Yefutidaolu

Chapter 387 Little things
Facing the crowd blocking his way, Gao Jian remained as calm as ever.

To be honest, calmness is the feeling that Gao Jian has the most of now. After seeing more things, he found that many things can't stir up any waves in his heart, so he naturally does everything with a calm and detached attitude.

After having a life-or-death struggle with the Earth Immortal, these students seem like mere child's play in comparison.

His gaze swept over the clearly hostile "welcoming group" before him, and he cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "My fellow disciples, have waited here for me? Is there some new matter at the Imperial Academy that requires my involvement?"

"Welcoming new students?" A slightly chubby, fair-skinned student scoffed, his tone sarcastic. "Junior Brother Gao is joking. We are here simply because we have long admired your illustrious reputation for blocking the gate and proclaiming yourself 'Invincible.' Now that you have achieved great success in Liangzhou, your cultivation must have advanced by leaps and bounds. We are itching to learn more and have come to ask you for some guidance so that we can witness what true 'Invincibility' really means."

These words were quite blunt, directly bringing up the old story of Gao Jian "blocking the door" and labeling him as "invincible".

Gao Jian immediately said very humbly, "Senior brother, you are mistaken. When I first entered the Imperial Academy, I set up a challenge sign only to learn from and verify the skills of my fellow students in order to improve. The words 'invincible' were just arrogant words to motivate myself and to attract others. If this has caused any displeasure among you senior brothers, I apologize."

He adopted a humble attitude and spoke tactfully. After all, he wasn't some kind of madman. The important thing was to settle things as soon as possible and go to the library to study and improve himself.

To spend all your time thinking about fighting with others is foolish; only a mindless madman would do that.

“What a fine ‘brick to attract jade’!” Another lean, sharp-eyed student stepped forward and said, “Junior Brother Gao defeated eighteen classmates in a row that day, how impressive! Now that you’ve returned in triumph, you must be even more arrogant towards your peers. Why are you being so humble now? Do you think we’re not worthy to be your ‘bricks’?”

"Senior brother, why be so aggressive?" Gao Jian looked directly at the lean student. "When I act, I only ask whether it is right or wrong, not whether I am afraid. Exchanging ideas and verifying our skills is a common occurrence, and I welcome it at any time. However, the fact that you senior brothers are blocking the entrance to the academy today, I wonder if you are students returning from the Imperial Academy's examinations, or... is it purely for personal grudges?"

"Personal grudge?" The lean student felt uncomfortable under Gao Jian's gaze and raised his voice a few decibels. "As senior students of the Imperial Academy, we are concerned about the progress of our junior's studies upon his return and wish to test him. What's wrong with that? Junior Brother Gao, are you making such a fuss? Could it be that your trip to Liangzhou exhausted you and your cultivation has regressed instead of progressed? Or is it that your so-called 'invincible' reputation is just based on a bit of luck, and you're feeling guilty now?"

The more they said it, the harsher it became; it was practically a direct challenge to my insightful opinion.

Gao Jian's smile slowly faded, and he shook his head.

His gaze swept over Cang Hai, who stood with his hands behind his back, expressionless, seemingly tacitly approving of the provocation.

Gao Jian understood perfectly. Cang Hai wanted to use someone else to test his own abilities and also to maintain his prestige and dignity as a "senior" in the Imperial Academy.

“Senior brother’s words are rather arbitrary.” Gao Jian’s voice turned cold. “My cultivation level is not something I need to prove to anyone. Within the Imperial Academy, the teachers and elders will examine my merits and demerits. If you senior brothers insist on determining the winner through a private duel…” He paused, his gaze piercing the aggressive, lean student like lightning, “I, Gao, will gladly oblige! But fists and feet have no eyes; if I accidentally injure a senior brother, please do not blame me for my lack of skill!”

"Arrogant!" The lean student was already furious at Gao Jian's previous gaze, and now, provoked by these almost contemptuous words, he could no longer hold back.
Among the many students of the Imperial Academy, none of them were not proud and arrogant. Although Gao Jian was renowned and was indeed very capable in the past few months, the Imperial Academy had not been idle.

The students of the Imperial Academy were all elites, with superior temperament, family background, and talent. Several months had passed since the expert made his move.

Over the past few months, Gao Jian's tactics and strategies on the day he blocked the door have been thoroughly exposed and dismantled.

Moreover, this kind of dismantling is not simply breaking a move; it is a kind of 'learning' and 'progress'.

The numerous tactics Gao Jian displayed in that battle actually raised the average level of the entire Imperial Academy. Everyone criticized him, but they also learned from him. Since there were things to learn, they would definitely follow suit immediately.

This is the Imperial Academy model.

When one person breaks through their limits, others will quickly follow suit. Everyone is a genius. Unless it's a unique skill, like the demonic energy of a high-level expert, other things like 'ideas' or 'techniques' can be quickly copied or even optimized.

It is precisely because of this approach that the Imperial Academy has been able to stand strong for so long.

So, while Gao Jian could claim to be 'invincible' a few months ago, that might not be the case now. His combat strategies and techniques, while not everyone can use them, have been mastered by the few who are currently blocking his path.

"Then, let's give it a try." The lean student stepped forward and charged ahead!

His movements were incredibly fast, clearly indicating he had put in a lot of hard work. He clenched his right fist, with a faint blue aura swirling around the knuckles, and with a whooshing sound, he aimed straight for Gao Jian's face. This punch was powerful and heavy, clearly thrown in anger, having lost all sense of proportion in a friendly spar, and was intended to teach Gao Jian a lesson.

The people around immediately stopped and began to watch. Some looked excited, while others frowned slightly, feeling that this was a bit excessive. Cang Hai's eyes also narrowed slightly as he stared intently at the scene.

Faced with this fierce punch aimed straight at vital points, Gao Jian stood still, completely unmoved!

Just as the fist, shimmering with a pale blue light, was about to touch the tip of his nose—

Moved!

Gao Jian's movements were as fast as a ghost and as precise as a ruler! There were no unnecessary frills; you couldn't even see how he raised his hand! His right hand shot out like lightning, arriving before the enemy!
It's not a block, it's not a punch exchange!
His five fingers were like iron clamps, precisely and instantly gripping the wrist of the lean student who had offered up his hand!
"Crack!"

A crisp, teeth-grinding cracking sound rang out!

It wasn't that Gao Jian deliberately crushed the other person's bones, but rather that the wiry student's angry charge was too fierce, and Gao Jian's grip was too precise and forceful! The immense force and the instantaneous clamping action directly caused a wrist dislocation or even a fracture!
"Uh—!" The lean student's face tightened, and his forward-rushing figure seemed to have crashed into an invisible iron wall, coming to an abrupt stop!

However, this minor injury was nothing to him; the shattered bones healed almost instantly. So he immediately used his strength to try and break through Gao Jian's blockade.

But... it didn't budge.

Gao Jian remained standing in the same spot, his left hand even behind his back.

The lean student frowned, circulating his internal energy, still wanting to fight back!
But Takashi only gave him a slight push forward, and as if his bones had been removed, he staggered back a few steps and fell to the ground with a thud, clutching his throbbing right wrist, his eyes filled with disbelief as he looked at Takashi.

"Seventh Realm!" he shouted! He was just attacked by the backlash because he couldn't resist the attack of the opponent's internal energy. This difference could only be due to the difference in their realms. He was at the sixth realm, so Gao Jian could only be at the seventh realm!
The whole place was dead silent!

You can hear the needle drop!

The previously noisy scene froze instantly. All the students stared wide-eyed, as if they had seen a ghost, at Gao Jian, who remained calm and composed.

Seven Realms?!
No, about half a year ago, when he blocked the door, wasn't he claiming to be invincible in the 'Five Realms'?

What...what kind of monster is this?!
Cang Hai's hands, which were clasped behind his back, clenched unconsciously. His gaze toward Gao Jian was extremely solemn, even carrying a hint of apprehension that he himself was unwilling to admit.

Gao Jian slowly withdrew his hand, his gaze calmly sweeping over the surroundings, looking at the faces filled with shock and horror, finally landing on Cang Hai's solemn expression. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears:

"Are there any other senior brothers who would like to 'give Gao some pointers'?"

At this moment, Cang Hai stepped forward, stood in front of everyone, and said, "It's not so much guidance, just a friendly exchange. I didn't expect that when you first entered the sect, you were only at the fourth level, but you broke through to the fifth level in just a few days and even put up a sign to challenge your fellow disciples. And now... in less than a year, you've reached the seventh level."

He tried to sound calm, but when he actually said it, he couldn't quite remain calm.

The words "Seven Realms" struck a deep chord in the hearts of every student present!

Although they were initially intimidated by Gao Jian's strength, they hadn't had time to fully consider his level of mastery.

When the truth was revealed at that moment, an overwhelming sense of absurdity and horror instantly overwhelmed them!
One year! From the fourth realm to the seventh realm!

What is this concept?
These top students from the Imperial Academy, each one a prodigy, were all exceptional individuals. They were surrounded by resources and guided by renowned teachers. Even so, it was generally only possible for them to achieve this after the age of forty.

They are probably in their twenties or thirties now, which means that it generally takes ten years or even longer of arduous training to even touch the threshold of the seventh realm! Ten years! That is the accumulation of countless days and nights of sweat, comprehension, and opportunity!
For the vast majority of cultivators in the Divine Dynasty, the Seventh Realm is an unattainable peak! Outside the Divine Capital, a cultivator at the Seventh Realm is enough to establish a sect, govern a region, and become a "god" that mortals look up to!
What a brilliant idea! One year! This isn't just genius; it's monstrous! It's a monster!

Facing Cang Hai's extremely complex gaze and the gasps of astonishment around him, Gao Jian casually dusted off non-existent dust from his sleeves, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather: "I just encountered some fortuitous events. This trip wasn't just about going to Liangzhou to hand in a mission."

He sighed softly, his face showing exhaustion and lingering fear. "I even went to the East Sea...sigh, I almost lost my life there. This level of cultivation, I guess I got it by risking my life."

"East China Sea?!"

These two words stirred up even bigger waves!

They only knew that Gao Jian had gone to Liangzhou to carry out a mission for the Imperial Academy, but they never expected that he would also venture into the East Sea! No wonder! No wonder he made such terrifying progress! It turns out that he fought his way up in such a dangerous and unpredictable place.

Although Gao Jian's words were vague, the amount of information contained in those few sentences was enough to spark the imaginations of these students from prestigious families. The Dragon Palace of the East Sea? The True Dragon's Secret Treasure? An adventure with a near-death experience? Combined with the terrifying strength Gao Jian had displayed, all of this seemed to make perfect sense.

Risking one's life for a miraculous encounter is an age-old truth. History is not without precedent; legend has it that in the primordial era, before the world fell silent, some even achieved immortality in a dream! They had all heard of these family secrets to some extent.

The hostility and provocation that had been directed at Gao Jian melted away like ice and snow under the sun, transforming into awe, curiosity, and even a hint of... envy.

Who can say anything about the strength he gained at the cost of his life? We can only marvel at his good luck, his courage, and his toughness!
Gao Jian said no more, his gaze calmly sweeping over everyone, finally lingering for a moment on Cang Hai's complex and unfathomable face, before nodding slightly as a greeting.

Then, he strode forward and walked straight toward the crowd.

This time, no one dared to stop them.

The students blocking his way seemed to be parted by an invisible hand, instinctively making way for him.

They watched silently, their emotions a complex mix, as the figure in the blue robe calmly passed through them and headed deeper into the Imperial Academy.

Only after Takashi's figure disappeared behind the archway leading to the school building did the frozen air seem to begin to flow again.

Cang Hai slowly loosened his clenched fist. He looked in the direction where Gao Jian had disappeared, his eyes shifting with uncertainty, before finally settling into a sigh.

"Everyone, you can leave now." He waved his hand.

What he intended as a show of force to uphold his "senior's dignity" today has instead become a stepping stone for the other party to regain fame. This sense of defeat is far more painful for him than the disparity in strength.

As Gao Jian passed through the archway, the clamor and inquisitive gazes were shut out behind him. The atmosphere inside the Imperial Academy was solemn and tranquil, with ancient trees reaching for the sky, pavilions and towers nestled among them, and the air filled with the faint scent of ink and the fresh fragrance of grass and trees.

Gao Jian walked with ease, completely unconcerned about the little incident just now. In his eyes, the competitiveness, factional infighting, and power games among the students of the Imperial Academy were no different from a child crying and rolling around on the street over a piece of candy. They were childish and ridiculous, not worth a second glance. What Gao Jian wanted to do was something big.

He entered the Imperial Academy, but these were never his goals.

What he wanted was the convenience and protection that came with being a "student of the Imperial Academy," and the library that was said to have gathered all the classics in the world and encompassed everything.

Now, he needs to brush up on his knowledge about the seventh and even eighth realms.

He quickened his pace, his figure moving swiftly along the ancient stone path, single-mindedly heading straight for the Sutra Repository.

(End of this chapter)