"Advisor Li, there's something I'd like to ask you about." As they walked along the rugged mountain path, Chen Luo found a topic to divert his thoughts so he wouldn't dwell on the Tiger Demon's past.
"Patriarch Chen, ask whatever you wish."
"Earlier, I saw you battling the Tiger Demon. How could merely uttering a single word produce the effect of an entire War Poem and Ci?" As he spoke, Chen Luo recalled the magnificent scene of Advisor Li uttering one word and summoning a Golden Blade.
"Hahahaha, so that's what this is about..." Chen Luo's words seemed to scratch Advisor Li right where he itched. Advisor Li laughed heartily and said, "I neglected to explain it earlier. I only told Patriarch Chen about the Demon Race's cultivation, but I never mentioned the path of Confucian cultivation."
"I'd be honored to hear about it."
"Confucian cultivation is also divided into clearly defined realms."
"The first realm is called the 'Self-Awareness Realm.' As the saying goes, 'Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning reveals itself.' It means truly comprehending a Confucian classic, allowing Righteous Qi to be born within the body."
"Confucian scholars in the Self-Awareness Realm can see at night with spiritual eyes, remain untouched by dust, and make evil spirits flee."
"The second realm is called the 'Writing Realm.' By writing Elegant Script, one can guide Righteous Qi out of the body. This is also the foundation of War Poem and Ci. Therefore, Confucian scholars who reach this realm gain offensive abilities through practicing War Poem and Ci."
"The third realm is called the 'Poem Creation Realm.' To break through, a Confucian scholar in this realm must create a poem or ci in Elegant Script recognized by the Heavenly Dao. Once they reach this realm, the Heavenly Dao bestows a reward, granting them the ability to make 'Words Flow Like Poetry.' This ability can condense a War Poem and Ci into a single specific character. Although the entire poem has not been recited, the Heavenly Dao can still comprehend the poetic meaning contained in that character, thereby forming a stronger and faster combat power for the Confucian scholar."
"Of course, the world is full of geniuses. Some people, upon entering the Writing Realm, can create an Elegant Script poem the moment they pick up their brush, breaking through two realms in succession. Thus, some people also refer to these two realms together, praising them with the words: 'When the brush falls, wind and rain are startled; when the poem is formed, ghosts and gods weep.'"
"This one is dull-witted. I only entered the third realm five years ago, and then spent another three years incorporating Grandmaster Seven Absolute Saints Hand Wang's Golden Saber Poem into a single character. What a shame, what a shame..."
Chen Luo silently committed it to memory. The Demon Race had "Blood Purification," "Pure Blood," and "Blood Refinement"; Confucianism had "Self-Awareness," "Writing," and "Poem Creation." These were all basic cultivation paths. He wondered what differences existed in the Daoist and Buddhist schools, and what sort of cultivation system belonged to the northern barbarian tribes, the long-rumored mortal enemies of humanity.
It wasn't that Chen Luo had suddenly become ravenous for knowledge. Rather, he had begun considering his own future cultivation path. Zhong Kui had said that his abilities were closely connected to Chen Luo's own. Presumably, the same would be true if he summoned other Book Spirits.
He wondered whether the miscellaneous books in that Dream Flower Sea—books that did not exist in this world yet were as vast as the ocean—could help him blaze a different path of cultivation.
But there was no need to hurry. He had been transported to this world for only five or six hours at most. Once he resolved the matter at hand, he would have plenty of time to explore and ponder.
Pulling his scattered thoughts back, Chen Luo continued leading Advisor Li through West Xiu Mountain. Perhaps it was because of his earlier fortune investigation, or perhaps because Advisor Li had displayed his might and slain the Tiger Demon, but not a single wild beast disturbed them along the way.
After walking uphill for a while, Chen Luo saw that there was indeed a recessed cave halfway up the mountain. He gestured to Advisor Li, who nodded and softly chanted, "When the sun rises, the mist and dew are gone; green pines gleam as though bathed in rich ointment."
When the chant ended, a tiny ball of light slowly appeared behind Advisor Li's head, illuminating the surroundings within ten paces.
Taking advantage of the sunlight summoned by Advisor Li, Chen Luo entered the cave, with Advisor Li following close behind. There were some tattered clothes inside. Chen Luo glanced at them and recognized them as Zhou Yong's clothing.
Chen Luo surveyed the cave, then finally arrived at an area filled with jumbled rocks. He moved the rocks aside one by one, then took out his dagger and dug for a while. At last, he saw a tightly sealed box as black as ink. Chen Luo pulled it out and handed it to Advisor Li. "This is it."
Advisor Li examined the box, covered his body in Righteous Qi, and cautiously opened the box.
In an instant, a blue radiance even more majestic than the Righteous Qi around Advisor Li burst forth and illuminated the entire cave. Within the blue light, the faint sound of someone reciting the meanings of the classics could be heard.
"Immortal Literary Heart!" Advisor Li's expression changed drastically when he saw what was inside the box. Chen Luo approached in confusion, but the Righteous Qi throughout Advisor Li's body suddenly grew restless, as if it had taken Chen Luo for an attack target.
"Advisor Li!" Chen Luo shouted. Advisor Li turned to look at him, and Chen Luo was startled to find a vicious killing intent in his eyes. After several full seconds, Advisor Li suddenly drew a deep breath and steadied his emotions before closing the box. As the lid shut, the sky-piercing blue radiance was sealed inside the box as well...
"Patriarch Chen, my emotions were unsettled just now. I hope you'll forgive me. This Immortal Literary Heart is of great importance, and I must notify my superior as soon as possible. Patriarch Chen, after I take you out of the mountain, I'll go on ahead. You and your family can return home on your own!"
Chen Luo nodded and was about to reply when Advisor Li stepped forward and grabbed his arm, chanting, "A single spark of Righteous Qi, thousands of miles of refreshing wind!" Chen Luo felt as though he were standing atop a soft, yielding cloud. The wind rushing toward him stung his face and blew so fiercely that he couldn't open his eyes. When the sensation finally vanished, he realized he was already standing outside West Xiu Mountain. Chen Ping stood before him, while Advisor Li had vanished without a trace.
"What a guy. Two hours going in, five minutes coming back." Chen Luo grumbled inwardly, then looked at Chen Ping and asked, "Uncle Ping, do you know about the Immortal Literary Heart?"
"The Immortal Literary Heart? That's a wonderful thing!" Chen Ping urged the carriage onward as he said to Chen Luo, "Master mentioned it to me. Anyone capable of condensing one is a Great Scholar with hopes of becoming a Sage!"
"Confucianism is different from Buddhism and Daoism. Apart from cultivation realms, it also has another extraordinary realm, one that exists independently of cultivation realms."
"Establishing Words, Establishing Merit, and Establishing Virtue. Master said these are the Three Immortalities!"
"As long as one accomplishes any one of them, one can condense a Literary Heart! With a Literary Heart, one possesses the potential to become a Sage! Even after death, one can leave behind an Immortal Literary Heart that can be passed down, just like Buddhist relics and Daoist bones. It carries everything one learned throughout one's life, with endless wondrous uses."
"What? The Exotic Treasure received by that Tiger Demon was an Immortal Literary Heart?"
Chen Luo nodded slightly. "Mm."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ping waved his whip again. "Those audacious demons! That was a treasure of humanity. No wonder that Tiger Demon became tainted with the Human Heavenly Condemnation Power after merely being in contact with it for a little while."
"But, Young Master, at least it's been recovered. As for who colluded with the Winged Tiger lineage and which Great Scholar that Immortal Literary Heart belonged to, none of that has anything to do with us. We only need to deal with the Tiger Demon's threat."
Chen Luo thought about it and agreed. He had merely happened upon the Immortal Literary Heart. As for the mighty figures involved with the Three Immortalities of Confucianism, it was not his place to worry about them. Rather than spend his energy on that, he might as well think about his own cultivation and Chen Xuan's eyes...
"Right, Uncle Ping, since the Tiger Demon has been dealt with, can the servants be called back? The manor is so large, and it feels strange to walk for half a day without seeing anyone..."
"Exactly. The fields outside the city haven't even been plowed yet. We need to get moving, or we'll miss the season and the harvest will suffer."
"I can't quite remember—how many maids do I have? Which one is my personal maid? Which one is my bedchamber maid?"
"Young Master, you're confused. You only have one maid. Xiao Huan usually attends to your daily needs."
"About that... My sister's eyes are in poor condition now, so Xiao Huan should care for her full-time. Hire another maid for me tomorrow. No, just call the candidates over and let me choose..."
"Young Master, you'd better ask Miss about that."
"What? I'm the head of the household. Can't I make even this decision?"
"Well... Young Master, you really can't make this decision..."
Just as Chen Luo and Chen Ping, master and servant, were heatedly discussing the matter of maids, Cai Tongchen had already seated himself in the main hall and finished listening to Advisor Li's report.
Advisor Li said angrily, "My lord, an Immortal Literary Heart contains the life's blood and sweat of a Great Scholar, yet someone actually traded it to the Demon Race! This is intolerable! It must be reported to the Imperial Court and investigated to the very end!"
Cai Tongchen's expression was solemn as he nodded. "Naturally. But have you considered this? The Immortal Literary Hearts enshrined by the various academies and aristocratic families are all accounted for. The slightest disturbance would be discovered. Including the delay caused by the Tiger Demon slaughtering everyone in Chen Manor, the Literary Heart must have been stolen for at least a month. Yet no rumors have emerged in either the Imperial Court or the Confucian world. That is practically impossible! Unless..."
Advisor Li thought of something, and his expression changed. "You mean..."
Cai Tongchen nodded slightly. "Without our knowing it, a Great Scholar has fallen..."
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