He once had a thought and casually started an academy, recruiting some storytellers. For a time, the response was enthusiastic, and even the descendants of several major powers came here.
But twenty years passed, and the academy not only didn't expand at all, but even because Zhao Li wasn't constantly publishing new books, once the novelty wore off, the stories became increasingly monotonous. Without teaching cultivation methods, it was slowly eliminated by the world.
Zhao Li walked through the academy where he had spent most of a year. The Headmaster after him had passed away, and the new Headmaster, seeing the increasingly dilapidated academy, also left. Only a few old Misters remained, and some people who came to listen to stories – they couldn't afford the teahouses, so the academy in the village was barely acceptable.
Although Zhao Li had anticipated this, he still felt a wave of melancholy.
As he experienced more things, he also knew that his past self had been too naive.
In this world, to do anything well, even if it doesn't outwardly require strength, it is still inseparable from the influence of strength behind the scenes, even if it's just mortals fighting for a few acres of farmland, or merchants for a few taels of broken gold.
Zhao Li found a seat and prepared to listen to the old Mister on stage for a while.
Amidst a commotion, several young men dressed in strange clothes and whose strength was only at the Ninth Segment of Dou Force swaggered in with a thuggish air.
"Where's Wei Junjie? If he doesn't pay the protection fee soon, Brother Sun will give the order, and this academy won't be able to stay open."
The leading young man walked up to the old storyteller, casually picking at his nails with one hand, not even glancing at the old Mister.
"Young Man, the Headmaster left, and we can't make decisions. Please, for the sake of the academy telling stories for the village, be merciful and leave this place of recreation."
The old Mister trembled.
Zhao Li found it a little hard to believe that a few Little Guys who weren't even Dou Disciples could make the academy he founded feel like it was facing a formidable enemy.
He got up and walked in front of the young men. Before he could speak, the leader raised an eyebrow, looking impatient:
"Who the hell are you? What do you want? Let me tell you, the Great River Gang of Mang Village isn't to be trifled with."
Zhao Li said in a deep voice:
"I was once the Headmaster of this academy. If you have business, you can come at me."
The young men laughed.
"Hahahaha, this kid says he was the Headmaster of the academy. He can't even lie properly."
"He probably doesn't know that although this academy is trash, it's at least older than him."
"What are you talking about? Beat him up."
"Does he think he's that Old Immortal who founded the academy?"
Someone said something, and everyone suddenly froze.
"He, he..."
One young man looked at the framed portrait in the academy, then looked at Zhao Li, unable to speak clearly.
The leader was very displeased:
"What 'he' this, 'he' that? If you have something to say, say it. Don't babble and embarrass me."
"Brother Mang, look at them, aren't they the same?"
Yelled at by him, the person quickly said.
The person called Brother Mang looked in the direction he pointed and froze.
He was a genuine villager from Mang Village, and he had heard his Father brag countless times about how he met an immortal when he was young and was able to embark on the path of cultivation, which is why he rose to prominence in Mang Village.
He only treated it as a joke. After all, he could see what the academy was like; there was no sign of an immortal.
Now he saw the person in the painting alive, and it was a painting from twenty years ago. He and his friends were stunned.
"You, you... Im- Immortal, spare our lives."
At their age, having the Ninth Segment of Dou Qi Stage meant they could potentially become Dou Disciples, or even Dou Masters in the future. They were not ordinary in the village, and ordinary people couldn't be delinquents.
Zhao Li didn't expect that he would have a day where he was mocked by delinquents, and it was even when he was telling the truth.
As the attitudes of the young men changed drastically, the old Mister also saw the person in the painting and recognized Zhao Li, his face full of excitement:
"Academy Master, you've finally returned! We've had a hard time these past years!"
Under his tearful complaints, Zhao Li learned about the changes over the years.
As he expected, the academy was still the same academy, the stories were still those stories, and the way they were told was still the same way, equally captivating and equally inspiring.
But without him at the academy, the various powers naturally wouldn't let their descendants waste time here listening to useless stories for nothing. When they withdrew, the people listening to stories became ordinary folk. Although they also had envy and fantasies, they were ultimately firmly trapped by reality and couldn't take a single step forward.
They needed an opportunity, a chance to turn fantasy into reality. Without it, stories could only remain stories.
Zhao Li sighed deeply. He casually dismissed these people and didn't linger at the academy. If there were any changes in the future, he would leave it to Yun Shan.
After he left, the legend of the Old Immortal of Mang Village once again stirred up the mundane world and gradually spread to the ears of several powers. Finally, they all went to Cloud Mist Mountain. No one knew what happened, but the originally dilapidated Jade Capital was renewed because of this...
The name of one person had reached such a level. This was the reason everyone wanted to become a strong person.
Zhao Li didn't know about these things. After leaving the academy, he didn't return directly to the Eastern Region but hurried towards the Black Corner Region. Since he was back on the Northwestern Continent, he could try many things he had thought about before.
The Black Corner Region is extremely vast. Due to its special terrain, it is almost the most chaotic area on the Northwestern Continent.
In the "Black Corner Region," there are no laws or regulations, only one Law, the Law of the Jungle. It is clearly a miniature reflection of the Continent.
Zhao Li thought about the description of the Black Corner Region in his memory. At this time, Jia Nan Academy was only slightly famous and did not yet have the reputation that even some small families in the Central Plains region would flock to in the future.
Zhao Li didn't care about this. His purpose for this trip was not Jia Nan Academy, but the Ancient Emperor's Cave Dwelling, or rather, the Old Dragon Emperor.
Of course, if the Fallen Heart Flame had already accumulated enough energy by now, he wouldn't mind absorbing and refining it to help his cultivation.
"And the Heavenly Demon Puppet. Since I'm here, I should definitely go take a look at Demonic Flame Valley."
As Zhao Li walked alone through the Black Corner Region, he also planned out what he needed to do on this trip. He completely ignored the greedy or mocking stares from others; this was the confidence that came from his own strength.
Perhaps his behavior was too conspicuous in this chaotic region, as a merchant came over to greet him:
"Is this your first time in the Black Corner Region, young man?"
Seeing Zhao Li nod, the portly merchant continued:
"No wonder! Young man, let me give you a word of advice. Although this Black Corner Region is full of allure, with high-grade cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, and all sorts of divine weapons, armor, medicine cauldrons, medicinal ingredients, high-grade pills, and so on, things that are hard to find outside, it's not like the outside world. Even a Dou Emperor expert, if they lack cunning and strategy, can fall here."
Zhao Li didn't pay it any mind and asked directly:
"Just say it, what do you want?"
The胖 merchant seemed not to have expected this young man, who looked like an easy target, to be so direct. He was a bit awkward, but after a moment, he smiled and praised him:
"It seems you're naturally suited for this place, young man. Nothing falls from the sky here. If you want to live longer and better, you can only be like you, constantly vigilant..."
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