Seeing Li Qingchen bow, Su Nan was taken aback and found himself speechless.
Are they praising his son, or now praising him?
The power of the essays by the Literary Emperor is too great for scholars.
"Mr. Li, you don't have to do this. Just teach normally, but be sure to knock some sense into him from time to time."
"Just don't let Chang Qing develop an overly arrogant personality."
Su Nan had suffered from this twice, so he emphasized it several times.
You couldn't blame him for his caution; time was indeed running out.
It's been ten thousand years since the fall of the last Great Emperor on the Cangling Continent, and the suppression of the heavens is gradually dissipating, with a new imperial path taking shape.
Just as every sect on the continent is selecting heirs and candidates, he too must train a leader to carry the Su family flag.
It's not that the talents of his eldest and second sons are weak, just that their personalities are too extreme, which is not suitable.
So, he has high hopes for Chang Qing!
Lack of strong qualification is no issue, as the Su family has myriad divine medicines to aid him.
Lack of divine techniques isn't a concern either, as he can also find the finest teachers from all over the world for him.
His greatest fear is that Su Changqing's personality becomes like that of his elder brothers, which would render all his efforts in vain.
"I understand the wish of the Su Patriarch."
Li Qingchen nodded, "Indeed, for someone like Chang Qing, frequent correction is needed; he must not become too conceited."
He had witnessed Su Changqing's talent before, and Su Nan's concerns were quite normal.
Possessing extraordinary talent and also having the background of an imperial family, few would remain true to their heart.
The Su Patriarch's method of confining with rules is a marvellous strategy.
"Then in the next two years, I entrust this task to you, sir."
Su Nan bowed solemnly.
"Rest assured."
Li Qingchen looked toward the study below, a smile appearing on his face,
"I will make sure Chang Qing develops a character of diligent study and vigorous striving."
...
In the study.
Su Changqing had no knowledge of the agreement reached between Su Nan and Li Qingchen.
At this moment, he was completely absorbed in the book, filled with excitement.
"Cangling Continent, five regions, ten kingdoms, this world! There are Immortals here!"
Su Changqing's eyes shone with excitement.
His original goal was to become a scholar, take the imperial examination, achieve the top scholar status, and while improving the family's condition, enjoy the power of being an official.
But once he learned there were Immortals in this world who could cultivate, the imperial examinations were completely forgotten.
For someone who had awakened memories of a previous life, nothing was more important than cultivation.
And in the book, he learned that this world was vast, exceedingly so.
In the five regions and ten kingdoms, there were numerous sects, countless noble families, and the path of cultivation was varied and complex.
Martial arts, Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Demonic cultivation, Sword cultivation, and beyond the five regions and ten kingdoms, there was even a Demon Court!
Even the simple written records made Su Changqing feel the overwhelming presence of swords and shadows.
This had a fatal attraction for him.
"I must find a way to become a cultivator in the future!"
Upon entering, Li Qingchen smiled softly at his words and said:
"If you wish to become a cultivator, then you need to study well."
Su Changqing was startled, but upon seeing it was the Scholar, he breathed a sigh of relief and asked curiously: "Sir, can studying also make one a cultivator?"
"Of course."
Li Qingchen chuckled lightly: "Through study, you can cultivate an aura of righteousness. A single word can change the color of heaven and earth, making all beings bow."
As he spoke, he glanced at Su Changqing.
Not long ago, Su Changqing had triggered a myriad of brilliant rays from the Literary Emperor's sculpture, bestowing a surging righteous aura.
If Su Changqing had been present, he would probably have achieved Foundation Establishment, and a nine-fold one at that.
But there was no rush, as the righteous aura was absorbed by the Literary Emperor's sculpture.
Whenever Su Changqing goes, that righteous aura will be there for him.
"I wonder how much righteous aura you can accumulate before you go to Central State, whether you can achieve sanctification in one step?"
Seemingly thinking of an amusing scene, Li Qingchen smiled slightly.
"Sir, if studying is so powerful, why do people still often say reading is useless?" Su Changqing asked, puzzled.
"Reading, if done blindly, indeed is useless."
Li Qingchen sat at the desk, poured himself a cup of tea, and drank it all,
"But if you read with understanding, then all else is inferior, and only reading is supreme."
Su Changqing pondered over these words, then earnestly nodded after a while,
"Makes sense."
Whether or not it made sense, he had no choice, as the only path to cultivation he could access now was through studying.
"I must study hard and see if I can cultivate righteous aura."
Su Changqing made a silent resolution.
"Su Changqing, are you willing to become my student?"
Li Qingchen poured another cup of tea, his tone turning somewhat serious as he asked.
Su Changqing, not being foolish, saw the formality and immediately knelt, lifting the tea from the desk above his head with both hands,
"Please, Master, take this tea!"
"Hahaha, good!"
Li Qingchen laughed heartily at the gesture, in high spirits, took the tea, and drank it all.
Then he looked at Su Changqing, pondered for a moment, and asked: "Chang Qing, since you've reached adulthood, have you taken a courtesy name?"
Since he had become his disciple, a disciple's gift was certainly necessary.
The Confucian Immortal bestowing a courtesy name was an extraordinary honor in the literary world, also bringing the Confucian Immortal's fortune, making all endeavors prosper.
"My parents are both people of the mountains, not highly educated, and haven't given me a courtesy name yet."
Su Changqing shook his head honestly.
Li Qingchen's mouth twitched slightly, quite a description for the people of the mountains.
A peak of Quasi-Emperor, the patriarch of an imperial family, it was probably the first time someone had been described this way?
However, with that in mind, his gaze shifted as he picked up a large brush from the desk and wrote two characters in the air, then pointed toward Su Changqing's forehead.
An invisible glow fell into Su Changqing's body.
It was the courtesy name he gave Su Changqing, also a protective charm bestowed by the Confucian Immortal.
"From now on, your name is Chang Qing, with the courtesy name Zhi Yu."
Su Changqing heard this, delightedly bowed: "Thank you, teacher, for the courtesy name."
Zhi Yu, great wisdom yet seeming simple, though just a name given by a Scholar, it was already a high evaluation.
But he was unaware that at the moment Li Qingchen bestowed the name, a young man far away at the Sacred Academy looked up with a changed expression.
He gazed up beneath the longevity plaque of the Wentang Hall master, seeing two unremarkable small characters added.
"This is..."
'Shu Han' stood up abruptly, "Master has taken a junior brother?"
Under Li Qingchen's longevity plaque, there were originally four small lines.
Bo Gu, Yin Feng, Shu Han, representing the three disciples accepted by the Confucian Immortal.
But now, after those three lines, appeared another, Zhi Yu.
"I have a junior brother now!"
Shu Han was first delighted, then suddenly startled, "Zhi Yu... this name..."
He frowned, not because the name was bad, but it was too significant.
Someone whom the Confucian Immortal regards as possessing great wisdom yet seeming simple, what kind of wisdom and insight should they have?
"It seems junior brother may have some trouble; Master Wei of the White Deer Academy has always been at odds with the teacher."
"He recently also took a young disciple and gave the name 'Ling Si', signifying quick wit, also related to 'wisdom'.
"But compared to 'Zhi Yu,' 'Ling Si' is far inferior, and it's a disciple newly accepted by the teacher, this..."
As Shu Han thought of this, commotion came from outside the Sacred Academy.