91: Chapter 91: We're here to cultivate immortality, not to lay bricks.
Three months later.
Deep in the Yanshan Mountains, on the outskirts of the capital.
What was once a restricted military zone now featured a cluster of buildings with a futuristic, sci-fi feel.
This was the Kunlun Spiritual Energy Construction Academy—Kunlun Academy for short—the first state-led modern cultivation academy in Xia and the world.
The opening ceremony was held in the central square, which could accommodate over ten thousand people.
In the center of the square, a hundred-meter-tall white spire pierced the clouds. It wasn't just decoration; it was the spirit-gathering core of the entire academy, continuously drawing spiritual energy from the Yanshan Dragon Vein, making the concentration of spiritual energy ten times higher than outside.
Three thousand young people, handpicked from across the country and even the globe, stood in neat formations wearing uniform blue student attire. Their faces were a mix of excitement, curiosity, and nervousness.
They were the lucky ones of this era.
Over the past three months, "Spiritual Energy Revival" was no longer a secret. Through documentaries and press conferences, the state had revealed the existence of spiritual energy and the possibility of "cultivation" to the world step by step, sending the entire world into a frenzy.
Kunlun Academy's recruitment had ignited the globe.
Countless people fought for a spot, but in the end, only these three thousand young people—impeccable in terms of spiritual roots, character, knowledge, and political background—received their admission tickets.
Among them were students, soldiers, and researchers, as well as descendants of ancient families. But from today onward, they had only one identity: the first cohort of students of Kunlun Academy.
On the rostrum, almost all the top national leaders were present; this lineup spoke for itself.
Director Zhao Lixin, as the head of The Ninth Bureau and deputy dean of the academy, stood at the front of the stage hosting the ceremony.
"...The establishment of Kunlun Academy means that our country, our nation, and even all of humanity will enter a new era!" Director Zhao Lixin's voice, amplified by an array, echoed across the square, filled with power and pride.
"Here, what you will learn is not some ethereal 'dragon-slaying art,' but real skills for building our homeland! You will become the engineers of the new era, using your wisdom and sweat to build Spiritual Energy Great Walls for our country!"
Below the stage, the students' blood boiled with excitement as thunderous applause broke out.
Jiang Ning sat in the front row of the rostrum, looking at the vibrant scene with an expressionless face.
To her, this was only the first step of a massive plan.
For the past three months, she had hardly slept. Designing the academy's arrays, writing over a thousand pages of textbooks, and setting teaching and assessment standards... she had single-handedly completed work that would take an entire team of experts decades.
Beside her, Professor Chen and Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo, as honorary professors of the academy, were flushed with excitement.
"Old Chen, look, just look!" Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo whispered, excitedly nudging his old colleague. "Three thousand good prospects! If Engineer Jiang trains them all, who will we have to fear? Whether it's Immortal Envoys or aliens, whoever comes, we'll build something for them!"
"Indeed," Professor Chen sighed. "Think back to when we were losing hair over just one Spirit Gathering Array. It hasn't been that long, and yet our own cultivation university has been established. It's like a dream."
Their gazes fell on Jiang Ning simultaneously.
In their hearts, this girl, who was younger than most of the students below, was the core of these miracles.
She was the pillar of Kunlun Academy.
The ceremony continued.
According to the schedule, the founder and chief instructor of Kunlun Academy, Comrade Jiang Ning, would deliver the "First Lesson of the School Year" to the new students.
Just as Director Zhao Lixin was about to invite Jiang Ning onto the stage, a discordant voice rang out.
"Wait a moment!"
A tall, handsome young man stepped out from the front row of the student formation.
He wasn't wearing the blue uniform but was dressed in a well-tailored white suit, his hair meticulously combed, and his face bearing an undisguised arrogance.
As he stepped out, everyone's eyes fixed on him.
The leaders on the rostrum frowned.
"Who is he? What's going on?" a general asked in a low voice.
Director Zhao Lixin hurried over to explain, "Sir, his name is Lin Yuan, a specially recruited student. His spiritual root talent is the highest measured so far—a Heavenly Spiritual Root. He was previously a top genius at the 'Life Sciences Research Institute' in Country M. We went to great lengths to persuade him to return."
"Heavenly Spiritual Root?" The general was momentarily stunned. He had seen this term in the materials provided by Jiang Ning and knew it represented a talent found only once in ten thousand.
In the square, all the students stared at Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention. Ignoring the murmurs around him, he walked straight to the front of the rostrum, looked up at the leaders and professors, and finally fixed his gaze on Jiang Ning.
In that gaze, there was scrutiny, challenge, and even disdain.
"Leaders, professors, my name is Lin Yuan," he began, his voice clear and resonant. "I am stepping forward because I have a different view on Kunlun Academy's educational philosophy."
The crowd erupted into an uproar.
On the first day of school, in front of so many top leaders, to publicly question the educational philosophy? Was this kid crazy, or did he truly have immense capability?
"I believe," Lin Yuan's voice rose, filled with passion, "that cultivation is a leap in the level of life, a path to seeking the truths of the universe! We, the talented ones, are the pioneers of human evolution. What we should pursue is the ultimate limit of personal power!"
"However, I've looked at the academy's textbooks and curriculum." He shook his head, his face full of disappointment. "'Principles of Spiritual Energy Pipeline Laying,' 'Introduction to Array Foundations,' 'Elementary Crafting Material Science'... What are these? Are we training Cultivators or high-level construction workers?"
"Gathering us geniuses, who are one in ten thousand, to learn how to 'carry bricks' and 'tighten screws'? This is the greatest waste of talent! It is the greatest desecration of cultivation!"
His words caused a stir among the students.
Many young people who also came from extraordinary backgrounds and held themselves in high regard showed expressions of agreement. They had similar thoughts but hadn't dared to speak out.
Now, Lin Yuan had shouted it out for them.
Lin Yuan stared at Jiang Ning on the stage and continued shouting, "I admit that 'infrastructure' is important. But such menial work should be left to ordinary people without talent, using technology. We should be learning how to command flying swords, how to perform divine techniques, and how to move mountains and fill seas! That is what Cultivators should be doing!"
"Therefore, I request the academy to revise the syllabus! I, Lin Yuan, am willing to set an example and show the academy what kind of path a true genius should take!"
After speaking, he bowed, but the arrogance on his face didn't diminish in the slightest.
The entire square fell into a dead silence.
Everyone's gaze shifted from Lin Yuan to the petite figure on the rostrum.
Everyone was waiting—waiting to see how this legendary instructor, who had created countless miracles, would respond to this "genius's" public provocation.