Chapter 472: The Visit
Chapter 472: The Visit
After returning to the academy, Chen Chuan immediately logged onto the platform to search for information about the teacher, but he couldn't find any specific details.
The information displayed on the communication system was not much different from what he had seen earlier.
Judging from the situation, it seemed that the teacher was not from the central city of Jibei Dao. Considering that the Supreme Academy sent a group of lecturers to the city at the beginning of almost every semester, it was highly likely that this teacher... came from the Supreme Academy.
Previously, regardless of what was taught, fees were charged for purchasing courses. However, in this case, no mention of fees was made, either because the teacher didn't charge like other Supreme Academy faculty or there was another reason.
Currently, aside from not knowing how to break through the fourth limit, there were still some areas where he needed to catch up.
For instance, when he fought others, he still relied heavily on his exceptional physical qualities. While this could be considered the right path, he seemed to lack specific cultivation techniques and application skills for the third limit. He could only use the Furnace Breath Technique.
But the secrets within it were obviously not limited to that. For example, the direct attack on the mind he encountered the other day, and the sudden surge in physical strength, were clearly techniques involving the use of Essence Blood and Divine Constant.
Chengsheng Jian's raw strength was not as great as his, but with those two abilities, he could hold his own against Chen Chuan. This was undoubtedly crucial.
He hoped to make up for this during this visit.
In any case, he would find out in a few days.
After taking the elevator to the dormitory, he freshened up and changed into a comfortable set of clothes. Then, he headed to the practice room, took some special medication, and entered a state of meditation.
The night passed quickly.
As dawn broke, he opened his eyes to the morning light outside the window. Chao Ming, seeing that he was awake, excitedly chirped a greeting.
Chen Chuan stood up and went to change Chao Ming's water.
As he thought about it, he felt that cultivation at the academy and in the Convergence Zone seemed to lack something.
Although the Convergence Zone was more dangerous, the effects of cultivation there seemed to be slightly better. This was probably because the medication itself was designed to align one's spirit with that world.
If one disregarded the drawbacks and invasions, it was not surprising that the Convergence Zone was closer to that realm. However, for others or most people, cultivating in the Convergence Zone was definitely not a wise choice, which was why they had to return to the central city.
If one thought about it this way, the fighters in the cities behind the Convergence Zone, especially those at the third limit, were mostly not allowed to enter the central city. It was unclear how they cultivated, but regardless, if one didn't have exceptional talent and an extremely determined will, it would be genuinely challenging to advance.
At that moment, a message appeared on the interdimensional connector. It was from Su Wei, a team member recruited at the end of the year, greeting Chen Chuan and asking if there was any task he wanted him to handle.
Chen Chuan replied that there were no tasks at the moment and asked him to stand by for now.
His primary task now was to get close to Chen Bitong, and he probably wouldn't be going to the Convergence Zone for some time. Currently, Yuan Qiuyuan and Qin Qingque had not returned from their New Year's visit home, and he would gather them together when they came back to the central city.
After replying, Chen Chuan changed his clothes and prepared to go out. Since the holiday season was coming to an end, he decided to pay a visit to some familiar teachers and friends and bring them some specialties from Yangzhi.
He first visited Teacher Jiang, Teacher Bai, and Teacher Zheng, among others. Then, he went to see Wu Bei and brought him some snacks from Yangzhi. After leaving Wu Bei's house, he contacted Mo Tieshan and planned to visit Cao Xuezhang.
Once he confirmed that Cao Xuezhang was there, he drove to Mo Tieshan's place and parked in the open space in front of the estate. As he approached the manor's entrance, he saw Ding Shu waiting to greet him.
"Captain Chen, the young master is waiting for you in the courtyard. Please follow me."
Chen Chuan nodded, "Thank you." Seeing Ding Shu, he couldn't help but think of Tie Yao. The two of them indeed had many similarities. If Ding Shu were thirty years younger, he might have looked just like Tie Yao, and they probably had some kind of kinship.
When they entered the courtyard, Cao Xuezhang was sitting under a plum tree, wearing a moon-white robe. He was waiting for Chen Chuan and said with a smile, "In that case, I'll have to try it. Please have a seat."
Chen Chuan sat down and said, "Last time I passed by here, I wanted to visit you, Cao Xuezhang, but I saw that the outside was full of vehicles, so I didn't come in."
Cao Xuezhang shook his head, "They are people I don't want to see, but I can't cut ties with them. Let's not talk about them," he looked at Chen Chuan, "Xue Di, have you been to the Convergence Zone?"
Chen Chuan nodded, "I went there before the holiday and returned just before the end of the year. I went home for the New Year and only came back to the central city a couple of days ago."
Then, Chen Chuan shared some of his experiences in the Convergence Zone with Cao Xuezhang, but he didn't mention the specific details of the mission, as it involved some confidential matters.
As for the resemblance between Ding Shu and Iron Demon, he didn't mention it either.
From the details, he could roughly deduce Cao Xue Chang's background. It was possible that Ding Shu and Iron Demon had some familial connection, but in the current Great Shun Republic, such matters were somewhat taboo, and bringing it up might only make everyone uncomfortable.
After chatting for a while, he said, "Senior, I have something here that I can't identify. I don't know if you can recognize it."
Cao Guixi asked, "Did you bring it?"
Chen Chuan then took out the scattered jade and stones from his pocket and placed them on the table.
Cao Guixi took just one look and recognized it with certainty. "This is the jade core of a shattered Heavenly Jade."
"Heavenly Jade?"
Cao Guixi nodded and said, "A sacred object of the Foreign Heavenly Jade Sect." He gazed into the distance, as if recalling something, "It's said that during the reign of the former imperial family, the Palace's royal clan would pay tribute to these jade stones every year."
He then frowned slightly, "The last emperor had a concubine from abroad. He built the Jade Crystal Palace for her, filled with lanterns made from Heavenly Jade. Below was a hot spring pool, and at night, the water and jade reflected each other, sparkling like a galaxy, making it feel like a fairyland. So, the last emperor often played with the concubine in the palace."
The Heavenly Jade in the Jade Crystal Palace, accumulated over the years through tributes, and those collected by the concubine herself, numbered in the thousands. But during the Ninyu Palace Rebellion, it's said that the concubine burned them all in one go."
When clearing the ruins, no corpses or remains of the beautiful jade were found, and even the hundred beauties within the palace vanished. So, later on, people deduced that the concubine might have entered the Convergence Zone through a crack in the imperial family."
Chen Chuan thought for a moment. The Ninyu Palace Rebellion was a famous incident, even mentioned in textbooks. It's said that the last emperor was gravely ill, with no direct heir, so he summoned the feudal lord to lead troops into the capital to kill the demonic concubine and her rebel party."
This triggered a seventeen-year-long conflict among the imperial clan, greatly weakening the vitality of the former imperial family and setting the stage for their eventual overthrow."
Cao Guixi said, "Due to the constant demands of the imperial family in the past, the Heavenly Jade was likely exhausted long ago. Now, there may be a small amount left with the Foreign Heavenly Jade Sect, but with the jade core, it's even rarer."
Chen Chuan said, "I feel that this shattered jade has a spirit-lifting effect, nurturing the Divine Constant."
Cao Guixi said, "It does have that function. If you use Heavenly Jade to make lanterns, radiating from the jade core, and nurture yourself day and night, it can elevate your spirit to the outer realm, as if entering a fairyland."
He spoke solemnly, "The State Religion of the past used incense to harmonize with medicine, creating a pure fragrance. At critical moments, it was enough to focus the mind and vital energy, aiding in breaking through the limits of the human body."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment and said, "I obtained this from a disciple of the Wave Pavilion and embedded it at the end of the sword hilt. It should be used to boost morale, but if it's so precious, it seems it shouldn't be used so superficially. Is it that the Foreigners don't know how to use it?"
Cao Guixi shook his head and said, "It's because the other incense is difficult to obtain. If you can't get it, you can't make the incense medicine, and it won't have the desired effect."
"Moreover, with technological advancements, there are now substitutes. Although they don't compare to the original incense medicine, they're easier to obtain, so there's no need to pursue this."
But..."
He glanced at Chen Chuan, "Since this has come into your hands, we might as well make use of it. I happen to know where to find the other incense. I'll let you know when I find it."
Chen Chuan immediately expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, senior."
After this matter was discussed, the two didn't bring it up again and talked about other things. Chen Chuan stayed until noon before taking his leave.
While the two were talking, Ding Shu was on the side, responsible for brewing tea and pouring water. After Chen Chuan left, he spoke up, "Young Master, that incense is hard to find now, and it's likely only available from that person."
Cao Guixi said, "Take a plant of his favorite Lantern Flower from the garden and exchange it for the incense."
Ding Shu reminded him, "But there's only one Lantern Flower left in the garden."
"It's just a plant," Cao Guixi said, unconcerned. "If it's gone, I can grow more. His incense is there, and without the Heavenly Jade, it's the same."
Ding Shu said, "But that person has been traveling the world, promoting his Restoration Strategy. At this time, if the Young Master sends someone to meet him, it might lead to some unfavorable talk about the Young Master..."
Cao Guixi glanced at him and spoke slowly, "With so many people coming that day, won't they talk?" He picked up the teapot, "When you're in a situation, it's not that easy to break free. It's better to do something meaningful."
Ding Shu seemed to understand, bowing and saying, "I understand, senior."
Cao Guixi shook his head. That wasn't what he meant, but if Ding Shu wanted to interpret it that way, it was his business. He didn't feel the need to correct him."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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