A thousand years ago, conflicts raged across the land without end. Wars broke out frequently, the people could barely survive, and it was an age of extreme suffering.
Back then, The Master founded Confucianism to enlighten the common people, promote goodwill, and govern with benevolence. All he wanted was peace under heaven and for the people to live and work in peace. Yet he had never expected that, a thousand years later, the very existence of Confucianism would become a tool for some to fight for power and profit, stirring up conflict.
Confucianism had now completely changed in nature, rotten to the marrow, no longer retaining its original purpose.
The Master was disappointed, and even more heartbroken. He had enlightened the masses, yet still could not erase the selfishness and greed within human hearts. Conflicts throughout the land grew fiercer by the day, and the chaotic age of a thousand years ago had finally returned.
Xia Ziyi arrived. After transcending the tribulation, his aura had grown much steadier. He walked to the wooden cottage, stopped before it, and lightly knocked on the door.
"Come in," The Master said.
Xia Ziyi pushed open the door and entered. Looking at the extremely aged old man before him, he respectfully bowed.
"The Master."
It was not the first time the two had met, but it was the first time Xia Ziyi had truly come to know The Master.
Few knew The Master's identity. Not even every generation of Xia Emperor necessarily knew it—Xia Rui, for instance.
As for everyone else, even fewer knew. Ning Chen had only pieced together a few clues through a strange twist of fate and guessed part of the truth himself. It was only later that he confirmed that the Master of the Academy was the same Master from