Chapter 236: Unfettered Cultivator

Hu…

A cool breeze blew past. The vast Jiangwu Hall square was densely packed with people, yet it was almost completely silent, with only the sound of the wind blowing through.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Mu Feng remained silent, not rushing to make a choice immediately. His gaze slowly swept over the thousands of students. During the debate on the Tiance Platform, whether it was Ouyang Wu from the Civil and Martial Hall, Yang Liu from the Literary Brush Hall, or Jian Wushang from the Literary Sword Hall, they all carried themselves with exceptional grace and left a deep impression on him.

The Civil and Martial Hall valued both literary and martial arts. The Literary Brush Hall focused solely on scholarship. The Literary Sword Hall advocated for comprehending the mysteries of cultivation through reading and academic pursuits, which aligned perfectly with Mu Feng’s own purpose in coming to Xiangshan Academy to study. For a moment, it was truly difficult to decide which school to join.

“Young Master Mu, our Scholastic Palace upholds a lenient, free, inclusive, and all-embracing approach to governance and learning,” the polite white-robed woman, Bingxue Linglong, seeing Mu Feng hesitate, quickly explained further, detailing the Scholastic Palace’s system. “The three major schools within the Scholastic Palace are different from the sects and schools outside. Although there is fierce competition, there is no fundamental conflict, nor are there strict internal laws. The disagreements are merely in the philosophies of scholarly pursuit.”

“After joining a school, if you feel it isn’t suitable after some time, you can apply to leave and join another school. Of course, if you cannot decide immediately, or genuinely do not wish to join any school, you can also choose to be an unfettered cultivator. You can quietly study and research on your own, or freely audit classes in the halls of any school, and even receive guidance from the masters of various schools!”

Unfettered Cultivator?

Mu Feng’s heart stirred, and he quickly made a decision. “Okay, then I’ll be an unfettered cultivator!”

Lenient, free, inclusive, and all-embracing!

These eight words spoken by the white-robed woman perfectly summarized the difference between Xiangshan Academy and ordinary schools or academies. In the eyes of some old-fashioned pedants obsessed with seniority, this educational philosophy might seem unreasonable, but to a true scholar, it was undoubtedly a sacred place for learning.

Over thousands of years, the Great Thousand World had experienced countless storms and bloody conflicts. Jiangling Prefecture had also endured the trials of numerous dynasties and wars, yet Xiangshan Academy had been passed down through generations. Clearly, this wasn’t merely due to luck.

“Good, the assessment is officially complete. Young Master Mu, welcome to our Xiangshan Academy!”

The white-robed woman smiled cheerfully, bowed in salute, then turned and withdrew. Having undergone the civil and martial assessments and chosen to become an unfettered cultivator, Mu Feng officially became a student of the Scholastic Palace. From then on, he could come and go freely within the Scholastic Palace wearing its standard long robe, or travel outside for studies, and be called Mu Four Books or Mu Three Swords.

“An unfettered cultivator… what a pity. Such a talented individual skilled in both literary and martial arts. If only he could join our Civil and Martial Hall.”

“A golden koi is no mere pond creature; encountering wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon! Just like First Senior Brother Tuoba Tiandu, another peerless genius! Naturally, he is no ordinary fish in a pond. How could he join your insignificant Civil and Martial Hall? I dare say, Mu Feng might even graduate successfully within a few years and become a major figure capable of commanding wind and rain!”

…

As the much-anticipated assessment finally concluded, the crowd gradually dispersed, discussing fervently as they left.

Four Books and Three Swords!

Such talent was enough for Mu Feng, as a new student, to leave a significant mark in the history of the Scholastic Palace. Whether it was the nobles arriving by carriage or the villagers and peddlers who had traveled far on foot, all felt the trip was worthwhile, having witnessed the birth of a great talent in the Scholastic Palace.

Tuoba Tiandu?

Inadvertently hearing several students mention this name, Mu Feng felt a slight stir in his heart. He wondered what kind of person this was, to elicit such high implicit praise from people. After pondering briefly but lacking time to think deeper, he quickly turned and bowed to the five high-ranking officials of the Scholastic Palace seated behind him, thanking them for their evaluation.

“Your learning and strength are not too bad, but there is still a long way to go before you can graduate successfully. Young man, keep working hard!”

The Old Woman in the center stood up first. Expressionless, she spoke lightly, then led the others away as they departed.

As they passed by, the Scholar-Official smiled and nodded, secretly slipping a small paper ball into Mu Feng’s hand before following the others away. The veiled white-robed woman walked at the very end, gliding away gracefully. Watching her receding figure, the sense of familiarity grew even stronger. Yet, for the moment, Mu Feng simply couldn’t remember where he had seen her before.

“Zhuji Lane, Tang Manor!”

Mu Feng unfolded the paper ball, looked at the words written on it, and quickly understood the Scholar-Official He Xuangao’s meaning.

Last time at the Shangling Terrace, it was He Xuangao who ascended the high tower and, on behalf of the Tongtian Emperor, conferred upon him the title of Jianning First Scholar. This time, whether in the Tiance Discourse or in passing the Eighteen Battle Puppets Restriction, He Xuangao’s evaluations of him were the highest. Clearly, He Xuangao was intentionally or unintentionally giving him significant support. Having received such care from him, it was time to find an opportunity to visit his residence.

“The blooming moonlit night in Puyang, where is there no flowing frost? Scholar-Official He Xuangao and the scholar with the same name from decades ago who went to the capital for the imperial examinations, causing He Liushuang’s family to be ruined and everyone to die—were they the same person?”

Staring at the boldly written characters on the note, Mu Feng pondered silently, thinking of He Liushuang, whom he had accepted as the Artifact Spirit of the Eighteen Blood Witch Commands.

One was a highly respected Scholar-Official who had shown him great kindness. The other was a heartless, treacherous villain with a malicious heart. For the moment, he simply couldn’t connect the two. In the vast sea of people in the Great Thousand World, there were many with the same name, let alone an event that happened over forty years ago where many truths were already untraceable. Yet, for some reason, Mu Feng’s suspicion persistently lingered in his heart.

At the Shangling Terrace, the scene where Scholar-Official He Xuangao gave an order, and the guards swarmed in, dragging out the two scholars leading the protest and beheading them, was still vivid in his memory.

A Scholar-Official who couldn’t overpower a chicken, an elderly and frail man—where did such swift and decisive authority come from? What kind of experiences in his life allowed him to remain unperturbed even under the pressure of the one hundred thousand Jianning border troops?

The more Mu Feng thought about it, the more he felt that He Xuangao, this seemingly highly respected Scholar-Official, was not simple—definitely not just an ordinary Scholar-Official.

After contemplating for a moment, he stored the small note away, hoping it was all just his own paranoia. He turned around, about to stride away, when he suddenly noticed that a white-robed woman had arrived behind him at some point.

Her snow-white robe was spotless. Her features were delicate and beautiful, and she carried a faint, orchid-like fragrance. Her smile was as brilliant as peach blossoms, making one feel as if bathed in a warm spring breeze. It was none other than the first female disciple he had encountered upon entering the Scholastic Palace—Wen Feixue. While others had left, she had quietly come up behind him.

“Oh, it’s you?” Mu Feng was somewhat surprised.

“What, great talent, am I not welcome?”

Wen Feixue laughed, poised and natural yet with a hint of shyness. She held a thick book in her arms and presented it forward with both hands. “The Library Catalog. This is a guide for searching the Scholastic Palace’s collection. With this directory, it will be easier to find the books you need. Otherwise, you could spend a whole day in the Scholastic Palace’s Scripture Library and still not find the book you’re looking for.”

“Okay, thank you, Miss Feixue!”

Mu Feng did not stand on ceremony. He took the catalog from Wen Feixue’s hands and walked side by side with her, stepping onto the bluestone path at the edge of the square as they slowly departed.