"Teacher, Dean."
As soon as Su Yu entered the office, he spotted both Liu Wenyan and the Dean. He promptly offered his greetings.
"Su Yu, you're here."
Liu Wenyan smiled warmly—far more warmly than he had with the Dean earlier. His face lit up as he asked, "Your father has gone to the All-Heavens Battlefield. Has your daily life been affected in any way?"
"Not at all. Everything's going fine."
Su Yu expressed his gratitude, then hesitated slightly before saying with concern, "Teacher, I heard rumors that members of the All-Races Religion might come to Nanyuan..."
"No need to worry!"
Liu Wenyan waved it off with a calm smile. "Even if they do come—which is unlikely—so what? If they really dare to make a move against me, they'd better be prepared to pay a heavy price. Trading a heap of lives for this old man's—who really gains in that deal?"
He stood up and looked out the window, still smiling. "In times of crisis, remain calm. Never let your heart be disturbed. Su Yu, one of the things I've admired most about you over the years is your ability to stay grounded, to remain steady in the face of trouble. That's what sets you apart from your peers."
"Don't let minor chaos disrupt your focus."
After a few words, Liu Wenyan turned to the Dean and said, "You can step out now. I have something to discuss with Su Yu."
The Dean chuckled and didn't insist this time. He left the office without a word.
…
Once the Dean was gone, Liu Wenyan's smile disappeared.
He gestured for Su Yu to sit, and though Su Yu was puzzled, he didn't ask. He took a seat across from the teacher.
"Su Yu, I heard you applied to the War Academy?"
"Yes," Su Yu replied with a slight nod.
"You really want to attend the War Academy?"
Su Yu hesitated briefly and then said, "Not exactly. It's just... a backup option."
"Don't lie to me. I'm not a fool," Liu Wenyan said calmly. "You're applying because your father went to the All-Heavens Battlefield, right?"
Su Yu fell silent.
"You fool," Liu Wenyan said, still smiling faintly. "Even if you got into the War Academy and trained until you were strong enough to protect your father—how long would that take?"
Su Yu didn't answer. He had thought about that question before... but it wasn't something he wanted to dwell on. Besides, with the mysterious book in his mind, things might not follow the normal path.
"Do you know who the top powerhouses of the Human Race are?"
"The Great Xia King, the Great Zhou King, the Great Ming King…"
Liu Wenyan nodded slightly. "And do you know which powerful figures emerged after the An Yuan Era?"
Before Su Yu could reply, Liu Wenyan continued, "The most well-known would be the Governors of the various prefectures and the leaders of the major military forces."
"Did you know... about thirty percent of them graduated from the Civilization Academies?"
Su Yu blinked, surprised. Thirty percent came from the Civilization Academies?
But weren't those institutions meant to train…
Before Su Yu could finish that thought, Liu Wenyan smiled knowingly. "You're probably thinking: Civilization Academy graduates are just like me—experts in foreign languages with weak combat power, ready to be blown away by the first gust of wind, right?"
"You're wrong."
His tone suddenly turned serious. "I never told you before because you weren't ready to hear it."
"In reality, many powerful figures from the Civilization Academies—some even top-tier—are stronger than their counterparts from the War Academies!"
"We who study the civilizations of the myriad races... do you really think we're weak? If so, how could we comprehend deeper cultivation techniques and mystical realms?"
Liu Wenyan's eyes glinted with intensity. "I may be just a failed student of a Civilization Academy—but do you really think your teacher is so feeble?"
"Hmm?"
Su Yu opened his mouth, but hesitated. Teacher... please don't bluff like this. You're only at the seventh level of the Thousand-Pound Realm. That's not exactly impressive…
"You want to say I'm only at Thousand-Pound Seven, so I must be weak?"
Su Yu blinked. He suddenly felt like his thoughts had been laid bare.
"Yes, I can tell what you're thinking—at least some of it," Liu Wenyan said, amused.
Su Yu was startled. "You can?"
"You're still weak. In front of me, your mind is practically an open book. Be more careful in the future. Guard your thoughts."
"I'm telling you all this because I don't want you making the wrong choice—turning away from the Civilization Academy in favor of the War Academy."
Liu Wenyan grew more serious. "Originally, I thought these were things you'd discover on your own once you entered the Civilization Academy. But now, I must tell you in advance."
"There are countless paths in this world. Different races take different routes, but they all pursue one goal—absorbing vital energy, tempering themselves, and becoming stronger."
"To grow stronger, you must cultivate both body and mind. Most people start with the body—it's tangible and easier to train. Only after achieving a certain level of physical strength do they begin refining their willpower."
"But we do it differently."
Liu Wenyan smiled again. "We who study myriad civilizations broaden our horizons and strengthen our will first, then the body."
"Once your will is strong, strengthening your body becomes easier."
"Of course, this is difficult."
His voice deepened. "To make your will strong enough to anchor your body and absorb more vital energy without causing harm... that requires time and heritage. A few elite scholars from the Civilization Academy, when their willpower shines like the sun, can break through from Thousand-Pound to Soaring Realm in a single day!"
"Different paths, but the same destination. Whether from the War Academy or the Civilization Academy, the goal is to grow stronger and uphold the Human Race."
"Cultivating the body is easier. Cultivating the mind is harder."
"It's because this path is harder that we don't often speak of it—lest others follow blindly and fail."
Seeing Su Yu in a daze, Liu Wenyan chuckled. "Shocked? There's no need. You've studied the myriad races—even if not extensively, you've learned a bit. For example, the Nightmare Clan whose language you've mastered—they're ethereal beings, barely visible."
"They invade your dreams—but those dreams aren't illusions. They're realms constructed by their willpower, designed to trap your consciousness."
"That's the essence of their power. In a way, our path as Civilization Scholars is not so different."
Su Yu licked his lips and whispered, "Teacher... are you saying that the Civilization Path can be just as powerful...?"
"No," Liu Wenyan said firmly. "I'm saying it's even faster."
He smiled. "By cultivating willpower first, then the body—some geniuses in Civilization Academies can form their Will Manifestation and strengthen their bodies in three to five years. A single breakthrough can take them straight into the Soaring Realm. Their path afterward becomes exponentially faster."
"Meanwhile, students at War Academies—even the talented ones—must spend many years grinding away before they can reach the same height."
"Despite our smaller numbers and higher entry barrier, remember this: thirty percent of the Human Race's top powerhouses came from the Civilization Academies. That says everything."
Su Yu was still digesting the flood of information. He finally asked, "So… willpower can be cultivated?"
"Yes."
"But ordinary people can't do it?"
"Correct. There's a threshold. Willpower is harder to grasp than the body. In the early stages, it's invisible, intangible. But mastering foreign languages—especially of the myriad races—is actually a kind of test…"
Liu Wenyan smiled. "Often, it's not that some people aren't working hard enough—it's that they lack the mental stamina, the strength of will to absorb and digest knowledge. You've managed to learn 18 kinds of foreign scripts. Why can't others?"
"It's not because they don't try. Some people work just as hard as you—maybe even harder—but they still can't master them. When they push themselves too far, they suffer splitting headaches, as if their minds are about to explode. That's because their foundational willpower simply isn't strong enough."
"So, for them, the only option is to start with strengthening the body, and only after that, gradually refine the will."
Su Yu let out a long breath. "So… you're saying my talent doesn't lie in the physical path, but in the path of the will?"
"You could put it that way."
Liu Wenyan smiled. "That's precisely why the myriad clans fear the so-called Civilization Masters, and why cultists from the Myriad Races Religion target them. When your willpower hasn't matured to the point where it can fortify the body, your actual combat strength is still weak—making you an easy target."
Su Yu still couldn't quite accept it. This was the first time he realized that being a Civilization Master was actually a legitimate path of cultivation.
"If you hadn't come looking for me today, I would've come to you. You want to go to the battlefield to find your father—I won't stop you. In fact, I admire that. That kind of conviction, that sense of duty… is what keeps the human race undefeated."
"But you can't act recklessly. You need to calm down."
"Each year, fewer students are selected for the Civilization Academies than for the War Academies. It looks like the standards are lower, but in fact, they're even higher. Do you really think it's just a gathering place for a bunch of nerdy scholars?"
Liu Wenyan couldn't hold back a grin. "Wrong. That's because we not only conduct research behind the front lines—we also go to the battlefield to kill enemies. And those who go to the front lines? The weakest among them are at the Soaring realm. As for Thousand-Pound or Ten-Thousand-Stone cultivators… that's just basic body tempering. A day's work, at most."
"…"
Su Yu's face froze. After a long pause, he asked, "So… Teacher, are you in the Soaring realm?"
"No."
Liu Wenyan remained utterly composed.
"Then… are you even stronger?"
"Not at all."
Still calm.
Su Yu was stunned. What does that mean?
"I told you already—only once your willpower manifests can you begin fortifying your body. I haven't reached that point yet."
It sounded like everything Liu Wenyan said earlier was just bluster.
He hadn't even manifested his willpower yet—he really was in the Thousand-Pound realm.
Su Yu looked up at his teacher, face blank. How are you keeping a straight face through all this?
You're already over seventy! And you still haven't manifested your willpower? Yet you told me it only takes three to five years?
That's not how bluffing works!
"Don't look at me like that."
Liu Wenyan said calmly, "I was one of the worst students in the Civilization Academy back in the day—not a genius. I drifted aimlessly for years after graduation. It's no surprise I haven't manifested it. If it were that easy, then the top-tier powerhouses wouldn't be just 30% from the Civilization Academies—they'd be 90%."
"Cultivation—any path—is never easy. But compared to the physical path, I think this one has more potential and promise."
"If you want to get strong quickly, the only way is the path of the will."
Su Yu fell silent in deep thought. After a while, he asked, "Is there a cultivation method for training the will?"
"There is…"
Liu Wenyan paused, gave a dry cough, then added with a grin, "But not in Nanyuan. You'll find out once you get to the Great Xia Civilization Academy."
Of course, that's assuming you've manifested your willpower.
He didn't say it aloud—otherwise Su Yu might just curse at him.
"Actually, studying the myriad languages and decoding ancient cultivation manuals is already a process of strengthening the will. Especially the original versions…"
This time, Liu Wenyan grew serious. "You know, most of what we come across in the lower academies aren't originals. But the true originals often contain traces of a foreign race's spiritual force—even fragments of their will. Deciphering and decoding them brings enormous benefits."
"But there are also dangers. Some students suffer mental breakdowns while deciphering originals—this happens every year in the Civilization Academies. When you encounter such things in the future, you must be cautious. The more powerful the technique, the stronger the embedded will—and the more dangerous it becomes."
"That's why assessing the value of Myriad Race documents is easy. If the will embedded in them is strong, it's definitely important!"
"You can visit Xia Trading Company and browse their unknown manuals. Any manual that seems easy to read and understand? Junk. All of them have been pre-screened—safe, harmless, and… worthless."
Su Yu smiled bitterly. I figured. Otherwise they would've been snatched up long ago.
Liu Wenyan chuckled again. "So—are you still planning to apply to the War Academy?"
"At the Civilization Academy, you can still train your body. But if you go to the War Academy, you might not get a chance to train your will. Especially since most of the powerful documents and originals are in the Civilization Academies."
"Once you're strong enough—once you reach the Soaring realm—you can head to the battlefield anytime you want. Isn't that better?"
"Charging into the battlefield as a Thousand-Pound or Ten-Thousand-Stone rookie? You'd be cannon fodder. What would be the point?"
"Unless… you don't have confidence in yourself. If that's the case, it doesn't matter where you go—you'll never become strong."
…
Liu Wenyan's words deeply shook Su Yu, whose resolve had already wavered.
Should he still apply to the War Academy?
Maybe… not?
So the Civilization Academy could make him strong too!
"Civilization Academy… Myriad Race Originals… Spiritual Will…"
As he walked out of the instructor's office, Su Yu gripped the small vial in his hand tightly. He would go back and try it. If he could strengthen his will while also enhancing his body—that would be ideal.
Civilization Academy…
At that moment, Su Yu made up his mind. Maybe this was the path he was meant to walk all along.
…
Once Su Yu left, the Headmaster entered the office and shook his head. "Old man, you're tricking another one again!"
"What do you mean tricking?"
Liu Wenyan looked displeased.
"You've been cultivating your will for 50 years—have you even manifested it yet?"
"Soon."
Liu Wenyan remained serene. "Once I manifest it, I'll be in the Soaring realm. At that point, even a newly advanced Ten-Thousand-Stone like you won't be a match for me!"
"You…"
The Headmaster couldn't help but laugh. Well, let him be. As for Su Yu, maybe the Civilization Academy really is better for him. The War Academy's too dangerous anyway.
Still, this old guy pulls the same stunt every year. Every time a student hesitates, he lays out this whole pitch, and somehow convinces them to go to the Civilization Academy.
The Great Xia Civilization Academy should give him an award. Otherwise, they'd be short a few students every year…
Liu Wenyan didn't mind. "They don't give me awards, but I do get a 200,000 yuan bonus each year. That's enough for me."
"…"
The Headmaster was speechless. He couldn't help but mutter, "You're a damn spy for the Great Xia Civilization Academy!"
"How can you call me that?" Liu Wenyan retorted, completely at ease. "I'm an employee of the academy. What spy?"
He laughed, and the Headmaster was left speechless. He had a point. Most instructors teaching Myriad Race languages were assigned by the Great Xia Civilization Academy. Even those who weren't would soon be affiliated—just to keep student numbers from plummeting.
After all, research isn't as flashy or exciting as combat. Young people love the thrill. If you don't keep an eye on them, they'll all run off to the War Academy.