“Li Su, please~” In the Western Realm, the voice of the Sect Master Lu echoed through the Xuantian Academy.
After several years of taking on disciples in the expansive Mangkang Mountains, Li Su finally made the journey to the Western Realm and arrived at the Xuantian Academy. He aimed to access the academy’s extensive collection of books, encompassing various subjects.
The Xuantian Academy’s library included texts on formations, alchemy, artifact crafting, and many other topics, such as unconventional and esoteric practices, puppetry, arcane arts, rune crafting, physical cultivation, and combat techniques. Li Su was naturally interested in these materials, as he had made considerable progress in these areas but still lacked in-depth knowledge.
After waiting several years in the Mangkang Mountains without indicating that the sect master’s family would send assistance, Li Su visited the Xuantian Academy to borrow some of the confidential manuals. The long waiting period suggested that the Nascent Soul Peak expert hadn’t relayed the message or that the woman hadn’t been able to find suitable individuals to assist her, making her hesitant to take action.
It appeared that the woman was biding her time, waiting until she could amass a powerful force before launching a decisive attack against the sect master. The likelihood was high that she had already dispatched agents to infiltrate the Northern Realm, but given the vastness of that territory, locating these agents presented a formidable challenge. However, Li Su wasn’t overly concerned. On Mangkang Mountain, both the Flying Immortal Sect and the Li Clan’s grand formation had seamlessly merged with the natural geomantic formation, deterring any potential attackers even in his absence.
The architecture of the Xuantian Academy was distinct, resembling a vast and endless educational institution. The head of the Lu family proudly shared, “I have over twenty thousand disciples in the Xuantian Academy, along with nearly ten million secular disciples. As long as they are willing to study our teachings, they can be considered as secular disciples.” What set the Xuantian Academy apart from other immortal sects was its large number of disciples and the inclusion of numerous secular disciples.
In other words, even individuals without spiritual aptitude could become disciples of the Xuantian Academy. Since cultivating immortality required spiritual roots, this was a departure from the norm. However, the Xuantian Academy not only focused on cultivation but also housed a vast collection of classics, spanning various fields and containing numerous ancient texts. Managing and deciphering these collections, especially when dealing with classical texts or books in different languages or scripts, was a significant undertaking.
The Xuantian Academy had established a grading system for these secular disciples, from ninth to first grade, each offering distinct privileges. Highly knowledgeable secular disciples might even gain access to elixirs that could extend their lifespans. The head of the Xuantian Academy explained, “Young friend, knowledge differs from spiritual aptitude. Some ordinary people, even without spiritual roots, possess exceptional intelligence. Our Xuantian Academy is willing to invest spiritual resources to help them live longer lives.”
Although considered a second-tier sect, the Xuantian Academy held a unique position in the cultivation world. It was not weak, boasting over twenty thousand cultivators, including more than ten Nascent Soul and over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators. The number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the academy surpassed that of the North Sea Clan, which had less than a hundred. Moreover, the ranks of Foundation Establishment cultivators were numerous. This was quite ordinary for a second-tier sect, and the Xuantian Academy’s dominance in the Western Region was evident.
Thanks to their distinctive recruitment method, no other prominent sects in the Western Region besides the Xuantian Academy, not even third-tier sects. This meant that the Xuantian Academy had drawn the majority of cultivators from the Western Territory and admitted some prodigies from the Northern Territory.
The Western Territory, while not as vast as the Northern Territory, was still quite sizable and even more prosperous than the current Northern Territory.
“The Five Realms and Four Seas, the Western Territory is the smallest, but it boasts the most profound cultural atmosphere among the Five Realms, and its people are the most enlightened,” the cultivator Lu proudly explained.
Thanks to the influence of the Xuantian Academy, the Western Territory has a much higher literacy rate in its secular nations than in the other realms. Even small traders and vendors here are articulate and well-read.
Under the guidance of the Sect Master Lu, the two of them arrived at a towering tower with a thousand floors. Inside this tower were collections of books related to cultivation.
“This is what I’ve spent a thousand years collecting and organizing. Feel free to read them. There are some restrictions on each floor as you go higher, but it shouldn’t be a problem for you,” Sect Master Lu explained.
“These books have significant gaps, and some techniques may not be complete. Please be cautious as you read,” Sect Master Lu advised.
After a brief explanation, Sect Master Lu left, and Li Su began reading the books in the tower. This tower was unique because as you ascended each level, there was a small test related to the core books on the next floor. Li Su spent a whole year in this tower.