Late at night, after a satisfying meal and drinks.
Lin Zhao invited the old gentleman into the pavilion for some clear tea to sober up.
Above the lotus pond, a gentle breeze blew, creating a sense of crisp autumn air. The old gentleman held his teacup and smiled, "Little Zhao, you must have guessed why I'm here."
"Yes."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Has the strategy for dealing with the fall of the Divine Mountain been confirmed?"
"It has."
The old gentleman nodded gently. "The Four Great Ancestral Halls and the Hundred Schools of Thought have all agreed. Starting tomorrow, you will be the sole commander of the human race on Earth, with the authority to command everything, including kings."
"..."
Lin Zhao's expression turned slightly grave. He hadn't expected the Four Great Ancestral Halls to secure such immense power for him.
"Alright then."
The old gentleman yawned and chuckled, "Do you have a quiet guest room? I'm an old man who's been away from the mortal world for many years, and I'd like to sleep one last time in the human realm."
"Yes, we do."
Lin Zhao said respectfully, "I've already had Dongcang and Liying clean one up. Shall I take you there now?"
"Yes, please."
Not long after, Lin Zhao led the old gentleman to the most "premium" guest room in the Mountain Peak Villa. It was a courtyard, and the construction of this courtyard alone had cost at least five gold coins, a testament to the immense investment. The number of people who were qualified to stay in this small courtyard at the Mountain Peak Villa was few and far between.
The old gentleman yawned and entered the courtyard, ready to rest.
"Han Xin, the Grand Strategist, greets the Sage."
From a distance, above a bamboo forest, a scholar in white, with a long sword on his back, cupped his fists in a salute. The old gentleman's seniority was simply too great. Han Xin, though he had been wandering in the town and hadn't attended the banquet, would have appeared somewhat disrespectful if he hadn't offered a greeting.
"It's the Immortal of War..."
The old gentleman cupped his fist and smiled. "Are you comfortable here?"
"More than just comfortable," Han Xin replied with a shy smile.
The old gentleman smiled. "It's good to be comfortable. I'm off to sleep. Immortal of War, please excuse yourself."
"Yes."
Han Xin cupped his fists and then floated away, disappearing somewhere in the Snow Region Celestial Pool.
...
Tianranju.
Lin Zhao's study was brightly lit, with Dongcang hanging four lanterns, making the study as bright as day.
Huang Tingyu created a dense, small world and frowned, "Who exactly is this old gentleman?"
"I don't know..."
Lin Zhao shook his head. "But his seniority must be very high, and he calls me Little Zhao. Perhaps he's a sage from my teacher Qin Suihan's lineage."
"The Confucian lineage is vast and complex; it's hard to say," replied.
Nanzhi knitted her brows slightly. "However, this old gentleman seems very kind. He helped some people during his walk in the town, so he must be a distinguished scholar of Confucianism. As for his realm, I didn't dare to probe at all."
"I didn't dare to probe either,"
Huang Tingyu said. "Scholars have many rules. I was afraid that if I accidentally overstepped, I might violate the old gentleman's precepts."
Lin Zhao frowned. "Old Huang, is this sword-dao small world of yours reliable? Is it truly impenetrable? What if the old gentleman is really at the fifteenth realm? If he can perceive every word and action within your small world, and we're discussing him here, wouldn't that be quite impolite?"
Huang Tingyu and Nanzhi gritted their teeth, neither of them feeling confident.
Just then, a voice drifted in on the wind from the old gentleman: "It's alright, I'm going to sleep now."
"..."
At that moment, Huang Tingyu's Dao heart almost shattered. He had meticulously set up seven layers of sword-dao restrictions to form this small world, and the old gentleman could indeed perceive everything within it. Not only that, but he could also send his voice in. This wasn't just a matter of being of high realm; it was truly a great divine ability!
"Oh dear... my apologies..."
Huang Tingyu cupped his fists and offered a fawning smile.
Nanzhi also cupped her fists and nodded.
Lin Zhao's heart was filled with speechlessness. He cupped his fists towards the old gentleman and smiled apologetically, "My apologies, old sir. We were impolite."
The old gentleman smiled. "You were discussing me, and I was perceiving your words and actions. In this way, no one was impolite; it's only human nature. Little Zhao, go to the mountain peak tomorrow morning. I have something to say."
"Yes!"
The old gentleman's voice no longer echoed.
Huang Tingyu, Nanzhi, and Lin Zhao looked at each other. Finally, Lin Zhao waved his hand. "Alright, everyone go back to sleep."
"Yes!"
The two exited Tianranju.
Lin Zhao stood in the moonlight by the window, feeling a slight unease. Tomorrow morning would be the main event, a conversation that would determine the future course of the human world.
...
Early morning.
The Mountain Peak Villa was shrouded in swirling clouds. The mountain breeze and dew, the chirping of birds – every sound and scene exuded an ethereal quality, forming the exquisite scenery of the entire villa.
Early in the morning, Lin Zhao dressed, slung his twin swords across his back, washed up with water in front of Tianranju, tidying himself up thoroughly. Then, he began his solitary trek up the mountain.
Huang Tingyu, Nanzhi, Lin Zhujie, and the others remained by Tianranju, not accompanying him.
Along the mountain path, plants grew luxuriantly, dew drops sparkled tenderly, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of the wilderness. Lin Zhao felt even more invigorated and quickened his pace, but he refrained from flying, as that would have seemed too undignified.
As the morning light pierced through the clouds, Lin Zhao reached the mountain peak. From afar, he saw the old gentleman standing by the cliff edge, his back to Lin Zhao, gazing intently at the human world before him.
"Old sir."
Lin Zhao respectfully cupped his fists.
"Mm."
The old gentleman turned, his face exuding an ageless, almost immortal aura. He smiled faintly, stamped his foot, and said, "The decree of the Confucian Way has been issued. Esteemed scholars, all who should come, are to come. If not in person, then at least a spiritual manifestation!"
Instantly, the mountains and rivers shimmered with colorful light.
Soon after, streams of auspicious light descended from the heavens. Some came from the direction of the Confucian scholarly realm, while others arrived from the ends of the earth. Most of them were dressed in scholarly robes, adorned with gentleman's jade pendants, and carrying gentleman's swords at their waists. Furthermore, each of them exuded a profound scholarly aura.
Even Gu Lingyu from Hefeng Academy had arrived. Adjusting his robes, the youngest sage of the thirteen-realm Confucian generation present, he maintained an exceptionally humble posture, bowing to everyone.
At this moment, Lin Zhao's heart nearly stopped. Among those present, some were their true selves, while others were spiritual manifestations, but all possessed extremely high realms!
Among them were several individuals wearing the insignia of Confucian sect leaders, the heads and several deputy heads of the Confucian scholarly realm. There was no doubt they were among the ancient sages. Others were great scholars, enveloped in the radiance of scholarly fortune. In terms of aura, Gu Lingyu seemed to possess the least, or perhaps Gu Lingyu did not wish to stand out in such a gathering of elders.
Lin Zhao remained silent, feeling utterly unqualified.
Here, the sect leaders and deputy leaders were all at the fourteenth realm, and the other sages began at the thirteenth realm. On this small mountaintop, the top figures of the Confucian school were almost all gathered.
For a moment, Lin Zhao felt awkward and slowly retreated two steps, standing shoulder to shoulder with Gu Lingyu. He whispered, "Lingyu, I don't recognize any of them... Can you introduce me so I can pay my respects..."
"Little Martial Uncle."
Gu Lingyu suppressed a smile and said through telepathy, "I'll speak, and you'll perform the bowing."
Thus, Lin Zhao stepped forward, listening to Gu Lingyu's narration, and bowed to each of them, saying, "Lin Zhao greets the Secondary Sage... greets the Patriarch Sage... greets Elder Fu Zi Zhu... greets Elder Fu Zi Wang... greets Elder Fu Zi Dong..."
After a series of proper bows, a group of Confucian sages all smiled. Several of the elder Fu Zis stroked their beards, their smiles particularly radiant.
"Alright then."
The old gentleman spoke, "Today, I have invited everyone here to publicly bestow the Grand Exaltation Golden Token of our Confucian scholarly realm to Lin Zhao for temporary use. With all of you present, it serves as a testament."
"Yes."
A group of elder Fu Zis bowed in unison to the old gentleman.
At this moment, Lin Zhao finally understood who the old gentleman was. The only scholar in the world who could receive such respect from everyone was the patriarch of the literary Way, the legendary Supreme Sage and Foremost Teacher, and the teacher of his teacher's teacher.
Therefore, when Lin Zhao looked at the old gentleman again, he felt a profound sense of familiarity.
...
The old gentleman gently raised his hand, and an object flew out from his sleeve. This object radiated the aura of scholarly fortune; it was a shimmering golden token, the Grand Exaltation Golden Token mentioned by the old gentleman.
"Lin Zhao."
The old gentleman said in a deep voice, "Receive the Grand Exaltation Golden Token."
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao, though unaware of what the Grand Exaltation Golden Token was, knew it was an extremely precious artifact. Otherwise, so many elder Fu Zis wouldn't have gathered here to bestow it. He knelt on both knees, raised his hands, and respectfully accepted the Grand Exaltation Golden Token. His palm felt a slight warmth, and the not-too-heavy golden token settled into his grasp.
"Remember."
The Supreme Sage and Foremost Teacher said gently, "The Grand Exaltation Golden Token is a sacred artifact of our Confucian school. Whoever holds the token can command all scholars in the world, as well as any mortal king. If a mortal king violates this, they are in opposition to the Confucian scholarly realm, and all the scholars in the world will uphold justice for you. May this artifact aid you in turning the tide."
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao said solemnly, "Lin Zhao will do his utmost!"
"Alright then~~~"
The Supreme Sage and Foremost Teacher looked at the group of elder Fu Zis and said with a smile, "Thank you all for making this journey. Now that Lin Zhao is the holder of the Grand Exaltation Golden Token, please return to your respective establishments and inform them, so as not to offend the token. After the Great War of the Three Realms concludes, the Grand Exaltation Golden Token will return to the scholarly realm."
He then smiled and said, "Esteemed scholars, you are dismissed."
The group of elder Fu Zis bowed, and then their bodies dissolved, vanishing. Each of them had their own matters to attend to.
Gu Lingyu also bowed and took his leave, presumably because the Supreme Sage and Foremost Teacher had something else to discuss with his little martial uncle, and then he floated away.
...
"Little Zhao."
The Supreme Sage and Foremost Teacher looked at the young sword cultivator, his gaze momentarily overlapping with the boy he had seen in the Snow Region Celestial Pool a hundred years ago. He found himself increasingly fond of Lin Zhao. Following Qin Suihan, his lineage now had a prodigy of peerless talent like Gu Lingyu, which was gratifying.
As for Lin Zhao, he had taken a different path, blending his Confucian and military cultivation, bringing a new vitality to their lineage of learning.
In terms of cultivation, Gu Lingyu was naturally superior. However, in terms of changing the overall landscape of the world, Lin Zhao's impact was clearly greater.
He looked at Lin Zhao, raised his palm, and a wisp of pale golden sword tip appeared suspended above his palm. He smiled, "I have nothing much to give you. I'll give you this sword tip, consider it as the innate flying sword for the fourth Sword Infusion Lake in the future."
At that instant, Lin Zhao's heart pounded!
What kind of sacred artifact would the sword tip bestowed by the Supreme Sage and Foremost Teacher be?