The scholars around them, all about the same age as Du Heng, now showed expressions of shock.
They could sense that Du Heng was merely at the great perfection of the second realm, the Qi Condensation stage.
Every realm of cultivation was divided into initial, mid-level, perfect, and great perfection.
For people their age, based on average talent, regardless of whether they cultivated Dao arts or Confucian cultivation systems, they generally started cultivation at age ten. Reaching Tier 3 Illumination by age twenty was considered passing. As for exactly which stage within that, it depended on individual ability.
Those who could leap to the fourth realm of No Confusion, or even the fifth realm of Sitting in Reflection, were unprecedented geniuses, one in ten thousand.
Since Du Heng was not only the legitimate son of Marquis Zhenyuan but also the Eldest Senior Brother of Ruo Xian Pavilion, others naturally assumed he would not lack cultivation resources. Since his cultivation was so low, he must either be unambitious or of mediocre talent.
Therefore, Du Heng’s Qi Condensation cultivation was considered subpar, causing him to be looked down upon.
But today, Du Heng’s sword intent had nearly made everyone present wet their pants.
Although their Yingtian Prefecture Academy focused on Confucian cultivation and very few practiced swordsmanship, anyone with eyes could see that Du Heng’s sword path had reached its peak.
Du Heng had not drawn his sword, nor was he carrying one, and he had not used any spiritual power. It was just pure sword intent that had cut open the gray-robed scholar’s robe, with impeccable control over force and angle. One more fraction would have cut into flesh; one less would not have split the robe.
Someone in the crowd murmured dazedly,
“Is this Young Lord Du really the waste they say he is…?”
…
Du Heng kept his head down and followed behind the child. Even he did not know what exactly he was angry about…
Was it because that person had mentioned Yun Shuyu in front of him?
Or… was he angry that that person had said in front of him that Yun Shuyu was blind to like him?
It had been years since he had last truly been angry.
Du Heng patted his own cheeks, forcing himself not to dwell on the reason.
These vague, elusive thoughts were the hardest to sort out. Overthinking would only drain his spirit, so it was better to leave them alone.
As for exposing his true strength by fighting with someone…
Whether or not he agreed to assist Yun Shuyu for five years, ever since he learned that two elders of the sect knew about his hidden cultivation, he had lost the desire to deliberately conceal it anymore.
Besides, since he wasn’t in the sect, other than the Eldest Princess Yun Shuyu forcing him, he could do what he wanted and slack off as he pleased, without needing to use cultivation as an excuse.
Du Heng had never intended to deliberately show weakness to his enemies.
The reason he didn’t reveal his true cultivation now was, first, that he was used to keeping his realm restrained, and second, that he habitually followed his slacking-off code of conduct: if he revealed his cultivation, all sorts of cats and dogs would come trying to cozy up to him. Besides, he had just returned to Great Luo and the situation was unclear; he needed to observe for a while first.
But Du Heng wasn’t made of mud… he had a temper too.
Slacking off was one thing; it didn’t mean he was a dead man who couldn’t get angry. That sword intent was his reward to them.
The child turned back, his face red, and whispered an explanation to Du Heng and the others.
“Actually, many of those young masters in the front courtyard earlier are not from our academy.”
“That’s why they spoke rudely to you, young master…”
The child was afraid Du Heng and the others might misunderstand… he had just told them the academy’s rules, and then someone broke them right away.
Du Heng smiled, unconcerned, and somehow handed the child another piece of food from somewhere.
The child took it a bit sheepishly.
Du Heng asked again.
“Then where are they from?”
“They are all here to study. Those seeking admission also have to carve their names on the Stele of the Heart in the square.”
“They must also win Grandpa Su’s approval before they can enroll.”
Du Heng understood. Anyone could enter the front courtyard of this academy, but to enter the inner courtyard’s book pavilion to study, or to meet that Grandpa Su, one had to carve on that stele.
He wondered if that Grandpa Su was one of the Great Luo Confucian cultivation sages, Sage Su?
Du Heng’s original plan was to come here to find a historian, Zhao Gongnian of the Censorate.
But since the man wasn’t here, to avoid making the trip for nothing, he might as well look up the most senior elder in the Yingtian Prefecture Academy. With this person’s standing, the matters he wanted to ask about should be crystal clear, shouldn’t they?
“Young master, we’re here. This is our academy’s Stele of the Heart.”
A massive rectangular stele stood in the center of a wide square, its surface sparsely covered with carved characters.
This stele was very strange… its height almost touched the sky, yet it was invisible from the outside.
Next to the stele sat an old man at a desk. When he saw the child leading Du Heng and Mingzhu over, he reluctantly lifted his eyelids to glance at them, then buried his head back in his scrolls.
“If you want to carve characters, go ahead yourself. Life or death is your own concern.”
Du Heng found this odd. Could carving characters really kill someone?
Seeing Du Heng and the others look confused, the child explained in a refined manner,
“The Stele of the Heart inscription is actually a self-examination. You set down your aspirations, ambitions, or credo on this stele.”
“Legends say this stele has existed since ancient times and can communicate with the Heavenly Dao. If one’s intentions are impure or dishonest, or if there is deception, one will be rebuked by the laws of heaven and earth.”
Du Heng nodded, growing curious. The child spoke so fluently and at length… he must have been exposed to this often. Could he be a disciple of Sage Su?
“Thank you for the explanation. Little brother, you know a lot.”
“I am Du Heng, and this is Mingzhu.”
“Little brother, are you Grandpa Su’s student?”
The child, praised, scratched his head a bit awkwardly and replied, “My name is Zhao Ming. Grandpa says I’m too young; he won’t take me yet.”
Mingzhu was outspoken. “You look six or seven. At that age, you should start cultivation.”
Du Heng tapped him on the head. “Do you think everyone is like you? I didn’t start cultivation until I was ten either.”
Mingzhu had followed Ye Mingshan since he was young and had certainly received plenty of extra lessons.
Little Zhao Ming, having been fed a few times, had grown quite fond of Du Heng.
“Young Master Du, you should think it over carefully. Although young masters seeking admission rarely cause deaths, some people have written inscriptions that provoked punishment from the Heavenly Dao, and they died on the spot.”
Du Heng smiled. “It’s fine. Bring me a paper and brush.”
Little Zhao Ming gave him a complicated look, but had no choice but to fetch the paper and brush.
“Senior Brother, are you really not afraid? That’s the Heavenly Dao.”
“Not afraid. According to this logic, as long as you have a clear conscience, sit upright and act righteously, why should you fear the Heavenly Dao?”
Mingzhu recalled Ye Mingshan’s words.
He partly believed Du Heng, and partly doubted.
But indeed, Senior Brother was keeping his true abilities hidden. That sword intent just now was probably something he couldn’t reach even after another ten years of cultivation, right?
By this time, a crowd of students seeking admission had gathered behind Du Heng and the others, including many of those who had spoken rudely to Du Heng earlier.
None of them dared speak again, not wanting to have their heads shaved for no reason and have their clothes cut off in public, making a fool of themselves.
But now, hearing the exchange between Du Heng and Mingzhu, some in the crowd still felt contempt.
You are a notorious wastrel son with ill intentions and improper designs on the Eldest Princess.
How could you sit upright and act righteously?
Others had already changed their views of Du Heng. That sword intent alone had impressed many.
These words made them feel even more that Du Heng might have been framed.
After all, if Du Heng really were that kind of person, why wouldn’t he have been captured on the spot by the Eldest Princess’s guards?
There were also some clear-headed people who had maintained a wait-and-see attitude toward the rumor from the start.