Where Did This Hostility Come From?

The person who suddenly appeared and spoke was none other than Daoist Lu, Daoist Lu with Qiu Yan all the way. However, after Qiu Yan left the boat and entered the mountain, Daoist Lu's figure gradually faded and eventually disappeared. Unexpectedly, he appeared here when the Book Mountain collapsed.

"Daoist priest?"

After their initial surprise, Li and Pang quickly calmed down. The man surnamed Pang narrowed his eyes, stepped forward to examine Daoist Lu, and asked with a puzzled look, "Since when even Daoists have started studying literature? Can they Scholar Forest?"

Although they were startled by the sudden sound, they quickly regained their composure, suppressing the emotional fluctuations emanating from their souls, and now their expressions were normal.

Noticing the change in the two men, Daoist Lu couldn't help but sigh, "The fact that you two benefactors were able to calm your minds so quickly shows your extraordinary skill in stillness. Indeed, the Confucianism school has produced many outstanding individuals."

Upon hearing this, the man surnamed Pang grinned, neither confirming nor denying, and simply said, "Master, let's not talk about these things for now. Your appearance here must have a reason. I won't ask about your background, but please state your purpose."

Daoist Lu smiled and, without further ado, said directly, "To be honest, I am a cultivator from the Pure Peace Dao. I entered the forest this time to record the important events here, but the Book Mountain has unexpectedly collapsed, which is ominous. Therefore, I wish to investigate it, but I am alone and outnumbered, so I have come to ask for your help."

"You're from Pure Peace Dao?" The man surnamed Pang was slightly taken aback. "I've heard that Pure Peace Dao is a non-confrontational sect. Why would you appear in Scholar Forest? Judging from your words, you didn't enter Shilin on your own, but with the help of others. Now you're saying all this, so you want to cooperate with us, right? But how did you know we were coming? Did you divine it with your fingers?" He showed a hint of interest at the end.

The Daoist Lu replied, "Although my Pure Peace Dao is content with the ways of the world, we cannot live in isolation. There are still some things we must do. You two need not worry too much. In fact, this trip is also beneficial to you both. Please allow me to explain in detail..."

He spoke evasively, gradually drawing Li and Pang's attention to the content of his words.

On the other hand, in the pitch-black world, Qiu Yan stopped falling after encountering someone walking in mid-air, but his soul remained suspended in mid-air, neither rising nor falling.

After the man approached, he looked the person up and down, then said, "Judging from your demeanor, you're no ordinary person. Do you perhaps have an extraordinary status outside?"

This man appeared to be no more than thirty years old, with a square face, a beard, and dressed in scholar's robes, looking very refined. He exuded an air of scholarly elegance. However, Qiu Yan saw a hint of cunning in his eyes and sensed a touch of darkness about him.

This person arrived suddenly, emerging from the depths of darkness, but was still a spirit, just like many Confucian scholars in the Scholar Forest.

"This person says I've been assimilated by the Scholar Forest? Could it be that this place can only be reached after being assimilated by the Scholar Forest?"

As he pondered, Qiu Yan remained silent, neither asking questions nor making any other moves, simply thinking and trying to clarify his thoughts, wanting to understand the situation around him.

"However, being assimilated by the Scholar Forest means that one's soul is completely corrupted by the Scholar Forest's will. My Divine Soul, though condensed, was tainted by the Scholar Forest's aura, but it was not invaded by them and was not assimilated at all. I was able to come here because that deity shattered a Book Mountain with his Qi and Blood... Hmm? Speaking of which, that deity, as well as Bai Zhaoyuan and Bei Xuan, are nowhere to be found."

Thinking this, Qiu Yan was naturally slightly distracted. He sent out his senses, extending and sweeping around, trying to see if there were any other people in the surrounding darkness.

However, his action was noticed by the scholar opposite him. The latter's expression darkened, he narrowed his eyes, and said, "Oh? You're not paying attention to what I'm saying, but instead distracted by other things. Isn't that a bit arrogant?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yan's heart stirred. He withdrew his senses. Although the time was short, his Divine Soul was now concentrated, and with the power of the Realm Stone, he had stepped into the second level of the Third Realm. He could Soul-Nourishing by the Corporeal Soul. If he were not in the mortal Scholar Forest but in the Mortal Realm, he could even use his Divine Soul to attach to and drive physical objects. His senses also greatly increased. In a short time, he had explored his surroundings and found no one else.

"Please forgive me, sir, I have been somewhat offensive." Qiu Yan then bowed to the man. Although his cultivation had greatly improved and he had also Literary Path Creation, he did not feel that having these things made him any superior.

Unexpectedly, the scholar sneered upon hearing this, shook his head, and said, "Arrogant at first, then obsequious, you're quite adept at changing your tune. You only restrained yourself after realizing you were in danger when you released your senses, right? However, there's still hope if you admit your mistakes and correct them. Since you're here, we'll be colleagues from now on, so I won't blame you too much. But remember, don't bring your outside manners here."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yan immediately frowned, a hint of dissatisfaction rising in his heart. His intention to apologize was because he felt he had indeed been negligent, not because he was arrogant at first but obsequious later. However, this person not only accused him, but also subtly revealed hostility in his words, which Qiu Yan found somewhat difficult to understand.

"I had only First Meeting this person, so why was he so hostile? He seized on a slight oversight in my words and immediately rebuked and belittled me, as if to give me a warning or a lesson."

Before Qiu Yan could figure it out, the scholar suddenly reached out and grabbed, and Qiu Yan immediately felt his feet move, feeling a sense of solid ground beneath his feet. Then, his Divine Soul straightened, and he stood in the Void.

"What kind of technique is this? I didn't sense any intention or Dao Arts fluctuations, yet the Void beneath my feet changed." Qiu Yan looked down, and all he could see was pitch blackness, bottomless, but his feet, which were formed from his soul, were firmly planted on it and supported.

My senses extended into the past, and I discovered a clue.

"The Literary Thought that permeated all around me converged beneath my feet, forming an invisible staircase. Who is this person who can manipulate Literary Thought!"

Just as Qiu Yan was surprised, the man gave him a cold look, turned around, and walked back the way he came, leaving behind only the words, "Follow me."

Despite already harboring resentment towards this person, Qiu Yan needed to understand the situation better, so he suppressed his thoughts and followed.

It was only after walking that he discovered the problem. The Literary Thought that formed the invisible steps were like a quagmire, constantly interrogating Qiu Yan as he walked. If it weren't for his firm Daoheart Fist Intent, these sudden interrogations alone would have been enough to startle Qiu Yan's soul, shake his mind, and leave hidden dangers.

With a slight frown, Qiu Yan's mind shifted, his resolute State of Mind remaining as still as a bell. He remained unmoved by the interrogation of Literary Thought, and immediately strode forward with incredible speed. At the same time, the anger in his heart increased.

"Walking on these staircases of Literary Thought will test your Literary Thought and shake your State of Mind. That person didn't even mention it, so it's probably not that he forgot, but rather that he wanted to give me a warning. From the moment he appeared, he has been up to no good. It's really inexplicable. I'll make a note of it for now and talk to him about it after things become clear!"

The man in front didn't care about Qiu Yan's feelings at all. He originally wanted to use Literary Thought's interrogation to suppress Qiu Yan's arrogance and teach him a lesson so that he could be subdued in the future. But when he turned his head, he saw Qiu Yan following him as if walking on flat ground, right next to him.

Immediately, a sense of crisis arose in this person's heart.

"This newcomer seems to have some skills. I can't let my guard down and risk letting him make a good impression on the master and outshine me."

As he pondered this, the man quickened his pace, his feet pounding the ground, while Qiu Yan followed closely behind.

Gradually, the surrounding scenery changed. The pitch black color faded, and the invisible steps revealed their color, resembling a series of stone steps, with lush grass growing on the sides.

A thought flashed through Qiu Yan's mind. He looked behind him, but it was still pitch black. However, looking ahead, he could see a small hill with pavilions and towers built on it.

Where the darkness meets the hills, it's as if someone has sketched a few strokes with a brush, with curved lines extending from the darkness, intertwining and changing, combining to form a landscape painting.

As Qiu Yan was observing, several figures suddenly appeared ahead. They were all men dressed in Confucian robes, mostly young and middle-aged, but also included elderly men with white hair and beards.

Although these people were of different ages, their expressions were all the same: reserved and numb. After noticing Qiu Yan and the man who led the way, the leaders stepped forward.

"Brother Zhao, you've worked hard."

"Is this the newcomer?"

"This newcomer seems to have captured the Literary Heart."

Seeing the people approaching, Qiu Yan stopped, his heart stirred—he sensed a rich Literary Thought emanating from them, faintly coalescing into a single thread, indicating that they were people who had condensed Literary Heart.

"There are quite a few people who have gathered together with Literary Heart. At a glance, there are at least three of them. Could they all be visitors who have been assimilated by the Scholar Forest?"

While Qiu Yan was pondering, the scholar surnamed Zhao, who had led the way, spoke to the group in an arrogant tone, as if he were addressing subordinates from a superior position. After a few words, he changed the subject. "Alright, you can ask me anything later. I'll take him to pay his respects to the master first, and then bring him back. You'll have to teach him the rules here."

Upon hearing this, the others quickly fell silent. The man surnamed Zhao turned and gave Qiu Yan a command, as if calling upon a servant, before continuing on his way.

Qiu Yan narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them.

"Hmph," the man surnamed Zhao seemed to sense something and sneered, "Suppress your arrogance. This place is not like the outside world. Now that you've been assimilated by the Scholar Forest, don't even think about leaving again. The more you think highly of yourself now, the greater the contrast will be in the end. Don't blame me, Zhao You, for not warning you!"

Qiu Yan remained silent, seemingly no longer intending to pay attention.

Zhao You still sneered, and led Qiu Yan a few more steps forward into a bamboo forest, Lin Zhong a thatched hut could be faintly seen.

Upon reaching the thatched hut, Zhao You composed himself, adopting a respectful demeanor, and announced loudly, "Student Zhao You, bringing the newcomer to pay respects to the teacher."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door of the hut opened by itself, and then a deep sound came from inside—

Come in.

ps:

Thanks to "Da Niu, Da Niu" and "Amitabha-Good Man" for their monthly votes!

Thanks to "Two Sleeves Qingfeng" for the reward!