Chapter 227: Tang San's Night Exploration of Tianxing Academy
After Tang San finished discussing with Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, he returned to his room, deep in thought.
Now at age 39, Tang San's spirit power had reached level 66, around the same level as in the original story, albeit without the enhancement from a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring or spirit bone. Reflecting on his years of growth, Tang San acknowledged that his main advantages over others were his innate full spirit power and the power boost he gained from consuming the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng. However, with his current nearing Spirit Saint rank, the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng's effects had essentially run their course, likely slowing his cultivation progress in the future.
Tang San couldn't help but recall the Earth Element Fruit that Yang Wudi had brought out, as well as Yang Potian's mention during the Spirit Master Tournament about using the Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. From Tang San's perspective, it seemed that several of the immortal herbs described in Mysterious Heavenly Treasure Records had indeed appeared on the Douluo Continent.
The Po Zhi Clan's rapid development over the past twenty years, resulting in five Titled Douluo, particularly Yang Potian at only 24 years of age, indicated that they must have access to these rare herbs. After all, Tang San thought, Titan and Bai He—who were on par with Yang Wudi and Niu Gao in terms of natural talent—were still at the Contra level and had shown no signs of growth for years, suggesting their potential had likely been exhausted.
After much deliberation, Tang San resolved to investigate Tianxing Academy under the cover of night, hoping to uncover any secrets it held. If he were discovered, he figured the high-ranking powers of the Three Upper Sects would shield him from repercussions; the situation could even create leverage against the Po Zhi Clan.
To Tang San, the members of Tianxing Academy and the clans under it should rightfully be Clear Sky Clan affiliates—an extension of his own influence. Although the clan had indeed mistreated them in the past, would they have come this far without the Clear Sky Clan? The Strength and Speed Clans had returned to the Clear Sky Clan; the Po Zhi and Imperial Defense Clans should follow suit.
Tang San dressed in black and slipped into the night, swiftly making his way to the academy.
Tianxing Academy was only half an hour away from Monet City. The base of the mountain where it stood had relatively loose security; for a Spirit Emperor like Tang San, it was simple to evade the guards. His Blue Silver Grass spirit, though lacking a second awakening, still allowed him to sense nearby people and threats from a considerable distance.
After avoiding several patrols, Tang San reached the mountainside, the primary hub of Tianxing Academy. Apart from a few core disciples and senior members, most of the academy's members, including the Four Single Attribute Clans, resided here, forming a small fortress-like settlement.
The mountainside defenses were tight, featuring a 30-meter-high wall patrolled by numerous spirit masters and equipped with various defensive weapons. Leveraging his Blue Silver Grass to probe for enemies and his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track for stealth, Tang San advanced undetected. His mastery of the Mysterious Heaven Skill allowed him to conceal his spirit power to the extent that even most Spirit Saints would struggle to notice him.
Once on the wall, Tang San observed the defenses with interest. Since the plans for Zhuge Crossbows had leaked, most sects had implemented them, using them effectively for both defense and ambush. However, Tianxing Academy didn't seem to rely on these crossbows, opting instead for massive ballistae and bolt-launchers, some nearly the size of a small room.
With his knowledge of hidden weapons, Tang San quickly understood the function of these large ballistae and bolt-launchers. While less compact and portable than Zhuge Crossbows, they were far more suitable for fort defense due to their powerful force and lower production costs.
Exploring the academy's mountainside yielded no major discoveries, but it was clear that Tianxing Academy's forces were stronger than he had anticipated. There were two Contras stationed in the mountainside area alone, with even more Spirit Saints among them. Their overall power already surpassed the current Clear Sky Clan and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
The training methods at Tianxing Academy were far more advanced than what Yang Potian had previously implemented at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. The academy's obstacle courses featured precision designs tailored to different spirit master levels, with specialized equipment Tang San had never encountered before—innovations likely inspired by Yang Potian's modern knowledge.
The academy even had a comprehensive medicinal bath program, organized for large groups, reducing resource use and reliance on individual instructors. This system of mass cultivation and resource efficiency was reminiscent of an assembly line, aligning more with a military training facility than a conventional academy.
Analyzing the academy, Tang San noted several key points:
First, Tianxing Academy was extraordinarily wealthy. Even ordinary spirit masters used top-quality medicinal baths—an opportunity typically reserved for elite disciples in larger sects. The academy's extensive mimetic environments, which surpassed those of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, suggested immense financial resources, perhaps even rivaling the royal family itself.
Second, the academy's training methods were highly structured and advanced. At this rate, the number of mid- to high-level spirit masters graduating from Tianxing Academy would skyrocket in the next two to three decades. The academy might soon surpass the Clear Sky Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, even at their peak.
Initially, Tang San estimated Tianxing Academy's size at around 1,500 spirit masters, mostly low-level. But under their current training regimen, it seemed likely that all would eventually reach Spirit King rank, with a considerable number progressing to Spirit Saint or Contra, which could be terrifyingly powerful.
One mystery still nagged at Tang San's mind: the Po Zhi Clan, while prominent in the Douluo Continent's medicine trade, shouldn't be this profitable. Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, known as the wealthiest clan, wouldn't invest this heavily in ordinary disciples.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Tianxing Academy was the intense dedication its students showed to their training. Even late into the night, the mimetic training areas were packed, a stark contrast to the more relaxed, even arrogant atmosphere typical of other great sects.
Tang San had no idea that this tenacity was a result of the substantial treasures Yang Potian had acquired from two powerful clans, which he used to establish a reward system within the academy. Numerous leaderboards displayed achievements, ranking students based on their progress and combat power. High-ranking students gained access to precious resources, and the top performers could even receive rare elixirs and spirit bones—priceless treasures sought by all spirit masters.
After thoroughly exploring the academy's midsection, Tang San began to realize just how impressive Tianxing Academy's strength and wealth were. If the academy's vast resources and disciplined training were applied to the Clear Sky Clan or Tang Sect, they could swiftly reclaim their position as the number-one clan in the land.
This thought made Tang San even more intrigued by the academy's core area at the mountaintop. If the mid-mountain area offered so many surprises, the mountain's peak would surely contain even more incredible treasures and secrets. But Tang San knew that exploring the peak would be much more dangerous—five Titled Douluo resided there, along with numerous Contras and Spirit Saints. Any misstep could lead to his capture.
However, Tang San's skills and natural confidence urged him onward, as he thrived on uncovering secrets of powerful sects. In his world, even as an outer disciple of the Tang Sect, he'd managed to unlock the secrets of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record. Since arriving in Douluo Continent, he had explored Gengxin City, ventured into the Star Dou Forest, and even infiltrated Spirit Hall's ranks to follow their hunts for Xiao Wu and the Spirit Beasts Da Ming and Er Ming, each time gaining valuable insights.
Feeling a rush of excitement, Tang San steeled himself and made his way cautiously toward the academy's core.
Yet, the moment Tang San entered the core area, Yang Potian sensed his presence. As a level 98 Titled Douluo, Yang Potian's awareness was so finely tuned that even a small intrusion could not escape his notice. Despite Tang San's attempts to hide his aura, Yang Potian's mastery of Mysterious Heaven Skill far surpassed Tang San's, making it impossible for him to remain undetected.
If Yang Potian could easily detect even Ghost Douluo's concealment—a feat that neither Sword Douluo nor Tang Xiao had managed—then spotting Tang San's infiltration was trivial for him.
However, Yang Potian decided to hold back for now, curious to see what Tang San was after and whether the academy's defenses were adequate. If Tang San could infiltrate the mountaintop unnoticed and leave unscathed, then internal security would need a serious overhaul to prevent future vulnerabilities.
Now at the peak, Tang San moved with extreme caution, keeping close to patches of Blue Silver Grass to obscure his presence.
Based on the original story, one thing was clear—Tang San's stealth was nothing to underestimate. And when it came to "borrowing" things, Tang San's resourcefulness and character were consistently reliable.
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