After bidding farewell to everyone in Tianyuan City, Liu Bai set off on auspicious clouds with San Xiao and Zhao Gongming, touring above the East Sea's rippling blue waters.
Jin'ao Island was now shrouded in countless rays of rosy light. The Immortal Slaying Four Swords hung in the sky above the island's heart, their sword qi soaring into the heavens without being ostentatious, faintly connected to the spiritual veins of the Four Seas. Palaces and halls stood in orderly rows across the island, all forged from Innate Spirit Materials. Clouds and mist swirled outside the halls, while countless Jie Sect Disciples either sat cross-legged in meditation or practiced Array Formations—a scene of flourishing prosperity. As soon as Liu Bai landed, a young attendant came forward to guide him. "Senior Brother, Master is waiting for you in Biyou Palace."
Inside Biyou Palace, Sect Master Tongtian sat on the Nine-Dragon Agarwood Throne, dressed in a Chaos Dao Robe. His face was ancient and dignified, and when his eyes opened and closed, the rise and fall of the universe seemed to unfold within them. His direct disciples sat in two rows below him. Daoist Duobao, Holy Mother Jin Ling, and the others listened intently. Sensing Liu Bai's presence, they all turned to acknowledge him.
Liu Bai stepped forward and bowed. His voice was steady. "Master, there's something I'd like you to decide now that I've returned to the Human Race."
Sect Master Tongtian nodded slightly. A wisp of primal chaos qi flowed around his fingertips. "Go ahead and tell me everything."
"Master! Here's what happened. When I returned to Tianyuan City, it was originally because my cousin invited me to take part in the city's once-in-a-century Sea Beast Tide trial. Since our Interception Sect moved to Jin'ao Island, neighboring Tianyuan City, my cousin wanted to build friendly ties with our sect. Tianyuan City could open a Marketplace to make trading easier for our disciples, and we could work together to maintain peace along the East Sea coast! I didn't dare make the decision on my own, so I came to report it to you!" Liu Bai explained the matter in detail to Sect Master Tongtian.
Sect Master Tongtian smiled and spoke softly. "Oh? And what do you think?"
"Master, Tianyuan City lies at the border between the Human Race and the Dragon Clan. It's a hub where the various peoples of the East Sea trade and coexist. Its former lord, Su Bai, laid a firm foundation, while its current lord, Liu Suifeng, is a prodigy of the Human Race and also the Dragon Clan's son-in-law. He commands great respect." Liu Bai spoke slowly,
describing the scenes from the Sea Beast Tide trial in the bay and how the young cultivators of the Human Race had tempered themselves.
"My cousin Suifeng said plainly that Tianyuan City needs protection from top experts. Our Interception Sect moved to Jin'ao Island to protect the living beings of the East Sea and uphold our principle of 'seizing a thread of life for all living beings.' Our aims are aligned. In public, we can use Tianyuan City's position as a hub to spread the Interception Sect's teachings. Personally, as a member of the Liu family, I also hope the Human Race and the Interception Sect will support one another and protect the peace of the region."
He paused, then added, "The people of Tianyuan City are honest and simple, and its cultivators strive to improve themselves. It's allied with the Dragon Clan, and the various peoples live in harmony. It's an ideal place to put Master's teachings into practice. The Interception Sect could establish a Preaching Point in Tianyuan City and welcome worthy people from every race. That would help Tianyuan City strengthen its defenses while bringing talented people into our sect—a benefit to both sides."
Hearing this, a flicker of approval appeared in Sect Master Tongtian's eyes. The Nine-Dragon Agarwood Throne beneath him trembled slightly, and as clouds churned outside the hall, the sword qi of the Immortal Slaying Four Swords softened by a third. "You speak wisely. When I founded the Interception Sect, I intended it to welcome all races and select people for their talents, seeking only to seize a thread of life for all living beings in the Primordial World. Tianyuan City connects the Human Race, the Dragon Clan, and the Sea Clan. It's an important place from which to spread our teachings. As the Interception Sect's senior disciple, you can handle these matters yourself!"
Sect Master Tongtian was inwardly delighted. I was just worrying about lacking a supreme treasure to suppress the Interception Sect's fate. The Human Race is thriving, and that young Jiang He is no pushover either. They're using Tianyuan City to test our sect, so they'll have to pay something in return!
He raised a hand, and a ray of golden light flew from his sleeve, transforming into a golden scroll of edicts covered in profound runes and radiating a Sage's might. "This is my edict. Take it to Tianyuan City and tell them that one city alone isn't enough for my Interception Sect to protect them. This is an alliance treaty with the Human Race. Have them deliver it to that young Jiang He. An alliance must be with the entire Human Race; a little city like Tianyuan City is far too small-minded!"
"Ah! This..."
Liu Bai was stunned by Sect Master Tongtian's move. Good thing it sounds like Master knows the Clan Leader well! Whatever, I'll just pass along the message!
The edict drifted into Liu Bai's hands. The gentle power of a Sage flowed through him, further strengthening his Dao Heart. Just as he was about to express his thanks, he felt the Primordial World suddenly shudder. A vast, boundless radiance of Merit Golden Light shot up from the western sky, pierced through the clouds, and spread across the Four Seas and all the wilderness. Even the protective formation around Jin'ao Island rippled.
Sect Master Tongtian looked toward the western sky, his expression shifting slightly. "Such a rich aura of merit. It's a sign of a new law being born... Another path of cultivation has emerged in the Primordial World."
At the same time, in Jixia Academy in Luo Shui City,
this place where the literary veins of the Human Race converged was now enveloped in golden light. On the top floor of the library, Libationer Feng Luo stood before the window in a blue-green robe, his hands behind his back. Visible Literary Qi and Talent Qi circled around him, flowing in countless tadpole-shaped runes. He had secluded himself for three thousand years, reading billions of books from every era stored in the academy's Small World. He had studied the rule of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and delved into the thoughts of the various schools of philosophy, finally grasping the essence of the Literary Way: Literary Qi was no empty thing, but the source power formed from the wisdom, conviction, and virtue of the Human Race. It could nourish the Dao Heart, evolve laws, and prove the Dao of immortality.
At that moment, Feng Luo's brow opened in sudden enlightenment. A phantom of the Literary Dao Law, several feet long, slowly appeared. It resembled a scroll of the primordial heavenly book unfurled, with the five characters "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith" shining brilliantly upon it as they resonated with the laws of Heaven and Earth. He exhaled a breath of turbid air, his voice clear as a bell. "Heaven and Earth have their Dao, and the literary heart is its foundation; Talent Qi is the guide to proving the eternal Dao—this is the Heart of Literature Proves the Dao Art!"
The instant his words fell, it was as if a long, mournful sigh echoed between Heaven and Earth. Then boundless Merit Golden Light poured down like a waterfall, gathering above Jixia Academy and transforming into a gigantic Merit Golden Lotus. The lotus bloomed, scattering billions of rays of golden light, all of which streamed into Feng Luo.
Feng Luo felt the Literary Qi in his dantian surge, merging with the power of merit. His Dao Foundation was instantly nourished and made incomparably profound, and his cultivation soared—from the early stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal, through the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, all the way to the peak of the late Hunyuan Golden Immortal stage! Laws encircled him. Though he had not attained Sainthood, he now possessed the combat strength of a peak Quasi-Sage. The vastness of his aura was in no way inferior to that of an ordinary veteran Quasi-Sage.
Countless students and cultivators inside and outside the academy gazed up at the merit filling the sky, their faces full of awe and joy. Someone shouted, "It's the Libationer! He created a cultivation method for the Literary Way and drew down the Heavenly Dao's merit!"
"The Human Race has gained another Quasi-Sage!"
"From now on, we scholars can prove the Dao with Literary Qi too! We won't have to rely solely on the Martial Path or the Immortal Path!"
Feng Luo slowly opened his eyes, literary light flowing through them as they reflected Heaven and Earth. He could clearly sense his close connection to the literary veins of the entire Human Race. The wisdom and conviction of countless humans had become an unending source of power, sustaining his Dao Foundation. He understood that he was now the third Quasi-Sage of the Human Race itself. The first was the Human Race's Co-Lord, Jiang He; the second was Feng Li Yue, who had received Nuwa's personal instruction and awakened Nuwa's power. As for him, he had opened up an entirely new path through the Literary Way.
The Merit Golden Light gradually faded, but the Literary Qi between Heaven and Earth grew ever denser. Countless scholars who had been cultivating Literary Qi sensed it coursing clearly through their bodies, no longer as vague as before. One after another, they followed the methods in the Heart of Literature Proves the Dao Art and began practicing. For a time, the voices of scholars rang across the Human Race's lands, and the fragrance of books filled the air.
Inside Biyou Palace on Jin'ao Island, Sect Master Tongtian stroked his beard and smiled as he watched the traces of rosy merit-filled clouds lingering in the western sky. "The Human Race's fortune is indeed flourishing. They've even given birth to a Literary Dao system. Feng Luo has tremendous fortune and boldness. It seems I placed my bet well!"
Liu Bai was filled with emotion as well. The birth of the Literary Way had not only strengthened the Human Race, but also made the paths of cultivation in the Primordial World more diverse. That was a blessing for the Interception Sect, whose teachings welcomed all living beings without distinction. He tightened his grip on the Sage Edict and looked toward the East Sea. "Master, now that the alliance is settled, I'll return to Tianyuan City at once and put the preaching arrangements in place."
Sect Master Tongtian nodded. "Go. Remember, the Interception Sect's alliance with the Human Race is one of mutual support. You must uphold the principle of 'seizing a thread of life,' treat the living beings of every race well, and never disgrace the Interception Sect's name."
"Your disciple will remember your teachings, Master." Liu Bai bowed, turned, and left Biyou Palace. His figure became a streak of light and flew toward Tianyuan City. In the Primordial World, news of the newly born Literary Way had already spread like thunder, shocking every race.
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