Chapter 1167 - 795: Purple Qi Arrives from the East for 300 Miles

Zhou Qiucheng is about to attain enlightenment!

The purple aura spread majestically, rising steadily like sesame seeds, visible for miles around, with countless divine beings rushing from all directions to witness and secretly protect Zhou Qiucheng.

Disturb him?

Who dares to disturb!

Unless it’s someone within the academy, someone wanting to seize Zhou Qiucheng’s achievements, but Zhou Qiucheng has always kept a low profile. His theories and teachings have never been disclosed, so how would others know?

Zhou Qiucheng is different from Chen Sanliang. Chen Sanliang’s theories have long been circulated, with some secretly studying them beforehand. Zhou Qiucheng’s path to the Dao was guided by Zhang Chen and further realized by himself, with not a shred leaked to the outside world, leaving others unable to contend.

"This old guy Zhou Qiucheng really has some tricks. Even in such dire straits, he can find a way through. It’s truly incredible." Bai Cang appeared by Zhang Chen’s side at some unknown time, dressed as a man in ordinary clothes, hardly noticeable beside Zhang Chen.

"Zhou Qiucheng is lucky." Zhang Chen replied.

"When we head to Kyoto, we will indeed have support. If Zhou Qiucheng can decipher the crucial point and prove the Yang God, he will surely be selected by the academy as the new master. Then we will have another ally." Bai Cang said.

Zhang Chen nodded at Bai Cang’s words, acknowledging their truth. Zhou Qiucheng’s qualifications, foundation, and reputation are sufficient. As long as he proves the Yang God, he will definitely enter the academy and become one of the few Confucian Dao leaders in the world.

Zhang Chen thought of the Confucian gentlemen and their peculiarities, especially the grievances between the Young Master and Huang Chao, which amused Zhang Chen greatly.

Once, Huang Chao spat into the Young Master’s sheep offal soup, and the Young Master, after giving Huang Chao a good beating, expressionlessly consumed it, showing toughness.

"When you reach Kyoto, if you can join the academy, you must join. There are great creations within the academy, which will be incredibly beneficial for you." Bai Cang said to Zhang Chen.

"Benefits? What kind of benefits?" Zhang Chen asked, piqued.

Seeing Zhang Chen’s interest, Bai Cang said, "I heard from the Demon Race spies that the academy seems to have opened the gates to a new world. It’s uncertain whether it’s the legendary Spiritual World or a small world created by an ancient divine spirit, but it certainly contains incredible creations."

"New world gate?" Zhang Chen was taken aback.

If the academy really has developed a small world, that would be quite an accomplishment.

"It’s said that the reason the Great Victory court hasn’t dealt with the Demon Race is due to the academy’s significant discovery. Thus, the Great Victory court has invested all its efforts. If Zhou Qiucheng can join the academy, he will certainly gain access to the core secrets, and you might get to share in the great creation." Bai Cang explained.

Zhang Chen’s eyes flickered with excitement: "Let’s see if Zhou Qiucheng can prove the Yang God first; it’s too soon to talk about joining the academy."

The academy finding a way to open the Spiritual World or discovering a new world is truly an unbelievable matter. I must get involved somehow, perhaps even profit from it.

As the two discussed, the purple stream grew rapidly. By the time the first ray of sunlight pierced the horizon, the eastern purple aura had expanded to cover hundreds of miles, like a grand river hanging from the sky, looking magnificent and majestic, full of awe.

In the next moment, the purple celestial river twisted, transforming into a band of purple light, pouring into Zhou Qiucheng’s body. Then, Zhou Qiucheng’s body rapidly transformed, with thundering sounds emanating from within. Zhou Qiucheng slowly opened his eyes, a powerful qi mechanism bursting from him.

The aura unique to the Yang God strong radiated to all directions, alerting numerous strong beings along its path.

"Congratulations to Mr. Zhou on proving the Yang God. I am Marquis Wen Lyu Da Bu. Mr. Zhou, please enter the city and give a discourse." Marquis Wen Lyu Da Bu was the first to step forward, turning into a stream of light before Zhou Qiucheng. His eyes shone brightly as he invited Zhou Qiucheng. "Moreover, many fellow Daoists have arrived to pay respects. This desolate wilderness is evidently not a fitting place for a meeting. Please enter the city. The banquet is ready."

Despite being a Tenth Tier deity, he lowered his stance in the presence of a strong Yang God who attained enlightenment through self-discovery.

One is a strong being elevated by external forces, the other is an enlightened strong being from self-discovery; there is simply no comparison between the two.

Hearing Marquis Wen’s words, Zhou Qiucheng glanced at the night filled with hundreds of divine lights, hesitated briefly, then saluted Marquis Wen: "Then, I must trouble Marquis Wen."

Zhou Qiucheng and Marquis Wen turned into streaks of light and departed. Simultaneously, the divine lights followed them to Marquis Wen’s territory, leaving the convoy desolate in an instant.

"I never expected even a Yang God strong being can’t avoid the obligations of social interactions." Zhang Chen observed Zhou Qiucheng’s fading figure and remarked introspectively.

"Don’t even mention Zhou Qiucheng. Even the Human King of the Great Victory cannot escape social conventions," Bai Cang replied to Zhang Chen’s words, "The higher you climb, the more you can’t avoid social conventions."

"Forget it, none of this concerns me. I’ve cultivated to this level; if I still concern myself with social conventions, then all my cultivation was for nothing," Zhang Chen muttered, turning to walk into the tent.

Bai Cang shook his head and left, a strange look in his eyes, "With Zhou Qiucheng reaching enlightenment, Kyoto’s Academy is going to be lively."

Zhang Chen returned to the tent to continue his meditation. In the middle of the night, the space before the tent twisted, and Zhou Qiucheng, looking invigorated, appeared outside Zhang Chen’s tent, knocking, "Kid, are you asleep?"

Zhang Chen paused his meditation, a look of helplessness on his face, "Sir, instead of resting, what brings you to me in the dead of night?"

Zhou Qiucheng, hearing Zhang Chen’s words, pushed aside the tent flap and came in, holding a bundle in his hand that he casually placed on the small table. He pointed at the oil lamp, and the lamp lit up.

Zhou Qiucheng reeked of wine, yet showed no signs of drunkenness.

"Today’s fortunate event has swept away all the repressive feelings in my heart, and I am truly happy. If I couldn’t share a drink with you, I would not feel content," Zhou Qiucheng said to Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen rolled his eyes and glanced at the items Zhou Qiucheng had placed on the table—a jug of wine and some dried beef.

"Drinking with them is merely for social conventions. Drinking with you, kid, is the real pleasure," Zhou Qiucheng continued, but then hurriedly said, "No, I can’t keep calling you kid. You have guided me, and I owe all my achievements today to you. From now on, you are my benefactor, and I will address you as ’sir,’ treating you with the respect of a disciple."

"Let’s not get into those pretenses. You’re a jiazi older than me. If I truly considered you a teacher, I’d probably cut my life short. If the scholars of the world heard, they’d surely talk me to death!" Zhang Chen opened the wine jug, "You know I don’t care about such empty titles. If you call me sir, who knows how much attention it would attract. Let’s keep things as they were; you’re still my teacher, and I’m still the academy’s disciple."

Zhou Qiucheng, understanding Zhang Chen’s nature, hesitated briefly after hearing his words, then nodded decisively, "Deal!!"

Then Zhou Qiucheng took the wine jug, poured two bowls of wine, and raised his cup to Zhang Chen, "This first cup, I toast to your guidance! In the future, as long as it doesn’t conflict with my path, I will not refuse your requests."

Zhang Chen raised his cup and clinked it with Zhou Qiucheng’s, then teasingly asked, "Now that you’ve attained the Yang God, what insights do you have?"

"It’s incomparable to the Divine Dao," Zhou Qiucheng answered without hesitation.

"How so?" inquired Zhang Chen.

"The Divine Dao is external power and not one’s own. It’s difficult to control effortlessly, and it always feels somewhat superficial. You know what it does, but not why. After achieving the Yang God, I know both what and why, making it incomparable to before," Zhou Qiucheng explained.

Hearing Zhou Qiucheng’s words, Zhang Chen looked surprised, "There’s such a distinction?"

"The difference is significant!" Zhou Qiucheng reflected with a sigh, then his mood sank somewhat, "Unfortunately, I awakened too late, or perhaps more citizens in Jinling City could have survived."

"Even if you had attained enlightenment in Jinling City, it wouldn’t have changed the situation. At that time, not to mention one more Yang God True Master, even with three or five more, the situation couldn’t be reversed." Zhang Chen, seeing Zhou Qiucheng’s regret, quickly consoled him, fearing he would obsess over it.

Zhou Qiucheng smiled bitterly, simply raising his cup to drink, "Let’s drink!"

"Now that you’ve achieved the Yang God, what’s your plan?" Zhang Chen asked.

Zhou Qiucheng pondered for a moment before saying, "I should find a place to spread my teachings and begin the journey to enlightenment. Once my cultivation catches up to Chen Sanliang, I intend to debate with him again for the sake of avenging countless scholars in the Jinling realm! Blood debts need to be paid in blood."

Zhang Chen’s drinking paused, and he looked Zhou Qiucheng up and down, then shook his head.

"What? Are you looking down on me?" Zhou Qiucheng was displeased by Zhang Chen’s action. What did that headshake mean?

"I think you probably won’t get the chance to catch up to Chen Sanliang. Going to debate with him again would be like striking a stone with an egg," Zhang Chen replied.

"Why not? My Heavenly Dao pathway is strong indeed," Zhou Qiucheng retorted, unconvinced.

"When Chen Sanliang’s Dao spreads across Jiangnan, he’ll have reached the Twelfth Tier. Why do you think Chen Sanliang would lower himself to debate with you?" Zhang Chen challenged.