Chapter 429 The Devil Outside the Heaven
The Jade Emperor could really come up with some new tricks.
He thought that by tricking Hua Youming into the academy, he would be able to successfully guide him towards the right path. At the same time, he would be able to make the incarnations of the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother who were going through the Tribulation Transcendence, take a liking to each other in advance and create sparks of justice.
However, Li Changshou had not expected Hua Youming to suddenly block the door.
Not only that, Hua Youming had also forcefully set up a standard to stop most of the ignorant and incompetent youths from the wealthy families. Seeing the smug smile on Hua Youming’s lips, he should also… not know a hundred words. Li Changshou chuckled to himself. Just as he was about to inform the General of the Hua Residence to come, Xia Ningshuang, who had already entered the academy, rolled her eyes. She turned around and said to Hua Youming, who was blocking the door, “Young General, you’re so impressive.” Hua Youming raised his eyebrows and said calmly, “Miss Xia, you have a big mouth.” Xia Ningshuang was not angry. She leaned her thin body against the gate of the academy. She hugged her arms and said calmly, “The teacher of the academy is a true paragon. There are reasons for the rules he set. If you forcefully add a restriction, wouldn’t it be adding fuel to the fire and deliberately making things difficult for him?”
The group of adults at the front nodded in unison.
Hua Youming placed his hands behind his back and puffed out his chest. He said loudly, “It’s precisely because the teacher in the academy is a paragon that we should be more strict! What can those who are born rich and do not know how to read learn from entering? They might as well give up these positions to those in the same generation who have truly read books and learned logic. Only then could they nurture more talents for the city! Everyone, don’t you agree?”
The young men dressed in sable and jade immediately agreed. Although they did not dare to say anything in front of the adults, they secretly gave Hua Youming a thumbs-up.
“That’s not true,” Xia Ningshuang said calmly. “How can being ignorant and incompetent for a while represent being ignorant mean that one will continue being so all their lives? The rankings in this place are mostly based on the ranks of the officials in the city. Their positions are either pa.s.sed down to brothers or father and son.
Would it be more beneficial to the city if he chose the children of the seven wealthy families in the city and nurture them? Or would it be more beneficial to the city if he chose the seven children of poor backgrounds who are full of ambition but have nowhere to use them? The teachers of the academy might have thought about letting the former enter first.”
Hua Youming was stunned. He rolled his eyes and immediately said, “Just as you said just now, being ignorant and incompetent does not mean that he will be ignorant and incompetent all his life. If he is not successful for a moment, it does not mean that he will not have a magnificent contribution in his life!”
”Young General, do you know what you are saying?” Xia Ningshuang’s fingers were wrapped in a wisp of black hair. The corners of her mouth behind her veil were curled into a sneer. “Your words are already deviant. I’m afraid you will be hung up and beaten by General Hua.”
“Hmph.” Hua Youming raised his head and said, “Why should I be afraid!?!”
The adults below looked at each other. They did not understand what the two young men were saying, but they felt that it made sense.
At that moment, laughter came from the academy. A middle-aged scholar dressed in a loose robe walked over. His figure was elegant and otherworldly. His long hair fluttered in the wind, and a peaceful and comfortable aura echoed everywhere. The crowd outside the door hurriedly bowed. The eyes of many women shone, and the children sized up the legendary paragon curiously.
The one who appeared was naturally Li Changshou’s… paper effigy. “Hahahahaha! What a debate about power and poverty! How should I address this Young General?”
“Hua Youming!”
“I’m very excited.” Li Changshou put his hands in his sleeves and smiled. “Youming, can you tell me the truth? Is that what you’re thinking in your heart, or are you unwilling to enter my school and deliberately twisting logic?” Xia Ningshuang shouted, “He’s deliberately twisting logic!”
Hua Youming wanted to retort, but he was unwilling to lie to the man in front of him.
“Sir, don’t blame me! My father is the guardian general of this city. In the future, I will also be a general guarding this place. I will naturally train diligently and I will have the power to kill flood dragons and capture tigers as soon as possible! I don’t want to learn how to read!” Li Changshou smiled and said, “General Hua, how do you know that I don’t teach martial arts here?” After saying that, Li Changshou pulled out his hands from his sleeves. He summoned a fallen leaf with his left hand and casually threw it. The fallen leaf rushed into the sky with an anxious howl and exploded in the sky hundreds of feet high.
Hua Youming was stunned.
Li Changshou smiled and said, “Do you want to learn?”
“Yes, yes, yes, yes!” Hua Youming nodded. “I’ll teach you.” Li Changshou put his hands back into his sleeves and chuckled. Then, he turned around and returned to the academy.
Hua Youming’s eyes lit up as he followed behind, causing Xia Ningshuang to roll her eyes.
As soon as Hua Youming entered, more than ten young men and women rushed up from below. When there were twenty people in the school, the door closed automatically. After another two hours, the gate of the academy opened again. The thirteen people walked out dejectedly. No matter how they thought about it, they could not figure out the standards of this paragon’s disciple selection. However, they were ultimately eliminated. The seven people who were left behind were four men and three women. One of them was a childhood sweetheart who had a marriage contract, the other had a marriage in the Hall of Marriage, and the other was naturally the tribulation body of the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother, as well as…
There was one there just to fill up the spot.
At that moment, in the middle of the academy, seven young men and women were sitting cross-legged behind a short table in a bamboo hut that was transparent on all sides. The breeze blew, and the bamboo leaves rustled. The curtains on both sides of the bamboo house were raised slightly. The gentleman sitting in the rocking chair held the purple sand teapot and chatted warmly about some topics that had long been prepared. The seven young people listened with relish. At the back, the fake mountains and rivers were ringing. The sounds of birds crying and frogs croaking were coming from afar. It was the good times of his youth. Li Changshou chatted for a while and secretly helped the other five open their spiritual roots, making them feel enlightened. It was just a small trick to maintain the reputation of a paragon. When the sun set, Li Changshou stood up and said warmly, “I didn’t even realize that it has gotten so late. You should all go back. There are seven cloth bags outside the door that contains the clothes of the academy and a few sutras that are to be used next. From tomorrow onwards, all of you will come to the academy to attend lessons every single day. You will arrive at sunrise and return at dusk. Remember to prepare a meal. I will only teach you for three years. How much you can obtain in these three years will depend on yourselves. I will teach you whatever you want to learn. However, you have to learn whatever I teach. Do you understand?” Xia Ningshuang smiled and said, “Sir, you mean that we can each suggest a subject that we want to learn, but all of us have to learn that subject together, right?”
“Ningshuang is really smart.” Li Changshou smiled and said, “That’s it.” Hua Youming, who was seated at the table beside Xia Ningshuang, pursed his lips and snorted softly. He muttered, “She’s just a little smart.” Xia Ningshuang’s face grew sullen. She pinched her face with her fingers to grimace and looked fierce. Li Changshou smiled and said, “In the next lesson, when the three of you enter the academy, you can no longer hide behind a veil.”
The three girls lowered their heads and agreed. “Yes.”
“Go back. See you tomorrow.”
Li Changshou waved his hand and left the bamboo hut first with his hands behind his back, leaving the seven young boys and girls behind to exclaim softly. “Sir!”
Hua Youming rushed to the side of the bamboo hut and lifted the curtains. He shouted, “Sir, what is your name!?!”
The other six people could not help but be stunned. They carefully recalled that they had indeed never heard of this paragon. They only knew that he was a paragon and an expert. “Me.” Li Changshou turned his head and left a side profile, as well as a faint smile. “Mu Qinghua, this academy will be called Woodflower Academy in the future.”
“Mu Qinghua…” Xia Ningshuang muttered to herself as she pondered. At the same time, in the Heavenly Courts’ Hall of Enlightenment, General Dongmu, who was holding a memorial and reading it carefully, felt a chill on his neck and his Dao heart ripples.
What’s going on?
Didn’t the Jade Emperor say that the Water G.o.d had already investigated and was beginning to guide them?
General Dongmu was a little confused. He drank a mouthful of hot tea and continued with his work.
At the same time, in an “inn” in a town in the Middle Continent…
“The Five Village Temple, the Primordial Immortal Protector, the ancestor of the Earth Immortals… So that’s how it is.”
In the guest room of the town, Ling’e looked at the jade token that she had spent dozens of Spirit Stones to buy and read the information inside. The Great Immortal Zhenyuan and the Three Pure Ones were of the same generation. They were considered mighty figures who had become famous early in the world. However, half of their fame came from… the death of their good friend, Ancestor Hong Yun.
It was closely related to the fact that the Great Immortal Zhenyuan kept a low profile and rarely walked around the Primordial World. The location of the Five Village Temple was not a secret. It was on the Ten Thousand Years Mountain on the east side of the AparaG.o.dānīya Continent. However, it was enveloped by a huge array all year round. Even Golden Immortals who had long lives could not enter.
Ling’e looked at the words on the jade token carefully and sat cross-legged on the bed. She frowned slightly. “How can I meet this mighty figure?”
Great Immortal Zhenyuan had two extremely powerful treasures. One was the extremely rare Connate Spirit Root, the Ginseng Fruit Tree. The other was a special treasure that could be used as a defensive treasure.
Earth Book.
The legends of the Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Man had been circulating in the Primordial World since ancient times. The Heavenly Book belonged to the Heavenly Dao and was unknown.
The Earth Book and the Great Immortal Zhenyuan were born together. They were formed from the membrane of the world and had the ability to open up the world and control everything.
The Book of Life and Death was also known as the Book of Three Lifetimes. It could decide the fate of living beings. To be able to wield the Earth Book, the ability of the Great Immortal Zhenyuan was naturally extraordinary. It was said that he was extremely good at the Great Dao of the universe and had many Great Cosmic Divine Powers.
Facing such a senior, he definitely could not be shortchanged. He had to tell the truth.
The trial that his senior brother had arranged for him seemed to be to send a letter, but it was also to obtain some “ginseng fruits” to extend his master’s
life.
Ling’e carefully calculated her background and realized that apart from being her senior brother’s junior sister, the rest were mostly ordinary. However, he could not expose his senior brother’s ident.i.ty. “Ah, it’s so difficult.” Ling’e sighed and lay on the bed weakly. She hugged the pillow that was stuck to her senior brother’s portrait and tossed and turned on the bed. She rolled around until her hair was in a mess before sighing softly.
Should I try my luck at the Ten Thousand Years Mountain?
What if this expert sees through my ident.i.ty as the junior sister of the Heavenly Courts’ Water G.o.d and lets me in?
That’s not right either. It’s another matter whether this expert is trustworthy or not. If we go rashly, the chances of success are too low. We might even encounter some trouble.
She had been investigating for more than two months and could not find out what this expert liked…
Every time someone mentioned Great Immortal Zhenyuan, they would mention the Earth Book, the Ginseng Fruit, and Ancestor Hongyun. There was no other useful information.
This question is too difficult! I can’t be impatient. I have to plan slowly. Ling’e sat up and waved her fist gently. Continue investigating!
Regardless of whether I succeed or not, as long as I make sufficient preparations within my ability, I will not regret it even if I fail. In order for Master to live for tens of thousands of years, I’ll do it!
In order for Senior Brother to not worry about me, I want to help him share some of the pressure as soon as possible!
Does Great Immortal Zhenyuan have any female disciples? Ling’e blinked and walked to the window sill. She opened a crack and looked at the town outside the window.
At that moment, she was not far from the Ten Thousand Years Mountain.
Beside the pool on the Black Pool Peak, Bai Ze transformed into his main body. A long feather on his head pointed at the image in the pool and sensed Ling’e’s luck.
Soon, Bai Ze returned to his human form and said to Li Changshou, who was standing at the side, “Water G.o.d, don’t worry. Lingle is not in a catastrophe. She is no different from the divination.”
Li Changshou nodded slowly and smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Bai.”
“Ah, it’s a small matter.” Bai Ze made an inviting gesture and sat down with Li Changshou to talk about the South Continent.
Li Changshou also learned from Bai Ze at the same time. It was equivalent to asking Bai Ze to “prepare” his lessons for him and prepare the content for tomorrow’s official lesson. The two of them chatted for a while. Bai Ze smiled and said, “Water G.o.d, how does it feel to be the teacher of the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother?”
“Sir, don’t say that.” Li Changshou said seriously, “I’m just doing some protection work for the reincarnations of the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother. I’m definitely not the teacher of the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother!”
“Yes, yes.” Bai Ze squinted and smiled. “What the Water G.o.d said is right, how does it feel to be the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother’s guard?”
Li Changshou sighed and said, “It’s tiring, but I don’t dare to teach them anything. The words that I said will be remembered by the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother. It’s very easy to have unknown effects. I’ll take it one step at a time. I mainly want to facilitate the marriage between the two of them. I should think about it now. When His Majesty returns to the Heavenly Courts, how should I explain to His Majesty why his marriage in this life is still the Queen Mother?”
“It’s indeed not easy. Water G.o.d, you…” Bai Ze suddenly stopped talking and frowned at Li Changshou.
Although he could not see or sense with his immortal senses, Li Changshou seemed to be wrapped by a Dao rune that descended from the sky. Carefully sensing the Dao runes, Bai Ze seemed to have entered a chaotic and boundless world. His body was like a grain of sand, and he felt that the world contained countless truths and endless mysteries.
Saint Dao runes!
There was a hint of peace in Bai Ze’s eyes. He knew that the Grand Pure One was definitely talking to Li Changshou. He could not be envious. He could only follow the Water G.o.d and live his life. A moment later, Li Changshou opened his eyes and slowly exhaled. “Mr. Bai, do you know what abilities the otherworldly demons have?”
“Huh?” Bai Ze could not help but be stunned.
At that moment, there was a slight Cosmic Disturbance on the Little Qiong Peak. The Dao runes of the two Connate treasures appeared and quickly disappeared.
Bai Ze immediately said, “The otherworldly demons are not living beings of the Primordial World. Most of them are after the Connate Demon G.o.d before the creation of the world.
They had many changes. They were cunning and cruel to the Primordial World and the living beings of the Primordial World. They only knew how to destroy and wanted to return the Primordial World to chaos.
Since the creation of the world, there had been a battle between the Primordial World and the Extraterrestrial Demons in the ancient times. However, the latter could not withstand a single blow.
Water G.o.d, is the battle in the Xuandu City urgent? Do you need us to go and help?”
“The Eldest Senior Brother in the Xuandu City can handle it.” Li Changshou opened his left hand and a cloud slowly condensed. A blurry image appeared in it…
An ancient city floated in the void, surrounded by thick gray fog. At that moment, countless black shadows rushed out of the fog. They were boundless and fearless as they rushed towards the periphery of the ancient city.
Bright light shone everywhere in the ancient city. Countless major array formations were operating. The black shadows that could not be seen clearly were attacking the light walls of the array formations. In the middle of the ancient city was a colorful vortex. It was the entrance to the Primordial World. In the array formation, one could see figures flying everywhere. They were constantly repairing the flaws in the array formation and shooting streams of light towards the outside.
The battle was stable.
All of a sudden, the gray clouds in the periphery trembled. Black beasts that could not be named flew out of the Chaos Sea and charged towards the array formation, tearing open a gap on the left side of the city. Immediately, countless black shadows rushed in from the gap. The ancient city erupted with streams of light. Another group of guards flew out of the city and destroyed most of the black shadows. However, in the chaotic battle, dozens of black shadows still huddled together and rushed into the colorful vortex. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled in the vortex! When more black shadows were about to rush into the gap of the array, two wisps of black and white aura appeared quietly and melted the black shadows in front of the gap…
The Connate Cardinal treasure, the Taiji Painting, appeared and instantly enveloped the ancient city! In between the power of Yin and Yang, the indescribable pitch-black beasts exploded… The Great Daoist Master stood proudly in front of the city. The figures in the city were obviously relieved.
Just as someone was about to turn around and chase after the black shadow that had escaped previously, colorful feelers emerged from the gray aura in all directions…
The Great Daoist Master turned his head and said, “There’s no need to chase. Someone will deal with them. Hurry up and repair the array. There’s a tough opponent.”
The scene changed. A black shadow came from the void and crashed into a narrow little world. Following that was a bolt of purple lightning! The bolt of lightning seemed to be able to shatter the Minor Chiliocosm. However, the lightning trembled slightly and turned into a spectacular lightning screen that enveloped the Minor Chiliocosm like a cage.