In a plainly decorated study, an elderly Confucian scholar, appearing to be around sixty years old, was wearing glasses imbued with scholarly aura, sitting upright, his head slightly tilted back, holding a small brush, constantly writing sothing. Beside him lay a manuscript titled "Invitation to Wine." He occasionally glanced at it, paused, and used the brush’s end to tap his forehead.
Behind him, Guan Xin waited quietly for a response.
After a long while, the scholar took off his glasses, his voice slow and deep, "What is going on here?"
Guan Xin calmly said, "I feel I am not yet qualified to shoulder the responsibility of a Saint. I should continue learning."
"Learning, what more is there for you to learn? You’ve learned all there is to learn." The Great Saint Wang Ding was one of Guan Xin’s instructors and the one who authorized He Youyi to prepare the establishnt of the Saints’ Monunt for Guan Xin.
"I have yet to learn what constitutes the world, what it ans to save and benefit people."
Wang Ding lowered his gaze, "Such things cannot be learned rely from study. Without experiencing the Mortal World, how could you possibly understand?"
"Then I shall go and experience it."
Looking at this student he had taught from a young age, Wang Ding suddenly felt she was sowhat unfamiliar, as if so trendous change had occurred.
"Guan Xin, do you know what it ans for soone not yet thirty to beco a Saint? It would bring you countless honors, and all scholars under heaven would see you as a role model. Your writings would be posted on every wall of every academy. Countless people would choose to embark on the Literary Dao because of you."
Guan Xin nodded, "I know, but I believe I am unworthy to be a Saint." Her deanor was calm, her voice soft, the epito of a graceful figure in literature.
"Wenxin Heaven needs you to beco a Saint," Wang Ding raised his eyes, "The Confucians need you to beco a Saint."
"Confucianism does not need a Saint who understands nothing."
Wang Ding then frowned, "Don’t be ridiculous."
Suddenly, Guan Xin asked, "Wild Horse Academy, Mr. He, has diligently served for millennia, having occupied positions such as Zhong Buzhou, Danpao Scholar, and Chang Yashi across the Immortal Continent, Wangyue Continent, and the East Continent, making contributions to the Literary Dao that will be revered for ages. As the chief teaching scholar on the Changsheng Continent for five hundred years, he nurtured two Saints and over twenty great scholars. Such achievents, shouldn’t he have long been a Saint, if not a Great Saint? Why isn’t he?"
"The Saints’ Monunt is not for you or to determine."
"But I’ve heard that when Mr. He was a Zhong Buzhou at Chenzhu Academy in the Immortal Realm, he had already established the Saints’ Monunt. Wenxin Heaven did not accept his monunt. What did Mr. He do to make Wenxin Heaven overlook so many achievents?"
Wang Ding reproached, "Nonsense! Who have you been listening to, spreading such rumors? He Youyi would never say such things to you."
Guan Xin lowered her eyes, "Why would I need anyone to tell these things? Wenxin Heaven is not lacking in records."
Wang Ding’s face turned cold, "He Youyi’s affairs are complicated, as I have told you many tis, do not try to understand sothing from a single perspective. If you’re biased because of this, then all your studying has been in vain."
"I feel the sa way. Therefore, I am even less suitable to bear the responsibilities of a Saint." Guan Xin chuckled lightly, her shoulders relaxing.
"You!" Wang Ding was deeply shocked, first because Guan Xin was using He Youyi’s situation to pressure him, and secondly, because she actually laughed?
This teacher had never seen his student laugh before.
His fingers trembled slightly, "What exactly did you learn on the Changsheng Continent?"
Guan Xin replied, "I learned nothing. In those over twenty years on the Changsheng Continent, the learning abilities and tools I cultivated were all useless. I have nothing but knowledge."
Upon saying this, there was no other intent.
Wang Ding shakily put on his glasses, paused, then took them off again, "What about the other teachers, what did they say?"
"The other teachers all told to co ask you."
Wang Ding was silent for a long ti, without explicitly stating anything, "Co take a look at this article."
He handed "Invitation to Wine" to Guan Xin.
Guan Xin took a glance, her eyes shining, smiling, "Heaven gave my talents, they will surely be useful, a thousand gold will be spent and return again."
"Go on, go read the ’Book of the World’."
"Thank you, teacher, for your guidance over the past twenty years."
The world was there, and Guan Xin went forth with joy.
...
Fu Manman was caressing the monunt of the Emperor of the Celestial Palace of Gouchen, not missing any detail, trying to glean sothing from the intricate patterns. Along this mountain path, there were quite a few monunts, varying in size and rank.
She said softly, "The nas of these gods are really grand."
Bai Yihuan thought for a mont and said, "As far as I know, the titles in the Divine Dao, especially the True Gods of the Celestial Court, are fixed. Whoever takes the position, it’s all the sa." She laughed, "Perhaps it’s just a title."
Fu Manman was slightly astonished, "You actually have such an insightful thought."
"I have a brain, you know!" Bai Yihuan was displeased at being underestimated.
"Then use it more often."
"Using my brain is tiring."
Fu Manman turned to the next monunt, "Heaven-Receiving Earth Goddess," studying it, and suddenly frowned, "Sothing’s not right."
"What’s not right?"
"The Celestial Court was established to address the aftermath of the Heaven-Human War fifteen thousand years ago, so these monunts shouldn’t predate fifteen thousand years. But I feel like they have a history far exceeding fifteen thousand years."
Bai Yihuan paused, "Are you sure?"
Wielding the Eternal Dao, Fu Manman would not make mistakes in sensing age, "I’m sure. These monunts are at least a hundred thousand years old."
"A hundred thousand years? The Cultivation Realm wasn’t even fully ford back then!"
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