Chapter 136 — Dream Walk

" Daoist Danyang nodded. "In founding the Lower School, the Upper School, and the Imperial Academy, he has indeed done some good, but there are harms as well. From childhood you have been taught by the Dao Sovereign, and taught by him to this very day. Can the teachers of Imperial Preceptor Jingping's Lower School, Upper School, and Imperial Academy — can the Directorate of Education — match the Dao Sovereign's ability and insight? In founding these schools, Imperial Preceptor Jingping appears to give many people a chance to cultivate and become masters, but he also cuts off the road of genius. That is the fundamental reason our Daoist sect opposes him. " His face was grave.

"The arts of the Dao and divine powers are driven forward by geniuses. Take a genius like Imperial Preceptor Jingping: most men spend their whole lives in mediocrity, knowing only how to learn and how to use, accomplishing nothing, never venturing to break new ground. Imperial Preceptor Jingping has severed the road of genius, and the harm he does reaches far! He spreads these Lower and Upper Schools and the Imperial Academy, and for a time everyone seems a master, everyone remarkable; yet everyone is also mediocre and without achievement, like mooncakes stamped from a single mold. Who among them can teach a figure like the Dao-son? A sect exists for a reason; if he cannot see that, then our Daoist sect will be his enemy unto death. " The Dao-son Linxuan said yes, his heart burning with the will to fight. Daoist Danyang smiled. "You may hold Imperial Preceptor Jingping as an enemy, but do not hold his Dao arts and divine powers as an enemy, lest you narrow your own horizons.

" This time Imperial Preceptor Jingping lectured for two full days without sleep or rest.

Many could not hold on and grew drowsy; some simply fell asleep before the Hall of the Imperial Academy, and some went down to rest. Shen Mu and a few scholars of deep cultivation remained bright-eyed, listening with all their hearts.

Only, he was of the Five Luminaries realm, while they were masters of the Six Harmonies and Seven Stars realms. The third basic sword stance Imperial Preceptor Jingping taught was called the Drill, and it too was exceedingly strange. Wielded with a single sword, the tip spun at furious speed, excellent for breaking through all defensive arts such as the Diamond Body; wielded with many swords it was more terrifying still, for many blades formed one enormous drilling sword stance that nothing could withstand.

In two days he taught only these three sword stances, and taught no more after that; instead he let the scholars of the Imperial Academy ask questions, and he resolved their doubts. When the questions were finished, Imperial Preceptor Jingping rose and said with a smile to the young Patriarch, "I leave these scholars half a day to sleep, rest, and eat. The rest of the business I must trouble the Grand Libationer to handle.

" The young Patriarch smiled.

"Imperial Preceptor Jingping, your talent is unmatched. Did you find any talents this time? " Imperial Preceptor Jingping nodded.

"Those who have truly grasped my sword art — one or two, no more. The Grand Libationer should be able to tell. By the way, are you truly going to resign your office and leave? " The young Patriarch nodded. "My life will not last much longer; there is no need to cling to power any further.

" Imperial Preceptor Jingping sighed with feeling.

"When have you ever clung to power? If you wanted office, I would yield even the seat of Imperial Preceptor Jingping to you!

It is only that you have no wish for it.

You are half a master to me; if you go, I shall be greatly grieved. One more of my comrades on the Dao will be gone. " The young Patriarch smiled. "There is no feast in this world that does not end.

We enter the feast at birth, and at death we leave it. You and I should part.

" Imperial Preceptor Jingping lifted his face to the sky and murmured, "Are there truly immortals in the heavens? If you became an immortal there and watched this age that you and I have forged, how wonderful that would be. .

.

" He shook his head, climbed aboard the tower ship, and the tower ship slowly sailed away from the Imperial Academy. The cooks from the kitchen pushed their carts to the front of the Hall of the Imperial Academy and let each scholar sit on the ground and eat before the hall. Then the young Patriarch gave the order that all the scholars should return to their dwellings to rest for half a day, and wake at the sound of the bell.

Shen Mu and the others returned to the scholars' lodgings. Passing Shen Wanyun's dwelling, they saw that Shen Wanyun had still not slept, and was hard at his diligent cultivation.

"Senior Brother Shen is worth learning from.

. . " Greatly encouraged, Shen Mu returned to his dwelling, set down the little fox that had already fallen asleep, and then began to pace slowly, rousing the Mystic Body Three-Cinnabar Art; his pace gradually quickened, and he sank into a cultivation that was half sleep and half waking.

Before long, Shen Wanyun saw Shen Mu come rushing past his door with a whistle of speed. He hurried after him, and saw Shen Mu with his eyes half open, half closed, racing over hill and field, and could not help staring. "Sleepwalking? "