The Urban Cultivation Grandmaster

Chapter 12: Tianhai Certification, Master Daowen

Mu Tian had gone viral—completely viral. From the media to individual users, from major news portals to Weibo and We Chat Moments, Mu Tian’s “First Lesson of the School Year” went viral, dominating the internet. As long as you had internet access, you could see it everywhere. Mu Tian himself was completely absorbed in the ever-expanding analysis of the “Splendor of the Starry Sea” and had no time to spare for anything else. However, his family and friends were taken aback—if the video hadn’t actually appeared right before their eyes, they probably wouldn’t have dared to believe it. “Holy crap, Mu Tian is blowing everyone’s minds! I haven’t seen him in years, and he’s actually reached this level—it’s simply unbelievable. My God, I’ve been telling people I used to sit next to Mu Tian in class, but nobody believed me. This is too surreal. Mu Tian, come on out—@Mu Tian!” This is what Mu Tian’s classmates were excitedly shouting. “So our volunteer teacher in Tianjiang was actually Mu Tian—that’s amazing. @Bro Mu, let me ride your coattails!” “Count me in for riding his coattails!” Not only were his classmates and friends abuzz, but Mu Tian’s parents’ home was also bustling with excitement. They, too, had watched Mu Tian’s first lecture of the semester and were naturally bursting with pride. Seeing their son lecture and impart knowledge before such a large audience—and being recognized and celebrated by so many—filled their hearts with joy. Of course, this was followed by their home phone being flooded with calls from relatives and friends. Friends they hadn’t been in touch with for years and distant relatives they hadn’t seen in decades all sent their blessings through various channels, expressing their warmth—their words brimming with envy and flattery—and their home was practically overrun with visitors. What surprised the Mu couple most was that their superiors from work actually came to visit—and even brought gifts. The scene felt strangely familiar, except that the roles had been reversed: the guests had become the hosts. So, these past few days, the Mu couple have been both troubled and happy. On their way home from the Mu family’s house, Luo Yi turned to her parents and said, “Mom and Dad, I want to go to Tianjiang Cultivator Academy to cultivate and seek the Dao, too.” “Hmm, that’s certainly a good idea. But you’ll have to work even harder—I imagine it won’t be that easy to get into Tianjiang Cultivator Academy these days,” Luo’s father said, shaking his head and tutting. “Hehe, I’ll do my best. I’ll ask Brother Mu Tian to teach me when the time comes.” For several days in a row, the buzz surrounding Mu Tian’s first class of the semester showed no signs of waning—if anything, it was growing even hotter. However, amid all this praise, a few dissenting voices began to emerge. The most criticized aspect was Mu Tian’s claim to speak the Daowen Language. After all, looking across the world, not even the top Daowen Language masters dared to claim they knew it. Mu Tian, being so young, had the audacity to brazenly claim he knew the Daowen Language—and to say it in public, no less. who knows if Mu Tian was just making up Daowen on the spot? After all, even if he were fabricating it, no one would be able to tell the difference. “The first time I watched it, I was deeply moved, but by the second time, I realized it was all a scam. I almost fell for Mu Tian’s trick. Is Daowen really that easy to learn? The whole world can’t master it, yet you—a young guy—have the nerve to claim you’re an expert?” “Exactly, exactly. It’s definitely just hype. I know Daowen too—it’s just a bunch of nonsense rambling, right? No one understands it anyway, so whatever I say goes—I’m the master!!! I have to admit, Mu Tian is really clever. If I’d known, I would’ve done this first; otherwise, I’d be the one who became famous.” “Tianjiang Cultivator Academy really isn’t holding back—they’re hiring hordes of paid commenters like crazy. In my opinion, Mu Tian is nothing special. The authenticity of Daowen is still up in the air, and even his classification of cultivation realms is just regurgitating others’ ideas.” A group of people criticized Mu Tian and Tianjiang Cultivator Academy for hype and a complete lack of integrity—not only did they fabricate Daowen texts, but their theories on cultivation realms were also just regurgitating others’ ideas. These concepts were already common knowledge in the cultivation world; Mu Tian was merely the first to summarize them, which was no big deal. What got those trolls even more worked up was that a well-known figure in the cultivation world also stepped forward to question Mu Tian. “It’s all just a mishmash of bits and pieces from the Southwest. Mu Tian picked up some knowledge about cultivation by osmosis at Tianhai Academy—what’s so strange about that? Is it really worth all this fuss? It’s making me think Huaxia has given birth to a top-tier master or something (nose-picking emoji).” The comments section under this cultivator’s Weibo post was also in an uproar, with both supporters and skeptics weighing in. “I support Master Chu. Who is Mu Tian anyway? He’s just someone hyped up by the media—what’s so special about him?” “Master Chu is absolutely right. This crowd is making a huge fuss over nothing—they’re just a bunch of unsophisticated country bumpkins.” Mu Tian’s supporters weren’t sitting idly by either. “Haha, if it’s that easy, why haven’t you, Master Chu—with your countless disciples—ever broken it down in detail? Whenever students ask, you just beat around the bush, saying things like ‘it can only be understood, not explained.’ My ass! If you’re just jealous of others, just say so!!!” “So sour it’s making my teeth ache. Haha, ‘It can only be understood, not explained’—Master Chu; ‘Simple, clear, and straightforward’—Teacher Mu. The difference is crystal clear. Tsk, tsk, tsk.” “Trash. How dare you trash-talk me, the God of Mu? I’ll go straddle a donkey in the Gobi Desert!” In a big forest, you’ll find all kinds of birds—especially online, where people from every corner of the country gather. There’s a law of the internet: anything can spark an argument. No matter what the issue is, there will always be two sides trading insults. Just as Mu Tian was being praised and celebrated by everyone, skepticism and criticism followed suit. Fueled by certain online trolls, the controversy escalated rapidly, threatening to spread like wildfire. Many newcomers or those unfamiliar with the situation were misled by them and ended up siding with those who questioned and rejected Mu Tian. Consequently, more and more people began to speak ill of Mu Tian and the Tianjiang Cultivator Academy—driven by jealousy, envy, or simply following the crowd... For a time, all manner of unsavory characters ran rampant online. Some even dug up Mu Tian’s past. “I heard Mu Tian did terribly at Tianhai University. Not to mention his academic performance—his cultivation skills were a complete disaster. But how can he talk about cultivation as if he knows it inside and out? Isn’t that a contradiction? Without any cultivation experience, does that mean his views on cultivation are just self-delusion, made up out of thin air? @Tianhai Cultivator Academy” I had merely tagged Tianhai Cultivator Academy on a whim, but to everyone’s utter surprise, the academy’s official Weibo account actually replied. “Mu Tian, male, 22 years old, from Tianjiang, Ganpo Province, is a member of our academy’s first cohort of cultivators. Over the past three years, he has been diligent and hardworking during his time at the academy, demonstrating exceptional natural talent and earning unanimous praise from the entire academy. Although Mu Tian’s self-deprecating introduction is accurate, it is merely a display of his modesty. Mu Tian has consistently been an outstanding representative of the Cultivator Academy. As for his classification and understanding of cultivation realms, many cultivators within the Academy—even those at the Divine Perception Realm—have expressed agreement and admiration after reviewing his work. There is absolutely no question of fabrication. Finally, regarding the authenticity of the Daowen text, our Academy is unable to assist; we can only say that, when it comes to the Daowen text, Mu Tian’s mastery is unmatched globally—there are only a handful who can stand shoulder to shoulder with him!” The official announcement from Tianhai Cultivator Academy instantly sent shockwaves across the world. What a prestigious institution Tianhai Academy is—a sacred land of cultivation in Huaxia! Its statement not only dealt a resounding blow to those trolls but also served as an official endorsement of Mu Tian’s status as a master of Daowen texts!