Cultivation Nerd (xianxia)

Chapter 412 - The Birth of Wisdom Hall

I yawned as the bright sun shone on my face and illuminated the wet grass from yesterday's rain, creating a rainbow-like shimmer across the walls surrounding the Misty Mountain Range.Usually, the mist surrounding the mountains dulled the sunlight. Today I had brought the mist down and sealed it temporarily.

It was quite the view.

Eight weeks had passed since sealing Ye An, and the method had worked as intended. She was alive and hadn't exploded yet. Meaning nothing too unexpected had happened. With Ye An sealed, I had been able to focus more on developing my own strength in these lands where the great sects fought each other while also waging war against the beasts.

I needed a safe territory and place where I could keep the peace and test my theories.

I stood beside one of the main roads leading into the Misty Mountains. A giant wooden gate now formed the entrance through the newly built walls. The gate had been built from rosemary wood, giving off a gentle fragrance that cleared the mind.

It was usually quite expensive, but with the war against the beasts, many plant-type beasts had died, allowing me to purchase it for a surprisingly good price.

“How long are we going to wait?” Song Song complained from behind me.

She, Wu Yan, and Jiang Yeming had agreed to help me deal with the newcomers.

I had spread the word that I would teach Earth Grade Techniques for free, along with a method to imbue techniques into weapons. The latter didn't work with every technique, but it was still something extraordinary.

“You could have refused to come here as Tingfeng did,” I reminded her.

Since moving here, everyone had found their own rhythm. Jiang Yeming had become overly protective of Liu Sha. Wu Yan spent most of his time researching bizarre techniques. Even Fu Yating had kept a few mortal servants around simply to have companions.

Only Song Song remained bored, spending almost all of her time cultivating.

“Also, no matter how annoyed you get waiting here, I forbid you from acting crazy and killing someone just because they looked at you the wrong way,” I told her.

Song Song was already a Core Formation Cultivator. After leaving the Blazing Sun Sect, she had abandoned her dream of becoming Sect Master after realizing it was an incredibly boring job.

With that kind of strength, she could have traveled anywhere in the world. Instead, she had chosen to stay with me. I couldn't have her behaving the way she once had in the Blazing Sun Sect. The so-called Four Great Sects encouraged talented disciples and elders to compete, often to the death. The Blazing Sun Sect especially embodied survival of the fittest.

That wasn't what I wanted for my organization. How many incredible things could those geniuses create if they were allowed to live long enough to fulfill their potential? I wanted to find out.

I turned and looked at the marble sign above the gate.

'Wisdom Hall.'

The words were written in flowing cursive with light-blue ink created from specially prepared herbs.

I was still somewhat on the fence about the name. It sounded rather plain. But it was already carved. There was no changing it now.

I also deliberately named it 'Wisdom Hall' rather than 'Wisdom Sect' because I didn't want it associated with ordinary sects. I wasn't going to do things the sect way. Usually, that wasn't a good idea. Sects survived for thousands of years precisely because their structures were rigid. But I wanted something different.

Even if Wisdom Hall disappeared after only a few decades, I wanted to give the idea at least a chance.

Perhaps future historians would write about how foolish such a decision had been, proving sects to be the perfect organizational structure for a cultivation world. More likely, though, I would never become important enough to make it into their books.

History only cared about immortals and Nascent Soul cultivators. Everyone else was forgotten.

In the distance, a long procession of wagons and pedestrians finally appeared along the stone-paved road. There were so many wagons that it almost resembled a merchant caravan.

Looking closer, however, the differences became obvious.

Some were open carts normally used for transporting lumber, now filled with entire families. Others had leather coverings to keep out the rain, and a few luxurious carriages were decorated with silver engravings and escorted by armored guards. Some people walked on foot wearing clean, expensive clothes. Others wore rags and looked painfully malnourished. People from every walk of life had come here hoping for an opportunity.

It was a captivating sight.

Not because people were suffering. But because there was something strangely fulfilling about knowing I could help make their hopes a reality.

The insignificant me had finally become someone on the bigger stage.

Among them were a handful of cultivators. The strongest was merely an eight-star Qi Gathering cultivator, a middle-aged man with little hope of ever reaching Foundation Establishment.

“It seems spreading the word that you'd teach Earth Grade Techniques for free worked wonders. Just like when you did something similar for the Blazing Sun Sect,” Song Song observed.

“Yes, although this time no Foundation Establishment cultivators came,” I chuckled. “Our Wisdom Hall simply doesn't have the same brand name as one of the Four Great Sects.”

“Brand?” Song Song raised a questioning brow. “What does that mean?”

“Think of it as your name becoming associated with something,” I explained.

“So... reputation?” Song Song asked. “Why not just say that?”

Teasing laced her voice, making it hard to take the criticism seriously.

Jiang Yeming stepped forward. “Wisdom Hall will surpass them all! No great sect–”

“Okay, tone it down, little girl,” Song Song interrupted with a wave. “The way you're acting, you'd think you built this place.”

Jiang Yeming continued staring at the approaching crowd. She didn't even acknowledge Song Song. Despite the risk of offending someone like her, Wisdom Hall clearly mattered far more.

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Wait... Don't tell me the hidden arrogance she carries toward the other sects comes from confidence in Wisdom Hall? Shit. If that's true, then I probably founded this place much later in her original timeline... and she sped everything up.

That could easily become a problem. After all, in her timeline I was apparently supposed to befriend those riddle-giving beings from another world.

Now they were gone.

“Anyway, when should we prepare for war with the Blazing Sun Sect?” Song Song asked. “You're teaching Earth Grade Techniques here. My suggestion is to have the ugly frog flex his Nascent Soul cultivation and flatten the entire Blazing Sun mountain.”

“The techniques I'm teaching aren't Blazing Sun techniques,” I clarified. “They're techniques I pieced together myself by combining and improving others.”

More importantly, I planned to teach everyone how to imbue techniques into weapons. Compared to that, Earth Grade Techniques weren't particularly valuable. A weapon-imbuing method was something even the Great Sects might wage war over. But then again, they would wage war over anything.

As for why no wandering Foundation Establishment cultivators had appeared despite such rewards, most people didn't believe offers that sounded too good to be true. That explained why so many mortals and only a handful of desperate cultivators showed up.

“I still disagree with letting newcomers learn whatever they want and leave whenever they want,” Jiang Yeming muttered, finally coming out of her stupor. “At the very least, they should join young, grow up indoctrinated into Wisdom Hall, and only then be given that option. That would preserve our advantage over the other sects.”

It wasn't the first time she had suggested something like that. However, my answer had never changed.

“No.” I shook my head, "that isn't why I created Wisdom Hall.”

Hoarding knowledge would only encourage jealous sects and organizations to attack us. I'd rather keep everything above board.

“We aren't trying to build the strongest organization on the continent,” I reminded her. “Wisdom Hall is simply a gathering place for scholars. People are free to join, and they're equally free to leave whenever they wish.”

Jiang Yeming nodded. But I could tell from her gaze that she remained unconvinced.

The organization hadn't even officially begun, and ideological disagreements had already appeared.

Well... if she wanted something different, she was free to build it herself. She could even do so while remaining part of Wisdom Hall.

As the procession approached, I estimated their numbers.

Judging by the ratio of adults to children, most were refugees fleeing the ongoing wars. Around eight thousand people had come to join. Including their families, there were nearly eighteen thousand altogether.

It was a staggering number. But I wasn't about to send a mother carrying a baby back into a war zone. Also, the Misty Mountains could use more life, as the streets and buildings were eerily quiet. Those three brats might even make a friend or two and stop their shenanigans.

I smiled as the crowd gathered before the gates.

They whispered among themselves, wisely avoiding causing trouble in front of cultivators.

“Hello, everyone,” I greeted with a wave. “We'll begin with an explanation of how things work here.”

I used no grand speeches or lofty rhetoric. I had grown to hate them during team meetings, mostly because the manager usually acted like we weren't there just for a paycheck.

If I had to pretend the way I had in the Blazing Sun Sect or previous life, what would have been the point of creating my own organization?

“As for these walls...” I pointed my thumb behind me. “This outer wall exists to protect us from beast waves. Beyond it is another wall, though that's mostly symbolic. The outer district is primarily for mortal scholars studying architecture, medicine, and other ordinary subjects. The inner district is where cultivators live and study. Mortals are welcome there as well.”

Seeing that nobody was asking anything or even saying a word, I cleared my throat and continued, “Just don't destroy the books. You're free to copy them and share them with anyone you like.”

I continued, explaining that the walls weren't meant to separate people, and that movement between both districts was unrestricted.

Originally, I had only planned to build a single wall. After listening to advice from my friends, however, I realized many mortals preferred not living directly beside cultivators. So I created the outer district.

“Anyway, many of you probably won't remember everything I just said,” I continued. “So everyone will receive a pamphlet upon entering Wisdom Hall.”

I pointed to a large carriage to the side, filled with booklets. We could have kept these things in storage rings, but we wanted the non-cultivators to feel more at home.

“Now we'll begin testing cultivation talent. It's completely free. Please form a single line. My friends and I will use a basic array to test groups at a time.” I said.

Even as I tested people, I kept amplifying my voice.

“Wisdom Hall isn't a prison,” I explained. “If someone later wishes to leave for a larger sect with better opportunities, they're free to do so. You may even remain a member of Wisdom Hall while serving as an elder or disciple in another sect.”

That surprised many people; even the cultivators who had come frowned, unsure what to make of it.

Did they think I was saying this to test their loyalties? I may need to add people who "stole" and pushed rumors that it was okay to do.

“Treat Wisdom Hall as a place to pursue theoretical knowledge. Personally, I'd recommend joining one of the larger sects once you reach Foundation Establishment, since you'll have more influence there.” I suggested. “But ultimately... The choice is yours.”

We tested around a dozen people at a time.

A green array spread beneath their feet, gathering Qi and guiding it into their bodies. Depending on how much Qi they naturally absorbed, their spirit roots revealed their cultivation talent.

Larger groups could have been tested at once. I didn't want to risk overlooking anyone. There were also faster methods. But I chose this method because it let people conceal the full extent of their talent if they wished.

Yes. Even those who wanted to hide their gifts were welcome.

Halfway through, I held up a blue card.

“This is a Wisdom Hall license,” I explained. “Right now it mainly serves as identification, but as Wisdom Hall grows, I hope it will gain additional benefits.”

Most people were still listening attentively. This first group seemed promising. At least none of them had displayed bad character despite possessing almost no cultivation talent.

“I don't expect greatness from everyone,” I said. “I simply ask that you contribute in some way, whether through work or scholarship. Jobs will be assigned according to experience and ability.”

Damn, it felt like I was a teacher just droning on. I didn't like the sound of my own voice anywhere near enough to keep doing this. I'll need to hire a rules expert to explain them during the next batch.

“They won't be overly demanding. I want everyone to have enough free time to continue learning." My eyes drifted toward the wandering cultivators.

“If some of you only came here for an Earth Grade Technique,” I smiled, “you're welcome to do exactly that.”

“Even if you leave immediately and establish your own clan based on those techniques, I promise I won't pursue you as long as you didn't harm anyone while you were here. Feel free to browse the array section as well. If your dream is to found a clan or even your own sect... Copy the books and take the knowledge with you.”

As I spoke, Jiang Yeming clenched her fists so tightly her arms trembled.

She hated this.

If she continued thinking this way, we would eventually need to discuss how much her future knowledge was influencing her decisions.

I really didn't want to have that conversation.

Perhaps I was completely wrong. Perhaps she truly had some larger plan. Interfering without understanding could easily make things worse.

“We thank the Hall Master,” many of the wandering cultivators said with respectful bows.

Others were practically trembling with excitement. The possibility of forging their own futures had made them forget basic etiquette altogether.

I only smiled.

…

Jiang Yeming and I eventually finished testing everyone. Even with arrays performing the examinations in batches, it took quite some time. Most possessed almost no cultivation talent. Still, thirty-seven people displayed genuine potential. Including the wandering cultivators, we now had nearly seventy cultivators.

None had reached Foundation Establishment. Some had already passed their prime, their spirit roots having deteriorated with age.

Even so… They were enough.

I smiled.

“Welcome to Wisdom Hall.”