Chapter 254: Entering the Taixue Academy for the First Time

Even though the road ahead was fraught with danger, it did not deter Li Shun from continuing his exploration.

After standing there and observing for a long while, Li Shun ultimately chose to press onward.

Along the way, through the phantom of Shentu Xin, he could also sense the difference in the flow of time between Great Qian and the vast void of the Primordial Desolate Domain.

“The laws here are completely shattered. There is no unified pattern governing their flow. In some regions, time passes almost exactly as it does in Great Qian. In others, it is faster, while in yet others, it is slower. The only consistent feature is the sheer chaos.”

In a forbidden land where even the very concept of time had been torn apart, besides the strange and deadly danger he had encountered earlier, where the past could be engraved and lifespan forcibly stripped away, there were naturally even more terrifying threats of destruction lurking within.

What frightened Li Shun the most were the pitch-black cracks that would suddenly tear open in the void without the slightest warning, only to close and disappear again in the blink of an eye.

If one were unlucky enough to be brushed by or swallowed up by those silently drifting black fissures, there would be absolutely no room for resistance. One would vanish in an instant.

All connection with the phantom of Shentu Xin would be severed immediately.

Even Li Shun himself had no way of determining what exactly had happened during that instant.

He could only wait until the puppet recovered before descending once more to continue his exploration.

Fortunately, whenever a puppet perished in the real world, it left behind a trace that Li Shun could sense, anchoring its location.

The next time he descended, he could appear directly at the place where it had vanished.

There was no need to start all over again from Great Qian.

The phantom of Shentu Xin had already been traveling for a very long time, yet according to Li Shun's perception, the location of the martial world still remained unimaginably distant.

The vastness of the Primordial Desolate Domain had already far exceeded Li Shun's expectations.

“Even in terms of sheer breadth, it seems to be even more vast than the Primordial Wilderness of old.”

“Because the main body of the world has shattered and been eroded by chaos, this heaven and earth has been infused with endless void and distance.”

It was precisely because the Fangcun puppets neither lived nor died that Li Shun possessed the resources to continue exploring. Otherwise, even a Creation realm expert would likely meet their end somewhere along the way.

Let us set aside the phantom of Shentu Xin and its seemingly endless journey for now.

Above the skies of Bing Province, Li Shun had been waiting inside the Weishi Palace for the person sent by the Spring and Autumn Brush lineage to receive him.

The visitor wore a blue robe with broad sleeves that fluttered in the wind. His name was Cheng Yu, and he was of the same generation as Fang Xun.

However, the relationship between the two was not particularly close. They had merely encountered one another a few times.

“Tui Zhi, I have come at my master's command to escort you there.”

Although Cheng Yu was technically one generation senior to Li Shun, he showed no trace of arrogance and spoke with considerable warmth.

As he spoke, he took out a jade pendant to prove his identity.

A trace of Principle Qi flowed from his fingertip as he gently brushed it across the surface of the jade pendant.

Buzz!

Brilliant light erupted from the jade pendant.

A towering figure, majestic as a mountain, suddenly manifested in midair.

The aura and profound bearing emanating from every movement of this figure were unmistakably those of the Confucian leader, Dong Chunqiu.

Upon seeing this token, Li Shun naturally did not dare show the slightest disrespect. He respectfully saluted and continued to address Cheng Yu as Martial Uncle.

“Is there anything left unfinished here? If not, then we should be on our way.”

Cheng Yu put away the jade pendant. His expression became solemn as he asked the question seriously.

“Once you enter the Taixue Academy, you will not be allowed to leave even a single step until you graduate.”

Li Shun's expression remained calm. Without the slightest trace of reluctance, he shook his head.

“If that's the case, then let's go.”

Seeing this, Cheng Yu did not waste any more words.

He stepped forward and placed his right palm against Li Shun's shoulder.

Principle Qi surged.

At the same time, dozens of dazzling golden characters condensed out of thin air around them.

The characters formed an incomparably intricate array, revolving wildly around the two of them.

A sudden wave of dizziness washed over Li Shun.

In the next instant, the scene before his eyes changed completely.

Rather than transforming into a streak of light and flying across the sky like an ordinary cultivator, it was as though some mysterious force had directly received and guided them away.

The two traveled along an invisible passageway at a speed that surpassed all conventional understanding, rapidly approaching an unknown destination.

All around the passageway, there were none of the familiar mountains and rivers of Great Qian.

As far as the eye could see, there was only endless profundity and deathly silence.

Fortunately, they could still communicate normally.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Li Shun asked, “May I ask, Martial Uncle, where exactly is the Taixue Academy located?”

“Could it be that it isn't within the world of Great Qian?”

Cheng Yu smiled.

“The Taixue Academy has naturally not transcended the world of Great Qian. As for why the method of traveling there is so unusual...”

“Firstly, the Taixue Academy concerns the very survival of Great Qian. It is the core institution into which the imperial court has poured its entire foundation, specifically established to cultivate those capable of resisting the power of the Outer Gods.”

“Secondly, deep within the Taixue Academy are countless rare treasures, including the [Beyond Heaven Dao Marks]. Its security cannot be compromised.”

“Therefore, it was constructed in a place that is absolutely safe and completely beyond the disturbances of the mortal world.”

“Can you guess where it is?”

Cheng Yu actually began teasing him.

“Absolutely safe and far removed from the mortal world? Could it be inside some Grotto-Heaven blessed land?”

Li Shun looked around, recalling the Grotto-Heaven world he had previously witnessed within the Kong Family.

Cheng Yu smiled and shook his head.

“Though Grotto-Heaven blessed land possess the wondrous ability to isolate themselves from heavenly secrets and form independent domains, they still cannot bear the responsibility of safeguarding the Taixue Academy.”

“Then... with my shallow knowledge, I truly cannot guess.”

Cheng Yu did not explain. He merely gave an enigmatic reply.

“No matter. Once your feet truly step onto that land, you will understand everything without me needing to say a word.”

The journey through the void passage felt extraordinarily long and monotonous.

Nearly half a day passed, yet they still had not reached their destination.

Li Shun showed no trace of impatience, however. He simply stood there in silence, allowing himself to be carried through the passageway.

After a long while, the monotonous and repetitive scene before his eyes finally began to change.

A point of light appeared ahead.

Then, the point of light rapidly expanded.

In an instant, it swallowed the two of them whole.

When Li Shun could see again, a towering white-jade gate suddenly stood before him.

The gate radiated an incomparably ancient and sacred aura.

And for some reason, Li Shun felt a faint sense of familiarity emanating from it.

“The Taixue Academy.”

Li Shun stared at the three characters engraved upon the gate.

They were written in the commonly used script of Great Qian.

However, the inscriptions looked very new, as though they had only recently been carved.

They seemed strangely out of place against the ancient gate.

Cheng Yu's expression turned solemn.

A phantom emerged from within his body.

The instant it approached the gate, an invisible barrier suddenly appeared.

The phantom was completely imprinted onto the barrier, while streams of light circulated across it, seemingly carrying out some form of verification.

A moment later, the phantom returned to Cheng Yu.

His body then entered through the gate.

“You wait here for now.”

“This is your first time coming to the Taixue Academy. You will need the approval of the Grand Libationer before you can enter.”

After giving these instructions, Cheng Yu disappeared from sight.

Li Shun silently sensed the aura emanating from the ancient gate.

That feeling of familiarity grew stronger and stronger.

Finally, realization dawned upon him.

A trace of disbelief flashed through his eyes.

“The ancient Heavenly Court?”