The next morning, Zhou Wuji got up early and went to the Army-Breaking Hall.
Even during the Lunar New Year, the training room in the Army-Breaking Hall was deserted and almost empty.
The Daoist priest in charge of receiving them was originally quite lazy, but when he saw Zhou Wuji, who was dressed in flowing blue robes and had a silver belt around his waist, he immediately jumped up and bowed deeply from afar, addressing him as "True Person " and wishing Zhou Wuji year and all the best.
Even during the Lunar New Year, the Daoist priest wanted to wish for good fortune.
Zhou Wuji a training room. Even though it was the New Year, he didn't let the Daoist priest work for nothing and even gave him a specially made auspicious gold coin.
Actually, it's just a pretty gift to give during the Lunar New Year. The main reason is that it contains the Golden Light Incantation, which can ward off evil spirits, cleanse impurities, calm the mind, and protect women, children, and other vulnerable individuals.
The Daoist school has done considerable research in this area, and Zhou Wuji was merely imitating them.
Zhou Wuji used the extra auspicious gold coins to give to the younger generation and Daoist disciples around him.
As Third Rank True Person Hongde, one cannot be too stingy with one's generosity, lest one be ridiculed behind one's back.
On the other hand, he also has some money, and the key is that it comes easily, so he doesn't feel bad about spending it.
Inside the training room, Zhou Wuji briefly tested the changes brought about by the Sword Spirit.
He has mastered most of the Law Technique to perfection, and can control them at will. Changing the manifestation of Law Technique is also not difficult for him.
Law Technique imbued with Sword Intent can be used as a Law Technique.
Just as he had expected, the power of the Law Technique did not increase directly; the Sword Intent only allowed him to control the Law Technique more precisely and endow Law Technique with more subtle variations.
The Northern Dipper Heavenly Pivot Yin Thunder is specifically designed to extinguish life force and is not adept at attacking strong targets. Against warriors or Demon Beast beasts with strong Qi and Blood, the Northern Dipper Heavenly Pivot Yin Thunder appears somewhat ineffective.
With the enhancement of Sword Intent, the Northern Dipper Heavenly Pivot Yin Thunder can condense into a beam of light, greatly increasing its penetrating power.
The Law Technique's power wasn't directly increased, but its destructive force against martial artists and Demon Beast increased several times over.
Zhou Wuji's cultivation level is now extremely high; a little testing to verify his ideas is enough.
The truly troublesome Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment can only be tested in a closed secret realm like the Nine Yin Underground Palace.
Although he was the head of the Heavenly Pivot Hall, the Nine Yin Underground Palace was not a place one could enter at will.
The entrance seal to the Nine Yin Underground Palace may seem simple, but it must be connected to the Upright Heart Hall.
If someone were to come and go at will, it would surely alarm True Person Zhiyun.
It wasn't that he was overthinking things; such an important secret realm would certainly have the most basic protective measures.
Zhou Wuji returned to his room. Considering that he would be going to the main academy in March, he should spend a few days in the Lapis Lazuli Secret Realm before leaving to test the power of the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment.
The Lapis Lazuli Secret Realm is vast and boundless, but it is different from the Nine Yin Underground Palace.
Although there were other Daoist priests guarding the place, he just needed to run a little further away.
Another advantage of the Lapis Lazuli Secret Realm is that you can enter and exit relatively freely.
Zhou Wuji had originally considered learning advanced Law Technique, but Secret Method of Third Rank and above were in this academy.
Only this academy is qualified to bestow ordination and Secret Method upon Third Rank True Person.
This is also the most basic means by which this court controls the two Upper Court.
With just over two months left, we must try our best to arrange things properly for Daoist Yizhen.
Being appointed as the abbot of a Lower Court by a Fifth Rank official is quite a good thing.
However, Daoist Yizhen is relatively inexperienced, and in the Upper Court, seniority matters, so it's uncertain when it will be his turn.
Zhou Wuji was in his room pondering the next steps when his apprentice, Yang Tie Ying, knocked on the door and entered.
"Master, it's a letter from the princess." Yang Tie Ying, carrying two wooden boxes, was beaming with excitement. "The boxes contain gifts from Her Highness the princess."
"Oh, just put it there."
Zhou Wuji sent Yang Tie Ying away, which greatly disappointed Yang Tie Ying. He really wanted to see what the gifts were, and it would be even better if he could see the princess's letter.
Zhou Wuji had actually written a letter to the princess to congratulate her on the New Year, and included some local specialties and spiritual fruits with the letter.
Now that he had established a connection with Princess Taihe, he was determined to maintain it.
The current dynasty's system does not allow princesses to participate in political affairs.
But no matter what, Yin Le is of noble birth and has truly top-tier connections, which are extremely useful.
Putting aside these pragmatic considerations, Yin Le is a very nice person. She has a refined and gentle temperament, is knowledgeable in calligraphy and poetry, and is very comfortable to be around. She is a very good friend.
He left in late June, and the letters and gifts probably wouldn't arrive before the Lunar New Year; there was nothing that could be done about it.
He was a little surprised that he hadn't received a letter from Yin Le before the Lunar New Year.
Putting aside the fact that he saved Princess Taihe, just based on their friendship, they should have exchanged New Year's greetings.
It turns out I was late.
This is still quite normal in this era. There are very few freight channels, and a heavy snowstorm could cause freight to be delayed for a long time.
"As the year begins anew and spring arrives, we respectfully wish that the virtuous spirit of the Master may endure, bringing peace, tranquility, Qingning."
Princess Taihe's letter was very polite, addressing him respectfully as "Sir," and signing it "Respectfully submitted by Le."
The letter was very simple, filled with polite phrases. The real content was just that he was offering some gifts and saying that he wanted to ask for calligraphy advice in person.
Zhou Wuji opened the wooden box, revealing two sets of Daoist robes: one set of star-gold cloud brocade Daoist robe and the other set of purple-gold star-patterned Daoist robe.
The two sets of Daoist robes were of exceptional quality and exquisitely designed; judging from their quality, they should both be at the level of Third Rank Law Artifact.
Among them, the purple-gold star patterned Daoist robe is a formal Third Rank robe, mostly used for important occasions such as sacrifices and preaching, and only those at the True Person level are qualified to wear it.
Zhou Wuji clicked his tongue in admiration, "The princess is so generous, giving away two Third Rank robes in one go."
Daoist robes are naturally incomparable to swords, and the royal family has a special Weaving Bureau that can manufacture high-grade clothing.
Even so, the two sets of Daoist robes together should cost 100,000 taels of silver.
Princesses are indeed wealthy; this can be considered a very generous and lavish gift.
The other wooden box contained a box of jade-patterned paper, as well as a brush, ink, and inkstone.
Zhou Wuji was not familiar with these stationery items, but he could tell that they were all of high quality.
However, the cost of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones must also be a considerable sum of money.
He thought of the dried fruit he had given the princess and couldn't help but feel a little ashamed. Although giving gifts to the princess was primarily to express one's sentiments—
Zhou Wuji unfolded the jade-paper and discovered that it was a rare, enormous sheet of paper, measuring 33 feet long and 1.3 feet wide, with no seams in the middle when laid out.
Although called paper, Yuban paper is actually as soft and resilient as hemp and as smooth as jade, and can be stored for a long time.
There were only six such huge sheets of jade-patterned paper in the box.
Looking at the huge jade-patterned paper, Zhou Wuji suddenly thought of the so-called first masterpiece of cursive script he had seen in his previous life: the Thousand Character Classic in Cursive Script.
In his previous life, he didn't know calligraphy; he was merely a dabbler who enjoyed looking at calligraphy books.
Emperor Huizong of Song's Thousand Character Classic in Cursive Script left a deep impression on him.
He couldn't understand cursive script, except for Emperor Huizong of Song's Thousand Character Classic in Cursive Script, which he found very beautiful and powerful.
The entire text is fluent and powerful, yet elegant and refined, possessing a lofty and graceful charm.
Zhou Wuji had little creativity in calligraphy, but he was able to reproduce this Thousand Character Classic in Cursive Script by relying on his memories from his previous life and his perfect Slender Gold Script.
The only problem is that the histories of the two worlds are very different, and many allusions in the Thousand Character Classic would be incomprehensible in this world.
But that's alright, Princess Taihe likes calligraphy and appreciates the variations in font; not understanding the allusions doesn't matter.
The more you don't understand it, the more profound it seems, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Zhou Wuji reviewed the Thousand Character Classic in Cursive Script in cursive script. With his current level of Swordsmanship, he could easily write it even if he didn't know calligraphy.
He called his apprentice over, put two tables together, and had his apprentice grind the ink while he wielded his brush and splashed ink.
"Heaven and earth were dark and yellow, the universe was vast and boundless—"
Zhou Wuji found it very easy to write, and it could be described as a complete work in one go.
After finishing this Thousand Character Classic in Cursive Script, he felt that it possessed two more points of lofty elegance and two more points of unrestrained and uninhibited freedom compared to the original version.
This was also because his Swordsmanship had just advanced to the Heaven Tier, and he had his own Sword Spirit. At this moment, he was riding high and his momentum was at its peak.
Even when copying verbatim, one can still capture their own unique spirit.
He no longer simply copied existing works; he created his own unique style in calligraphy.
It's no exaggeration at all; this Thousand Character Classic in Cursive Script alone would be enough for Yin Le to study for a lifetime.
Zhou Wuji liked it more and more the more he looked at it, and he wrote only when he was in the right state of mind.
His technique was perfect, but if he were to do it again, he might not be able to write such a vivid and expressive cursive script.
But he was ultimately just an ordinary man; how many people could actually see such calligraphy if he kept it with him?
Only by giving it to Yin Le can it be seen, can this Thousand Character Classic in Cursive Script shine, and can people know his talent!
Zhou Wuji signed it: Zhou Wuji of the Northern Pole.
He actually wanted to emulate Emperor Huizong of Song of Song and write the best monogram in the world, but after thinking about it, he gave up the idea.
If your cultivation level isn't high enough, don't pretend like that. Besides, he's the number one in the world; where does that leave Yin Le's father?
Zhou Wuji used the Tianji Profound Yang Sword Qi to dry the ink stains, and then asked his apprentice Yang Tie Ying, "What do you think of this calligraphy?"
Yang Tie Ying scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed. "Master, I don't recognize a single word. Is this a secret rune of our sect?"
Zhou Wuji raised his hand to strike, which startled Yang Tie Ying, who shrank back and muttered innocently, "I just don't know him—"
"Alright, go find someone to properly frame it. Then find a fine wooden box to put it in, and take my Heavenly Pivot Token to the post station to send it to Princess Taihe."
go----"
Zhou Wuji handed the Heavenly Pivot Token to Yang Tie Ying. He also wrote a short note, only saying that he had received a gift from the princess and could only offer a calligraphy in return, wishing Her Highness eternal youth and all things going well.
He also considered writing poetry, but the verses were very easy to misinterpret.
If it falls into someone else's hands, they could easily concoct all sorts of ridiculous stories. I think I'll pass.
Yang Tie Ying was assigned to handle these matters, while Zhou Wuji stayed in the courtyard, reading and writing.
When Wuming comes over, we chat and hold hands.
Life was very comfortable and pleasant.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Zhou Wuji took Wuming to Jingyang City to see the lanterns again. He wore a bamboo hat and Azure Cloud Treasure Robe, but no one recognized him.
Now that his cultivation level is high, he can avoid some powerful cultivators from afar and save himself a lot of social obligations, Wuming is having a great time.
On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Zhou Wuji was reading in his room True Person Zhihua arrived in a hurry.
She was still dressed in flowing blue robes, but her expression was somewhat solemn. " Lu Wuyuan is dead."
Zhou Wuji was initially surprised, but then hurriedly explained, "It has nothing to do with me—"
True Person Zhihua glanced at Zhou Wuji with annoyance. "What are you feeling guilty about!"