Chapter 124: The Blue Flower Festival and Crashing a Class

The number of tourists gradually increased.

Many young people, dressed in intricate and magnificent traditional clothing, walked under the jacaranda trees outside the palace walls, striking poses as refined scholars, elegant young ladies, or wandering martial artists, chatting and laughing.

It was actually quite fitting for the occasion.

Handsome men and beautiful women—that's a sight to behold, isn't it?

By noon, the street was placed under martial law.

The private cars on the roadway disappeared.

The Royal Guard, entirely covered in Power Armor, arrived in military vehicles and stood on both sides of the roadway to take over security; police officers came to maintain order, and the public stopped in their tracks, standing at the edge of the sidewalk. Before long, a group of people walked over from the distance.

These people were all dressed in traditional clothing.

The person in the center had white hair and a beard, wearing a black-based, gold-threaded dragon robe. Following beside him were the Prime Minister, the Crown Prince of Yiguo, the current abbots of Yuan'an Temple and Xinzheng Temple, and a large group of other people of significant status behind them.

Everyone was enjoying the flowers, chatting and laughing.

Sometimes they even responded to the onlookers.

The atmosphere was not that serious, and even their formation was quite uneven; there were plenty of people who fell behind or walked to the side of the road.

Pedestrians on the side of the road shouted and cheered.

The young people among the onlookers were not afraid of the Imperial Family; some shouted "Your Majesty," and some of the more playful ones, while recording videos, shouted for the Emperor to look at the camera. When the Emperor heard them, he would also turn his head with a smile and exchange a few pleasantries with the young people.

Chen Shu and the other two stood by the side of the road, watching quietly.

This Emperor was truly very old; there were even age spots beginning to appear on his face.

Chen Shu had seen him in many film and television works—not played by the man himself, but by character actors. In every film and television work, he had more charisma, was more upright, more imposing, and more like an emperor than the man before his eyes.

However, none of them were him.

Chen Shu searched through the group.

Brother Meng was not there.

Instead, there was a young man in the crowd behind, looking to be in his twenties, walking at the very end of the procession. He held his Mobile Phone horizontally in a very casual manner, and judging by the way he maintained a steady pace as he walked forward, he should have been recording.

This person looked a bit like Brother Meng and was also quite handsome, but he was more masculine than the effeminate Brother Meng, and he was also taller.

Chen Shu had seen this person's photo.

The photo on the encyclopedia.

Just then, the young man lowered his Mobile Phone, his gaze sweeping over the onlookers with a calm expression. Even when he heard someone praise him for being handsome, he remained calm, and then he saw Chen Shu and the other two standing by the side of the road.

His expression suddenly became a bit strange.

The two sides stared at each other for a few seconds.

He couldn't help but reveal a hint of a smile, then shifted his gaze away, took a few more photos, and only then hurried to catch up with the elders in front.

It had been a habit for eight hundred years; the descendants of Meng Yi always had a soft spot for jacaranda trees. Whether they were direct descendants or collateral, or even very distant branches, once mid-spring arrived and the jacaranda flowers bloomed, they would all come outside the palace to enjoy the flowers.

Ten minutes or so later.

He saw Zhang Suannai again on the other side of the Imperial Palace. This girl seemed completely unaware, her mood still very good, and she even jumped up to wave and greet him.

Her expression became even more interesting!

Eh!?

He hurriedly withdrew his expression!

The Imperial Ancestor had turned to look at him.

……

Grandma Always Says: @Haoran

Grandma Always Says: Come out!

Grandma Always Says: I greeted you so happily, why didn't you reply?

Grandma Always Says: I greeted the Emperor, and the Emperor even smiled at me. Are you putting on even bigger airs than your Imperial Ancestor!?

Haoran: Didn't I smile back at you?

Grandma Always Says: I still want to ask you

Grandma Always Says: That smile of yours! It was like you were constipated!

Grandma Always Says: I suspect you were cursing me in your heart!

Haoran: /eating melon seeds

Grandma Always Says: Speak!

Haoran: I'm busy right now. There are many cameras pointed at me, I can't keep playing with my Mobile Phone. I'm just pretending to take photos to send you messages right now.

Grandma Always Says: Then why did you type such a long string

Haoran: Ten minutes before I saw you, I saw Qingcai Keke

Haoran: She seems to have recognized me too

Grandma Always Says:???

Grandma Always Says: Qingcai Keke also came outside the Imperial Palace?

Grandma Always Says: @Qingcai Keke

Grandma Always Says: Come out

Nameless Person: Grandma, have you found out information about Qingcai?

Gate of All Wonders: Amitabha, Nameless donor asks well. In the blink of an eye, the Blue Flower Festival has arrived, and you still haven't investigated information about Qingcai Caike?

Grandma Always Says: I wasn't talking to you two

Grandma Always Says: @Qingcai Keke

Grandma Always Says: Come out

Gate of All Wonders: /dumbfounded

Qingcai Keke: /yawn

Qingcai Keke: That's right.

Qingcai Keke: I also brought my boyfriend here to enjoy the flowers, and while I was at it, I got a close-up look at His Majesty the Emperor. I even saw the Group Owner; the Group Owner is a bit handsome. In person, he's even more handsome than in his photos, almost a tenth as handsome as my boyfriend.

Qingcai Keke: By the way, Grandmother Senior Sister, where is your girlfriend?

Haoran: /eating melon seeds

Naini Zongshuo:?

Naini Zongshuo: If I had even half your talent for being sarcastic, I would have already become the Sword Master!

Qingcai Keke: You just exposed yourself like that?

Qingcai Keke: So fast? I already looked it up, but I hadn't even had the chance to use it to scam money yet. /shrug

Naini Zongshuo: Does this even need exposing? Is the unique temperament of us Sword Sect people something that people from other trash sects can imitate?

Naini Zongshuo: Oh, you can imitate it.

Naini Zongshuo: I almost thought you were an elder of my Sword Sect.

Qingcai Keke: /yawn

Naini Zongshuo: Cut the crap, where are you?

Qingcai Keke: At Chang'an Gate.

Qingcai Keke: Dear Grandmother Senior Sister, are you coming to find me? I'm very easy to recognize; the place I'm at is the most eye-catching spot in the whole venue.

Naini Zongshuo: You just wait!

Naini Zongshuo: I'm coming over right now!

Qingcai Keke: Okay.

Chen Shu stood outside the subway entrance at Chengping Gate, waiting for a ride-hailing car, and even sent a cute emoji.

Two minutes later.

Chen Shu got into the ride-hailing car and leaned his head on Qingqing's shoulder, just in time to receive her message.

Naini Zongshuo: I've arrived at Chang'an Gate!

Naini Zongshuo: Why don't I see you?

Naini Zongshuo: Where are you?

Qingcai Keke: /sleepy

Qingcai Keke: You're so fast.

Naini Zongshuo: I ran here at a speed of a hundred yards; those Imperial Guards were all staring at me, I almost got caught. /blushing

Qingcai Keke: /impressive impressive

Qingcai Keke: Just now my boyfriend dragged me over to Chengping Gate again, saying that the sugar-fried fruit here is very delicious.

Naini Zongshuo: You're playing me!

Qingcai Keke: /sleepy

Qingcai Keke: Grandmother Senior Sister, have you come up with any new ways to find me recently?

Naini Zongshuo: Don't be arrogant!

Naini Zongshuo: I will definitely find you!

Zhong Miao Zhimen: You'd better hurry up.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: You've scammed us out of money twice.

Naini Zongshuo: Blocked!!

Haoran: /eating melon seeds

Qingcai Keke: By the way, Grandmother Senior Sister, last time I went to the courier station to pick up a package, I saw you seemed to be lurking at the school security office. You wouldn't happen to suspect that I'm the school security guard, would you? /snicker

Zhong Miao Zhimen: /holding back laughter

Naini Zongshuo: /fatherly strike

Qingcai Keke: Hurry up and find me. There are only two months left until the Martial Body Meet, and I've already signed up for the Arena competition. If I expose my identity myself by then and you're still in the dark, it'll be a bit, you know.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: Not much time left for you.

Qingdeng Gufu: Amitabha, Benefactor Naini can no longer hear you speaking.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: Amitabha, what a sin.

Qingdeng Gufu: If Senior Brother wishes to convert to my Buddha, you may go and explain it to the Dao Head.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: /eating melon seeds

Haoran: Don't use my emoji.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: Group Owner, focus on enjoying the flowers.

Qingcai Keke: Group Owner, focus on your parade through the streets.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: Group Owner, focus on your parade through the streets.

Wuming Renshi: Group Owner, focus on your parade through the streets.

Qingdeng Gufu: Group Owner, focus on your parade through the streets.

Jiu Jiao Luo Huaian Suan Le: Group Owner, focus on your parade through the streets.

Haoran: Group Owner, focus on your parade through the streets.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: Something strange has mixed in.

Wuming Renshi: I couldn't help but click when I saw this "+1".

Zhong Miao Zhimen: Why didn't Naini Zongshuo follow the formation?

Wuming Renshi: Don't know.

One minute later.

Grandmother Senior Sister always says: I've arrived at Chengping Gate, where are you?

Qingcai Keke: /head-pat

Gate of All Wonders: There's no saving you.

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: Amitabha, I have always been the one receiving alms throughout my life; I never expected that there would come a day when I would be the one giving alms to others.

Grandmother Senior Sister always says: You blocked me too!

Nameless Person: /smile

"Haha..."

Chen Shu happily closed the Ancient Cultivation Group, then continued to lean his head on Qingqing's shoulder, though he turned it slightly downward—Qingqing was dressed very modestly, revealing nothing particularly attractive, but one could see the rounded contours, and from this angle, they seemed much fuller and more prominent than usual.

Damn it!

Eyes really can deceive!

At the same time, Qingqing took out her Mobile Phone and was typing to ask her roommate.

Ning Qing: Are the jacarandas pretty?

Zhang Suannai: Eh, you actually took the initiative to chat with me, how rare, how rare.

Ning Qing: I feel a bit guilty.

Zhang Suannai: Guilty about what?

Ning Qing: Nothing.

Zhang Suannai: You're hooking my curiosity!!

Ning Qing: Are they pretty?

Zhang Suannai: They are, it's a real pity you didn't come, it's just that I ran into an idiot, and my mood is completely ruined.

Zhang Suannai: Two idiots.

Zhang Suannai: Four idiots.

Zhang Suannai: I'm so pissed off.

Chen Shu's voice came from beside her ear:

"Guilty about what?"

"I don't want to say."

"Tell me."

"Ning Ji, you tell him."

"Oh." The little girl in the front row turned her head and said obediently, "Yesterday, Sister Suannai invited us to come see the flowers, but we didn't go with her. Thinking about it now, I also feel a bit sorry for Sister Suannai; actually, Sister Suannai is a very warm-hearted person, she calls me every day for meals."

"I see."

Chen Shu nodded, not probing further, and continued to watch her chat with Zhang Suannai.

He heard that Zhang Suannai had invited a senior sister.

Very good.

Chen Shu took out his Mobile Phone again.

Qingcai Keke: Is Grandmother Senior Sister still looking for me?

Grandmother Senior Sister always says: Do you think I'm stupid??

Qingcai Keke: I think I see you, you're with another girl, right?

Grandmother Senior Sister always says: /fatherly-strike

Grandmother Senior Sister always says: Where the hell are you?

Grandmother Senior Sister always says: /going-crazy/going-crazy/going-crazy

Chen Shu put down his Mobile Phone.

He could already imagine Zhang Suannai clutching her phone, frantically turning her head to look all around, looking like she had gone mad.

But by now, he was almost at Xicheng District.

It was already the third week of the school term.

The weather continued to warm up.

The peach blossoms under the Ancient Cultivation Building could no longer be seen; many tender leaves had grown on the peach trees, green and quite lush.

In such weather that is neither hot nor cold, it is most comfortable to go to class.

Chen Shu arrived at Room 201 of the Ancient Cultivation Building.

This was a major course for the second semester of the sophomore year in the Cultivation System major, called "Cultivation System Detailed Explanation".

Chen Shu was here to audit the class; he had the self-awareness of an auditor and sat in the last row, as the front seats at Yujing Academy were highly sought after. Before long, the tall and thin teacher who taught "Cultivation History and Cultivation System" last semester walked in.

Seeing Chen Shu, he smiled and nodded.

Chen Shu hurriedly lowered his head and bowed to return the greeting.

The teacher drank a few sips of tea and bragged a bit with the students in the front row, then the class bell rang, the teacher turned on the Wall Projector, and began the lecture:

"Next, we will talk about several legendary cultivation systems of ancient times. One is the system founded by the Heavenly Human who once dominated the Floating Island, and the other two are the Buddhist System and Taoist System created by Shengzu and Shengzu's disciples based on the Heavenly Human System. They have existed in our country for five thousand years without decaying or declining, and they remain prosperous to this day. They have helped our Central Huaxia civilization resist foreign invasions many times."

"Recently, the pear blossoms at the Taoist Yuan'an Temple have bloomed; I wonder if everyone has gone to see them."

"The last one is the most mysterious and legendary, the most powerful Secret Sect System. What I can tell you all is that it truly exists, and it is truly powerful."

"In the next few classes, I will briefly describe the basic principles of these systems. If you are interested, after graduation, you can choose to study these directions in depth. However, if you want to research them thoroughly and achieve something, you may have to spend your whole life on it."

The words Heavenly Human System, Buddhist System, Taoist System, and Secret Sect System also appeared on the Wall Projector, along with a brief introduction to them.

Then the teacher snapped his fingers, and the image changed again, turning into three compound words.

"I will not go through these four systems one by one, because they inherently share commonalities. I will combine them and explain them over the course of three lessons, discussing the meaning of these three terms respectively. The core of all four systems is contained within them.

"Plane Will;

"Historical Memory;

"Future Prediction Line."

The teacher's gaze swept over the students below, lingering on Chen Shu at the very end for two seconds before continuing to ask: "Does the world have its own reaction mechanism? What is this reaction mechanism like? Is it as simple as a stone or a water droplet? Or as complex as an animal? Or perhaps somewhere in between, like a plant?

"Can this reaction mechanism be complex enough to be called 'will' or 'thought'?

"If so.

"Then does the world also have memory? Does it record every little thing that has happened within this world? For instance, like an animal? Or does it record everything more mechanically through some kind of mechanism?

"And can this vast World Will, based on these memories and everything it possesses within the world, deduce the future direction of the world?

"The first lesson is about Plane Will, formerly also called World Will.

"Let us begin."

Chen Shu propped up half of his face with his hand, and in this comfortable posture, he followed the teacher's guidance into this mysterious and magical realm of knowledge.