Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

Chapter 396 - 233: Invalid Bet, 33 Strands of Vast Qi!

As the words of the old Taoist settled, a peculiar glint flashed in the eyes of everyone at Wangjiang Tower, and a few wore expressions of contemplation—this old Taoist hailed from Qingfeng Temple, and his words might not be entirely without basis.

However, Qingzhou Academy is a gathering place for Qingzhou’s scholars and literati and is considered the Holy Land for Qingzhou’s Confucian cultivators. If Qingzhou’s elite Lin Feng Iron Cavalry were to recruit newcomers, it might offer opportunities for commoners outside the noble families.

The military is the realm of martial artists. Among the myriad cultivation methods across the world, that of the martial artist has the lowest threshold: from royalty and nobility down to common citizens, anyone can enter and cultivate.

But Qingzhou Academy is not so; the saying goes, "the poor have no scholars," let alone commoners.

Confucianism emphasizes entering the world and saving it, nurturing Vast Qi as one’s responsibility to uphold the world. This cultivation method is upright and peaceful; although powerful, the cultivation process is extremely slow, and it is closely linked to the dynasty’s destiny.

The saying goes, "Improve oneself when impoverished; help others when successful."

Whether during the Pre-Qin era or the current Great Yan dynasty, a family that can afford to educate its children is not a typical household. Ordinary people struggle with even food and warmth during disaster years; they lack the money for books and the energy for learning.

Confucian cultivation is often chosen by noble families, officials, and gentry descendants, as it requires constantly studying world literature, especially Confucian classics and the works of great scholars. Even if an ordinary family’s child shows talent in Confucian cultivation methods, how can they match the hundred- or several-century-long literary legacy of noble families?

Moreover, Confucian cultivation does not require the initial bone and muscle training of martial artists. Cultivation can begin at a young age without waiting for physical development.

Compared to those born with golden spoons in their mouths, taught by famous teachers and immersed in a cultured environment, commoners already lag significantly in early Confucian cultivation. This gap is not something ordinary talent can bridge, let alone surpass.

For this reason, after the old Taoist spoke and took out the Qingfeng Temple’s Jade Bamboo Sword, many were astonished. Some thought he, being from Qingfeng Temple, perhaps used divination skills to choose this moment for kindness towards Qingzhou Academy, as final selections would still be Qingzhou Academy disciples.

Most people were skeptical, but the emergence of the Jade Bamboo Sword drew discreet attention, realizing the news of Qingzhou Academy’s admissions would escalate competition.

Thus, the old Taoist’s wager was even less likely, rendered futile.

Indeed, the news of the Jade Bamboo Sword that day quietly spread among Qingzhou’s top factions, reaching ears of all noble families in Qingzhou’s ancient county, though ordinary families remained oblivious.

Soon, sons of Qingzhou noble families and major factions were eager for action.

...

The twilight deepened, and candlelight flickered within the Library Pavilion.

Recently, especially this year, Jiang Yao felt a stifling unease within her chest.

Two years ago, she resolutely left the Capital City, coming alone to Qingzhou as a Judge for the Demon Slayer Bureau, not for anything else but to prove herself.

Jiang Yao extremely disliked when others dismissively remarked, "She’s merely relying on her family’s influence."

Having arrived in Qingzhou, Jiang Yao, as an Iron Order Judge of the Qingzhou Demon Slayer Bureau, had achieved little, handling daily trivialities and facing problems when her jurisdiction reported a few Golden Order candidates, just as she thought she might recruit new subordinates.

Initially, three subordinates were promising, but one she personally tested as a Golden Order Blade Catcher died at the hands of rebel forces in a remote area, and another assassinated a promoted Sima of One County after the exam.

Additionally, those remote rebels were unusual; a rebel calling himself Black Mountain Celestial King, a Sixth-Grade Martial Artist, killed a county official without suffering any backlash from the Great Yan’s Flame Qi.

The Great Yan Court places great importance on methods inhibiting or circumventing national destiny; such secret arts are sources of chaos, usually not transmitted through ordinary means but through special methods.

Thus, bringing back the rebel leader’s corpse would count as merit, allowing forbidden soul-search techniques to uncover the Destiny Secret Technique.

Yet, the rebel’s corpse went missing during transport back to Qingzhou.

First, the rebel’s corpse vanished, then the Golden Order assassinated a court official, implicating Jiang Yao, who executed emergency tasks expertly enough to avoid suspension and investigation.

"Sigh..."

Jiang Yao rested her chin on one hand, tapping idly on the desk, her gaze swept over officials writing feverishly, sighing at her apparent promotion yet actual reassignment away from frontline Demon Slayer Bureau tasks, now compiling books for them.

"Li Feiyu, right... don’t ever fall into my hands, or hmph!"

While thinking maliciously, shouting came from outside.

"6:45 PM... Secure the premises!"

Upon hearing, Jiang Yao stretched lazily and stepped first out of the Scripture Department courtyard in her black Six Harmonies Boots, stomping the bluestone ground as if venting her heart’s dissatisfaction.