Granny Jin left with Ning Bing.
She had also taken Jin Guagua's soul with her.
As it happened, when Chen Luo's soul had been shaken earlier and readjusted itself to perfectly match his body, the part of his soul that had fused with Jin Guagua had automatically been squeezed out. It was just enough to put an end to this entanglement.
"This Jin Sanshun has turned doing business into a cultivation path, yet her judgment is terrible." Dao Lord Tian Ling shook his head, then said to Chen Luo, "Virtuous Teacher, this Soul Merging technique is merely a method of the Demon Race. For humans, its only benefit is borrowing strength. Once it's undone, it's undone. My Dao Sect has its own soul-contract technique, one that puts humans first, and its effects are considerably better."
"Star Devouring Toad is indeed extraordinary, but it isn't the only bloodline that can stand alongside it. For example, my Dao Sect has a pool of Heavenly Dragons. Why don't I make the decision and assign a Dragon Girl with excellent aptitude to form a soul contract with you, Virtuous Teacher?"
"Hm?" Chen Luo looked at the kindly Dao Lord Tian Ling, and a line suddenly surfaced in his mind—
"Old Xu, want a wife? If you do, I'll send one over right now!"
"Hmph!" Wei Yan let out a cold laugh from behind Chen Luo. "Dao Lord Tian Ling is certainly generous with his offer. I thought you meant a Dragon Girl from the Dragon Palace in the Sea of Stars, but it turns out you're talking about the Xuantan Heavenly Dragon Pool. They're nothing more than false dragons transformed from creatures that leaped through the Dragon Gate. Compared to Star Devouring Toad, they're not even close!"
After speaking, Wei Yan looked at Chen Luo again. "Among the Heavenly Dragons in that pool, I remember that the youngest female dragon transformed from an electric eel two hundred and sixty years ago, achieving the body of a Thunder Dragon. Are you interested?"
"Not interested, not interested." Chen Luo waved his hands repeatedly. "Not interested at all."
After saying this, Chen Luo looked at Dao Lord Tian Ling with a resentful expression. I almost got tricked. Bad man!
Exposed, Dao Lord Tian Ling gave an awkward laugh and forced an explanation. "I heard there are Dragon Eggs hatching in the pool as well. I'll keep an eye out..."
Chen Luo was unwilling to return to Floating Cloud Market, so Wei Yan took him out of Floating Cloud Mountain and flew straight toward Zhili Academy. Dao Lord Tian Ling left behind a communication talisman before hurriedly taking his leave.
After all, with the sudden appearance of the Heaven-Connecting Path, he had to return and report everything clearly to the Grand Celestial Master. As for the conferral of Virtuous Teacher, there would naturally be further arrangements.
Inside a quiet room at the academy, candlelight swayed. Only Chen Luo and Wei Yan were present.
Wei Yan waved his hand and set up a barrier. Only then did he carefully examine Chen Luo, a trace of satisfaction appearing on his face.
"Tell me. What grievances have you suffered during this time?"
Wei Yan was one of the people Chen Luo was relatively familiar with in this world. He had never put on airs in front of Chen Luo, and Chen Luo had also learned from Jin Sanshun that Wei Yan had gone to great lengths to save him, rushing around everywhere. Hearing Wei Yan say this, a sour feeling rose in Chen Luo's heart.
He had narrowly escaped death in One Line Gorge, and his companion Book Spirit had nearly lost its life. After returning to Floating Cloud Market, he had been looked down upon. Living under someone else's roof, he had been forced to bow his head. Then he had been forcibly abducted and had his soul shaken. One incident after another surfaced in his mind. It would have been a lie to say Chen Luo had felt no grievance. He touched the dampness at the corner of his eyes and began recounting everything from the start...
The Rainbow Heavenly Road in the sky had already vanished. Fine rain fell like threads, dripping onto the earth, as though a junior were confiding in an elder...
After hearing Chen Luo's account, a flash of anger crossed Wei Yan's eyes.
"The Gu Sect! Gu Masters! Good, very good!" Wei Yan said coldly. "Those bugs actually dare to crawl out again."
Then Wei Yan looked at Chen Luo again. His anger faded, replaced by a gentle expression. "You've worked hard. This matter won't be brushed aside."
Chen Luo nodded. "Senior, regarding my cultivation path..."
Wei Yan waved his hand. "This matter exceeds my authority. There's no need to tell me. Once you reach the Central Capital, Minister Wen will question you in person. But before that, I have one matter to ask you about. You must answer truthfully."
"Please ask, Senior."
"Is the cultivation path you opened connected to the Great Scholar's Literary Heart from before?"
Chen Luo nodded.
Wei Yan's brows furrowed slightly. Seeing this, Chen Luo asked, "Senior Wei, is there a problem?"
Wei Yan sighed softly. "There are some old fellows in the Confucian Sect who are extremely rigid. You aren't a disciple of my Confucian Sect, yet you received a Great Scholar's Literary Heart and even opened a cultivation path. I'm afraid some people will develop unrealistic ideas."
Chen Luo immediately grew dissatisfied. "The Great Scholar's Literary Heart chose me. What does that have to do with them?"
"Don't be anxious." Wei Yan soothed Chen Luo. "This concerns proper status and the greater cause. It is the foundation of ritual, so they can't entirely be blamed. From what I've observed, your Heaven-Connecting Path shines with literary brilliance and coincides with the principles of my Confucian Sect. Would you be willing to enter my Confucian Sect?"
Chen Luo froze for a moment. "Me, enter the Confucian Sect?"
Wei Yan nodded. "Don't worry. The person who accepts you as a disciple will certainly hold a higher position than I do. It may even be Minister Wen himself who takes you as his disciple."
"But I don't have Righteous Qi, and I can't cultivate a Mountain of Books or Sea of Learning!"
"So what?" Wei Yan stroked his beard and spoke boldly. "Embracing all things without prejudice is the true essence of my Confucian Sect. Sage Han established his teachings, Sage Mo brought forth his craft, and Sage Qin created medicine. On top of that, the Martial Minister now wishes to open the Martial Dao. They are all walking new paths, merely paths opened upon the Confucian Sect Great Dao. Unlike you opening a path alone, theirs are not so conspicuous."
"A teacher imparts the Dao, teaches skills, and resolves doubts. You need not impart the Dao or teach skills, but you're still young. Could you truly have no doubts in the future?"
Chen Luo gazed at Wei Yan, feeling more and more that the other man was laying a trap for him.
"What? Do you think even a Great Scholar is unworthy of being your teacher?" Wei Yan met Chen Luo's gaze and pretended to be angry, patting him on the head. "Don't look at this old man like that!"
"Um..." Chen Luo scratched his head. "I didn't mean anything else. I was just a little frightened. I feel it's better to go with someone I already know. How about I simply take you as my teacher? A blind marriage and a mute matchmaker won't do..."
"A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory! A Great Scholar is willing to take you as his disciple, and you're still being picky?" Wei Yan glared at Chen Luo. After a moment, he sighed. "If this had been before, there would have been no problem with you taking me as your teacher. But now you've opened the Three Thousand Li Heavenly Road, while I've only just entered the Great Scholar realm. If I became your teacher, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to protect you..."
Chen Luo's heart trembled when he heard this. Those words contained too many implications. Yet he also felt the deep care Wei Yan, Minister Wen behind him, and even the entire Confucian Sect held for him.
"Thank you." Chen Luo spoke softly. "No matter what, Senior, you're still my elder. I'll treat you as my teacher..."
The corners of Wei Yan's mouth lifted slightly. He stood up and patted Chen Luo on the shoulder. "Rest well. We'll enter the capital tomorrow!"
Shouyang Mountain, Xuantan Palace.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Dao Lord Qingwei walked through a long corridor and arrived in the underground palace beneath Xuantan Palace.
At the deepest part of the underground palace stood a massive bronze door covered in runes. Qingwei stood before it, summoned the phantom of an array talisman in his hand, and slapped it into a groove on the bronze door. The enormous door slowly opened, and a bone-chilling cold rushed toward him.
Purple light flickered across Qingwei's entire body, enveloping him. He continued walking beyond the door and finally stopped before a massive pillar of ice.
Looking at the figure inside the ice pillar, seemingly asleep, a warm smile appeared on Qingwei's face.
"Senior Sister, it seems I've missed another move."
"Tian Ling came back and said that the Virtuous Teacher I conferred was actually the person who opened the fourth cultivation path."
"If I'd known, wouldn't it have been better to take her back as my disciple directly? Now I'm afraid those old scholars from the Confucian Sect got there first..."
"I told you, you would have been the most suitable person to take the Grand Celestial Master's position!"
Qingwei gazed at that cool figure within the ice pillar, boundless tenderness in his eyes.
By White Cloud Spring on Mount Tianping, I write while you read—this is all fate.
Amid the vast sea of humanity, we meet through books. Cast your votes and help me advance forever.
This was a transitional chapter, and it was a little difficult to write. I revised it several times, so it was posted late. This is the final chapter of Volume One.
Starting tomorrow, we'll begin the story of Volume Two: the Central Capital arc. More people and factions will make their grand entrances, and the protagonist will also begin doing the things a protagonist ought to do.
Finally, I'm seriously asking for monthly votes, recommendations, and investments... I'm only a dozen or so short of completing the small goal!
Before you continue