After leaving Wangxian Pavilion, Zhu Zixuan didn’t pause for a mont and headed straight for Wild Horse Academy.
Although the task of probing Fan Wubing had been taken over by the female cultivator Xue Ya, who advocated the "path of natural liberation," he still had so doubts and slight concerns in his heart.
In the past, he was unwilling to think about such matters. In his view, the vast majority of people and matters in the world could be resolved through the passage of ti.
But the matter of "destiny being altered" had to be given serious attention; a single mishap could beco an event that alters the world’s balance.
Just as Zhu Zixuan saw He Youyi, he was pulled by the latter before he could even greet, his face full of joy.
"Zi Xuan, co quickly, co take a look!"
Seeing He Youyi’s apparent joy, Zhu Zixuan felt quite puzzled.
Zi Xuan?
This old scholar doesn’t usually call "Lazydao," does he?
He Youyi waved his hand and spread ink, revealing the poem "Invitation to Wine," and urged impatiently:
"Quick, appreciate it."
Zhu Zixuan gave him a look, "You scholar, weren’t you the one who said I was a mountain pig that couldn’t taste fine chaff, and any good article given to to read would be wasted?"
"Hey, when did I ever say that?" He Youyi looked like he had caught a treasure.
Zhu Zixuan began to appreciate the poem. After the first reading, his brows furrowed; after the second, he had a sudden realization; after the third, his eyes burned intensely; and after the fourth, he was intoxicated and imrsed.
He squinted his eyes and said, "Alright scholar, did you finally see the light over these years? You can even write such unrestrained and free-spirited poetry. ’Should life be grand, indulge in it; don’t let the golden goblet empty to the moon’... Brilliant! With such enlightennt, why bother reading, co cultivate the Dao with instead."
He Youyi burst into laughter, causing the peach tree outside the study to sway with him.
"This wasn’t written by ."
"Tsk." Zhu Zixuan spread his hands, rolled his eyes, "I knew it. You Confucians are all pedantic, nibbling words, saying things like ’this, therefore, whatever,’ refusing to stray from literary elegance. How could you have such a mindset?"
"Aren’t you curious about who wrote it?"
"Who is it, seeing you so elated?" Zhu Zixuan looked at the signature, "Li Bai...". He pondered for a mont, "Among the Nineteen Continents of the World, I haven’t heard of a prodigy nad Li Bai."
"It’s a pen na." He Youyi looked around like a child who just heard a secret, eager to share with his friend. He smiled and said, "His real na is Fan Wubing."
Zhu Zixuan froze on the spot, speechless in awe.
Seeing him like this, He Youyi felt extrely proud, "Zi Xuan, you said no talent could erge from us Confucians. See this, didn’t one erge?"
Zhu Zixuan replied with a sigh, "Did he say he’s a Confucian?"
He Youyi was stumped, "Anyway, this is his literary debut. You mustn’t spread it around, keep it secret, keep it secret."
Zhu Zixuan rolled his eyes, "Then why did you tell ."
"I just couldn’t hold it back," He Youyi chuckled.
Zhu Zixuan also felt quite happy inside; it was rare to see his old friend in such a light-hearted mood.
"Alright. But, scholar, I also ca with news related to Fan Wubing."
He Youyi cald down and beca serious, "What is it?"
Zhu Zixuan succinctly explained the situation.
"Fan Wubing’s destiny was modified? Who modified it?" He Youyi grew serious.
The atmosphere in the study beca a bit tense.
Zhu Zixuan said, "Altogether in the world, five people have destinies in their grasp. Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable, Slaughter Demon Lord, Primordial Ancestor, Ancestor Qing, and the Dragon Emperor. Which do you think is most likely?"
"Jiang Sha!" He Youyi had heard from Luo Tianyuan that the Slaughter Demon Lord from the Slaughter Hall had arrived in Changsheng Continent. "But it shouldn’t be. Fan Wubing doesn’t seem to have any connection with Jiang Sha, right? One is a locally-grown person from Little South Continent, and the other is the Demon Lord of the Southern Celestial Land."
"Jiang Sha is extrely adept at the art of destiny alteration; who can say for sure." Zhu Zixuan mused, "Moreover, haven’t you ever suspected that Fan Wubing’s progress speed is just... too fast? This cannot be explained rely by talent. Either he is the reincarnation of Celestial Venerable Wuxiang, with mories from a past life leading to changes in destiny, or Jiang Sha is closely connected to him, intentionally altering his destiny to avoid being caught."
He Youyi frowned, "I firmly oppose thinking of people in such negative terms. They say Little South Continent is a place of upheaval, so when a person of transformation erges, do they refuse to recognize it?"
Zhu Zixuan appeared nonchalant, "I don’t particularly care. But unfortunately, the Sect Leader wants to clarify the situation. Xue Ya has already set off to contact Fan Wubing to see if he is indeed the reincarnation of Celestial Venerable Wuxiang."
"Xue Ya?" He Youyi’s mind imdiately conjured the image of the uninhibited female cultivator.
Zhu Zixuan laughed, "There’s no need to worry. Xue Ya is just free-spirited and playful but still has bounds and principles."
He Youyi shook his head; he wasn’t worried about Fan Wubing but about Xue Ya.
Zhu Zixuan said softly, "I’m quite curious about what Fan Wubing’s original destiny was like."
"Let’s see as we go along."
"I’ve delivered the ssage; what to do next is up to you." Zhu Zixuan waved and turned to leave.
He Youyi pondered for a mont and then headed towards the Sea of Eternal Life.
...
...
Deep in the Sea of Eternal Life, a spindle-shaped Immortal Fishing Boat was dashing further into the depths.
The indigo seawater, reflecting infinite heavenly light, was split into white waves by the boat’s propeller and the tail fla ejected from the burning Spirit Stone, spreading to both sides like white silk.
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