Dinner was simple yet plentiful. The millennium-old spirit rice was steamed until each grain was plump, the stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat had a sweet, spiritual quality, and the vermilion fruit soup glowed with a faint red light. The four of them sat around the table, not saying much, but exuding the warmth of an ordinary family.
After the meal, Su She held his teacup and said softly, "Master, Senior Brother, Senior Sister, this disciple would like to take a walk in the Southern Region."
"Oh? Aren't you going to take a look at the Central Region?" Lin Zhou asked.
“The Confucianism and Taoism in the Central Region may have been passed down, but the Southern Region needs them even more.” Su She’s eyes gleamed. “I want to preach in the towns and villages of the Southern Region. Even if I can only let a few people understand ‘propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame’ and let a few children learn a few words, it will be a worthwhile way to cultivate Confucianism and Taoism.”
Xiao Chen and Jiang Li exchanged a glance, both seeing admiration in each other's eyes. The Southern Region was barren, and its literary tradition was waning. To preach here was far more difficult and required far more courage than to go to the prosperous Central Region.
Lin Zhou looked at the determination in his eyes and nodded: "Go if you want to. If you need money or supplies, just send a message back. The Qingyun Sect can afford to support a scholar who preaches the Dao."
"Thank you, Master." Su She stood up and bowed deeply to Lin Zhou.
Jiang Li took out a translucent white jade pendant from her storage bag and handed it to Su She: "This is the 'Pure Heart Pendant' that I obtained in my early years. It can block attacks and calm the mind and soul. Take it with you." The jade pendant was engraved with fine runes, so it was obviously not an ordinary item.
Su She accepted the jade pendant and carefully put it away: "Thank you, Senior Sister."
Xiao Chen touched his body and found that his storage bag contained mostly spiritual materials and pills, apart from a gun and a few changes of clothes. There was really nothing suitable for a scholar to use.
He thought for a moment, then took out a sound transmission talisman and infused it with spiritual power: "Junior brother, take this sound transmission talisman. As long as you crush it, I can receive your message no matter where I am. If there is any danger, don't try to tough it out, call me."
The sound transmission talisman wasn't particularly valuable, but it was the most practical thing Xiao Chen could think of.
Su She gripped the communication talisman tightly, feeling the warmth of spiritual energy emanating from his fingertips. He nodded vigorously, "Yes! Don't worry, Senior Brother!"
The next morning, Su She, carrying a book box on his back, with the Qingxin Pendant hanging from his waist and a communication talisman in his hand, stood in front of the Qingyun Sect's mountain gate and bowed deeply to Lin Zhou and the other two: "Master, Senior Brother, Senior Sister, this disciple is off."
"Go on," Lin Zhou waved, "Remember to come home often."
Xiao Chen and Jiang Li also waved goodbye.
Su She turned around and walked down the stone steps one by one. His blue robe gradually disappeared in the morning light. Although his back was thin, it revealed a stubbornness that he would never look back once he made up his mind.
The place he was going to was free of swords and bloodshed, but it had a much longer road ahead—to sow the seeds of Confucianism and Taoism on the land of the Southern Region with pen and words.
After Su She left, Xiao Chen stood in front of the mountain gate, looking towards the Central Region, and said to Lin Zhou, "Master, this disciple is also preparing to set off for the Central Region."
"Yes, it's time to go." Lin Zhou leaned against the old locust tree. "The Central Region is a mixed bag, which is a good opportunity to hone your spear skills. Remember, don't always think about fighting and killing. Observe more and think more. Spears are for protecting the path, not for showing off."
"Disciple understands." Xiao Chen gripped the rusty iron spear tightly, its shaft gleaming coldly in the morning light.
Jiang Li walked to his side and handed him a medicine bottle: "This contains a 'Rejuvenation Pill.' There are many evil cultivators in the Central Region. In case you get injured..."
"I know, thank you, junior sister." Xiao Chen took the medicine bottle and carefully put it away.
In the next couple of days, he will take care of the sect's affairs and then set off. There are stronger opponents and a more complex situation in the Central Region, and even... there are ancient monsters who have lived for a long time in the Central Region.
But he wasn't afraid.
With the gun, the Dao remains; behind me is the Qingyun Sect, my master, and my senior and junior brothers.
Despite the storms ahead, he walked on with his gun in hand.
In the heart of the Central Region lies the Hidden Mountain.
This mountain is not a famous mountain or river, yet it is known to all cultivators. Its summit is shrouded in clouds and mist that never dissipates. Within the clouds are countless fragments of Dao principles, which sometimes transform into sword shadows that sweep across the sky, sometimes condense into alchemy furnaces hanging overhead, and sometimes reveal the flow of Dao characters—this is the "artistic conception" nurtured by heaven and earth. If a cultivator can comprehend even a trace of it, they can make inferences and greatly advance their cultivation.
The world is within the mountains!
A thousand years ago, when Hidden Dao Mountain was first discovered, countless cultivators fought tooth and nail for the fragments of its essence, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries, including several powerful figures. Later, when the various forces could no longer sustain the conflict, they sat down and established rules: Hidden Dao Mountain was unclaimed territory, and any cultivator could enter to seek opportunities, but private battles were forbidden, and those who violated these rules would be attacked by the entire group.
Over time, this place became the most bustling place in the Central Region. Every day, countless cultivators gathered at the foot of the mountain, either meditating to comprehend the Dao or climbing the mountain together, hoping to glimpse a trace of the true meaning of the Great Dao from the clouds and mist.
That afternoon, a green figure landed at the foot of Hidden Dao Mountain; it was Xiao Chen, who had just entered the Central Region.
He looked up at the mountain peak and saw the clouds churning. It seemed as if the sounds of zithers, swords, and the fragrance of elixirs could be faintly heard coming from the clouds. Each breath carried a different Daoist charm, which stirred his mind and spirit.
"As expected, it lives up to its reputation." Xiao Chen sighed inwardly. Just as he was about to start climbing the mountain, he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Brother Xiao?"
Xiao Chen turned around and saw Ling Chen, dressed in white, standing not far away, a long sword casually hanging at his waist, looking at him with clear eyes and a genuine smile on his face.
"Brother Ling Chen?" Xiao Chen was also somewhat surprised. "You've come to Cangdao Mountain too?"
“Hmm, let’s try our luck.” Ling Chen stepped forward, looked Xiao Chen up and down, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. “Brother Xiao’s aura… is much more composed than when we met in the Northern Region last time, and your spear intent is also more restrained.”
In the last battle in the Northern Region, Xiao Chen's spear intent was as fierce as a raging fire, but now it is like a hidden dragon in the deep sea, seemingly calm, but actually containing a more magnificent power.
Xiao Chen smiled and said, "You've only made slight progress. But Brother Ling Chen's sword intent has become increasingly clear, so I suppose you've also gained some insights."
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