Devour

Chapter 447 Not a Book Slave

The stern expression on Lou Shi Jun's face softened slightly, as if recalling the helplessness of his mischievous youth. He turned to the side and gestured with his lips, saying, "Go in. It's just a man and woman meeting alone late at night. Don't go too far."

Bei Tingjun's lips curled slightly as he telepathically communicated with Cheng Bai, teasingly saying, "So the old man thinks we're students who come to talk about love in the middle of the night."

Cheng Bai, not wanting to take the joke lying to her, humbly asked the Humble Abode Master, "Since you are an academician of high moral character and prestige, why do you also serve as the manager of Qingjianlu?"

The figure of the Humble Abode Lord appeared increasingly lonely and desolate. He walked slowly and said, "I love reading the most. When I was young, I buried myself in books all day long. I didn't understand human relationships and didn't care about court affairs... I didn't even realize that my throne was usurped and the country changed hands. In the end, I was driven out of my homeland by my former ministers and wandered the world with nowhere to go."

Cheng Bai was taken aback: "Such a down-on-his-luck old man, who seems to have nothing to do with power, was once the ruler of a country? 'Lou Shi Jun' must not be his original name, but is full of bitterness and self-mockery."

The humble scholar sighed and said, "Fortunately, Master Li took pity on me and generously took me in at Taowu Academy. I still spend my days with books and bamboo slips, and have been living in Qingjianlu for a long time, indulging in extensive reading. Therefore, I also take on the responsibility of looking after the bookshelves, which is a way of repaying the kindness of being fed."

Betty Tingjun's divine sense drifted into Cheng Bai's sea of ​​consciousness: "Look at this king of a fallen kingdom, his cultivation has reached the late stage of the Soul Forging Realm, even half a step into the Dragon Transformation Realm, yet he has no heart or ability to recover his lost territory. He is truly a coward who seeks only peace. He would rather rot in a pile of books; a scholar is utterly useless!"

Cheng Bai ignored her sarcasm, but was intrigued by Lou Shi Jun and asked, "Where is your homeland, sir? If fate allows, and you achieve great success in the future, you may be able to return home and wipe out the rebels."

Lord Loushi shook his head, saying with a deep sense of desolation, "The bitterly cold little country of Beilin Ice Continent, its old name... has been forgotten by the world along with me. Now, that land is nothing but a mess, a desolate and ailing country, which is contemptuously called 'the Wasteland Country'."

Overwhelmed with grief, he looked up to the sky and lamented, "It's hopeless! What good is slaughtering all the traitors? The very marrow of the nation is rotten; the country is no longer a nation!"

Cheng Bai cut to the chase: "Forgive my impertinence, but may I ask whether it is reading that makes you forget your homeland, or whether you read in order to forget your homeland?"

These words struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving the humble scholar stunned for a moment, sighing deeply: "I once firmly believed... that books hold the key to wealth and the strategies for governing a country. Therefore, I sought methods to benefit the people and strengthen the nation from the works of the sages... but alas, after scouring the works of all the philosophers, I found countless theories, contradictory and mutually accusatory, leaving me bewildered and lost. Having read countless books, I find myself with nothing but regret!"

Bei Tingjun's divine sense, tinged with a smirk, rang out again: "This old senile fool has gone mad from reading and ruined his brain!"

Cheng Bai seemed not to have heard her at all, and said calmly, "Sir, you are very learned. Have you read through all the books in Qingjian Pavilion?"

If this is true, the humble scholar's extensive knowledge and prodigious memory are probably no less than those of the inheritor of the Rubik's Cube.

Two cloudy tears suddenly slid down the corner of Lou Shi Jun's eye, and he said in a low voice, "In the heat of my youth, I thought I had the perseverance to read all the books in the world. Now I know that was an impossible, delusional obsession. I can't even finish reading all the books in Qingjianlu. What's worse, I read new ones and then forget the old ones, and then I have to read them over and over again..."

He choked up and said, "My original aspiration to study for the sake of saving the country has long been shattered beyond repair in the complex and contradictory labyrinth of words... How can I, an old man, have the face to return to my homeland?"

Cheng Bai pondered for a moment and said, "The answer you seek, sir, may not lie in the moment you finish the book, but in pausing and thinking between the lines. To be able to complete your desired feat in the vast sea of ​​books, to not be a slave to books, but a master of knowledge, is surely a great fortune in the pursuit of the Way?"

The humble abode owner, his face hidden behind his sleeve, stumbled back to his study, deep in the shadows, like a frightened child, leaving behind a series of broken mutterings: "Let this old man have some peace and quiet, just a little reading will do. Reading makes me forget my troubles and worries..."

Watching his departing figure, Bei Tingjun refrained from further mockery, only slightly furrowing her brows as if she were infected by a nameless bewilderment.

"Let's go!" Cheng Bai had no time to pay attention to Lou Shi Jun. He used his concealment technique to hide their presence and disappeared into the dark corner of Qing Jian Lu.

The surrounding bookshelves are filled with countless books and scrolls, neatly arranged like a sleeping treasure trove of ancient wisdom, waiting to be awakened by a destined person.

At the table, a swordsman in brocade robes turned the pages of a yellowed ancient book, the soft rustling sound breaking the silence of the room.

"The Ultimate Sword Manual did not originate from my Zhongji Yuquan Sword Sect. In fact, it has a long history and wide influence on the Emperor Star. It was passed down to the Five Continents by a certain sword master from the Immortal Master Path."

Xu Buwei placed the Flowing Color Sword on the desk, then lay down beside it with a look of great joy on his face. Despite having dark circles under his eyes, he showed no signs of fatigue, all in an effort to find clues he had just unearthed from a large number of ancient books and documents.

"The Ultimate Sword Manual that my sect obtained is not the complete version, but it is still a rare complete manual in the Five Continents. What is even more unbelievable is that even the complete Ultimate Sword Manual is... just an entry-level martial art of an extremely ancient lineage!" Xu Buwei's voice trembled with excitement.

As he delved deeper into the clues, he became increasingly aware of the unfathomable depths of the source, whispering with anticipation, "What lineage is it? And what earth-shattering power do its higher-level martial arts and sword techniques possess?"

Just as Xu Buwei was frowning and studying the complicated and obscure records, a ghostly shadow suddenly appeared behind him.

The shadow twisted and stretched, blending into the corners where the moonlight couldn't reach, silently approaching.

Unfortunately, even the most meticulous plans can have a flaw. The visitor overlooked his own reflection, unaware that it was clearly reflected on the smooth, mirror-like surface of the Flowing Color Sword.

This precious sword was forged from Qinghong copper essence through countless hammerings and was quite spiritual. It was always protecting its master and suddenly emitted a barely audible chime.

"Om..."

Xu Buwei snapped out of his daze and caught a glimpse of the figure projected onto the sword's edge. He shouted alertly, "Who's hiding behind here? Sneaking around like this is not the behavior of a virtuous person."

The shadows ceased to hide and emerged under the light, revealing Huang Yunzi.

He casually dusted off his spotless Taoist robe and stepped forward to bow: "I was surprised to see Fellow Daoist Xu reading ancient scrolls late into the night, researching the legends of the Nine Great Dao lineages. I have long been knowledgeable about this, and have come here to discuss the mysteries together."

Upon seeing a familiar face, Xu Buwei stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "I am deeply honored by the presence of Holy Lord Huang. I have long admired the erudition of the Lieyan Sect and would be honored to receive your guidance."

In the academy, regardless of one's background or seniority, it is always acceptable to humbly refer to oneself as "student" when seeking guidance.

Huang Yunzi walked slowly around the table, sat down opposite him, stroked his beard and chuckled: "The path of immortals and sages encompasses all schools and sects, presenting a myriad of phenomena, but ultimately the nine major lineages are the most revered. As far as I know, there are the Nine Netherworld Lineage of the Underworld, the Bliss Lineage of the World Honored One, the Heavenly Demon Lineage of the Demon Clan, the Pangu Lineage of the Cloud Gate Emperor, and the True Dragon Lineage of the Dragon Clan."

"Master Huang is knowledgeable and learned; I am ashamed to admit my inferiority." Xu Buwei sat down, full of admiration, but his eyes did not show much agreement.

He then shifted his tone and went straight to the point: "However, after much research and repeated deliberation, I believe that the mental cultivation method of the 'Ultimate Sword Scripture' that my sect has inherited is unique and does not belong to any of the five major lineages. Its origins are still shrouded in mystery."

Huang Yunzi responded with a half-smile: "In my humble opinion, the martial arts skills circulating in the world today only touch the surface of the nine major traditions and have not reached the supreme and profound mysteries."

As he spoke, his eyes glanced at the Flowing Color Sword beside Xu Buwei, and he thought to himself, "This top-grade spiritual sword is loyal to its master and is this boy's greatest reliance. I must find a way to get rid of it first, and then I can seize the Pure Yang Sword Bone without any problem..."

Xu Buwei, unaware of the impending killing intent, said solemnly, "Could it be that even the sacred scripture of the World Honored One Sect, the 'Floating Pagoda Wheel,' is not the pinnacle achievement of the Blissful Daoist lineage?"

Huang Yunzi chuckled and said, "According to ancient legends, to ascend to the supreme path, one must gather all the branches of the same lineage, integrate them, and return to the origin to understand the ultimate mystery. Those mediocre people who only know one or two martial arts think they are invincible... Heh! They are just frogs in a well."

Xu Buwei sighed with emotion, saying, "I have read fragments of information in some ancient books and scrolls. The world is vast, and time is long. The Nine Great Dao lineages have many branches, and their secret manuals are scattered throughout the myriad realms. To gather all the clues is an incredibly difficult task, how easy can it be?"