Chapter 349: Chapter 212: Academy’s Ancient Scroll, Inference of Invisible Power

"It seems this is the painting Little Doctor did when he attended the Shuangbai Poetry Gathering... This courtyard layout is grand, most likely belonging to the Huo Family... Pharmacist once said Xiaoyue lost her memory after a severe illness, but it appears not entirely so."

Su Mu’s eyes flickered, he carefully rolled up the Lotus Pool Painting in his hand, and then with a flash of Spiritual Light, he directly stored it into the Sumeru Ring. Afterwards, Su Mu also found another scroll with Little Doctor’s writing among the boxes of scrolls.

At a certain moment during the search process, Su Mu’s eyes focused again.

"Let’s just take it first."

Among one of the boxes of scrolls, there was one that emanated an extraordinary aura, somewhat similar to the Simurgh Phoenix Painting contained within the Sumeru Ring, and also resembled a character given by Liu Zhengyuan previously.

However, its aura was much weaker than Liu Zhengyuan’s character and couldn’t compare to the Simurgh Phoenix Painting, yet still quite pure.

Su Mu unobtrusively searched through all the scrolls that the Shuangbai Academy disciples hadn’t yet stored away, but unfortunately found no more valuable results.

As for the loss of several scrolls, no one would likely associate it with him. During the chaos of Black Mountain Celestial King’s attack with the Left and Right Protectors, losing a few scrolls was entirely common.

"It’s said that Shuangbai Town once produced two scholars, and the little beggar with destiny also came to the academy... It’s likely left by a past Confucian cultivator of Cyan Cloud?"

Su Mu had some speculations about the origins of these scrolls. Due to Liu Zhengyuan’s character, he also had a keen interest in the Confucian cultivation method, and the strength Wang Xuantian displayed tonight made Su Mu vigilant.

He hadn’t used his full strength, and Wang Xuantian might not have either.

Obtaining these scrolls to comprehend might allow better use of Liu Zhengyuan’s character ’Zheng’.

Afterwards Li Qiu quickly awoke and began deploying troops, soon the Cyan Cloud Army, numbering in thousands, from around Shuangbai Town assembled.

"The army shall follow orders and immediately return to Cyan Cloud to join County Magistrate Tao!"

...

Qingyun City, the army gathered.

"Mr. Li, please come in quickly!"

As soon as he arrived at the Qingyun County Magistrate’s Office, a fervent voice was heard afar, and it was none other than Tao Xingzheng.

"I know of tonight’s events already, indeed, this officer didn’t mistake people, tonight Li alone repelled Wang Xuantian. Having Li is truly a blessing for the people of Cyan Cloud!"

Tao Xingzheng, completely different from before, quickly stepped out of the hall, welcoming him personally, truly giving full respect.

"Just doing what I’m supposed to do, not to mention I already have a grudge with the Black Mountain Rebel Army."

Su Mu feigned a few degrees of arrogance and joy, but secretly took in all of Tao Xingzheng’s subtle expressions, exchanged a few simple pleasantries, and Tao Xingzheng spoke again.

"Mr. Li, you’ve worked hard for the matter with the Rebel Army, this officer has seen it all. Recently, Lord Lin from Canghe County sent a letter, it’s decided to jointly deploy troops in three days to annihilate the Rebel Army. Qingzhou has also sent word that reinforcements from Ancient County will arrive in these days, whether Ancient County’s reinforcements arrive or not, troops will be deployed after three days... After the complete annihilation of the Rebel Army, I’ll have the Lin Family siblings protect you as you advance to Sixth Grade, and request merit for you in Qingzhou."

Tao Xingzheng spoke sincerely, with a tone of apology, promising to seek merit for Su Mu post-battle.

If it were someone else, receiving such from Tao Xingzheng might see him as a confidant, yet Tao Xingzheng’s behavior only made Su Mu suspicious. His words were cleverly positioned with a psychological suggestion to consume the Azure Blood Five Elements Pill.

"Alright, then I’ll rely on Lord County Magistrate afterwards."

Su Mu feigned ignorance, after a lengthy conversation, he left the Qingyun County Magistrate’s Office.

...

"With a great battle imminent, investigating Liu Family’s matter is not urgent."

Su Mu didn’t go directly to search for Li Zhihe and Shangguan Ke, moreover, Li Zhihe must be busy with the battle preparations, military intelligence is no less important than supplies.

Afterwards, Su Mu quickly returned to the secluded courtyard with wine, upon entering he casually tore open his clothes, revealing a piece of flesh on his right arm constantly writhing abnormally, as if something inside was about to emerge.

In Shuangbai Academy, he used Gang Force to protect against Wang Xuantian’s punch.

Now Su Mu examined the spot struck by that punch, as the Gang Force dissipated, a faint Invisible Power spread from the writhing portion of flesh on Su Mu’s right arm. He had used the Gang Force along with the Jiao Tendon Jade Bone within him to seal part of the Invisible Power from Wang Xuantian’s strike inside his body.

Su Mu brought it back naturally for analysis and comprehension.

Know thyself and thy enemy, and win countless battles.

Su Mu disliked placing hopes in others’ hands, preferring to grasp everything actively himself, undeniably, Wang Xuantian imposed enormous pressure and urgency on him tonight.

Breathe!

Taking a deep breath, as the breath fully exhaled, Su Mu focused entirely, entering Soul Incarnation state, beginning unperturbed contemplation of this wisp of Invisible Power.

After several repetitions, Su Mu faintly gained some insight, though not entry-level comprehension, even with his considerable comprehension, he found it challenging, yet it further spurred his resolve.

Time ticked away second by second, Su Mu while inferring kept replaying the entire process of Wang Xuantian’s punch in his mind.

Gradually, a faint Spiritual Light emerged in Su Mu’s mind, slowly growing until at one point it abruptly halted, as the Invisible Power sealed within his body was entirely depleted.

Su Mu trembled slightly, somewhat unsatisfied, opened his eyes, in which brilliant gleams flickered.

"This power bears some resemblance to the edge of that Dangling Eye White Tiger, what exactly is this?"

At a daunting comprehension score of 137, although Su Mu didn’t directly comprehend entry-level, he forcibly gained some insight from it.

His five fingers slowly reached out, between the palm faintly flowed a wisp of weak Invisible Power, this wisp of force extremely unstable, soon stagnated, then shattered.

"Bang!"

As the wisp of weak Invisible Power in Su Mu’s palm finally exploded at his fingertips, the sky echoed with a blast, the excess force at his fingertips turned into raging currents stirring the surroundings, sweeping past a nearby wooden chair.

Boom!

The wooden chair along with surrounding objects flew up violently, shattered in mid-air, fragments scattered all over, powdered runoff danced.

"This power is truly strong... no wonder even ordinary Sixth-Grade Martial Artists find it difficult to withstand Wang Xuantian’s punch." Su Mu sighed with some regret.

"If I could battle Wang Xuantian for hundreds of rounds, gaining further insight, I might comprehend it."

This wisp of remaining power was ultimately too little, encountering Wang Xuantian for the first time left Su Mu with no opportunity to preserve much power, yet the overall gains weren’t small, following deep contemplation.

At this moment, several shadowy figures in Su Mu’s mind were continuously simulating tonight’s defensive punch to deduce countermeasures, with some progress already observed.

"Still two days... that’s adequate."

The inference in his mind continued, as Su Mu multitasking took out the scroll of ancient scripture obtained from the academy.

Upon opening it.

The scroll’s yellowed pages exuded a righteous and Vast aura, a line of meticulously rigid characters appeared.

"Nurturing Vast Qi... Annotated?"

Su Mu’s eyes sparkled at the first line, his eyes squinting slightly, the characters’ ink seemed old, then the seemingly slanted ’annotated’ words’ ink appeared newer, revealing unconstrained and carefree Spiritual Qi.

"Good writing!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Su Mu praised before concentrating and examining the scroll.

"Heaven and Earth possess righteous energy, bestowed in a variety of forms. Below are rivers and mountains, above are sun and stars."

"Hold righteous thoughts, nurture Vast Qi; use literature for conveying path, use morality for carrying subjects, destiny to aid the world."

...

Su Mu’s eyes sometimes furrowed, sometimes relaxed, as his gaze filled with brilliance, unveiling a new cultivation method before him.

The ancient scroll contained a total of 5815 words, once Su Mu fully absorbed it into his mind, his face showed a hint of joy.

"It’s a complete Confucian cultivation method!"

...