Chapter 514: Dare Not Imitate Shenzhou for Fame—Dare to Ask the World of Martial Dao!

Xie Ying smiled, her gaze soft as she looked toward Xie Guan.

Lately, Xie Guan's name had spread through the Xie Academy, praised for his exceptional chess skill—he had even bested Sixth Young Master Xie Yuan of the main courtyard. While others toiled over books, he leisurely listened to readings, and in the dull back courtyard, he became a topic of tea-time gossip.

Brother Guan is vastly different from before; previously, whenever he spoke of the academy's young ladies and masters, though he was sensible, his face often bore self-pity.

Now, he speaks with ease, his demeanor radiating the calm grace of a true gentleman—remarkable to behold.

Had that concubine still been alive, witnessing this, she would surely feel profound comfort.

"Excellent—whether general or minister, prince or peasant, emperor or commoner, all are invited to sit."

With that said!

Sima Ting lowered his gaze, lifted his teacup slowly, and asked: "Then, Young Master Guan, who among the figures of past and future do you most enjoy conversing with?"

Xie Ying teased: "Brother Ting, you're recycling old questions. You just tested me, and now you're testing Brother Guan."

Sima Ting only smiled faintly, sipping his tea in silence.

You paused in thought, facing this question… you decide.

1. Lu Chen. (Hint: Sima Ting may take special notice of you.)

2. The Second Master of the Academy. (Hint: Sima Ting may approve of you.)

3. The Third Master of the Academy. (Hint: Sima Ting may take a liking to you.)

4. Answer at random. (Hint: Sima Ting may form an average impression of you.)

5. Participate personally. (0/3)

The characters atop the great tripod slowly stabilized, glowing in a deep blue script.

Yu Ke blinked in surprise.

Lu Chen!

This lifetime's Lu Chen also left a mighty name in later ages, one who earned his place in the annals of the Kunxu Realm.

He recalled how Lu Chen, in his final years on Mount Zhongnan, had written:

"From now on, heaven is high, earth is wide—I roam freely as I please."

In Yu Ke's heart, a quiet premonition lingered.

Lu Yu, the Demon Master, and the Empress had all ascended; Lu Chen, who held the key to ascension, would never abandon it lightly.

Lu Chen's pursuit of the Dao was unwavering.

Moreover!

The end of the last lifetime was far too abrupt—it must conceal some hidden truth unknown to all!

He recalled how Chen Jingqiu had said this world once held three thousand middle realms, each birthing three thousand small realms.

In ancient times, an Ascension Platform connected the lower realms, allowing mortals to ascend.

After the Outer Demons invaded Tianxuan Continent through the Ascension Platform, the sages of the Suigu Era, to eliminate this threat, unleashed the Great Divine Art of "Severing Heaven and Earth," sealing the path to ascension forever.

Since then, those below could no longer ascend.

Legend says the mysterious Shenxiao Patriarch may have been one who ascended from the lower realms?

In this lifetime's era, when "Xie Guan" lives, it is thousands of years after Lu Chen—spiritual energy has surged back to life.

In Lu Chen's time, only a dozen or so could reach the Primordial Realm; now, demons and monsters have emerged, cultivators abound, their numbers multiplied manyfold.

Even legendary figures like the Master, nearing a thousand years of life, have appeared. Yet all still seek only the two words: "Ascension!"

Yu Ke pondered briefly, but found no answer, and finally shook his head.

Come to your senses!

Of the five options, you must cast a vote for Lu Chen—choose directly.

1. Lu Chen. (Hint: Sima Ting may take special notice of you.)

Simulation continues!

【You wore a thoughtful expression, speaking slowly: "A commoner—Lu Shenzhou!"】

【Sima Ting's eyes flickered with interest, then narrowed in confusion: "Why a commoner? Why not Prince of Yan, Junior Protector, or Emperor?"】

【You sighed softly: "Perhaps his life was too rich, his identities too numerous, his journey too vast. But Mount Zhongnan was his final resting place."】

【"Later generations called him good yet deceitful; princes and generals called him foolish; emperors laughed to their descendants: 'Do not learn from Shenzhou.'"】

【"Yet for a thousand years, the common people never slandered or insulted him. Every Qingming Festival, every household offers tribute to Lu Shenzhou."】

【"Whether he took off his Daoist robes to descend and save the world, earning universal respect, or laid down all to return to the mountain."】

【"So I say: Lu Chen of Mount Zhongnan—he has always been merely a commoner of Mount Zhongnan."】

【Sima Ting's solemn expression vanished, replaced by genuine, radiant laughter.】

【"Excellent—a commoner, Lu Shenzhou."】

【His eyes no longer scrutinized the boy; instead, they glowed with excitement.】

【"I, Sima Ting, hold the greatest respect for this Lord Lu. Those who say 'Do not seek fame by imitating Shenzhou'—I cannot bear to hear them."】

【"Some merely heard a few tales or met half-baked Confucian scholars, then fancied themselves omniscient and passed judgment."】

【"General Sima is rather forceful."】

【You smiled: "If all mouths in the world fell silent, chaos would reign. Right and wrong are judged by later generations. I believe Lord Lu would merely smile at such talk."】

【Sima Ting laughed even more heartily: "To Lord Lu, it would be nothing but idle chatter."】

【He then asked curiously: "Young Master Guan, what classics have you been reading lately?"】

【The Sima family was a scholarly lineage, passing down poetry and books; he himself had studied in the academy as a youth.】

【At these words, the maid behind him interjected indignantly:】

【"Young Master Guan hasn't even begun his studies yet!"】

【Lu Ya's remark exposed the Xie family's shame, damaging their reputation—Xie Ying, as a young lady of the household, would never allow this.】

【But!】

【Xie Ying did not interrupt her maid. If Xie Guan were merely a talentless bastard, bringing him here would have merely repaid his mother's kindness.】

【But Xie Guan impressed her deeply, and his answers matched Brother Ting's tastes perfectly.】

【She had no objection to helping this half-brother further.】

【Sima Ting frowned: "What is this?"】

【Lu Ya, eyes blazing, recounted Xie Guan's suffering after his mother's death: overcome with grief, he wept until he went blind; even now, the main household's matriarch tormented him, denying him any education or literacy.】

【Even Xie Ying, who knew this tale, felt pity upon hearing it again.】

【"Crack—"】

【Sima Ting's teacup shattered into shards; the charcoal in the pavilion flared violently, flames leaping high.】

【Even the bamboo grove outside trembled, leaves swaying sharply to one side.】

【The surrounding personal guards turned their gazes toward the pavilion.】

【"This is absurd!"】

【Your face remained calm, but your heart reeled.】

【Sima Ting's emotional shift had unleashed such immense power—was this the art of a spiritual soul cultivator, or the path of martial cultivation?】

【You felt a surge of awe and fascination for Sima Ting's strength.】

【Sima Ting quickly regained composure, offering Xie Ying an apologetic smile, then said calmly: "My apologies."】

【"To govern such a noble household with such petty cruelty—this is why Master Xie is not here. Had he been, such a seed of learning would never have been buried."】

【"When Master Xie returns today, I shall speak to him."】

【Master Xie is Xie Hong!】

【His gaze settled on you as he asked: "Young Master Guan, have you yet entered the path of martial cultivation, tempered your sinews and bones?"】

【As you prepared to answer, Fourth Sister Xie Ying subtly shook her head.】

【You understood instantly.】

【"Xie Guan is weak and lowly; no need for General Sima to trouble himself over me."】

【"I was born in a humble courtyard. All my brothers and sisters wear brocade, jade pendants, and silk caps. My mother treated me well—I am content, and envy no one."】

【Your voice steady, your expression calm: "But I am nearing adulthood, soon to be crowned."】

【"I wonder—how many realms are there in the world's martial path?"】

【"Xie Guan knows his talents are shallow, yet I dare to ask General Sima—please relieve my confusion."】

【As he spoke, a resolve to seek the Dao blazed within him.】

【At that moment!】

【Within your mind-sea, the character "Yuan" you once found in the lake suddenly blazed with golden light.】

【You sensed the two characters that had vanished from the lake had transformed into twin dragons, coiled and ready to burst forth, joyfully surging toward you.】

【A chill swept through your mind—the golden glow of the courtyard in your thoughts dimmed instantly. Simultaneously, the characters in the lake seemed to sense something, shook their heads, and dissolved back into stillness.】

【You wondered—what connection linked these characters? Why did they stir such a powerful response within you?】

【"There are two paths in cultivation: one ends in death, and one seeks the Dao!"】

【An ending path?】

【A path of seeking the Dao?】

【You had never heard such a distinction.】

【Autumn wind rustled in the pavilion; leaves spiraled down from the bamboo.】

【Fish in the lake gazed at lotus blossoms; immortal cranes leisurely preened their feathers by the shore.】

【The teapot on the warming brazier bubbled gently, steam rising; Lu Ya skillfully refilled the cups for the three, filling the air with tea's fragrance.】

Sima Ting sat upright like a pine, his gaze deep, and spoke slowly: "That path of severed heads is the martial path. Martial artists, also called lone men, can split mountains and sever rivers, one man forming an army, exhaling a single true breath like ten thousand swords and knives—they pursue ultimate power."

"Spiritual soul cultivation is also a method of Qi refining. They transform their true essence, hold divine fire, illuminate stars with their primordial spirit, and with a single thought, soar to the heavens; with a single thought, descend into the earth; with a single thought, their primordial spirit travels a thousand li."

Spiritual soul cultivators!

Light flared in your eyes.

Seeing this, Sima Ting smiled faintly and asked: "If you were willing, which cultivation method would you choose?"

Yet you smiled rarely: "Of course, I'll learn both!"

"Hah! When I was young, I felt the same—I made no choice. I, Sima Ting, wanted both."

But his smile suddenly vanished as he said gravely: "Yet do you know why, to this day, I have never cultivated the spiritual soul path?"

"Why is the martial path called a path of severed heads? Why is the spiritual soul cultivator called one seeking the path?"

Sima Ting did not delay: "If a martial artist reaches the peak, he attains the Xuan Dan realm, also called the realm of the mortal martial god. At this level, his strength alone can defy gravity and fly through the air; his flesh and bone become nearly indestructible."

"Yet even such a powerful cultivator lives no longer than ninety years in mortal terms."

"Since ancient times, not a single martial artist has ever broken this lifespan limit. Thus, the martial path is called the path of severed heads—its road ends, no further advancement possible. Isn't that severed?"

"Ninety years!"

Hearing this, you felt a surge of astonishment.

After all, ordinary long-lived elders could live to this age. Yet martial artists, with their blood and qi and strength, were already mortal weapons, walking deities far surpassing common folk—how could their lifespan be so short?

Sima Ting gazed at the charcoal in the brazier and sighed softly: "Don't wonder—over thousands of years, countless have tried, yet none succeeded. Even at the peak of Xuan Dan, martial artists' blood and qi are like pillars of heaven—but when their time comes, they die suddenly. Most cannot even reach ninety; only a few make it to sixty or seventy!"

"Martial artists are like the charcoal in this brazier: once lit, they burn only until they consume themselves, turning to ash."

"Martial cultivation, using the self as the furnace, progresses extremely fast. Those with extraordinary talent need only thirty or forty years of hard work to become the pinnacle of the world."

"And do you know how long spiritual soul cultivators live?"

You seemed to recall something and looked up: "Eight hundred years?"

Sima Ting froze, then laughed in disbelief.

"That's the Master—not the spiritual soul cultivators of the world. Know this: there is only one Master in all the world."

"You haven't cultivated yet, so you don't know what 'Master' means—it's like peering through a tube at a leopard. Once you cultivate, you'll know: there are no immortals in this world, only the Master."

"When spiritual soul cultivators reach the legendary Yang Shen realm, they gain three hundred years of mortal life. Ordinary primordial spirit cultivators who have perfected their Qi can easily live a hundred years."

Seeing you truly knew nothing, Sima Ting sighed—such a household as the Xie Family.

Even their own descendants didn't know these basic cultivation truths.

"Enough of this for now. As for why, if spiritual soul cultivators live so long, everyone doesn't choose their path—you'll understand later."

He lifted his teacup, sipped lightly to moisten his throat, then continued: "I walk the martial path. Martial cultivation has nine realms, and the first three are called the Three Passes."

"These Three Passes are called Sinew Training, Bone Casting, and Blood-Qi."

"The Sinew Training realm is the foundation of martial cultivation. Once achieved, muscles swell, the body moves swiftly, skin and flesh harden like iron, strength enough to lift a tripod. Lifting the stone lions at the Xie Fu gate? Even heavier weights pose no challenge."

(End of chapter)