Elder Gossip's true identity remained an enigma, unsolved to this day. After he demonstrated his true abilities to Su Xinyi, she secretly dispatched investigators to uncover his background, only to find nothing.
If even a family as deeply rooted as Su Xinyi's could find no trace of his past, ordinary people naturally had no hope of learning his secrets.
Of course, if Ling Xian were willing to investigate, he had his methods. The "Primordial Memory Technique" recorded in the Galactic Condensation Series: Four Thousand Eternal Powers (Daos) possessed a range of capabilities, including memory erasure, extraction, and replacement.
Before attempting to use it, however, he observed the mental seal within Elder Gossip's mind with his Ancestral Eye and discovered that one-third of his memories were already sealed.
Forcibly extracting them with the Great Primordial Memory Technique would inevitably cause permanent damage to the cerebral cortex and prefrontal lobe.
Thus, despite his curiosity, he ultimately abandoned the idea.
Still, he had other avenues for uncovering the truth. Principal Qi and Principal Ruichen, as the two founders of Phoenix Ridge, might know something about Elder Gossip's background. But since the old man insisted on remaining anonymous, Ling Xian saw no need to delve further.
In his view, the elder must have his reasons for concealing his true identity. On the surface, the literature teacher always acted foolishly, gossiping and clowning around. This was clearly a carefully crafted persona.
It had to be said, his efforts to conceal his past were truly flawless.
...
After that brief interaction with the teacher, Ling Xian's understanding of the Elder Gossip had undergone a qualitative leap. He had never imagined that his "aesthetic" approach could actually... appeal to middle-aged women.
If Elder Gossip continued to refine this technique, he could easily capture the hearts of all middle-aged women in the world.
Love, after all, was a game of luck. If you happened to be the other person's destiny, the prize would naturally fall into your hands.
But selfish women were truly terrifying!
However, it was almost time for morning exercises...
...
Early spring in Feilong City still carried a chill. Nestled near the Mount Frozen's range, the city experienced winter earlier than Shanghai or Jinzhou.
Experts theorized that the extreme cold might hinder the cultivation progress of Foundation Establishment Stage students, and research into this phenomenon had already begun.
Furthermore, major educational institutions had suspended morning exercises shortly after the start of the semester, citing safety concerns. Ling Xian, naturally, was temporarily exempt from this issue.
Unfortunately, the weather in Feilong City had begun to warm up...
After two classes at Ziyang High School, at precisely 10:15 AM, the morning exercises were about to begin. Students lined up in the auditorium and began marching toward the large sports field behind the school.
Students from Phoenix Ridge arrived and formed their own lines.
As always, Ling Xian stood at the back of the line.
Since the founding of the Tianxu Kingdom, morning exercises had evolved over millennia, becoming increasingly grounded in practical application.
From New Star to Fear of the Unknown...
From Essence of the Sun to Chaos Walk...
From Interstellar Youth to White Tiger Beneath the Moon...
The names of these radio exercises increasingly reflected the prevailing national spirit, celebrating both the nation's flourishing prosperity and the evolutionary journey of its young cultivators.
For example, the nationwide sensation, the 360th set of morning exercises—Realm of Divergence!—its very name embodied Tianxu Kingdom's aspirations for its young cultivators!
Two days earlier, Ling Xian had accidentally damaged Ziyang High School's speaker system. He never expected the school to have its own band!
The scene was filled with gongs, drums, and various musical instruments.
Eight teachers were performing in perfect harmony!
"...The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry."
The sight stirred Ling Xian's heart.
As the dynamic melody began, the physical education teacher, amplified by the artificial band, roared his instructions:
"Attention, everyone! Get ready! Follow the rhythm! Warm-up routine—'Boundary Realm'! Begin timing! One, two, three, four, repeat..."
Though the names of the exercises had changed over the decades, their core principles remained unchanged. After the warm-up, they moved directly into chest exercises and leg kicks. Ling Xian could barely manage these movements. The chest exercises were relatively easy and didn't drain much energy.
But when it came to the leg kicks and jumps, Ling Xian felt the most discomfort.
Moreover, the energy stored within the Double Pins was nearing its limit—these needles had long expired and become unstable. If Ling Xian lost control during a kick or jump, he could genuinely endanger the satellites!
Regional earthquakes, supervolcanic eruptions, massive tsunamis, and cataclysmic storms... these disasters could occur.
To mitigate these risks, he consistently reduced the range of his movements or slowed his pace to a crawl. His morning practice was limited to meditation for this very reason! In the eyes of the physical education teacher... he appeared utterly weak, incompetent, and effeminate.
It was precisely for this reason that Ling Xian was repeatedly used as a negative example to warn students during physical education classes on Phoenix Ridge. During discussions, teachers would single him out for harsh reprimands.
Of course, he fully understood the weight of their words. The teachers longed to see their students stand tall, chests puffed with pride, striving with all their might on the sports field. But if Ling Xian were to truly exert himself, who could withstand the ensuing calamity?
He had no desire to cause any damn casualties!
Under the teachers' disdainful gazes, Ling Xian flawlessly completed the training under pressure.
Brilliant... Everything went smoothly, no one was injured, and no natural disasters occurred.
Lately, even doing calisthenics had become a daunting task. Ling Xian sighed inwardly, Even this is beyond me now?
As a child, Ling Xian possessed astonishing power, yet he maintained perfect control. That was why he never needed the two sealing needles in his head back then. But as he grew older, his cultivation realm and physical prowess soared, while his control waned, making even the most basic tasks increasingly difficult.
Ling Xian mused that if things truly came to that, he would have no choice but to forcibly alter the laws of heaven and earth.
For instance, on the night of the full moon, he would unleash the "Ancient Lunar Divinity Technique" to brainwash the entire nation! Then he would forge a new world order tailored to his needs!
Baguazhang might also be a viable option!
Of course... that annoying floss dance could serve as a last resort...
...