Southern Jambudvipa.
A strange beast carriage lifted into the air, speeding across the sky as if walking on flat ground. Its velocity was immense, and its spiritual energy fluctuations were completely unhidden.
Naturally, cultivators noticed the unhidden spiritual energy fluctuations, frowning slightly as they looked toward its source.
This place was already near the border of Central Continent, so calling it half of Central Continent wasn't an overstatement.
Did they think this was some remote corner where they didn't need to follow the standard aerial etiquette?
But after seeing the speeding carriage, they quickly turned their heads away, not daring to look further. Even their initial complaints instantly vanished.
They began to feel it was only right, as it should be.
Perhaps it was because the carriage was exceptionally magnificent, and the pulling beasts were of the highest quality, all showcasing the owner's status.
More likely, it was because the small banner fluttering on the carriage was dazzling—the flag of Tianyan Sect.
As one of the eighteen Immortal Sects of Central Continent, it was only natural for them to ride beasts through the air. It was simply the high-class style of Central Continent, hard to comprehend for others.
Spiritual energy fluctuations, flight etiquette—those were the hallmarks of top-tier Immortal Sects!
If I were from Tianyan Sect, my display would be even grander!
This carriage was borrowed from Tianyan Sect at Li Yingling's request. The purpose was simple.
First, it was definitely faster than running and wouldn't tire anyone out. Things were urgent, so speed was key.
Second, when trying to protect someone, you couldn't play any games with false modesty.
Waiting for a critical moment to reveal your identity might lead them to think, "Since it's come to this, let's just go for it," and that would truly be the end.
The right approach was to show overwhelming force from the start, joining halfway through. Even if that group could win, they'd have to consider if they dared.
Secondly, a higher status leaves more room for maneuvering, shifting others from trying to figure you out to them trying to figure you out.
The difference between the two was worlds apart.
Chen Baiqing was the leader of this operation, with Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao under her command.
She pushed aside the curtain, her gaze locking onto Junzi Mountain not far ahead.
Junzi Mountain's architecture wasn't as magnificent as an Immortal Sect's. At first glance, the only thing to praise was its simplicity.
Dense houses occupied nearly the entire peak.
Looking out at Junzi Mountain, basically every visible spot had a building built on it. The only consistent style was the white-painted curtain walls.
Clearly, with increased fame, Junzi Mountain saw more and more traffic.
At this point, there was probably no time for architectural style or design—just getting a place to live was the priority.
From afar, the only thing on Junzi Mountain that might catch the eye was the single building atop the mountain peak.
It was the only non-white building on Junzi Mountain.
The mountaintop structure was the largest, a great square hall with yellow glazed tiles. In the central plaza stood a massive bamboo scroll carved from white jade.
Cui Hao followed his third senior sister's gaze and pushed aside the curtain, then spoke:
"That's the Subsage Hall of Junzi Mountain. Legend says it houses the Subsage's cultural treasures and his personal handwritten scrolls."
Chen Baiqing let the curtain fall, her tone calm: "The dead don't count for much."
Cui Hao heard this and turned to look at his third senior sister. He saw Chen Baiqing's expression was calm, as if she had just said something ordinary.
But those words...
In Cui Hao's ears, they sounded a bit arrogant.
Cui Hao's feelings toward Confucianism were just average, but even he wouldn't say something so audacious.
A Subsage isn't just someone who wrote a classic masterpiece that people admire.
A Subsage pushes literature and philosophy forward. A Subsage may not live for a thousand years, but their thoughts can be passed down for millennia, influencing countless people and dynasties.
Those thoughts can genuinely change the lives of common people.
Cui Hao had read the books written by Subsages. He had admired a Subsage in a dark era, who alone became a shining spark.
Then, they exhausted everything to light up the wilderness, returning reason to the people.
It's not that those with such thoughts become Subsages, but only those who succeed become Subsages.
Since ancient times, countless people have died on the path to becoming a Subsage.
Although the words of a Subsage may not be entirely correct today, they shouldn't be treated so lightly as in his third senior sister's words.
Cui Hao didn't respond. His third senior sister was young, had never studied Confucianism, and was a cultivator.
In her eyes, a Subsage was just a century-old pile of yellow earth who walked a minor path.
A Subsage couldn't affect a cultivator.
Lin Luoyu's expression was also a bit subtle, but her eyes showed more concern.
Naturally, someone in Junzi Mountain noticed the approaching beast carriage from afar and saw the fluttering Tianyan Sect banner.
Being near Central Continent, those in Junzi Mountain understood the oppressive feeling of the one true path—Immortal Dao.
Especially for the eighteen Immortal Sects of Central Continent, their reverence was no less than that for a Subsage.
Although Confucian cultivators didn't interact much with other cultivators, it didn't mean they didn't understand whose fist was strongest in this world.
They just loved to read books, not to seek death.
An old man with a full white beard held a calligraphy brush. With a flourish, a path of ink rose into the air.
He stepped onto it, his body speeding forward along the ink path. Then, he bowed to the carriage:
"Might I ask the Tianyan Sect immortals within, what brings you to Junzi Mountain?"
The beast had been trained by Tianyan Sect, so it had its own spirit and wasn't an ordinary beast needing control to know what to do.
The carriage slowly decelerated, coming to a gentle stop before the old man.
Chen Baiqing pushed aside the curtain first, standing before the carriage. Her gaze swept over the bowing old man but she didn't answer. Instead, she asked in return:
"Is the Gentleman Li currently on Junzi Mountain?"
Hearing this, the old man slowly straightened up. His gaze fell on Chen Baiqing and then on Cui Hao and Lin Luoyu who had exited the carriage.
The Gentleman Li had once sent a message to Junzi Mountain, though he had stood them up back then.
So the old man naturally knew the Gentleman Li's identity and background.
He had never heard of the Gentleman Li having any connection to Tianyan Sect, one of the eighteen Immortal Sects of Central Continent.
But since the matter was at hand, pondering the past was useless.
Whatever the purpose of the Tianyan Sect visitors, directly asking for the Gentleman Li was bad news for Junzi Mountain, whether they were friend or foe.
The old man simply nodded: "He is indeed on Junzi Mountain, preparing for the third debate session. Might I ask if you, the Tianyan Sect elders, are here for the Gentleman Li?"
Chen Baiqing's tone was calm: "Not entirely, but for now, we trouble you to guide us."
At this moment, all the students of Junzi Mountain looked toward the beast carriage and saw their headmaster facing the Tianyan Sect cultivators alone.
The old man readily agreed: "Of course, but carriages are forbidden in Junzi Mountain, as is flight. Please, esteemed elders, dismount and walk."
Cui Hao looked at Chen Baiqing, a bit afraid that his third senior sister would give them no face at all.
After all, this was the third senior sister who could say—The dead don't count for much.
Chen Baiqing's tone remained calm:
"If there are rules, then of course we will follow them."
Hearing this, Cui Hao breathed a sigh of relief. If they hadn't even entered Junzi Mountain and were already clashing with them...
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Hey everyone,
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