Deep in the white clouds lies Hanshan Academy.
In a secluded ravine behind the academy sits an unassuming cold pond, wreathed in mist and shaded by trees.
By the water's edge, a refined and leisurely scholar quietly reads a book.
The scholar is named Li Wangyi, an upper-grade student at Hanshan Academy and a formal disciple of the Confucian Sect. Yet the book in his hands is not a Confucian classic, but rather a volume of leisure fiction titled *Shadows of Swords Across the World*.
The book tells the tale of a grandmaster of the Northern Zhige Continent's swordsmanship faction, Fengxue Cliff—a female grandmaster named Ye Guiren. In her quest to ascend to the Sword Immortal realm, she travels through the three great continents of the Northern Zhige Continent, the Northeastern Great Wilderness Continent, and the East Penglai Continent, experiencing various fascinating anecdotes.
The book not only records Ye Guiren's journeys in seeking ancient paths and testing her sword in all directions, but also details the geography, terrain, customs, and local conditions of the three continents—truly a precious compendium of scenery and culture.
Especially as a sword cultivator's travelogue, every line overflows with the dashing spirit of wandering heroes and the romantic flair of sword immortals, filling anyone who reads it with a spontaneous yearning.
Just as he is reading with great relish, the branches and leaves of the ancient cypress by the ravine suddenly rustle, and a flash of emerald swoops down.
The emerald shadow alights upon a stream rock, transforming into a jade-skirted girl less than a foot tall.
The jade-skirted girl is exquisitely proportioned. Though tiny, she has a pair of bright, lively eyes and looks just like a porcelain doll carved from jade.
On her smooth forehead rests a delicate leaf imprint, exceedingly cute.
She is a plant and tree spirit brimming with spiritual energy.
Seeing her appear, Li Wangyi closes his book and asks with a smile, "Xiao Qian'er, why are you here?"
The jade-skirted girl replies in her tender voice, "Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother has not yet returned from his Scholarly Travel, Little Senior Sister is in seclusion, and Master is discussing matters with the other two Deputy Hill Masters. I finished sweeping the grounds and had plenty of free time, so I came over!"
"Oh right, I brought pastries for Eldest Senior Brother!"
With a light wave of her small hand, she conjures a plate from her little dress. Resting upon it are several fresh hundred-flower pastries, which float toward him through the air.
Li Wangyi catches the plate. "Thank you, Xiao Qian'er."
"You're welcome, hehe."
The jade-skirted girl gives a cheerful wave of her small hand, then kicks her little legs and turns into a green streak of light, landing upon the closed *Shadows of Swords Across the World* and deftly flipping it open.
Li Wangyi eats the pastries while the jade-skirted girl reads the book. The book is larger than she is, yet she reads it with great relish, seemingly deeply interested in the tales of sword immortals recorded within.
After finishing the hundred-flower pastries, Li Wangyi sets the plate aside.
He raises a hand to gently rub the jade-skirted girl's small head. She lifts her chin to nuzzle against his palm, breaks into a silly smile, and then lowers her head to continue reading.
The little girl was originally an ordinary, nameless blade of grass in this back ravine. Because she possessed spiritual roots and grew upon the cold cliff, enduring wind, frost, rain, and snow without breaking, she was guided by Li Wangyi's mentoring teacher, Deputy Hill Master Zhou Lengxi, and transformed into a small spirit, given the name Qianjun.
At last, the jade-skirted girl has her fill of reading, closes the book, and affectionately climbs up onto Li Wangyi.
Li Wangyi raises a hand to support her, settling her upon his shoulder, and asks with a smile, "Xiao Qian'er, during the few days I've been reading here, has anything interesting happened in the academy?"
Little Qianjun blinks her eyes, thinks seriously for a moment, and says, "Yes, a lot!"
"A lot?"
"Mhm! First, seven days ago, the Toad Gentleman and the Carp Worthy from the Hill Master's courtyard got into a fight over whose turn it was to report to Crane Sister in the morning. In the end, Crane Sister gave them both a slap with her wing and batted them all the way down to the town at the foot of the mountain."
This so-called Toad Gentleman, Carp Worthy, and Crane Sister are three pets personally kept by the Hill Master—a toad, a koi fish, and a white crane.
Although none of the three have taken human form, their status in the academy is very high, especially the white crane. It looks ethereal and celestial, truly deserving of the name white crane; it is said the Hill Master was already raising it before the academy was founded.
"Second, five days ago, a fool from the lower grade suddenly started shouting 'I have attained enlightenment! I have attained enlightenment!' in the Library Building during the day, and then ran out into the courtyard, stripping off his clothes and transforming into a stone pig. He didn't change back for three days."
"Later, a proctor from the lower grade stepped in and undid his transformation spell, and only then did they find out that he hadn't attained enlightenment at all, but rather had soiled the sages' books while reading in the Library Building, earning himself a punishment from one of the book spirit sisters in the tower."
Li Wangyi chuckles slightly. Whether in the upper-grade scripture pavilion or the lower-grade Library Building, those book spirit fairies certainly do not have gentle tempers.
Even when he goes to borrow books, he sometimes has to coax them carefully.
Little Qianjun continues unbothered, "And there's another thing, which happened today: Young Master Xie Jiashu of the upper grade advanced to the Seventh Realm this morning and challenged the lecturing instructor in the lecture hall. Instructor Fang didn't even last three rounds before suffering defeat."
"Xie Jiashu broke through to the Seventh Realm?" A trace of surprise flashes across Li Wangyi's face.
Little Qianjun nods. "Mhm! When the challenge happened, I was right by Master's side, listening to Master talk with the two Deputy Hill Masters, Dong and Liu. Not only has this young master of the Xie family advanced, but his foundation in the Seventh Realm is also profoundly deep. From this realm all the way to the Tenth Realm, his path will be smooth and clear, with no more bottlenecks."
Li Wangyi's expression remains carefree and serene.
The stages of Confucian cultivation are divided into: Qi Nourishing, Enlightenment, Qi Concealing, Thing Investigation, Scholarly Travel, Landscape, Buran, Cold Winter, Mandate of Heaven, and Hearing the Dao.
This Seventh Realm, the Buran Realm, is derived from "In matters of benevolence, yield not even to one's teacher."
This is a crucially important realm along a Confucian disciple's path of seeking the Dao.
The Hill Master of Hanshan Academy stipulates that whenever a Hanshan student advances to the Seventh Realm, they must challenge a Seventh Realm academy instructor. Only by defeating them can one be considered a true Seventh Realm practitioner.
As for the Confucian Tenth Realm, the Hearing the Dao Realm, it is derived from "If one hears the Dao in the morning, one may die content in the evening."
This realm is the ultimate peak of ordinary Confucian disciples' pursuit of the Dao, representing a Confucian Grandmaster. Above it lie the distant and unattainable realms of the sages.
"With the grace and bearing of the Xie family's scion, it is only fitting that he yields not to his teacher."
"Eldest Senior Brother, I think you're not a bit inferior to him."
Li Wangyi reaches out to ruffle Little Qianjun's soft little head again, scolding her with a smile, "Nonsense, I'm only in the First Realm."
"Hmph, anyway, I just think Eldest Senior Brother is no less than Xie Jiashu!"
...
They linger by the cold pond in the secluded ravine until evening, when Li Wangyi steps into the lingering rays of the setting sun and leads Little Qianjun back toward the academy.
From the moment they cross the gate of the upper grade, almost everyone they meet casts slightly peculiar glances at Li Wangyi.
As they near their own Tingxi Garden, a tall young man wearing a Confucian scholar's cap and robe blocks their path.
Quite a few people around stop to watch the show.
"Li Wangyi!"
The newcomer shouts loudly.
Li Wangyi glances over. They are not close, but he recognizes him—a fellow townsman who entered the academy in the same cohort, whose name seems to be Guo An.
"I wonder what instruction Brother Guo has for me?"
"Li Wangyi, ten years ago you and Xie Jiashu were hailed as the two most outstanding literary talents Hanshan Academy had seen in a century. Today, Xie Yufu has already soared into the skies in a single bound and entered the Seventh Realm, yet you remain stuck in the First Realm. Do you not feel ashamed?"
"I suppose I should feel ashamed." Li Wangyi nods.
His readiness in admitting it leaves Guo An completely choked up. He had prepared a multitude of cutting remarks to humiliate Li Wangyi, especially considering how things were back then...
Yet Li Wangyi's reply fails to follow the expected rules, leaving him utterly speechless.
At that moment, an exceptionally handsome and refined figure steps out from a green bamboo path.
"Xie Jiashu, why are you here too?" Guo An never expected the person he just mentioned to appear at this very moment.
Xie Jiashu ignores him entirely, walking straight toward Li Wangyi instead.
Upon drawing close, he offers a deep bow. "Brother Gengxin."
Li Wangyi returns the bow. "Brother Yufu."
Xie Jiashu's courtesy name is Yufu.
Li Wangyi's courtesy name is Gengxin.
Ten years ago, both were only ten years old, yet they were simultaneously welcomed by the two Deputy Hill Masters into the upper grade of Hanshan Academy, universally acknowledged as the two most talented literary talents since the academy's founding a century ago.
Now.
One has already advanced to the Seventh Realm.
The other remains merely in the First Realm.
Xie Jiashu wears white robes, looking exceptionally handsome and refined—a dashing young gentleman of the world.
Li Wangyi wears a green tunic, combining a refined and relaxed ease with a hint of indolence.
Xie Jiashu looks at Li Wangyi, smiles warmly, and speaks.
"Brother Gengxin, I will await you at the Tenth Realm."
A new book begins, and I kindly ask all esteemed readers for your support!