The Gao Family Village Advanced Vocational Technical School had recently added a brand-new discipline.
Its name was… peculiar.
The News Department.
What was even more peculiar was this—
The instructor was none other than Dao Xuan Tianzun himself.
Enrollment requirements for this department were nothing short of maddening.
First: Presentable appearance.
Special note: "Those who resemble Chen Qianhu are strictly prohibited."
Second: Literate and well-read.
Special note: "Illiterates such as Gao Chuwu are strictly prohibited."
Third: Proper demeanor and articulate speech.
Special note: "Blustering loudmouths like Flat Rabbit are strictly prohibited."
Fourth: Brave yet meticulous, able to endure hardship, and willing to appear in public.
Special note: "Refined young ladies who shy away from strangers and prefer hiding behind others—such as the Third Young Mistress—are strictly prohibited."
The bar was set so high it was practically floating in the clouds.
In an era where illiteracy was the norm, finding someone who met all these requirements was like fishing for phoenix feathers in a henhouse.
Unsurprisingly, very few people applied.
In the end, only nine students enrolled in the first class.
And remarkably—
All nine were women.
Six of them were former courtesans who had reformed their lives.
This naturally required an explanation of Li Daoxuan's policies.
Within the territories under his control, the courtesan trade had effectively become a strictly forbidden industry.
Whenever the Gao Family Village Militia gained de facto control over a region, they would acquire all local brothels and convert them into inns or restaurants. The courtesans' contracts of indenture were publicly burned, restoring their freedom. They were then assigned proper work and assisted in returning to ordinary life.
Some joined the Stars Performing Arts Agency.
Some entered the Textile Factory.
Others became clerks, secretaries, or administrators.
Of course—
Not everyone lived happily ever after.
Some were dissatisfied with their new lives.
And so, they came here.
Their goal was simple:
To become news anchors like Gao Yiye.
At this moment, Production Model No. 3 stood atop the school's rooftop. There, a strange machine—two meters in diameter—had been installed.
Li Daoxuan pointed at it. "Everyone, take a look. This is called a Miniature Camera."
"Miniature?"
The nine female students stared at the massive contraption, faces full of doubt.
Two meters wide… and you call this miniature?
That felt like a stretch.
However, this was Gao Family Village.
If Dao Xuan Tianzun said something was miniature, then it was miniature.
If it didn't seem miniature, then the problem must be their understanding of the word.
Therefore—
Yes.
This was miniature.
Absolutely miniature.
One of the girls asked curiously, "Dao Xuan Tianzun, what does it do?"
Li Daoxuan smiled. "It records everything happening around it."
The nine students exchanged glances, puzzled.
Li Daoxuan reached out and pressed a button. A red indicator light turned on.
"See this light?" he said. "When it's on, the camera is recording. Everything it's pointed at right now will be captured."
At the moment, the camera was aimed at a beautiful courtesan from Puzhou—one who performed but never sold her body. She was strikingly lovely, her waist slender like a willow branch.
Hearing she was being recorded, she grew curious. "Oh? Then can I see what it recorded?"
Li Daoxuan chuckled. "Of course."
As he spoke, a giant golden hand descended from the sky, holding a tablet computer. The tablet had long been linked to the Miniature Camera.
Li Daoxuan shifted his consciousness back to his Production Model avatar inside the box. He lit up the tablet, whose icons were neatly arranged in a single row for ease of use.
With practiced ease, he opened the camera app, pulled up the footage, and played it.
Instantly, the courtesan's smiling face appeared on the screen—radiant, captivating, like a flower in full bloom.
The courtesan gasped. "Oh! It really recorded me! What a miraculous Divine Mirror!"
Li Daoxuan then opened a video-editing program and performed a few simple drag-and-drop operations.
Text appeared over the video.
"See?" he said, laughing. "That's a basic news segment finished. When broadcasting, an anchor simply records narration over the footage, allowing people far away to learn what's happening here."
Realization dawned on the students.
"So the scenes we saw," one exclaimed, "of the Militia fighting the Manchus—those were all recorded like this?"
"Exactly." Li Daoxuan sighed. "But filming battles requires reporters brave enough to go to the front lines. That's why I hoped to recruit some boys for the News Department… yet only girls applied."
The girls exchanged awkward looks.
They really didn't want to go to war.
Just then, the Puzhou courtesan grinned. "Dao Xuan Tianzun, I have an idea. It might attract many young men."
"Oh?" Li Daoxuan raised an eyebrow. "Let's hear it."
Imitating his actions, she turned on the camera and stood before it. Smiling sweetly, she said:
"The Gao Family Village News Studies Program is now recruiting! We have nine wonderful young women, but not a single young man… Oh dear. Are there truly no brave young men willing to protect these ladies?"
She stopped the recording, walked over to the tablet, copied the footage, and edited it with surprising speed—adding text and trimming smoothly.
Li Daoxuan whistled. "Impressive. You learn fast."
She smiled lightly. "I studied the classical arts from childhood. I pick things up quickly and have a photographic memory."
Li Daoxuan gave her a thumbs-up. "Outstanding."
She smiled again. "If we air this on tonight's news, surely many young men will come."
Li Daoxuan burst into laughter. "Absolutely. They'll come in droves."
Then his expression turned serious.
"But their intentions would be impure. They'd come for the nine beautiful young women—not for journalism. On the battlefield, such men would wet their pants and fail to capture anything useful."
He looked at her knowingly. "You wouldn't want classmates who crumble at the sight of danger, would you?"
The courtesan nodded slowly. "I understand."
Li Daoxuan shook his head gently. "No, you didn't make a mistake. You have excellent potential for news work. With your memory and learning ability, you'll go far."
He smiled warmly.
"Study well. Learn more. Become a capable woman. In my domain—women have this opportunity too."