Chapter 246: Parting Ways
Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Parting Ways
Zhu Ge felt a little more at ease after hearing the True Monarch of the Lantern’s words.
’This is much better.’
’Otherwise, it would be a real waste to just leave the faction I built with my own hands sitting here like this.’
But this trip to Shengjing was truly unavoidable.
He had long wanted to try writing something like the Book of Changes, but he was afraid it would cause trouble.
He had still used it at the most critical moment, and now he had to bear the consequences.
An innocent man gets into trouble for the treasure he carries.
’But this might be for the best.’
This trip would be a perfect opportunity for Zhu Ge to hone his martial skills, advance his Confucian Dao, and stride toward an even greater peak.
"Brother Zhu, we will take our leave now," Yan Liyuan said, cupping his hands.
"Brother Yan, I must thank you and everyone else for your help this time," Zhu Ge replied, also cupping his hands toward Yan Liyuan and the others.
Yan Liyuan and his friends had been a great help this time.
And toward the end, they had helped him purely out of their own convictions.
"You’re mistaken. Why thank us?" Wen Mo said with a laugh. "If not for Brother Zhu, we would never have understood that there’s always someone better out there. In fact, I should be the one thanking you. I feel that after today, I might be able to take another step forward."
"That’s right," Su Feibai said with a proud look. "After witnessing so much today, I feel my Dao Heart has grown even more stable. From now on, when I act, I’ll probably often recall your example, Brother Zhu."
"With that pig brain of yours, you *should* think more," Guan Julan retorted with a pout. "Good thing I’m naturally brilliant and gorgeous, unlike you bunch of ugly, dimwitted morons. But hey, thanks, Zhu Ge!"
As she spoke, Guan Julan seemed to remember something. She waved a hand to stop Su Feibai, who was about to get angry, and fished something out of a sachet she carried:
"Here, an Elemental Level Spring Eye. It’s yours!"
She tossed over the rock-shaped spring eye. "Just place it on the ground, and it will continuously produce a Spiritual Spring."
Zhu Ge caught the spring eye and couldn’t help but say, "Miss Guan, this is too much..."
"Shut it," Guan Julan said, waving her hand dismissively. "We didn’t really help you with much this time. If you don’t accept our gratitude, our Dao Hearts, literary hearts, and Martial Arts Hearts will all become unstable. Just take it, you’re being so wishy-washy."
Exasperated, Zhu Ge had no choice but to accept it.
It just so happened to be something the Six Paths Palace was lacking.
Zhu Ge wanted to be a hands-off leader, but a leader still needed to have a proper mindset. At the very least, he had to provide the "wages and benefits."
"So, where are you all headed next?" Zhu Ge asked.
Yan Liyuan and the others had already used their life-saving treasures, but they had still been stopped by the Hongmi Immortal at the critical moment.
It was clear the Hongmi Immortal had planned this for a long time and would not allow any mistakes. It was no surprise that he had taken measures to seal the area and prevent anyone from entering or leaving.
However, without their life-saving treasures, their journey to Nanyue Mianhuang would be fraught with danger.
"Nanyue Mianhuang," Yan Liyuan sighed. "It is the only place for a breakthrough in all of Da Sheng right now, and it is the battlefield for us prodigies."
"That’s right," said Su Feibai. "It’s like raising a Gu King. If we can survive on this battlefield of prodigies, we’ll earn the right to advance further."
Hearing Yan Liyuan and Su Feibai’s explanation, Zhu Ge more or less understood.
"Alright then." Zhu Ge nodded. "It just so happens I’ll be going to Shengjing with True Monarch Minmian. I can take a look at the other prodigies of this world."
Yan Liyuan smiled. "Going is the right choice. As far as I know, only those ranked below twentieth on the Sheji Chart will come to the battlefield in Nanyue Mianhuang this time. The others won’t be there."
"Oh? Why is that?" Zhu Ge asked, curious.
Guan Julan pouted and spoke before Yan Liyuan could. "Because they’re too precious! Those morons are so talented they’ve already become Gu Kings. What need do they have for honing?"
’Gu King?’
Zhu Ge was taken aback for a moment. Her words did make some sense.
Something that isn’t yet gold needs a blazing fire to burn away its impurities.
But for something that is already pure gold, does it really matter if it’s refined further?
"Don’t talk nonsense," Yan Liyuan interrupted irritably. "The top twenty prodigies naturally need to hone their skills too, but they won’t find any worthy opponents in Nanyue Mianhuang. That’s why they train with the older generation."
"They are either comprehending the Great Dao, training soldiers, or studying books. Enlightenment in the Immortal, Confucian, or Martial paths doesn’t only come from slaughter."
Studying, training, comprehending.
Zhu Ge was lost in thought upon hearing this.
"Also, Brother Zhu, if you are going to travel the world, the other prodigies will surely hear of you and make their move," Yan Liyuan said with a smile. "The general requirement to enter the Sheji Chart is to, at the Third Realm, kill, defeat, or hold your own against a more powerful practitioner."
"In other words, being in the Third Realm is usually the default prerequisite, but..."
At this point, Yan Liyuan hesitated.
But Wen Mo spoke up with a smile, "Just say it, Brother Yan. I’m sure the Guyu Official won’t blame you."
’Guyu Official? True Monarch of the Lantern?’ Zhu Ge was confused, not understanding what the two were getting at.
"Alright." Yan Liyuan nodded.
"But, the True Monarch of the Lantern is the current Guyu Official, the head of the Shi Family of historians. With him personally witnessing your feats and recording your name in the Historical Record with his own hand, you might be the first person to enter the Sheji Chart at the Second Realm."
Hearing this, Zhu Ge felt a sense of resignation. "So that’s how it is."
’Is getting on the chart a good thing?’
’Of course it is!’
Spreading one’s fame can sometimes be more difficult than accumulating wealth.
However, being on the chart also meant Zhu Ge would attract all sorts of trouble, both overt and covert.
’Whatever, this was supposed to be a journey to hone my Martial Dao anyway...’ In an instant, the resignation in Zhu Ge’s eyes was replaced by a blazing will to fight.
"When the time comes, we will all look forward to seeing Brother Zhu on the Sheji Chart," Wen Mo said with a smile. "And perhaps we will hear news of your journey to Shengjing from all over?"
"Alright, alright, enough chitchat." Guan Julan waved her hand impatiently. "I’m heading to Nanyue Mianhuang. Are you guys coming or not?"
"Wait," Zhu Ge called out to Guan Julan, then said after a moment of thought, "If you all don’t mind, how about taking my avatar with you?"
As he spoke, the Bone Monster Avatar emerged from the White Bone Cave behind him.
The Bone Monster Avatar fed on bones, and there was no telling how many creatures with bones Yan Liyuan’s group would slay on their journey. It would be a perfect source of food.
"Furthermore, I can also lead the armies of the Six Paths Palace into Nanyue Mianhuang, claiming territory and expanding the borders of Red River Prefecture, and by extension, the borders of our great Da Sheng," the Bone Monster Avatar declared.
Yan Liyuan looked at the others, then slowly nodded. "Of course. We have no objection."
Having the Bone Monster Avatar with them was as good as having Zhu Ge himself.
Everything the Six Paths Palace had to offer could then be used to help them. Why would they refuse?
At this, a smile appeared on Zhu Ge’s face.
After spending so much time together, he, Yan Liyuan, Su Feibai, Guan Julan, and Wen Mo had all developed a rather good camaraderie.
Perhaps this was also the intention of the higher-ups in their respective Sects.
The younger generation would form enmities in battle, but they would also form friendships. All of these things would slowly develop and mature in the future.
Just then, Hong Xiu approached Zhu Ge and tossed him a triangular stone.
"This is a token from my sect," she said. "Brother Zhu, if you ever feel like becoming an assassin, you can use this Token Stone to contact me."