Chapter 122 - 98: New Entry

Chapter 122: Chapter 98: New Entry

"What is going on?" he wondered.

Despite his confusion, Zeng Anmin could naturally see the countdown prompt. After a brief moment of thought, he made his choice.

[Preparation Space]

Zeng Anmin did not hesitate and selected it immediately.

The next moment, he felt three slots appear on his Golden Finger interface. It resembled the inventory space from the video games of his past life, but now was not the time to study it. He still needed to ask about his bizarre bow-shaped Dharma Aspect.

Zeng Anmin opened his eyes in bewilderment and looked toward the center of the arena.

The sky seemed to have darkened. He had no idea how much time had passed. Only three people stood before him: the Little Fatty Crown Prince, Qin Wanyue, and Tian Qilin. The other students had likely lost patience and left long ago.

He had just stood up from the ground when he heard Tian Qilin’s voice.

"How is it? Did you break through?" Tian Qilin asked, looking at him with great excitement.

Zeng Anmin frowned. He approached Tian Qilin, bowed, and said, "Teacher Tian, just now in your disciple’s Purple Mansion, something condensed..."

"A Dharma Aspect?!" Tian Qilin shuddered, his breathing turning heavy.

"No... it’s a bow," Zeng Anmin replied, somewhat bewildered. He simply willed it, mobilizing the Confucian True Qi within his Purple Mansion.

An incredibly dense cyan vapor suddenly emerged. Above Zeng Anmin’s head, a bow shimmering with a gentle aura abruptly materialized. Formed from dense, dark cyan Vast Righteous Qi, the bow was about ten feet long and hovered in the air, exuding a dazzling presence.

"A gentleman should conceal his weapon on his person and bide his time to act."

A vertical line of characters ran down the bow. The moment the weapon appeared, Tian Qilin stared at the inscription in a daze. His voice trembled as he read it aloud.

"A gentleman should conceal his weapon on his person and bide his time to act."

He was not the only one who could see the phrase. The Little Fatty Crown Prince and Qin Wanyue saw it too. They were equally mesmerized, captivated by the words.

"So, did I break through?" Zeng Anmin took a deep breath, looking at Tian Qilin with a very solemn expression.

Slowly recovering his wits, Tian Qilin wore an incredibly complex expression. He looked at Zeng Anmin and sighed. "Yes, and no."

What did that mean? Zeng Anmin furrowed his brows even tighter.

"You have indeed broken through the shackles of the Sixth Grade Gentleman Realm, but you haven’t reached the Fifth Grade Vast Realm, which is the Dharma Realm." Tian Qilin looked at Zeng Anmin in a daze, recalling an ancient record in his mind.

"Legend has it that back then, the Second Sage Linzi broke through three times while in the Gentleman Realm. Each time, he comprehended a type of ’intent.’ The three that Linzi comprehended were Calligraphy, Chariotry, and Rites.

"His Purple Mansion was different from ordinary people’s. The exact divine wonders it held are not recorded in history, but it is recorded that he only condensed his Dharma Aspect on his third breakthrough.

"Every breakthrough represents the consolidation of Vast Righteous Qi. Although you didn’t condense a Dharma Aspect in this breakthrough, it does not affect your power. When it comes to subduing demons and eliminating evil, you are on par with a Fifth Grade who has condensed a Dharma Aspect.

"Later, Linzi wrote a book, achieved Enlightenment overnight, and relied on his Dharma Aspect to attain the revered status of Second Sage!"

Reaching this point, Tian Qilin turned back to look at Zeng Anmin with burning eyes. "Your Purple Mansion must be like the Second Sage Linzi’s—different from that of ordinary people."

Zeng Anmin understood after hearing this explanation. He raised an eyebrow. "In other words, my realm is above the Sixth Grade but below the Fifth Grade. But the power of this Vast Cyan Bow is no weaker than a Fifth Grade Dharma Aspect. Furthermore, I can still comprehend the other Six Arts to consolidate my Vast Righteous Qi?"

"Exactly." Tian Qilin looked at him with utmost seriousness. "Once you condense your Dharma Aspect, fighting demons above your level will be as easy as flipping your hand. It wouldn’t even be surprising if you could take on five Great Demons alone.

"In terms of cultivation breakthrough speed, you might be slower than others. But in terms of foundation, yours will be at least twice as deep as an ordinary person’s!"

"GASP."

The Little Fatty Crown Prince and Qin Wanyue gasped simultaneously.

With such a foundation, if he grew up one day, wouldn’t he be able to eradicate the Demon Race with a snap of his fingers?!

The Little Fatty Crown Prince’s face was even slightly flushed as he stared fixedly at Zeng Anmin. He looked just like a high schooler gazing at his unattainable crush.

Zeng Anmin’s heart skipped a beat.

Whether his Vast Righteous Qi was consolidated or not... didn’t matter. Put this way, if he could rely on the anomaly in his Purple Mansion to comprehend all of the Six Arts... wouldn’t he gain five extra Golden Finger choices out of thin air?!

Although the Confucian Dao breakthrough system only awarded silver choices, he had experienced Rapid Enlightenment before. Zeng Anmin knew very well that sometimes, silver traits could unleash power no less than colored ones!

Awesome!

"PHEW." Zeng Anmin took a deep breath and bowed to Tian Qilin. "Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Tian."

"Mm. Do you have any preference among the remaining Six Arts?" Tian Qilin accepted the bow, his gaze sincere.

Zeng Anmin pondered for a moment before glancing at Qin Wanyue. Expectation filled her autumn-water eyes as she watched him.

"If possible, let me try my hand at Music." Naturally, Zeng Anmin did not let Qin Wanyue down, smiling as he looked back at Tian Qilin.

"Very well. I will give Li Lianting a heads-up so he can pay more attention to you." Tian Qilin smiled and nodded. He then walked steadily toward the exit.

Halfway there, he turned around and said gravely, "There is no need to spread word of this matter. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" Seeing Tian Qilin’s gaze, Zeng Anmin felt a slight warmth in his heart.

The tallest tree in the forest bears the brunt of the wind. Teacher Tian’s words were an indirect way of protecting him.

"Thank you for the warning, Teacher Tian." Zeng Anmin felt that the only way he could repay Tian Qilin was with another deep bow.

"Heh heh. I look forward to the day when you lead the vanguard of the Great Saint Dynasty to completely eradicate the Demon Race! Flatten the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range!" Tian Qilin had already stepped into the darkness, but his voice echoed endlessly.

With a slight shift of his will, Zeng Anmin withdrew the giant bow hovering over his head back into his Purple Mansion.

"Quan Fu," Qin Wanyue said, looking at him with a smile. "If you ever need help with the Dao of Music, you can find me anytime."

Zeng Anmin grinned and nodded. "As long as it doesn’t delay your own Confucian Dao progress, Wanyue."

Qin Wanyue shook her head gently. "I am still some distance away from the Sixth Grade Confucian Dao realm. It’s no bother."

"GRUMBLE."

Zeng Anmin blinked. His stomach let out a loud rumble. As a Martial Artist, his appetite had been constantly increasing these past few days, so...

"PFFT." Hearing his stomach rumble, Qin Wanyue covered her mouth and giggled softly.

"Quan Fu, if you’re hungry, why don’t we go out for a bite?" Hearing the noise, the Crown Prince’s eyes actually lit up. Didn’t this mean another chance to spend time alone with Zeng Anmin?

"Would you like to try some of the fish-shaped pastries I made?" Qin Wanyue smiled, taking a handkerchief from her cloth bag.

It was a blue handkerchief embroidered with a pure white lotus. Qin Wanyue carefully folded back the corners of the cloth bit by bit, revealing cute, yellow glutinous rice cakes. Her face was slightly flushed, and her eyes avoided Zeng Anmin’s gaze. "My mother taught me how to make these..."

"Thanks!" Before she could even finish her sentence, Zeng Anmin snatched the pastries, handkerchief and all, right out of her hands.

He grabbed one and stuffed it straight into his mouth. "It melts in your mouth! So good!"

Zeng Anmin’s eyes lit up. He looked at Qin Wanyue and said, "These are even better than what my family’s chef makes!" With that, he picked up another piece and chewed vigorously.

Hearing this, Qin Wanyue’s eyes brightened slightly. Her voice even carried a hint of eager anticipation. "If you like them, how about I bring you some more tomorrow?"

"Really?!" A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Zeng Anmin’s face.

"Why would I lie to you?" Qin Wanyue lightly stomped her foot.

"Yes, please!" Zeng Anmin nodded repeatedly, disregarding the crumbs around his mouth.

"Eat slower. Let me wipe your mouth first." Seeing the crumbs on his face, Qin Wanyue’s eyes flashed with earnestness. She took another handkerchief from her dress and wiped the corners of his mouth without the slightest hint of disgust.