Chapter 41: Mountain Monarch
Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Mountain Monarch
An aura erupted from within Yu the Scholar. A powerful presence emanated from him, spreading far into the distance.
Second Realm!
The Confucian Dao’s Second Realm—Scholar!
"My master told me that in ancient times, scholar-officials could cause blood to splatter five paces away over a single disagreement." A look of understanding dawned in Yu the Scholar’s eyes.
"It turns out that upon reaching the Second Realm, the Confucian Dao grants an ability called ’Jade Shatters.’ If you face a powerful foe, you can strike with your Literary Heart and ensure mutual destruction."
Jade Shatters?
Zhu Ge could guess its general effect just from the name.
"Zhu Ge, you must accept my bow."
Having just broken through, Yu the Scholar’s aura was unstable, but he solemnly raised his arms to kowtow. "If I don’t do this, my Literary Heart will grow unsteady."
Seeing this, Zhu Ge had no choice but to stand still and accept Yu the Scholar’s extremely solemn and formal ceremony to acknowledge him as a teacher.
"Mr. Zhu, your disciple, Yu Wanqian, formally pays his respects today. I hope Mr. Zhu will not be sparing with your teachings in the future." Yu the Scholar bowed deeply.
And after completing the ceremony, the aura around Yu the Scholar naturally calmed down.
"Now that you’ve accepted my respects, my mind is at ease." A smile appeared on Yu the Scholar’s face. "How about I have you take over teaching everyone for the next few days?"
’Have me take over?’
Zhu Ge couldn’t help but shake his head. "I’m not a teacher. I’ll mislead everyone."
He knew very little about the Confucianism of this world.
In fact, in his own mind, much of Confucianism was pedantic nonsense—a tool for rulers to maintain control, the dregs of philosophy.
It would be a disaster if he misguided them, making it impossible for them to ever walk the Confucian Dao.
After all, the Confucianism here wasn’t just useless classical jargon; it could be converted into tangible combat power.
"You won’t," Yu the Scholar said, shaking his head with a smile. "Mr. Zhu, if you say anything incorrect, I will tell you."
"Don’t call me Mr. Zhu," Zhu Ge said helplessly. "Alright, I’ll give it a try."
Seeing this, the others also bowed deeply and said in unison, "Greetings, Mr. Zhu."
Zhu Ge had no choice but to accept these few disciples.
The lessons then resumed.
With Zhu Ge’s earlier prompt, it was as if everyone’s minds had been opened. Whether it was Yu the Scholar teaching or the others listening, the process became much more efficient.
The entire afternoon was spent in fulfilling study.
Zhu Ge also asked Yu the Scholar some questions about the different realms.
But that night, Zhu Ge, who had been performing his Body Refinement inside the coffin, suddenly snapped his eyes open.
"Little sister, are you saying the Tiger God and Mr. Chong are both here?"
...
Zhu Ge lifted the coffin lid and rose, then saw Yu the Scholar rushing down from the mountain.
"You sensed it too? No, was it Hua Liusha who sensed it?" Yu the Scholar wore a grave expression, a writing brush in one hand and his *Notes on the Jianshan Terraces* in the other.
"Yes," Zhu Ge nodded. "Let’s go see what’s going on... Little Black Egg and the others aren’t asleep yet, are they?"
"Not yet. They’re practicing their martial arts. Following your instructions, they’re starting with those... what did you call them, squats," Yu the Scholar replied.
"Good. Let’s go." Zhu Ge waved his hand, and the two of them headed down the mountain.
The evening breeze was cool and pleasant, not hot at all—perfect for practicing martial arts.
For Zhu Ge, the loss of his life span from the Fungus God incident was something he urgently needed to replenish.
To increase his life span, he had to cultivate.
Whether it was the Confucian Dao or the Martial Dao, he had to reach the First Realm in one of them to make up for his body’s deficit.
Of course, the more important matter at hand was to meet the Tiger God and Mr. Chong, who had suddenly appeared at the border.
The two had arrived at the border of Jianshan Village, but they hadn’t rashly intruded, which could be considered polite.
But politeness was one thing; their intentions were another. They did not come in peace.
The Fungus God was just gone, and now the Tiger God and Mr. Chong had arrived. It was hard to guess their purpose.
As they were thinking, Zhu Ge and Yu the Scholar reached the foot of the mountain, approaching the border.
Not far away, a Big Cricket and a seated tabby cat were watching them intently.
THUMP THUMP...
The character for "Confucian" on Yu the Scholar’s chest pulsed faintly, its glow even brighter than when he was controlled by the Fungus God.
Now, Yu the Scholar could activate the "Confucian" character left by his master without consuming his life span; after all, he was no longer under the Fungus God’s control.
Moreover, after reaching the Second Realm, his power had grown again, and he could control the "Confucian" character with even greater ease.
They came to a stop before the cat and the insect.
Yu the Scholar said nothing, merely making the "Confucian" character on his chest pulse.
The cat and the insect did the same, quietly watching Yu the Scholar, occasionally glancing at Zhu Ge.
The atmosphere was frozen. No one wanted to be the first to speak.
However, upon closer inspection, one could see that Yu the Scholar didn’t dare to look at Mr. Chong.
Yu the Scholar was afraid of bugs.
Seeing this, Zhu Ge had no choice but to speak first. "Greetings, Mr. Chong, Tiger God."
As the one with the weakest apparent power present, it was fitting for him to open the conversation.
"You little brat, you really managed to kill that thing." Mr. Chong vibrated his wings, producing a voice.
"No wonder I found it so annoying. So it was a fungus that became a god."
Before Zhu Ge could reply, Yu the Scholar spoke up.
"Mr. Chong, Mountain Monarch, my master has gone to Yuan Yang City to seek medicine and will return in a few days. Before his return, I am in charge of matters in Jianshan Village. May I ask what business brings you two here?"
"I have no business here," Mr. Chong said, spreading his four legs. "The Mountain Monarch asked me to come along. You should ask him."
Yu the Scholar’s and Zhu Ge’s gazes immediately focused on the cat.
"Meow~"
The tabby cat let out a soft cry. The next moment, a ghastly green light erupted from its eyes, and a human voice emerged from its mouth:
"That filthy master of yours... he’s dead, isn’t he?"
Zhu Ge frowned at these words.
But Yu the Scholar just snorted coldly. The Literary Energy within him surged, releasing waves of pressure.
"Such bold words, Mountain Monarch. Why don’t you show yourself in your divine form? Or could it be that you’re afraid of my master?"
"Haha, what nerve!" The tabby cat’s body suddenly swelled. Its flesh and blood tore apart, dissolving into a pool of gore on the ground. In its place, a floating tiger appeared in the air.
This tiger was taller than four or five houses stacked together. It stood in mid-air, its blue-black mane billowing like flames in the mountain wind.
The muscles on its shoulders and back were as gnarled and powerful as the roots of an ancient tree. Its eyes glittered like cold stars, staring down at Zhu Ge and Yu the Scholar.
"You two brats! When I was battling your master, you were still in swaddling clothes!"
WHOOSH... WHOOSH...
An indescribable, heavy presence, redolent of the deep forest, exhaled from its ethereal snout, forming the oppressive aura of the king of the mountains, which bore down on Zhu Ge and Yu the Scholar.
"No one from the Confucian Family begs for their life on their knees!" Yu the Scholar snorted. Under the immense pressure, his aura only grew firmer.
Zhu Ge couldn’t do the same. He was, after all, a mortal and had not yet officially stepped into the First Realm of the Martial Dao.
When the pressure hit, he almost fell to his knees involuntarily.
It was the natural submission of a mountain creature to the king of beasts.
But Zhu Ge had Hua Liusha.
"Little sister!" Zhu Ge cried out softly.
The next moment, the "囍" character beside his giant egg-like soul emitted waves of red light, dissipating the pressure on him.
It also caused a red glow to fill his eyes.
The bloodshot veins in his eyes had never fully faded, and now, empowered by the red light of Xigui, the crimson color became even more intense.
They looked like two rubies.
Seeing the red light on Zhu Ge, both the Tiger God and Mr. Chong were startled.
"Eh? A Ghost?"
"Brat, has a Ghost bewitched you?"