After Ye Qiubai left The Cottage,
Lu Chang'sheng started thinking, maybe he should take on a few more disciples—maybe that would bring in more rewards.
With that thought in mind, Lu Chang'sheng left Hidden Dao Academy and started wandering in circles across the Four Regions.
He moved with astonishing speed.
In almost the time it took an incense stick to burn, he'd set foot in every corner of the Southern Region.
When he reached the Northern Region and was passing by this small mountain, the system's voice finally rang out.
[Mission triggered: Go to River Village to recruit a disciple]
[Name: Ning Chenxin]
[Talent: SSS-grade]
[Aptitude: Noble Spirit, Literary Star descended to the mortal world, Aptitude To Become An Emperor]
Well damn, another one with the Aptitude To Become An Emperor.
And so, we arrive at the present scene.
Ning Chenxin pointed at himself, looking blankly at Lu Chang'sheng who hovered in midair, and stammered, "Immortal Master, you want to take me as your disciple? But—I've never even cultivated!"
Lu Chang'sheng let out a soft laugh, "Then tell me, what do you think the Dao is?"
Hearing this,
Ning Chenxin was stunned for a moment.
What is the Dao?
What really is the Dao?
He'd never thought about it—never even considered it.
Ning Chenxin couldn't help sinking into deep thought.
Seeing this, Lu Chang'sheng didn't disturb him; he simply waved a hand and a barrier sealed the two of them off from outside interference.
Day after day went by.
Ning Chenxin was still thinking, but as a mortal, he had no cultivation whatsoever.
Even so, he didn't suffer from hunger or thirst—even after not eating or drinking.
In fact, his face was glowing with health.
...
Until the fourth day, when a faint white mist began to swirl around Ning Chenxin's body!
This was righteousness!
Ning Chenxin slowly opened his eyes—he could already feel himself grasping the Dao, but each time he reached for it, it slipped away.
Like a little mudfish—he could see it, but just couldn't catch it.
Ning Chenxin looked up at Lu Chang'sheng and asked, "What is the Dao?"
He was a scholar.
He read the Holy Books, and whenever he came across something he didn't understand, he would think on it.
If he still couldn't figure it out, he would ask.
Lu Chang'sheng looked at Ning Chenxin, but didn't answer him directly. Instead, he asked, "Why do you study books?"
Ning Chenxin paused, thought for a while, then said, "To enlighten the world, to rid it of war."
Exactly.
He wanted to guide others through study, to fill the world with peace.
From the lowest—peace and joy for common folk—
To the highest—all under heaven in harmony.
As soon as Ning Chenxin spoke these words, up in the sky, a beam of golden Buddha Light shone down on his body.
This was the Light of Merit!
When heaven bestows merit, it also bestows responsibility!
Seeing this, Lu Chang'sheng nodded approvingly and said, "The Dao is just the Dao—it can be a single flower or blade of grass, or a mote of dust—everything can be Dao."
Ning Chenxin seemed lost in thought.
Lu Chang'sheng continued, "You study to enlighten the world—that is the Dao."
"To seek peace for the world—that too is the Dao."
At these words, Ning Chenxin's body trembled.
The golden light in his mind seemed to take on substance—if he reached out, he could almost grasp it!
Lu Chang'sheng saw that Ning Chenxin was at the threshold—one more step forward and he'd cross it!
Lu Chang'sheng said in a low, forceful voice: "The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The Dao that can be walked is not a constant Dao. The name that can be called is not a constant name."
RUMBLE!
Ning Chenxin's whole body jolted as if struck by lightning!
He closed his eyes and sat down cross-legged on the ground.
Waves of noble, righteous energy swirled ceaselessly around his body!
Golden light flashed continuously between Ning Chenxin's eyebrows!
Grasping that beam of golden light in his mind—Ning Chenxin reached out and caught it!
His Dao heart was forged!
Ning Chenxin, entering the Dao through Confucianism!
His path of cultivation would now be utterly different from that of the average cultivator.
Others tempered their soul, or refined their flesh.
But Ning Chenxin needed only to nurture his Noble Spirit!
If an enemy came one day—with just a word,
he could wipe out his foes with righteousness!
A long moment passed.
Ning Chenxin finally opened his eyes, looked at Lu Chang'sheng, knelt to the ground on both knees, and said respectfully, "Disciple Ning Chenxin pays his respects to Master!"
[Mission complete. Reward issued: Book Sage Dao Law, Dao Law Book, 2000 years of cultivation.]
Not bad at all.
Lu Chang'sheng smiled and nodded, holding up his hands to lift Ning Chenxin gently from the ground, and said, "You've taken me as your master, but I don't have much to give you. Here, take this."
With that, Lu Chang'sheng waved his hand—an ancient book appeared in his palm, which he handed to Ning Chenxin.
"This is the Dao Law Book. You can use it against enemies, or draw enlightenment from it. Take good care of it."
Ning Chenxin reached out with both hands, carefully accepting it. Upon opening the book, he could instantly sense the power of Dao Law within!
His expression changed dramatically.
This book was anything but ordinary!
"Thank you, Master!"
Lu Chang'sheng nodded and continued, "Before you, there was a senior brother named Ye Qiubai, and a senior sister, Hong Ying. If you ever run into trouble, you can find them for help."
Ning Chenxin nodded.
"Alright, come back to the sect with me."
Lu Chang'sheng was about to bring Ning Chenxin with him, but Ning Chenxin shook his head, "Master, forgive me, but I can't go back to the sect just yet."
Lu Chang'sheng looked at him, a bit puzzled.
Ning Chenxin explained, "I wish to keep training out here, because I feel my experience isn't sufficient yet—it's not enough to sustain my Dao heart."
At these words, Lu Chang'sheng nodded in understanding.
Indeed, everyone cultivates in their own way.
If Ning Chenxin wants to temper himself in the mundane world, there's nothing wrong with that.
Lu Chang'sheng could only agree.
"Alright, then take this."
With that, Lu Chang'sheng tossed a jade pendant over to Ning Chenxin.
"What's this?"
Ning Chenxin was startled.
Lu Chang'sheng said, "Inside this jade pendant is a sword array I set up. If you're ever in danger, you can use this to turn the crisis around. You can also use it to contact your senior brother and sister."
It was a little trinket, much like a voice transmission talisman.
Ning Chenxin clasped his fists and bowed, "Thank you, Master."
"Alright, then your Master will take his leave."
With that, he didn't linger—he vanished from the spot.
Ning Chenxin watched the direction Lu Chang'sheng disappeared into, and bowed low, not rising for a long time.
...
Back at The Cottage, Lu Chang'sheng shook his head with a sigh, "Such a pity I didn't bring him back. Guess there's still no one to cook for me, huh?"
The willow tree next to him: "..."
The little bird: "..."
Most cultivators, once they reach the Inedia Realm, rarely eat actual food.
But this guy—whose cultivation is fathomless—still needs to eat every single day, or else he feels terrible!
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
Northern Region, Sunset Dynasty.
A battered general knelt before Huang Tianming, saying, "Word just came in—Ye Qiubai arrived in the Northern Region with the Hidden Dao Academy people for the Four Regions Academy Exchange."
"Mm."
Huang Tianming nodded carelessly, "Did you inform Shadow Kill?"
"Shadow Kill has already been informed."
"Good. Then let the people from the Northern Region's Hidden Dao Academy know. Tell them—be ready."
"Understood."
The general rose and left.
Huang Tianming looked toward the horizon; that was the direction of the Hidden Dao Academy.
"Heaven has a path but you won't walk it; hell has no gate but you insist on barging your way in..."