Chapter 198: Qianlong Academy, Nurturing Gu!

On the ancient city wall, deep crimson blood covered the wall.

In some places, the bloodstains have already turned dark black.

Even Su Yu could feel waves of oppressive aura emanating from the massive wall.

It seemed as if some seal existed within the wall.

And atop that wall, rows of energy cannons were quietly placed; compared with Hope City, Qianlong City had more than fifty of them.

"Qianlong City ranks ninth among the twelve main cities and even has a King-Conferred Strong One stationed there. Unlike the Hope City you have experienced before, Qianlong City faces daily incursions by the Myriad Tribes—sometimes merely small, harmless raids, and sometimes matters that even summon beings above Grand Master level."

"Since Qianlong City's founding, we have placed the Qianlong Academy here; one could say the whole city belongs to the Academy."

"We know every blade of grass, every tree, even the tiniest particles here like the back of our hand; this is our main base!"

Li Zhangsheng's cold voice rang out.

Su Yu's expression instantly became exceedingly solemn.

"Did you see those soldiers?"

Li Zhangsheng extended a finger, pointing at the constantly bustling figures on the wall; they wore camouflage uniforms bearing a distinctive emblem.

"Those are graduates of the Qianlong Academy. Once they graduate, most stay here, devoting their entire lives to Qianlong City!"

Su Yu quietly watched the Qianlong City before him, and a growing sense of admiration rose in his heart.

These are heroes of the Human Race.

They have offered their whole lives to this city, using their own hands and bodies to forcibly carve out a realm for the Human Race behind them.

"Generally, graduates of the Qianlong Academy reach the Flying Heaven Realm; upon graduation they become squad leaders. The Academy teaches without distinction—any examinee who took the college entrance exam and has attained the Blood Refining Realm may be admitted."

Li Zhangsheng continued speaking.

"However, under this teaching method, the quality of students cannot match those of the five great academies, because here students constantly fall, and at most only half of the original cohort manage to graduate successfully."

"And every student who does graduate becomes a Human Race strongman capable of standing alone!"

Li Zhangsheng narrated.

Su Yu listened quietly.

For some reason, a deep respect spread from within Su Yu's heart.

Perhaps the Academy's teaching method is flawed, causing many young Human Race members to fall, but it must be said that students raised by this nurturing gu method…

If they truly graduate from the Qianlong Academy, they will undoubtedly become top-tier strongmen in the future.

Perhaps their talent is lacking, but when facing crisis, their reaction will be the swiftest.

They will also be the most loyal to the Human Race.

Because they have witnessed the brutality of the Myriad Tribes, seeing comrades fall at the hands of the Myriad Tribes.

Their hearts are filled with anger toward the Myriad Tribes.

"Do you know why the Slay Dragon King let you apply to the Qianlong Academy?"

Li Zhangsheng turned his head and asked.

Su Yu replied, "The teacher said the Qianlong Academy has a way to break through the Imperial Realm."

To be honest, Su Yu felt a bit strange.

Logically, since the Qianlong Academy possesses a method to break the Imperial Realm, the three Emperors of the Human Race should know it too; why don't they come to the Academy, find the method, break the Imperial Realm, and intimidate the Myriad Tribes?

Li Zhangsheng seemed to see through Su Yu's thought and gave a faint smile.

"Do you know who the First Principal of the Qianlong Academy was?"

"Who?"

"An Imperial Realm that survived from ancient times! It was also the only Imperial Realm back then!"

"However, after founding the Qianlong Academy, that being was already exhausted, though willing to aid the Human Race, its cultivation remained unused and it eventually fell despondent within the Academy."

"Its fallen place became the only Imperial Realm relic on the Myriad Tribes continent, and only students of the Qianlong Academy may enter it; even graduates lack the qualification."

"After that fall, the Qianlong Academy also produced many heavenly pride demons who entered, yet still did not obtain that being's inheritance, so the Human Race placed its hope elsewhere."

"Is the inheritance hard to obtain?"

"Very hard!"

Li Zhangsheng said gravely.

"Back then I, the current principal of the Qianlong Academy, and your two senior brothers all entered the Imperial Realm relic, but none obtained its inheritance!"

Su Yu was somewhat surprised.

What surprised him was that his two senior brothers had both entered the relic, which meant that Tianjian King and Wen King were also students of the Qianlong Academy.

These are two King-Conferred Strong Ones.

Having produced two King-Conferred Strong Ones, yet the Qianlong Academy is still not among the five great academies—that's rather odd.

Li Zhangsheng smiled faintly and said.

"I know what you're thinking: Wen King and Tianjian King are Qianlong Academy students, so the Academy should qualify for the five great academies, but rankings depend on the strength of current students. Every three years, Daxia holds a Martial Arts Grand Competition, which serves to assess an academy's strength."

"Only enrolled students may take part in the competition."

Hearing Li Zhangsheng's explanation, Su Yu understood.

No wonder the Qianlong Academy can produce two King-Conferred Strong Ones; although the Slay Dragon King also helped, the Academy's contribution is undeniable.

"When Wen King and Tianjian King were still around, the Qianlong Academy was one of the five great academies, but later, for various reasons, each generation was weaker than the last, leading to its gradual decline."

Li Zhangsheng's expression grew complicated as he spoke this.

Soon, the two figures arrived atop Qianlong City.

"Flight is prohibited over Qianlong City's sky, even for me; we must go in on foot."

Li Zhangsheng led Su Yu down to the ground, tucked away his wine gourd, and walked with Su Yu toward the main gate of Qianlong City.

The soldiers observing from the wall, seeing Li Zhangsheng's arrival, hurriedly opened the gate.

"I've seen Grand Master Changsheng!"

The soldiers each bowed respectfully to Li Zhangsheng, while curious eyes fell on Su Yu.

At that moment, a middle‑aged man in silver armor strode out, laughing heartily at Li Zhangsheng.

"Teacher Li, you're finally back. What did you gain on this trip?"

He first bowed to Li Zhangsheng, then smiled and looked toward Su Yu standing behind him.

Li Zhangsheng crossed his arms and said calmly.

"Just went to fetch a new student."

The middle‑aged man was a bit surprised; what kind of newcomer would make Li Zhangsheng meet personally? After all, Li Zhangsheng is among the top three Grand Masters, and will eventually break into the Marquis realm and attain the title of Marquis.

Such a powerhouse, not only in Qianlong Academy city, but even across the whole Daxia, is a top‑tier existence.

He would actually go himself to fetch a newcomer.

That fact surprised the middle‑aged man a bit.

Especially within Qianlong Academy, Li Zhangsheng truly recognizes no one; unless your talent is so high that even he admires it, it's impossible to make Li Zhangsheng look at you differently.

Li Zhangsheng said to Su Yu.

"This is your senior alumnus, who graduated ten years ago. He's now a late‑stage Flying Heaven Realm powerhouse and a captain of the city garrison squad."

Su Yu bowed to the middle‑aged man and said,

"Su Yu has met the senior."

"Su Yu!"

A hint of surprise flashed in the man's eyes.

Even though it's in Qianlong Academy city, this year's college entrance exam was known throughout Daxia; even within the twelve city garrisons, news of the exam spread.

Especially Su Yu's forged Arhat Golden Body and the feat of slaying a Flying Heaven Realm opponent with that golden‑body cultivation resonated like thunder among the garrisoned strongmen.

The middle‑aged man looked at Su Yu with excitement and said,

"Teacher Li, you're still awesome—managing to bring the college entrance exam's top scorer into the academy!"

Li Zhangsheng said lightly,

"It wasn't me who recruited him. Qianlong Academy's admissions have always been casual; it was Su Yu's own choice, nothing to do with me."

"Alright, you take Su Yu down to rest and prepare for tomorrow's newcomer ceremony. I have some matters, I'll be leaving now!"

Li Zhangsheng said a few brief words, handed Su Yu over to the middle‑aged man, and walked away himself.

"Come, come, Su Yu, I'll take you to a temporary residence. There are so many newcomers these days that some places are already full."

The middle‑aged man enthusiastically led Su Yu toward Qianlong Academy city.

During their conversation, Su Yu learned that the man's name was Xiang Xing, a captain of the city garrison squad.

Along the way, Xiang Xing cheerfully introduced all sorts of matters to Su Yu, who listened attentively.

After a moment, Su Yu asked Xiang Xing,

"Senior, I heard Qianlong Academy's education differs from other martial schools. Could you tell me how it's different?"

Su Yu was curious.

Whether from the internet or from others, Qianlong Academy's teaching method always shares one common trait.

That is, it's different!

It could even be called a bit perverse.

Hearing Su Yu's question, a strange expression flickered on Xiang Xing's face; then he looked at Su Yu and said cheerfully,

"Actually it's not that unusual; it's just that Qianlong Academy's teaching method differs from ordinary school education."

"You've probably heard of the ancient and even primordial Human Race sects, right?"

Su Yu nodded.

In the ancient and primordial ages of the Continent of Ten Thousand Races, before the invasion of the myriad races, the Human Race ruled the continent.

Countless Human Race factions divided the continent, forming various sects and partitioning territories.

"In fact, our Qianlong Academy's teaching method resembles that of the ancient sects, though not entirely."

Su Yu's pupils narrowed slightly as he looked at Xiang Xing.

A nostalgic look appeared on Xiang Xing's face.

"At Qianlong Academy, whether it's martial techniques or Spiritual Artifact resources, as long as you prove strong enough, anything can become yours."

"One could say there's no ceiling here; everything respects strength above all."

"Even if you wish to enter the Imperial Realm Ruins, as long as you have enough points, you can exchange for entry."

Points??

Su Yu blinked.

It's somewhat similar to the earlier Heavenly Pride Battalion.

But Su Yu didn't speak, quietly listening to Xiang Xing's explanation.

"Have you heard of nurturing gu?"

"Nurturing gu?"

"Exactly, it's nurturing gu. Qianlong Academy's teaching is almost the same as nurturing gu; at Qianlong Academy, students are divided into many tiers. Every newcomer starts at the lowest tier, and only by showing sufficient strength can one climb up."

"Each tier enjoys different privileges; higher tiers can even directly command lower‑tier students."

"Simply put, students are divided by uniform color: the lowest tier wears gray, the second tier red, the third tier purple, and above purple lies the Academy's Sequence."

"When I graduated, I barely met the red‑uniform criteria. Those in purple, upon graduation, are at least mid‑stage Flying Heaven Realm powerhouses."

"As for the Sequence, need not say more—once you graduate, even the weakest reach the Grand Master realm!"

Listening to Xiang Xing's introduction, Su Yu gained a comprehensive understanding of Qianlong Academy.

This so-called method of raising gu for education is rather strange, but for the present Human Race, especially given the present location of Qianlong Academy.

The method of raising gu can better stimulate students' potential and even find enough promising talents.

Although it seems like raising gu, under some regulations of Qianlong Academy, it is actually not much different from an ordinary academy.

After all, the first rule of Qianlong Academy is that one must not kill each other.

Thus, the difference between this and the so-called gu-raising is still quite large.

Following Xiang Xing's lead, Su Yu came to a modest room.

Xiang Xing said with a chuckle.

"Qianlong City, after all, is the main city, constantly facing invasions from the myriad races; the living conditions may not be as good as those in the academy, but bear with it—after tomorrow, you'll be able to reside in the academy."

Su Yu didn't mind; he had few demands for lodging, as long as it was quiet.

"Then thank you, senior!"

Su Yu clasped his hands in salute.

Xiang Xing waved his hand with a chuckle.

"Ah, it's nothing; when I first arrived, I was also guided by some senior students—only now the roles have switched."

Having finished speaking, Xiang Xing was about to leave, but suddenly he stopped, turned around, and said with a somewhat strange expression. jj. br>

"By the way, you'd better rest well tonight; tomorrow's opening ceremony isn't as easy as you imagine."