Sages recited the classics aloud. Countless scholars echoed their words with fervor. Farmers plowed the fields, strategists simulated military formations—armies clashed as debaters of the School of Diplomacy waged verbal warfare, eloquent and sharp. Storytellers spun tales of past and present, while physicians treated the ill.
Each scene appeared vividly before their eyes, as if witnessing a golden era of prosperity and the true flourishing of the Hundred Schools of Thought.
"This is the ruins of the Jixia Academy."
"He even brought the entire Jixia Academy? The City Lord's abilities are truly unfathomable, astonishing beyond belief."
"Incredible! Even if it's just ruins, the residual aura of sages left within is priceless. These are the marks time alone can etch—only a place that birthed sages could hold such deep heritage."
"I recall there are even portraits of sages inside. If we can preserve them within the Immortal Academy, then our academy would become the legitimate heir to their legacy!"
At this moment, those who had once been students of the Jixia Academy immediately recognized the ruins. A surge of indescribable ecstasy swelled in their chests.
Yet the reverence in their eyes wasn't for the sages themselves—but for the Path they pursued.
Sages were not deities to be worshipped, but trailblazers on the same journey. They were revered, but also served as inspiration.
"To think you even brought the Jixia ruins… With this, the foundation of the Immortal Academy will grow immensely," Cai Yong exclaimed, visibly astonished. He glanced at Yi Tianxing, nodding to himself in approval.
This relic alone could help the Immortal Academy skip decades, even centuries, of accumulation.
"I had always planned to found an academy. Once I saw the Jixia ruins, how could I not bring them along? These ruins shall be the first cornerstone of the Immortal Academy's foundation," Yi Tianxing said with a smile.
Clearly, the academy was eager for this relic. A brilliant divine light burst forth from the Immortal Academy, enveloping the ruins completely.
A miraculous transformation began.
From within the ruins, stone tiles disappeared one by one, transforming into lines of sacred scripture, which merged into the Immortal Academy. The ancient teachings engraved on the stones fused seamlessly into the new academy.
From the ground and even the void above, voices of sages echoed wordlessly.
Bathed in this sacred resonance, everyone's body and soul felt cleansed and calmed.
This was the process of the ruins fusing into the Immortal Academy—an absorption and integration of essence.
Suddenly—
Boom!!
A statue manifested out of thin air in the heart of the academy.
It was a statue of Confucius—holding a bamboo scroll, a dignified beard on his chin. As soon as it appeared, lines of sage teachings began to radiate naturally from it:
"Is it not a pleasure, having learned something, to try it out at due intervals? Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar? Is it not gentlemanly to remain unperturbed even when unrecognized by others?"
"Reviewing what you have learned and learning anew—you are fit to be a teacher."
"Learning without thinking leads to confusion; thinking without learning ends in peril."
"You, shall I teach you what knowledge is? To know what you know and to know what you do not know—this is knowledge."
"Silently internalizing, never tiring of learning, tirelessly teaching others—is this not me?"
"The Dao of Heaven may be summed up in one word: it does not act against itself, yet it is boundless in its creations. It is vast, deep, lofty, radiant, distant, and enduring."
"When three walk together, one can be my teacher. Choose the good and follow it; see the bad and correct it."
Each sentence echoed throughout the academy.
Each line seemed to engrave itself directly onto everyone's mind. Even those who weren't Confucian scholars instinctively grasped the meaning—as if the sage himself were instructing them personally, imprinting knowledge onto their very souls.
In that moment, it felt like the mind had been unlocked.
"The Master said: 'Is it not a pleasure, having learned something…'"
Suddenly, Huang Chengyan appeared deeply moved, his expression pious. He began reciting aloud the teachings. Instantly, his literary aura surged, rising visibly like a tide, radiating with pure righteous energy.
The literary energy flooded into him, causing a strange glow to radiate from his body.
Most startling of all—his heart became visible in his chest, beating steadily.
Countless waves of literary energy surged into it, and as the heart pulsed, crimson inscriptions began to appear—ancient red runes etched onto it.
"My heart shall not waver. First vow: Loyalty to the ruler and love for the nation!!"
As these words were spoken, the phrase "忠君爱国" ("Loyalty and Patriotism") burned onto his heart in blood-red seal script. His heartbeat grew fiercer.
"What is happening? Elder Huang… his heart is glowing?! I saw ancient script etched onto it—could he have received Confucius' blessing?"
"That's the Crimson Heart, one of the core meridian nodes in the Confucian top-tier technique, The Crimson-Heart Codex. Opening this node requires a process of questioning and proving the heart. Without a true core belief, it cannot be awakened."
Those who recognized the signs were stunned.
The Crimson Heart Node, a unique Confucian meridian, had awakened from direct insight via the statue. But it could only form if the speaker's vows were true.
"Second vow: To speak for the people!!"
Another red light blazed, carving the phrase into the heart. Its crimson glow intensified.
"Third vow: A clear conscience!!"
A third inscription appeared, fully dyeing the heart red. Glowing runes danced upon it, and within the heart, a vivid image of Huang Chengyan himself appeared—like a deity seated in meditation.
"Good!" Yi Tianxing silently praised.
He knew the Crimson-Heart Codex well. Opening this node was no trivial task—only a vow made from the soul, matching one's core beliefs, would succeed. Speaking a false vow could rupture the heart and cause inner collapse.
But if successful, the vows became guiding principles etched into one's very being.
Yi Tianxing was now certain: Huang Chengyan would never betray Xuanhuang City, nor harm its people.
The Crimson Heart formed fully. From Huang's body emanated a noble, sagely aura—he now stood like a great Confucian master, commanding respect instinctively.
"Look, a wall has appeared—there are murals on it!"
Someone cried out. A new sight emerged in the academy.
A wall—formed from the essence of the Jixia ruins—rose within the Immortal Academy.
On it, lifelike murals came to life:
Confucius teaching his students
A farmer cultivating fields
A doctor treating the sick
A general leading armies in battle
Each scene was vivid and real. One could lose themselves in the detail, feel transported—as if witnessing ancient times firsthand. One could almost stand among Confucius' pupils, listening to his instruction.
This was not mere illusion—it was a sacred phenomenon.
Those with fate on their side might even enter the mural, traversing time to hear a sage lecture in person. The opportunity was divine and rare.
Unnoticed by many, the entire Jixia ruin had fully merged with the Immortal Academy, becoming part of its very fabric.
The academy now radiated a deep historical weight, a presence imbued with the gravitas of sages. Its literary and righteous energies surged exponentially.
With the statue of Confucius and the Wall of the Sages, this was the foundation of the Immortal Academy's heritage.
The infused sage scripture permeated the academy, creating a holy aura. Demons and evil beings would be unable to approach—righteous energy would repel them like fire against snow.
"With this alone, the Immortal Academy has skipped a century of development. The statue gathers literary essence; the wall allows one to revisit the past and hear the sages. This is a miraculous fortune."
Cai Yong inhaled deeply, his eyes filled with confidence. With these treasures, he was certain the academy would rise swiftly, its name spreading far and wide.
"Now, I ask Master Song to establish the School of Agriculture within the academy. If recognized, a new district will open—dedicated to the agricultural school."
Cai Yong turned to Song Yingxing, inviting him to take the next step.