I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1669 - 108: The First Lesson

Chapter 1669: Chapter 108: The First Lesson

The people of Unparalleled City all pledged their agreement, but Tang Luo could see from their slightly bewildered gazes that they did not truly comprehend the significance of mentoring the scions of noble families as if they were one’s own children and nephews.

It’s not their fault, for the behavior of aristocratic families is fundamentally about exclusivity.

In ancient times, when the Human Race was in decline, the one leading ten thousand households could be called a Marquis, a giant in their own right.

Nowadays, any noble family with a bit of accumulation can rule over a hundred miles, and the so-called ten thousand households are merely the size of a county or town.

Perhaps the shadow cast by the Demon Race in ancient times was too profound; even as they have achieved the dominance of Xiehe, there’s a pettiness that pervades their actions.

Given any convenience, they can hardly wait to hoard it; even with boundless undeveloped lands in Xiehe, they act like bandits claiming a mountain as their own.

They treat the entire world as their enemy, as if phoenix eggs could hatch from their meager plots of land.

This is also why Tang Luo has admitted so many young children into the school for cultivation training.

After all, it is in human nature, no matter how great one’s future achievements, to be shaped by the underlying logic developed during childhood.

If one’s youth is deprived, they will naturally feel inferior, and once they’ve gained some accomplishments later in life, they will guard them against others as if guarding against thieves.

Those neglected or inadequately nurtured in their youth tend to become irritable and angry; if inherently good, they might earn a reputation for being strong-willed, but if they stray even slightly, they could turn brutal and fierce.

But in an era of great strife, with one struggling to survive, and men preoccupied with their endeavors, how much time is there to look after one’s children?

A deficit in upbringing is expected, so it’s no wonder that the clan’s descendants are mostly filled with deep resentment, yet this could have been changed.

If Unparalleled Academy only taught students cultivation, then there would be little difference between five or eight years of study; however, if one could instill certain values in these students while instructing them in cultivation, that would indeed have boundless potential.

But discussing such matters with subordinates whose values have already solidified is meaningless; as long as they obey and act accordingly, that would suffice.

The modest and undemanding Tang Luo, leaving the conference room, fortuitously encountered Shentu Jihui, exiting a classroom; they exchanged smiles and nods, then passed by each other.

Busy with their teaching responsibilities, as the only two lecturers at the academy, they had no surplus time.

...

The first lecture for new students was scheduled for the second day after their enrollment.

Joining the lecture with the three hundred descendants from Xu Clan who came from Ying City were over two hundred disciples from various noble families across Longzhou, totaling over five hundred students.

The innovative tiered classroom layout intrigued the students, but the seating choices revealed the differences between Xu Clan disciples and those from other noble families.

The front five rows and the central section of the middle to back rows were fully occupied by Xu Clan disciples, whereas disciples from noble families of Longzhou typically formed small groups at the corners, occasionally even leaving a seat empty between them, with the difference between direct and collateral lines visible from their attire.

As for the Xu Clan, it was difficult to discern any difference from their appearance; all displayed a fierce composure, with even the more mature ones scrutinizing Tang Luo with careful eyes, unflinching in their gaze.

The noble family’s disciples also sized up Tang Luo, but they would quickly avert their eyes after contact.

The level of confidence differed greatly, as did their accumulations. As a master of physical arts, Tang Luo could tell the Xu Clan youths, despite their young age, had been well-conditioned with excellent muscles and bones, their meridians were long and they possessed astonishing endurance.

Even those who were truly nervous were subtly regulating their breath.

Disciples from noble clans clearly have not received such instruction, their breathing fluctuates with their emotions and is easily influenced by others, utterly chaotic.

Previously, the difference was not so pronounced when disciples were accepted in separate batches, but now, with the two groups together, the disparity in fundamental qualities is starkly evident, and this is merely what is apparent on the surface.

"Those among you who can’t yet read or write, raise your hands."

For the first lesson, Tang Luo did not ask for the students’ names, but instead raised his right hand and softly addressed the five hundred people in the classroom.

Among the disciples sent by the noble families, many were children of concubines and offshoot branches, and after looking around tentatively, quite a few meekly raised their hands.

"You are not yet suited to learn the Five Elements Spirit Foundation Building; first spend three months to fully recognize characters and acupoints. After class, head to the Yellow-rank classroom to make up for this knowledge before starting your studies."

When they say all should be taught, it isn’t referring to a chaotic mix.

Just like when teaching large classes to disciples registered for the Soul Casting course, Tang Luo would not exclude those with particularly poor backgrounds.

Although there are a few who can’t even recognize all the characters, decades of arduous cultivation have given them their own insights, and so they will benefit just from attending the class.

However, it is not the same for younger disciples, whose experiences are so meager that each day’s realization is fresh to them.

"A new appearance every three to five days," this saying suits the youths in front of us, and in fact, the most suitable method of education at this time is small-class teaching.

This allows the curriculum to be tailored to the progress of each disciple. If the class size were only fifty to sixty people, Tang Luo could manage a teaching style akin to one-on-one tutoring.

However, with a class size of five hundred, it can only be a large class. At this point, if we don’t teach according to their levels.

It would only make both the top-tier and bottom-tier students suffer immensely in their learning.

Therefore, the first thing Tang Luo did after starting the class was to ask about the cultural literacy of the disciples.

But Tang Luo also knew that young people cared about their pride, and among those who didn’t raise their hands just now, there were certainly those who couldn’t read or write.

These individuals would eventually be exposed in the later courses, and since they are wasting their own time, there’s no need to remind them.

Briefly skipping the first phase, Tang Luo then asked, "Raise your hand if you have practiced the thirty-six Innate Dao Maps."

The Xu Clan disciples in the first five rows simultaneously raised their hands, and the direct descendants from Longzhou’s noble families followed suit, but it was still those same children who hadn’t learnt to read or write that now hung their heads in shame.

The tactics used by noble families to distinguish between main and collateral lines often manifest in the timing of Foundation Building; evidently, the great houses of Longzhou have yet to correct this bad habit.

Having asked about cultural level and martial fundamentals, Tang Luo now had a basic understanding of the caliber of the disciples before him.

Without immediately grouping the disciples in the first lesson, Tang Luo directly delved into the "Five Elements Spirit Foundation Building Method."

After all, martial training is ultimately about talent. Cultural and martial foundations are one aspect, but there are also the profoundly mysterious comprehension and divinely bestowed aptitudes.

This kind of thing can’t be judged by when one starts learning; instead, it needs to be tested through another simple experiment.

"Now, begin to imagine, imagine yourself transforming into one of the following divine beasts: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, Xuanwu, Qilin."

Tang Luo told the eight hundred disciples in the tiered classroom: "Imagine, if you are now a divine beast, how you would inhale and exhale, how you would move. Once you have figured it out, come up and demonstrate."