From Five Animal Exercises to being hailed as a saint and ancestor

Yao Mengkang had just finished reading the letter to the young talents of the Great Xia Dynasty in the Eastern Region.

A communication talisman flew to him like a streak of light and hovered there.

A profound and peaceful aura lingered around the talisman.

It is the unique Yuanli imprint of Dean Ouyang Shuo.

"Come to the Dean's quiet room immediately."

The message was brief, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

Yao Mengkang's heart stirred slightly. Not daring to delay, he straightened his clothes and walked towards the quiet courtyard deep in the outer courtyard.

His mind raced as he walked, wondering why the dean had summoned him at this time.

Is it because of the news about the Heavenly Dao Academy's enrollment, or... is it related to what happened with Zhou Tong and Zhao Qian last night?

Upon arriving at the dean's quiet room, before he could even knock, Ouyang Shuo's calm voice came from inside: "Come in."

Yao Mengkang pushed open the door and entered, but the scene that came into view made his pupils shrink suddenly.

Inside the quiet room, the sandalwood incense still wafted gently.

Ouyang Shuo sat on the futon in the main seat.

On the opposite side, on another prayer mat.

Sitting there was someone he never expected—someone who had only made a fleeting appearance yesterday.

Li Hanshan, the Lord of the Underworld, who severed Xiao Yunhai's arm in one move!

At this moment, Li Hanshan was still dressed in ordinary clothes that looked a little sloppy, and his hair was casually draped over his shoulders.

But the nonchalant expression on his face had become much less pronounced.

His eyes were clear and deep, and he was holding a teacup, sipping it slowly, as if he were just an old friend who had come to visit.

He felt Yao Mengkang's gaze, looked up, and the corners of his mouth curved upwards almost imperceptibly, carrying an indescribable meaning.

"Dean," Yao Mengkang suppressed the turmoil in his heart and respectfully bowed to Ouyang Shuo.

Then, turning his gaze to Li Hanshan, he paused, and bowed, saying, "Senior Li."

Ouyang Shuo waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be so polite.

He pointed to the empty cushion next to him: "Sit down."

He glanced at Li Hanshan, his tone calm yet tinged with complexity:

"There are some things you should know. Fellow Daoist Li, the reason you came here today is also for this reason."

Yao Mengkang sat down as instructed, knowing that what he was about to hear would likely be a secret that would shake the mainland.

Instead of getting straight to the point, Ouyang Shuo asked, "You saw the announcement for the Heavenly Dao Academy's admissions, right? What are your thoughts?"

Yao Mengkang pondered for a moment, then truthfully replied:

"I have seen it. The Heavenly Dao Academy is a sacred place for cultivators on the continent, and this is a rare opportunity. However... I also have some doubts."

He didn't explicitly state the reason for his doubts, but his gaze involuntarily swept over Li Hanshan beside him.

Li Hanshan chuckled, downed the tea in his cup in one gulp, his voice hoarse with mockery:

"Doubts? Kid, that's good! The Heavenly Dao Sect is no longer what it used to be!"

Ouyang Shuo frowned, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied with Li Hanshan's crudeness.

But he did not refute it; he simply sighed and said to Yao Mengkang.

"Fellow Daoist Li's words may be rough, but they are true. Meng Kang, are you aware of the relationship between the Heavenly Dao Academy and the Heavenly Dao Sect?"

"According to the Taoist scriptures, the Heavenly Dao Academy is the cradle for training talents for the Heavenly Dao Sect," Yao Mengkang replied.

"That was indeed the case in the past." Ouyang Shuo's gaze became distant, as if recalling a long-ago event.

"Since ancient times, the continent has been plagued by constant strife, rampant demons, and widespread suffering."

Ouyang Shuo paused for a moment, then continued, "And the Dao Ancestor, with the world in his heart, was determined to end the chaos and establish order and peace."

"He united like-minded people to establish the Heavenly Dao Sect, whose purpose was to 'create peace for all generations,' and to treat all humans equally, regardless of their origin."

"At that time, the Heavenly Dao Sect was the true backbone of the righteous path, revered by thousands."

"And the Heavenly Dao Academy was established at that time."

"The aim is to open the mountain gates wide, to teach all without discrimination, and to cultivate pillars of society for the Heavenly Dao Sect and for the entire continent."

"It upholds the most original and purest concept of the Taoist Ancestor—appointing people based on their talents and protecting all living beings."

Yao Mengkang listened quietly, and could imagine the magnificent era.

"However," Ouyang Shuo changed the subject, his tone becoming serious.

"Even the greatest ideas cannot withstand the erosion of time and power."

"I don't know when it started, perhaps after the Dao Ancestor disappeared or his core successors passed away one after another, the Heavenly Dao Sect... gradually changed."

Li Hanshan snorted coldly and replied:

"They've become hypocritical and dictatorial! They still claim to protect the people and maintain order."

"But in reality, they've long regarded the entire continent as their Heavenly Dao Sect's private property, their backyard!"

"Those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish!"

"Any genius or force that might threaten their dominance will either be absorbed into their ranks."

"Or they'll be labeled 'demonic' or 'heretics' and secretly eliminated!"

"They set the rules, yet they are above them! The so-called 'equal treatment' has long been a joke."

"It has become a tool for them to eliminate dissidents and consolidate their power!"

His voice was filled with suppressed anger, clearly indicating that he had personally experienced or witnessed far too many such incidents.

Ouyang Shuo nodded and added:

"The world today appears to be generally peaceful under the maintenance of the Heavenly Dao Sect, but in reality, undercurrents are surging."

"They monopolize countless resources, control the path to advancement, and bring any promising talent under their control."

"If anyone objects, we will take swift and decisive action. Their actions have long since deviated from their original intentions."

Yao Mengkang felt a chill run down his spine; he had never imagined that the Heavenly Dao Sect was so pathetic.

"What about the Tiandao Academy?" he pressed.

"Heavenly Dao Academy..." A complex light flashed in Ouyang Shuo's eyes.

"The academy adheres to the original ideals of its founder and refuses to compromise its principles."

"They are still trying their best to maintain a relatively fair selection process, protecting some students who are unwilling to completely submit to the current will of the Daoist Sect. But..."

Li Hanshan sneered:

"But how can they not bow their heads when they're under someone else's roof?"

"The resources and name of the academy are still controlled by the Heavenly Dao Sect."

"They cannot openly rebel against the Heavenly Dao Sect; they can only engage in limited resistance and seek protection within the rules."

"Like the only small window still open in a big room."

Ouyang Shuo sighed, "That's right. The Heavenly Dao Academy can now be considered the last pure land within the Heavenly Dao Sect system that still retains some of its original purity."

"It is also the only hope for many young cultivators who are unwilling to completely submit to the current Daoist sect but are determined to pursue the Great Dao."

"But choosing it also means that you will inevitably be involved in the conflict with the current mainstream forces of the Daoist sect, and your future will be full of hardships."

Yao Mengkang took a deep breath, digesting this astonishing information.

He thought for a moment and then asked a crucial question:

"Dean, Senior Li, how does the Heavenly Dao Sect compare in strength to the Heavenly Dao Academy?"

This is a real problem he must consider.

Ouyang Shuo and Li Hanshan exchanged a glance, their expressions becoming serious.

Ouyang Shuo said in a deep voice:

"Regarding top-tier combat power... as far as I know, the Heavenly Dao Sect currently has at least five supreme beings who have reached the ninth realm."

The Ninth Realm! The Realm of Destiny, that is the legendary realm of gods who live as long as heaven and earth!

"And the Heavenly Dao Academy," Ouyang Shuo paused, his voice even lower.

"Only two powerful beings at the ninth realm are still struggling to hold on."

The gap is huge!

Li Hanshan looked at Yao Mengkang's changing expression and chuckled.

"Kid, feeling hopeless?"

"Wait, I haven't finished speaking. Regarding the existence of the Nine Realms, your cultivation level is too low. Knowing too much will not benefit you."

"But you need to know that cultivators at the ninth realm are bound by the rules of heaven and earth. They basically won't take action."

Ouyang Shuo nodded in agreement:

"That's right. Under normal circumstances, cultivators at the eighth realm are already the highest combat force that each side can openly deploy."

"Even for cultivators at the eighth realm to take action, there are considerable risks involved. Therefore, the current situation on the continent is largely maintained and contested by cultivators at the seventh realm and below."

Yao Mengkang understood. Top-tier combat power consists of nuclear weapons, primarily used for deterrence.

The real contest will take place at the level of conventional forces.

However, the Heavenly Dao Sect possesses five cultivators at the ninth realm, and the number of cultivators at the seventh realm and below under its command must far exceed that of the Heavenly Dao Academy. The pressure remains immense.

A brief silence fell over the quiet room.

Ouyang Shuo looked at Yao Mengkang and slowly said:

"I'm telling you this not to make decisions for you, but to let you know what you might face in the future."

"The enrollment of Tiandao Academy is both an opportunity and a huge risk for you."

"Staying at Qinglu Academy may be safe, but going to Tiandao Academy will allow you to receive a stronger inheritance and see a wider world."

"But it also means choosing a more difficult, even thorny, path."

Li Hanshan, unusually, abandoned his nonchalant demeanor and looked sharply at Yao Mengkang.

"Young man, I can tell you're no ordinary person, and you have high aspirations."

Will you choose to live a life of quiet desperation in a corner of the world, or will you venture into the den of dragons and tigers to obtain the power to shake the very heavens and earth? The choice is yours.

Both of them looked at Yao Mengkang, waiting for his response.

Yao Mengkang lowered his head and looked at his palm.

The greedy faces of Zhou Tong and Zhao Qian flashed through my mind.

The glimpse of the glory of winning the competition in the foreign affairs department flashed by, as did the yearning for a higher realm, and also the resolute figure of Li Hanshan defying the heavens.

Risks and opportunities coexist, and stability and challenges are in opposition.

What path should he take?

A moment later, he raised his head, his eyes had returned to calm, but beneath that calm, it seemed as if a flame was burning.

He looked at Ouyang Shuo and Li Hanshan, his voice clear and firm:

"The student wishes to go to the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty to participate in the assessment and meet many outstanding young talents."