Chapter 262: Truly a Miracle

July 20th, early morning.

Chen Shu first went to visit Teacher Shi Qian to discuss the practical application of the improved Thunder Method, and incidentally bummed a lunch off him. Then, in the afternoon, he went to the History Building to visit Professor Shi, followed them in researching artifacts from the Duqin Fangti for a while, and freeloaded some of their research results.

Both teachers clearly knew or could guess some of the inside story, and were very relieved to know he was safe.

On the 21st, classes officially began.

Ling'an Academy and Yujing Academy started the semester simultaneously.

Chen Shu did not skip class; even though the first period in the morning was "Moral Cultivation," he got up early and went to class honestly.

Because he had to pick up his books from the class monitor during the first period.

Chen Shu had to go tease his classmates, let them know the most handsome guy in the whole class was finally back, that the class's average attractiveness had joyfully hit the daily limit, and incidentally let them witness a badass who dared to skip class for a semester and a half.

Naturally, Ning Qing would not skip class either.

In fact, unless there was some other urgent matter, or Chen Shu wanted to call her somewhere or have her do something, she would not easily skip class. Moreover, the first class of this semester was the old gentleman Ouyuan Gong's "Diverse Universes and Planes."

She rarely missed the old gentleman Ouyuan Gong's classes.

"Diverse Universes and Planes" was a very important advanced course for the Space and Plane Studies major, only studied in the junior year.

Ning Qing held the textbook she had picked up yesterday and walked into the Teaching Building.

As soon as she stepped into the classroom, she saw the old gentleman.

The old gentleman was still dressed simply, like an old man you could meet at any time on the side of the road sitting on a stone pier fanning himself to cool off. He was still holding that thermos he had used for who knows how many years, blowing at the tea leaves, his hair already completely white, and his face had many more wrinkles; his condition was much worse than last year.

The old gentleman seemed to have noticed her too, turned his head to look over, pondered for a moment, and revealed a kind smile:

"Student Ning Qing... right? Long time no see."

"Long time no see, Teacher."

Ning Qing's voice was light and faint as she nodded to the old gentleman in greeting, not forgetting to explain: "During a period of time before, I encountered some unavoidable matters, so I didn't come to school for a semester and a half. Once I finish the matters at hand, I will make up the previous coursework as soon as possible."

"Are you still very busy recently?"

"Mm."

Ning Qing stood where she was, expressionless.

Recently she had to learn the Imperial Sky Technique, so she could go outside the city with Chen Shu and pretend to be an immortal couple.

The old gentleman nodded to show he understood; she didn't say, and he didn't ask, only putting down his thermos and saying gently: "It's fine, be busy slowly, take your time. I hope we can have more exchanges in the subsequent classes... go sit down."

"Okay."

Ning Qing found a seat and sat down.

The old gentleman Ouyuan Gong's philosophy had always been that while academic studies were important, everyone should have things more important than academic studies. If they didn't, he couldn't help but feel regret for the students.

Some students spoke up to greet her, saying things like long time no see; they were all female students.

Ning Qing only responded coldly.

In the more than a year of studying together previously, even if the classmates weren't familiar with each other, they had become familiar faces. Plus, Ning Qing had good grades and outstanding looks, so it was hard for any student not to have a deep impression of her. It was just that she was usually so cold that people didn't dare to get close. As time went on, everyone more or less guessed she had the Heavenly Human Bloodline, and the female students who wanted to be friends with her stopped, while the male students had never dared to approach.

Ning Qing liked this sense of distance.

"Ding-a-ling..."

The class bell rang.

The old gentleman covered his thermos, placed it on the table, and raised his head to look at everyone:

"Greetings, everyone."

A chaotic chorus of responses came from below.

The old gentleman looked at the smiles on the female students' faces and the way the male students stretched their necks and shouted randomly, feeling very happy inside. The closer to death one was, the more one could feel the beauty of youth, so he couldn't help but be infected by the smiles on their faces. After a while, he said: "The content of this course is as the course name suggests; I will discuss and imagine diverse universes and diverse planes together with you all..."

The room gradually quieted down.

The old gentleman tilted his head and coughed twice before continuing: "You might be able to understand diverse planes, but diverse universes might be a bit unfamiliar, right? I don't know if you have all finished reading the few books I recommended to you during your freshman year? There is a book called 'Universe Hypothesis: Great Universe, Beehive Universe, Great Plane and Small Plane, etc.', which imagines diverse universes."

There was a chorus of responses from below; some said they had finished it, some said they were still reading other books, and some said it was too difficult and they couldn't understand it.

"It doesn't matter."

The old gentleman was still smiling, his hands supporting the podium tabletop: "It's not too late to read it later.

"In previous courses, everyone has learned that our universe is called the Great Plane Hive Universe. Has everyone thought about a question—

"On what basis do we classify universes?

"There is a Great Plane Hive Universe; could there also be a Small Plane Hive Universe?

"There is a Hive Universe; are there other types of universes?

"It doesn't matter if you haven't thought about it; everyone can think about it now. I'll give you a few minutes."

There was gradually some noise below.

Some people participated in the discussion, some frowned and silently pondered its rationality, some opened their books to seek answers in advance, and some lowered their heads to quietly munch on steamed buns and drink soy milk.

Until the sound of discussion gradually subsided again.

The old gentleman put down his water cup again and said to everyone: "The main research focus of this class is diverse planes; diverse universes are secondary.

"Perhaps some of you who are well-traveled or have extensive social circles might know that in the same courses at other schools, there is only 'Diverse Planes,' not 'Diverse Universes.' This is because our research on the universe is almost non-existent, and there is no relevant knowledge in the books. It is just that I stubbornly believe that if everyone sets their sights on the starry sky and planes, it is already very vast, but if it could be even bigger, it would naturally be better. So, at my request, our school added 'Diverse Universes' to the name of the 'Diverse Planes' course.

"I put it in the first few classes to let us discuss some knowledge that is not in books, and has no actual observation or research basis. Perhaps we will never be able to observe or verify it in our entire lives, but it can broaden our horizons and thinking. Perhaps one day we will find a way to observe and verify it, and then you will be extremely lucky. Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to see that day."

When the old gentleman said the last sentence, he revealed a regretful expression, and then he asked:

"Who knows who first proposed the concept of 'Diverse Universes'?"

"Shengzu."

"Yes, Shengzu."

The old gentleman's eyes shone with light, but his tone was very calm: "Shengzu proposed the concept of 'Diverse Universes.' In his imagination, he suggested that perhaps there are all kinds of universes in this world, some similar to our universe, some different from our universe, infinite or finite, but this concept has never been able to attract everyone's attention... We can't even get out of our own plane, how can we look at other universes?

"But facts have proven that something might be illusory, but that doesn't mean it has no research value at all. It was in the process of trying to observe diverse universes that I found a way to observe plane barriers; that is how 'Plane Theory' came about.

"But who was it that named the universe?"

"Who says the universe is a 'Great Plane' Beehive Universe?"

"It is the New Saint."

"What is his basis for this?"

"This is content not found in A Book; no book in the entire world has ever recorded it." The old gentleman paused. "You are all people of brilliant talent and grand ambitions, so I ought to teach you everything I know. Therefore, what follows has no source and no basis; it is merely what I, an old man of over three hundred years, have seen, heard, and thought throughout my life. Since this is the first class today and there are no auditors, I shall tell it to you all."

"Naturally, I will also take responsibility for it."

"As for whether to adopt it, you must decide for yourselves."

The room below was silent.

Only the old gentleman's voice echoed in the classroom:

"The New Saint is the one who opened a new era. Without him, we would still be under the rule of feudal dynasties, royal descendants, nobles, and sect factions. More than half of you, even with peerless talent, might not have been able to receive an education and might still be displaced. That is why he is a Saint."

"What I can tell you is this—"

"The New Saint has been to other universes. He has witnessed the vast, boundless sea of universes and seen different universes and rules. Later, he returned here, single-handedly pulled back the great curtain of the era, and in the end, he disappeared again, no one knows where..."

The classroom was deathly silent.

The two-hour class seemed to last only a few minutes and ended quickly. When the students walked out of the Teaching Building, it felt as if the sky itself had changed color.

Ning Qing, for once, was unhurried. She followed at the end of the crowd out of the classroom, then stopped in the corridor to look up at the osmanthus flowers.

It was early autumn again.

The osmanthus had bloomed once more.

The old gentleman picked up a Wooden Staff and was the last to walk out of the classroom. He stopped a meter away from her, took a deep breath to savor the faint fragrance of the osmanthus, and then said to her, "The osmanthus in the school this year bloomed a bit earlier than in previous years..."

"Yes."

"You are more leisurely today than before."

"I'm not in a rush today," Ning Qing replied calmly. "I am waiting for the person I like to come to the school to have lunch with me."

"That's good."

The sound of the Wooden Staff beside her rang out.

When Ning Qing turned her head, she saw the old gentleman's back moving further and further away. Although he held a Wooden Staff, he walked quite nimbly, as if he did not need the staff at all; it seemed more like an accessory for an old man of that era. Yet Ning Qing knew that this Wooden Staff was for just in case.

Spirit Decay had already begun, and it could not be interrupted.

Given his condition, he could probably only hold on for another year.

It is truly rare to see someone who has already begun Spirit Decay yet still insists on working.

Ning Qing withdrew her gaze.

"Buzz, buzz..."

Her Mobile Phone vibrated twice.

Chen Shu: I've left the school gate.

Seeing the message, Ning Qing had no thought of responding; she simply raised her Mobile Phone and moved it closer to take a picture of the osmanthus.

It didn't turn out well, so she took a few more;

She changed the angle;

The focus was blurry;

After taking five or six, she finally selected one she was satisfied with.

Ning Qing: 【Image】

Ning Qing: The osmanthus in the school has bloomed.