Chapter 226: Tiance Platform

On the way, Mu Feng learned some basic information about Xiangshan Academy. However, some extremely important matters were only known to those within the academy.

Seeing that he seemed quite puzzled, the woman in white smiled and began to explain slowly.

It turned out that, unlike regular academies or private schools, Xiangshan Academy followed ancient customs. All students, regardless of when they joined, were treated equally, with no emphasis on seniority. Here, everything was centered on knowledge and strength. Those with superior knowledge and greater strength earned respect.

Xiangshan Academy valued both scholarship and martial prowess, always advocating for excellence in both. Based on their knowledge and strength, students were divided into seven levels, with corresponding symbols embroidered on their sleeves.

If their knowledge was shallow, they were ranked at the first level, with a book embroidered on the left sleeve. If ranked at the third level, three books were embroidered, and so on. Similarly, for martial prowess, if ranked at the first level, a long sword was embroidered on the right sleeve. If ranked at the third level, three long swords were embroidered. Whether in scholarship or martial arts, the highest level was the seventh.

Upon reaching the third level or higher, students could earn titles and be respectfully addressed as “So-and-so Three Books” or “So-and-so Three Swords.” Once they advanced to the fifth level, they could request to graduate. As long as they passed the academy’s public assessment, they could graduate ceremoniously and participate in the Tongtian Empire’s imperial examinations. Some might even be directly recommended to the Ministry of Rites to receive official positions and titles.

“Our Xiangshan Academy has very strict admission standards, and the requirements for graduation are even stricter. Some people spend their whole lives studying or training here but still fail to reach the fifth level, ending up unable to graduate even in old age.”

The woman in white had a faint blush on her face, perhaps because she had accidentally dropped her brush earlier. A lingering shyness refused to fade. She glanced up and down at the talented Mu Feng, intentionally or unintentionally, before continuing, “However, Young Master Mu, your talent is extraordinary. At such a young age, you were honored as the Jianning First Scholar, a title bestowed only once in centuries. Surely, it won’t be long before you graduate and become a prominent figure in our Tongtian Empire.”

“I hope so!” Mu Feng smiled. “By the way, may I ask your name, miss?”

“My surname is Wen, given name Bi, courtesy name Feixue. From now on, I ask for Young Master Mu’s guidance!” The woman in white bit her lip lightly and mustered the courage to say her name.

In her usual interactions, she considered herself mature and poised. Today, however, for some reason, her heart raced uncontrollably.

“Wen Feixue, good, that’s a nice name.” Mu Feng nodded, committing the name of the woman in white to memory.

“Young Master Mu, the assessment will be held at Tiance Platform. Please follow me.”

The white-robed Wen Feixue spoke in a gentle voice as she gracefully led the way ahead. They walked along the main path behind the front gate, passing by clean and bright-windowed school buildings, gradually heading deeper into the magnificent academy.

Dong, dong, dong…

Not long after they left the gate, a melodious bell sound came from deep within the academy. It chimed three times at once, repeating nine times in total. The sound was loud and clear, echoing across the entire Xiangshan and even reaching every corner of Jiangling City in the distance.

Soon, groups of white-robed students emerged from various school buildings and training grounds, hurrying toward the depths of the academy. The crowd grew larger, gradually merging into a massive flow of people.

Watching the students rushing past him, Mu Feng frowned and asked Wen Feixue, who was leading the way, “Feixue, what are they doing? Did something happen?”

“Young Master Mu, you’ll find out soon enough!”

The white-robed Wen Feixue turned back with a smile and gradually quickened her pace.

Under her guidance, Mu Feng followed the main path up the mountain, climbing to the high mountaintop. A majestic platform appeared before his eyes.

The entire platform was constructed from massive stones, paved with hard and wear-resistant granite. On the platform, relief carvings of ancient Saints were engraved. Some held ancient books, some wielded swords, others rode horses to travel and study… Each was vivid and lifelike, with expressive features. From afar, a sacred, grand, ancient, and solemn aura enveloped him, leaving him in awe.

Tiance Platform!

Led by the woman in white, Wen Feixue, Mu Feng arrived at the sacred ground of Xiangshan Academy. The platform was almost completely filled with people, all solemn and silent. Behind them, countless diligent students continued to arrive in an endless stream.

“Young Master Mu, please!”

Wen Feixue bowed and made a gesture, inviting Mu Feng to proceed first.

So, this was the so-called assessment?

Gazing at the imposing Tiance Platform, Mu Feng took a deep breath, then straightened his posture and strode confidently inside.

In front of thousands of solemn strangers, an ordinary person might have been too nervous to even step forward, let alone stand on the platform for a public assessment. But who was Mu Feng?

Back at Shangling Terrace, when he was still an ordinary scholar, he had faced the pressure of a hundred thousand Jianning border troops without flinching, walking out step by step on his own.

Having endured trials of sweat and blood, breaking through the traps set by the Immortal Sword Sect and the Blind Master, and returning with the Yang Soul Pill, his heart had grown even stronger. Not only was he unfazed by thousands of solemn students, even if he stood before a vast assembly of desolate Immortal Sword Sect swordsmen, he would remain composed and press forward without hesitation!

“Scholarship writes history, martial arts forge legends!”

“Scholarship…, martial arts…”

…

As soon as Mu Feng stood on the high platform of Tiance Platform, thousands of students began to chant in unison, their voices echoing and lingering between heaven and earth.

Study to understand principles, train to strengthen the body!

Watching the thousands of white-robed students shouting fervently, Mu Feng was deeply moved and somewhat enlightened. He recalled his mother’s teachings and the tattoo on his back. In the thousands of solemn students, he saw a shared pursuit and the spirit passed down through generations at the academy.

Huo, huo…

After their loud chants, the students collectively raised their sleeves, symbolically brushing off the dust, then sat down cross-legged in perfect unison. Without a word, the atmosphere grew even more solemn and dignified. From the platform, aside from the dense black dots, all that could be seen was a vast expanse of snow-white.

The black was the sea of heads, vibrant and spirited; the white was the students’ long robes, pure and unblemished. The stark contrast between black and white was striking.

Every student sat upright on the ground, chests out and heads held high. From left to right, they were divided into three distinct formations. Behind Mu Feng sat five respected elders responsible for evaluating this assessment.

On the far left was an elderly man with a gray beard, his eyes closed as if performing Soul Roaming a Thousand Miles. Next to him was a high-ranking official wearing a black gauze cap, likely the supervisor sent by the Tongtian Empire to the academy. In the center sat an expressionless Old Woman. To her right was none other than Grand Master He Xuangao, whom Mu Feng had briefly met at Shangling Terrace. When Mu Feng glanced over, He Xuangao smiled and nodded.

On the far right sat a young woman with a veil covering her face. She also wore a white robe, with three books embroidered on her left sleeve and four long swords on her right sleeve, clearly indicating her extraordinary knowledge and cultivation. For some reason, her graceful figure gave Mu Feng a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen her somewhere before, but he couldn’t recall at the moment.