Wang Jingxiuâs enthusiasm, Li Yan was not surprised.
Itâs not that they were very familiar; they had only been together for a few days.
This old Daoist was purely an eccentric person.
His father was "Golden Toad Ancestor" Wang Daozong, the direct disciple of Sanfeng Zhenren. Although not the Master, he was highly respected in Wudang.
It can be said that, from a young age, Wang Jingxiu never suffered any hardship. His cultivation talent was average, but he was a genius in alchemy, pampered as a child, and carried as he grew up, wholeheartedly obsessed with alchemy, harmless to humans and animals, naturally unwilling to provoke anyone.
Thus, when this old Daoist acted up, he was like a child who never grew up.
Even the guards at the gate looked troubled.
Wang Jingxiu didnât care; Li Yan, however, wouldnât act recklessly and entered the mountain gate only after checking the token.
After passing the gate, he lifted his eyes and silently praised in his heart.
This Qiankun Academy occupied a vast area, far beyond ordinary schools.
Entering the gate and bypassing the zhaobi, there was a magnificent square paved with square foot blue bricks. In the center was a circular platform. The courtyard was square in shape, subtly embodying the Heavenly Circle and Earthly Square layout. Two giant copper beasts stood facing each other, resembling Yin Yang Fish, also subtly aligning with the Qiankun hexagrams.
In the distance, palaces were unevenly distributed, with flying eaves and architraves vaguely forming a "momentum".
The Academyâs layout was definitely not random. Looking around, Li Yan even felt signs of his divine skills being suppressed.
"Senior, who is in charge of the design here?" Li Yan couldnât help but inquire.
Wang Jingxiu stroked his beard and laughed, "Did you notice? This place is quite exceptional, built with the cooperation of many people. Both Mo Sect and Fengshui masters contributed. Originally, this mountain didnât have a great terrain, but they forcibly created such a spectacle."
Sha Lifei clicked his tongue and said, "That surely cost a lot..."
"What is money?"
Wang Jingxiu glanced sideways, "Let alone the significance of Qiankun Academy, just the experience of cooperative construction is priceless. Did you know, before the Academyâs completion, Quanzhou was building a new port using the Academyâs magic method. Once built, the pirates and red-haired sea pirates couldnât invade anymore."
So thatâs how it is...
Li Yan was enlightened after hearing this.
Whenever he thought of the Academy, the steam engine would come to mind, but he had forgotten the original reason for building it.
This was the Great Xuan Dynastyâs first specialized Academy for practical matters, with craftsmanship techniques being the focus.
According to the old Daoist, breakthroughs were made in architecture and arrays.
The Academy hadnât even opened and already had such a harvest, increasing Li Yanâs anticipation.
"This is the âDao of Practical Mattersâ."
Wang Jingxiu led them along a wide, smooth bluestone avenue, explaining as they walked, "This path runs through the Academy, symbolizing the Academyâs foundation. Look at the flowers and plants on both sides; they are not ordinary flora, but âHundred Crafts Grassâ specially cultivated by Ge Posheng at the Hundred Herbs Hall, both for viewing and medicinal use..."
Li Yanâs eyes lit up, "Is he the direct disciple of Medicine Saint Li Yaosheng?"
He had heard of Ge Poshengâs reputation before.
The Medicine Saint was gone, but the Li family legacy continued, producing a Daoist Doctor Grandmaster Li Facheng.
But the most renowned was this direct disciple Ge Posheng.
He was "Imperial Hospital Ambassador of Herbal Medicine", also renowned within the Mystical Sect.
"Yes."
Wang Jingxiu nodded, his eyes full of admiration, "Ambassador Ge is indeed extraordinary in the field of medicine."
As they spoke, the three had passed through the front courtyard square and main hall.
Beyond the road extension, several clearly defined areas revealed their outlines.
In the distance, smoke and dust rose from the workshop area, accompanied by the faint sound of metal clanging.
Nearby were several groups of building clusters with exquisite flying eaves and pink walls with dark tiles. The bright windows suggested they were places for scholars to delve into studies.
There was also a scattered cluster of houses near a stream, with various rocks, ancient wood, and unknown beast bone fossils piled outside.
Among them, a complete giant dinosaur fossil had been pieced together.
Perhaps lacking any spiritual essence, they were not spiritual objects.
"Good heavens, is this a Divine Beast from the Classic of Mountains and Seas..."
Sha Lifei looked wide-eyed and turned his head to say, "Brother Yan, this one is bigger than the one we found on Azure Dragon Mountain!"
Li Yan nodded, his eyes also full of interest, "Senior, is there someone still studying this?"
"It is Director Bai Chenshan of Qintian Bureau."
Wang Jingxiu nodded and said, "He is very interested in these. A major task of the Academy is to re-survey the Divine Stateâs geomancy and topography, with many Earth Masters involved. Your tributes probably engage with them the most."
Li Yan furrowed his brow, "Tribute?"
He only knew he could join the Academy, but not the specific position.
"You didnât know?"
Wang Jingxiu was somewhat surprised and explained, "Besides teachers, the Academy also hired many tributesâthose with profound Dao practice. In addition to your âTwelve Primordial Spirits,â there are three Wandering Immortal Teams."
"Surveying the geomancy and topography of the Divine State requires venturing into dangerous territories with few people. Deploying the military for escort would exhaust resources, so tributes are hired for protection. Of course, the Academy doesnât command people in vain; all achievements can be used to claim spiritual treasures from the warehouse and hire Academy craftsmen for tasks."
"Thatâs indeed a good idea."
Li Yan was initially surprised, then smiled.
He was looking to repair the Daluo Dharma Body. The Academyâs warehouse spiritual treasures were his target, not to mention that the Academy had gathered many renowned craftsmen from the Divine State. Unlike before, they were scattered across various places, each with different temperaments, asking for help would require building connections.
Next to him, Sha Lifei was interested in another matter, "Who are the other three teams?"
To be called Wandering Immortals, they must be Mystical Sect experts.
Wang Jingxiu replied, "âSea Treasure,â âDragon Erosion,â and âCloud Guest.â
Li Yan frowned after hearing this, "Iâve never heard of them."
He had been roaming the pugilistic world, collecting a lot of Mystical Sect intelligence along the way, and knew a few famous Wandering Immortal teams.