That foolish middle-aged man  

This wheel, can it be nudged little by little?" 

Lin Xi, grappling with an indescribable emotion, looked down. 

The familiar characters on the stone tablet spoke effortlessly: "I trust you are now aware of the levels of soul power cultivation in this world? If, like me, you sense a wheel within your mind, then upon reaching the rank of Soul Master, you will understand the meaning behind my words. Furthermore, upon attaining the status of a National Scholar, you will discover even greater revelations..." 

"Moreover, are you perhaps lacking in innate talent for cultivation? Is your aptitude also a mere two, like mine? If so, the pace of your progress may indeed be somewhat sluggish. However, let me assure you, there are advantages to having a rank of two; your cultivation level is not overly formidable, allowing for a more discreet existence. In this world, it is often beneficial to remain inconspicuous, for no matter how high one's cultivation, soul power is finite. A legion of soldiers can easily overwhelm you, and even at the National Scholar level, felling a hundred heavily armored foes could deplete your soul power. There are many formidable individuals in this realm. Additionally, due to the unique fusion of our two souls, the soul power we can accumulate is equivalent to that of an average person multiplied by two. The specific benefits of this may not be clear to you now, but since you have entered Qingluan Academy, you will soon come to understand..." 

"What more can I say to an unfamiliar fellow villager? Apart from the fact that no one can truly comprehend the nuances of our era, this is indeed a fascinating world. By the way, my arrival at Qingluan Academy was not by mere chance... I have secretly ventured into the imperial city and glimpsed records hidden from public view—methods of cultivation in this world, legends of ancient demons and celestial beings... How should I put it? I believe it will be easier for individuals like us to comprehend; it can be understood that many years ago, a group of extraterrestrial beings called ancient celestial beings arrived on this 'Earth,' followed by another group known as ancient demons. Ultimately, these two factions clashed in a great war, during which ordinary people gleaned various cultivation techniques. After the ancient demons and celestial beings met their demise, these methods were passed down... Before I arrived here, Qingluan Academy already existed, and it is said to be connected to the legacy of Qingluan Palace, one of the sects established by ordinary people during the era of ancient demons and celestial beings. Now, no one knows the precise locations of Qingluan Palace and the other sects from that time, but it is highly likely that they still exist somewhere in this world, hidden from human eyes. My intention in coming to Qingluan Academy was to uncover the whereabouts of Qingluan Palace... The reason for my search is simple: having arrived in this world and gained abilities absent in our own, I wish to behold its most magnificent, grand, and mysterious places. Furthermore, Qingluan Palace likely possesses superior cultivation techniques that could enhance my own abilities, perhaps even grant me access to deeper truths about this reality... After much investigation, I discovered that Qingluan Palace is likely located within the icy realm north of the Ascending Heaven Mountain Range. The exact expanse of this frozen expanse remains a mystery to all... To this unfamiliar fellow villager, I wonder when you will come across my words. If a century or more has passed, I may have already succumbed to age in this world. If less than a century has elapsed, then I may have encountered some misfortune, or I might still be alive somewhere beyond the Ascending Heaven Mountain Range in the icy realm, or perhaps even within the fabled Qingluan Palace. In that case, we might yet have the opportunity to meet and converse..." 

"What more is there to say? Perhaps it is best to leave it for another time, should we have the chance to meet... If I were to recount all the wonders of this world, you, my unseen fellow villager, would surely miss out on much of the joy..." 

Lin Xi gazed quietly at the stone tablet, as if observing a middle-aged man resembling a physics teacher murmuring to himself. He longed to hear more from this man, yet the familiar script on the tablet abruptly ceased with his final words and a series of ellipses, leaving no further traces. 

"You idiot... Knowing full well how rare it is to find a fellow villager who understands completely, could you not have said a bit more, elucidated your thoughts more clearly?" 

In a sudden outburst of frustration, Lin Xi hurled insults at the stone tablet, feeling a profound sense of grievance as tears streamed down his face. 

Everyone around him stood frozen, turning to stare at Lin Xi, who was clearly directing his ire at Dean Zhang... In this world, how audacious it was for someone to scold Dean Zhang... 

Yet Lin Xi, unrestrained, had discovered that since arriving in this realm, he possessed a unique ability to revert to a time ten stops before, or ten minutes ago. By merely envisioning the azure light resembling a wheel in his mind, he could return to ten minutes prior. Although this could only be utilized once a day, it had ensured that he had not lost a single gamble since his arrival. 

When that serious and stern girl, seemingly two or three years his junior, persistently interrogated him, he sensed her extraordinary nature. Later, upon witnessing the bird's nest fall from the auspicious archway, he employed this ability to test her, only to find her even more formidable than the elderly coachman—before he could even comprehend her movements, he was struck on the head. 

This led him to realize, upon returning to the moment before the girl's relentless questioning, that he had to behave obediently, much like a student facing a strict teacher, reinforcing his understanding that true masters existed in this world. 

However, he could never have anticipated that the very individual who had forged the glory of Qingluan Academy, the most illustrious figure of the past fifty years—a middle-aged man accompanied by a qilin resembling a dog and a mandarin duck—was from the same place as himself, one who knew what a television was, what a computer was, and what it meant to surf the internet... Yet this middle-aged man, still withholding information, chose not to elaborate further. 

"Lin Xi, you..." 

As the expressions of the instructors and professors shifted, Lin Xi again unleashed a tirade of insults, then commanded, "Return." 

In his mind, the azure light resembling the "wheel" mentioned by the middle-aged man spun once, then settled in the recesses of his consciousness. 

The scene around him rewound to ten minutes prior. 

He walked alongside all the new students of Qingluan Academy along the wooden pathway, traversing a forest and passing through the grand clock tower constructed of yellow stone, heading toward the imposing Three-Color Glazed Pavilion. 

... 

Lin Xi once again stood within this magnificent circular hall, before the words left by the middle-aged man. 

He still struggled to fully harness the emotions that accompanied the weight of an entire world, yet this time he chose not to reveal them. Instead, he gazed at the profoundly familiar text, silently contemplating that the middle-aged man's transformation of the various faculties of Qingluan Academy into departments was likely not a mere whim or jest, but rather an effort to leave a lasting mark of his presence in this world. Sixteen years ago, he departed from Qingluan Academy, and according to the inscription, this middle-aged man, who hailed from the same origin as he did, might still be alive, alleviating Lin Xi's feelings of solitude and disorientation. 

At that moment, was he wandering in some icy expanse? 

"Since I have arrived, I shall thoroughly explore this different world and live life to the fullest." Lin Xi's gaze lingered on the inscription left by the middle-aged man, understanding that perhaps no one could grasp the depths of the man's inner world better than he could. "In that case, I shall first take a good look at your Qingluan Academy." As he repeatedly read the words left by this middle-aged man, his heart, once filled with turmoil, gradually found tranquility. 

In the solemn atmosphere, the one-eyed black-robed instructor concluded the traditional admonition of Qingluan Academy, commanding, "Repeat after me! I shall not betray the glory bestowed upon me by the academy, nor shall I betray the trust of my comrades, even if it costs me my life to protect them!" 

"I shall not betray the glory bestowed upon me by the academy, nor shall I betray the trust of my comrades, even if it costs me my life to protect them!" All the new students echoed this declaration loudly. 

Then, all the instructors and professors led the new students out of the grand circular hall. 

"New students of the Department of Cessation of Conflict, follow me." 

"New students of the Department of Civil Affairs, follow me." 

"New students of the Department of Medicine, follow me." 

"..." 

All other instructors and professors, including Vice Dean Xia, the black-haired man, and Xia Yanbing, departed, leaving only six instructors clad in black robes, like Xia Yanbing, who descended the wooden path and called out loudly in an open area. 

The new students of the Department of Cessation of Conflict felt a chill as they recognized that the one summoning them was the fearsome one-eyed black-robed instructor. Nonetheless, they dared not slack off and promptly followed suit, steeling themselves. 

The six groups of new students were guided to six different halls. The new students of the Departments of Medicine and Spirit Ritual were led to two slightly lower valleys, while the Departments of Engineering, Internal Affairs, Cessation of Conflict, and Civil Affairs were taken to four halls perched at the edge of a cliff. 

The seven-story, tower-like blue hall of the Department of Cessation of Conflict stood at the outermost edge, and upon closer inspection, it appeared quite daunting, with half of its base suspended over the cliff's edge. 

The entrance to this hall was crafted from bronze, adorned with intricate patterns of swords and arrows, flanked by two drum-like structures, each topped with a qilin. At the center of the door hung a polished bronze ring. 

The eyes of all the new students from the Department of Cessation of Conflict widened in astonishment. Though the tower-like blue hall did not seem particularly vast, its interior was far more complex than any of them had imagined—chains suspended various bronze staircases in the air, surrounding them with winding corridors and rooms, all arranged in irregular patterns, rendering the hall's interior a veritable labyrinth.