Li Baoping, leading her steed, ambled past a series of memorial archways towards the riverbank.

The Chen clan, renowned as paragons of Confucianism, were said to have perfected the art of constructing archways. Both the Shaoguang Academy and the Fanlu Academy were among the seventy-two Confucian Academies, and moreover, the two closest to each other in the vast expanse of the world. The Fanlu Academy could almost be considered the Chen clan’s family school, with the majority of its venerable masters bearing the Chen surname.

The red-clad woman, with a small wine gourd at her waist and a narrow talisman-bearing blade at her hip, now possessed considerable renown within these two academies. This was primarily attributed to her unwavering stubbornness and her extraordinary patience during debates. While she didn’t necessarily inspire animosity, she certainly caused her fair share of vexation. Consequently, both Shaoguang and Fanlu Academies had become familiar with this young woman from the Cliff Academy. Although the Cliff Academy of the Great Sui dynasty in Baoping Continent held a certain reputation, this was largely due to its newly appointed headmaster, Cui Chan, the one who had betrayed the lineage of scholars and committed the heinous act of deceiving and betraying his master, rather than the Cliff Academy producing a multitude of promising scholars or the younger generation of virtuous gentlemen propounding any earth-shattering theories. Therefore, there was no small amount of dissent within the Confucian community regarding the Cliff Academy’s return to the ranks of the seventy-two.

Cui Chan, the “Embroidered Tiger,” was beyond reproach when he served as the Grand Preceptor of the Great Li Kingdom, capable of uniting an entire continent to resist the demon hordes. However, his appointment as the headmaster of an academy was met with considerable criticism.

Li Baoping had previously journeyed alone through the Central Earth Continent, visiting several major dynasties such as the Great Duan and Shaoyuan, all of which were urgently preparing for war. They were mobilizing mountain-peak cultivators and elite troops to the major coastal battle lines of the Central Earth Continent. The various schools of thought and Qi Refiners displayed their unique abilities, with mountain-sized ferries rising from the ground, blotting out the sky. Their passage could cause a city’s daylight to abruptly turn into twilight. Legend had it that the ancestral founders of various sects had made their presence known, but the sages of the Confucian Temple, including the Supreme Sage, the Sage of Rites, the Second Sage, the leader of the Confucian Temple, and the founding saints of other Confucian lineages, had yet to appear. In the end, only one vice-leader of the Confucian Temple and three Grand Sacrificial Officers were seen tirelessly traveling across several continents, frequently appearing in landscape journals, reporting their whereabouts and pronouncements.

In truth, Li Baoping wasn’t entirely alone in her travels. The young Qi Refiner named Xu Bai still preferred to follow her from afar. However, after being teleported thousands of miles away on two separate occasions by Li Xisheng’s use of the “Shrinking Earth” technique, this young man, hailed as “Xu Xian” and one of the potential candidates for the Ten Young Masters, had learned his lesson. Aside from occasionally traveling with Li Baoping on the same ferry, he would never reveal himself or even approach her. Upon boarding, he would never seek her out, preferring to stand foolishly at the bow of the ship, yearning for a distant glimpse of the red-clad maiden.

During a previous intercontinental ferry journey to the Southern Suopo Continent, Li Baoping couldn’t resist finding him and asking, “Xu Bai, has someone matched you with a partner? Otherwise, what do you like about me? What must I do for you to stop liking me?”

Xu Bai’s face flushed crimson as he answered the three questions in succession, vehemently denying that he had been matched with anyone. He claimed to love everything about her and would only stop liking her if he liked another girl.

In this world of cultivation, there were indeed blessed individuals favored by the heavens, such as the female Daoist Huang Ting from Tongye Continent and He Xiaoliang from Baoping Continent.

Now, among the Ten Young Masters, there was also the young man from the Azure Underworld who had achieved a breakthrough to the Leaving Form realm in one step, and the swordsman Liu Cai, who single-handedly possessed two Dao Ancestor gourds.

Among the potential candidates for the Ten Young Masters, Xu Bai of the Central Earth and Ma Kuxuan of Baoping Continent were particularly blessed in terms of good fortune, as if opportunities from the Great Dao were falling from the sky.

The Ten Young Masters and the potential candidates had largely experienced varying degrees of tribulations from the Great Dao. Even the youngest “Chun Qing,” the sixteen-year-old maiden from the Bamboo Sea Grotto Heaven, the only direct disciple of the Azure God Mountain Mistress, had already participated in several battles upon being ranked. Xu Bai, however, was different from Ma Kuxuan in that he had no record of ever taking action. Perhaps the only two times he had “clashed” with others, his luck, or lack thereof, led him to directly encounter Li Baoping’s elder brother. Fortunately, Xu Bai harbored no competitive spirit, and after suffering two consecutive defeats in his initial foray into the world, his state of mind remained unperturbed. He only prayed to never encounter that Confucian scholar again.

Xu Bai was currently in the Fanlu Academy, and the young man’s only question was the identity of Li Baoping’s so-called junior master. Why did Li Baoping seem so certain that when she met her junior master, she would turn Xu Xian into Xu Non-Immortal? At that moment, the red-clad woman seemed to transform into a little girl, incredibly adorable. Xu Bai felt that even being beaten up by her junior master would be worth it.

Xu Bai had always been uneasy about the “Xu Xian” nickname inexplicably bestowed upon him, and he dared not take it seriously.

After all, the poems and swords of the White Immortal, the lyrics of the Su Immortal, the talismans of the Yu Immortal, and the chess of the Zheng Immortal were all truly ethereal and unparalleled. Xu Bai completely failed to understand why he had gained a “Immortal” suffix.

Li Baoping led her horse along the riverbank, about to raise the sword-nurturing gourd for a drink, but quickly put it down.

Li Baoping blinked. Her teacher’s teacher had arrived.

The old scholar still employed his trick of illusion, softly chuckling, “Little Baoping, don’t make a sound, don’t make a sound. I have a considerable reputation here. If my whereabouts are discovered, I might have trouble escaping.”

He recalled the old days, when he couldn’t refuse their earnest invitations to impart knowledge and preach doctrines in this pure Confucian Chen clan, causing countless young women to lose their hairpins and handkerchiefs, and countless scholars to argue until their faces were red over a seat.

Li Baoping spared the formal bow, simply calling out “Grandmaster” in her heart for the first time.

The old scholar beamed, pleased with this aspect of Little Baoping, unlike Mao Xiaodong, who adhered to even more formalities than her teacher.

The old scholar casually asked with a smile, “Little Baoping, what book have you been reading lately?”

Li Baoping replied, “I’ve been reading a Buddhist scripture that begins with the Great Wisdom Bodhisattva asking the Buddha one hundred and eight questions.”
Replacing it with another Confucian context, it is estimated that Master Confucius would immediately have a headache upon hearing it, but the old scholar would smile knowingly. An offhand question would bring unexpected joy, and he would stroke his beard and nod, saying, “Little Treasure Bottle has chosen a good book, a good scripture, a good Buddhist teaching. The Buddha still feels that too few questions were asked, and asks even more in return, asking until almost everything about heaven and earth has been discussed. One of the Buddha’s intentions is to eliminate relative dharma, which is actually similar in effect to the Doctrine of the Mean advocated by our Confucian school. Among our scholars, the one who resonates most with this is probably that sage of Shujian Lake that your little uncle interacted with. I specially assigned a course of study to your teacher and your senior brothers, specifically to answer the ‘Heavenly Questions’. Later, at the Sword Qi Great Wall, your Left Senior Brother deliberately used this to make things difficult for your Little Uncle.”

Li Baoping nodded gently. In recent years, she had delved into Buddhist logic, the sophistry of the Logicians, and the Legalist arts. The ancestral master of her own lineage, the Literary Saint before her, had also mentioned in detail the “Rectification of Names” to define names to refer to reality. Of course, Li Baoping devoted herself to studying even more deeply. In short, they were all “quarrelling” treasures, the more the merrier. However, the more Li Baoping read, the more doubts she had, and she couldn’t even win arguments with herself. So, she seemed to become more and more silent, but in fact, it was because she was talking to herself, asking and answering herself, too much in her heart.

“Reading the books of sages and worthies naturally leads to understanding of Chan.”

The old scholar sighed, “Your teacher didn’t used to tell you these words, because you were too young at the time, and your reading wasn’t deep enough, so it was easy to get distracted. For example, ‘Sweeping the courtyard should be clean inside and out, and the doors should be personally checked before locking.’ When children hear this, they just think it’s tiring, but when old people hear it, they feel it’s the ultimate truth, feeling that the incense will continue, and that farming and reading will be passed down, and that the greatest knowledge is in everyday life. The same person, the same principle, will feel completely different when they hear it when they are young and when they are old. When one’s reading is deep enough, one can compare and contrast, see the writing implicitly, and derive meaning from the words.”

As he spoke, the old scholar took out a jade bracelet from his sleeve, placed it in his palm, and asked with a smile, “Have you seen anything?”

Li Baoping seemed to realize something and nodded, “It’s the same principle as the square seal being the most precious among the seals on the mountain. Existence or non-existence is uncertain, but certainty begets all dharmas.”

Human world’s mutton fat jade, carved into a jade bracelet, is so expensive and rare precisely because it needs to give up so much, and ultimately get a blank flavor for people to see.

As for the seals, the value of oval and freeform seals is far lower than that of square seals. The reason lies in “not giving up”.

However, in this process, it also involves a “divine seed” related to the material of the jade bracelet and the square seal itself. It’s just that Little Treasure Bottle’s thoughts jumped and went straight to a more distant place, so it spared the old scholar a lot of worries.

The old scholar suddenly turned his head and asked with a smile, “Xu Bai, what do you think?”

In the distance behind, a young man quickly appeared, first cupping his hands to apologize, and then standing up straight and cupping his hands again, answering respectfully, “This junior doesn’t know.”

Xu Bai came from a remote small country in the Central Earth Divine Continent. His ancestors had been mortal teachers guarding the Wishing Bridge. Although Xu Bai had studied the books of sages and worthies diligently since he was young, he was still inevitably unfamiliar with worldly affairs. This time, he mustered up the courage to travel far alone, and he made many jokes along the way.

The old scholar looked at the young man in the green robe and scholar’s scarf. Fortunately, this kid is not a Confucian scholar yet, he is still honest and trustworthy. Otherwise, if he dared to dig at the roots of my Literary Saint lineage, the old scholar would jump up and spit in your face. Heaven and earth are great, but principle is the greatest. Age and seniority should be put aside first. The old scholar was in a great mood. Good kid, no wonder you are Xu Xian, a devoted lover. The direct and indirect disciples of my Literary Saint lineage are indeed not lacking in good marriages. It’s just that they have all put their efforts into scholarship. How can the Ritual Saint lineage and the Asia Saint lineage compare? As for the lineage of Old Fu, forget about it. It’s more like they should be apprenticing and humbly seeking knowledge from my Literary Saint lineage.

Li Baoping sighed, there was no other way, it seemed she had to call her elder brother to help. If her elder brother could do it, he should just throw this Xu Bai back to his hometown.

The old scholar quickly raised his palm in a gesture of pressing down, signaling Little Treasure Bottle not to rush to use her trump card. With the ancestral master here, what was there to fear?

The old scholar beckoned to Xu Bai. After the young man cautiously walked to the old scholar’s side, he cupped his hands and saluted again, saying, “This student Xu Bai, pays respects to Literary Saint Senior.”

The old scholar nodded with a smile and asked, “Xu Bai, have you heard of a rigorous scholar renowned throughout the world, named Mao Xiaodong?”

Xu Bai nodded and said, “When I was young, during my elementary education, my school teacher compiled a list of books for me before he traveled far, listing sixteen books for me to read repeatedly. One of these books was the annotated works of the Mountain Cliff Academy’s Mountain Chief Mao. This student read it carefully and gained a lot.”

Speaking of this, Xu Bai was a little embarrassed. His school teacher only spoke of reputation, after all, the difference between a school teacher and an academy chief was like heaven and earth. In the end, the young man from a small place was still simple-hearted. The difference between rich and poor, the division between mountain and plain, still existed. Therefore, in Xu Bai’s view, no matter how much he respected and admired the teacher who enlightened him, his scholarship was ultimately not as great as that of an academy sage.

The old scholar was amused and didn’t reveal the secret to the young man. He just communicated with Little Treasure Bottle telepathically, “If I’m not mistaken, this Xu Bai’s school teacher is that ‘Xu Lord of Zhaoling’, a well-deserved great Confucian scholar. However, although both the teacher and the student share the surname Xu, they don’t have much familial relationship.”

Li Baoping understood in her heart.

That “Xu Lord” who was crowned with the title of “Sage of Characters” by the people, was not a worthy sage enshrined in the Confucian Temple. However, he was an old scholar that her little uncle admired very much back then.

The old scholar smiled, “Your school teacher has a unique perspective. He selected sixteen classics for you to study diligently. Among them is Mao Xiaodong’s ‘Collected Explanations of Cui’, which can see the foundation of Cui Chan’s scholarship, and also Mao Xiaodong’s annotations, which means that you can see the legalism, arts, and momentum all at once.”

It was hard to imagine that a younger brother who specialized in writing books to annotate his elder brother’s scholarship, Mao Xiaodong and Cui Dongshan, would be so competitive back then in the Mountain Cliff Academy.

The old scholar asked, “Little Treasure Bottle mentioned that scripture earlier, I heard that you read many books and that you read very diversely, have you seen it?”

Xu Bai nodded and said, “I have read it, but I read more and think less. I can remember it, but I can’t understand it.”

The old scholar casually said, “Deciding to become a Buddha is like scattering dust in the wind, what difficulties are there?”
Xu Bai blurted out, “Once embarking on the path of cultivation, it is like a lone leaf adrift in the vast sea, without hesitation.”

The old scholar nodded, “Upon returning to the Central Divine Continent, you may visit the Academy of Rites and inquire with Mao Xiaodong about the enigmas within his *Collected Explanations*. A young man, having traveled so far, should not solely indulge in sightseeing.”

Xu Bai’s face flushed slightly, and he nodded vigorously.

The old scholar then spoke privately to Xu Bai, conveying his thoughts through heart-speech: “My little Baoping, unless one is blind, would find you agreeable. It would be strange otherwise. However, the world is currently unstable, and young people must cultivate themselves, manage their families, and govern the realm. Matters of the heart are beautiful, but need not be rushed. Since you currently lack a solid literary foundation, there is no need to be anxious. Upon arriving at the Academy of Rites, study whatever you fancy. If you deem a certain master or instructor knowledgeable, learn their most prized skills. Do not be constrained by sectarian boundaries. Later, when you encounter your former teacher, you may then decide whose true disciple you will become.”

Xu Bai hesitated for a moment before asking, “Venerable Sage of Literature, could it be that my elementary tutor is the legendary ‘Lord Xu’?”

During his early studies in the village school, his teacher enjoyed using textual analysis to impart knowledge. Before his journey, he recommended books to Xu Bai, favoring those related to etymology.

Yet, even with such inclinations, if not for the Sage of Literature’s words today, Xu Bai would never have considered associating a simple village schoolteacher with “Lord Xu.”

The old scholar felt somewhat helpless. Why were young people so difficult to deceive these days? Each one was as cunning as a monkey. They certainly did not possess the simple nature of his personal disciple.

However, since Xu Bai had already guessed the truth, the old scholar could not fabricate a lie. Furthermore, the matter was of great importance, and even the most unpalatable truths had to be spoken plainly. Otherwise, according to the old scholar’s original plan, he would have secretly arranged for someone to protect Xu Bai on his journey to a certain academy in the Central Continent, seeking shelter for him. Although Xu Bai possessed great talent, the current world was treacherous and filled with unpredictable events. Xu Bai ultimately lacked experience. Regardless of whether or not the young man belonged to his lineage, since they had crossed paths, he should provide as much protection as possible.

Especially that “Lord Xu,” because of the connection between his scholarship and the Sage’s given name, had become a target for the great demons of the desolate lands. While the old teacher could easily protect himself, it would be unfortunate if Xu Bai were to cause any unforeseen circumstances. It would be utterly inappropriate!

Therefore, the old scholar nodded and said, “Indeed, he is the ‘Number One Etymologist in the World,’ Lord Xu. Hence, you must be even more cautious now. The throne demons of the desolate lands, perhaps even the Great Ancestor of Mount Tuoyue himself, will sooner or later seek trouble with your teacher. I previously instructed you to go to the Academy of Rites not just for studies. Now, the demonic clans of the desolate lands are launching all sorts of plots, both overt and covert, without the slightest restraint. It is entirely possible that there will be a conspiracy specifically targeting Xu Bai, and then Lord Xu. Having heard all this, you may worry, you may ponder, but do not be overly afraid. I, your teacher Lord Xu, who for whatever reason has not revealed his identity to you, and Chen Chun’an, we old fellows are still here, after all.”

Xu Bai bowed in gratitude.

Xu Bai had always been unwilling to visit the Confucian sages of various academies in the capacity of a “Young Candidate for the Top Ten.” He preferred to humbly seek guidance and learn from the sages as a Confucian disciple. The former felt too insubstantial and unreliable; Xu Bai still found it hard to believe even today. However, he felt no shame in acknowledging his identity as a scholar. His greatest hope in this life was to first obtain a scholarly degree through the imperial examinations and then become an official who could benefit the people in his jurisdiction. As for mastering some minor Taoist arts, it would not be a bad thing to be able to avoid praying for rain and heat relief in the Temples of Literature and Martial Arts or the Dragon King Shrine in the face of natural disasters, or to plead with immortals to descend and manage floods.

The old scholar stroked his beard and smiled, “You and Mao Xiaodong will surely get along. Upon arriving at the Academy of Rites, be a bit thick-skinned and simply say that you and the old scholar are bosom buddies who lamented meeting each other too late in life. Embarrassing? In matters of learning, as long as one is sincere, what is there to be ashamed of? Solidly mastering Mao Xiaodong’s skills would be the best apology. When I, the old scholar, first visited the Temple of Literature, how did I enter the gate? I declared that I had obtained the true teachings of the Most Sage Master! Who dared to stop me? With swift steps, I entered the gate and promptly offered incense to the old man’s portrait. The Most Sage Master also smiled heartily!”

Xu Bai became even more reserved, as a scholar was accustomed to being refined.

If it weren’t for the presence of Li Baoping, rumored to be from the Luminous Pearl Grotto, Xu Bai would have thought he had encountered a fake Sage of Literature.

Xu Bai bid farewell and departed. The old scholar nodded with a smile.

Xu Bai did not move. Li Baoping reminded him with her eyes not to take advantage.

Xu Bai hesitated for a long time, mustered his courage, looked up at her, and said softly, “Li Baoping, if I have caused you any annoyance, I sincerely apologize.”

Li Baoping still did not speak, but her autumn-like eyes clearly conveyed the meaning: Then you should change!

Xu Bai smiled brightly and cupped his fist in farewell to Li Baoping.

Li Baoping sighed and had no choice but to return the gesture.

After Xu Bai left, the old scholar teased, “Little Baoping, there’s really no need to be too bothered. It’s not easy to be liked by a young man like Xu Xian.”

Li Baoping shook her head. “I know that Xu Bai is a good scholar, but some things cannot be described as ‘knowingly doing the impossible.'”

The old scholar smiled, “Little Baoping, continue your tour. I need to chat with an old senior for a while.”

Li Baoping bowed farewell to her grandmaster. Many words were conveyed in her eyes. The old scholar, of course, saw and accepted them, and handed the white jade bracelet to Little Baoping.

Li Baoping did not stand on ceremony, accepted the jade bracelet, wore it on her wrist, and continued her journey with her horse.

The old scholar stroked his beard and smiled, thinking that he was fortunate in his old age.

Li Baoping was the most “proud” among the Sage of Literature’s later disciples. She already possessed the aura of a female instructor. As for certain troubles in the future, the old scholar simply thought, “I have direct disciples, and re-disciples to protect them.”

Lin Shouyi, through chance, ability, and above all, his true heart, had gathered the three volumes of the *Cloud-Top Luminous Book*. He gradually ascended in the path of cultivation but did not neglect his identity as a Confucian scholar.

Li Huai might not be considered a seed for scholarship in the eyes of many Qi cultivators, but the Sage of Literature lineage had always had a low threshold for understanding what a seed for scholarship was. One who had read the books of sages and obtained some truths, and then practiced them diligently without slacking, if that wasn’t a seed for scholarship, what was?
Dong Shui Jing became a credit-knife peddler. A gentleman loves wealth, but acquires it through righteous means. What teacher wouldn’t like such a disciple?

Yu Lu and Xie Xie were also doing well. One was gaining a broader perspective, the other a greater magnanimity. Towards the myriad remnants of the Lu Dynasty, this could be considered an explanation. The human world is full of dead knots, big and small, seemingly tightened more and more with the passage of time, but that is not necessarily the case. For example, those boatmen of humble status in Red Candle Town, and the hapless Lu Dynasty convicts, could actually be untied. On both sides of the world, there are many withered trees. Once they encounter spring in later years, who knows but what old trees might bloom into a beautiful scene in the human world.

The little girl, Jia Chun Jia, had long since married and become a woman. Her little child would be a young lad in a few more years.

Zhao Yao had achieved success in both his arcane arts and swordsmanship, and had gone to the Fifth World. Although he still couldn’t quite let go of the knot in his heart regarding that “Spring” seal, young people are like that: the more they are hung up on one or two things, willing to compete with themselves, the greater their future achievements will be. Of course, the prerequisite is to read enough books and not become a bookworm.

An old man appeared out of thin air beside the old scholar, smiling and saying, “What a fine ‘Reading the books of sages and worthies to naturally comprehend Zen’.”

One sentence encompassed the Three Teachings, with Confucianism being the foremost.

The old scholar smiled, “So-so good. I have a basketful of such good words, if Xu Jun wants them, he can just take them.”

The one who came was none other than Xu Bai’s teacher, Xu Jun of Zhaoling.

Xu Jun remained silent.

Those familiar with the old scholar’s style would mostly learn a bit of the Silent Zen on the spot.

The old scholar said seriously, “It has indeed been difficult to conceal your name and live in obscurity here for so many years.”

Six beasts were besieging one person, and Fu Lu was about to rescue Bai Ye.

Xiao Xun was intercepting those on the left and right, and Lu Zhi was chasing after Liu Cha.

The world in great chaos, but only to this extent.

The real great chaos was even deeper, in the human world at the foot of the mountains of the Three Continents.

Xu Jun nodded, “If it weren’t for the fact that those Ascended Realm great demons were acting too cautiously after the Barbarian World broke through the Sword Qi Great Wall, otherwise I could have ‘taken the first city’. With the Search Mountain Map you stole, I would have been more certain. I wouldn’t dare say I could kill all fourteen Throne Seats, but making them wary would still be possible. Unfortunately, those who came here to attack were either Liu Cha or Xiao Xun. That Jia Sheng should have guessed long ago that I was here.”

The so-called “taking the first city” naturally meant that Xu Jun, holding the true names recorded on the Search Mountain Map, would utilize his natal divine ability to “explain and decipher” the words for the Vast World, and sever the head of a great demon. To kill an Ascended Realm in this manner, the price Xu Jun would pay would not be small. Even if he held an ancestral Search Mountain Map, and disregarded his own Daoist life, destroying two pages of the Search Mountain Map, he could still only, through the mandate of Heaven, kill two Ascended Realms outside of the Throne Seats.

However, since he had been here early on, Xu Jun had no intention of returning to his hometown of Zhaoling in the Central Earth Divine Continent. This was also the reason why Xu Jun had previously traveled far from home and had not accepted the young Xu Bai as his direct disciple.

But there was a crucial prerequisite in this, which was that both sides, enemy and friend, needed to be in the Vast World. After all, Xu Jun of Zhaoling was, in the end, not Bai Ze.

So Xu Jun could only stubbornly wait for a certain Ascended Realm great demon to set foot on the Southern Subhaga Continent. With Chen Chun’an sitting in town, guarding the mountains and rivers of the continent, helping to suppress the great demon, Xu Jun’s Daoist consumption would be even less. The Southern Subhaga Continent seemed to have no battles to fight, and had already been scolded like a dog by the academies and mountains of the Central Earth Divine Continent, from the Temple of Literature to Chen Chun’an. But steadily guarding the Southern Subhaga Continent itself meant that the Barbarian World had to stretch out two long battle lines to a great extent.

As for going to the Tongye Continent or the Fuyao Continent, this Word Saint Xu Jun, who had not been consecrated in the Temple of Literature, would probably be targeted by Wen Hai Zhoumi or even the Ancestor of Mount Tuoyue before he could even open his mouth to reveal the true name of the great demon.

Even if the Most Holy Teacher were to help, it would still be a loss.

The Most Holy Teacher and the grey-clothed old man near Jiaolong Gulch were actually the first two to fight. The ruins on the front square of the Temple of Literature in the Central Earth and the whirlpool in the sea of Jiaolong Gulch were clear evidence.

That was a true contest of Dao between two worlds.

And someone who freely smashes jars and breaks bottles will always be more relaxed than someone who has to protect every single jar and bottle.

As for Xu Jun’s claim that he stole the Search Mountain Map, the old scholar pretended not to hear it.

This Southern Subhaga Continent under their feet had Chen Chun’an, the pure scholar bearing the sun and moon on his shoulders, in the open, and the Sword-Suppressing Tower, one of the nine majestic town towers. Huai Yin, the old abacus at the bottom of the ten in the Central Earth, and Lu Zhi, the great female sword immortal of the Sword Qi Great Wall, were all clearly placed on the table as the combat power of the continent. Those intercontinental ferry boats traveling between the Central Earth Divine Continent and the Southern Subhaga Continent had been transporting materials for more than ten years.

In addition, Xu Jun and the Search Mountain Map were in the shadows. Moreover, the Southern Subhaga Continent definitely had more than just one Word Saint Xu Jun waiting to make a move. There was also the Mohist giant who had come to this continent alone, each person responsible for one battle line.

The Barbarian World did not attack the Southern Subhaga Continent, but the Vast World had to defend the Southern Subhaga Continent to the death. It seemed obvious which side was superior, but that was not necessarily the case.

Xu Jun asked, “The Ritual Sage is outside the heavens, this I know very well. Where is the Sub-Sage?”

The old scholar said in a mental voice, “Flanking the rear.”

Xu Jun shook his head, “It is still difficult to succeed with just the Sub-Sage alone.”

The old scholar said, “Who said he was the only one?”

Xu Jun suddenly realized, “No wonder he borrowed words from someone, and then asked the Temple of Literature for an academy headmaster. Embroidered Tiger, what good methods, good courage, what a reversal of mountains and rivers.”

Mount Tuoyue, and the remaining half of the Sword Qi Great Wall, not to mention the Hundred Thousand Mountains between them. Based on someone’s calculations, the Old Blind Man might be willing to change his original intention of not helping either side.

For example, Old Blind Man, would you like to move Mount Tuoyue to your home? This is just one possibility. Cui Chan is truly adept at calculating people’s hearts and minds.

Cui Chan’s ideas always seemed whimsical, yet always seemed within reach. A hundred years ago, if Cui Chan said that he wanted to use the power of one country to create a second Sword Qi Great Wall in the Vast World, who wouldn’t think he was daydreaming? Who would take it seriously? But as things stand now, Cui Chan has already made his dream come true. And what makes Cui Chan feel impossible to approach is not only that this Embroidered Tiger is too clever, but that everything he thinks, imagines, and dreams of is never spoken to outsiders.

Cui Chan has the Three Matters of Splendor, and playing the Rainbow Cloud Game with the City Lord of White Emperor City is only one of them.
It is said that in a certain past scholastic debate, Cui Chan once surpassed the ancestral founder of the Artificers, though for reasons unknown, that founder, whose standing among the Hundred Schools of Thought was merely in the lower echelons, yet whose ambition soared higher than the heavens, found great joy in his defeat to an outsider in the fundamental Dao. He proclaimed, “I have gained ten, the world is sufficient!” This remains a profound mystery to this day. Even within the Artificers’ lineage, none know what this “ten” signifies.

Furthermore, before Cui Chan betrayed the lineage of the Literary Sage, he willingly relinquished the positions of Grand Academician of the Imperial Academy and Deputy Leader of the Literary Temple, both within easy reach. Had he followed the established path, he could have even vied for the position of Leader of the Literary Temple a century later. Alas, Cui Chan ultimately chose a path of utter desolation, becoming a stray dog, traveling alone to the four corners of the world, then serving as the ludicrous Grand Preceptor of the Great Li Dynasty in Treasure Bottle Continent. However, this earth-shattering secret, involving the inner workings of the Literary Temple’s upper echelons in the Central Earth, was not widely disseminated and remained confined to the mountain peaks.

Alas, all is but fleeting smoke and clouds.

Nevertheless, there will always be some who genuinely feel that if the Grand Azure World lacked a “Silk Brocade Tiger,” it would be much less flavorful.

The Old Scholar suddenly asked, “What in heaven and earth is the most clean and most fastidious?”

Xu Jun shook his head and said, “I do not know. Is that the former First Disciple asking his teacher?”

The Old Scholar answered himself, “It is morality.”

Xu Jun nodded in agreement, “I deeply believe so.”

The Old Scholar then said, “A flaw does not obscure the jade, so what?”

Xu Jun smiled, “The principle is indeed such.”

The Old Scholar stamped his foot and said, “Let us go, let us go.”

Xu Jun made a respectful bow.

The Old Scholar had no choice but to return the courtesy.

These old seniors and old sages are always so courteous with me. It is still because of the disadvantage of not possessing the scholarly title of Xiucai.

The Old Scholar used the technique of heartfelt resonance with Chen Chun’an to be conveyed across the continents towards the Central Earth Divine Continent and then shared a few words with that large fellow on Mount Sui, asking for his assistance in pulling him along.

At the mountain gate of Mount Sui, the Old Scholar stumbled and fell forward, landing face-first in the dirt.

The Golden Armor Deity sat upon the steps and laughed, “Oh, a grand salute. Consider it as you making amends for all the debts you previously owed my Mount Sui.”

Brushing his sleeves vigorously, the Old Scholar strode to the foot of the mountain, standing beside the Mountain God of Mount Sui. The standing and the sitting were nearly the same height.

The Old Scholar looked up at the peak of Mount Sui, his expression solemn.

The burly Mountain God laughed, “What, are you seeking someone’s help again?”

The Old Scholar rubbed his hands and then his face, saying, “Seeking help from others is like swallowing a three-foot sword; it is difficult. Moreover, seeking help is never my forte. It is difficult upon difficult.”

The Mountain God was somewhat gloating. If seeking help from the Most Sage Teacher was useful, then he would not be the Most Sage Teacher.

The Old Scholar turned his head and asked, “When you saw the old man earlier, did you say ‘My humble abode is honored by your presence’?”

The Mountain God shook his head and said, “Since it was not you, I did not utter a single word.”

The Old Scholar looked doubtful. Seeing the large fellow’s upright righteousness was no less than that of the sages enshrined, he could only lament and say, “You are not enlightened. We two have been wasting so much time chatting. If I were you, I would have already set up desks and chairs and prepared tea on the mountaintop. Then I would ask the old man if he needed me to cut off that fellow’s head, beating my chest with a resounding roar. ‘Old man, give the word, and I will ascend mountains of blades and plunge into seas of fire. I, your small deity, will place righteousness above all else and shoulder the responsibility, never hesitating. If I cannot kill the opponent, I will offer my own head to you…’”

The Mountain God’s face darkened and said, “Do you truly believe the Most Sage Teacher cannot hear your nonsense?”

In the past, when there were only the two of them, the Old Scholar could ramble on about anything and everything. But now that the Most Sage Teacher was seated on the peak, he, as the Lord of Mount Sui, truly did not dare to accompany the Old Scholar in becoming insane.

The Most Sage Teacher did not like to joke with people.

The Sage of Rites, within the boundaries of propriety, could occasionally joke without consequence.

The Second Sage was known for his extreme caution and solitude.

In fact, apart from the Old Scholar, the vast majority of the ancestral founders of lineages and literary traditions were very proper.

The Old Scholar jumped up and slapped him, “You dog with guts! How dare you underestimate the Most Sage Teacher’s supreme Dao methods! Whether the old man is wielding his brush to write or moving his hands to act, who is not an unrivaled opponent? Skilled in both literary and martial arts, first in the literary realm, and none second in the martial realm! That Dao the Second is also a bit awkward, wanting to praise the old man but too embarrassed. So he secretly hid it in Cao Rong’s landscape painting, being roundabout and circuitous… Damn, if only Cao Rong had asked me to affix my seal at the time. Then I would have bought one and gotten one free, first stamping ‘Please Be Seated’ and then stamping ‘You Are Not Qualified’ next to that Dao the Second’s seal… This time, the old man’s actions possess both might and benevolence, embodying sage and hero in one person! Grand strokes, grand spirit, grand meaning!”

The Great God of Mount Sui turned a deaf ear. It seemed that the matter for which the Old Scholar was seeking help today was not small. Otherwise, in the past, even if his face fell to the ground, it would at least be at the tip of his toes. He could pick it back up if he wanted, but today he was utterly shameless. He was praising others while simultaneously praising himself, mentioning his own merits and hard work first.

Sure enough, the Old Scholar staggered once more and was directly pulled to the mountaintop. It seemed that the Most Sage Teacher could no longer bear to listen.

The old teacher on the mountaintop said, “Scholar, you were more likeable during the debates between the Three Teachings.”

After bowing and rising, the Old Scholar said with a bitter face, “The Literary Temple has not given me more opportunities to display my debating skills.”

The implication was that it was not that the Old Scholar was unwilling to exert some effort for Confucianism, but that the Literary Temple had not allowed this scholar to fully display his brilliance. The Most Sage Teacher could not force him to do something difficult, making him suffer great grievances while forbidding him from uttering even a small complaint.

The old teacher smiled and asked, “Have you come for Bai Ye’s sake?”

The Old Scholar glanced in the direction of Fufeng Continent and sighed, “There is no need for me to beg.”

This Most Sage Teacher, sitting on the peak of Mount Sui and flipping through books, was still remotely confronting that grey-robed old man from Jiaolong Gully.

The Old Scholar breathed a sigh of relief. Steadiness was true steadiness. The old man was worthy of being the old man.

The celestial timing and landscape of Gold Armor Continent and Treasure Bottle Continent in the Grand Azure World were still not encroached upon by the divine powers of the Great Ancestor of Mount Tuoyue in the slightest.

In the heavens beyond, the Sage of Rites was also temporarily safe.

It was just that the remnants of those ancient gods who had originally roamed extremely far were still constantly gathering. In history, the Sage of Rites had once led the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Literary Temple, along with a group of immortals from Jade Capital City, including Dao the Second, the Grand Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, Sun Huaizhong of the Grand Xuan Capital Temple, and a group of Buddhist disciples from the Western Buddhist Kingdom, on a journey to the far reaches of the heavens. Unfortunately, the results were not significant. A Deputy Leader of the Literary Temple had even perished in the heavens beyond. If it had not been for the later dispute over the three and four, in the eyes of outsiders, Cui Chan, the First Disciple of the Literary Sage, originally had the hope of filling the vacancy. Unfortunately, the Old Scholar knew that Cui Chan’s ambitions had never been here.
Ten thousand years ago, myriad techniques descended from the heavens. Whether gifted by ancient gods or seized by humanity rising above them.

Of the myriad techniques, the most potent were undoubtedly claimed by the sword cultivators.

Humanity owes its greatest debt to the sword cultivators, their merits surpassing all others.

Thus, the Great Dao of the present favors the sword cultivators of the world, yet they are subtly suppressed by a fragmented Heavenly Dao, making the breakthrough to the Ascension Realm the most arduous.

However, in terms of the sheer number of supernatural abilities and self-realized Dao attainments, the single-minded sword cultivators cannot compare. Among them, the founders of the Three Teachings, though divergent in their paths, had already ascended to great heights ten thousand years ago. As such, their true “fighting” prowess was enough to overturn the heavens and earth.

Because the Old Scholar was willing to ask, and the Most Sage Teacher was relatively willing to answer, the Old Scholar knew something. The founders of the Three Teachings, including the Most Sage Teacher, had not truly exerted their full strength in combat since the moment they each attained the Dao.

During that riverside discussion, Chen Qingdu, whose swordsmanship was once superb and temperament typically excellent, directly declared “Let’s fight, then!” The primary reason a fight never materialized was the attitude of the founders of the Three Teachings.

In fact, the Dao Ancestor had already revealed the crux of the matter with a single sentence: the enemy of the Great Dao is within us. Within humanity, within the heart, within all living beings themselves. Not within Daoist magic, nor within supernatural powers.

The object suppressing White Jade City is the extraterrestrial demon manifested from the Daoist heart of the cultivator. The object suppressing the Western Buddhist Kingdom is the intractable obsession of vengeful spirits and ghosts. The Confucian realm of Haoran tirelessly educates all living beings, guiding hearts toward goodness and allowing the rise of the Hundred Schools of Thought, all to assist the Confucian school in patching the holes in the world’s morality and the hearts of men.

Ultimately, it all boils down to “self.”

For ten thousand years, humanity’s true mortal enemy has been ourselves. Even after another ten thousand years, it will likely remain so.

Defeat means an unstoppable era of decline.

Victory means the world can continue to rise, truly elevating the human heart to the heavens.

“All people are sages.”

“All beings possess Buddha-nature.”

“Each individual attains purity, and all attain purity.”

The goodness of the human heart in this life, the karmic debts of past and future lives, the lofty and subtle aspects of Daoist magic and the human heart.

Who am I, where do I come from, where am I going?

Broadly speaking, the answers have already been found.

As for that Soaring Cloud Continent…

Bai Ying, Five Peaks, Lofty Stop, Yuan Shou, Butcher’s Cleaver, Rhyme Cutter…

Merely six Throne Great Demons, what is there to fear? What if Liu Cha, preparing to unleash his full swordsmanship, is added? What if Soaring Cloud Continent is now part of the wildlands?

It is simply equivalent to half of Bai Ye without the Immortal Sword “Taibai,” plus a Grand Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain also without his sword, plus Chen Chun’an in half of Southern Saha Continent, plus Fu Lu Yu Xuan, plus Fire Dragon True Man, plus Zheng Huaixian of White Emperor City, who is slightly less calculating, and finally, Liu, the hidden wealth god of Aiai Continent.

Just this handful of people.

The Old Master laughed, “Easy for you to say, sitting there!”

The Old Scholar quickly sat down beside him. “Heaven and earth bear witness!”

Bai Ze suddenly appeared, reminding the Most Sage Teacher, “What the Wen Temple truly needs to be wary of is Wen Hai from the wildlands. He has already devoured Lotus Hermit and Yao Jia. His ambitions are vast. Once he has had his fill in the wildlands and returns to his homeland to flaunt his power, it will be even more troublesome.”

The Most Sage Teacher smiled and nodded.

Bai Ze harbored no fondness for that Jia Sheng. This Wen Hai, meticulous in his plans, seems to have no attachments to either world. Or rather, from the moment he crossed the Sword Qi Great Wall, he has chosen to walk an old path that has been untrodden for ten thousand years, seemingly wanting to become a high and mighty god, looking down upon the mortal world.

The Old Scholar frowned, eventually sighing, “He has set his heart on plotting for the sake of the world with himself as the sole arbiter, and views himself as all living beings of the world. All traces of humanity have been eradicated, making him even more divine than the gods. No, even worse than those ancient gods.”

The Old Scholar looked left and right, whispering to the Most Sage Teacher and Bai Ze, “Can we agree to this?”

Bai Ze was in a quandary. Nodding in agreement was inappropriate. Shaking his head in disagreement? Could Bai Ze bear such a burden? He had already given away the Search Mountain Diagram. Surely he could not give himself away as well.

Bai Ze had no choice but to change the subject. “Soaring Cloud Continent is engaging in unsustainable practices.”

The Throne Great Demons are frantically extracting the spiritual energy of the continent, waiting for Bai Ye to exhaust his own.

The Old Scholar rolled up his sleeves.

Bai Ze scoffed, “Putting on an act for whom?”

The Old Scholar raged, “Look at you, look at you! It’s heartbreaking. We both have the utmost respect for the two Bai brothers. Look at Bai Ye, whose poems are unmatched and whose swordsmanship is celestial. First, he casually split open the Yellow River Grotto Heaven with a sword strike, then he casually beheaded the restless Ascension Realm demon of the Central Earth, then he tirelessly opened up the Fifth Continent with his sword, then he slew the Throne Great Demon Yao Jia with three sword strikes, and now he’s single-handedly taking on six Throne Great Demons…”

The Old Master said calmly, “Damn it, I know all of this.”

The Old Scholar immediately shrunk back and smiled. “Understood.”