Chapter 847: Chapter 101 Candle Micro
The master’s words plunged Zhao Wuyan into deep thought.
"Excellent!"
Yang Liu applauded and sighed, "They say ’listening to you talk for a moment is better than reading for ten years.’ The master’s words truly open ears and enlighten minds!"
The fortunate onlookers couldn’t help but discuss amongst themselves, filled with admiration.
"A master is indeed a master; every word is a gem!"
"Longmen Academy claims to be the best at training geniuses, but I think they’re no match for the master’s few simple words."
"True indeed, ’A true man does not show his worth, while a master stays among the common folk!’"
Naturally, there were those who asked, "If the master is so formidable, why doesn’t he start his own sect?"
Someone immediately retorted, "How could you fathom the thoughts of a master? Besides, who’s to say the master isn’t already the head of some sect? He just might not want to be disturbed by worldly matters, preferring to purely benefit his fellow cultivators."
Only the master himself seemed indifferent amid the cacophony, sitting quietly without a word. His gaze remained calm and profound, like the vast universe, silently embracing the rise and fall of the world’s affairs.
Such unaffected composure, truly an aura of immortal refinement!
Only the naive Zi Shu stood to one side, tilting her head with a look of confusion—probably because her cultivation was too low to grasp the true meaning of the master’s words.
The corners of Yang Liu’s mouth lifted slightly, and suddenly his gaze shifted as he feigned surprise, "Eh, isn’t this Xu Xiangqian from Qingya Academy? Why haven’t you left yet?"
Among the seated audience, the three people standing at the door, with Jiang Wang in their midst, were particularly conspicuous, like three guardians standing there.
Of course, Xu Xiangqian was actually standing behind Jiang Wang and Li Longchuan, but he was still "accidentally" spotted by the "sharp-eyed" Yang Liu.
This was an extremely awkward situation.
But Xu Xiangqian, shameless as usual, squeezed his way forward, wedging himself between Jiang Wang and Li Longchuan, and shamelessly stepped into the room, "Why so concerned about your grandpa Xu? What, do you want a fart for a meal?"
Yang Liu didn’t engage in a direct verbal clash with him, but simply chuckled and turned to the master, "Do you remember this Xu Xiangqian, master?"
The master casually lifted his eyelids and said dismissively, "Oh? Is that the one who competed with you in Dao Technique last time?"
Yang Liu clapped his hands, "Exactly! It’s kind of you to remember, master!"
The master shook his head, looked at Xu Xiangqian with a serious tone, "Young man with the high forehead, I must say this to you. You’re using your Dao Techniques rather poorly."
Jiang Wang frowned involuntarily.
He had heard from Li Longchuan that the master had criticized Xu Xiangqian before, causing Xu Gaoe to be unable to hold his head high in the Near Sea Archipelago for a while.
An offhand comment in the past was one thing, but today, as Xu Xiangqian stood here properly, arguing with Yang Liu over an unrelated matter, with neither asking for his advice nor having offended him in any way, here he was, giving unsolicited advice, repeatedly criticizing the poor use of techniques, appearing deeply concerned and disappointed. Who could feel good about that in their heart?
Regardless of Xu Xiangqian’s strength or talent, even if we postulated he was indeed impossible to cultivate or carve like rotten wood, Xu Xiangqian had his own teachers; what did it have to do with this master? And when was it his turn, an obscure master from overseas, to offer guidance?
Did he really think Mo Ya of the renowned sect wouldn’t come out to sea and curse him for his impertinence?
On one side, Jiang Wang was just frowning.
On the other, Xu Xiangqian could no longer contain himself and strode forward, "What the hell is it to you?!"
Upon hearing these words, everyone was shocked.
"Xu Xiangqian!" Yang Liu slammed the table as he rose, pointing at him, "How dare you be so disrespectful to the master!"
"Get lost!" Xu Xiangqian spat the words back at him, still glaring at the master, "I’ve endured you for a long time! Hiding behind a fat cat mask, truly thinking yourself an immortal! Who do you think you are to instruct your grandpa Xu? Criticizing yesterday and today again, is it never-ending?"
He was livid, barely able to contain his rage, "I’m a bona fide disciple of Qingya Academy, inheritor of the esteemed Mo Ya, a God’s Inner Mansion cultivator by twenty, expecting to attain ’God Arrives’ within fifteen years! And you? Tell me, what are you compared to that!"
The master’s voice grew stern, "Stop boasting of your expected ’God Arrives’. Even the true Godly cultivator Chen Zhitao wouldn’t dare to disrespect me like this."
"What Chen Zhitao does has nothing to do with me!"
Xu Xiangqian, having torn away all pretense of decorum, declared defiantly, "So I’m disrespectful to you! What about it!"
Being belittled and criticized in front of the woman he loved filled him with a humiliation that sent him into a furious rage.
"I want to see what you’re relying on," he raged. "Do you dare to kill me and face the wrath of Qingya Academy!"
"Xu Xiangqian, enough is enough! The master lets you off the hook, and you still take advantage of the situation?" Yang Liu stepped forward as if to intervene, in the name of peacemaking, but she was actually fanning the flames.
"Try me," challenged Li Longchuan as he casually reached out and gripped the Qiushan Bow. Pointing it at Yang Liu, he locked onto her vital energy. If she made a move, the arrow would surely be released.
The murderous intent from the Qiushan Bow, a famous treasure from the Yang Region, pierced through the distance and bore down on her in an instant.
The group of Fishing Sea Tower Disciples brought by Yang Liu showed no fear and took a stance.
"Let’s try and see! Afraid of you? No way!" they retorted.
"Near Sea Archipelago, is it your turn to be arrogant, people of Qi?"
The scene instantly became tension-filled, as if a battle were about to break out.
Jiang Wang remained silent, but his hand was already on his sword. Should a fight break out, he had no doubt that he would stand by Li Longchuan.
On the other hand, the master who was harshly scolded maintained his composure like a true master.
He neither lost his temper nor resorted to violence.
He only responded with a sigh of disappointment, "For someone so young, you are so impetuous. I didn’t expect the scholarly atmosphere of Qingya Academy to be so corrupt."
Through the cat-faced mask, his profound eyes gazed deeply at Xu Xiangqian, "You don’t want to listen, so I won’t speak. But young man, you should know that while I speak bluntly, I mean no malice. You really should understand that it’s falsehood and deceit that are harming you."
Xu Xiangqian’s rage suddenly choked, and after a momentary pause, he said, "Falsehood and deceit (yi)."
There was a moment of awkwardness in the air.
The master fell silent for a moment and then replied, "Hmm."
He looked around and lamented, "Words are but minor details; the true path is in the cultivation. Look at me, with my level of cultivation, I still make mistakes in using words. How can your own cultivation journey be without bumps?"
It was then that the crowd realized the master had used this minor incident as a lesson on the greater principles of cultivation. They felt the depth of the master’s well-intentioned teaching.
The master, however, remained undisturbed by praise or blame and turned to Zhao Wuyan, asking, "Did you remember the lesson I just gave?"
Zhao Wuyan frowned slightly, "Master, I still don’t quite understand."
"Difficult to explain, difficult to explain," the master repeated twice, and sighed, "The so-called secrets of heaven can only be hinted at, not fully explained. You’ll have to ponder it yourself."
Having said that, he stood up from the bench, "Now that this is resolved, I shall depart on my journey. There are important matters waiting for me in the Lost World."
When the Lost World was mentioned, it concerned matters of the Sea Clan, which no one dared take lightly.
Yang Liu immediately bowed, "Safe travels, Master."
Jiang Wang also relaxed his grip on the sword hilt, ready to step aside. After all, the personal pride and quarrels of a friend weighed little against matters of territorial importance — he still knew what was more urgent.
But it was then that he heard Li Longchuan’s message in his ear.
"Something’s off about this guy!"
Chongxuan Sheng waited for Jiang Wang to return before stepping out of Linzi City and displaying the Law of Heaven and Earth. Both Li Longchuan and Xu Xiangqian, as victors of the Heavenly Abode Secret Land, had already attained Divine Skills earlier.
And Jiang Wang knew that Li Longchuan’s Divine Skill was called "Candle Micro."
"All things observed, every minute detail revealed," it was a first-rate insight Divine Skill.
Li Longchuan had taken a stance against Yang Liu, a True Disciple of the Fishing Sea Tower, but he had noticed something about the master.
"Wait a moment!"
Xu Xiangqian had clearly also received Li Longchuan’s message, and his trust in Li Longchuan was absolute. Old grudges and new fury surged up, as he stepped out in front of him, spreading his arms wide, reaching for him, "You may leave, but first take off your mask. Let me see who you are!"
