Chapter 252: Chapter 141: The World Through Different Eyes
Zhonghui Academy.
A sacred place yearned for by scholars from all over the world. Upon entering the academy’s main gate, the first thing one saw was a statue of the Human Dao Saint, Zhonghui Monarch. His gaze was profound, yet his expression was kind.
Behind the statue was a massive courtyard where students from all across Zhongzhou gathered daily. They would discuss art and romance, matters of state, or interesting tidbits from the Imperial Court.
Sometimes, a highly respected and virtuous great scholar would sit upon the Cloud Platform on the north side of the courtyard to give a lecture. Whenever this happened, the courtyard was certain to be packed to the brim.
Passing through the courtyard led to rows of study halls. The halls surrounded a six-story Library Pavilion, a place all students had to pass through on their path of learning.
To the left and right of the study halls were independent scholarly societies, which required certain qualifications to join. Behind the study halls was another enormous garden, which was further divided into more than a dozen smaller courtyards.
In the northwest corner of the garden, beside the fishpond of a small courtyard named ’Dingxia,’ Zhang Xinghuai sat in a Grandmaster’s Chair. Dressed in a loose-fitting cotton robe, he held a heavily annotated copy of *Human Dao*, reading it intently. His face, however, lacked the sternness of a scholar, instead showing a playful expression.
To his right was a black lacquered tea table with an incense burner on it, a noticeable wisp of smoke curling around it.
When the sunlight fell upon the edge of the fishpond, Zhang Xinghuai gently waved his free right hand. As he did, fractured crystals appeared on the surface of his skin.
It was a Spirit Vein!
He was using the humanity generated from his reading to cultivate the small portion of the Spirit Vein he had just implanted within his body.
Suddenly, two sets of footsteps echoed from the entrance. One was rhythmic but loud, while the other was quiet and struggled to maintain a consistent pace.
"Teacher!"
One of the two was Zhang Xinghuai’s Direct Disciple, Liu Huai. Liu Huai was already in the marrow-washing stage, and his vitality and spirit were far better than when he had first begun studying *Human Dao*.
"Brother Zhang!"
The other was Wang Ping’s disciple, Wang Yang, who was also one of the current leaders of the Wang Family.
"Sit..."
Zhang Xinghuai gestured for Wang Yang to take the Grandmaster’s Chair on the other side of the tea table.
After Wang Yang sat down, Zhang Xinghuai instructed Liu Huai to prepare tea. As Liu Huai walked away, Zhang Xinghuai asked with the kind smile of a scholar, "The Court’s appointment has come down, hasn’t it?"
Wang Yang quickly replied, "Yes, my elder brother’s youngest son has been appointed as a Fourth-Grade Xuanwu General in the Northwest Camp, in charge of the military and political affairs of an entire prefecture."
"This is only the beginning. In two years, we’ll pull some more strings. First, we’ll get your nephew the title of Light Vehicle Captain, then have him concurrently serve as a deputy commander of a major camp."
"Isn’t that too fast?"
"Haha, I think it’s too slow."
Zhang Xinghuai laughed heartily, setting down his special copy of *Human Dao*. He stared at Wang Yang and said, "The situation in the Northwest will change in the blink of an eye. If we don’t make a move, others will. This move is crucial. In the future, it can help us open up a corridor through the Northwest. Of course, you don’t need to feel too much pressure. The world is ever-changing, and failure is common."
"But the Northwest Region has two Lords, after all..."
"You’re overthinking it..."
Zhang Xinghuai cut Wang Yang off. "Not everyone is like Xiao Shan Lord..." He spoke the three words "Xiao Shan Lord" in a very low voice. "The conflict between the two Lords in the Northwest Region is just for show. They have long lifespans. To them, our little tricks are nothing more than child’s play."
He pointed to the sky. "Even if we tore a hole in the heavens, I doubt they would spare us a single glance. Unless... they also have aspirations of ascending to the Realm of True Monarch."
After hearing this, Wang Yang couldn’t help but think of his master. He always felt that his master was out of step with the rest of the world, caring only for the Dao he cultivated.
Thinking of this, he understood Zhang Xinghuai’s explanation.
At that moment, Zhang Xinghuai changed the subject. "Of course, we can’t be completely reckless. After all, everything in this world has its opposing sides. What we’re doing now, for example, creates an ’us’ and a ’them.’ Even the Lords are no exception. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
Zhang Xinghuai nodded with a smile and continued, "Martial Uncle’s breakthrough is imminent. When he succeeds and we go to see him, we should at least have something to talk about. Don’t you agree?"
"You are absolutely right, Brother Zhang!"
Just then, Liu Huai walked over, followed by a servant holding a tray with two cups of tea.
The two of them tacitly stopped their conversation.
After the servant left, Wang Yang said, "Our family has always believed in the Dao of Balance. Venturing into the Northwest this time was already an exception. As for the various Government Armies on Nanlin Road, it wouldn’t be right for us to get directly involved."
"That’s fine. Your path is through the imperial examinations; taking up military posts as well would indeed be inappropriate. However, of the three Generals on Nanlin Road, your Wang Family must have at least one."
"Done!"
Their discussion basically concluded there. After chatting idly for a while longer, Wang Yang stood up to take his leave.
Liu Huai escorted Wang Yang to the academy gate. When he returned to the small courtyard, Zhang Xinghuai was once again engrossed in his study of *Human Dao*.
"Teacher, can Grand Martial Uncle really break through to the Third Realm this time?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Many people are pessimistic about Grand Martial Uncle’s chances. There are even a lot of rumors and slander spreading through the city."
"Just a few insignificant buffoons. Let the common folk chatter as they please. If any students or Cultivators are discussing it, just have them taken into custody."
"Yes!"
...
「Yunhai Grassland.」
The Shiquan River, which ran through the grasslands, irrigated the vast plains of Yunhai. Legend had it that two thousand years ago, a mighty cavalry force emerged from here, conquering both the Northern Country and Zhongzhou.
Later, this force that had swept through more than half of Zhongzhou suffered a crushing defeat while trying to conquer the Hu Mountain Region due to geography and weather. After that, the Yunhai People vanished without a trace.
Now, on this legendary land, hundreds of fortified cities and villages had sprung up over the past few decades.
The most prominent among them was, of course, Yunhai City. Located in the middle reaches of the Shiquan River and nestled at the foot of the only mountain range on the grassland, it was surrounded on three sides by the river’s numerous tributaries. Its surroundings were vast stretches of fertile land, while its fourth side backed against the mountains, where a complex of military fortresses had been built.
Outside the city, all arable land had been planted with wheat. In the distance, there were pastures of various sizes, some for raising cattle and sheep, others for breeding warhorses.
Deep within the mountain fortress, in a great stone tower encircled by underground springs, was a grand hall lit by sunlight from three sides. At its center, upon a cloud bed, sat Xia Yao, cross-legged and dressed in a Nine-Clawed Python Robe. Beneath the bed, countless fine golden threads pulsed with an enchanting halo, seemingly connected to the very earth itself.
Her divine soul was also entwined with the golden threads, appearing to have completely merged with them as they replenished its energy. A viscous, oil-like fluid seeped from the surface of her physical body, corroding her skin. However, the corroded skin was instantly healed by the dense Water Spirit energy.
She was using her divine soul to channel a Divine Technique, then using that empowered soul to refine the Spirit Vein in her physical body, striving to achieve a leap in her level of existence.
And she was already more than halfway successful, for the Water Spirit Formation arrayed beneath her possessed the bloodline of the Dragon Race.
An unknown amount of time passed. The ’oil’ on her body’s surface had diminished considerably, and her divine soul had already delved into her Qi Sea, attempting to refine the Spirit Veins surrounding it.
But just then, Xia Yao’s mouth began to bulge. She then retched, vomiting a large quantity of Water Spirit Crystals. Immediately after, she opened her eyes. The very instant she did, Jiangcun’s figure appeared out of thin air in front of the cloud bed.
"How did it go?" Jiangcun asked.
"Still no good, but I’ve found a lead." Xia Yao exhaled, and a few cyan Spirit Vein crystals appeared at the corners of her mouth.
"There’s no need to rush. Coalescing a Primordial Spirit is an incredibly difficult process," Jiangcun consoled her.
But Xia Yao shook her head. Staring at a bright window straight ahead, she said, "I bear one-fifth of Zhongzhou’s fate. If even this step is so difficult, then there’s no point in walking the path ahead."
"There’s still time, isn’t there?" Jiangcun continued to reassure her.
Xia Yao fell silent. She rose from the cloud bed, walked to the window she had been staring at, and looked down at the nascent city below. "If we were going to take it one step at a time, why would we have come to this Yunhai Grassland? Dongxu Island would have been the best place for that."
This time, it was Jiangcun’s turn to be silent.
Xia Yao exhaled again, spitting out all the waste crystals from her body. "This matter is different from any in past dynasties," she said. "This time, it’s the Xiao Shan Lord who is seeking a breakthrough. Even if most people turn a blind eye, the True Yang Sect absolutely will not sit by and do nothing!"
Jiangcun came to stand beside Xia Yao, looking out over the city with her. "I, for one, hope the Xiao Shan Lord succeeds in his breakthrough," he said. "Let there be another True Monarch in this world."
"That would be the best outcome. He would rule the south, we would settle in the north, and we could cooperate with the True Yang Sect to vie for the spiritual energy of the north. But destiny is concentrated in the Central Plains. That is the predicament we must first break."
Xia Yao raised a hand to block the sun, gazing up at the vast, empty sky over the grassland. "His breakthrough will shatter the balance within the Daoist Scripture Hall. Although the Hall is rife with factions, it has, at the very least, maintained the world’s spiritual equilibrium."
Jiangcun looked at his wife and smiled. "Nothing in this world can be planned for with perfect certainty. The Dragon Monarch just sent word to remind us... this matter is both simple and not so simple."
"What do you mean?"
"According to the established order for maintaining the world’s spiritual energy, the Xiao Shan Lord should not be attempting a breakthrough at this time. His attempt will set the entire board in motion. Whether he succeeds or not, rivers of blood will flow across the Zhongzhou Continent!"
"I don’t quite understand. If the Xiao Shan Lord is not supposed to break through, how could he, on his own, orchestrate a plan that affects the entire world?"
Jiangcun chuckled. "Perhaps some True Monarch, bored after countless long years, wanted to add a little amusement to his tedious existence."
Seeing Xia Yao’s look of disbelief, he elaborated, "It’s like when we get bored and hold some in-house competitions in our own Dao Fields."
After listening, Xia Yao replied with great seriousness, "That joke of yours is not funny at all!"
"And that’s why it isn’t so simple. Perhaps there is a deeper scheme at play, one that you and I cannot possibly comprehend."
"I hate this feeling. It makes us seem like livestock on the plains, waiting to be slaughtered, capable only of useless struggles and cries."
