The dirt road was permeated with the grassy smell of cow dung. Woodcutters carrying dry firewood streamed into the city without end, and ox carts selling charcoal moved along in an endless flow.

Wang Daosheng said to Chen Ji and the others, “Everyone get on the cart. Chen Ji, you did work for others while we were distributing porridge, which was a punishment in disguise, so you don’t need to walk anymore.”

Chen Ji didn’t ask further, simply thanked him and found an empty spot on the flatbed cart to sit down.

Zhang Xia leaped onto her horse, Zaozao, and rode beside the ox cart, curiously asking, “Sir, my father often says you are unconventional. Why is that?”

Sitting on the cart, Wang Daosheng casually asked, “In *The Analects*, it says ‘A junzi is not a vessel.’ What does this mean?”

Chen Wenzong pondered for a moment: “Zhu Xi’s commentary states: ‘A vessel is suited for its specific use and cannot be interchanged. A person of complete virtue embodies all qualities, and therefore can be applied in all situations, not limited to just one skill or talent.’ Zhu Xi said that the Most Holy Sage meant that a ruler does not need to specialize in one particular skill but must be a versatile individual.”

Wang Daosheng calmly replied, “But I think Zhu Xi’s interpretation is incorrect. The Most Holy Sage once criticized Guan Zhong, saying he was ‘a small vessel,’ meaning he had a small mind and narrow vision. Therefore, I believe that what the Most Holy Sage meant by ‘a junzi is not a vessel’ is that a junzi should embrace the world and be broad-minded, like the ocean accommodating all rivers.”

Chen Wenzong opened his mouth, thinking about how to refute.

Zhang Xia, from atop her horse, said, “Both seem to make sense. But I prefer your explanation, Sir. I think a junzi might not need to know everything under the sun, but they must have magnanimity.”

Wang Daosheng said with a smile, “What they call unconventional is just that my understanding of the ancient sages differs from theirs. What I want to teach you is not to fully accept my ideas, but to encourage you to see the world for yourselves and form your own opinions.”

Prince Jing, sitting in front of the ox cart, laughed heartily without turning his head, saying, “This is the meaning of traveling thousands of miles. The civil officials of our Ning Dynasty now prefer to debate behind closed doors, and all their discussions merely seek to find evidence to support themselves in the words of the ancient sages.”

Chen Wenzong said solemnly, “Your Highness, please be careful with your words.”

Prince Jing laughed heartily, “You are indeed very much like your father.”

At this point, Zhang Xia suddenly changed the subject, “Chen Ji, what do you think ‘A junzi is not a vessel’ means? Chen Ji??”

She waited a long time but received no answer from Chen Ji. Turning her head, she saw Chen Ji sitting in the ox cart, head bowed, having fallen asleep at some point.

Zhang Xia raised an eyebrow, “Chen Ji, the Sir is teaching, how can you be sleeping?”

Bai Li quickly intervened, “Why are you shouting? He must not have slept at all last night to be so tired. Let him sleep a bit longer.”

Zhang Xia pouted, and silently mouthed in sarcasm, “Let him sleep a bit longer.”

Bai Li rolled her eyes, “I won’t stoop to your level.”

Chen Wenzong, standing nearby, cupped his hands towards Wang Daosheng and said, “Sir, please forgive him. My third brother is still young and hasn’t attended school these past years, so he doesn’t understand the rules. I’ll wake him up now.”

However, Wang Daosheng raised a hand to stop him, “It’s alright. Let him sleep for a while. I wasn’t intending to lecture anyway. I merely spoke a few words casually because Zhang Xia asked.”

The Crown Prince’s face twisted, “Sir, you’re not like this with me.”

Prince Jing chuckled merrily, “This was a specific request I made to Master Wang. I don’t care about others, but you must be strictly disciplined, lest some people think they can do as they please once they come of age.”

Bai Li exclaimed, “Exactly! Exactly!”

The Crown Prince: “…”

Chen Wenzong stared blankly at Prince Jing, Bai Li, and the Crown Prince on the cart.

It turned out that a father didn’t always have to put on a stern face in front of his children, and children didn’t always have to be respectful in front of their father.

He silently looked at Chen Ji, thinking to himself, “Perhaps, this was why Chen Ji had decided he didn’t want to return to the Chen Manor.”

In the dream.

The black sea of clouds was calm and still.

Chen Ji drifted downwards from the long-unseen black sea of clouds, descending with dark cloudy mist onto the mountaintop.

Outside, the dense white sea of clouds lay like a giant blanket draped over the mountainside, flowing tumultuously.

Xuanyuan, dressed in a black royal robe, sat cross-legged on a large rock. He silently gazed at the sea of clouds, yet it seemed he was looking at something beyond the clouds, lost in thought.

Chen Ji coughed, signaling his presence.

Only then did Xuanyuan slowly stand up, leaning on a royal banner, and turn to look down at Chen Ji.

“You’ve become lax!”

Chen Ji shook his head, “No!”

Xuanyuan scoffed, “You’re coming here less and less now. Don’t you want to take ‘Whale’ away?”

As he spoke, the long saber materialized in the air before Chen Ji.

Its long blade resembled a slender crescent moon, cool yet imposing.

Chen Ji gripped the hilt with his right hand, holding the saber horizontally before him, and gently ran his left hand along the blade. “Of course I want to take it, but recently one thing after another has come up, and I’ve barely had a chance to sleep. However, I should have more time now.”

Xuanyuan waved a hand towards the distance, “Fenghuai, strike him down.”

“Wait!”

Chen Ji said, caught between laughter and tears, “I came today because I have many questions for you.”

Xuanyuan tilted his chin slightly, “What do you want to ask?”

Chen Ji asked curiously, “Recently, I acquired a cultivation method. It only requires repeatedly reciting texts to generate a wisp of purple sword qi in my meridians. But each time, before the purple sword qi can fully condense, it’s cut down by the sword seed. Why is this?”

Xuanyuan, still seated on the large rock, said haughtily, “Since you’ve learned my sword seed, why cultivate other sword paths? It’s superfluous.”

Chen Ji hastily explained, “Well, I just happened to get this cultivation method for free, and I was idle anyway.”

Xuanyuan asked, “Since you’ve learned someone else’s sword path, why come and ask me?”

Chen Ji thought for a moment and replied, “You’re probably the strongest sword practitioner in the world. Of course, if I have questions about sword arts, I’d come to you.”

Xuanyuan was speechless for a moment. “How can you say such things so casually now?”

Chen Ji replied sincerely, “I’m just telling the truth.”

Xuanyuan was silent for a few seconds. “What did you just ask?”

Chen Ji said, “Why are other sword qi cut down by the sword seed?”

Xuanyuan sneered, “The sword is the king of all weapons. Have you ever seen a kingdom with two kings? When two kings meet, it’s natural for one to emerge victorious and the other defeated. The strong remain, the weak dissipate. Didn’t you ask before how to make the formless sword seed tangible, as it’s fragile?”

“Yes!”

It was precisely this question that Chen Ji had tried to ask before, leading to him being severely beaten by the Great Halberd Warriors and Fenghuai, and Xuanyuan still hadn’t answered it until now.

Xuanyuan said calmly, “Seize swords!”

“Seize swords?”

Xuanyuan explained, “The sword seed cultivation path is meant to ascend to dominance by stepping over other sword paths. To make the sword seed tangible, you must repeatedly seize the opponent’s sword and nurture your own.”

“How’s that?”

“You’ll know once you seize one.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Ji immediately gave up the idea of cultivating ‘Cloud Cover’, as the sword seed and Cloud Cover surely couldn’t coexist.

However, Cloud Cover was, after all, a cultivation method from the Forty-Nine Heavens, and it seemed a pity to waste it in his hands like this.

At this moment, Xuanyuan squinted at him. “The path of cultivation emphasizes single-mindedness and diligent progress. Only the weak need to learn those flashy tricks. Fenghuai, strike him down and teach him a lesson.”

“Wait, wait.”

Chen Ji, exasperated, raised a hand to Fenghuai, stopping his steps. “Don’t be so quick to fight. I have many questions! By the way, have you really never heard of the Forty-Nine Heavens?”

Xuanyuan’s expression was indifferent. “Do you think I’d lie to you?”

Chen Ji was puzzled. “But I’ve confirmed the existence of the Forty-Nine Heavens. They say many deities live there, and some even reincarnate and descend to the mortal realm… How could you not know?”

Xuanyuan became interested. “Many deities live there? Who are they?”

Chen Ji recalled the deities he had heard about from the Crown Prince: “The Twenty-Eight Mansions, Wenchang Dijun, the Five Star Lords, the Six Star Lords of the Southern Dipper, Dipankara Buddha…”

Xuanyuan hesitated. “Who are all these?”

Chen Ji also hesitated. “You haven’t heard of any of them?”

Xuanyuan furrowed his brows. “No.”

Chen Ji then asked, “What about Mount Taiji, Mount Wuji, Mount Yujing, Mount Sumeru, and Kushinagar? Have you ever heard of them?”

Xuanyuan shook his head. “Never heard of them.”

“What places were in the world you once lived in?”

“Qingqiu, Guixu, Mount Qiwu, Mount Wangqiu, Yuyuan, Lutai, East Kunlun, West Kunlun.”

This truly confused Chen Ji. What kind of existence were these Forty-Nine Heavens, that even a majestic figure like Xuanyuan had never heard of them?