The Confucian Path Cultivates the Heart

Everyone knew Huzi had a habit of calling people whatever he pleased.

Children's words carried no taboo, and his father did not take it to heart.

The carriage soon stopped before their home.

It was far too late, and Huzi had already been overwhelmed by sleep in the carriage.

Upon entering the Governor's Mansion, the servants hurried over to take Huzi from them.

Zeng Anmin bade his father farewell, then headed toward his own room.

"Ha~"

After dismissing the maidservants attending him, Zeng Anmin lay directly down on the bed.

Though drowsiness plagued him, he did not forget the important matter. He slowly closed his eyes.

With a thought, he appeared within the mist-shrouded, violet-aura-wreathed Sea of Consciousness Space.

"Buzz~"

The phantom image of the Dragon Survey Map hovering in the Sea of Consciousness Space flickered with golden light.

Against this sea of consciousness wreathed in violet aura, it appeared exceptionally dazzling.

Zeng Anmin folded his arms and stared solemnly at the Dragon Survey Map phantom before him.

The first thing he could confirm was that, thanks to Rapid Enlightenment, he had directly comprehended the true intent of the Dragon Survey Map.

"I've never heard of a Body Cultivator being able to bring a phantom image of a diagram into their sea of consciousness after comprehending its true intent..."

He stared at the Dragon Survey Map phantom before him, contemplation flickering in his eyes.

The original Dragon Survey Map was still in the Xuanjing Division.

Because it had once been lost, the guards watching over the Dragon Survey Map had now been increased severalfold.

"Besides, whether Body Cultivators or Confucian Cultivators, they all cultivate step by step in proper order. I've never heard of anyone skipping the earlier cultivation realms and directly Opening the Purple Mansion."

Strange.

It was simply too strange.

Zeng Anmin had a premonition that Rapid Enlightenment had somehow allowed him to touch upon something extraordinary.

"Since I can't figure it out, I might as well stop thinking about it. It's a good thing for me anyway."

"Since ancient times, everyone else has begun cultivating from the first rank. I'm probably the only one who started halfway through and cultivated backward, right??"

With his hands behind his back, Zeng Anmin's heart brimmed with anticipation.

He greatly anticipated just how fast his progress would be after choosing a path to cultivate.

He circled once around the floating Dragon Survey Map.

Its front was exactly the same as the depiction on the original Dragon Survey Map.

But when he reached the back, he saw a line of vigorous, forceful writing.

With one arm, I shall sever eternity; I alone shall Unify the Nine Prefectures.

Every stroke brimmed with hot-blooded dominance!

Damn!

Zeng Anmin's heart was instantly seized by the kingly aura rushing straight at him.

His blood surged.

"Just what sort of formidable person possessed such spirit?!"

His heart stirred as he gazed at those words.

Anyone who could write such words was certainly no nobody!

Good!! The Dragon Survey Map belongs to me now!

Senior, go in peace. I will surely make the Dragon Survey Map shine again!

Zeng Anmin's gaze was resolute.

Moved by the feeling in his heart, he boldly extended a hand and slowly wrote a line:

"Where the sea ends, heaven forms the shore; atop the mountain's peak, I alone am the summit!!"

After writing it, he suddenly burst into laughter.

His voice echoed throughout the Sea of Consciousness Space:

"This world, Young Master Zeng has arrived!!!"

Then he suddenly sang at the top of his lungs:

"I stand amid the raging wind!"

"Wishing I could sweep away this endless heartache!"

"Watching the clouds churn in all four directions beneath the vault of heaven."

"With sword in hand, I ask the world—who is the hero!!"

"..."

Some people liked to vent their emotions by going crazy when they were alone.

Especially in an empty elevator.

In a hallway at night.

When home alone.

The three timeless settings for losing one's mind.

That night, Zeng Anmin had a dream.

He dreamed that his imposing father held a blood-dripping sword as he walked toward him step by step.

"Huzi calls me Grandpa and calls you Father, so why does he call Aunt Lin Mother?!"

"Speak! Did you commit some rebellious, immoral act of incest behind my back?!"

"No, Father, I didn't! Aunt Lin and I are innocent!"

Zeng Anmin frantically explained.

Yet he still could not stop the sword his father suddenly thrust at him.

"I really didn't!"

Zeng Anmin abruptly sat upright.

"Whew~"

What kind of nonsensical dream was that?!

He drew a deep breath. Just as he was about to get up, he heard a knock at the door.

"Young Master, Master has summoned you."

"I'm coming!"

Zeng Anmin stretched lazily. The moment he got out of bed, he saw four extremely plain-looking maidservants file in.

One had buck teeth, one had thick lips, one had narrowed eyes, and one had a garlic-bulb nose...

The corner of his mouth twitched.

In his memories, his father had deliberately arranged this to guard against his maturing too early.

Buck Teeth slowly raised her head and respectfully looked at Zeng Anmin.

"Young Master, this servant will assist you in washing up."

Zeng Anmin truly found it hard to accept. He waved a hand.

"No need. I still have to see Father."

After washing up at great speed, Zeng Anmin hurried without pause toward the main hall of the Governor's Mansion.

It was only Chen Shi, around seven in the morning by the timekeeping of his previous life.

The moment he entered, he saw his father seated in the place of honor, drinking morning tea.

Uncle Qi, covered from head to toe in medicinal plasters, stood trembling beside his father.

"Whoa, Uncle Qi, you're not dead!"

Zeng Anmin's eyes widened.

Yesterday, he had thought Uncle Qi had been beaten to death by Wang Daoyuan...

"Thanks to Master's blessing, the physician managed to pull this old servant back from death's door."

Uncle Qi's mouth twitched, though a post-disaster smile still appeared on his face.

"Old people should pay more attention to their health. Stop fighting and killing with young people all day."

Zeng Anmin patted Uncle Qi on the shoulder, then walked before his father.

"Father, you summoned me?"

Zeng Shilin looked calm. He lightly sipped the tea in his hand, then raised his head to look at Zeng Anmin.

"You are already sixteen and may cultivate the Confucian Path. Shuidu Academy happens to be opening new classes, so you will go tomorrow."

Shuidu Academy.

The academy on Fengqi Road that specialized in training Confucian Cultivators.

"What am I going to the Academy for? No matter how formidable a teacher is, how could they compare to your personal guidance in my cultivation of the Confucian Path?"

Zeng Anmin voiced the doubt in his heart.

His father was a great figure of the Third-rank Embrace Flame Realm of the Confucian Path. There were fewer than five Embrace Flame Realm experts in the entire Great Sage Dynasty.

Since he had transmigrated into such a world, he naturally wished to cultivate.

"Heh."

His father merely sneered and did not answer.

Uncle Qi bent his back slightly and replied.

"Young Master, the Confucian Path is like a vast, boundless sea. Beyond cultivation itself, what matters more is one's understanding of the world. Everywhere in the Academy is learning; it is more beneficial to cultivation than shutting yourself in the mansion and building a cart behind closed doors."

"Oh~"

Understanding dawned on Zeng Anmin. He then nodded.

"Fine, getting out for a walk is good too. Uncle Qi, prepare more silver for me."

At those words, Uncle Qi's expression turned faintly bitter, and just as he was about to explain—

His father interrupted him unhappily.

"When you go to the Academy, you must not reveal to anyone that you are this old man's son."

"As for silver, leave it all in Qi Dachun's care. It will be enough for your daily needs."

"Why?"

Zeng Anmin frowned, somewhat dissatisfied.

Father, I just saved you yesterday, and today you're throwing away the donkey after it has finished grinding the mill?

His father remained calm as he slowly rose to his feet.

"The Confucian Path cultivates the heart."

After saying that, he gave Zeng Anmin no time to react and walked outside.

Leaving only a speechless Zeng Anmin behind.