Chapter 307: Transition

How to make learning very difficult? That’s very simple, because the knowledge itself is very difficult.

But how to make this difficult learning just right, difficult enough to allow students to successfully overcome the arduous study? That is the truly complex question.

This single lecture alone was enough to show the teaching level of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and also to appreciate his profound academic foundation.

While it’s difficult to learn profound knowledge, it’s even harder to teach profound knowledge to others in just the right way.

Fortunately, Li Qi doesn't need to think about these questions right now.

He just needs to enjoy.

Enjoy the ultimate pleasure arranged for him by a Third Grade.

Is this an embodiment of a teaching philosophy?

Difficulty isn't about making students confront challenges directly and forcing them to find solutions, but rather about teaching students how to overcome challenges and allowing them to find joy in the process.

Li Qi is experiencing this very feeling now.

The difficulty is just right, the profundity is just right, yet it allows him to delve deeper and deeper, understanding more and more of this Bushi Technique (Divination Technique) that originates from Shaman Dao.

Moreover, this is particularly suitable for Li Qi.

While Li Qi's other abilities are somewhat debatable, there is one thing he is proud of: his data processing capability.

And this cultivation method most requires data processing capability; it needs to categorize and summarize large amounts of data before one can draw one's own conclusions.

Li Qi studied ravenously, not considering anything else.

It was a lecture personally given by a Third Grade; he simply needed to absorb it to his heart's content.

However, just as Li Qi was studying, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy on the other side looked at Li Qi with surprise.

There was no hindrance at all.

It was as if there was no barrier to learning.

Although this cultivation method was merely a product of his interest, it was based on Shaman Dao and integrated various different Bushi Technique (Divination Technique)s from Buddhism and Human Dao. While not overly refined, it was indeed very difficult to learn.

But it was as if he had encountered all of them before?

Buddhism, Human Dao, Shaman Dao—this student had dabbled in all of them, even researching them quite deeply.

Of course, 'deeply' for his level, but this was still incredible; normal people wouldn't learn so many things.

With such a vast accumulation of knowledge as his foundation, was he able to grasp it easily from the start? Or was he underestimated? It seems that the academic records didn't exaggerate a single word.

In the written examination for the Imperial Academy, the reviewing doctoral scholar's comment on Li Qi was: “Turtle shell divination, calendrical astronomy, subtle techniques, profound numerology, historical records, insect script, and even trivial music, harmonious bells, agriculture, engineering, medicine, water conservancy, and all trades and industries have been dabbled in. Geography, mountain classics, profound texts, Buddhist scriptures, extensive readings, and the sayings of the Nine Schools and Hundred Schools have all been researched.”

Indeed, it lives up to its name.

This student… is indeed very astute. Although some of it is aided by the power of Dao Resonance, Dao Resonance is something that these favored children of heaven all possess, so it can basically be counted as part of their strength and doesn't need to be separated.

This Bushi Technique (Divination Technique) has found its place to be utilized; it’s really good.

Moreover, he has only just entered the Seventh Grade, so he still lacks a method to regulate his body, and this cultivation method is just right for him.

What a pity, what a true pity.

He's actually from Shaman God Mountain...

Never mind, one can't force it. Just treat him normally.

This lecture lasted for four quarters of an hour.

Li Qi suddenly felt the information flow in his mind begin to wane, finally fading away.

Once it completely disappeared, he immediately stood up, bowed, and sincerely said to the white-haired old man before him, “Thank you, Imperial Academy’s Chancellor, for your guidance. Li Qi has benefited immensely.”

He truly benefited immensely.

This Bushi Technique (Divination Technique) is not very helpful for deducing the future, because deducing the future ultimately relies on metaphysics. It's simply impossible to deduce a highly random future through pure calculation, as the uncertainty of the future is too great.

However, it has an excellent effect on regulating the microcosm of the human body. It can calculate in advance how best to modify the body, providing the most effective and side-effect-free methods, without the need for self-experimentation.

It's practically tailor-made for Li Qi.

No… it must have been tailor-made for Li Qi!

Otherwise, it couldn't be so suitable.

However, as a Bushi Technique (Divination Technique), this method also has a certain effect for short-term future deductions involving few variables.

It's just that Li Qi isn't very proficient yet.

He has learned it, but there's still a huge gap between knowing how to drive and being an experienced driver, and the difference between an experienced driver and a professional race car driver is like heaven and earth.

This difference in proficiency will need to be slowly accumulated over time.

At the same time, Li Qi also felt a 'beating'.

It wasn't the kind of beating that forces you to suffer and submit, but a kind of 'magnanimity' from the heart.

Even if you are from Shaman God Mountain, we will still treat you as we always do, without bias or targeting. We can even easily let you learn what you need most.

Because the Central Plains doesn't care, nor will they make an issue out of a mere Seventh Grade like you.

This was a more sophisticated 'beating' than physical violence that made Li Qi suffer and submit, instantly bringing Li Qi to his senses.

Yes, among the many students at the Imperial Academy, he was indeed considered impressive.

But that was limited to among students.

The Imperial Academy still deserves respect.

Li Qi recognized his place in his heart, hid his Seventh Grade complacency, and then performed the elder'srite to the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, politely waiting for his other words.

However, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy opposite him smiled and said, “As long as you don’t dislike it. Everyone else heard the Dao, but you only heard some cultivation method. You won’t feel like you’ve lost out, will you?”

Yes, what others heard was the most fundamental Dao, which is equivalent to directly teaching them axioms and theorems, giving them the most fundamental methods.

But what was taught to Li Qi was just a cultivation method, and although it was a cultivation method created by a Third Grade, it didn't offer much help for his future Dao path.

He gave Li Qi a fish, but not a fishing rod.

However, Li Qi immediately replied, “This is what the student needs most right now. I can walk my own Dao path, but I can’t obtain something like this on my own. I must thank Imperial Academy’s Chancellor for the gift.”

“Since that’s the case, I’m relieved. Go back and prepare. When school starts, come to class,” the Imperial Academy’s Chancellor said, then watched Li Qi leave.

Li Qi also understood the meaning and immediately exited the office.

He didn't want to stay there either; the Ruler's oppressive aura was too strong for him.

Just after Li Qi left, a phantom emerged from beside the Imperial Academy’s Chancellor, then solidified, taking on the appearance of the Mayor of the Capital.

The Mayor of the Capital stroked his beard and commented, “He learns so fast, but he thinks too much and is disrespectful.”

The Ruler beside him moved up and down, as if nodding in agreement, indicating its approval.

The Ruler also had a similar feeling.

Li Qi had no respect for the Imperial Academy’s Chancellor in his heart, only apprehension and fear; his bow was not sincere but purely out of habit and politeness.

“Thinking more allows one to learn faster. Slow people walk steadily, but also slowly. Each has its merits. A Seventh Grade is still too young to tell; they’re just children. Take your thoughts and use them to deal with Mixin instead,” the Imperial Academy’s Chancellor said, glancing at the Mayor of the Capital.

“A Seventh Grade is no longer a child,” the Mayor of the Capital shook his head.

“Just wait five hundred years for him, and see if he still learns so fast,” the Imperial Academy’s Chancellor smiled and said.

Sometimes, learning quickly isn't necessarily a good thing.

When young, learning quickly makes everyone think one is a Genius.

But for them, time isn't that important.

Whether it's fast or not... it's just like that.

“It doesn’t matter anyway, the Imperial Academy is your territory. It’s just… he has a strange Qi about him. Did you feel it?” the Mayor of the Capital said.

“It's perfectly normal for someone from Shaman God Mountain to have a strange Qi about them. When are they not strange?” The Imperial Academy’s Chancellor shook his head indifferently, not finding anything special about it.

Most Shaman are peculiar, fundamentally different from the highly ordered and methodical Human Dao Cultivator. They often even have divine and ghostly Qi wrapped around them, which is not uncommon.

The Mayor of the Capital nodded, then turned and left.

----------

Meanwhile, Li Qi walked out of the room, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Finally, he was out.

The power of that Ruler was truly immense.

It was even greater than the Imperial Academy’s Chancellor himself, giving him a chilling sensation. He wondered what grade of Spiritual Artifact it was.

After leaving the door, he quickened his pace, preparing to find the two Liu brothers.

He had promised to visit their home today.

He returned to their carriage.

He saw Liu Canzhi sitting casually on the carriage frame, whistling.

As for Liu Junyi, he was probably still sitting steadily inside the carriage.

As soon as Liu Canzhi saw Li Qi, he immediately stood up and waved: “Brother Liu, over here!”

Li Qi walked over, and he quickly pulled Li Qi in, asking as he pulled, “Did you benefit immensely from this lecture? I just saw you go in for a private lesson with the Imperial Academy’s Chancellor. How was it? I’ve never heard the Imperial Academy’s Chancellor lecture before. Is he very serious?”

And Liu Junyi on the other side was also very curious.

A personal lecture from the Imperial Academy’s Chancellor was indeed a rare occurrence, and he was also very curious about what Li Qi had heard.

Li Qi didn't play coy and frankly said, “The Imperial Academy’s Chancellor taught me a Bushi Technique (Divination Technique) that is very useful to me now. As for the person… he’s very kind, but he doesn’t seem particularly special. He just feels… natural?”

“natural? Is that so…” Liu Junyi stroked his chin and fell into thought.

Liu Canzhi, however, lost interest after hearing that. He returned to the carriage frame, preparing to drive away, muttering, “Hmph, I thought it was something. Never mind, let’s go home. Today, Brother Li must not return until he’s drunk!”

“Alcohol in moderation, a pleasant drink is fine, but don't overindulge,” Liu Junyi reminded.

“Don’t worry, Big Brother, I have my limits!” Liu Canzhi laughed heartily, speeding up the carriage and heading towards home.

Li Qi sat in the carriage, waiting to visit the two Liu brothers' home.

It wasn't entirely just for fun.

Making friends was one thing, but Li Qi also wanted to take this opportunity to truly get in touch with the upper echelons of Tang Nation.

Not through official business, but through personal connections.

Li Qi didn't think the two Liu brothers were ordinary people. For a single family to produce two Imperial Academy students, if it wasn't due to cultivation from a young age but purely talent, that would be too difficult.

Indeed, Tang Nation's promotion path is very broad and fair. Below the Seventh Grade, almost all cultivation method are available on the market, with no sectarian bias, and explanations of these cultivation method can be found on terminals.

If you want to cultivate, you don't even need to spend money; you can just watch instructional videos on the terminal. There's almost no fairer environment than this.

But the world is, after all, diverse.

Although Tang Nation has made great efforts to popularize cultivation method, people are still closer or farther apart. Having a high-grade expert in the family to offer occasional guidance will certainly be much better than self-study through videos.

Li Qi was still thinking about finding a place to sell his Sacred Flame, so getting in touch with the upper echelons beforehand wouldn't be bad.

Of course, this doesn't mean he was calculating against the two Liu brothers.

Friends can certainly be made normally. Li Qi thought having two friends was quite good, but if he could just happen to get in touch with upper-level Cultivator, why not?

He wouldn't harm them.

With this not-so-pure intention, Li Qi embarked on the journey to his newly made friends' home.

Naturally, there were no incidents along the way. This was Chang'an, and since an incident had already occurred, there would likely be many more eyes watching for a short while.

He watched the scenery along the way.

A major incident had happened a few days ago, but Chang'an had already returned to normal.

Something called 'inertia,' or perhaps 'tradition,' propelled everyone to live as usual, as if nothing had happened.

Walking along the road, Li Qi suddenly asked Liu Canzhi, who was driving wildly, “Brother Liu, where do you live?”

“You’ll know when you get there. It’s hard for me to describe. If I had to say, my family lives at Weixu Two,” Liu Canzhi said while driving.

“Outside the domain?” Li Qi was surprised.

“The fiefdom is over there. In Chang'an, we only have a small house near the Golden Dais. Don’t think too much; in Chang'an, even a First Grade high-ranking official only lives in a house about one or two li in area. You can’t enclose too much land,” Liu Canzhi waved his hand and answered casually.

Li Qi nodded.

He had learned new knowledge, and it was trustworthy knowledge.

Tang Nation's terminals are convenient, but just like the internet, there are many rumors on them, so Li Qi needs to carefully discern information when gathering it, not daring to believe everything, and much information involving high-grade existences cannot be found.

On the public portal of the terminal, what can be easily found is probably only things below the Seventh Grade.

Above that, it's basically all rumors or unreliable news. Finding anything above the Fifth Grade is difficult, so it's not like you can get whatever you want.

It's just... does Tang Nation have fiefdoms? Are they the kind of fiefdoms I understand, for certain special ethnic groups or surnames, or are they fiefdoms for officials?

This is curious; it means that in Tang Nation, some people would have a certain degree of autonomy? That is to say, the Human Dao in Chang'an hasn't been implemented in all worlds, and many places are adapting to local conditions?

In other words, the equality of all people in Chang'an... no, it should be the equality of all people under heaven, has not been popularized throughout the entire outer domain?

Within the Human Dao territories outside the domain, there still exist a considerable number of autonomous regions.

However… a First Grade high-ranking official can only own a courtyard of one or two li in Chang'an, which indicates that at least in this place, privileges are not particularly severe; one could even say it's demanding for those First Grade experts.

Does this indirectly prove… that Chang'an doesn't actually have that many experts stationed there?

When the three lives ancient mirror exploded before, no one came out quickly. Besides the division of responsibilities, was this also a contributing factor?

Li Qi subconsciously began to search for what he wanted from the clues, falling into deep thought.

But at this moment, Liu Junyi suddenly said to Liu Canzhi, “Uncle said not to show off in front of others. Be more restrained.”

“Alright, alright, I know,” Liu Canzhi replied indifferently.

But he still changed the subject and started chatting with Li Qi.