All Heavenly destiny reduced to ashes
Chapter 295 - 156 The Vortex of Heavenly Mandate (3/3)

Chapter 295: Chapter 156 The Vortex of Heavenly Mandate (3/3)

The cultivation journey at Nian Quan was anything but smooth.

In the principal’s office, the young cultivator sat face to face with Principal He Yongzhi of the Third Middle School.

"Speak," Principal He said, his gaze fixed on the documents in his hand, his tone cold, "how do you plan to compensate for Hong Li’s losses?"

"I will not compensate," Nian Quan replied, utterly unafraid, even indifferently, "We were in a public arena fight that was fair and just, supervised by Xuanye City’s official teachers, and it was Hong Li who launched a lethal attack on me. All my actions were based on self-defense and equal combat."

"Moreover, just having an arm severed by a sharp weapon, I believe for the school doctor, that’s merely a minor injury."

"Well spoken. But injuries caused by sword intent are not so easy to heal and did take some effort," the principal nodded slightly, "It seems you are smarter than I thought, using such a false threat to scare you is meaningless."

"But have you ever thought, a frenzied Hong Li could mobilize his family’s resources to retaliate against you with everything they’ve got?"

"Maybe. I’m not sure whether he’ll be scolded by his family and then left to regain face on his own, or pitied by adults and then they launch their resources to deal with me."

Nian Quan shook his head slightly, "If it’s the latter, I really can’t do much about it. If he wants to retaliate against me, I can only take it."

"But to me, it’s nothing much after all. I’m just an orphan; they can manipulate me as they wish, regardless."

"Oh... that’s quite profound," Principal He said meaningfully, "Then why must you take first place? I believe you’re aware of Hong Li’s character."

"Because I can."

Nian Quan met his gaze, "Principal, please speak directly about anything you need me to do. That is why I took the first place, defeated Hong Li, and came here."

"Not bad," the principal nodded slightly, "It seems I underestimated your maturity, all this you did on your own, using Hong Li as a stepping stone."

"Sword intent."

So saying, the elderly man with hawk-like eyes stood up, picked up the Water Mirror Crystal Panel, and browsed through the data, "Since the establishment of the Third Middle School, a total of one hundred and fifty-seven students have comprehended sword intent."

"Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? But that is out of hundreds of years of students, and the vast majority made their achievements after leaving the school. Generally speaking, it’s not our accomplishment."

"During their time at school, only five have comprehended sword intent, and each one has become a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"You are the sixth one."

Closing the Water Mirror, Principal He looked at Nian Quan, a certain spiritual light flickering, "Where did you learn your swordsmanship?"

"On my own," a figure flashed in Nian Quan’s mind, and without any hesitation, he said, "I gained it through enlightenment."

—Enlightenment?

Principal He showed no sign of discerning anything amiss, his brow furrowed, then relaxed.

Indeed... a child who has always stayed in the Lower City District, whose mother is rarely at home and whose father died early, even with a Heavenly Spiritual Root, wouldn’t have access to decent cultivation methods.

Apart from enlightenment, he shouldn’t have any means to comprehend sword intent.

But if it was through enlightenment, then some things would need to be reconsidered.

A Heavenly Spiritual Root and a Heavenly Spiritual Root through enlightenment are two different things. The former would be good enough just to ensure Foundation Establishment and still needs to consume resources, while the latter might have the potential to open up the Great Void Purple Mansion.

"Good. Very good," Principal He quickly made up his mind and nodded, "I will take care of Hong Li’s case for you. Injuries are normal in school martial tests, and making a fuss over such a trifle is to challenge the order of Xuanye City; the Hong family doesn’t have the nerve to do that."

"But you, Nian Quan," Principal He pushed the Water Mirror Crystal Panel in front of Nian Quan, "you have to sign this contract."

"Don’t worry, it’s not a life-bonding contract. It’s just that our Third Middle School needs a sword dao talent like you... to do some promotional work."

Nian Quan picked up the Water Mirror and briefly browsed through it.

It was as Principal He had said, not some life-bonding pledge, but a rather standard partnership contract. Nian Quan had to maintain his top grades in his year and participate in a few martial tests related to sword dao for the school’s promotion.

Attaining rankings would bring scholarships, the higher the ranking, the more the scholarship, and the school would also provide resources for his breakthroughs in cultivation stages. Otherwise, he would really need to sign a life-bonding contract.

Beyond that, if he were accepted into one of the four great Daoist academies, he could only choose Tai Ming Daoist Academy.

Nian Quan’s eyelashes trembled slightly because he knew that the four great Daoist academies, Xuandu Qianyuan, Tai Ming Tianling, respectively corresponded to the ’Xuandu,’ ’Shouyang,’ ’Luofu,’ and ’Lianshan’ four major collectives.

Only being able to choose Tai Ming Academy meant that he could only choose the Luofu Collective.

The collective, that had destroyed the Black Market, the very one that had killed his mother.

Therefore, Nian Quan actually revealed a smile.

"Couldn’t ask for more."

He signed his name.

"Very good," Principal He was also pleased, wearing a smile, "Our school should also have a seed who is directly invited to the four great Daoist academies without having to take an exam."

A vortex.

Spanning two worlds, a vortex driven by Heavenly Mandate was turning.

Just as Nian Quan signed the contract, starting on his own brand-new path.

In the Embracing the Void realm, atop Heaven’s Will Mountain, at the peak of Mysterious Yin Peak, amidst the mountains where rain fell. The rainwater descended from the lofty heavens, hitting the mid-mountain, turning into streams and waterfalls that cascaded down to the foot of the mountain. The spells’ chants flickered in succession, accompanied by streaks of light that shone like moonlight through the rain, blending in and vanishing. Bai Qinghan, sitting in the middle of the altar, had black hair that was gradually turning white.

In Da Chen’s Northern Border, about to return to Shenjing, the elder who was to receive his military tally and commands had thousands of different weapons floating behind him as if he had a thousand arms manipulating them, performing various maneuvers. In front of him, Gu Yeqi clenched her teeth as she raised her long sword, while two crooked swords and a shield floated on either side of her body. She was determined to overcome herself and block the old man’s fierce and abrupt onslaught.

Meanwhile, on another battlefield of the Northern Barbarians, shrouded in shadows, Cang Linzu invoked the newly acquired Fate Pattern Special Abilities, blending into the shadows, moving stealthily among the earth, stones, and vegetation, scouting the enemy situation. He dodged flying arrows and avoided Arts of Magic, once again returning from certain death, laughing heartily due to his progress in Martial Arts.

In the lands of Central Continent, in the middle of Heavenly Sea, an ancient majestic mountain like Lin Tianshan sat Among the Clouds, from which clouds, rain, and rosy mist all emerged. Thunder Light streaked across the sky, as divine dragons peeked down from above. It was as if four suns, thunderous and great, had appeared in the sky, their inscrutable gazes fixed on his young daughter and the endless Karma she brought with her. You Ruhui faced it without fear and with equanimity.

And the source of it all...

In Tianyuan Realm, An Jing was setting up an online store with Huo Qing, planning to subcontract the goods and successively deliver them via Iron Hand’s channels. Earning money while engaging in cultivation was a joyous affair.

"It’s been so peaceful lately."

Seeing the word ’sold’ repeatedly appearing in the Water Mirror, An Jing reflected, "I feel like my Heavenly Mandate has also calmed down. Focusing on cultivation feels really nice."

"It might be a Destiny counterbalance. Your tranquility indicates that something big must be happening somewhere else."

Subdue Evil offered a different opinion, "But it might also be because you’ve saved many people."

"Saving people brings such good fortune? Then why did the past Seven Fiend always kill people?"

Facing An Jing’s doubt, Subdue Evil had a conjecture, "The Seven Fiend killed people and could instantly gain a large amount of Destiny. This is equivalent to cutting off, buying off someone’s future Karma in its entirety. The flame burns fiercely in an instant, but if they don’t keep killing, they will suffer a backlash."

"But saving a person is like a steady stream of water."

"I feel like even saving the entire city of Kanming was worth only one wave of Enlightenment," An Jing was puzzled, "Based on what you’re saying, doesn’t that mean as long as the people of the city are alive, they will continuously provide me with Destiny feedback?"

"It’s probably not that simple," Subdue Evil pondered, "The fate of the people of Kanming City was originally to live an ordinary life. It was only because the Commandery Princess arrived, twisting their fate, that they were going to die."

"You changed the fate of the Commandery Princess and the people of Kanming City. That’s the main feedback of Destiny. Meanwhile, the people of Kanming City have returned to their original lives. The minimal differences from the past are your feedback... Being alive itself may not carry Destiny, only because of you, they have lived on, and it’s the significant actions they take that will provide feedback."

"Simply put, if the people you have saved continue to live as they used to, ordinarily, then there’s no feedback. They must live a life completely different from the past, embark on paths they could never have taken before."

"For example, ordinary people turn to pursue cultivation, notorious thieves reform and do good deeds, the wealthy become destitute, and beggars reach unparalleled riches..."

"Only then will there be effects!"

"It sounds..." An Jing couldn’t help but look up, his gaze as if piercing through the warehouse ceiling, toward the sky, "Somewhat subjective?"

"The ways of Heaven are inherently subjective," Subdue Evil was not surprised, "All Destiny flows, and the power to interpret Enlightenment and blessings from Heaven’s Will rests with Heaven. Heaven’s Will has always been elusive, and unless you reach the state of Primordial Spirit, you shouldn’t think too much about it."

"This period of peace is rare indeed, precisely the time when our strength can rapidly grow."

"Indeed."

An Jing recently found cultivation delightful, without anyone chasing or causing trouble, as everything entered a highly efficient cycle of resource management. However, he still remained vigilant, "All calm is just the quiet before the storm; I must always be prepared."

Before he realized it, the peaceful days passed.

The peaceful days swiftly passed by.