19: A-level questioning of the heart

The second round eliminated nearly twenty percent more candidates. The remaining fifty or so were taken to a quiet room for the third round: Heart Inquiry.

The quiet room was vast, with only a single desk at the front. Behind it sat three Elders whose auras were as deep as the sea, their gazes peaceful yet seemingly able to see through the human heart.

These were the Academy higher-ups, at least at the Elder level.

The assessment method was simple: each candidate stepped forward to answer one question posed by the Elders.

The questions were unrestrained, covering conduct, adaptability, and even their understanding of the Martial Dao.

There were no standard answers; it all depended on whether the response was appropriate, if their Heart-Nature was steady, and if they had their own insights.

Among the first few candidates, some were so nervous they were incoherent, some spoke boastfully but emptily, and others gave mediocre answers, barely passing.

It was Lin Mo's turn.

The Elder in the middle, with white hair, a white beard, and a ruddy complexion, looked up. His gaze lingered on him for a moment before he slowly spoke, "Martial Artist, what is the meaning of 'Wu'?"

Lin Mo pondered briefly, his mind flashing through his experiences from both his past and present lives, the source of his own power, and his superficial understanding of this world's Martial Dao.

He cupped his hands, his voice clear and steady.

"In response to the Elder. Junior believes that the character 'Wu', when broken down, is 'Stopping the Spear'. A Martial Artist holds power, but prioritizes 'stopping' over the 'spear'."

"Power should be used to protect oneself, bring peace to one's kin, defend the homeland, and level injustice."

"If one relies on strength to bully the weak or uses martial arts to defy prohibitions, that is the lowest form of martial arts and not the original Heart-Nature of a Martial Artist."

"However, to stop a spear, one must first possess a spear. Therefore, a Martial Artist must Cultivate without ceasing, tempering the physique, refining the spirit, and mastering power."

"This spear is not for slaughter, but as the foundation for one's standing and the basis for one's actions."

"Martial Dao cultivation is also the cultivation of the heart. When the heart is upright, the Qi is smooth; when the Qi is smooth, the power reaches its mark. Blindly pursuing power while neglecting the cultivation of Heart-Nature is like building a tall tower on shifting sands; it will eventually face the danger of collapsing."

"Thus, a Martial Artist should protect the Dao with power and carry virtue through martial arts. Martial arts is the means, while the Dao and virtue are the foundation."

"This is Junior's humble opinion. Please correct me, Elder."

Lin Mo's answer was not limited to the use of power but rose to the level of a Martial Artist's place in the world.

This benefited from his experiences and reflections from two lives, and was also related to his current cultivation of the Aperture Condensation Method and his understanding of the mystery of Qi.

A glint flashed in the eyes of the three Elders simultaneously. They looked at each other and nodded slightly.

"'Protect the Dao with power, carry virtue through martial arts'... A fine 'Martial arts is the means, while the Dao and virtue are the foundation'." The white-haired Elder stroked his beard and smiled.

"To have such insight at such a young age is rare. What is even rarer is that your blood Qi is vigorous yet not impetuous, and your root bone is excellent yet you are humble and polite."

"This child's Heart-Nature is top-tier."

"He can enter Grade A." An Elder with a lean face on the left nodded.

"Good." The Elder on the right, who had been resting with his eyes closed, also opened them, glanced at Lin Mo, and spoke concisely.

Lin Mo bowed and withdrew. The third round was passed.

Finally, the fifty-some candidates who passed the three rounds gathered in the plaza again. The lean middle-aged man reappeared to announce the admission list and grades.

"Grade A-Superior, three people: Lin Mo, Zhou Yan, and Liu Qingmei."

"Grade A, five people..."

"Grade B, fifteen people..."

"Grade C, twenty-two people..."

Lin Mo's name was impressively at the very top of Grade A-Superior!

This meant he was not only admitted but entered the academy with the most outstanding evaluation, and would receive the Academy's most generous resource allocation and attention!

A burst of envious discussion erupted in the plaza. Many gazes focused on Lin Mo, curiously sizing up this seemingly ordinary young man.

Zhou Yan was a tall youth with a resolute face and a steady aura.

Liu Qingmei was a young woman with a slender figure and a beautiful face, with a hint of heroism between her brows. Both of them also looked at Lin Mo with scrutiny and a touch of competitiveness.

Lin Mo's expression was calm, unswayed by favor or humiliation. He knew this was only the beginning.

The recruitment ended. New students needed to complete admission procedures, be assigned dormitories, and receive identity tokens and basic supplies within three days.

Amidst Guard Zhao's congratulations, Lin Mo followed the crowd and left the Academy.

He didn't go directly back to his lodgings but first went to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to thank Steward Wu in person.

Upon learning that Lin Mo had achieved a Grade A-Superior evaluation, Steward Wu's smile grew even wider. He repeatedly said, "The Young Master is indeed extraordinary," and stated that if there was anything needed at the Academy in the future, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion would certainly do its best to help.

Back at the small courtyard, when the Death Warriors learned the news, although their expressions didn't change, there was a hint of excitement in their eyes for their master.

Fang Han's face was flushed with excitement, as if he were the one who had been admitted.

"Admission to the Academy is only the first step."

Lin Mo gathered the core Death Warriors. "Next, we must establish a firm foothold in the Academy and use it as a base to continue our plan."

"Si, Er, and San, the three of you will accompany me into the Academy as my attendants or study companions. The Academy allows outstanding students to bring a small number of followers."

"Your main task is to familiarize yourselves with the Academy's environment and rules, establish internal intelligence points, and continue to Cultivate."

"Wu and Lu, you two will temporarily stay in the courtyard to continue researching the rusted sword and medicinal herbs."

"The Academy has a Library Pavilion and specialized areas for Artifact Refining and Alchemy. I will find a way to obtain access, and then you can accompany me to learn more advanced knowledge."

"The rest of you will perform your duties according to the original plan."

"Over in Qingyuan Town, have Yi stabilize the situation and continue to transport resources. Within Qinglan City, the intelligence network team should focus on the Academy's surroundings and external forces that might influence the Academy."

"Fang Han."

"Are you willing to follow me into the Academy? Although you cannot enter as a student, you can be a servant or a page. The Academy's environment will be more beneficial for your cultivation."

"Of course, you can also choose to stay here."

Fang Han knelt down without hesitation. "Fang Han is willing to follow the Young Master! The Young Master saved my life and taught me skills. Fang Han is willing to be driven by the Young Master for the rest of my life, even if it means ten thousand deaths!"

"Get up. After entering the Academy, stay by my side. Watch more, learn more, and speak less. Do not neglect your Cultivation."

"Yes!"

Three days later, Lin Mo took Si, Er, San, and Fang Han to officially move into the Qinglan Martial Academy.

The Academy provided independent courtyards for Grade A students. Although not large, the environment was quiet and the facilities were complete.

Lin Mo's courtyard was located in the southeast corner of the Academy. It was quite secluded, which was exactly what he wanted.

The first thing to do after entering was to collect student benefits.

Two sets of green student uniforms, a silver identity token representing Grade A-Superior, a copy of the Academy Regulations, and one opportunity to enter the first floor of the Sutra Pavilion to choose a basic Martial Skill.

The Sutra Pavilion was a vital area of the Academy, housing a large collection of martial arts classics.

The first floor was open to new students, containing mostly basic techniques for fists, weapons, movement, and rudimentary Internal Skill Mind-Cultivation Techniques.

Although the level might not be high for Lin Mo, it was systematically comprehensive, which could just make up for his current lack of systematic Martial Skills and provide a more standardized cultivation guide for the Death Warriors.

More importantly, Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills obtained through official channels could be Cultivated and taught to the Death Warriors openly without worrying about their origins.

"Tomorrow, I will go to the Sutra Pavilion." Lin Mo stroked the cold silver token, his eyes full of expectation.