Chapter 472: The Visit
Chapter 472: The Visit
After driving back to the Academy, Chen Chuan immediately logged onto the platform to search for information about this teacher. However, he couldn't find any specific details about him.
The content displayed on the transmission was similar to what he had seen before.
Given the situation, it seemed that the teacher wasn't from the Jibei Dao Central City. Considering that the Supreme Academy sent a group of lecturers at the beginning of each semester, it was highly likely that this teacher... was from the Supreme Academy?
This was a very plausible assumption.
Previously, regardless of what was taught, there was always a fee to be paid for the courses. However, in this case, there was no mention of any fees, which meant that either this teacher didn't charge fees like the other teachers from the Supreme Academy, or there was some other reason.
Currently, aside from not knowing how to break through the fourth degree, there were also some other areas where he needed to catch up.
For instance, when he fought with others, he still relied heavily on his exceptional physical qualities. Although this could be considered the right path, he seemed to lack some specific cultivation and application techniques of the Third Limit. The only technique he could use was the Furnace Breath.
But clearly, there were more secrets within the Furnace Breath. For example, the direct attack on the spirit that he encountered the day before yesterday, and the sudden surge in physical strength, were obviously techniques that utilized Vital Blood and Divine Stillness.
Although Jian Chengsheng's raw strength wasn't as good as his, with these two techniques, he could still compete with 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 his dormitory, he freshened up and changed into a comfortable set of clothes. He then entered the training room, took some special medicine, and entered a state of meditation.
The night passed quickly.
As dawn broke, he opened his eyes to the first rays of morning light outside the window. Chao Ming, seeing that he was awake, excitedly chirped a greeting.
Chen Chuan stood up and went to get some water and food for Chao Ming.
At the same time, he was thinking that his cultivation at the Academy and the Fusion Ground seemed to lack something. The effects of cultivation at the Fusion Ground seemed stronger, possibly because the medicine was originally designed to align one's spirit with that world.
If one ignored the drawbacks and invasions, it was no surprise that the Fusion Ground was undoubtedly closer to that realm. But for others, or most people, cultivating at the Fusion Ground was definitely not a stable choice. In that case, they had to return to the Central City.
If one thought about it this way, the fighters in the cities behind the Fusion Ground, especially those of the Third Limit, were mostly not allowed to come to the Central City. He wondered how they cultivated, but regardless, if they didn't have exceptional talent and an extremely firm will, it would be genuinely challenging to advance.
At this moment, there was a message on the Interdimensional Link. It was from Su Wei, a team member recruited at the end of the year, greeting him and asking if he had any tasks for him.
Chen Chuan replied that he didn't have any tasks at the moment and asked him to stand by for now.
The next major task was to get close to Chen Bitong. He probably wouldn't be going to the Fusion Ground for a while. Currently, Yuan Qiuyuan and Qin Qingque had gone home for the New Year and hadn't returned yet. When they came back to the Central City, he could gather everyone together.
After replying, he changed his clothes and prepared to go out. Since the New Year was approaching, he decided to visit some familiar teachers and friends, and also bring some Yangzhi specialties.
After leaving, he visited Teacher Jiang, Teacher Bai, Teacher Zheng, and others. He then went to Wu Bei's place and brought some Yangzhi snacks. After leaving Wu Bei's house, he contacted Mo Tieshan and planned to visit Cao Xuelang.
After confirming that Cao Xuelang was there, he drove to Mo Tieshan's place and parked in the open space in front of the mansion. As he approached the estate gate, 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 and said, "Thank you." Seeing Ding Shu, he couldn't help but think of Iron Demon. The two of them indeed had some similarities. If Ding Shu were thirty years younger, he might have looked just like that. It was possible that the two of them had some kind of kinship.
After entering the courtyard, Cao Xuelang was wearing a moon-white robe and sitting under a plum tree, waiting for him. Chen Chuan approached and greeted him, saying, "This time, I brought some Yangzhi tea and snacks. The snacks were made by my family, so I'm not sure if they suit your taste, Senior Cao."
Cao Guixi smiled and said, "Then I'll have to try them. Please sit down."
Chen Chuan sat down and said, "Last time when I passed by here, I wanted to visit you, Senior Cao, but I saw that the place was full of vehicles, so I didn't go in."
Cao Guixi shook his head and said, "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, "Have you been to the Fusion Ground, Junior Chen?"
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "I went there before the New Year and returned just before the end of the year. Then I rushed back for the New Year and only returned to the Central City these past few days."
Chen Chuan then shared some of his experiences at the Fusion Ground with Cao Xuelang, but he didn't mention the specific mission details as they involved some secrets.
Regarding the resemblance between Ding Shu and the Iron Demon, he didn't bring it up either.
From the details, Chen Chuan could roughly deduce Cao Xuechang's background. While it was possible that Ding Shu and the Iron Demon shared a familial connection, in the current Daxun Republic, such a topic was somewhat taboo and mentioning it might only cause discomfort.
After chatting for a while, Chen Chuan said, "Senior, I have something here, but I can't tell what it is, and I don't know if you can recognize it."
Cao Guixi asked, "Did you bring it?"
Chen Chuan then took out the scattered jade fragments from his pocket and placed them on the table.
Cao Guixi only glanced at them and recognized them immediately. He said with certainty, "This is the Jade Core of the Celestial Jade after it shattered."
"Celestial Jade?"
Cao Guixi nodded and said, "The sacred object of the Foreign High Heaven Sect." He looked into the distance as if recalling something, "It is said that during the reign of the Old Imperial Court, every year, the Gong Clan royalty would pay tribute to these jade pieces."
At this point, he frowned slightly, "The Last Emperor had a primary concubine who was originally from a foreign land. The Last Emperor built the Liuyu Palace for her, filled with lanterns made of Celestial Jade. Below, there was a hot spring pool. Every night, the water and jade reflected each other, creating a dazzling brilliance like the Milky Way, making one feel as if they were in a fairyland. Thus, the Last Emperor often enjoyed boating and playing with the primary concubine within the palace."
"The Celestial Jade in the Liuyu Palace, due to years of tribute and the primary concubine's personal collection, numbered over a thousand pieces. However, during the Renzi Palace Rebellion, it is said that the primary concubine burned them all in one go."
"When clearing the ruins, they couldn't find any remains or these beautiful jade pieces, nor the hundred beauties within the palace. Subsequently, people speculated that the primary concubine might have escaped through a rift in the Imperial Court to the fusion realm."
Chen Chuan thought for a moment. The Renzi Palace Rebellion was a well-known event, even mentioned in history textbooks. It was said that the Last Emperor, gravely ill and without a direct heir, summoned the vassal kings to lead their troops into the capital to kill the demonic concubine and her rebels.
This triggered a seventeen-year-long conflict among the royal family, greatly weakening the Old Imperial Court, and setting the stage for its eventual overthrow.
In a 1691 book, there is not a single error in this version!
Cao Guixi said, "Due to the constant demands of the Imperial Court, the Celestial Jade was likely exhausted long ago. Now, the Foreign High Heaven Sect might have a small amount left, but Celestial Jade with a Jade Core is extremely rare, one in a hundred."
Chen Chuan said, "I feel that these shattered jade pieces seem to have some kind of invigorating effect on the spirit and can nurture the mind."
Cao Guixi replied, "Indeed, it has that function. If Celestial Jade is used for lighting, the radiance from the Jade Core can nourish the spirit day and night, allowing one to ascend to an external realm, as if entering a fairyland."
He spoke solemnly, "The Old State Religion used a special incense, and when ignited at the right moment, it could focus the mind and spirit, 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. It's embedded in the end of a blade handle, probably to invigorate the spirit. But if this object is so precious, it shouldn't be used so casually. Is there a specific method of use in foreign lands?"
Cao Guixi shook his head, "It's because another ingredient for the incense is hard to obtain. Without it, the incense won't have the desired effect."
Moreover, with technological advancements, there are now substitutes available, although they may not match the original incense's effectiveness, they are easier to acquire, eliminating the need to pursue the original ingredient."
However..."
He looked at Chen Chuan, "Since this object has fallen into your hands, you might as well make use of it. I know where to find the other ingredient for the incense. When I find it, I'll let you know."
Chen Chuan immediately expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Senior."
After discussing this matter, the two didn't bring it up again and shifted to other topics. Chen Chuan stayed until noon before bidding farewell.
During their conversation, Ding Shu had been quietly preparing tea and pouring water without speaking a word. After Chen Chuan left, he said, "Young Master, that incense ingredient is hard to find now. It might only be available with that person."
Cao Guixi said, "Just move a plant of his favorite Wind Chalice Flower from the garden and exchange it for the ingredient."
Ding Shu reminded him, "Young Master, there's only one Wind Chalice Flower left in the garden."
"It's just a plant," Cao Guixi wasn't concerned, "If it's gone, I can plant more. Without the Celestial Jade, the incense is useless."
Ding Shu said, "But that person has been traveling around the world in recent years, 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 said slowly, "With so many people coming that day, won't people talk?" He poured tea, "Being in the midst of it, it's not that easy to break free. It's better to do something meaningful."
Ding Shu seemed to understand and bowed, "Young Master, I understand."
Cao Guixi shook his head; he didn't mean it that way. But if Ding Shu wanted to interpret it that way, it was his choice. He didn't bother to correct him.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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