Journey to the West Creation Technique

A few days later...

Mingli Hall.

Cai Yiheng found the instructor and bowed respectfully: "I've been busy with cultivation these past few days and haven't had time to check on him. I wonder if my disciple has been paying attention in class?"

Upon hearing this, the gentleman smiled and returned the greeting: "It's rare to see Senior Brother Cai so concerned about his disciple."

"Now that I've accepted him as my disciple, I naturally need to pay more attention to him."

"The students in the hall are all teenagers, their minds still unsettled. They are all only concerned with cultivating their inner energy and mostly disdain Taoist principles, finding them boring and useless. Only your disciple, Lu Chengjun, sits quietly in the corner every day, listening to the lessons with great focus. He grasps the principles of the Five Elements and the Book of Changes with ease. He takes great care of the basic formations and astrological numerology that others find tedious, often staying after class to ask questions. His notes are filled with dense notes. His dedication to learning far surpasses that of the other disciples."

The instructor paused, then changed the subject slightly: "However... this child is distracted when meditating and practicing Qi cultivation, but instead is keen on studying the Five Elements and the Book of Changes, which is really putting the cart before the horse."

"What you say is true, sir. We cultivators should prioritize our cultivation. I will discuss this matter with him myself."

"Senior Brother Cai, let nature take its course... That child is already eighteen this year, and he started cultivating Qi too late. I'm afraid he'll never be able to reach the threshold of Foundation Establishment in this lifetime. I observe his temperament and comprehension, and he has a great talent for the study of array formations. If he can devote himself to studying array formations, numerology, and the principles of the I Ching, he might be able to forge a different path of cultivation."

"Thank you, sir. I understand."

After bidding farewell to his teacher, he walked through the corridor and saw Lu Chengjun squatting in front of the battle formation platform outside the Mingli Hall, holding a twig in his hand and drawing on the ground.

Scattered around him were several fragments of stones that served as battle flags, arranged in a haphazard yet orderly fashion, vaguely forming a formation.

"Chengjun".

Lu Chengjun looked up upon hearing the voice, and quickly stood up to bow: "Master."

Cai Yiheng approached and glanced down at the array diagram on the ground. It was a simplified version of the Five Elements Returning to Origin Array.

Although still inexperienced, his overall approach was sound, and his strategy was clear. He neither confirmed nor denied it, only saying, "The master praised your diligence, saying that you grasped the principles of the Five Elements very quickly."

"It's a rare opportunity to calmly study; how could I, your disciple, dare not slack off?"

"Then tell me, why don't you focus on cultivating your inner energy?"

Lu Chengjun's eyes flickered upon hearing this: "This... what this disciple intends to do is first learn the profound principles of Taoism, and then diligently cultivate."

Cai Yiheng sighed slightly, then changed the subject: "At your age, you should be in school."

"This... I feel ashamed to be learning from a bunch of little kids."

"Hmph! Others laugh at you, that's because they're shallow! How can you laugh at yourself?" Cai Yiheng rebuked.

"This disciple dares not."

"The rules for entering the school are very strict. There is an assessment upon entering the school, a small test every three months, and a major exam every year. Each assessment tests one's cultivation level. If one fails the assessment, one will be expelled directly from the school."

He paused, looked at Lu Chengjun, and continued, "Once expelled from school, according to the sect's rules, it's equivalent to being expelled from the sect, with no way back."

"You can only stay at Mingli Hall for a maximum of three years. After three years, no matter how long you delay, you will have to go to school. We can't let you stay here indefinitely!"

"You must make good use of these three years to cultivate your Qi. You must not slack off in the slightest. It would be best if you could raise your cultivation to the third level of Qi Refining after three years. That way, you won't be expelled from the academy."

"I will remember your teachings, Master, and I will diligently cultivate my inner energy without ever slacking off." Lu Chengjun bowed deeply.

"Okay. Don't disappoint me." After saying that, Cai Yiheng turned and left.

One month later...

The sect's mission hall issued an order, instructing Cai Yiheng to be assigned to the outer sect patrol team and to patrol the perimeter of the mountain gate for one month.

He accepted the token and stood in the courtyard, letting out a soft sigh.

If he were in the Central Plains, with his cultivation at the ninth level of Qi Refining, he should have long ago abandoned all worldly affairs and gone into seclusion.

However, the monsters surrounding the Nanming Guard were fierce, and there were not many people, so he could only follow orders.

However, before setting off, he decided to visit Lu Chengjun again.

I want to know if he will listen to advice and focus on practicing his qi.

Upon arriving at the lecture hall, I met Mr. Minglitang.

Cai Yiheng cut to the chase: "Has my disciple Chengjun been behaving well in the hall lately? Has he been diligently meditating and cultivating his qi?"

Upon hearing this, the teacher was taken aback. After a moment of silence, he carefully said, "Brother Cai, you may not know this, but my young friend Lu Chengjun is no longer taking classes at my Mingli Hall."

Cai Yiheng looked bewildered: "Then where did he go?"

"Ten days ago, he took the initiative to seek out Master Zhou Xuanyang, who was in charge of the academy, and visited him to ask for his guidance. Master Zhou tested him on the principles of the Five Elements and the Book of Changes, and the young man answered fluently, demonstrating a solid foundation. He was even admitted to the academy without prior notice."

Cai Yiheng's face darkened, and he immediately retorted angrily, "This is utter nonsense!"

A moment later...

Cai Yiheng barged into the school.

The schoolteacher, Zhou Xuanyang, was flipping through ancient books on divination in the courtyard when he saw Cai Yiheng approaching in a hurry, so he put down his book.

"Senior Brother Zhou, was my disciple Lu Chengjun admitted to the academy through your guidance?"

Zhou Xuanyang nodded: "That's right. About ten days ago, he came to me himself. I casually tested him on the Five Elements and the basics of array formations. This child's comprehension far surpasses his peers. Not only is he well-versed in the principles of the I Ching, but he can also independently set up a complete Five Elements Returning to Origin Array. He also has unique insights into astrology and numerology. It would be a waste to keep such talent in the Mingli Hall to be taught alongside young children."

Cai Yiheng frowned: "But his cultivation is only at the first level of Qi Refining. The entrance exam for the academy is extremely rigorous. How can he possibly pass?"

Zhou Xuanyang smiled faintly: "He doesn't need to participate in the assessment."

Cai Yiheng was taken aback again: "Why?"

"He accepted the sect's mission to protect the village, stationed in Fence Village outside the city for three years." Zhou Xuanyang said calmly, "According to the sect's rules, outer disciples are temporarily exempt from school examinations during their missions, as long as they complete the mission on time and report back to the school."

Cai Yiheng's heart tightened upon hearing this, and he immediately said urgently, "But his cultivation is shallow, and he doesn't even know basic self-defense techniques. Sending him to protect the village alone is no different from sending him to his death!"

Zhou Xuanyang shook his head upon hearing this, his tone resolute: "Senior Brother Cai, you're overthinking it. There are patrol teams clearing the area within a hundred miles of the Southern Underworld Guard's borders, eliminating potential dangers in advance. There are also patrol teams within ten miles around to catch any stragglers. What danger could there be?"

"Every village needs someone who knows formations to guard it, and the Nanming Guard is also short-handed, so I recommended him to go."

"Don't worry, the Nanming Guard has been established for over ten years, with more than ten thousand people living outside the city. Although demonic beasts occasionally break into the villages, no mortal has ever perished in their bellies. What danger could a village-based cultivator possibly face?"

Cai Yiheng was speechless for a moment, standing there stunned for a long time without saying a word.

He received a mission from the hunting party and was about to set off.

As long as he completes his mission well, the villagers living outside the city and his own disciples will be in no danger.

Conversely, if a demon beast were to slip in, mortals and disciples with low cultivation levels might perish in its belly.

Ultimately, the Southern Desolate State is too dangerous, and the desire for peaceful cultivation is a luxury.

However, Cai Yiheng had finally managed to secure a peaceful opportunity for his disciple to cultivate, but unexpectedly, the disciple gave it up voluntarily.

a long time……

He could only sigh deeply and cup his hands to Zhou Xuanyang: "Senior Brother Zhou, my disciple is quite stubborn, please take good care of him."

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Cai. His main task is to guard the array nodes at the village entrance at night to prevent monsters from attacking at night. He can also come to the school during the day. It's a very leisurely job," Zhou Xuanyang comforted him.