Buzz!
Buzz!
Buzz!
Purple starlight descended from the heavens and fell upon Lu Changsheng.
In an instant, a purple star emerged above Lu Changsheng's head, evolving into all manner of divine objects: writing brushes, scrolls, jade tomes, ancient zithers, pipa lutes, chessboards, and more. They radiated terrifying literary qi.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The Literary Star trembled, its sound resounding across a million miles. The entire great region heard it.
"The Literary Star has stirred six times—a Half-Saint aptitude!" Li Zheng said in utter astonishment. They were scholars who cultivated righteous qi and scholar qi.
The Literary Star was the star that tested a scholar's aptitude.
If a great Confucian emerged in the world, the Literary Star would stir three times in recognition, signifying the status of a great Confucian.
But if it stirred six times, it meant that a Half-Saint had emerged. He was certain to become a Half-Saint in the future; this could not be changed.
Yet just as Li Zheng finished speaking—
In an instant, the Literary Star trembled once more.
Boom!
"Seven tremors—a Quasi-Saint!" Zhao Chun cried out.
Seven tremors of the Literary Star signified a Quasi-Saint, one foot already across the threshold of Literary Sainthood—the teacher of all scholars beneath heaven.
Boom!
Then, a scene that left countless people dumbstruck appeared.
Another deafening boom rang out.
This boom came accompanied by purple qi filling the skies, circling the Great Luo Holy Land. At the same time, its sound spread throughout the Nine Provinces and Ten Lands, leaving countless people at a loss for words.
"A human Quasi-Saint? Is another Quasi-Saint about to emerge from our scholarly lineage?"
"A Quasi-Saint is the teacher of the world, the teacher of us scholars!"
The crowd discussed it, utterly shaken.
Boom!
Yet at the very final moment—
Purple light that blanketed heaven and earth flooded Central Province.
Between heaven and earth, all was silent.
The Literary Star stirred nine times.
Such a thing had been almost impossible throughout all ages. Only when a scholar truly attained sainthood could the Literary Star stir nine times.
At that moment, terrifying purple light poured into Lu Changsheng's body.
One phantom after another appeared behind Lu Changsheng. Some held scriptures in their hands, some gazed upon the stars, and some watched over the common people.
"The Literary Star has stirred nine times—an aptitude for sainthood! This man is the Imperial Tutor of the world! Hiss!"
Can Qi blurted it out, staring at everything before him in disbelief.
They were all great Confucians of the present age, each a renowned figure. When they had become great Confucians, three stirrings of the Literary Star had already made their names known throughout the world.
But today, the Literary Star had stirred nine times.
The final sound rang through the entire world of immortals and martial arts like a thunderclap.
At that instant, every faction was completely and utterly stunned.
Before even attaining sainthood, he had already caused the Literary Star to stir nine times. If he truly became a Saint, what then?
"We pay respects to the Literary Saint!"
"We pay respects to the Literary Saint!"
"We pay respects to the Literary Saint!"
At this moment, Li Zheng and the others no longer knew how to describe it. They knelt upon the ground in utmost devotion.
At that moment, an incomparably resounding voice came from the Sun Moon Dynasty.
"I am Zhu Zhan. On behalf of the Sun Moon Dynasty, I pay respects to the Literary Saint. Henceforth, we shall honor him as the Sun Moon Imperial Tutor."
The voice rang out. This was the reigning emperor of the Sun Moon Dynasty, one of Central Province's three great dynasties. He was incomparably exalted and, in a sense, no weaker than the Great Luo Holy Land.
"I am Zhou Yuan. On behalf of the Great Zhou Dynasty, I pay respects to the Literary Saint. Henceforth, we shall honor him as the Great Zhou Imperial Tutor."
In an instant, the voice of the reigning emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty followed close behind.
"I am Qian Qing. On behalf of the Great Qian Dynasty, I pay respects to the Literary Saint. Henceforth, we shall honor him as the Great Qian Imperial Tutor."
The three great dynasties of Central Province all paid homage to Lu Changsheng as the Literary Saint at the same moment, directly bestowing upon him the title of Imperial Tutor.
Teacher of emperors, Literary Saint of the world.
Such glory could be called supreme beyond compare.
In other words, should Lu Changsheng visit any of these three great dynasties in the future, his standing would be equal to that of the emperor. Even kings, marquises, generals, and ministers would have to address Lu Changsheng as Imperial Tutor upon seeing him.
It was that outrageous.
Upon the Heaven Worship Hall—
Lu Changsheng was somewhat confused.
He had merely recited a few poems. Why had they come running over and started calling him teacher?
Did calling someone teacher not require payment?
Among mortals, when a teacher accepted a student, the student still had to offer cured sausage and dried fruits. They had come empty-handed—did they have no shame?
After glancing again at the special effects above his head, Lu Changsheng was already used to them.
Over the years, no matter what he did, as long as he did even slightly well, it would trigger heavenly phenomena.
Even breaking through to the Qi Refinement Realm could cause such heavenly phenomena. If he spoke a few Great Dao Truthful Words and there were no special effects, that would be the strange part.
He turned his gaze toward Qingyun Daoist, his meaning simple.
Time was up. Work was over.
The latter immediately noticed Lu Changsheng's gaze and understood his meaning.
He promptly returned Lu Changsheng a look, then said, "The Heaven Worship Ceremony is over!"
As the voice rang out, Lu Changsheng turned and left.
The show was over; it was time to head back.
Going back to properly study his pill formula was the true path.
All this gaudy spectacle was but floating clouds.
Yet just as Lu Changsheng turned to leave—
Li Zheng's voice rang out once more.
"Teacher, please stay."
As the voice rang out, Lu Changsheng turned back. He could not see Li Zheng, but he could hear his voice.
Li Zheng, however, could see Lu Changsheng turning around. He immediately knelt upon the ground and said with utmost devotion—
"Teacher, this student Li Zheng has been plagued by countless doubts of late. They have disturbed my mind, leaving me unable to truly enter the realm of great Confucian. I beg Teacher to bestow the way upon me! This student shall erect a longevity tablet for Teacher and have generation after generation offer worship to Teacher."
Li Zheng knelt upon the ground, voicing his confusion and begging Lu Changsheng to bestow the way upon him.
Yet Lu Changsheng himself was somewhat dumbfounded.
Bestow the way?
Bestow what way?
I do not even understand immortal cultivation, and you want me to teach you immortal cultivation?
No one else could understand his inward complaints.
All the crowd could see was Lu Changsheng surrounded by purple-gold radiance, incomparably noble, his peerless and transcendent bearing inspiring endless admiration.
"What doubts do you have?"
Lu Changsheng asked.
"This student cannot truly gain a foothold in the realm of great Confucian. This is my confusion. This student does not know where the way lies."
Li Zheng asked this with utmost devotion.
Where did the way lie?
Many people could not help but become puzzled.
This question was somewhat profound and unfathomable.
"The way is everywhere."
Lu Changsheng answered. He did not know where the way was either, so he could only make something up.
Yet everyone could not help but freeze.
Li Zheng furrowed his brow even more deeply and began contemplating it on his own.
"The way is everywhere. Then who may be a teacher?"
Li Zheng asked again.
Lu Changsheng frowned slightly.
He felt that this man was incredibly annoying.
But to maintain the bearing of his Eldest Senior Brother, he could only answer calmly.
"All things are teachers."
Lu Changsheng could only continue making things up.
Yet as soon as those words were spoken—
Li Zheng froze in an instant.
He sat where he was, sinking into contemplation.
Lu Changsheng also turned and left, returning to rest.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn—
Without warning—
Waves of literary qi spread out.
Around Li Zheng, purple qi surged boundlessly.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The Literary Star trembled five times.
Terrifying purple literary qi descended upon Li Zheng.
Seeing this scene, those nearby cried out in utter astonishment.
"A Heaven and Earth Great Confucian! A Heaven and Earth Great Confucian! Li Zheng has broken through to become a Heaven and Earth Great Confucian!"
"He understood! He understood it! He has been acknowledged by heaven and earth as a Heaven and Earth Great Confucian. One step further, and he will become a Void Saint."
"Hiss! A Literary Saint truly is a Literary Saint. With merely eight words, he allowed Li Zheng to comprehend the way and become a Heaven and Earth Great Confucian."
Everyone marveled. Zhao Chun, Can Qi, Hua Zhong, and the other great Confucians were completely awestruck.
For Lu Changsheng had merely answered with nine words.
Yet he had enabled Li Zheng to successfully comprehend the Dao and advance into a Heaven and Earth Great Confucian.
At that moment, Li Zheng revealed a joyous expression, a delight like that of one finally unshackled.
"I understand! I understand! The way is everywhere, and all things are teachers. Thank you, Teacher, for bestowing the way! Thank you, Teacher, for bestowing the way! Hahahahaha!"
"Thank you, Teacher, for bestowing the way!"
Li Zheng laughed loudly.
His literary qi soared into the heavens.
He was acknowledged by heaven and earth.
At this moment, countless people were stunned. Even the disciples of Great Luo were shocked beyond measure, one after another.
With only nine words, he had made Li Zheng a Heaven and Earth Great Confucian.
Such power—
Was simply terrifying beyond measure.
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