I Was Always Here

Are you sure you're not joking?!

Xu Qi'an really wanted to grab Zhao Shou by the collar and question him loudly.

Xu Qi'an knew long ago that the Confucian sage sealed the witch god and the Gu god, but sealing the Buddha was something he never expected.

Nobody has ever said this.

Even though he is now powerful enough to have come into contact with many high-level cultivators, and even the sect leader Luo Yuheng has cultivated with him.

But until today, no one had revealed any relevant information to him.

"Perhaps it's not that no one told me, but that no one knows about this." A sudden thought flashed through Xu Qi'an's mind.

Today, besides the Buddhist School, perhaps only Zhao Shou, the strongest Confucian School, knows this secret. This has nothing to do with rank, but rather that Zhao Shou inherited Confucian School, and thus also inherited those secrets buried by time. Xu Qi'an used this as a starting point to make connections and suddenly understood many things he couldn't understand before.

"According to the information relayed to me by Bai Ji from the princess of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons, five hundred years ago, Buddhist School helped Emperor Wuzong usurp the throne, and a Bodhisattva died at the hands of the first supervisor. At that time, I didn't even question why the Buddha didn't intervene."

"A master of the first rank is extremely precious in any force, and is even the most important person. Even if the Buddhist School sect has many masters, it cannot afford to lose such a person."

"Furthermore, three hundred years ago, the Great Feng broke its promises, and the Confucian School persecuted Buddhism. The Buddha did not intervene then either. So that's how it is; He was sealed away long ago."

Xu Qi'an instantly thought of many things and asked, "Was the Confucian School's suppression of Buddhism for this very reason?"

If the Confucian sage sealed away the Buddha, then the relationship between Confucianism and Buddhism would be quite predictable.

"You can think of it that way," Zhao Shou, sipping his slightly bitter tea.

"No!" Xu Qi'an suddenly realized something and shook his head repeatedly:

"If the Buddha was sealed away, then what happened to the Sixty-Year Demon Purge five hundred years ago? I heard that the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, the ruler of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons, is a half-step Martial God with overwhelming combat power, and even Bodhisattvas are no match for him."

"In the end, it was the Buddha himself who destroyed her. If the Buddha has already been sealed away, then who killed the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons and who destroyed the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons?"

Zhao Shou gently shook his head:

"I don't know the details. This must be one of Buddhist School's greatest secrets."

Xu Qi'an was immediately disappointed. After pondering for a long time, he tentatively asked:

"During my recent travels, I visited Leizhou and had many interactions with Buddhist School. I discovered something that is very worthwhile to explore."

"At Sanhua Temple in Leizhou, there is a Law Treasure called the Floating Pagoda, whose owner was the Bodhisattva Faji. This Bodhisattva disappeared more than three hundred years ago."

"What do you think is going on behind the scenes?"

The Bodhisattva Faji disappeared for over three hundred years, and the Buddhist School Bodhisattva Liuli went out to search for him several times without success.

Several points here are quite interesting:

Where did Bodhisattva Faji go? What caused him to stop returning to Aranya? Or was he subject to certain restrictions, making it impossible for him to return to Buddhist School or be found?

So, what kind of being could trap a first-rank Bodhisattva?

Zhao Shou thought for a moment, then said seriously, "Ningyan, I am a scholar."

"What?" Xu Qi'an didn't understand.

I don't know anything about fortune telling.

"."

Xu Qi'an immediately changed the subject and asked another question, "Was the Daoist Master also sealed away by the Confucian Sage?"

Zhao Shou shook his head. "The Dao Venerable is the most mysterious among the supreme-grade powerhouses. He attained enlightenment in High Antiquity times, before the Confucian Sage was even born, and the Dao Venerable had already disappeared."

In that case, the Dao Venerable's disappearance must have some hidden reason, and it must be related to the mysterious disappearance of the Heavenly Venerable of the Heavenly Sect. Xu Qi'an's thoughts shifted, and he pondered for a moment before saying:

"Could they have already perished?"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out." Zhao Shou adopted an academic discussion stance:

"As far as we know, apart from my Confucian School, the lifespan of a top-tier expert is almost infinite, and it is impossible for them to die naturally."

"But the Daoist Master disappeared thousands of years ago, and there is no trace of him whatsoever."

"A senior scholar once analyzed that Daoist Master encountered some insurmountable calamity, and in order to survive, he was forced to transform into the Three Pure Ones."

Xu Qi'an offered his opinion. "This conjecture has considerable merit. The One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones; as long as one incarnation survives, it is indestructible. The Prince of Zhenbei is a prime example."

Zhao Shou said in a deep voice, "But in the end, he still couldn't escape his fate. His avatar from the Heavenly Sect mysteriously disappeared; his avatar from the Earthly Sect suffered from karmic retribution; and his avatar from the Human Sect died from karmic fire due to the heavenly tribulation."

"Whose speculation is this?"

Xu Qi'an was taken aback. The side effects of the three sects of Daoist School were considered highly confidential information.

Many people know that the karmic fire of the Human Sect burns the body.

However, the karmic backlash from the Earth Sect was something even Wei Yuan was unaware of at the time. It was only after Daoist Zilian died at Yang Yan's hands that Wei Yuan gradually deduced that there was a problem with the leader of the Earth Sect.

Only after infiltrating the area himself, a double agent, did he learn that the leader of the local sect had been struck down by karma and fallen into demonic ways.

The mysterious disappearance of the Celestial Venerable of the Heavenly Sect is even more secretive than the hidden dangers of the Earthly Sect.

Zhao Shou smiled and said, "That senior's Daoist name is Jinlian."

"."

Xu Qi'an's lips twitched. No, his Daoist name was Orange Cat.

He took a deep breath and asked his final question, "What was the reason the Confucian Sage sealed away several top-tier cultivators?"

Zhao Shou neither answered nor immediately refused the question. He remained silent for a long time before saying helplessly:

"If I could tell you, Wei Yuan would have already told you this in his last letter to you."

"It's not that we're being deliberately mysterious, but what we say might affect someone's plans and will be immediately blocked."

This statement is tantamount to an explicit statement.

Supervise!

Did the supervisor also have a corresponding plan in this matter?

Xu Qi'an's expression grew increasingly serious. He had always believed that the Supervisor's biggest scheme was to deal with Xu Pingfeng and save Great Feng.

In retrospect, the calculations surrounding the old silver coins also involved items that were of superior quality.

That's right. Both the Witch God and the Buddha want to conquer the Central Plains, and the Imperial Censor and the Great Feng Kingdom have a symbiotic relationship. In other words, the Super Rank is the Imperial Censor's enemy. After analyzing the logic, Xu Qi'an agreed with Zhao Shou's words.

"Alright, I have nothing more to say to you."

Zhao Shou concluded the meeting, sighed, and pinched his brow, saying, "Those three guys outside are pretty much done for."

He waved his hand, dispelling the barrier surrounding the attic.

The next moment, Xu Qi'an sensed the surging and powerful fluctuations of the outside world. He felt that the Vast Righteous Qi of the entire Clear Cloud Mountain was boiling, like a tsunami.

Let's go!

Zhao Shou waved his arm, creating a beam of clear light, and left with Xu Qi'an.

In a flash, the two arrived at the mountaintop and looked up into the sky. There they saw three great scholars: one holding a brush, one holding a book, and one holding a paperweight.

The battle was fierce and raging.

Zhang Shen was holding the book, and he said in a deep voice:

"A thousand armies and ten thousand horses enter the world!"

The military treatise in their hands burst forth with dazzling light, and in the air, phantom figures materialized. Some rode fine horses and held swords; others wore armor and carried spears; still others propelled cannons and crossbows.

What kind of approach is this? Xu Qi'an was taken aback.

"Zhang Jinyan summoned an army from a military Law Technique using his Law Follows Speech. Essentially, it's the same as 'retreat a hundred li,' both being auxiliary techniques, only more sophisticated," Zhao Shou explained.

"Why can't I do that when I use Law Technique?" Xu Qi'an was extremely envious.

"That was just the most basic application. Only a non- Confucian School could perform such exquisite Law Technique," Zhao Shou said.

Under Zhang Shen's control, the virtual army's cavalry and infantry charged towards Li Mubai, while the artillery opened fire on Chen Tai.

On the other side, Chen Tai held a pen and wrote furiously in the void. What he wrote were not words, but phantom figures riding horses, holding swords, and wearing armor.

He got Zhang Shen's Law Technique for free.

This is the ability of a sixth-rank Confucian scholar: to record other people's Law Technique and skills and make them his own.

The phantoms summoned by Chen Tai split into two groups: one group engaged Zhang Shen in a cannon-firing exchange, while the other group charged towards Li Mubai.

Boom boom boom!

The cannons roared in unison, and bursts of air exploded in mid-air, creating a terrifying spectacle, like thunderclaps.

"It's much weaker than real Law Artifact cannons, making it difficult to siege cities, but it's more than enough to annihilate enemy troops on the battlefield. Moreover, it's a phantom created by Law Technique, making it far more cost-effective than the corpse soldiers of the Witch God Cult."

"Hmm, this shouldn't last long, nor can it be used indefinitely."

Xu Qi'an had to admire that Confucian School had almost no weaknesses, except for its short lifespan.

Li Mubai, wielding the paperweight, swung it wildly, annihilating the two waves of enemy troops who charged at him into a pure, utter rout.

"Hmph, so what if you know military strategy books?"

Li Mubai gathered his breath at the tip of his tongue, stirring up his Vast Righteous Qi, and shouted:

"Books are prohibited here; pens are prohibited here."

The books in Zhang Shen's hands were suddenly sealed by a force, preventing him from creating more weapons.

The same was true of Chen Tai's pen; it could no longer write anything.

Upon seeing this, the two immediately mustered their Vast Righteous Qi and declared, "Law Artifact are not permitted here."

They directly removed magical Law Artifact from the combat field.

Li Mubai snorted coldly, "Fine, then let's have a good fight using ' Law Follows Speech ' and see whose Vast Righteous Qi is stronger."

Vast Righteous Qi can resist the effect of Law Follows Speech.

Whoever's Vast Righteous Qi dries up first loses.

"I'm not one to be trifled with either."

"Today I'm going to beat you both until you're completely convinced."

The two immediately expressed their opinions.

"Floating is prohibited in this area."

"Speaking is prohibited here."

"Li Mubai, bark like a dog."

Zhang Shen is my son.

"You bastard, Chen Tai can't wear clothes!"

"Are you searching for your mother? Your belts are torn."

Seeing the battle turning against him, Dean Zhao Shou finally intervened, stepping forward and proclaiming in a loud voice:

"Fighting is strictly prohibited in this important academy area."

A ripple of clear light spread from the Sub-Sage Academy, covering the entire Clear Cloud Mountain area.

Within the Clear Cloud Mountain area, Zhao Shou can utilize the power of the Sub-Sage Academy, whose power was previously suppressed by Sage Cheng 'Sub-Sage Academy stone tablet.

Since the stone tablet cracked, the Sub-Sage Academy has broken free from its seal.

Zhao Shou, who controls the power of the Sub-Sage Academy, is no less powerful than a second-rank warrior in the Clear Cloud Mountain region. If he were to be aided by the Confucian Sage's Carving Knife and the Quasi-Sage's Confucian Crown, he could even hold his own against a first-rank Zhao Shou.

Zhao Shou continued, "The three of you, go back to your rooms and confine yourselves for three days."

After thinking about it, another "Principle" was added:

"No poems may be written or nominated within three days."

And I can

"Shameless old thief!"

Amidst the roars of the three great scholars, they were forced to transform into pure light and vanish into the depths of the academy.

"Is that all?" Xu Qi'an said regretfully, bowing slightly.

"I'll take my leave now."

"No need to see me off." Zhao Shou nodded.

He found Mu Nanzhi, who was holding the little white fox and watching a play in the square with the students of the academy, and went down the mountain with her.

The two rode the mare back to the capital. After entering the city, Xu Qi'an asked her:

"Go home, or go to the Xu Residence?"

Mu Nanzhi thought for a moment and said, "Let's go home."

Xu Qi'an bought some vegetables on the street and took her back to the small courtyard. The flowers and plants in the courtyard had long withered, and it had been uninhabited for more than a month, making it seem somewhat cold and desolate.

But Mu Nanzhi felt a sense of joy and peace, as if she were returning home.

"We have enough firewood at home, but no charcoal. I'll go out and buy some later. You can boil water for your bath tonight; I have something to do."

Mu Nanzhi's face darkened, then she sneered:

"Is Xu Yinluo going to meet the Imperial Advisor again?"

"Not the Imperial Advisor, but some other fish, "Xu Qi'an explained earnestly.

"I've just taken over the Nightwatchers's office from Liu Hong, and there are still many things to handle."

Mu Nanzhi didn't believe her and sneered, "Xu Yinluo, how was the Imperial Preceptor's experience?"

Ah, this is so moist. Xu Qi'an sighed, "Never mind, I'll stay with you tonight."

At this moment, he suddenly felt a strong longing for the Daoist School of "One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones".

As the sun sets, the sky gradually turns a deep blue.

Candlelight illuminated the room, and black smoke rose from the kitchen chimney.

Mu Nanzhi casually prepared a few side dishes. Her culinary skills could be summarized by Bai Ji's entire emotional shift, from initial enthusiasm to utter disappointment.

"You don't have to eat if you don't want to."

Mu Nanzhi said coldly.

Bai Ji was overjoyed upon hearing this and, as expected, refused to eat.

The door creaked open and then closed again. Mu Nanzhi returned to the table with a dark expression and began eating her rice.

Outside the door, the little white fox propped itself up and lay on the door, patting the door with its two paws.

"Auntie, let me in, let me in."

It cried out in grievance.

Xu Qi'an thought to himself, "You kid, your will to survive is really low."

After the meal, Xu Qi'an boiled hot water for the most beautiful woman in Great Feng to bathe, while he himself simply rinsed off with the cold well water.

I finished showering, and it was just getting dark.

Mu Nanzhi sat at the table, holding Bai Ji, without saying a word.

After the candle had burned down halfway, she started to feel sleepy, her eyelids drooping, but she stubbornly refused to sleep.

Xu Qi'an pulled her into his arms and whispered, "I'm here. I've always been here."

She then fell into a deep sleep.

P. S.: Going home for Chinese New Year.