After Ye Qiubai left the Cottage.
Lu Changsheng began thinking that perhaps he should take in more disciples. That way, he might receive more rewards.
With that thought, Lu Changsheng left Hidden Dao Academy and began roaming the four regions.
His speed was astonishing.
In almost the time it took an incense stick to burn, he had set foot in every corner of the Southern Region.
When he reached the Northern Region and passed this small mountain, the system's voice finally rang out.
[Quest triggered: Go to River Village and take a disciple] [Name: Ning Chenxin] [Talent: SSS rank] [Aptitude: Vast Qi, incarnation of the Star of Literary Arts, potential to become an emperor]
Good heavens, another one with the potential to become an emperor.
And so, the present scene unfolded.
Ning Chenxin pointed at himself and stared blankly at Lu Changsheng, who floated in midair. "Immortal Master, you want to take me as your disciple? But I haven't cultivated the Dao."
Lu Changsheng chuckled. "Then what do you think the Dao is?"
At those words.
Ning Chenxin froze.
What was the Dao?
What exactly was the Dao?
He had never considered it, nor had his thoughts ever turned in that direction.
Ning Chenxin could not help sinking into contemplation.
Seeing this, Lu Changsheng did not interrupt him. With a wave of his hand, a barrier enclosed the two of them to keep out disturbances.
Day followed day.
Ning Chenxin was still pondering, yet despite being a mortal with no cultivation whatsoever.
His bodily functions did not decline from going without food or water.
Instead, his face glowed with health.
On the fourth day, faint white Qi suddenly began swirling around Ning Chenxin!
This was Vast Righteous Qi!
Ning Chenxin slowly opened his eyes. He could already feel himself gradually brushing against the Dao, but whenever he tried to grasp it, it vanished in an instant.
Like a little loach, he could see it but could not catch it.
Ning Chenxin looked at Lu Changsheng before him and asked, "What is the Dao?"
He was a scholar.
He read the books of sages, and whenever he encountered something he did not understand, he would ponder it.
If he could not work it out, he would ask.
Looking at Ning Chenxin, Lu Changsheng did not answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Why do you read?"
Ning Chenxin paused briefly, then thought for a moment before saying, "To enlighten the world, and to rid it of war."
Yes.
He wished to enlighten the world through reading and fill it with peace.
From peace and joy in individual lives.
To peace throughout the world.
When Ning Chenxin spoke those words, a golden radiance shone down from the heavens onto him.
This was the light of merit!
The heavens bestowed merit, but also bestowed responsibility!
Seeing this, Lu Changsheng nodded. "The Dao is the Dao. It can be a flower or a tree, or it can be a speck of dust. All things can be the Dao."
Ning Chenxin seemed to fall into thought.
Lu Changsheng continued, "You read to enlighten the world. That is the Dao."
"Seeking peace throughout the world is also the Dao."
At this, Ning Chenxin's body trembled.
The golden light in his mind seemed to take tangible form. He needed only to reach out to grasp it!
Seeing that Ning Chenxin had reached the threshold and needed only one more step to cross it!
Lu Changsheng declared in a low voice, "**The Dao that can be spoken is not the enduring Dao; the name that can be named is not the enduring name.
The Dao, if it can be spoken, is not the eternal Dao; a name, if it can be named, is not the eternal name.**"
Rumble!
Ning Chenxin's body jolted violently, as though struck by lightning!
He closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the ground.
Streams of Vast Righteous Qi continuously swirled around his body!
Golden light flashed unceasingly between Ning Chenxin's brows!
Ning Chenxin reached out toward that golden light in his mind and caught it in his palm!
His Dao heart was forged!
Ning Chenxin entered the Dao through Confucianism!
His method of cultivation would be entirely different from that of ordinary Dao cultivators.
Others cultivated their souls and tempered their bodies.
But Ning Chenxin needed only to cultivate his Vast Righteous Qi!
Should enemies come one day, with a single utterance.
He would be able to suppress and slay them with Vast Qi!
A long while passed.
Only then did Ning Chenxin open his eyes. Looking at Lu Changsheng, he knelt on both knees and said respectfully, "Disciple Ning Chenxin pays his respects to Master!"
[Quest completed. Rewards issued: Book Sage Dao Law, Dao Scripture, 2,000 years of cultivation]
Not bad.
Lu Changsheng smiled and nodded. Raising both hands, he lifted Ning Chenxin from the ground without touching him. "Since you've taken me as your master, and I don't have much of worth to give you, I'll give you this."
With that, Lu Changsheng beckoned, and an ancient, unadorned book appeared in his hand. He passed it to Ning Chenxin.
"This is the Dao Scripture. It can be used against enemies or for gaining insight. Take it."
Ning Chenxin extended both hands and carefully accepted it. Opening it, he could immediately sense the power of Dao Law within!
His expression could not help changing.
This book was no ordinary object!
"Thank you, Master!"
Lu Changsheng nodded and continued, "Before you, there was a senior brother named Ye Qiubai and a senior sister, Hong Ying. If you meet them in the future and have any difficulties, you can seek them out."
Ning Chenxin nodded.
"All right, come back with me."
Lu Changsheng was about to take Ning Chenxin away, but Ning Chenxin shook his head. "Master, forgive me, but I cannot return with you just yet."
Lu Changsheng looked at him, somewhat puzzled.
Ning Chenxin explained, "I want to continue tempering myself, because I feel that my knowledge and experience are still insufficient to support my Dao heart."
Hearing this, Lu Changsheng nodded.
Indeed, everyone had their own way of cultivating.
There was nothing wrong with Ning Chenxin wanting to temper himself in the mortal world.
Lu Changsheng could only agree.
"All right, then take this."
At this point, Lu Changsheng tossed a jade pendant to Ning Chenxin.
"This is?"
Ning Chenxin froze.
Lu Changsheng said, "This jade pendant contains a sword formation I laid down. When you encounter danger, you can use it to resolve the crisis. You can also use this pendant to contact your senior brother and senior sister."
It was a small object similar to a voice transmission talisman.
Ning Chenxin cupped his hands and bowed. "Thank you, Master."
"All right, I'll be leaving first, then."
With that, he did not linger and vanished on the spot.
Ning Chenxin bowed toward the direction in which Lu Changsheng had vanished and did not rise for a long time.
Back at the Cottage, Lu Changsheng said helplessly, "What a shame. I didn't bring him back. Doesn't that leave me with no one to cook for me again?"
The willow tree beside him: "..."
The little bird: "..."
Ordinary Dao cultivators rarely ate once they reached the stage of grain abstention.
Yet this man, whose cultivation was clearly unfathomable, had to eat every day. Going without food simply would not do!
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
The Northern Region, the Sunset Dynasty.
The general, his presence feeble, knelt before Huang Tian Ming. "We received word that Ye Qiubai has come to the Northern Region with the people from Hidden Dao Academy to participate in the four regions' academy exchange."
"Mm."
Huang Tian Ming nodded and asked casually, "Has Shadow Kill been informed?"
"Shadow Kill already knows."
"Good. Then notify the people at the Northern Region's Hidden Dao Academy and tell them to make preparations."
"Understood."
The general rose and left.
Huang Tian Ming looked toward the horizon, in the direction of Hidden Dao Academy.
"Heaven offers you a road, yet you refuse to take it. Hell has no gate, yet you insist on barging in..."