Chapter 635: Xie Guan, Have You Seen the Jade Capital of Heaven?

Yu Ke was deeply immersed in contemplating the Yang Fu Jing left by Lu Hua for Xie Guan.

This Dao scripture, which might have taken Xie Guan countless days to comprehend, Yu Ke unraveled effortlessly, without the slightest obstruction.

This state of "observing the Dao"!

If Xie Guan could sustain this indefinitely, he would likely reach the pinnacle of cultivation in this realm in no time.

In his previous life, Lu Chen was utterly dull in martial cultivation, yet through relentless perseverance and the blessing of a "late-blooming destiny," he barely caught up to Lu Yu's pace.

Yu Ke even suspected that when Lu Yu finally ascended, he did not use the "Ascension Platform," but shattered the void with his bare fists, truly breaking through reality through pure martial Dao.

Perhaps Lu Yu had long possessed the ability to ascend.

His lingering in this realm was merely to wait for Lu Chen.

In the end, there was no other choice!

Unable to remain in this realm, he was forced to ascend.

But this life, Xie Guan was utterly different—exceptionally gifted, cultivating as easily as a fish in water, without the slightest effort.

Yu Ke surmised that Xie Guan's talent in this life had likely been fully maximized, making him a peerless genius.

Unfortunately!

The gains of each reincarnation cannot be stacked into the next; only one fixed "talent destiny" can be drawn from them.

If not for this, why would so many choices and struggles be necessary?

Each reincarnation is merely a response to hardship, a repeated act of selection.

As Yu Ke pondered, a respectful voice came from outside the door.

Only see!

The red-clad eunuch in a python robe stood at the threshold, announcing loudly:

"By imperial decree of Su Xiang and the Third Master."

"Please, Young Master Guan, ascend directly to the fourth floor."

Yu Ke was unsurprised; he adjusted his robes and walked slowly out the door.

The old eunuch inwardly marveled—this Xie Guan had clearly anticipated all of this.

So composed.

"Young Master Guan, this way, please!"

Yu Ke gave a slight nod and walked steadily outward.

He too looked forward to meeting the famed "Third Master" and "Su Xiang" of the fourth floor in this simulation.

Aside from the supreme figure—the Master.

The two were the only beings in this "Heavenly Reincarnation" second only to the Master.

Xie Guan stepped out of the room.

Many eyes on the third floor were already fixed upon him.

"This man is Xie Guan of the Xie family, the ninth son of Xie Ling."

Whispers circulated among the crowd, laced with curiosity and scrutiny.

Each figure here was a powerful noble of Bianjing.

All either crossed their arms and watched, or casually sized him up.

Many of the academy's masters, however, wore expressions of admiration.

Among them were those with complex expressions—most notably the Xie family members.

The matriarch of the Xie family held her deer-headed cane, her face as inscrutable as a deep pool.

Lady Yuan of the main courtyard's eyes were filled with coldness.

Lady Zhao of the second courtyard's corners held a peculiar smile.

Xie Hong's face was calm; he stared at Xie Guan, then slowly raised his gaze to the fourth floor, lost in thought.

Xie Yuan's uncle, Zhuge Jian, among the court ministers, wore an expression of quiet satisfaction.

The Third Master had learned of Xie Guan because he once heard Xie Guan's interpretation of "benevolent and steadfast individuals" in Hongjing Academy.

"Those who plant trees must nurture their roots; those who cultivate virtue must nourish their hearts. All movement in the world stems from the word 'heart.'"

"It is easy to break bandits in the mountains; it is hard to break the bandits within the heart."

Zhuge Jian became the Third Master's disciple precisely because of this interpretation, which made him view Xie Guan with new eyes.

Otherwise, today's Xie Guan, as reported by Shen Yin and the Demon Extermination Bureau—colluding with the Three Truths Sect—

would never have been protected by the Third Master.

Only then was Xie Guan invited to the Immortal Invitation Tower.

Zhuge Jian was also curious: what poem had Xie Guan composed to earn his place on the fourth floor?

Beside him, Tang Ziang of the Ministry of Rites, the "sick tiger" of the court, slowly turned his gaze.

This Tang Ziang, who always wore a smiling face, had for the first time extinguished his smile.

Those who had once been close to him—the Nine Surnames and court officials—dared not provoke him.

The court knew that this "sick tiger," who was always amiable, when truly serious,

had few who dared to stroke his whiskers.

Tang Ziang scanned the crowd on the third floor of the Qunfang Banquet, searching for a figure he had yet to find.

The Military Governor of Jiannan—Simapan.

He had just been called downstairs by a woman and had vanished ever since.

Could something have happened to him?

A Military Governor of a province disappearing without cause during the Qunfang Banquet?

Tang Ziang had already dispatched agents from the Demon Extermination Bureau and Shen Yin to locate Simapan, but no news had come back.

This unsettled him, even stirring thoughts of ascending to the fourth floor himself.

Yet!

Su Xiang had already decreed: no one was to enter the fourth floor today without his explicit order.

Tang Ziang closed his eyes slightly and gently set down his cup.

Something major was bound to happen at today's Qunfang Banquet.

Yu Ke ascended the stairs, ignoring the gazes around him, his eyes fixed solely on the back of the red-robed eunuch.

The old eunuch moved with light, silent steps.

Passing through a beaded curtain, he halted and bowed slightly:

"Young Master Guan, please wait here."

"The Third Master and Su Xiang are inside; you may answer from here."

"Your servant will take his leave."

Before his words had fully faded, the eunuch had vanished, leaving only Xie Guan standing outside the beaded curtain.

Yu Ke looked up—the interior beyond the curtain glowed with dim lantern light, faintly revealing two figures seated opposite each other.

He had considered using his Primordial Spirit to sense them, but dismissed the thought.

Yu Ke bowed slowly, his voice clear and resonant:

"Xie Guan greets the Third Master."

"Greets Su Xiang."

The fourth floor was vast and silent, yet his words echoed softly.

Yu Ke could hear even his own breath.

Behind the beaded curtain,

a middle-aged man's voice arose, as if reciting softly:

"Above, the jade capital of heaven, twelve towers, five cities."

Each word, clear and unhurried.

His voice, like jade striking jade—mellow and magnetic.

Yu Ke, from memory, judged this voice belonged to the Third Master.

Su Yun had said his grandfather was old and frail, standing in court as a centenarian, his voice naturally aged—utterly unlike this mellow tone.

As Yu Ke pondered, the voice spoke again, tinged with reflection and inquiry:

"Xie Guan, have you seen it?"

"Have you seen the jade capital of heaven?"

His tone shifted from casual to solemn.

Though Yu Ke could not see beyond the curtain, he felt a gaze—solid, tangible—rest upon him, as if piercing through the depths of his soul.

Before he could react, the great cauldron in his mind trembled violently, falling utterly silent.

His spirit tightened.

He inwardly recoiled—this Third Master's cultivation was even deeper than legend claimed.

In that instant, he had nearly revealed the secret of "Heavenly Reincarnation."

The fourth floor remained utterly still.

Then!

Another voice sounded—ancient, heavy with the weight of countless human sorrows:

"Xie Guan, have you ever set foot upon the jade capital of heaven?"

"Or have you personally seen the Immortal Realm?"

The words drifted slowly into silence.

Yu Ke paused briefly, his mind already made up.

"Xie Guan, I have been fortunate enough to see it."

The emerald beads on the pearl curtain trembled gently, clinking against one another.

Like small and large pearls falling upon a jade plate.

(End of Chapter)