https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-312-The-Subtle-Dao-the-Immortal-Sand-Reviving-Souls/12850618/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-314-The-Ramblings-of-an-Ancient-God/12850682/
Chapter 313: The Disrupted Covert Routine
Chapter 313: The Disrupted Covert Routine
"Have you heard? It seems the Liu family is having problems."
"No, what's going on?"
"Apparently, Liu Huang brought back a painted Dao Venerable statue from the Netherworld, and it contains a Heavenly Path technique."
"You call that a problem? This must be some rumor. If there were really a Heavenly Path technique, the Liu family would hide it, not let it leak out."
"Let me finish. The Heavenly Path technique in the Dao Venerable statue is called the Immortal Sand Soul-Returning Talisman, which has the ability to resurrect the dead, and—"
"They used it on the direct daughter?!!" The voice sharpened.
Anyone with a bit of cultivation knowledge knows that once someone dies and enters the Netherworld, bringing them back means they are no longer the same person, but a ghost from the Yellow Springs.
"Yes, they resurrected the Liu family's direct daughter. Her body and soul both came back, but the problem is that the soul isn't the Liu family's direct daughter's; it belongs to a great terror." The voice grew quieter as it continued.
Ji Shan, standing nearby, was frustrated. As a cultivator, his hearing was sharp, and even though it seemed like they were whispering, everyone here could hear them.
The day after he dealt with Liu Xuan, the Xuanqing Academy extended him an invitation, which he accepted without hesitation. After a period of training, he was ready to start working.
He wasn't the only one; there were also some unexpectedly awakened individuals. Currently, the Xuanqing Academy is under the control of the Yan Kingdom's official government, but some noble families have inevitably inserted themselves through political channels.
After all, the upper echelons are not a monolithic block; there are various factions vying for power. For now, development is steady and positive, with no large-scale corruption.
Most of the personnel here are not from noble families but are recruited from the common people, so there is a greater emphasis on ideology. As the first generation of extraordinary individuals, they are a new force, but also a powerful one.
However, this has threatened some people's interests. After all, if you are dedicated to the public good, it inevitably means that certain individuals won't profit. This is why there is noble family infiltration and factional division.
The high officials need a tool they can control, not someone with ideals and ambitions.
Therefore, political tactics are necessary. Ji Shan saw this clearly. There is a significant difference between the new generation of cultivators and the previous one.
If another generation of cultivators comes along, they might become solely profit-driven, and then, naturally, they will turn against those high officials.
In about ten years, everything will become clear.
But this has nothing to do with Ji Shan. He doesn't care; this situation is quite suitable for his ascent and for causing trouble for others.
He didn't pay much attention to the gossip about the Liu family, though he and the Liu family are not on good terms.
Liu Xuan once led several cultivators to confront him and was killed by him. Since then, he never returned.
As a major noble family in the Yan Kingdom, the Liu family naturally came to find him. Ji Shan insisted he didn't know anything. Back then, he really couldn't do much, but now, with the Xuanqing Academy as his backing, the other party could only leave with some threats.
After all, without evidence, they could only harass him a few times. The academy could tolerate a few challenges as a way to toughen him up, but if it happened too many times without action, it would damage the academy's reputation.
If you join the academy to serve the Yan Kingdom and are harassed by a noble family without any response from the academy, then what kind of academy is this—official or a dog of the noble families?
At first, other students might have found it amusing, but most of them, coming from ordinary backgrounds, would think: if the academy doesn't help someone today, then when they are in trouble tomorrow, they will face the same fate.
Ji Shan used this to his advantage. The academy intervened after the second harassment.
Because at the time, many cultivators from similar backgrounds stood by him, forcing the academy to make a choice.
Either support the noble families or the common people.
In the end, the issue was resolved smoothly. Although the Liu family's representatives were seething with anger, they couldn't do anything and didn't even dare to make threats. They left after giving him a few fierce glares, feeling quite frustrated.
After that, Ji Shan was left in peace, and the Liu family didn't dare to retaliate against him anymore.
"Ji Shan, do you want to go on a mission? Earn some resources to supplement your needs," a bearded man walked over and invited him.
"Recently, I'm quite busy. I still need to review, so you'd better find someone else," Ji Shan smiled and declined.
He wasn't really reviewing; he sensed the man's ill intentions, suspecting it was a move orchestrated by the Liu family.
The Liu family might not dare to retaliate directly, but that didn't mean they wouldn't send others to trip him up. He had already encountered several such people.
"Reviewing every day, you'll end up a bookworm. Battling the heavens and earth is what we cultivators should do," the bearded man said, grabbing Ji Shan's hand and preparing to lead him to the mission board.
Though he appeared hearty and well-meaning, he harbored malicious intentions. Ji Shan subtly shook his hand, using a combination of concealed, overt, and transformational martial arts techniques, which instantly shook the bearded man's hand off.
For Ji Shan, martial arts techniques were quite useful. He didn't have to worry about causing fatal injuries, and with his talent, he had mastered them after just two practice sessions.
Ji Shan wasn't like Qin Muye, who specialized in learning and research. While Ji Shan also studied, he focused more on the Way and the Law, which served to enhance his combat power. Although he studied what he needed to, his approach was different.
The bearded man's eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected this newcomer, Ji Shan, to have such strength. He thought to himself, 'No wonder the Liu family's reward is hard to get; he's not an easy target.'
So, he very decisively gave up.
The other party had effortlessly shaken his hand loose, and his palm was still tingling. If he tried to harm Ji Shan, he might be the one to lose his life.
He wanted the reward, but he wasn't stupid. Between life and money, he would definitely choose life. Even if he got the money, he needed to be alive to spend it.
This was a genius-level student, someone to befriend rather than offend. So, in an instant, he changed his mind.
"Hahaha, Student Ji Shan, your technique is truly excellent. I'm so ignorant; that move you just used is probably stronger than mine. I must have been blind not to see it," the bearded man said heartily, while secretly licking his wounds.
As long as his image remained intact and he hadn't acted, Ji Shan wouldn't suspect his true intentions.
Ji Shan naturally felt the slight change in the man's emotions and the disappearance of his malice. He was surprised by how quickly this person's mindset had changed and humbly responded, "Sharpening the axe doesn't delay the chopping of wood. I can't compare to you, Senior. I just feel I need to learn more before I can go out and practice."
"Good, good, Junior, you speak well. But I can't do that. My brain is too slow, so I need to practice more in the field. I'll go ahead and pick a good mission. I won't disturb you anymore," the bearded man said and quickly ran off, looking a bit dejected.
Ji Shan didn't pay much attention. This one was relatively better. Some others, after being refused, had harbored jealousy and were dealt with by him in secret.
His current strength was formidable, though his attribute panel still showed 0 levels, it didn't mean his combat power was 0.
'Truly, a Mythical-level class customized for me by the Qi Cultivator is well worth it. Combined with my talent, my development has been rapid.'
Currently, in the entire Xuanqing Academy, only the most powerful Dean might be on par with him. According to Qin Muye's classification, he was roughly at the 4th tier.
If he continued for some time, he would likely reach the 5th tier, which was the strength of the patriarchs of the awakened noble families and sects.
Beyond that, the current level of spiritual energy was insufficient to support these patriarchs in breaking through, unless they obtained something like a Dragon Pearl, like Liu Gu.
It was said that Liu Gu had been in seclusion ever since obtaining the Dragon Pearl, aiming to restore his full strength.
Ji Shan closed his book and was about to leave when he suddenly heard a shrill alarm, followed by an announcement from a college instructor: "All students who have begun their cultivation must gather at the No. 1 playground, including those who have already received missions."
"Repeat: All students who have begun their cultivation must gather at the No. 1 playground, including those who have already received missions."
"What's happening?" Ji Shan frowned but headed to the No. 1 playground. This was no small matter; otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths.
(End of Chapter)
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