C15 The Combination of the Era

"Mr. Faang... Are you saying that Faang Wei can now absorb the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth?"

Tung Peirong's voice broke, his throat quivering with emotion.

"Ah?"

Faang Zhengyi, taken aback by Tung Peirong's reaction, furrowed his brow in confusion.

"Didn't you mean that every cloud has a silver lining when you said that Wei could absorb the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth?"

"Uh..."

Tung Peirong chuckled sheepishly, realizing that his interpretation of 'every cloud has a silver lining' was quite different from Faang Zhengyi's.

But now it seemed that Faang Zhengyi's version of events was even more astonishing.

After all these eleven years, how could Faang Wei suddenly start absorbing the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth? It was truly baffling.

"Mr. Faang, can Wei genuinely absorb the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth?"

Tung Peirong asked from across the table, his voice tinged with hesitation and underlying concern.

The ability to absorb the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth, coupled with the sudden epiphany that brought the Mimicry Fist cultivation method to his mind, hinted at something extraordinary.

With the nine great academies watching closely, Faang Wei's newfound strength was certainly welcome. However, its emergence at such a critical time for Everdawn Academy raised suspicions.

"Could it be the result of some drug, or perhaps a plot by the nine great academies? There's a rumor about a drug called Illusion Medicine that induces hallucinations. Could it be..."

Tung Peirong's suspicions were vague, and he frowned, lost in thought.

Faang Zhengyi, on the other hand, smiled reassuringly and gestured dismissively.

"There's no need for concern. I have solid evidence."

With that, Faang Zhengyi brought up a video from a hidden camera in the office, showing a clip for review.

It captured the moment Faang Wei was speaking on the sofa earlier that morning, unaware he was being recorded, his demeanor completely natural and unguarded.

Upon watching the footage, Tung Peirong couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

"It's just too incredible to believe!"

"Who would have thought that Wei could experience such an amazing adventure?"

"I noticed today in class that Wei seemed unusually alert. Afterward, he grasped the new concepts and integrated them faster than ever before. I never imagined it was due to this!"

Tung Peirong's face beamed with delight. Having watched Faang Wei grow up, he was well aware that her potential was boundless, and naturally, he was thrilled.

"Was he particularly engaged in class today?"

Faang Zhengyi asked with genuine curiosity, offering a piece of chocolate.

"Absolutely!"

Tung Peirong accepted the chocolate, grinning and giving a thumbs up.

"Today's lesson was on the internal and external elements. It's easy for people to get mixed up if they just try to memorize them mechanically. But Wei came up with a catchy mnemonic for us —"

"Gold, wood, water, fire, earth, more handsome than Wu Yanzu!"

"Did a lot of the students manage to remember it right away?"

"Gold, wood, water, fire, earth, more handsome than Wu Yanzu."

Faang Zhengyi repeated to himself, noting the rhyme, but then he wondered—

"Who is this Wu Yanzu?"

"I'm not sure myself."

Tung Peirong scratched his head, clearly at a loss.

"He's probably a star that's popular with their generation. You know how kids these days love their celebrities."

"Oh..."

Faang Zhengyi nodded in understanding.

"Perhaps he's from the Mortal World. In the Moonshadow Lands, we prioritize strength above all else. Good looks don't count for much; otherwise, I could dominate the nine great academies on looks alone."

"Uh..."

Tung Peirong's face twisted with embarrassment, thinking to himself that while Faang might not be able to dominate the academies with his looks, his brazen confidence might just do the trick.

"Ahem!"

Suddenly remembering the matter at hand, Tung Peirong refocused.

"Anyway, Mr. Faang, if Wei had such a stroke of luck, it's not surprising that the Mimicry Fist could be transmitted into his mind. By the way, do you recall who that elder was?"

"It seems a bit improper that we've benefited so much from him without even knowing his name, doesn't it?"

"That makes sense," Faang Zhengyi said earnestly, though he scratched his head while speaking, looking somewhat troubled. "But I've actually forgotten the name of that senior. I'll have to dig through some old records later..."

"Our Everdawn Academy's archives are a bit thin, so it'll take some effort."

"Okay, okay. I'll also do some asking around when I get a chance."

Tung Peirong nodded in agreement.

"Just make sure you don't reveal anything about Wei's situation," Faang Zhengyi cautioned.

"Rest assured, Mr. Faang, I'm well aware of the stakes," Tung Peirong replied with a look of certainty, as something else dawned on him. "However, today I noticed that Wei seems capable of controlling spiritual energy. When he was practicing Mimicry Fist, I'm certain he was channeling the internal five elements and generating Internal Energy."

"Wei's talent is considerable. He might indeed become the bridge between cyborgs and cultivators for a new era!"

Faang Zhengyi sighed softly, his gaze drifting out the window to the sun-drenched landscape. Maybe the dawn he had been longing for was truly on the horizon.

"In any case, let's keep this under wraps for now. I'll remind him later to avoid using spiritual energy unnecessarily. We don't want to startle the snake in the grass."

"I get it. I'll be discreet on my end too. He's one of my students, after all. Sometimes a few extra words can smooth things over," Tung Peirong acknowledged. The idea of a cyborg absorbing the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth was unheard of. A cultivator not only needed talent but also had to be physically intact; otherwise, they couldn't properly absorb spiritual energy, leading to life-threatening blockages in their meridians.

For Faang Wei, being a cyborg meant he was inherently unable to absorb and transform the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth. His current extraordinary circumstances were nothing short of miraculous.

Perhaps it was a divine favor bestowed upon Everdawn Academy. Eleven years ago, the heavens took away Faang Wei's talent, and now, eleven years later, it seemed to have been returned—and possibly enhanced.

"Also, regarding the complete Mimicry Fist cultivation method, can I say you were the one who taught it to me? Wei wasn't the initiator, but we need a plausible explanation. Just make sure you don't accidentally reveal the truth later on."

Tung Peirong, upon reflecting on the matter, realized that since he couldn't risk exposing Faang Wei, he had no choice but to implicate Mr. Faang instead.

"No worries."

Faang Zhengyi was unfazed, thumbing through the seemingly complete Mimicry Fist manuscript. The more he examined it, the more it alarmed him.

Cyborgs could achieve the same results as cultivators by integrating martial skills. For cultivators, it was much simpler; they could normally practice the fist techniques designed for cyborgs.

Techniques like Harmonious Fist and Mimicry Fist, while beneficial for ordinary people to strengthen and condition their bodies, were typically beneath the notice of cultivators.

When he initially founded Everdawn Academy, he had selected these four fist techniques as the core curriculum after extensive research, thereby laying the foundation for the academy's legacy.

Now, with cultivators threatening to dismantle a century's worth of dedication, his resolve only hardened.

He was determined not to surrender, especially now with Wei by his side, his resolve was even stronger.