It was already evening when Ming Qi returned to his quarters.
Although Tianqi Academy had been oppressed and marginalized by numerous factions, its facilities were still quite complete, and there were no major differences in accommodation or dining. According to Biyou Sect rules, they could dine in the public dining hall. However, since Tianqi Academy had always been marginalized by numerous factions, and since only eight disciples remained, including Ming Qi and Yue Qinglong, two rookies, they had to take care of their own meals.
"I have to say, Senior Sister Ouna's cooking is truly delicious!"
Back in his room, Ming Qi still clung to the gentle and graceful Senior Sister Ouna's meals.
However, from Meng Junyi's words, he also learned of Tianqi Academy's current predicament.
Within the Biyou Sect, each academy is relatively independent. Every year, the sect's leadership assesses and evaluates each academy, distributing resources for disciples' cultivation based on the results. This is precisely the root cause of conflict between the academies. Sect disciples' cultivation relies heavily on the resources provided by the sect. If the sect wishes to abandon them, the simplest and most direct solution is to cease supplying these disciples with resources.
With each academy eager to obtain better resources, conflict is inevitable.
Thus, various tactics, including testing, suppression, and exclusion, are employed in an endless stream, all in an effort to achieve better rankings in the annual assessments and secure better cultivation resources. This is unavoidable.
Over time, this has become a struggle between the academies. As academy leader, they naturally have to consider the interests of their disciples. While they refrain from direct intervention, they generally maintain a tacit and supportive attitude towards these overt and covert struggles.
In the past, no one dared to ignore Tianqi Academy. With over a thousand disciples, exceptionally talented students emerged constantly, and almost every year, a significant number passed the inner sect examinations and became key inner sect disciples.
But things have changed. Ever since the sudden disappearance of Tianqi Academy's Dean, Mo Qingchen, five years ago, the Academy's prestige has plummeted and collapsed.
Everything changed so swiftly that Ming Qi wondered what had happened, yet no one knew the truth. Over the past five years, Tianqi Academy's former glory seemed to have completely faded into oblivion, forgotten forever.
The root cause of Tianqi Academy's relentless oppression and exclusion from other academies stemmed from a mysterious location within the academy: the Tianguan Tower.
The Tianguan Pagoda, a mysterious training ground forged with immense effort and resources by the former head of the Tianqi Academy, boasts twenty-eight floors, highly beneficial for the training of post-natal cultivators. Anyone who can complete the entire twenty-eight floors has a high chance of reaching the Xiantian realm within a year, achieving a single step to heaven!
Originally, after Mo Qingchen's unexpected disappearance, some of the sect's leadership proposed confiscating the Tianguan Pagoda and breaking its restrictions to allow other disciples to cultivate. However, this was opposed by the Sword-wielding Elder, Prince Xu. Prince Xu held a preeminent position within the Biyou Sect, and his objection was dismissed.
However, matters were far from simple. While the leadership could not intervene directly, the disciples of each academy knew that if Tianqi Academy were to be completely abolished without any disciples, the academy would be completely disbanded, and the Tianguan Pagoda within it would naturally be released for their use. Even Prince Xu would have no reason to object at that point.
This was precisely why disciples from other academies were constantly challenging the Tianqi Academy disciples. Their goal was to drive out the few remaining disciples from Tianqi Academy, leaving it completely empty.
There were no restrictions on challenges between disciples of the same level in the Biyou Sect; as long as no one was killed, everything was tolerated.
This was also why Qiu Ling had engaged in a violent fight upon seeing Ming Qi and the others. Meng Junyi and the others had also been injured in battles with disciples from other academies.
Lying in bed, Ming Qi felt a pang of discontent as he recalled everything Meng Junyi had said that day.
Thinking of his fifth-level Acquired Realm strength being treated like a discarded pawn in the soon-to-be-banned Tianqi Academy, he felt an inexplicable surge of anger. However, he also knew that with his current strength, he simply couldn't make a choice.
If he wanted to make a choice, he had to be strong. Only with sufficient strength could he have the right to speak!
At that moment, Ming Qi sensed someone approaching.
Opening the door, he saw Meng Junyi standing outside.
"Brother Meng, come sit inside."
Meng Junyi was invited inside, and the two sat down.
Meng Junyi's injuries had healed considerably, but his face was still etched with worry.
Ming Qi knew he was worried about the future of Tianqi Academy, and couldn't bear to see the Tianguan Pagoda, the dean's creation, fall into the hands of others.
"Brother Meng, don't worry too much. The dean will definitely return."
These people were desperately trying to maintain Tianqi Academy thanks to their unwavering obsession with dean Mo Qingchen. Otherwise, they could have simply given up and merged with other academies.
"Do you also believe the dean will return?"
Meng Junyi looked at Ming Qi with a confused expression.
"Yes."
Ming Qi nodded. "He won't abandon the honor of Tianqi Academy easily. In my opinion, the dean is bound to undertake a great undertaking. Once that undertaking is complete, he will return to Tianqi Academy to restore its former glory."
"Okay!"
Meng Junyi's expression suddenly grew agitated, his face changing for a moment before he said gravely, "Junior Brother Ming, follow me."
Led by Meng Junyi, Ming Qi arrived at a majestic hall. This was the heart of Tianqi Academy, the Tianqi Hall.
The Tianqi Hall was completely empty, save for two enormous characters inscribed on a central wall: Tianqi!
Seeing these two characters, Ming Qi's heart surged with an inexplicable passion, as if these two words were worthy of his life's protection and defense. He suddenly understood that this was perhaps the obsession that sustained Meng Junyi and his companions in their sworn defense of Tianqi Academy's dignity.
"This is Tianqi's faith. Although we belong to the Biyou Sect, I belong to Tianqi even more!"
Meng Junyi's voice trembled as he gazed at the enormous "Tianqi" characters.
Tianqi has become an unyielding will, thoroughly woven into the hearts of the disciples who have refused to abandon Tianqi Academy. They are not merely cultivators striving for greater power, but also embodied Tianqi's will.
Ming Qi felt strangely moved. He vowed to defend Tianqi to the death, even against all enemies. Tianqi's will resonated deeply with him.
"Senior Brother Meng, I understand what you mean. Since I've joined Tianqi Academy, we share honor and disgrace, weal and woe, and we will remain loyal until death. Although I, Ming Qi, possess limited strength, I am a passionate man who would rather die than bend!"
Ming Qi, feeling deeply moved, suddenly realized that Tianqi's will bore a striking resemblance to the essence of wolf nature, especially its proud destiny!
"Excellent!"
Meng Junyi, hearing Ming Qi's heartfelt words, was deeply moved.
After a moment's silence, Meng Junyi suddenly asked, "Junior Brother Ming, do you want to enter the Tianguan Tower to train?"
Tianguan Tower?
Ming Qi's heart skipped a beat. According to Meng Junyi, training in the Tianguan Tower could lead to rapid progress. As long as one could pass the twenty-eighth floor of the Tianguan Tower, there was a high chance that one would soon reach the Xiantian realm and achieve the status of a powerful being.
"Isn't it true that only the Dean possesses the method to open the Heavenly Official Tower?"
Meng Jun nodded. "Yes, that was true before the Dean left. But the Dean had a brilliant plan, knowing that a catastrophe would ensue within Tianqi Academy after his departure. Therefore, he had already inscribed the method to unlock the Heavenly Official Tower's restrictions on the Tianqi Academy's Enlightenment Stone. And just recently, I discovered the method from the Enlightenment Stone."
Meng Jun's face was heavy. "Originally, we were all on the verge of collapse, but after obtaining the method to unlock the Heavenly Official Tower's restrictions, several of us entered the Tower for trials. We've made considerable progress over the past year, but none of us have yet reached the Xiantian realm."
Ming Qi nodded and said, "Since Senior Brother Meng has the method to unlock the Heavenly Official Tower, I'll naturally go."
This was an opportunity, and Ming Qi wouldn't give it up.
"Junior Brother Ming, this Heavenly Official Tower is the last remaining secret of my Tianqi Academy. If one day..."
Ming Qi knew what Meng Jun was about to say and decisively interrupted him with a wave of his hand.
"I mean what I say. Once I enter Tianqi, I'll never turn back!"
Ming Qi was a man of his word. Now that he knew of Tianqi Academy's predicament, and since those people were intent on making a fool of themselves and ultimately taking possession of the academy's treasure, the Tianguan Pagoda, Ming Qi naturally had to use his seven-foot-tall body to put up a fight.
A man values integrity, and Ming Qi, having lived two lives, had this ingrained in his bones.
Due to time constraints, Ming Qi and Meng Junyi agreed to head to the Tianguan Pagoda the next day to challenge and gain experience.
Meng Junyi gave him some further instructions and then returned to his quarters.
Back in his room, Ming Qi didn't fall asleep immediately. Instead, he began his usual practice of cultivating and deducing the profound mysteries of the Supreme Mountain and Sea Map.
The Supreme Mountain and Sea Map held boundless mysteries; that was undeniable. Since achieving perfected telepathy, Ming Qi's understanding of the Supreme Mountain and Sea Diagram has greatly increased. He even mastered the devastating Wolf Fist during a battle with a wolf pack, all thanks to the Supreme Mountain and Sea Diagram.
Ming Qi has now remained in the fifth level of the Acquired Body Lightness Realm for some time. Through his daily practice, he has gradually begun to understand the existence of the body's major acupoints and the operating characteristics of its vital joints, a sign that he is about to enter the sixth level of consciousness.
Once entering the sixth level of consciousness, one's understanding of the body will deepen, allowing them to better utilize their strengths in combat and effectively defend against weaknesses.
As his realm continues to advance, the profound mysteries of the Supreme Mountain and Sea Diagram will gradually unfold.