Only at the Mahayana Stage Does the Reversal System Appear - Chapter 43

Chapter 43 How can someone like you criticize Emperor Jiang?

“Kong Li, right? I have some impression of him,” Dean Li said coldly, a stark contrast to his attitude toward Saintess Jingxin.

“Why am I last?” Jiang Li asked, suppressed anger. If he’d gotten second place and failed the mission, he’d have accepted it, but why did you give me last place?

Was it me or you who didn’t have a brain?

“How dare you ask?” Dean Li was amused by Jiang Li’s question. He found Jiang Li’s test paper and cast it into the air with a spell for everyone to see.

“Let everyone see what you wrote!”

Saintess Jingxin had never expected that the dignified Emperor Jiang Ren, whose test paper was mostly about the book he wrote, would actually get last place.

Like everyone else, Saintess Jingxin wanted to see how Jiang Li would respond.

However, after reading it, everyone felt that Jiang Li’s writing was excellent, well-reasoned and concise. He also mentioned many unfamiliar facts, demonstrating his profound knowledge, unlike her own, who only memorized.

Seeing the crowd’s confusion, Dean Li explained, “At first glance, these exams don’t seem to have any problems, but they’re actually quite problematic.”

“Most of the answers to these exams can be found in the books. In other words, as long as you study hard, you won’t do too badly on the test.”

“But I think Kong Li’s version, while not exactly the same as in the book, isn’t wrong either,” the Pure Heart Saint said, voicing the crowd’s doubts.

Dean Li shook his head. “Almost? These books are the life’s work of Emperor Jiang Ren. Every word is a gem, imbued with meaning. How can I just replace them with my own words?”

“I’ve studied Emperor Jiang Ren’s theories my entire life, and even now, rereading ‘The General Principles of Cultivation,’ I’m still learning.”

“With your current abilities, you’re not yet capable of grasping the profound meaning of Emperor Jiang Ren

‘s book. Therefore, I ask you to memorize it by rote. Memorize it first, then understand it.” Dean Li sounded concerned for the students. Jiang Li actually wanted to say, “I wrote ‘The General Principles of Cultivation’ for cultivators who have reached the Golden Core stage. It’s a primer. What insights can a cultivator like you in the Fusion stage have!”

Dean Li continued, “For example, this question asks about the definition of cultivation. The General Outline of Cultivation uses one page to define cultivation, but Kong Li summarized it in a simple sentence. Is that possible?”

Jiang Li asked, “Is it possible that the General Outline of Cultivation was not written for cultivators in the fusion stage, but for cultivators in the Qi training and foundation building stage. It is written in great detail, but can actually be summarized in one sentence?”

“Absolutely impossible!” Dean Li said firmly, “Emperor Jiang is so great. Naturally, the book he wrote is accessible to everyone regardless of age or cultivation level.”

“I have studied Emperor Jiang’s theory for more than a hundred years. Every time Emperor Jiang gave a lecture, I was the one who received it. No one understands Emperor Jiang’s ideas better than me!”

The vice-president standing not far away remained silent. Dean Li would not tolerate anyone saying anything bad about Emperor Jiang. He was very rigid in studying Emperor Jiang’s theory, and had to follow it word for word. He also said that every word of Emperor Jiang’s theory was precious and could not be changed.

“And about this reading comprehension question, you actually said that it was just a sunny day and there was no other meaning. Is that possible? How could what Emperor Jiang wrote not have deep meaning?”

“It had been raining for days, but it happened to be sunny that day. And Emperor Jiang wrote an essay on that day? What Emperor Jiang meant must be that there will be many difficulties in cultivation, just like the rain, but there will always be a day when the rain stops and the sky clears. We will definitely be able to overcome the difficulties and continue to cultivate.”

“This is Emperor Jiang inspiring us!”

Jiang Li frowned and said, “Why must Emperor Jiang have a deep meaning?”

Dean Li frowned and shouted, “How dare you! How dare someone like you criticize Emperor Jiang!”

“Could it be that Emperor Jiang is a sage, so that not a single word he says can be changed, and what he writes must be very meaningful, and his behavior is dignified and impeccable, and yet people are not allowed to discuss it?”

Dean Li said angrily, “Just based on your attitude towards Emperor Jiang, you cannot be admitted!”

“Jiang Renhuang is an honorary graduate of our academy. Someone like you, who went to the same school as Jiang Renhuang, is a disgrace to the academy! You’re bringing shame upon Jiang Renhuang!”

Dean Li radiated the overwhelming might of his Fusion Stage, attempting to force the disrespectful individual before him to yield. The students in the audience were no match for this Fusion Stage pressure, feeling as if a mountain were resting on their backs, their breathing difficult.

The Pure Heart Saint frowned, a hint of rage building within her, attempting to counteract Dean Li’s pressure with the might of her Fusion Stage.

But she quickly realized someone even angrier than her.

“Discrediting the Human Emperor? I think you’re discrediting me!”

Jiang Li’s fury soared, as if an ancient deity danced behind him. His overwhelming power, as if he were channeling the entire universe, was directed solely at Dean Li.

Unable to tolerate Dean Li’s twisted theories any longer, Jiang Li revealed his true face, sending the audience into an uproar.

A massive statue of Jiang Renhuang stood in the academy; who in the room didn’t recognize Jiang Li?

A wave of sneers followed, a blatant slap to Dean Li’s face.

They also thought rote memorization was bad, but Dean Li was the dean, a cultivator at the Fusion Stage. He said rote memorization was the right thing to do, and if they wanted to enroll, they had to memorize.

Now that Jiang Renhuang had publicly slapped himself in the face, countless people were disgusted by Dean Li’s constant mention of Jiang Renhuang.

He was proud.

“When I first came to the academy, the academic atmosphere was open, students were free, and all sorts of academic theories were emerging.”

“But now, it’s become Jiangli Academy. You’re taking my introductory book for Qi training and foundation building as a classic, and you’re still learning something? I’d like to ask you, what have you learned?”

Jiang Li demanded sternly, his expression solemn. He was deeply saddened by the current state of the academy. The dean was the school’s weather vane, and with someone like him in office, one could imagine what the academy would become!

A dead end!

It was ridiculous that he was even giving a lecture.

He only had two days to speak, so what could he possibly cover? Of course, it was to enlighten the students, to encourage them to think deeply about cultivation and to expand their horizons. Judging from the current situation, all those lectures must have been wasted!

Dean Li was sweating profusely. He had never expected that the Kong Li he had been scolding for so long would become Jiang Renhuang.

It was ridiculous that he had said in front of Jiang Renhuang that the writing was not good, and then changed Jiang Renhuang’s original intention, and said that Jiang Renhuang must have a deeper meaning.

“Jiang, Jiang Renhuang, it was all a misunderstanding. I didn’t know you were Kong Li. If it was you, the test paper would naturally get full marks.”

“Dean Li Hengshan, this isn’t about who I am. You haven’t realized your mistake yet, and I’m very disappointed in you!”

Jiang Li ignored Dean Li and walked over to the agitated Vice Dean. “Vice Dean Meng, inform the students that Jiang is giving a lecture.”

Vice Dean Meng nodded quickly, bowed to Jiang Li, and went to inform the students.

Finally, finally, he didn’t have to endure Dean Li’s rigid theories anymore!

That day, Jiang Li sat on his own statue and gave a lecture titled “Authority Cannot Be Trusted.”

(End of Chapter)