Chapter 1140: This Heaven

Chapter 1140: This Heaven

At a roadside stall, four diners sat at a table. The old scholar had already pulled a pair of bamboo chopsticks from the bamboo cylinder early on, staring eagerly. When the steaming hot vermicelli clay pot was placed on the table, he twirled a large bundle of noodles, blew on it a few times, lowered his head, and slurped them down.

The old scholar wolfed down his food, then raised his head and said indistinctly, "Miss Xie, I'd like to ask you something—what kind of person is Jiang She?" Xie Dog thought for a moment, then first addressed him respectfully as "Wen Sheng, old sir." "That fellow's temper is sometimes good, sometimes bad; it depends on the person. If he takes a liking to someone, even a Qi refiner who's just started cultivating, he'll treat them like a brother on the road, sincerely regarding them as a fellow Daoist. But if there's no affinity, then it's hard to say. He deliberately speaks loudly, all bluster and noise, making people mistake him for a roughneck."

The old scholar suddenly understood. "Then his personality is very similar to mine. Later, when I chat with him, we're bound to hit it off."

Xie Dog was taken aback.

Liu Xianyang said, "Wen Sheng, sir, this Jiang She seems crude on the surface, but in reality, he's meticulous and deeply calculating. As soon as he boarded the ship, he used the tactic of overwhelming force to seize the initiative. Chen Ping'an almost fell for it."

The old scholar couldn't help but laugh. "Throughout the ages, has there ever been a single person who wanted to establish a school and become a patriarch who was an easy mark? Who among them lacks great perseverance, great boldness, great talent, and great fortune?"

Xiao Mo deeply agreed. Xie Dog felt a pang of empathy, wallowing in self-pity. She just couldn't figure out what she was missing.

The old scholar reminded him, "Xianyang, you're too reckless in your actions. Although Jiang She is not personally present here, he is still a most ancient Fourteen Realm cultivator. Even if he manifests as a Yang Spirit, Yin Spirit, or an incarnation, he still possesses genuine, full-weight Fourteen Realm cultivation. If he truly had murderous intent and was determined to strike without warning, the Dragon Spring Sword Clan's Patriarch Hall might have to light its lamps tonight."

Liu Xianyang looked utterly unconcerned. "At a critical moment, there was no time for me, a junior, to think it through. I couldn't very well just shit in my pants just because there was no toilet paper at hand."

The old scholar could only silently put down his chopsticks, then said with a smile, "You're the first person to dare to put a sword to the throat of Jiang She's Dao companion."

Liu Xianyang said, "At the time, Xiao Mo and Doggie were right beside me. Especially Xiao Mo, who helped immediately set up a sword array to isolate heaven and earth. Besides, that Wu Yan—what great sights hasn't she seen? She's bold because of her skill, and she didn't take it seriously at all. We said we were discussing a deal. Even in the streets and markets, you still have to maintain some decency even if the deal falls through. But he, on the other hand, took the opportunity to stir up trouble. Jiang She was the one who acted improperly first, and I, as a junior, acted dishonorably afterward. Even if we argue all the way to the Central Earth Confucian Temple, I wouldn't be afraid. At worst, he apologizes first, and then I'll apologize."

The old scholar's expression was kind. He waved his hand, indicating that since he had already arrived, Liu Xianyang should not dwell too much on the matter. The old scholar turned to Xie Dog and asked quietly, "That second ancestor of the Military School, how did he and Jiang She fall out back then?"

Xiao Mo asked with a smile, "The second wanted to be the boss, but the boss refused to step down?"

The old scholar shook his head. "It's not that simple."

Xie Dog said apologetically, "Wen Sheng, old sir, I really don't know the inside story of this matter. Back then, when I was hanging out with them, my mind was only on the matter of hacking people and who to hack."

The old scholar put down his chopsticks and rubbed his hands together, smiling. "It's fine, it's fine. I'm not here to spy on military intelligence. It's just that I'm feeling a bit nervous, so I'm calming down by chatting a bit."

Xiao Mo found it strange. "Wen Sheng, old sir, is there any need to be nervous about meeting just Jiang She?"

Xie Dog couldn't help but roll her eyes. Xiao Mo, ah, you're taking things too literally. It's like when someone says "I've heard a lot about you" in polite conversation—who would then ask why?

The old scholar stood up, a smile on his face. "Eaten and drunk my fill, rested my spirits, now I have the strength to say a few solid words."

Xie Dog generously offered to pay the bill, but the stall keeper refused to take money. He only said that the stall's rule was that customers always paid with excellent poetic verses, and tonight's lyric pattern was "Treading on Grass."

Xie Dog was a bit dazed. You just eat a rice noodle clay pot in this Spirit Rhinoceros City, and you have to make it so elegant? Not talking about money, but you're talking to me about lyric patterns?

She asked via heart message, "Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, is the character 'Suo' in 'Treading on Grass' pronounced correctly?" Xiao Mo, who had been habitually following behind the old scholar and Sect Leader Liu, stopped and explained with a smile, "In the lyric pattern name, the character 'Suo' is indeed pronounced that way, the same as the 'Suo' in 'shuttle.' In the 'Odes of Bin' poem 'July,' 'The shaker of wings, the cricket,' the reading is harmonized with 'Sha.' This creature is also called the 'spinner.' Many of Zheng Qingjia's Golden Kingfisher City's female cultivators have true forms that are spinners."

The old scholar asked Liu Xianyang about his insights on governance. After hearing the answer, he was very satisfied and said with a smile, "With your current level of knowledge and skill, Sect Leader Liu, you are more than qualified to be a Virtuous Man of an academy. Any thoughts on that? If so, I have acquaintances in the Confucian Temple who can help pass the word. It's not nepotism if you're recommending a worthy person." To directly become a Righteous Gentleman would probably be quite difficult, but it wasn't entirely impossible.

Even with Liu Xianyang's broad-mindedness, he felt his scalp tingle. The old scholar's so-called "acquaintances" could only be Dean Mao. Thinking of that, Liu Xianyang quickly declined. The old scholar immediately let out a trademark sigh and earnestly advised Liu Xianyang, saying that such an icing-on-the-cake title was not to be taken lightly. Since he had genuine talent and learning, there was no need to feel uneasy. Later, when he laid down his burden as sect leader and planned to retire, having a title like Gentleman or Virtuous Man would allow him to teach at an academy and earn money.

Liu Xianyang excused himself, saying that the sect's affairs were heavy and he would consider it carefully when he had free time later. The old scholar told Liu Xianyang to report directly to the Rites Academy at that time.

Xiao Mo knew very well that even if Sect Leader Liu only gained an additional Confucian Virtuous Man identity, then if Jiang She held a grudge over the dispute on the Night Voyager and wanted to "settle accounts afterward," he would first have to weigh the rules of the "Confucian Temple," which were destined to bypass the Little Master.

The old scholar patted Liu Xianyang on the arm. "Ping'an is lucky to have you as a friend."

Liu Xianyang, who had always been irreverent, patted the old scholar back on the arm and said with a cheeky grin, "When it comes to making friends, I'm no match for Chen Ping'an. When it comes to taking a master and learning the Dao, I'm still no match for Chen Ping'an. It's so annoying."

Over there, the stall keeper saw the sable-hatted girl looking a bit embarrassed. He said firmly that it was a small business and no credit was given. The customer must not break the rules of Spirit Rhinoceros City. Xie Dog couldn't possibly improvise a few good poems that met the prosodic rules on the spot. She had a brainstorm and said she was friends with the new city lord. Could he make an exception? The stall keeper was unyielding. He looked displeased and said that if he had known the young lady's speech was so vulgar, he wouldn't have done business with her in the first place. He muttered to himself that City Lord Li had been gone for only a few days, and now anyone could enter Spirit Rhinoceros City. Settle the bill if you're settling the bill, slaughter the pig if you're slaughtering the pig—why drag their mountain master into it? When Xie Dog heard that, she was unhappy. She watched the old scholar and his party gradually walk away from the corner of her eye, while she stubbornly continued to argue with the stall keeper for a few more words. Once the old scholar's group had turned the street corner, Xie Dog immediately flipped. She grabbed the stall keeper by the bun, slammed his head onto the table, stepped on the bench with one foot, pulled a chopstick from the table, and jabbed it at the stall keeper's forehead one by one, cursing. "Dare to play the honeytrap con on me? When I was playing this trick to cheat Dao titles, your little grandson's ancestors probably hadn't even put on open-crotch pants yet..."

Inside the house.

Hearing the voice outside the door, Chen Ping'an instantly returned to his normal expression and looked up with a smile. "How did you come?" The whole room seemed to brighten. Pei Qian moved a chair over and sat down beside her master. She explained, "Wen Sheng, old sir, found me and explained the general situation. I thought that this kind of small matter shouldn't put you in a difficult position, so I volunteered to come find them and talk to them face-to-face myself. Wen Sheng, old sir, was worried and told me to be sure to see you first after boarding the ship, so that no one ends up in a difficult position. I think that makes sense. Master, don't frown. Ha, it's really a small matter."

Chen Ping'an took out some sunflower seeds from his sleeve and handed them to Pei Qian. He said softly, "It's not a small matter."

Pei Qian pouted, not taking it seriously, but in front of her master, she was always used to thinking that her master was right. She silently started cracking the sunflower seeds.

Chen Ping'an, cracking seeds himself, said, "There's just the two of us in the room, no outsiders. Should I say some heartfelt words?"

Pei Qian beamed and nodded. "Okay, it seems like I haven't talked a lot with you alone in a long time."

Chen Ping'an said, "To tell you the truth, if I were being selfish, I would say that the best choice is that my first and foremost disciple has no great, terrifying, or exaggerated background."

Pei Qian's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously. "Right! Just like you, Master. An ordinary family, a clean and simple origin—how refreshing. Orphaned at a young age, hard and bitter, finally making it through, surviving, and now the bitterness has turned to sweetness. That's just right. If there were too much sweetness, it would feel strange. Otherwise, you can't help but wonder: did I achieve what I have today because of some ancestor? That's like a martial artist not being a pure martial artist anymore. Right, Master?"

Chen Ping'an said softly, "But if I said that my disciple suddenly gains a pair of parents, and they were forced to leave their daughter against their will, not because of any worldly or calculating reasons, and after a long separation, they finally recognize each other again—then I think that wouldn't be bad either. In heaven and earth, my disciple seems to gain two more people who genuinely love her. I have no reason not to be happy. I would feel very happy. Because I think that the Pei Qian of today deserves and can handle any luck and happiness."

Pei Qian lowered her head, cracking seeds, her eyes red.

Chen Ping'an murmured, "The only thing that feels really off is that your true origin, that 'evil thought,' is the heart demon of 'her'—something that must be cut down to break through."

"What kind of bullshit reasoning is that? My beloved and cherished disciple Pei Qian, who has become more and more sensible day by day, that little charcoal—how did she become something that must be discarded, something less than chicken ribs in someone else's eyes? But I know that for cultivators, this has been the way of the mountains for ten thousand years. So I know that this matter really can't be blamed on anyone. So I can only sulk a little. Even if the master hadn't told you about this, even if you hadn't come to the Night Voyager today, I would have gone to Tongye Prefecture to explain this to you in detail. I will give you some suggestions, but I will definitely respect your opinion and choice."

When Pei Qian heard this, she said, "That's what you've always done, Master."

She had a book that she treasured to this day, which even Sister Nuan Shu and Little Mi Li had never seen.

The big white goose had said that people in the world who like to reason can be roughly divided into two types: one kind does it to make themselves feel better, and the other kind does it to hope the world becomes a better place.

Pei Qian said, "Master, let me say something sincere. Don't be angry when you hear it."

Chen Ping'an's mood improved, and he laughed. "First, I'm not in the mood to get angry. Second, I told you long ago that as long as you tell me the truth, even if it doesn't make much sense or is wrong, you don't have to worry. I will definitely listen carefully and want to know how you really feel. I'm not bragging. I don't dare to say I'm always calm, but I have never been someone with unpredictable moods, and I have never lied to you."

Pei Qian grinned. "I think this is for the best. That 'pure evil thought' that was regarded as the enemy of the Dao by their precious daughter back then—that's great. Otherwise, I'd really have a headache. Now, I recognize them, even if it's awkward. I'll call them father and mother, and I'll fulfill my filial duties. That's nothing big. Before I recognized you, Master, when I was a child, I went hungry for three days out of nine. My stomach was empty, I was starving, so hungry that my intestines felt like they were going to devour my stomach. *That* was hard to endure. So you don't have to worry, Master. I won't have any emotional knots, and you don't have to worry that this is a 'Book-Viewing Lake' in my life that I can't get around."

Chen Ping'an said gloomily, "How could I not worry?"

Pei Qian's eyes were bright. "Master, let me make this clear beforehand: don't expect me to feel close and warm to them like ordinary children down in the mortal world. I can't do that, at least not now. As for the future, what it will be like tomorrow, the Pei Qian of today won't make any promises to the Pei Qian of tomorrow."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "No problem."

Pei Qian's mood also brightened. "Ha, I've dragged you into trouble again. I really am a 'pei qian'—a loss-making good."

Chen Ping'an pretended to be relaxed and smiled. "A little loss is nothing worth mentioning. Living in seclusion and cultivating in the mountains, going too smoothly isn't good either."

How did the master even tell Pei Qian about that kind of thing?

Chen Ping'an took out some more sunflower seeds and gave them to Pei Qian. He continued, "Next, I have to tell you something that is essential for a grown-up Pei Qian to hear."

Pei Qian stopped cracking seeds and said seriously, "Master, please speak."

Chen Ping'an said slowly, "First of all, they failed to protect you once. No matter how many reasons they have, the facts are the facts. Of course, I am willing to believe that this time, they can do better, but I can't help having doubts. I absolutely cannot trust them unconditionally. That would be irresponsible to you. I cannot allow myself to make that kind of mistake. Some mistakes can be corrected, but some mistakes have no chance of correction."

"Second, I have things I must do. For example, I must go to the Azure Underworld to visit the White Jade Capital and see Yu Dou. I actually don't want you, and of course Cui Dongshan, to get involved in this matter. Before going to the White Jade Capital, although my master and the Fallen Mountain are targets, the overall situation is still controllable. As for Jiang She and Wu Yan, whether it's their identities as a Dao pair or their realms, they are of course the highest. But the principle is equally simple. To put it bluntly, they are a nest of trouble. The higher their realms, the higher their enemies' realms, the stronger their Dao power and calculation ability. I naturally have to plan ahead. For example, I need to figure out what they really want. If you interact with them for a long time, what kind of danger will you face? During this time, you also need to be mentally prepared. It's better to be a little difficult to deal with from the start than to be friendly and accommodating, only to end up as enemies later, resentful and full of regrets, living your whole life blaming each other and feeling guilty."

"In my life, the number of times I have felt great fear can be counted on one hand."

Standing beside a mountain stream in flood as a child.

In the blacksmith's shop as a youth, seeing Liu Xianyang lying on a sickbed.

Crossing continents, returning to Treasure Bottle Continent, seeing Gu Can for the first time at Book-Viewing Lake.

Inside the Northern Frigid Continent's Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, Fire Dragon True Man forced Chen Ping'an into a corner with no way out, finally forcing out a heartfelt confession.

Returning to the Righteous Spirit Continent as a Hidden Officer, participating in a discussion by the banks of the River of Time, meeting for the first time both the "Sword Holder" and the "Sword Spirit."

Sitting in seclusion on Fallen Mountain, facing his own true heart demon.

"When I saw Jiang She this time, I felt fear."

"I won't go into the details with you. Whether Jiang She's initiative to board the ship this time is to open his heart or to spar, or maybe it's some kind of strange psychological trick, anyway, it's a private matter between me and Jiang She. Since there is no conclusion yet, I don't want to mislead you."

"Whether for public or private reasons, I shouldn't and won't stop you from recognizing your parents. But whether emotionally or rationally, it's impossible for me to just hand you over casually."

Before the old scholar boarded the ship with Pei Qian, Chen Ping'an sat alone in the room, cracking sunflower seeds and thinking about things, like replaying a game of chess. He went over the previous conversation word by word, unwilling to miss anything.

For example, Jiang She's first sentence was to criticize the current Qi refiners as flashy and flashy, abandoning the Dao for techniques. Today's Earth Immortals who form golden cores are as different from the Earth Immortals of ten thousand years ago as clouds and mud.

As for the state of martial arts after ten thousand years, as the patriarch, Jiang She didn't need to say half a sentence. Not deigning to speak was itself a form of evaluation.

After going to the Azure Underworld and finishing his business, he would take the opportunity to see Lin Jiangxian.

But Chen Ping'an's Dao age was not long, and Jiang She inevitably had the air of one who was old and respected. So next, Jiang She gave Chen Ping'an a question that held him in high esteem: how to give them life.

In a sense, this was a bold statement belonging to "querying the Dao."

Chen Ping'an's answer was also very particular: it wasn't that there was no context or clue, but a sentence of "I dare not try lightly."

So Jiang She followed up with a sentence that didn't hide his disapproval: "If your heart is too soft, don't be the leader." For Jiang She to say such a thing was still the most natural thing in the world.

After questioning about the Dao, it was a heart query from Jiang She.

Are you, Chen Ping'an, being so patient with me because I am the First Ancestor of the Military School?

Chen Ping'an's reply was a typical soft answer to a hard question: neither hurting the relationship nor being obsequious.

At the time, Chen Ping'an had wanted to add a sentence as evidence: with Fan Tong, Xie Sanniang, and the others, when he spoke with them or listened to them, he was very patient.

When they met at the desolate temple in Tongye Prefecture, Chen Ping'an hadn't thought much of it at first, just treating it as an inevitable coincidence.

Now he began to suspect that the reason the Wildlands' Qingrang had been exposed was perhaps due to a deeper reason: had it been suppressed by Jiang She's martial arts? Then what about the true identities of the martial artist Fan Tong and the ghost Xie Sanniang, that couple?

Afraid of missing any details, and being cautious, Chen Ping'an immersed himself in the scene. He used a mustard seed of heart-mind to revisit the place in his mind, and within the mental landscape, relying on memory, he shaped vivid pictures.

"He saw" Jiang She reach out and press down on the stone bridge railing. This man, back then, was almost, *almost* to become the lord of the mortal world occupying the ancient Heavenly Court ruins.

"He heard" a single sentence: "Daoist Bi Xiao asked me to pass on some words to you."

"At this moment," Chen Ping'an, with his hands in his sleeves, narrowed his eyes and pricked up his ears to listen.

Jiang She had brought up the ancient Master of the Falling Treasure Beach, Bi Xiao Cave, later the Taoist from Caizhou, the old master of the Viewing the Dao Temple, and now in the Azure Underworld, the new master of a bright moon realm as his dojo.

What words he was passing on was secondary. The key point was that Jiang She was telling Chen Ping'an in no uncertain terms that as soon as he came out of seclusion, he could drink and reminisce with the old master. That was what mattered.

Because Jiang She saw through people's hearts. This Daoist Bi Xiao carried considerable weight for the young swordsman who had once mistakenly entered the Lotus Depths, now the young Hidden Officer and Mountain Lord of Fallen Mountain.

Borrowing power.

"Pity those starving people who died eating their cakes."

Jiang She's self-deprecating remark was meant to ease the atmosphere, to keep himself from appearing too aggressive.

After that, talk of four nameless pawns creating five corpse guards... all of it was foreshadowing. The real point was to highlight the casually spoken line: "My old friend got his head."

Obviously, ten thousand years ago, Jiang She had not truly resigned himself to defeat. Facing a situation where death was certain and defeat was inevitable, this First Ancestor of the Military School still sought a thread of victory, even if it meant waiting ten thousand years. What the books call a "villainous temperament" is nothing more than this.

"Too weak a Dao heart. A man weighing a hundred catties can't carry a hundred-catty load."

This was said about Yu Shiwu, but wasn't it also an evaluation of Chen Ping'an, who was only at the Immortal realm now?

"Can you just refuse to accept what I give you?"

This was spoken by the First Ancestor of the Military School, Jiang She, to an Immortal realm sword cultivator. Jiang She didn't hide his intention: he was using force to suppress.

"Since you consider yourself a scholar and like to reason with heaven and earth, you have to pay a price."

This was the pure martial artist Jiang She speaking to the closed-door disciple of the Wen Sheng lineage. He was using reason to suppress.

"What I truly want to kill is half of the Fallen Mountain's 'One'!" Jiang She was declaring that he had just cause. He was killing with righteousness.

"Retreading the Heavenly Court and killing Zhou Mi by hand—who else but me?"

This was meant for the Three Teachings' Patriarchs and the Three Worlds.

"A guest has no business cleaning up the dishes and leftovers."

This was meant for the Confucian school and the Confucian Temple. The Military School patriarch, who considered himself part of the Three Teachings as one family, was speaking to the Confucian school.

"Why provoke Yu Dou of all people? What were you thinking? Relying on your status, acting on impulse, throwing an egg against a rock—is that fun?"

This was meant for the Azure Underworld and the Second Paragon of the White Jade Capital, Yu Dou. It was probably a form of sincere agreement with Yu Dou, as well as a tacit approval and giving him free rein, a kind of reciprocity. "Relying on your status" was a mockery of Chen Ping'an for having too many backers, while his own Dao power was mediocre. "Acting on impulse" was disapproval of Chen Ping'an's intention to challenge the White Jade Capital with his sword. "Throwing an egg against a rock" meant Chen Ping'an overestimated himself—praising Yu and belittling Chen. A single "Is that fun?" was a final verdict. Relying solely on Fallen Mountain to shake the White Jade Capital was a farce, like a child's play.

"He who weaves the birdcage eventually becomes the caged bird."

"Chen Ping'an, oh Chen Ping'an, you know too well how to cherish yourself."

"Dao techniques can be borrowed, but can the heart be borrowed?"

The three sentences Jiang She deliberately skipped were all knocking on Chen Ping'an's heart gate.

"The moment I set foot here, the River of Time began to flow backward. Now a stagnant whirlpool has appeared in the water. Let's see who will save you, who can save you?"

This was to force Chen Ping'an to reveal all his trump cards.

"You should go study for a few days, and let him go practice swords."

This was a deliberate relaxation, using Liu Xianyang to defuse the tense atmosphere.

"Embroidered Tiger Cui Chan, you saved me a lot of trouble. Much obliged!"

Chen Ping'an guessed that the real listener of Jiang She's words was Zheng Juzhong, who was most likely already planning the new ancestral seat of the Military School.

After that, Jiang She voluntarily brought up Chen Qingliu, saying that Chen Ping'an had underestimated the breadth of this dragon-slayer's spirit. This was an opportunity to bring up an old matter, to actively reveal a little-known history of friendly relations.

He had seen Bi Xiao Cave Master in the Azure Underworld, and Chen Qingliu in the Righteous Spirit Continent. Who knew how many other peak-level figures Jiang She had secretly contacted? What was he plotting?

After a series of probes, Jiang She finally gave a characterization of Chen Ping'an: "Very free."

Chen Ping'an replied with a sentence: "Words that know me."

It seemed like a great figure making small talk.

But in reality, every sentence, even every word of Jiang She's, was laden with hidden intent, spoken to a clever person who could understand, leaving the latter to chew over the deep meaning and decipher the words behind the words.

But if it had stopped there, Chen Ping'an wouldn't have felt fear. The vast world is full of wonders. A high-level cultivator who has cultivated the Heavenly Eye can see the entirety of things, the depth of a person's Dao Qi, the flow of their heart, and even part of their karma.

What truly frightened Chen Ping'an, after leaving the mental landscape, was the belated realization that sent cold sweat down his back. If Liu Xianyang, as an outsider, hadn't seen clearly and pointed out the truth, Jiang She and Wu Yan would have glossed over the matter of the bottleneck and the evil thought.

What made Chen Ping'an especially feel a chill was actually the woman's sentence: "Jiang She likes Pei Qian a bit more." Chen Ping'an didn't doubt the truth of this, but at the time, he felt something was off. Only later, when he was alone and thinking it over, did he finally get the taste of it. It was a problem of sequence. If such words had been spoken openly from the start, Chen Ping'an wouldn't have felt such deep discomfort.

It was as if Jiang She was already very familiar with Chen Ping'an's words, deeds, habits, temper, Dao heart, and weaknesses.

So from beginning to end, from Jiang She boarding the ship and entering the room, step by step, sentence by sentence, Jiang She led Chen Ping'an's Dao heart like leading a bull by the nose.

For so many years, I, as a master, have poured my heart and soul into raising Pei Qian as my own daughter. If you come to recognize her, fine—but why the hell are you playing military tactics with me?!

Pei Qian said, "Master, Wen Sheng, old sir, is back."

Chen Ping'an collected his thoughts, stood up, and said, "Let's go see."

In the immortal realm like a jade tower, the old scholar strode toward a room. He turned to look at Chen Ping'an and Pei Qian, who were walking out together from the corridor. He smiled and waved his hand. "Wait a moment." Without waiting for Chen Ping'an to say anything, the old scholar's smile faded. He strode forward with big steps, heading straight for the main hall. His sleeves billowed, his expression solemn, and his tone indifferent. He confronted the inside of the room with a reprimand: "The Military School knows no benevolence. Doesn't it even understand propriety?"

Within the Righteous Spirit Continent's Confucian orthodoxy, the Vice Master, Han Fuzi, who had reorganized the orthodoxy and was praised as "the Dao saving the world," had a nature naturally aligned with the Second Sage, yet he set aside the once-prominent Second Sage lineage. The Second Sage, however, was close to the Confucian Temple's Master, Dong Fuzi, and could even be traced further back, with scholarly roots close to the Sage of Rites. As for the Third-Fourth debate between the Second Sage and Wen Sheng, besides the difference between good and evil in human nature, their interpretations of the teachings of the Ultimate Sage had their own expressions and extensions. For example, the Second Sage emphasized benevolence and righteousness, while Wen Sheng revered rites.

On the corridor side, Xie Dog was worried. "Xiao Mo, Wen Sheng, old sir, has quite an imposing presence. He usually hides his true colors. He won't start a fight over a disagreement, will he?"

Xiao Mo said, "I'll side with the young master anyway."

Xie Dog rubbed her cheeks. "I'll help you, then."

Xiao Mo said, "You need to stay neutral."

Xie Dog said, "I won't kill Wu Yan. But joining you to kill Jiang She? No heart barrier to cross."

Earlier, Xiao Mo and Liu Xianyang each did their own tasks. Xiao Mo drew his sword and set up an array to trap Wu Yan. Liu Xianyang was responsible for informing the Confucian Temple via heart message.

Xiao Mo had already prepared for the worst: first help Liu Xianyang slash Wu Yan, then send Liu Xianyang out of the Night Voyager, and engage in a life-and-death battle with Jiang She himself. At best, he would exchange his own Dao life for a loss of Jiang She's Dao power.

Xiao Mo had always regarded himself as a dead soldier, attending and protecting Chen Ping'an, fully willing to bear that cost. As for whether the ambitious Jiang She could accept it, that was Jiang She's concern.

The old scholar lifted his foot, and the Night Voyager, which had been submerged, leapt out of the water and sailed normally on the sea surface. As soon as the old scholar's foot touched the ground, heaven and earth were already isolated.

Jiang She was sitting upright in the room inside. He merely lifted his eyelids slightly, pretending not to hear Wen Sheng's rude remarks.

As for his Dao partner Wu Yan, she imitated the women of the current world, turned sideways, performed a curtsey, and said softly, "Greetings to Wen Sheng."

The old scholar stepped over the threshold and nodded. His second sentence was like a rascal's nonsense: "Jiang She, do you want me to ask the Sage of Rites to kowtow to you a few times?"

Jiang She finally spoke. "Master Xun, please don't joke."

No wonder he had to isolate heaven and earth. With an opening like that, could he let his student Chen Ping'an hear it?

The old scholar sneered. "Your mouth says 'willing to accept the loss,' but in your heart, you're full of resentment. Everything, every person, every feeling, every principle—you want to maximize your benefit. What's the result? Do you want to be imprisoned for another ten thousand years?!"

Jiang She said, "Come talk to me when you've gone from being the fourth-in-command of the Confucian school to the second-in-command."

The old scholar tucked his hands into his sleeves. "Oh?"

Just then, a very familiar voice sounded in the room. "Jiang She, the Righteous Spirit Continent is not somewhere else."

Jiang She crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair. "Little Master, are you trying to teach me how to conduct myself in the world?"

The Sage of Rites gave two words from afar: "Listen."

Jiang She was momentarily speechless.

What was wrong with the world these days? Why did everyone think the Little Master was the most reasonable? Damn it, ten thousand years ago, among that group of scholars, the most unreasonable one was this guy who had refined some "original character."

The Sage of Rites' divine sense immediately dispersed. Jiang She felt his body lighten.

The old scholar clicked his tongue. "Busy enough, aren't you? In just a few days, you've already hooked up with Daoist Longbo. Caught any big fish? Chatting well with Chen Qingliu?"

Jiang She looked puzzled. Why was the speech of this esteemed fourth-in-command of the Confucian school so unrefined?

The old scholar suddenly asked, "Daoist Yuan Shen, where is your true body?"

Jiang She said lazily, "In the Wildlands."

He hadn't found that Chu Sheng. That fellow was slippery, indeed hard to find.

The old scholar nodded. "The Wildlands, after all, are the natural ally of Daoist Yuan Shen."

Jiang She said, "Although I didn't see an old friend, he had Fei Ran pass a message to me: if I am willing to take charge of the Wildlands, he is willing to twist off his own head and give it to me as both an apology and a congratulatory gift."

The old scholar said, "The Great Demon Chu Sheng does have that kind of boldness. Daoist Yuan Shen need not doubt the truth of this."

Jiang She laughed. "Wen Sheng is quite familiar with those dusty old histories of ten thousand years."

The old scholar stroked his beard and said, "I remember back when I was a poor scholar who thought 'at middle age, everything is over.' The first time I went to see a certain academy's Virtuous Man, I was nervous as hell. I crammed at the last minute, staying up all night to read all of that Virtuous Man's works, just to have a clue."

The old scholar suddenly glared. "Surname Jiang, we old-timers shouldn't act old and sell our age, shouldn't be old and without dignity, shouldn't bully the young for being young."

The woman covered her mouth with a stifled laugh.

Jiang She actually began to close his eyes and rest. He didn't think he could get anything useful out of talking to this Wen Sheng today.

The old scholar squinted. "I came here today not to discuss the general trend of the world with you. I'm only going to ask you one thing, and you must give me a clear answer. That little girl from the Lotus Flower Blessed Land—will there come a day when she devours Pei Qian as an opportunity to confirm her Dao?"

Jiang She remained silent.

The woman tried to ease the atmosphere. She said softly, "Rest assured, Wen Sheng. How could we bear to do that?"

The old scholar shook his head. "That's not the answer I want to hear!"

The woman turned to look at her Dao companion.

Jiang She opened his eyes, stared at the old scholar, and said impatiently, "What right do you have to meddle in my family affairs?"

The old scholar looked a little tired. "What time is it now, Jiang She? Can't you, in a hundred matters, just once not be Jiang She? Just give a straight answer. Is it that hard?"

Jiang She turned a deaf ear.

The old scholar looked at Jiang She. "Speak nicely. Less scheming, more sincerity. Even if this is a difficult matter for you, no matter how difficult, a thousand difficulties, can it be harder than going head-to-head with the Dao Ancestor back then?"

Jiang She just pretended to be deaf and dumb.

The old scholar fell silent.

Jiang She sneered. "No matter how much you talk, can you stop me from recognizing my daughter?"

The old scholar stamped his foot in annoyance. "That's all well and good, but Pei Qian has to be willing and truly recognize you as her parents. What kind of bullshit logic is that? Are parents inherently right in everything? Is this a battlefield slaughter? Is it officialdom scheming? You, Jiang She, can't even give a guarantee that you won't harm Pei Qian out of interest or for the sake of the Dao! Are you too lazy to give it, too afraid to give it, do you disdain to give it, or can you not give it at all?! And I had to suppress my nature and put on the guise of Wen Sheng to see you, so that my student and little Pei Qian wouldn't have any hard feelings. What for? Damn you, Jiang She! Go fuck your own military school ancestor!"

"If I were Xiao Ping'an and met someone like you coming to recognize a child, I'd give you a slap first."

Jiang She's eyes were indifferent. "Are you done cursing? If you're done, I'll take Pei Qian away now. I won't short Chen Ping'an and Fallen Mountain a single bit of compensation or benefits."

The old scholar was furious. "Anyone who's human wouldn't say such bullshit!"

Jiang She's face darkened a few degrees. "Surname Xun, let me remind you: don't push your luck. If you anger me, I'll make your Confucian Temple and this Righteous Spirit Continent remember a lesson."

"Still pulling that routine. Damn it, after countless arguments, this is the first time I've been this angry." The old scholar shook his head, as if making a decision. He took a deep breath and said with a hollow laugh, "Fine! Reason can't get through to you. You, Jiang She, have always been one whose path to the Dao is to break all boundaries and earthly barriers. You just can't be sure whether my closed-door disciple has the ability to outsmart you to death."

Jiang She asked with a smile, "Relying on him as he is now?"

The old scholar said, "Since you're not at ease with half of the 'One,' why should I be at ease with the First Ancestor of the Military School? How about we draw out the path? Each relies on their own ability, live or die by their own, win or lose by heaven?"

Jiang She smiled ambiguously. "Trying to provoke me?"

With a complex expression, the old scholar dispelled the isolation of heaven and earth, turned to look outside the house, and said, "Ping'an, it's doable."

Chen Ping'an silently looked at Pei Qian.

Pei Qian gently shook her head. "Master, don't be sad. I didn't want to eat that mud-stained steamed bun anyway."

All these years, I may never have grown up. I was just pretending to be sensible.

Xiao Mo held his breath, with his two fingers together, forming a sword seal in front of him. A faint blue-purple sword aura vaguely manifested.

A long sword to lean on for a thousand miles.

Xie Dog revealed her White Jing true form appearance. In her sleeve was a miniature short sword used for "viewing mountains," one of her trump cards from ancient times when she forcefully acquired a Dao title.

Unexpectedly, Chen Ping'an took one step forward. His body instantly shattered like countless pieces of glass, and in an instant, it coalesced again into a divine form.

The heaven and earth were a vast, undifferentiated chaos. He casually walked over to Xiao Mo, patted Xiao Mo's arm, then came to White Jing's side and gently tapped her sleeve. "No need."

A long, endless staircase ascending to heaven stood in opposition, while on the earth stood a phantom White Jade Capital.

A divine being slowly descended the steps, waving his sleeve to scatter the imagined phantom of the White Jade Capital.

As the figure descended from high to low, pulled by Dao Qi, there was an eerie sign of Dao transformation, as if forcing heaven and earth to merge.

In a whirlpool of the River of Time, Zheng Juzhong slowly rose. He smiled at Lu Chen, who was sitting cross-legged opposite, chin in hand, yawning. "Your White Jade Capital has good fortune."

Beyond the heavens, a sword light like a resplendent Milky Way, with no regard for restraint, approached this "ferry" of the Azure Underworld, traveling along the blue Dao trajectory that bypassed the Wildlands and the Righteous Spirit Continent.

At the same time, within Jiang She's incarnation in the room, three portions of martial fortune began to stir up trouble.

The multi-colored world of Ascension City. The Azure Underworld's New Year's Eve Palace. The Treasure Bottle Continent's Fallen Mountain. The Tongye Prefecture's Green Apple Sword Sect... Each had its own unusual signs, each stirring up a wind, as if the auxiliary gods were returning to their posts.

On the highest tower of the White Jade Capital, the Paragon Yu Dou was in high spirits.

In the lower five cities and twelve towers, the city lords and Dao officials who detected the anomalies each had their own thoughts.

In the Wildlands, Bai Ze sighed softly. The Crimson Concubine, who was traveling with him and had just entered the Fourteen Realm, was greatly shaken in her Dao heart. She wanted to speak but hesitated, wanting to ask Master Bai the reason.

Bai Ze muttered to himself, "A change in heaven."

Zouzi was walking on foot among the mortal world, silent. He simply retracted his hand into his sleeve and deduced the Five Elements.

Liu Xiang, traveling alone, smiled, stopped in his tracks, performed an ancient sacrificial rite, prostrated himself on the ground, and whispered two words, "Accept the sacrifice."

In Huaihuang County, a sudden rain soon cleared. Some elderly people who were unwilling to move to the prefectural city habitually chuckled and said a sentence: "This Heaven."