Literary Heart Mystery

"Advisor Li, I have something I need to ask your advice on." Walking along the rugged mountain path, Chen Luo, wanting to avoid thinking about the Tiger Demon's past, found a topic to distract himself.

"Patriarch Chen, please, don't hesitate to ask."

"Earlier, when I saw you fighting the Tiger Demon, why was it that by simply reciting a single character, you could achieve the effect of an entire battle poem?" Speaking of this, Chen Luo recalled the heroic scene of Advisor Li's single character manifesting a golden saber.

"Hahahaha, it's about that, is it..." Chen Luo's words seemed to strike a chord with Advisor Li, who burst into laughter. He said, "It's true I overlooked it. I only spoke to Patriarch Chen about the cultivation of demons, but I didn't mention the path of cultivation for our Confucian sect."

"I'd be honored to hear more."

"The cultivation of the Confucian sect also has distinct realms."

"The first realm is called the 'Self-Awareness Realm.' The saying 'Read a hundred times, and its meaning will reveal itself' refers to truly understanding a Confucian classic, allowing 'Righteous Qi' to be born within the body."

"Scholars in the 'Self-Awareness Realm' can see in the dark with their spiritual eyes, their bodies remain untainted by dust, and Malevolent Spirits are kept at bay."

"The second realm is called the 'Writing Realm.' Through writing Elegant Script, one can guide Righteous Qi to leave the body. This is also the foundation of battle poems and verses. Therefore, Confucian scholars who reach this realm can possess offensive capabilities by practicing battle poems and verses."

"The third realm is called the 'Poem Creation Realm.' Scholars at this level must create an Elegant Script poem or verse that is recognized by the Heavenly Dao to break through. Upon reaching this realm, the Heavenly Dao bestows a reward, and the scholar masters the ability of 'Words Flow Like Poetry.' This 'Words Flow Like Poetry' allows a battle poem or verse to be condensed into a specific character. Although the entire poem isn't recited, the Heavenly Dao still understands the poetic meaning contained within that character, thus forming a stronger and faster combat power for the scholar."

"Of course, there are geniuses in the world. Some people, upon entering the Writing Realm, can create Elegant Script poems as soon as they pick up their brush, breaking through two realms consecutively. Thus, some people group these two realms together, praising them with the saying, 'When the brush falls, it stirs the wind and rain; when the poem is completed, it makes ghosts and gods weep.'"

"I am dull-witted. I only entered the third realm five years ago, and it took me another three years to integrate the Golden Saber Poem by the esteemed Grandmaster Wang, the Seven-絕 Saint Hand, into a single character. I am ashamed, truly ashamed..."

Chen Luo silently noted down: the demon race has "Blood Purification," "Pure Blood," and "Blood Refining"; the Confucian sect has "Self-Awareness," "Writing," and "Poem Creation." These are all basic cultivation paths. He wondered what differences the Daoist sect and Buddhist sect had, and what kind of cultivation system the northern Barbarians, rumored to be humanity's mortal enemies, possessed.

It wasn't that Chen Luo's curiosity suddenly exploded. It was that he was now considering his own future path of cultivation. Zhong Kui had said that his abilities were closely related to Chen Luo's. It was likely the same if he summoned other Book Spirits.

He wondered if the miscellaneous books in the Dream Flower Sea, which were not originally in this world but were as vast as the sea, could help him forge a different path of cultivation.

However, there was no rush for now. He had only been in this world for five or six hours at most since his transmigration. Once the immediate matters were resolved, he would have plenty of time to explore and ponder.

Recalling his scattered thoughts, Chen Luo continued to lead Advisor Li through West Xiu Mountain. Perhaps it was due to the earlier fortune-telling, or perhaps it was Advisor Li's mighty display in slaying the Tiger Demon, but not a single wild beast interfered with them along the way.

After walking uphill for a while, Chen Luo saw an indented cave on the mountainside. He gestured to Advisor Li, who nodded and softly chanted: "The sun rises, mist and dew remain, the green pines seem bathed in oil."

As the chant fell, a small ball of light slowly emerged from behind Advisor Li's head, illuminating the area within a ten-foot radius.

Chen Luo entered the cave under the light summoned by Advisor Li, who followed closely. Inside the cave were some tattered clothes. Chen Luo glanced at them and recognized them as Zhou Yong's clothes.

Chen Luo scanned the cave, finally arriving at a pile of rocks. He moved the rocks one by one, then took out his personal dagger and dug for a while. Finally, he saw a completely black secret box. Chen Luo took out the box and handed it to Advisor Li, saying, "This is it."

Advisor Li looked at the secret box, covered himself with a layer of Righteous Qi, and cautiously opened the box.

Instantly, a majestic azure light, even more brilliant than Advisor Li's Righteous Qi, illuminated the entire cave. Within this azure light, the sound of sutra chanting could be faintly heard.

"Immortal Literary Heart!" Advisor Li's expression changed drastically upon seeing the item in the box. Chen Luo, puzzled, took a step closer. Advisor Li's entire body of Righteous Qi suddenly became agitated, as if treating Chen Luo as an attacker.

"Advisor Li!" Chen Luo called out. Advisor Li turned to look at Chen Luo, who was startled because he saw fierce killing intent in Advisor Li's eyes. After a full few seconds, Advisor Li suddenly took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and closed the lid of the secret box. As the lid closed, the soaring azure light was also sealed within the box...

"Patriarch Chen, I was unsettled just now, and I apologize for my rudeness. This Immortal Literary Heart is of great importance, and I must report this to my superior as soon as possible. Patriarch Chen, after I escort you out of the mountain, I will take my leave. You and your family can return home on your own!"

Chen Luo nodded and was about to reply when Advisor Li stepped forward, grabbed Chen Luo's arm, and chanted, "A wisp of Righteous Qi, a thousand miles of refreshing wind!" Chen Luo felt as if he were standing on a soft cloud, the wind on his face stinging and making it impossible to open his eyes. Only when he felt the sensation disappear did he realize he was standing outside West Xiu Mountain. Chen Ping stood before him, and Advisor Li had vanished.

"Good heavens, two hours to get into the mountain, five minutes to get back." Chen Luo grumbled inwardly. He looked at Chen Ping and asked, "Uncle Ping, do you know about the Immortal Literary Heart?"

"The Immortal Literary Heart, that's a good thing!" Chen Ping said as he drove the carriage, "Master mentioned it. Those who can condense such a thing are Great Scholars with the potential to become Sages!"

"The Confucian sect is different from the Buddhist and Daoist sects. Besides cultivation realms, there is another unique realm, independent of the cultivation realms."

"Establishing Words, Establishing Merit, Establishing Virtue. Master calls this the Three Immortalities!"

"As long as one of these is achieved, a Literary Heart can be condensed! With a Literary Heart, one has the potential to become a Sage! Even after death, it can remain, like Buddhist relics and Daoist bone structures, an inheritable Immortal Literary Heart, carrying a lifetime of learning and possessing infinite wondrous uses."

"What? The Exotic Treasure that the Tiger Demon received was an Immortal Literary Heart?"

Chen Luo nodded slightly.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ping flicked the whip again: "Audacious demons! That is a treasure of our human race. No wonder the Tiger Demon, after just a little longer exposure, was tainted by the Power of Heavenly Condemnation of our human race."

"But young master, since it's been retrieved anyway. As for who colluded with the Winged Tiger lineage, and which Great Scholar's Immortal Literary Heart it was, these have nothing to do with us. We just need to resolve the threat of the Tiger Demon."

Chen Luo thought that was reasonable. He had merely stumbled upon it and found the Immortal Literary Heart. He shouldn't be concerned about the big figures related to the Confucian sect's Three Immortalities. With that thought, he might as well think about his own cultivation and Chen Xuan's eyes...

"Oh, right, Uncle Ping, since the Tiger Demon threat has been resolved, can the servants be called back? Such a large manor, it feels strange to walk for half a day and not see a single person..."

"Isn't that the truth? The fields outside the city haven't been plowed yet, we need to get moving too, otherwise, if we miss the season, the harvest will be poor."

"I can't quite remember, how many maids did I have? Who was my personal maid? Who was my concubine maid?"

"Young master, your mind is muddled. You only have one person, and Xiao Huan usually attends to your daily needs."

"This... my sister's eyesight isn't good, Xiao Huan should still be dedicated to taking care of her. I'll hire a new maid for myself tomorrow. Never mind, just call the people over and I'll pick them myself..."

"Young master, it's best to ask Miss about this."

"What? As the Patriarch, I can't even make this decision?"

"Well... young master, this decision, you really can't make..."

While Chen Luo and Chen Ping, master and servant, were passionately discussing the matter of maids, Cai Tongchen was already sitting in the main hall, having finished listening to Advisor Li's report.

Advisor Li said indignantly, "My lord, the Immortal Literary Heart is the culmination of a Great Scholar's life's work. For someone to trade it to demons, this is intolerable! It must be reported to the imperial court and investigated thoroughly!"

Cai Tongchen's expression turned grave, and he nodded: "That is natural. However, have you considered that the Immortal Literary Hearts offered by the various academies and noble families are all accounted for? Any slight movement would be noticed. Including the delay caused by the Tiger Demon killing everyone in Chen Manor, the theft of the Literary Heart has been at least over a month. Yet, there have been no rumors from either the court or the Confucian circles. This is almost impossible! Unless..."

Advisor Li seemed to realize something, his expression changing: "You mean to say..."

Cai Tongchen nodded slightly: "That without our knowledge, a Great Scholar has fallen..."