Chapter 66: Damn Genius

Eliminating bandit scourges, slaying Human Fiends…

The unreliable Celestial Merit Record had given him three tasks. He’d already finished one, leaving these two!

The one he’d finished had initially seemed impossible to complete. The two he hadn’t finished? Those had also seemed impossible at first. But right now, his Merits weren’t quite enough anyway, and he wasn’t doing anything. So why not give them a shot? Of course, having Second Young Master Fang run back and forth, suffering through all that trouble, wasn’t something he fancied… but wasn’t there Meng Zhixue?

Since she was dead set on ferreting out that Human Elixir Refinement practitioner, why not give her a little nudge?

This was for justice in the mortal world, it had nothing to do with Merit!

Second Young Master Fang thought very seriously. He considered another issue too: if Meng Zhixue captured the fiend, whose Merit would it count as?

Ah, forget it. He’d settle that when the time came!

Let those who enjoyed bustling about handle all the busywork. Second Young Master Fang was going to study!

Having discovered the wondrous use of Merit and already using it to memorize five of the Seven Classics – Arts, Spirits, Martial, Herbalism, and Calculations – Fang Cun had also discovered his own almost frighteningly terrifying talent for these five paths. His progress was utterly astonishing.

During this time, he still went to the Academy every day as usual. In Lan Shuang Pavilion, he diligently laid the groundwork for his foundation.

He didn’t just memorize the Seven Classics. He also started practicing the simplest, most basic techniques. From time to time, he would borrow cultivation notes from Master Lan Shuang or other disciples in the study pavilions. He studied them carefully, contemplated them deeply, meticulously absorbing and comprehending this complex, profound knowledge of the Qi Refiners, bit by bit, transforming it into part of his own understanding…

And in this process, he felt a sense of effortless ease, like a fish in water!

The talent he displayed during this time even began to alarm the disciples in Lan Shuang Pavilion.

In the first few days, these disciples had been relatively calm and composed. They naturally knew Fang Cun had entered the Academy by challenging the Rear Mountain test and had once shocked everyone during Elder Zhong Yue’s lecture, earning praise as having talent not inferior to his brother, Immortal Master Fang Chi. But hearing about it was one thing; they hadn’t experienced it directly. Subconsciously, they felt Fang Cun enrolled too late and still lagged behind them.

However, as time passed, they gradually sensed something was off.

For the first few days, Fang Cun was largely self-studying, only occasionally seeking Master Lan Shuang’s guidance to resolve doubts. This was because he had so many foundational gaps to fill; looking things up himself first was sufficient. If he truly didn’t understand, he could just grab anyone nearby for clarification. But gradually, this became less straightforward. The questions this guy asked… why did they become increasingly troublesome?

On the first day, the questions were still about those beginner-level techniques no one even bothered to answer. After a few days, the questions he came with demanded serious attention. A few more days after that, one had to gather their wits to handle them. And a few days beyond that… what the heck was he even asking?

These disciples cultivating in Lan Shuang Pavilion were all outstanding students in the Academy, each possessing their own Destined Scripture. As young geniuses aspiring to enter the County Sect or even higher academies, they had all worked diligently on their chosen scripture. While their cultivation level might still be lower than Instructors or even Elder Mentors, when it came to their own Destined Scripture, they could confidently say they understood it more deeply and subtly than any Instructor whose own Destined Scripture differed.

Given this, teaching a newcomer shouldn’t have been difficult for them.

But facing Fang Cun, they felt an unusually awkward struggle. Their attitude toward Second Young Master Fang was actually quite good. Seeing Master Lan Shuang treat Fang Cun with favor, the disciples gradually erased the initial distance between themselves and Fang Cun. They were happy to share and discuss foundational knowledge whenever Fang Cun came seeking guidance…

The key problem was that Fang Cun learned too quickly. Soon enough, he was asking about their own special insights, their unique skills.

This put them in a bind. When someone asks about your proudest realization, do you teach them?

Teach it… It felt wasteful, stingy…

Not teach… It itched, tempting them to explain, to debate…

Because Fang Cun’s questions were always oddly precise, tempting them to argue and discuss. Every time they couldn’t resist sharing their most profound, subtle realizations and insights, leaving Second Young Master Fang stunned speechless and dumbfounded, they felt immense satisfaction. This was the genius who crossed the Rear Mountain and was praised as having talent equal to Immortal Master Fang Chi, yet now he was awed by their knowledge! What could be more gratifying?

However, this feeling quickly turned into deep frustration.

Because they discovered Fang Cun didn’t just consult them; he consulted others too…

He wasn’t just studying their Destined Scripture; he was apparently studying other people’s Destined Scriptures as well…

The most infuriating part was that he’d just be utterly impressed by them, seeming deflated when he left, only to return a few days later seeking more advice. Not only had he fully digested and understood everything explained before, but he’d casually pose new questions that left them dumbfounded!

“Seeking guidance?”

Looking at Second Young Master Fang’s exasperating, smiling face… “Clap!”

One disciple slammed his scripture book shut.

Seeking guidance, my foot! I quit!

This torment wasn’t just for the disciples. Master Lan Shuang experienced it too.

Initially, he assigned Fang Cun the task of memorizing the Seven Classics and thought little more of it, only occasionally checking in to see if he had questions. Yet after barely a few days, he saw Fang Cun could already recite the Classics of Spirits, Arts, Martial, and Herbalism fluently, and the other three Classics were also read with ease. Feeling surprised, Master Lan Shuang gave Fang Cun his own notes on the Classic of Arts, telling him to slowly digest and comprehend them.

Fang Cun seemed very obedient. He studied them carefully for two days… then discarded them on the third.

Master Lan Shuang frowned. “The kid is smart, but this temperament is no good. How can he be so impatient with the Path of cultivation?” Pulling his face into a stern expression, looking imposing, he came to ask: “Why have you stopped reading the notes I gave you?”

Fang Cun looked startled: “I finished them!”

Master Lan Shuang was internally both amused and exasperated. Did he treat this like casual reading? Finish it and that’s it, without reflecting, without deeper study? Deliberately wanting to trip him up, he asked: “Finished them? Then I’ll test you. What is the fundamental principle of the Art of Object Manipulation?”

Fang Cun became serious too and answered respectfully: “First, Borrowing. Second, Guiding.”

“What is Borrowing? What is Guiding?”

“Borrowing Heaven and Earth’s power for one’s use! Guiding the spirits of the four directions to merge with one’s own consciousness!”

Master Lan Shuang couldn’t help but frown: “What do you mean ‘Borrow Heaven and Earth’s power for one’s use’?”

“That gets profound. The Qi Refiner has two great methods: manipulating objects and capturing spirits. The Way of Object Manipulation encompasses flying swords, hovering orbs, protective barriers, and elemental manipulation… all stem from the transformation of a single breath of Innate Qi, transforming Internal Breath into the intangible. Yet one’s own power is ultimately feeble. Though changes can be deft and subtle, there’s the worry of depletion and inability to continue. Only by transforming intangible will into feeling Heaven and Earth’s power, making the external internal, can one truly achieve perfection…”

Master Lan Shuang showed mild astonishment: “Audacious boasting! What Heaven and Earth power can you borrow right now?”

Fang Cun said: “Can’t one after reaching the Golden Core Realm?”

Master Lan Shuang’s expression became somewhat dazed. This isn’t right… hasn’t he gone beyond the syllabus?

The other disciples in Lan Shuang Pavilion listening nearby were also dumbstruck. A moment later… “Clap!” “Clap!”… sounds of scriptures slamming onto desks filled the air!

After this incident, Master Lan Shuang paid extra attention to Fang Cun and began teaching him earnestly. But doing so only deepened his shock. He thought he’d mentally prepared himself for Fang Cun’s talent, but it turned out to be even higher than he’d imagined. Difficult points that other disciples needed painstaking effort to grasp, Fang Cun understood instantly upon hearing them, and quickly derived further insights from them.

This high talent actually pushed this usually gentle instructor to develop a little stubbornness himself. He became determined to see if Fang Cun could truly learn anything. So, without filtering whether it was appropriate or not, he poured his entire body of knowledge towards Fang Cun. And Fang Cun, oblivious to boundaries, simply learned everything thrown at him with the same disregard. He ended up exhausting Master Lan Shuang, while also giving him a strangely addictive feeling of exhilaration.

Originally, around this time, Master Lan Shuang thought he would observe where Fang Cun’s talents leaned, to help him choose a Destined Scripture.

Being an Academy instructor, choosing a Destined Scripture for a disciple was a familiar process. He had an excellent method: regardless of which disciple, they would always show extraordinary interest and potential in one specific path within the Seven Classics. One could clearly sense that if the disciple cultivated another scripture, their achievements might be mediocre, but cultivating this scripture would make their potential limitless!

Ever since becoming an instructor, Master Lan Shuang had chosen Destined Scriptures for many disciples without any issues…

But facing Fang Cun now, he found he couldn’t help him choose…

Talking about the Classic of Spirits? Fang Cun displayed remarkable sensitivity in using spiritual sense, often coming up with ingenious solutions that stunned others.

Talking about the Classic of Arts? He progressed at an unprecedented pace. Flying Swords, Flowing Beads, Barriers, Elemental Arts… learning them as if aided by gods…

Talking about the Classic of Martial Arts? This fellow casually mentions swordplay merging agility with weaponry, or principles about Tai Chi and the Eight Trigrams–his theoretical knowledge is frankly richer than my own!

Talking about the Classic of Calculations? At such a young age… did he seriously just solve the Four Directions Divine Inference?

…

Within a shockingly short time, he had displayed immense potential in multiple scriptures. How was one supposed to choose?

Thinking a little deeper, Master Lan Shuang even worried: “Is it possible his potential is equally high in all Seven Classics?”

However, this concern was finally laid to rest when Master Lan Shuang taught Fang Cun the scripture he excelled at most – the Classic of Documents. After looking at Fang Cun’s meticulously written small regular script for a while, he remained silent, then said with relief: “Place your focus on the other areas!”