With this kind of relationship between a son-in-law and a father-in-law, there was naturally a deeper and more innate sense of closeness. Never underestimate the power of familial ties—among scholars, such bonds are often valued even more than among others. Blood kinship fosters trust. This is the key difference between family and outsiders. No matter how fair and impartial one strives to be, one cannot escape the subtle influence of kinship.
This is unavoidable.
"That's right, it's Great Scholar Cai. When a large number of people descended near the Jixia Academy, they were like a headless mob. Although there were many scholars and students, none had the prestige to lead. It was like a pile of loose sand. Eventually, Great Scholar Cai stepped forward, entered the academy, discovered the Confucian cultivation method, and—relying on his immense talent—condensed Righteous Qi to open his Divine Sea and awaken the Confucian Dao Life Aperture. With a tongue sharper than swords, he slew countless ferocious beasts. One loud rebuke alone struck terror into the hearts of many monsters."
"He organized all the civilians and scholars, brought them into the academy, and passed down the teachings of the Hundred Schools. That's how we've been able to resist the foreign races and defend Jixia Academy from being breached. His contribution is beyond measure."
Lin Hai spoke with deep reverence in his expression.
It was the look of an ordinary man seeing his idol.
Among scholars, only those with superior knowledge and status earned genuine respect.
"Seems my father-in-law is no ordinary man. Within Jixia Academy, his position is unshakable. Be he the Head of the Academy or Dean, as long as I can persuade him, the others will follow. Given the hardships they've endured here, I can guess—if there's even a chance to leave, no one would willingly stay behind."
Yi Tianxing silently pondered.
He was already considering how to convince the people of the academy to willingly leave with him. His goal wasn't just to take a few—it was to take all of them.
To leave even one behind would be an unacceptable loss—these were the priceless treasures of the human race.
"The Master said: 'To study and from time to time practice what one has learned, is that not a pleasure? To have friends come from afar, is that not joy? If others do not know me and I am not resentful, is that not the mark of a gentleman?'"
"Master You said: 'A person who is filial and fraternal rarely turns against superiors; one who does not defy superiors will not sow chaos. The gentleman roots himself in the foundation. Once the root is established, the Way arises. Filial piety and fraternal duty—are they not the root of benevolence?'"
"Master Zeng said: 'Each day I reflect on myself three times: Have I failed in loyalty when working for others? Have I been untrustworthy in dealing with friends? Have I failed to revise what I was taught?'"
At that moment, clear and melodious reading voices drifted through the air.
As they approached, they saw that in an open-air pavilion, a group of scholars dressed in traditional robes were reciting aloud from ancient texts, voices rising and falling in practiced rhythm. Their diction and cadence were precise, lending a musical quality to the recitation that drew listeners in. One could not help but become immersed, gaining sudden insights into the meanings hidden in the texts.
"Reading a book a thousand times makes its meaning clear!"
That was the principle at work.
The more one read, the more one understood. Every rereading brought new revelations.
Yi Tianxing could see that all these students carried with them a certain scholarly aura, and even some cultivation—clearly practitioners of Confucian techniques, each having condensed their own Righteous Qi.
After a round of reading,
An elderly man in a green Confucian robe stepped forward, holding a ritual ruler in one hand and an ancient book in the other.
"Today, we will study the Book of Changes," he said. "'Heaven moves strongly; the gentleman should strive ceaselessly. The earth is vast and nurturing; the gentleman carries virtue to support all things.' These are renowned words of warning and guidance from the Book of Changes. They speak to the spirit of the human race."
The old man continued, "Some interpret 'heaven' as nature, others as the will of heaven. 'Movement' begins from beneath one's feet. The movement of heaven is toward improvement. A 'gentleman' here refers to humanity."
"If even the heavens strive forward, then so should we. The true strength of our people lies in our ability to grow through adversity, to become ever stronger despite trials. This is the path of human evolution. Only by becoming stronger can we earn the respect of other races. Otherwise, how can we expect them to regard humanity with dignity?"
The old man paced slowly as he spoke, sharing his personal insights into the scriptures.
Now more than ever, the human race needed this spirit of relentless self-improvement to once again stand tall under the heavens and reclaim their rightful place.
Outside, Lin Hai listened respectfully.
Yi Tianxing did not interrupt. He simply observed the old man—his tone, expression, and bearing—while listening to his exposition. He nodded subtly to himself.
"There's no mistake. This must be Cai Yong, my father-in-law. The resemblance is there. His scholarly depth is clearly profound. Still, I cannot reveal my identity as his son-in-law right away. Even if I declared it, he might not believe me. Worse, he might suspect I have ulterior motives. That could backfire and cause more harm than good."
The fantasy of a warm family reunion was nice, but reality demanded caution.
"Put yourself in his shoes—if a stranger appeared out of nowhere, calling himself your son-in-law, what would you think? First, that he's a liar. Second, that he has an agenda. Third, that he's dangerous."
First impressions are everything.
Without any prior acquaintance, using that identity to forge a bond would only sow distrust.
Before long, the students respectfully saluted the old man and dispersed in small groups, discussing what they'd learned.
"Master Cai, this student has something to report."
Lin Hai stepped forward and spoke.
The elderly man smiled kindly. "Lin Hai, aren't you stationed at the academy perimeter? Why have you returned so suddenly? Something important must have happened."
His gaze fell on Yi Tianxing. From memory, he was sure he had never seen this man before—otherwise, he would have remembered.
"Master, this man is a survivor I discovered outside the academy. He came from the outside and managed to pass through the foreign tribes' blockade. According to what Brother Yi told me, the foreign races seem to have entered a mating season. Most of them are now engaged in reproduction. This matter is urgent, so I came to report it immediately."
Lin Hai didn't hold anything back.
"The foreign races entering a mating season... that is very possible."
Cai Yong's expression turned thoughtful. "Those beings, although serpentine in appearance, are still snakes. And snakes do have a mating season. That's their time of reproduction. Snake nature is known for being lewd and chaotic. Once in heat, they lose control easily. During this time, the blockade on Jixia Academy will surely weaken. This could be a golden opportunity to escape. We cannot remain trapped here forever. The world outside is the true battlefield."
His sharp mind immediately saw the possibility—now would be when the guards are at their weakest.
"But it's not so simple. Even if we escape, the price might be devastating. The surrounding area is cloaked in fog, and there are formations nearby. The snake-men might be less vigilant, but in heat, they are more violent. If their mating is interrupted, they will go berserk, far more dangerous than usual."
Yi Tianxing calmly interjected.
"If we don't act now, we may never escape. Even if we do in the future, we'll still pay a terrible price. Cultivation takes time. We grow stronger, but so do the foreign races. The academy's current situation is already extremely dire."
Cai Yong spoke plainly.
No one knew better than he how difficult survival here had become.
Tens of thousands of people drained their resources dry. Crops could be grown, yes—but salt could not. Nor clothes. Basic needs were increasingly unmet. Meat was a distant memory. The blockade was so tight even birds couldn't get through.
Even worse, the snake-men were constantly releasing toxic gases into the air. Many had already succumbed. Though most of the poison was filtered before reaching the academy, people still fell ill.
If not for the healers of the Medical School using special techniques to dispel the toxins, the death toll would already be severe.
Things would only get worse.
This was no longer sustainable.
The time had come—to either fight their way out or perish slowly within.
"This mating season could also be a trap. The snake-men are not fools. A frontal assault would be extremely risky. I suggest we analyze carefully before acting," Yi Tianxing said firmly.
These scholars were a priceless resource of the human race. To lose them in a careless assault would be unforgivable.
He would never allow it.
"Who are you?" Cai Yong turned to him, voice solemn. His instincts told him this man was anything but ordinary.
"My name is Yi Tianxing. I stumbled into a valley and found the academy by pure luck," Yi Tianxing answered evenly.