I Can See Your Combat Power-Chapter 1747 - 182: The Dean’s Lecture (1)

The sample that was meant to be captured and brought back is nowhere to be found, and the disruption of the plan has left Cao Lie in a foul mood.

But even more infuriating is the stupidity of others, so Cao Lie asked faintly, "What about Shi Sanke?"

"A groundbreaking study, a divine product that steals the wonders of creation,"

Xiang Dongyou lavishly praised, "Just a dragon beast with diluted bloodline—yet within two years, its combat strength has nearly rivaled a divine beast’s lineage. Given time, if a hundred or so could be cultivated, the warden could sweep across the Eight Desolations, dominate Xiehe, invincible and unmatched!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"If you understand how important dragon beasts are, then why would you dare meddle with this matter?"

Silence!

Shock!

The unexpected tension froze Xiang Dongyou to his core, his entire body turned cold as ice. His legs buckled, and he collapsed onto the floor, wanting to explain but unable to utter a single word as his soul trembled in fear.

Cao Lie looked down at the fool on the ground with mocking eyes.

In this world, there are always those who think themselves clever, those who try to take control of a situation when they know nothing. They fail to realize that a frolicking antelope always dies before the slow-moving yak.

Reaching out, Cao Lie grabbed Xiang Dongyou’s ashen face and lifted it. In a detached tone, he said, "Never use human standards to measure a king."

"Warden, spare me! I won’t dare anymore! Never again!"

"Human nature repeats itself; repeating mistakes is the norm. Once a person begins to err, they’ll continue erring."

Gripping his hair, Cao Lie lifted him until their gazes aligned: "Those who defy authority shall perish. But alas, I have a fondness for clever minds, especially ones like yours."

A spark of Divine Light ignited in Xiang Dongyou’s despair-filled eyes, and hearing the subtle shift in Cao Lie’s tone, he quickly begged, "From now on, I’ll be nothing but a dog at the warden’s side. If you order me west, I’ll go west; if east, then east. Please, warden, spare me this once."

"Willing to be my dog, are you?"

Cao Lie chuckled lightly, "Merely being a dog would be a shame. Someone as clever as you deserves a better role."

"No, no, no! That’s not what I meant!"

Realizing what Cao Lie intended, Xiang Dongyou felt as though his heart were being crushed. The suffocating sensation made him panic and struggle as he cried out, "Warden! Warden! Ahhh!!"

...

Dragon Continent Calendar, Year 1796, New Year’s Day

Unparalleled Academy, Heavenly Tier Lecture Hall

If the academy’s rise were to be divided into stages, then the first stage would undoubtedly be the advent of the Five-turn Dragon Gate. Although more advanced Dragon Gates are now found in the lower academies of various sects, the most renowned remains the one at Unparalleled Academy.

The second stage of their rise was when Flame Sun Sword Master sent three hundred children of the Xu Clan to study here. Although they were mere children, their presence signified the academy’s capability to teach foundation building to disciples from holy lands. Even now, when sects restrict the academy’s growth by claiming insufficient aptitude, no one questions the academy’s expertise in the foundation building stage. Most criticisms are petty remarks about its lack of background.

From an educational standpoint, the Xu Clan’s three hundred disciples were a turning point for public perception. But from the perspective of the operational department, it wasn’t exactly beneficial.

Previously, the operational department’s courses were personally taught by the academy’s principal, especially for the earlier batches of disciples. It’s said that Soul Casting took as little as two months back then, and every cast soul was a masterpiece.

But after the Xu Clan sent their disciples, the principal ceased conducting courses and instead focused his energy entirely on teaching the Xu Clan disciples.

The operational department’s instructors shifted from the Master of the Demon Slaughter Palace to various Martial Ancestors from unknown origins.

In the past, rogue cultivators of mortal realm origins would’ve been thrilled to receive guidance from a Martial Ancestor regarding Soul Casting—it was a dream come true.

But everything pales in comparison. When paying the same tuition fee, why should earlier students be taught by the principal himself or by titled experts like the Master of the Demon Slaughter Palace, while the latter batches are taught by mere Martial Ancestor instructors?

Unsurprisingly, a sense of grievance arose among the students. Even Yun Xiu had no viable solution at the time. Perhaps while she was more suited to opening the Xu Clan disciples’ minds, she was less capable of assisting disciples who already grasped martial cultivation in casting souls.

Thus, for an extended period, Yun Xiu refrained from taking on operational courses entirely, assigning them to the academy instructors led by Shen Tu Jihui. She focused solely on helping the Xu Clan disciples with foundation building.

Finally, after Tang Luo emerged from seclusion, it was discovered that the once patient and dedicated Principal now seemed wholly absorbed in his own world. After much persuasion, a monthly grand lecture was scheduled.

From the establishment of Red Cloud’s court to now, speculation about the Principal’s true identity has never ceased. The guesses range widely, with no authoritative explanation. The only certainty is this: the Principal of Unparalleled Academy wields a terrifyingly high cultivation realm and possesses unrivaled combat power.

At the very least, the world-altering Primary Qi storm and the two Divine Light beams piercing the heavens—events triggered back in the day—were not actions any ordinary individual could perform.

Thus, the Principal’s public lectures naturally attracted countless disciples. Whether they understood or not, attending was the only option!

The operational department’s classes were in full attendance; even instructors on rotation, disciples from Marshal Star Pavilion, town guards, and city council officials filled the hall.

The spacious tiered lecture hall, capable of accommodating over a thousand people, was crammed to the brim. Even the aisles, staircases, and walls were packed, with attendees floating mid-air.

The cultivation levels ranged from Mortal Realm to Martial Ancestor, with figures like Shen Tu Jihui among the titled experts. Of course, the two sect disciples sent here to "study" also appeared prominently within the crowded hall.

"The academy... Really, there are this many people?"

Tang Luo glanced at the bustling classroom and muttered as he stepped onto the podium.

"Clap, clap, clap."

A bamboo pointer materialized from nowhere and struck the blackboard thrice, instantly silencing the rowdy classroom.

"Today, this academy shall lecture on the fundamental nature of cultivation."

Without any preamble, Tang Luo began with a striking declaration. Large, bold white characters appeared on the blackboard, making people’s hearts tremble.

"Cultivation is the cultivation of oneself. Martial cultivation is merely one way of understanding spiritual energy."

Another set of bold white characters appeared, followed by Tang Luo tapping the blackboard lightly with the bamboo pointer. He added, "The lecture is over. Those with questions may ask."

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. Among them, Lei Dong and Zhu Huolong, seated side by side, were particularly dumbfounded.

The seasoned lineage disciples who had heard kings’ sermons at sects and holy lands never expected much from a grand lecture at a common academy. They definitely didn’t think Unparalleled Academy’s Principal had the qualifications to teach them. But this brief and simplified lecture far exceeded their expectations—unexpected in its simplicity.

To be fair, calling the lecture careless might not be accurate. It left listeners with a lingering sense of meaning. But such concise content made it hard to discern whether the speaker possessed profound wisdom or was just rambling nonsense.

Meanwhile, many in the hall were already deep in thought. Naturally, the two credentialed sect prodigies wouldn’t miss the chance to challenge the lecturer.

"Xiehe cultivates universally. If the fundamentals are truly as the Principal claims—merely cultivating oneself—then what value is there in sects and holy lands refining their knowledge for millennia? Does the Principal claim his martial cultivation surpasses that of sect and holy land sages? If not, isn’t such a casual definition of cultivation misleading students?"

Lei Dong stood proudly and eloquently, his righteous challenge resounding in the tiered lecture hall.

"So you believe cultivation is more than just cultivating oneself?"

Tang Luo lazily rested his hand on the lectern and asked.

"Of course. The foundation of cultivation lies in transcendence and evolution, searching for the shore. If one focuses solely on oneself, how can they cross the sea of suffering?"

"Once you transcend and evolve, you cease to be yourself?"

"That... Naturally, I remain me!"

"After reaching the shore, are you still yourself?"

The precise and provocative questions slightly irritated Lei Dong: "Though I remain me after evolution and transcendence, I will no longer be merely myself. Haven’t you heard that kings who reach the shore see the heavens differently from before?"

"The heavens are ever-changing yet never change; the change lies only within oneself."

Tang Luo responded tranquilly, his tone carrying a subtle, convincing force, as though it spoke true principles.

As his words fell, more than half of the Martial Ancestors present became lost in thought. Even Lei Dong faltered, struggling between his worldview and the plausibility of Tang Luo’s perspective. He hesitated, murmuring to himself, "How is this possible... How... is it possible..."