Chapter 96: Mountains Do Not See Zhang, Dao Does Not See Li! Eleven Years Ago

Yujing City, Confucius Temple.

A 5A-level national scenic spot, this is also one of the most famous scenic spots in Yujing City. The local culture and tourism don't even need to promote it, receiving tens of millions of tourists every year.

"A Jiangnan Examination Hall, a ten-mile gilded river, performs all the Jiangnan style."

Zhang Fan and his party came to the Confucius Temple, unable to help but feel moved.

Six Dynasties gold powder land, green shirts compete for style. Back then, the painting boats and buildings on the gilded river left behind countless legends of talented scholars and beautiful women, kings and generals.

As for the Jiangnan Examination Hall, it occupied half of the world's literary luck, and the world's talented scholars mostly came from Jiang and Zhejiang.

Even today, before and after the high school entrance examination and college entrance examination, parents bring their children to offer incense and pray.

Zhang Fan vaguely remembered that when he was a child, his parents seemed to have brought him here to play, but his memory had problems, and his impression of his mother was becoming more and more blurry.

"I lived nearby when I was a child. I remember there was a particularly serious fire one year." Xiong Ba whispered.

Logically speaking, a serious fire in such a scenic spot is a big deal, and it is estimated that the people above would be removed from office.

"I seem to have some impression too..." Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow, but the image of fire flashed in his mind.

"When was it?"

"About eleven or twelve years ago." Xiong Ba pondered slightly, but he couldn't remember clearly.

Eleven or twelve years ago, Zhang Fan hadn't encountered the change, his soul-aspect hadn't entered the Great Night Does Not Brighten, and his mother hadn't died yet.

"Let's go, ahead is Wuyi Lane." Xiong Qianqiu interrupted their idle chat and urged.

Now it is summer vacation, which

"Wuyi Lane..."

In childhood, everyone memorized this poem "Wuyi Lane" by Liu Yuxi...

By the Vermilion Bird Bridge, wild grasses bloom; at the mouth of Wuyi Lane, the evening sun slants. The swallows that once nested in the halls of the Wang and Xie families now fly into the homes of ordinary folk.

However, few know that Wuyi Lane is hidden right here within the Confucius Temple.

"The Wang family still has a residence here?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

In a scenic spot like the Confucius Temple, being able to own such a small courtyard—finding stillness amidst the noise, balancing movement and stillness, yin and yang—is truly not something that can be achieved with money alone.

"A small half of the surrounding properties belong to their family," Xiong Qianqiu said casually.

"That's too outrageous." Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan's expression turned strange.

Others cultivate the Dao, and he cultivates the Dao; they cultivate wealth overflowing, while he cultivates a clinking sound.

Is the Heavenly Dao so unfair, so terrifying!?

"Let's go."

Xiong Qianqiu squeezed hard through the crowd, leading the way.

It must be said that in a 5A-level scenic spot during peak tourist season, facing such a massive flow of people, even if a Pure Yang Zhenren came, their primordial spirit would be squeezed out.

Inside Wuyi Lane.

In an ancient and elegant courtyard, parasol trees spread high, their green shade like a canopy.

At this moment, three young people sat leisurely in the courtyard, brewing new tea over a stove fire.

Before them sat an incense burner; the curling incense smoke brushed against the clear breeze, circulating coolness amidst the summer sun.

This is called "Frost Descent Incense," a type of rare incense within the Daoist sects.

Frost Descent is the last solar term of autumn; all things are completed, entering the Xu phase, the yang descends into the earth, and yin energy begins to congeal. The weather gradually turns cold starting from Frost Descent.

At this time, one takes the layer of frost formed in a cellar three feet underground, adds dozens of great medicinal ingredients, and refines it using ancient methods over three years to produce this "Frost Descent Incense."

In summer, if this incense is lit, the effect is better than air conditioning; not only can it lower the room temperature, but inhaling it into the body can even dispel cold, dampness, and summer heat.

Such a luxury item cannot be bought outside.

"The swallows that once nested in the halls of the Wang and Xie families now fly into the homes of ordinary folk."

Just then, one of the young men spoke. He had a feather tattoo on his wrist, his temples bulged high, and his gaze was profound. At a glance, he was a master who nurtured primordial essence internally and strengthened his bones externally, with abundant true yang within his body.

"Xuanqing, why this sentiment?" Beside him, a slightly older young man couldn't help but ask.

Since the Six Dynasties, this place has been a gathering place for noble families, with merchants congregating, scholars gathering, and Confucianism flourishing, long known for its "Six Dynasties Gold Powder."

This lane also became world-famous because of Liu Yuxi's poem "Wuyi Lane."

"Since ancient times, it has been said that of ten Daoist priests in the world, nine are surnamed Zhang and one is surnamed Li..." Wang Xuanqing sneered.

"It's a pity, how can human effort resist destiny?"

"Times change, and now the mountains see no Zhang, the Dao sees no Li; the river waves surge, destined to be the time for our generation to come to the fore."

Wang Xuanqing's face wore a mocking smile, but his leisurely gaze fell upon the feather tattoo on his wrist.

"The mountains see no Zhang, the Dao sees no Li..." Beside him, Wang Xuansha muttered softly and couldn't help but nod.

"Each generation of the river and mountains produces new talents, each leading the way for hundreds of years..."

"Eighty years ago, the Three Corpses Daoist was hailed as the world's number one master, only to perish at the peak of Mount Dongyue; the prestige of Zhenren Chu has awed the world for a sixty-year cycle."

"Now, he too is old, confined to Zhenwu, having not emerged into the world..."

"The tide of the younger generation is destined to sweep the world," Wang Xuansha said solemnly.

This is the law of history and the inevitability of the Great Dao.

Even if one cultivates to the Pure Yang Limitless Realm, it is difficult to achieve immortality.

Immortality, immortality—how many brilliant and talented people in the Daoist sects throughout history have pursued that elusive, traceless immortality.

However, Pure Yang is not the end, and immortality remains a hopeless prospect.

Precisely because of this, generation after generation has followed in succession, and generation after generation of legends have risen and fallen.

"I heard that last month, the two brothers of the Qi family from Mount Laojun went to the capital and visited the Bai He Guan."

Just then, the only woman among the three spoke. She wore plain robes, wore no makeup, yet could not hide her beautiful appearance.

"The Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang brothers!?" Wang Xuansha uttered the two names.

"Correct," Wang Xuanfei nodded.

Mount Laojun is one of the ten great famous Daoist mountains in the world.

The Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang brothers are the cream of the crop among this generation's disciples, their fame no less than that of An Wuyang of Mount Zhongnan or Xia Weisheng of Mount Zhenwu.

"They dare to go to Bai He Guan to stir up trouble?" Wang Xuanqing sneered.

Although Bai He Guan does not occupy a famous mountain or great river, it is, after all, in the capital city; in ancient times, that would be under the feet of the Son of Heaven, a place of primary importance, with extraordinary significance.

"There is a reason why these two brothers are famous. I heard from my second uncle that these two are born of the same mother and possess an innate talent, their primordial spirits fused as one, capable of merging together," Wang Xuansha said solemnly.

"Primordial spirits fused as one? Can such a thing be done?"

As soon as the words fell, the expressions of Wang Xuanqing and Wang Xuanfei changed.

The primordial spirit is born innately and is more precise than the brain; adding or subtracting even a fraction has a huge impact, not to mention the fusion of two completely different primordial spirits—no matter how good the luck, it would lead to mental derangement.

"This is an innate gift, a blessing from the heavens," Wang Xuansha said solemnly.

Primordial spirits fused as one, like white clouds supporting the sky, vast and boundless.

That sense of oppression is incomparable to the primordial spirit of any other cultivator. The primordial spirit is the foundation of a cultivator and the key to comprehending Pure Yang.

Ordinary people, even if they cultivate the best Inner Dan methods, have limits to the strengthening of their primordial spirit.

But the Qi brothers, with their fused primordial spirits, can achieve an effect where one plus one is greater than two; the primordial spirits of ordinary Daoists crumble almost upon contact before them.

Might makes right; that is how it is.

"What was the outcome?" Wang Xuanqing stroked the feather tattoo on his wrist and asked indifferently.

"The two brothers naturally showed off their might, sweeping through more than a dozen masters of the younger generation at Bai He Guan," Wang Xuansha whispered solemnly.

"Sparring and fighting, defeating more than a dozen peers in a row—this is slapping Bai He Guan in the face."

Wang Xuanfei's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly: "These two brothers are so arrogant!?"

"Arrogance also requires capital," Wang Xuansha said indifferently.

Clearly, the Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang brothers possessed such capital; if one has no edge, how can it be revealed!?

"How did it end? Could it be that the masters of Bai He Guan stepped in to suppress the arrogance of these two brothers?" Wang Xuanqing couldn't help but ask.

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"Not exactly."

Wang Xuansha's brows furrowed slightly, and he said somewhat uncertainly: "Bai He Guan still has a young master; he broke through his seclusion and defeated the two brothers with just one move."

"What? One move?"

Once these words were spoken, the expressions of both Wang Xuanqing and Wang Xuanfei changed.

The top descendant of this generation from Mount Laojun, a monster with the talent of fused primordial spirits, was defeated in just one move!?

If a senior from Bai He Guan had made the move, that would be one thing.

"A peer!? Bai He Guan still has such a master among the younger generation?" Wang Xuanqing pressed.

"I don't know... That person seems to be in poor health, nursing injuries year-round, and even many disciples within Bai He Guan find it difficult to see him easily."

"Who exactly is it?"

"I only know that person's surname is Li," Wang Xuansha said solemnly.

"Surnamed Li!?" Wang Xuanqing's face twitched slightly, recalling what he had just said, and he immediately revealed a cold expression.

"There are heavens beyond heavens, mountains beyond mountains; in this world, there are always masters we cannot see."

Wang Xuansha seemed to see through Wang Xuanqing's thoughts and couldn't help but say solemnly: "Don't talk about outside, even within our Wang family..."

"It is best to put away thoughts of showing off; your talents are good, and your cultivation is rising, but you are not the strongest."

"Third brother, are you talking about that monster Wang Xuangang?" Wang Xuanfei spoke up.

Mentioning that name, Wang Xuanqing's expression became somewhat unnatural.

Among the younger generation of the Wang family, there is a freak named Wang Xuangang. Legend has it that he was born under the Seven Stars, and at his birth, the Big Dipper shone directly into the room, starlight entering, and the soles of his feet had seven red moles forming a birthmark.

This person has been innately gifted since childhood, especially showing inhuman talent in practicing the Daoist arts of the Baidou Sect.

"Wang Xuangang has mental problems; he stays in seclusion year-round and never steps out; he is simply not a normal person," Wang Xuanqing said coldly.

"There is a reason why he is not normal," Wang Xuansha said solemnly.

"What reason?"

"Do you remember eleven years ago, a great fire occurred here?" Wang Xuansha mentioned a past event.

"I remember..."

Ten miles of the Gilded River, flames soaring to the sky, scorching and illuminating the void, the dark sky as bright as day.

This matter caused a huge stir at the time, but it was quickly suppressed by those above, and from top to bottom, almost everyone was dismissed.

"Wang Xuangang's mental illness is related to this?" Wang Xuanqing couldn't help but ask.

"Watch your words; he is just mentally unstable, not mentally ill."

Wang Xuansha raised an eyebrow, appearing somewhat displeased.

Although Wang Xuangang is mentally unstable, his cultivation has not lagged behind over the years; on the contrary, his Daoist practice has advanced rapidly.

Precisely because of this, even if he is a madman, the Wang family holds him in special regard and once issued a strict order that no one in the Wang family is allowed to gossip about Wang Xuangang.

Setting aside the strict family orders, if such words reached the ears of that madman, who could stop him? Even if one were slaughtered, one could only blame one's own bad luck.

"Third brother, never mind him, continue," Wang Xuanfei glared fiercely at Wang Xuanqing, quite curious.

Over the years, they only knew that Wang Xuangang's mental state had gone wrong, but they didn't know the reason.

"Related to that great fire?"

"That is because he tasted the first great defeat of his life," Wang Xuansha said solemnly.

"First great defeat?" Wang Xuanqing couldn't help but say: "That year, Wang Xuangang should have been only fifteen, already a leader among the clan."

"He was invincible within the clan, but in that great fire, he encountered a master."

Wang Xuansha's voice was solemn: "The fire was raging like a furnace; that person walked out of the sea of fire, and with just one glance, he left Wang Xuangang in a dilemma of life and death, his Dao heart nearly collapsing."

"What? One glance!?"

Once these words were spoken, the expressions of Wang Xuanqing and Wang Xuanfei changed; such a story was even more absurd, bizarre, and unbelievable than the Qi brothers being defeated in one move just now.

"This... how is this possible?"

"Eleven years ago, although Wang Xuangang was only fifteen, he was no longer a rookie fresh out of the woods; his Daoist arts had the foundation of the Baidou Sect..."

"How could he be crushed to the point of Dao heart collapse by one glance from someone?" Wang Xuanqing shook his head, clearly finding it hard to accept such a fact.

"The fact is just so."

Wang Xuansha shook his head, paused for a moment, and then said: "Although Wang Xuangang's mental state is abnormal most of the time, over the years, the clan has spent some effort and has more or less learned some truth from his mouth."

"The reason he is crazy is probably because of this defeat."

"Because of this defeat, over the years, he has been crazy, focused on nothing else, and his Daoist practice has instead advanced by leaps and bounds," Wang Xuansha couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Human fortune and misfortune are intertwined and dependent, truly hard to predict.

If Wang Xuangang had not had this trial back then, he might not have achieved what he has today.

Orchid cause and catkin fruit—there must be a cause.

No wonder the ancients said that only by crossing a thousand trials can one clearly attain immortality.

Trials are the great medicine for cultivators.

"Third brother, who exactly made the move? One glance crushed Wang Xuangang? Which senior bullied the small with the big?"

Just then, Wang Xuanfei asked.

"Bullying the small with the big!?" Wang Xuansha whispered, then shook his head: "I'm afraid it's not as you think..."

"According to Wang Xuangang, the person who walked out of the fire that day and made the move against him was..."

"A youth!"

"A youth who looked even younger than him!"

Once these words were spoken, Wang Xuanqing and Wang Xuanfei looked at each other, their faces filled with disbelief.

"This... how is this possible!!?"

(End of chapter)