June 7, 2018

The scholars of Cyan Lotus Academy always have a unique way of thinking.

For the past few decades, even centuries, the Wuxiang Sword Academy has seemed like a towering mountain, not only making the academy’s Sword Cultivators look up in awe but also weighing them down heavily. So much so that by the time of the Sang Sisters’ generation, scholars had simply given up on resisting.

Because it’s not worthwhile at all. The academy’s advantage doesn’t lie in battlefield combat but in theoretical research. The primary criteria for recruitment at the academy are high intelligence; everything else is secondary, even if one’s Immortal Cultivation aptitude isn’t perfect, as long as one can innovate theoretically, the treatment is no different from those Great Cultivators with profound cultivation. Under such a mechanism, how could the academy compete with the Sword Academy, which emphasizes real combat, in the practical battle field?

All three academies are equal in status, with similar resources, but different areas of expertise and strengths. Under such circumstances, using one’s weakness to attack the enemy’s strength is certainly futile.

But after the Sword Fighting competition on June 6th, many people’s perceptions have drastically changed.

It turns out the Wuxiang Sword Academy isn’t that powerful; it was just that we hadn’t been playing to our strengths before!

What strengths? Of course, it’s intelligence. From the beginning, we shouldn’t have been fighting the opponent in their area of expertise, using their rules. As for how to shift the battlefield, the new dean has already given a near-perfect answer.

Shen Qingming defeated Lu Qun half by strength and half by tactics—the tactic being feinting mastery of an impressive swordsmanship by carrying a doorboard. As for strength, Shen Qingming actually had a tactical trick; her realm during battle was temporarily boosted by the Secret Technique of Golden Jade City, and her foundation wasn’t as solid as Lu Qun’s. Her Immovable Tyrant Body, against unprepared opponents, could easily achieve unexpected results.

In a single-fight-to-win rule, these unexpected factors thus gave Shen Qingming an advantage. But if the rule was changed to best of three or five, the outcome would be much harder to predict.

As for the mixed group advantage, it was almost absurd. Wang Jiu actually brought the dead bodies for modification, then used biochemical beasts to contend against the opponent’s meticulously trained Mad Sword Cultivator. It was practically seizing victory by stepping on the rules, which, to the people of Wuxiang Sword Academy, seemed shameless.

But the people of the academy don’t think so.

In their view, rules are made to be used, and the ability to utilize rules is also part of one’s strength. Wang Jiu’s ability to utilize rules is a testament to his strength. Previous academy deans didn’t have this skill and foolishly went to the arena to duel with the Sword Academy’s savages using their savage rules, completely abandoning the intelligence advantage of the academy... In such cases, no wonder they lost!

As long as one can effectively use the rules to bring out the academy’s strengths, the Wuxiang Sword Academy is nothing to fear. After all, what distinguishes humans from beasts is a cognitive advantage from the individual level. Although this advantage isn’t absolute—some exotic beasts favored by nature possess intelligence levels above human IQ—overall, human intelligence is superior to that of other life forms. This advantage is enough to suppress all the strengths of other life forms. What use is natural strength or mastery of the Five Elements Divine Techniques compared to human cognitive advantage?

Because of cognitive advantage, humans understand teamwork and cooperation, know how to use Dao Laws, know how to accentuate strengths and avoid weaknesses, and know how to root out competitors on the continent. This accumulated over thousands and tens of thousands of years, hence achieving the status of masters of all things.

In simple terms, cognitive advantage should be greater than any other advantage. In the past, Cyan Lotus Academy’s scholars were always beaten to a pulp by the Sword Cultivators of the Sword Academy when it came to the arena, so when talking about the so-called intelligence advantage, they didn’t have much confidence. After all, human cognitive advantage ultimately manifests through conversion into martial advantage. Scholars of the academy, who constantly boast about their intelligence, couldn’t think of a way to contend with the Wuxiang Sword Academy on the arena?

Now, Wang Jiu has finally pointed out a bright path for people.

Following this path, Cyan Lotus Academy’s cognitive advantage can be realized, turning the thousands-year accumulation of technology and theory into tangible combat power. Zhang Lan, who appeared today, was just a hastily finished prototype, far from reaching optimal functionality. If given time to gather all elite forces from the academy’s All Things Group, then the blueprint Wang Jiu designed could truly become reality.

Moreover, today’s battle also opened up a new mindset for scholars. Since the technology of the All Things Group to modify corpses worked, why not apply the technology from other groups as well?

In the past, the scholars only thought that sword fighting was the job of the Sword Group, but now it seems this mindset is too narrow. As long as you broaden your perspective, every technique of the academy can be transformed into swordsmanship and compete with the Sword Academy’s sword cultivators on the arena!

——

From this perspective, the goal for this sword fighting tournament can be considered fully achieved for Wang Jiu. The academy’s cultivators have indeed been reinvigorated, and their enthusiasm for the Sword Dao has been reignited. Although there is some blind optimism mixed in, it is harmless and does not affect the satisfactory outcome of this battle.

Moreover, when Wang Jiu led the team back to the academy, they did not return empty-handed.

After the sword fighting ended, although theoretically the outcome was undecided, Wang Xiao, with great integrity, voluntarily conceded defeat and handed over the stakes of five hundred and thirty thousand spirit stones on the spot.

Objectively speaking, Wang Xiao was straightforward when conceding. Most of the sword cultivators from the Sword Academy have quite candid dispositions—people are like their swords. A win is a win, and a loss is a loss. Although the opponent from the academy used some less than upright methods, the sword cultivators of the Sword Academy have never been obsessed with being overly rigid. Being unable to defeat the opponent is an objective fact, and failing to pinpoint their violations is also a fact, so there’s no need for further excuses.

But the compensation after conceding does cause a bit of heartache. Although the Wuxiang Sword Academy is one of the Three Academies, its public treasury has never been very abundant, possibly even poorer than places like Cyan Lotus Academy, which spends money like water on research.

On one hand, Wuxiang Sword Academy has always lacked talent and has never had a genius like Zhao Chenlu who can turn stone into gold, so its income has remained very stable for thousands of years without breakthroughs. In terms of expenses, they often surprise people.

The sword genius of the academy, their Sword Dao talent needs no explanation, they are top-notch on the Xiangzhou Continent, but their troublemaking skills are equally top-notch. This can be seen from the crooked buildings within the Sword Academy itself—these cultivators who are devoted to the Sword Dao have no rules when they embrace their passion. Xiao Bai is merely one of the most outstanding among them, not unique. With this group of geniuses, the Sword Academy’s annual expenses are considerable, and by the end of the year, the resources they can save are very few. Tens of thousands of spirit stones is a significant amount for the Wuxiang Sword Academy.

Moreover, when the Sword Academy made a bet with the Sang Sisters, they originally intended to earn some extra money, and considering their historical rivalry, it was practically guaranteed money, and related arrangements were made. However, today’s battle not only did not bring extra income but resulted in losing tens of thousands of spirit stones, directly creating a hundred-thousand spirit stone deficit!

The hundred-thousand spirit stone budget issue made Wang Xiao’s face turn greenish-pale when paying, wishing he could commit suicide on the spot to avoid paying. He even seriously considered the possibility; after all, while the Sword Academy is filled with talented individuals worthy of matching him, a hundred-thousand spirit stones are indeed hard to find...Moreover, making such a blunder during his tenure may lead to a prominent mark in future historical records.

He has diligently run the Sword Academy for decades, and although he hasn’t achieved groundbreaking accomplishments, he considers himself to be a distinguished leader for the Sword Academy’s generation. However, with such a deficit, his evaluation may be significantly tarnished...

Thinking of this, Wang Xiao immediately decided that, of course, the money must be compensated, but beyond just paying, he must try his best to make up for the loss, at least ensuring that the expenditure is worthwhile.

It can be said that the ability to adapt on the fly is one of the reasons why Wang Xiao, despite having average talent, has been able to work steadily as the dean for decades and gain the respect of his more talented fellow cultivators.

While paying, Wang Xiao thought up a whole set of rhetoric.

"Dean Wang Jiu, this sword fighting tournament, to be honest, both the process and the result have greatly exceeded our expectations. Certainly, there are some elements of discontent and unease, but more than that, there is awe."

Wang Xiao spoke while adjusting his tone and expressions. Although he excelled in adapting to situations, his nature was straightforward, and he was not skilled in dealing with such false pretenses. However, for the subsequent goals, he had no choice but to force himself.

"It turns out that sword fighting can be fought this way; it turns out that interpretation and utilization of the rules can reach this level. The world of the Sword Dao is far broader and more splendid than we imagined. Especially after watching Zhang Lan from your academy, reflecting deeply, we realized that such techniques, such boldness, we lack in the Sword Academy. Conversely, the wild sword cultivators, whom we have high hopes for and have meticulously crafted, seem rudimentary compared to your academy’s biochemical transformation technology. Over the years, Wuxiang Sword Academy and Cyan Lotus Academy have contended and have been ever victorious, limiting our progress. This time’s sword fighting, we admittedly conceded, but we also discerned the way forward. For decades or even centuries, our Sword Academy has spearheaded and paved the way, but now, we finally have a target to pursue and learn from."

Upon reaching this point, Wang Xiao earnestly said, "Therefore, moving forward, I hope your academy can accept a few students from our academy to help us improve our swordsmanship skills!"