ng Shaojie was also among them.
However, the number of study companions to the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace was already quite significant. ng Shaojie was diocre in both his cultivation and his ability to participate in state affairs, thus blending into the crowd.
This was, of course, a rare opportunity. But ng Shaojie himself was not particularly keen on Imperial Court affairs.
He had a very good private relationship with Crown Prince Zhang Hui. However, now that Zhang Hui was regent and bore significant responsibilities, ng Shaojie did not believe he could be of much help, so he lacked the enthusiasm to get involved.
By not trying to get closer to the Crown Prince, his involvent with security and protection matters beca much less significant.
ng Shaojie couldn’t help but think back to that day—of the strange Pale Universe, his astonishing encounter, and "Ji Du."
If it posed no threat to Crown Prince Zhang Hui’s safety and didn’t implicate his family, ng Shaojie found himself sowhat tempted.
He had little to lose...
Originally, ng Shaojie had many concerns.
Who would have thought that the Empress would move to Chang’an, and Crown Prince Zhang Hui would step onto the stage of regency ahead of schedule?
As the nation underwent great changes, the ripples affected countless lives and the destinies of many ordinary people.
ng Shaojie was one of them.
After a trip ho to visit his family, he returned to find that many things had already changed.
It seed as if fate itself had intervened, helping to reduce his worries.
If that was the case, Ji Du, this opportunity... perhaps it was worth a gamble?
Ultimately, being young and spirited, ng Shaojie couldn’t help but be moved.
But being moved was not the sa as being impulsive. ng Shaojie was still not ready to plunge headlong into an unknown world.
After careful consideration, he decided to see Xiao Chunhui first.
Once he began speaking, ng Shaojie held nothing back. He told Xiao Chunhui everything about his bizarre experiences and the existence of the starry Pale Universe. This also included the information that there was another person there, Luo Hou, besides himself.
Xiao Chunhui listened quietly, only occasionally interjecting with a question.
After ng Shaojie had poured out everything he knew, Xiao Chunhui did not respond imdiately but lowered his gaze, lost in thought.
ng Shaojie watched Xiao Chunhui, feeling uneasy.
In appearance, Xiao Chunhui looked like a young man in his twenties or thirties. But compared to a few years ago, though Xiao Chunhui’s face was still youthful, streaks of gray had recently begun to appear at his temples, like specks of frost.
His expression remained calm and serene. Although he didn’t speak, his presence didn’t make ng Shaojie feel pressured. Instead, influenced by him, ng Shaojie gradually began to relax.
After a long silence, Xiao Chunhui smiled faintly. "Qingyan, what are your own thoughts on this?"
Hearing this, ng Shaojie tensed up again.
Fortunately, Xiao Chunhui smiled. "True, the Great Tang has to face countless threats, both overt and covert every day, but that is not necessarily the case here."
After taking a deep breath, ng Shaojie said softly, "This student... this student is sowhat tempted."
Xiao Chunhui said, "Since you’re tempted, then why not give it a try?"
ng Shaojie looked up, sowhat surprised.
"This is your own opportunity. Whether to take it or not is, of course, your decision to make," Xiao Chunhui said. "You told about it today. In terms of safety, I will do my best to arrange things for you, but worldly affairs are unpredictable. No one and nothing can guarantee absolute safety."
He smiled. "Although the other party’s identity is mysterious, they are not necessarily an enemy of the Great Tang. Besides, enemies and friends often change positions. Who knows if there might be a ti for cooperation between us? You are in the middle, so there’s no need to worry."
ng Shaojie straightened his posture. "Yes, this student understands!"
He composed himself and imdiately bowed to Xiao Chunhui. "This student thanks Master Xiao for his consideration."
ng Shaojie felt ashad. "This student... this student is dull and has failed to live up to your teachings, Master. My studies haven’t progressed, and now I’m drawn to a shortcut. This student... this student..."
Xiao Chunhui looked at ng Shaojie acting this way and beca slightly silent for a mont before speaking warmly, "’Heaven has a use for every talent it creates.’ Qingyan, you needn’t disparage yourself. Sotis, if a person’s talents don’t shine, it’s often rely because they are not in the right position or environnt."
He looked at ng Shaojie. "That mysterious person told you that ’unintentional actions can yield unexpected results.’ This precisely reflects your current situation, implying that you should try a different path. What are your own thoughts on this matter?"
ng Shaojie was taken aback. "This student has also considered switching to Divine Archery or Chanting, but... I felt even more lost, unable to grasp their essence."
Xiao Chunhui said, "Actually, there is such a path. It’s just not prominent at the mont, but it is extrely suitable for you. I believe you will achieve great things on this path. I didn’t tell you about it before, not to be secretive, but because it would be better for you to embark on this path when you are older and your mind is more settled. Telling you too early would have been detrintal to your ntal cultivation."
Your Majesty, there were so things I had to tell him ahead of ti. But no matter what, it seems soone else’s crops are about to sprout in Your Majesty’s field... Grand Libationer Xiao secretly shook his head.
ng Shaojie listened, his expression filled with astonishnt.
Xiao Chunhui took out paper and a brush, wrote down a character, then sealed the paper in an envelope and handed it to ng Shaojie. "Don’t be in a hurry to open it. The Great Tang does possess artifacts related to the heritage of the Ancient Taoist Talisman Sect. After I obtain an imperial decree, I will have them brought out for you. You can then present them to that mysterious person."
ng Shaojie was startled. "Master..."
"Since there will be a reward, you might as well ask for advice. See how this friend responds to you. Then, you can compare both suggestions and choose the path you wish to take," Xiao Chunhui said with a smile.
ng Shaojie looked at the envelope in his hand and took a deep breath. "Yes, Master!"
「Several days later, within the Celestial Master Mansion on Dragon Tiger Mountain.」
Lei Jun, who was polishing the Great Celestial Sky Jade, suddenly felt a slight stir in his heart.
He imrsed his Spiritual Soul into the Dark Side Universe of the Celestial Book.
There was still no response from Luo Hou Kangming.
However, Ji Du (ng Shaojie) reappeared. He ntioned the accidental discovery of a Spiritual Object, possibly related to the heritage of the Ancient Talisman Sect, and asked Lei Jun for advice on how to present this treasure. At the sa ti, he also asked for Lei Jun’s guidance on what kind of cultivation path would be most suitable for him.
Lei Jun raised his eyebrows slightly upon seeing this.
He wouldn’t be surprised by any decision ng Shaojie made. But ng Shaojie finding a related Spiritual Object so quickly was sowhat unusual.
Granted, this young man was quite lucky...
Considering his character and way of doing things, perhaps he had directly reported it to his superiors?
Then, he wondered, did the officials intend to uncover the mysterious person’s true identity at all costs, or was this rely a superficial attempt to probe?
Lei Jun wasn’t particularly concerned about this.
From the mont he recognized it was ng Shaojie, he had been ntally prepared for such a possibility and didn’t mind.
During this ti, combining his own understanding of ng Shaojie with the information and experiences of students like him—which Lin Shan had relayed from the Scholarly Mansion—Lei Jun had indeed ford so ideas regarding ng Shaojie’s questions.
Because it involved the depths of the Spiritual Soul, Lei Jun’s understanding of ng Shaojie, aided by the Dark Side of the Celestial Book, far surpassed that of many others—even ng Shaojie’s own understanding of himself.
The young man’s Spiritual Soul, natural talent, and even his Comprehension were actually extrely high. However, he was not an all-rounder like Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, or Tang Xiaotang. Instead, he was a specialist in one particular area.
However, none of the current cultivation paths of the Three Veins of Confucianism were particularly suitable for ng Shaojie.
This young man had a gentle yet tenacious temperant. He was patient and ticulous in his work. He was skilled at summarizing and often able to connect and unearth details overlooked by others. His Spiritual Soul was adept at coalescing and dispersing, highly sensitive to ti and space, and proficient in multitasking and concurrent progression.
The overflowing inspiration and the ability to perceive and communicate with heaven and earth, characteristic of Chanting Sect cultivators, were not his strengths.
Although this young man was highly sensitive to textual information and possessed keen insight into the details of static things, he lacked the perceptive ability for dynamic phenona. This also ant he lacked insight into the myriad manifestations of the world, a skill crucial for the Confucian Divine Archery Lineage. Furthermore, his physical body was too frail to support the cultivation requirents of the Divine Archery Lineage.
This also placed so limitations on him if he were to walk the path of Confucian Classical Studies. However, his inherent advantages at least made studying Scriptures Studies more suitable for him than Divine Archery or Chanting. Yet, ng Shaojie was not particularly outstanding in the ability to interpret and expound upon scriptures, which is the most crucial talent for Scholar Cultivators of Scriptures Studies.
Therefore, his overall performance showed that while he possessed talent and could be considered adequate, he was still lacking when compared to the best.
The path Lei Jun believed to be most suitable for him was a branch of Scriptures Studies. This branch already existed but had not yet truly beco distinct or prominent.
Yet for this young man, it might just lead to an unexpected breakthrough...
ng Shaojie, in his incarnation as Ji Du, waited nervously for a response.
Suddenly, characters of Light Mist appeared before him again. This ti, there were only two simple characters, but they made ng Shaojie stare blankly in astonishnt.
After receiving the address from Lei Jun for presenting the treasure, ng Shaojie’s consciousness withdrew from the Dark Side Universe. For a mont, he was still sowhat dazed.
It wasn’t until he lifted his gaze and saw Xiao Chunhui’s refined and handso face that ng Shaojie abruptly ca to his senses. "Master..."
Xiao Chunhui simply smiled and pointed at the envelope in ng Shaojie’s hand.
His curiosity now piqued, ng Shaojie took the letter out of the envelope. On the paper, there was only a single character.
The young scholar looked at it and couldn’t help but be transfixed.
On Xiao Chunhui’s paper was written one character:
History.
In the Dark Side Universe, Lei Jun had given Ji Du two characters as an answer:
Historiography.
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