally knew of these events.

However, what the Right Chancellor said next was a secret unknown to them.

“The incarnation through which [Taiyi Xuanpin] descended was never completely erased from the heavens and earth of Great Qian. Instead, it remains suppressed within the Forbidden Grounds.”

“That is also why the lingering imprint of Taiyi Xuanpin in Bing Province remains so powerful.”

“Under heaven, I fear only His Majesty possesses the ability to truly suppress these evil entities from beyond the heavens for all eternity.”

The Right Chancellor let out a faint sigh.

It seemed that the mere thought of the Qian Emperor, who had remained secluded deep within the imperial palace for so long, inspired a reverence that came straight from the depths of his soul.

Upon hearing this, the leaders of the Hundred Schools within the hall all fell silent, too frightened to utter a word.

The Right Chancellor paid them no mind. He turned to Ying Wuxiu and asked, “After Taiyi Xuanpin's imprint was removed, how have the heavenly phenomena in Bing Province improved?”

Ying Wuxiu cupped his fists and replied, “The temperature is steadily rising. There is hope that within three months, it will return to how it was before the disaster. The lingering radiation of Taiyi Xuanpin's laws will not reappear for at least a century.”

The Right Chancellor nodded slightly, clearly relieved.

“Bing Province, this land of absolute death, can finally gather life once more. We can at least say that we have not failed the common people of this world.”

Ying Wuxiu paused before once again cupping his fists and reporting another important matter.

“The Great Siming has sent a divine transmission from beyond the heavens. For the next three years, she will be unable to descend into this world through Spirit Wandering.”

The Right Chancellor's expression immediately became solemn.

After pondering for a long while, he finally spoke, setting the tone for what was to come.

“In that case, temporarily close the [Zhoutian Grand Formation] and withdraw our defenses across the board.”

“Without the Great Siming's heaven-reaching power assisting us from the side, relying solely on ourselves to withstand the Outer Gods is simply too difficult.”

“Fortunately, over the years, we have secretly captured enough [Beyond Heaven Dao Marks]. For now, let us switch from offense to defense and lie low while consolidating our strength.”

“Agreed!”

Once this decision was made, the leaders of the Hundred Schools all cupped their fists in agreement.

Li Shun keenly noticed that after the single word “Agreed” fell, the tense and murderous atmosphere that had filled the great hall seemed to loosen considerably.

“Beyond Heaven Dao Marks… close the Zhoutian Grand Formation?”

Li Shun silently savored these words in his heart.

Every one of these leaders of the Hundred Schools standing at the very pinnacle of Great Qian was casually revealing secrets concerning the survival of heaven and earth.

Yet for some reason, in his presence, a junior like him, none of them seemed to have any intention of concealing anything.

They simply ignored Li Shun as they continued their discussions.

Next, the Right Chancellor swiftly and decisively assigned detailed tasks to the various schools.

Once everything had been settled, his majestic gaze once again fell upon Li Shun, who had remained standing quietly within the hall.

“Since you have already been able to face an Outer God directly while keeping your Dao Heart unstained, you have surpassed the level of an ordinary disciple of the Hundred Schools.”

“From today onward, you shall enter the Celestial Observation Office and take up an official post, specializing in all matters concerning resistance against the Outer Gods. Are you willing?”

Now that he was already caught within the situation, there was naturally no way for him to retreat.

Li Shun immediately cupped his fists deeply and declared in a clear voice, “I am willing to devote my life to Great Qian. Even if it costs me my life ten thousand times, I shall have no regrets!”

The Right Chancellor nodded slightly and was just about to continue.

“You shall follow the arrangements of the Junior Siming…”

At that moment, the indistinct phantom at the front left of the great hall, which had remained silent from beginning to end, suddenly spoke, forcibly interrupting the Right Chancellor.

“Wait.”

“This old man has a different opinion.”

The figure had originally been hidden within a stream of flowing light, its features too indistinct for Li Shun to determine its identity.

But the instant that voice sounded, Li Shun immediately recognized who it was.

This figure was none other than Dong Chunqiu, the contemporary leader of the Confucian Spring and Autumn Brush lineage!

He was Fang Xun's master, and also Li Shun's nominal grandmaster.

“Although this child possesses a talent capable of resisting the Outer Gods, his origins are ultimately humble. He has never received orthodox instruction, and his cultivation foundation is far too shallow.”

“Yet with nothing more than the mere Grotto Mystic realm, he was able to advance and retreat with composure within such a deadly situation. If we polish and nurture him somewhat, allowing his cultivation to advance another step, then given sufficient time, he will certainly be able to make an even greater contribution to Great Qian.”

“This old man believes that, for now, he would be better suited to enter the Taixue Academy for further study and cultivation. Once he has completed his studies and graduated, he can then enter the Celestial Observation Office. That would be the superior course of action.”

Dong Chunqiu's tone remained calm and unhurried throughout.

Yet the unmistakably forceful implication of an elder protecting his own disciple was already obvious to everyone.

“The Taixue Academy?”

Li Shun's gaze flickered slightly.

In his memories, he had never heard of any such institution existing within the Great Qian court.

However, judging from the faintly astonished reactions of the other leaders of the Hundred Schools, this so-called Taixue Academy was clearly an extraordinary place.

The Right Chancellor fell silent and pondered for a moment before letting out an amused, helpless chuckle.

“Very well. For your sake, Master Dong, I shall grant you this favor today.”

“Let him go to the Taixue Academy and temper himself for a while first.”

With the matter settled, Dong Chunqiu finally turned toward Li Shun and spoke warmly.

“Tui Zhi, rest at ease in the [Weishi Palace] for now. I shall personally arrange for someone to come and receive you shortly.”

Li Shun immediately bowed respectfully.

“This disciple understands. Many thanks, Grandmaster, for making this possible.”

Although he still had no idea what the Taixue Academy truly was, Li Shun was thoroughly familiar with the wisdom of going with the flow, borrowing momentum to conceal one's edge.

Thus, he obediently expressed his gratitude.

…

The illusory figures within the great hall shattered one after another like bubbles, disappearing without a trace.

This meeting of the leaders of the Hundred Schools finally came to a quiet end.

“You must have many questions in your heart.”

“This old man will be taking the [Myriad Ages Legacy Book] to the capital immediately. If there is anything you do not understand, ask quickly.”

The old Daoist Ying Wuxiu turned around and looked at Li Shun with a smile.

Li Shun first asked in return, “Will you truly tell me everything you know? This junior has far too many questions in his heart.”

Ying Wuxiu smiled.

“Ask whatever you wish. Anything I can answer, I naturally will.”

“As for things you should not know, I will not tell you either.”

Li Shun nodded before presenting his first question.

“What exactly is this Taixue Academy?”

“Taixue means the learning of the Supreme. It is knowledge that transcends the ordinary and worldly.”

Ying Wuxiu's expression turned solemn as he answered.

“In the mortal world, you study the ways of becoming an official and conducting yourself as a person. You study methods of cultivation and ways to temper yourself.”

“But what you learn within the Taixue Academy consists entirely of things that ordinary people can neither see nor know.”