Chapter 12 : Grand Lecture at the Teaching Hall
Chapter 12: Grand Lecture at the Teaching Hall!
The Teaching Hall was located on the western side of Evergreen Market, a simple three-story pavilion.
Gu Yan stepped inside and saw a dazzling array of tasks posted on the walls. However, upon closer inspection, most of them were rather mundane.
【Clearing weeds at the eastern foot of Pill Glow Peak for one day, ten contribution points.】
【Transporting iron ore for one day, twenty contribution points.】
【Collecting one Moonlight Grass, thirty contribution points (limited to second-revolution disciples and above).】
There were plenty of tasks, and the rewards were indeed more generous than those of the outer sect. But after careful calculation, they were still not much.
After all, even the most basic Qi-Gathering Pills required one hundred contribution points in the inner sect.
Gu Yan shook his head helplessly.
The Taiyi Dao Sect emphasized pure cultivation and disdained extravagance—even task rewards were so modest.
Then again, it made sense. If resources came too easily, disciples would not know how to cherish them.
After browsing for a while, he accepted several weed-clearing tasks at Pill Glow Peak.
He was familiar with this kind of work.
Back when he was in the outer sect at Azure Cloud Peak’s C-Grade Herb Garden, he dealt with herbs daily.
He was well-versed in the habits of over a hundred common medicinal plants and how to distinguish their accompanying weeds.
Most inner sect disciples were not particularly interested in such tasks, as they focused on advancing their martial cultivation and regarded chores as a waste of time.
But for Gu Yan, this was the easiest kind of work.
After accepting the tasks, he headed toward Pill Glow Peak.
Along the way, he encountered several inner sect disciples who had also taken weed-clearing tasks. They nodded in greeting but did not exchange many words.
After midday, the tasks were completed.
Gu Yan submitted them to a steward disciple and received a Taiyi Currency note with a value of ten.
Taiyi Currency was sect contribution, and sect contribution was Taiyi Currency.
In the afternoon, he did not continue taking tasks but returned to his residence to cultivate.
Around the hour of Chen the next day, Gu Yan stopped cultivating.
Today, he still needed to attend lectures.
Arriving once again at the lecture hall area and watching disciples either decisively or hesitantly choose their halls, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Why should he guess like them?
He had divine sense.
At the seventh layer of Qi Refining, his divine sense could cover three hundred meters.
Now at the ninth layer, it had reached five hundred meters.
All three lecture halls were within his perception.
If he could see in advance which elder was arriving, he could naturally choose the correct hall.
But in the next moment, Gu Yan let out a silent laugh.
He did not recognize the faces of the inner sect elders at all.
Within his divine sense, several elderly Daoists in robes moved about Evergreen Market—how could he tell which one was teaching today?
However, this did not hinder him from attending lectures.
Since he could not determine it beforehand, then… he would simply listen using his divine sense.
Having figured this out, he chose a secluded stone platform outside the halls, sat down, and closed his eyes in concentration.
At exactly the hour of Si, a black-robed elder walked straight into Hidden Edge Hall.
“This old man is the sword elder of Sword-Resting Peak. My Daoist title is Duanyue. Today, I will teach the fundamentals of the sword path and the method of condensing sword intent.”
Gu Yan’s divine sense extended into the hall. Every word was clear, no different from being physically present.
At that moment, a low murmur arose within Hidden Edge Hall.
Sword intent condensation!
This was content typically only encountered by disciples in the late stage of the second revolution or even the third revolution!
Duanyue continued:
“In sword cultivation, the foremost priority is sword intent.
Sword intent is not technique, nor internal force—it is the manifestation of one’s mind and the condensation of one’s will.
If a first-revolution disciple can incorporate even a trace of sword intent into their swordsmanship, its power can increase by thirty percent.”
He raised two fingers like a sword and slashed through the air.
There was no release of internal force, no surging sword qi—yet everyone felt a sharp intent rushing toward them, as if a blade hung right before their brows!
“This is sword intent,” Duanyue said, retracting his fingers. “Formless and intangible, perceptible only by the heart.”
Gu Yan was inwardly shaken.
This sword intent… was somewhat similar to a cultivator’s divine sense attack!
Both used mental force to influence the external world, though sword intent emphasized sharpness.
Martial Dao really had its merits!
He himself had not even cultivated sword intent yet!
“To condense sword intent, one must first understand the sword heart,” Duanyue began explaining in detail.
“What is the sword heart? Some take protection as their sword heart, others take slaughter, others take freedom… Different sword hearts produce different sword intents.”
“The current chief disciple of Sword-Resting Peak has an unyielding sword heart. His sword intent is like a mountain—no matter how fierce the storm, he stands unmoved.
Thirty years ago, a senior had a sword heart of annihilation. Wherever his sword intent passed, all things fell into silence.”
A disciple asked, “Elder, can the sword heart be changed?”
“It can—but at a cost,” Duanyue replied solemnly.
“The sword heart is the foundation of a martial artist’s will. Changing it is equivalent to reshaping one’s martial path.
Fewer than one in a hundred succeed. Failure results in the collapse of sword intent at best, or mental damage at worst.”
Another silence fell.
The path of martial cultivation was truly filled with dangers at every turn.
After explaining sword heart, Duanyue elaborated on the methods of condensing sword intent.
Observing the sword, comprehending the sword, nurturing the sword, refining the sword—these four steps formed a cycle.
He also taught a basic sword technique, Clear Wind Sword Technique, consisting of nine simple moves that nonetheless contained profound principles.
Gu Yan listened attentively as well.
He cultivated both immortal and martial paths—this method of condensing sword intent might be applicable to his use of divine sense.
An hour passed quickly.
At the end, Duanyue said:
“In sword cultivation, it is not the complexity of techniques that matters, but the purity of intent.
Remember—when there is no sword in hand but a sword in the heart, only then have you entered the path of the sword.”
After the elder left, many disciples remained to practice sword forms and discuss principles.
Gu Yan, however, had already quietly departed.
He planned to complete one daily task each day and devote the rest of his time to cultivation.
From then on, his days became structured.
From the hour of Si to noon each day, he used his divine sense to audit lectures from various branches.
In the afternoon, he completed one sect task.
The rest of the day and night were spent in focused cultivation, drawing in the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth to fill his acupoints.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the sixth day, it was time for the inner sect’s grand lecture.
The Teaching Hall stood at the center of Evergreen Market and was the largest lecture venue in the sect.
From the hour of Si to the hour of Shen, spanning three hours in total, there were only three short breaks, each lasting the time of one incense stick.
All inner sect disciples, unless in seclusion or on external missions, were required to attend.
This was perhaps the most mandatory collective activity in the Taiyi Dao Sect.
Gu Yan followed the crowd toward the Teaching Hall.
Upon entering, he found it even more spacious.
The interior was arranged in a tiered layout. At the front was a wide platform, and behind it were hundreds of meditation cushions arranged into six sections.
At this moment, over two hundred people had already arrived, each finding their seat.
Gu Yan chose a spot toward the back and to the side.
It was inconspicuous, yet allowed him to see the entire hall clearly.
He quietly spread his divine sense and scanned the area, quickly estimating that there were around three hundred inner sect disciples.
This number was slightly lower than he had expected, but still reasonable.
Reality was not like novels—maintaining a sect’s operation and resources meant that having more disciples was not necessarily better.
The Taiyi Dao Sect followed an elite path. Out of five hundred outer sect disciples, only a dozen or so advanced to the inner sect each year.
Over time, maintaining around three hundred inner sect disciples was already a balance.
Moreover, a sect’s strength was never measured by numbers alone, but by its heritage and top-tier power.
From occasional conversations among senior disciples, Gu Yan had learned that the sect master, Daoist Xuanchen, was a peak fifth-revolution martial cultivator.
He was only one step away from the legendary sixth-revolution Martial Immortal realm.
If he broke through, he could enjoy a lifespan of five hundred years.
As for the Great Qian Dynasty where the Taiyi Dao Sect resided, its territory was vast—thirty thousand li from east to west, and twenty-eight thousand li from north to south, divided into nine provinces and seventy-two commanderies.
Qingzhou, where the Taiyi Dao Sect was located, lay in the southeast of the dynasty.
In such a vast nation, there were fewer than ten sects with peak fifth-revolution experts.
That Taiyi Dao Sect was among them showed that its foundation was indeed formidable.
At exactly the hour of Si, the bell rang nine times.
A purple-robed elder slowly stepped onto the platform.
His face was gaunt, his long beard reaching his chest, and as he walked, his robes did not sway.
He stopped and swept his gaze across the hall.
In that instant, everyone felt an invisible pressure, and the hall fell completely silent.
“This old man is Daoxuan, a transmission elder under the sect master.”
“For today’s grand lecture, as usual, elders from three branches will take turns teaching, each for one hour. There will be three breaks in between, each lasting the time of one incense stick.”
“What is taught in the grand lecture represents the essence of each branch. I hope all of you will listen attentively and diligently comprehend.”
After speaking, Daoxuan stepped aside.
The first to take the stage was Elder Qingyuan of Pill Glow Peak, whom Gu Yan had seen before.
“Today, I will speak on the advanced fundamentals of alchemy…”
Elder Qingyuan began, and the content was much deeper than in the smaller lecture, involving principles of pill refinement, control of fire, and compatibility of medicinal properties.
As Gu Yan listened, he thought that this grand lecture format was very much like consecutive classes in his previous life.
Only, the instructors had changed from teachers of math and science to Daoist elders, and textbooks had become martial scriptures.
An hour passed quickly.
After Qingyuan finished, Daoxuan announced a break.
Some disciples closed their eyes to digest what they had learned, others discussed in low voices, and some got up to move around.
Gu Yan noticed that steward disciples had brought tea and snacks to the corridor outside for everyone to take.
He also took a cup of tea and stood by the railing, gazing into the distance.
Life like this was truly comfortable—cultivating immortality and practicing martial arts without pressure.
“This junior brother looks unfamiliar. Newly promoted to the inner sect?” a gentle voice asked.
Gu Yan turned and saw a disciple in green robes.
He looked about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, handsome, with cultivation at the mid-stage of the second revolution.
It was worth noting that inner sect disciples of Taiyi Dao Sect were all issued standard black robes.
However, the sect’s atmosphere was relaxed, and wearing them was optional.
Gu Yan cupped his hands. “My name is Gu Yan. I entered the inner sect only recently. May I ask senior brother’s name?”
“Lin Qingfeng, a true disciple of the Profound Mechanism Branch,” the green-robed disciple replied with a smile.
“I noticed that you were listening very attentively just now. You must be quite interested in alchemy?”
“Indeed.”
Lin Qingfeng smiled. “The inner sect’s grand lecture is rare—three branches’ essences gathered in one day.
Since you’re new, if there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask us senior disciples.”
After a brief conversation, the bell rang again, and the break ended.
The second elder to take the stage was a woman with cloud-like hair and plain robes, her temperament cold and refined.
Gu Yan had seen her through his divine sense the day before—this was Elder Xuanji of Cloud-Mist Peak.
Today, she lectured on the fundamentals of formations and the guidance of qi flow.
“The Dao of formations serves mostly as support in martial cultivation, yet it aligns with the fundamental principles of heaven and earth.”
“The foundation of formations lies in momentum and guidance. By leveraging terrain, drawing upon the forces of heaven and earth, and supplementing with formation patterns, one can trap enemies, gather qi, or confuse tracks.”
With a flick of her sleeve, several ordinary jade stones flew onto the platform and landed in specific positions.
Though no dazzling light appeared, the disciples in the front rows all felt the airflow subtly shift, and their sense of direction became faintly blurred.
“This is the simplest disorientation formation, using jade as its base to slightly disturb a person’s perception of qi flow,” Xuanji explained.
“Martial formations do not rely on illusions, but on truly affecting the opponent’s five senses and interfering with internal force circulation. High-level formations can even draw upon the earth’s veins, with unfathomable power.”
Although Gu Yan did not specialize in formations, he listened with great interest.
These principles of momentum, and the interaction between environment and one’s internal energy, were strikingly similar to how he manipulated Spiritual Energy in cultivation.
One used internal force to influence subtle external energies or natural forces.
The other directly controlled Spiritual Energy.
Yet the core idea—leveraging the environment to form a domain—was the same.
This knowledge might one day prove useful through analogy.
After Xuanji finished, there was another short break before the third elder took the stage.
“This old man is Lingyue, an acting elder of Sword-Resting Peak.”
Without unnecessary preamble, he went straight to the point:
“In sword cultivation, by the late stage of the third revolution, one must cultivate sword momentum.
Sword momentum is not sword intent—it is the field formed by the unity of sword techniques and the martial artist’s essence, energy, and spirit…”
Lingyue’s words were concise, but his demonstrations were imposing.
He did not draw a sword. With fingers as a blade, he slashed through the air, producing a faint tearing sound, as if invisible sword qi had cut through space.
Another hour passed quickly. After the three elders finished their teachings, many disciples looked exhausted, yet their eyes burned with excitement.
In a single day, they had heard the essence of three branches. Even if they could not absorb it all, it broadened their horizons.
Finally, Elder Daoxuan personally explained the essence of the Taiyi Dao Virtue Scripture.
“What you have heard today represents the strengths of three branches.”
“Yet in martial cultivation, while one draws from many sources, ultimately it all comes down to cultivating the heart.”
“The Dao Scripture says: The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things without contention, dwelling in places others disdain—thus it is close to the Dao.
A martial artist should be like water—capable of hardness and softness, of advancing and retreating. Only then can one endure.”
His gaze swept across the hall. “All of you who have entered the inner sect possess talent and diligence.
But without sufficient temperament, you will ultimately fail to achieve greatness. Remember—cultivation begins with the heart.”
These words resonated deeply with Gu Yan.
The same applied to immortal cultivation. Those lacking mental fortitude, even if blessed with great opportunities, would struggle to overcome future inner demon tribulations.
At the end of the hour of Shen, the grand lecture concluded.
The disciples gradually left, many with thoughtful expressions.
Gu Yan also followed the crowd out of the Teaching Hall.