Chapter 35: Taking Disciples, The Arrival of Wenquxing!
After Ye Qiubai left the courtyard, Lu Changsheng thought about taking on more disciples to potentially gain more rewards. With this in mind, Lu Changsheng left the Hidden Dao Academy and began wandering the four domains.
His speed was astonishingly fast. In almost the time it took for an incense stick to burn, he had traversed every corner of the Southern Domain. Upon reaching the Northern Domain, as he passed by a small mountain, the system's voice finally sounded.
[Triggered Task: Go to River Village to take in disciples]
[Name: Ning Chenxin]
[Talent: SSS Level]
[Aptitude: Overflowing righteousness, the descent of Wenquxing, the potential to become an emperor]
Goodness, another potential emperor!
And thus, the scene unfolded before them.
Ning Chenxin pointed at himself, looking at Lu Changsheng hovering in mid-air, and said in a daze, "Master, do you want to take me as your disciple? But I haven't cultivated at all."
Lu Changsheng chuckled lightly. "Then, what do you think is the Dao?"
At these words, Ning Chenxin was taken aback.
What is the Dao?
What is it?
He had never thought about it or considered it before.
Ning Chenxin couldn't help but fall into contemplation.
Seeing this, Lu Changsheng didn't interrupt, but waved his hand, and a barrier surrounded the two of them to prevent any disturbances.
Day after day passed.
Ning Chenxin continued to ponder, but as a mortal, he had no cultivation whatsoever.
Yet, his physical functions didn't decline due to lack of food or water. Instead, he appeared radiant and healthy.
...
Until the fourth day, a faint white aura suddenly enveloped Ning Chenxin's body!
This was the overflowing righteousness!
Ning Chenxin slowly opened his eyes. He felt that he was gradually grasping the Dao, but whenever he reached out for it, it slipped away like a slippery fish, visible yet ungraspable.
He looked at Lu Changsheng in front of him and asked, "What is the Dao?"
He was a scholar.
Whenever he encountered something he didn't understand in the sage's books, he would think about it.
If he couldn't figure it out, he would ask.
Lu Changsheng looked at Ning Chenxin and instead of answering directly, he asked, "Why do you read books?"
Ning Chenxin paused for a moment, then replied, "To enlighten the world, to bring an end to wars."
Yes.
He wanted to enlighten the world through reading, to bring peace to the world.
From the bottom to the top, to achieve peace and joy.
As Ning Chenxin spoke, a golden light suddenly shone down from the sky onto his body.
This was the light of merit!
With the descent of merit, also came responsibility!
Seeing this, Lu Changsheng nodded and said, "The Dao is the Dao. It can be a flower, a tree, or even a speck of dust. All things can be the Dao."
Ning Chenxin pondered.
Lu Changsheng continued, "You read books to enlighten the world, and that is the Dao."
"For the sake of world peace, it is also the Dao."
Upon hearing this, Ning Chenxin's body trembled.
The golden light in his mind seemed to materialize, within reach as long as he reached out!
Seeing that Ning Chenxin had reached the threshold, he only needed to take one step forward.
Lu Changsheng solemnly said, "The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao, the name that can be named is not the eternal name."
Boom!
Ning Chenxin's body shook as if struck by lightning, and he suddenly sat cross-legged on the ground.
A surge of overflowing righteousness continued to surround his body!
Golden light flashed from the center of Ning Chenxin's brow!
The golden light in Ning Chenxin's mind, he reached out and grasped it in his palm!
The Dao Heart was forged!
Ning Chenxin, a Confucian entering the Dao!
His method of cultivation would be completely different from that of ordinary cultivators.
While others cultivated their souls and physical bodies, Ning Chenxin only needed to cultivate his overflowing righteousness!
When enemies came, with just one word from him, he could suppress and kill them with his overflowing righteousness!
After a while, Ning Chenxin finally opened his eyes, looked at Lu Changsheng, and knelt on the ground respectfully, saying, "Disciple Ning Chenxin pays respects to Master!"
[Task completed, rewards issued: Dao Scriptures, Dao Canon, 2000 years of cultivation]
Well done!
Lu Changsheng nodded with a smile, his hands lifted Ning Chenxin from the ground, and said, "You have bowed to me as your Master, and I have nothing special to give you, so I'll give you this."
With that said, Lu Changsheng beckoned, and an ancient book appeared in his hand, which he handed to Ning Chenxin.
"This is the Dao Canon. It can be used against enemies or for enlightenment. You should take it."
Ning Chenxin reached out his hands cautiously and received it. As he flipped through it, he could feel the power of the Dao principles within.
His expression couldn't help but change.
This book was extraordinary!
"Thank you, Master!"
Lu Changsheng nodded and continued, "Before you, there is a Senior Brother named Ye Qiubai and a Senior Sister named Hong Ying. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can seek them out."
Ning Chenxin nodded.
"All right, come with me back to the sect."
Lu Changsheng wanted to take Ning Chenxin away, but Ning Chenxin shook his head. "Master, forgive me, but I can't return to the sect right now."
Lu Changsheng looked at him, somewhat puzzled.
Ning Chenxin explained, "I want to continue to gain experience because I feel that my knowledge is not enough to support my Dao Heart."
Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng nodded.
Indeed, everyone had their own methods of cultivation.
Ning Chenxin wanted to gain experience in the mortal world, which was understandable.
Lu Changsheng could only agree.
"Well, then take this."
With that, Lu Changsheng tossed a jade pendant to Ning Chenxin.
"What is this?"
Ning Chenxin was startled.
Lu Changsheng explained, "This jade pendant contains a sword formation I set up. When you encounter danger, you can use it to resolve the crisis. At the same time, it can also be used to contact your Senior Brother and Senior Sister."
It was a small item similar to a voice transmission charm.
Ning Chenxin clasped his fists and bowed, "Thank you, Master."
"All right, then I'll leave now."
With that said, he didn't linger and disappeared on the spot.
Ning Chenxin looked in the direction Lu Changsheng had disappeared, bowed down, and didn't get up for a long time.
...
Back at the courtyard, Lu Changsheng sighed, "It's a pity I didn't bring him back. Now, no one will cook for me again?"
The nearby willow tree: "..."
The little bird: "..."
Normally, cultivators rarely ate once they reached the state of fasting.
But the person in front of them, despite having an unfathomable cultivation base, still needed to eat every day. If he didn't, he couldn't function properly!
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
In the Northern Domain, within the Sunset Dynasty.
A listless general knelt in front of Emperor Tianming and said, "We received news that Ye Qiubai is accompanying the Hidden Dao Academy's people to the Northern Domain to participate in the Four Domain Academy Exchange."
"Hmm."
Emperor Tianming nodded casually and said, "Has Shadow Kill been informed of this news?"
"Shadow Kill is already aware."
"Good, then inform the people of the Northern Domain's Hidden Dao Academy to prepare."
"Understood."
The general got up and left the place.
Emperor Tianming looked towards the sky, where the direction of the Hidden Dao Academy lay.
"When heaven has a road, you don't go, but you insist on breaking into hell..."