Chapter 534: Academy

Greenforest Academy.

It was built within Greenforest City, the largest and most magnificent structure in the area.

When Fang Xing entered, he could still see the white square and the garden with a fountain…

'Strange… this world resembles ancient Eastern civilization, yet its dominant force is the "Holy Sanctuary of the Heart"…'

'Even the academy was founded by the "Holy Sanctuary of the Heart." It worships the one and only god—the Lord of the Heart! It has established sanctuaries across all regions to awaken children's Heart Phantasms, and it has a hierarchy of rulers: priests, clerics, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and even the Pope…'

'But the Sanctuary's control is weak; it often employs a "tax farmer" system, resembling Western feudalism, delegating most local authority outward…'

'For example, in the countryside, many gentry families—like the Fang family—control the Village Militia in Three Mountains Township. As long as they meet their tax quotas, they become local tyrants…'

'Even Greenforest City and the vast surrounding lands are under the control of the Lord-class Family of the Earthwarder…'

Inside a classroom.

In one, one sees…

Fang Xing had initially thought the Celestial Gate's guidance was off, but now it seemed perfectly fitting. Thus, he listened more intently.

This was the optimal path formed from this body's decades of memories…

Instructor Wen looked again at Fang Xing.

'Bronze quality… you'll likely reach the General rank. With fortune, you might even become a Lord.'

That day.

'I was already top three in class; I just need to perform well, nothing too extraordinary…'

'I am your instructor—Wen Lun. You may call me Instructor Wen.'

'Sit down, Fang Xing. How do you judge the strength of a Heart Beast?'

Fang Xing looked over and saw the girl had willow-browed eyes, appearing gentle and serene.

Fang Xing stood up behind him: 'Fang Xing, Bronze quality "Blackfire Wolf"…'

The awakening of Heart Phantasms in this world is even harsher than spiritual roots in the cultivation realm—what quality you awaken determines your ceiling.

Even if one reaches the Law Master realm, one may still fail to sense the True Spirit's existence.

A fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl with a scholarly air stood: 'When summoning Heart Beasts, apart from your innate Heart Beast, all others you subdue must be cultivated externally—they cannot be absorbed into the body. Internal cultivation requires opening a "Heart Phantasm Space" with Heart Power, and only the innate Heart Beast may reside within. External cultivation requires Heart Beast space artifacts; the most common and widespread is the Holy Sanctuary of the Heart's "Heart Phantasm Scripture." Different "Heart Phantasm Scriptures" vary not only in internal space but also in their effects on Heart Beast growth, and they come with built-in query functions…'

The more Fang Xing listened, the more grave his expression became: 'Is Heart Power cultivation somehow higher than Will?'

…

Ning Jian stood and answered.

In his class, Fang Xing and the two others were unquestionably the top tier.

Instructor Wen, unchanged from three years ago, spoke gently: 'Pei Ziyue, tell us the precautions for summoning Heart Beasts…'

Only Fang Xing, having cultivated his Will to a certain level and aided by his attribute panel, had faintly sensed something.

'Even the Pangu Wu, the eternal-level being of the fifteenth realm, transmitted the "Pangu Martial Scripture," yet it only covers Will cultivation—there is no secret of True Spirit cultivation… Could the Lord of the Heart, rumored to be a sixteenth-rank transcendent, be connected to a transcendent and inherited part of their legacy?'

'Occasionally, wild beasts give birth to Heart Beasts, for they too possess hearts and Heart Phantasms… Even great mountains, great rivers… this entire world has a "heart." A single thought of theirs may span millennia. Thus, the term "beast" in "Heart Beast" is inaccurate—this world is vast and full of wonders; even a flicker of flame, a breath of wind, even formless Will or Fate… could all "condense" into a Heart Beast!'

'And Heart Power cultivation is even more intriguing—it requires meditation, gathering essence, and other stages…'

'All of this demands accumulation—and even investment…'

Instructor Wen nodded: 'Before we begin Heart Power cultivation, we must first understand the origin of Heart Beasts. They arise from the spiritual world within—the heart—so they may be a wild beast, a breath of wind, a bowl, a knife, a sword, or even a shadow…'

'Whether it's the quality of the Heart Beast, its feeding, or special environments, all can produce different effects—for example, a Bronze quality Heart Beast training for one year may accumulate the equivalent of two years' cultivation…'

No teacher favors students who perform poorly.

The only major news was a letter from home saying the Heart Beast wolf had been cunning, but eventually captured by a passing Warder and made into his pet.

'Very good, everyone has introduced themselves. Now, class begins.'

Inside the academy.

'In the future, when I capture other Heart Beasts and cultivate them, daily feeding will be a huge expense…'

For Fang Xing, by choosing to remain low-key, nothing came his way.

'Indeed… this world is immensely useful to me.'

After Fang Xing and the others bowed, Instructor Wen smiled: 'Now, each of you introduce yourselves, get to know one another, and then I will begin teaching you "Heart Power" cultivation…'

'Students, after three years of cultivation, the best among you have reached a stage where you can truly manifest your Heart Phantasm and summon your innate Heart Beast…' Fang Xing silently planned his future cultivation path.

'So that's how it is… Wild beasts' minds are inferior to humans', but when numerous hearts converge, a Heart Beast may be born…'

'According to Instructor Wen, a Black Iron Heart Phantasm takes three to five years to complete, summoning the innate Heart Beast… Bronze quality is much better, taking only two to three years… And at the final stage, if you add special items, you might even elevate your innate Heart Beast's quality… But this is extremely difficult—only those with great fortune can achieve it; ordinary students shouldn't expect it… Yet from his tone, it seems the academy has such resources, though the requirements are strict…'

'Who is this Lord of the Heart? The Heart Power he transmitted seems to involve True Spirit cultivation? Can a mortal's Heart Phantasm reach such a level?'

The soul has three layers: Will is the middle layer; the deepest True Spirit cultivation is a realm even peak civilizations struggle to touch!

'Since I'm here once, I don't need to do anything extraordinary—just do what I'm supposed to do…'

Fang Xing stood up; now he had grown into a sixteen-year-old boy, and answered: 'Heart Beast cultivation is generally judged by training years. A Soldier-grade Heart Beast typically has one to ten years of cultivation. Even a newly summoned innate Heart Beast has at least one year of cultivation. One to five years is lower Soldier, six to ten years is upper Soldier, ten to fifty years is lower General, fifty to one hundred years is upper General. Here, "one year of cultivation" refers to the Heart Power accumulated by a Black Iron Heart Beast over one year in normal natural conditions…'

Fang Xing counted: twenty-two of the twenty-five students in class had Black Iron Heart Phantasms. Without great fortune, they'd be Soldier Warders for life.

No sooner had he finished than a short, chubby boy stood: 'I… I'm Feng Sanjiao. My Heart Phantasm is Black Iron "Mountain Boar"…'

Three Mountains Township had finally shaken off its troubles; ordinary people no longer lived in fear.

Black Iron quality: upper limit ten years of Soldier-grade cultivation.

After Feng Sanjiao, another short, dark-skinned girl stood up.

With Instructor Wen's explanation, Fang Xing understood this world even deeper.

In the blink of an eye, three years had flown by.

'I'm Ning Jian. My Heart Phantasm is Bronze quality "Dragon Spring Sword"…'

Time flows like water; years pass like a shuttle.

After answering, Fang Xing sighed inwardly.

At this moment, a girl rose and spoke.

A tall, slender boy stood up.

Fang Xing sat with two dozen peers on cushions, respectfully gazing at the man ahead.

'This world is abnormal!'

'Yes.'

Instructor Wen smiled inwardly: 'Good. Next.'

'The history of this world is peculiar… I should find some historical texts someday.'

'Hmm, Ning Jian… How many types of Heart Beasts are there now?'

'At a critical moment, I could even use this body's marriage contract to bind a powerful wife-clan and gain their support?'

'I'm Pei Ziyue. My Heart Phantasm is Bronze quality "Thunder Cloud"!'

'I'm Lin Linglin. My Heart Phantasm is Black Iron "Iron Tree"…'

The next day.

'I still need to learn how to identify Heart Beasts, wilderness survival skills, advanced techniques, and even secret transmissions…'

'According to last month's "Heart News" from the Holy Sanctuary of the Heart, we've discovered approximately 3. million types of Heart Beasts, and the number continues to grow…'

The man was in his forties, wearing a green Confucian robe, exuding a scholarly air.

'Moreover, when powerful Warders die, their Heart Beasts may not vanish—they may flee into the wild and become feral Heart Beasts… making them even more bizarre.'

He successfully checked in and chose a single dorm room.

Instructor Wen looked again at Ning Jian.

'Note that Black Iron Heart Beasts often cannot break through the ten-year cultivation bottleneck. Once they reach this limit, no matter how much they train, they cannot advance unless they find fortune—such as consuming heavenly treasures, accumulating overwhelming energy, or breaking through by chance in bloody battle…'

Bronze quality: upper limit one hundred years of General-grade. Lord-grade: upper limit one thousand years.

This is still within reach of ordinary people.

King-grade, with ten-thousand-year cultivation, and Emperor-grade, with a hundred-thousand-year cultivation, are exceedingly rare.

As for cultivation exceeding a hundred thousand years? That is truly legend in every sense…

(End of Chapter)