Clang!
Above Tongtian Academy, over ten thousand light skiffs were arranged in the sky above the ten courtyards!
Each light skiff represented at least one Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, with many even being Core Formation and Golden Core realm cultivators. And before these ten thousand light skiffs were nine grand ships.
Eight of these grand ships were each guarded by at least one Nascent Soul cultivator, while only one grand ship had a single Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Further ahead was a floating island.
The Island of Enlightenment!
To demonstrate their resolve in this battle, Venerable Qingfeng had moved the entire Island of Enlightenment, preparing to transport it to the front lines of the Nine Nether Gate formation!
This decision was naturally not welcomed by many elders of the academy.
However, as a compromise, aside from the deans of the ten courtyards, all cultivators above the Nascent Soul realm belonging to Tongtian Academy, or those in closed-door cultivation for their final breakthrough, would no longer participate in the battle. Instead, they would remain at Tongtian Lake to preserve the legacy!
This group of non-combatants naturally included some elders!
In their words, this was to leave a spark for future generations!
Yan Luoshuang had no choice but to accept. The only thing he could do was to move the Island of Enlightenment to show their determination!
He hovered above the Island of Enlightenment, awaiting the last light skiff to float into position. Then, he turned towards the direction of the Nine Nether Gate and declared, "March!"
Clang!
As soon as the words left his mouth, another bell chime echoed!
All those remaining at Tongtian Academy slowly raised their heads. Among them were those who had countless excuses to avoid battle, or simply Qi Refining realm cultivators who were unaware of the truth and did not understand where everyone was marching to.
It could be said that they were entirely different beings from those on the light skiffs.
Confusion and ignorance filled their eyes.
Yan Luoshuang naturally saw all of this. He sighed and then flicked his sleeve, revealing a sharp sword in his hand.
Using clouds as ink and the sky as paper!
As he wrote, the clouds scattered.
Dark clouds pressed down, threatening to crush the city.
Everyone looked up and exclaimed in surprise.
"The Dean is writing a poem!"
"Quick! Record it!"
Gleaming armor shines like golden scales in the sun!
Everyone silently recited the lines in their hearts. These two lines alone were enough to echo through the ages.
The elders who remained in other courtyards looked up and sighed.
"Luoshuang's talent is worthy of an emperor!"
"It's a pity he insists on filling that bottomless pit."
"It is dangerous, but also an opportunity. Perhaps he can advance his cultivation through this?"
"Alas, a crisis that even several Emperor Lords could not resolve, and he, a mere Venerable, attempts it? It seems like wishful thinking."
As everyone commented, the third and fourth lines of the poem also appeared in the sky.
Sorrow fills the autumn sky, to guard the ignorant masses, we march to the Jade Pass!
Ignorant masses?
Ignorant masses!
Those who remained were rendered speechless, naturally understanding who these "ignorant masses" referred to.
Only a few Qi Refining realm cultivators were still diligently recording, though they were truly unaware of anything, they were included among the 'ignorant masses.'
Qingfeng, as always, was still Qingfeng!
Yan Luoshuang retracted his brush and turned, his gaze sweeping across the people on the island. Finally, he uttered a single word!
"Heh!"
With a cold laugh, the Island of Enlightenment officially advanced eastward!
March!
The Island of Enlightenment led the way, flying eastward. Its speed was not slow, but it was not particularly fast either.
This was a deliberate suppression of speed to accommodate the Foundation Establishment realm cultivators.
However, even at the current speed, a thousand-mile journey would only take half a day to fly.
On the light skiff.
Yun Ze stared at the two people before him, feeling a headache coming on.
Other boats had at most one person, either a Core Formation cultivator with disciples of the Foundation Establishment realm, or two Foundation Establishment cultivators traveling together.
But on his boat...
Besides that brat Ji Xiu, there was also Tan Chenyu, who had disguised herself as a burly man.
Yun Ze looked at Tan Chenyu, feeling quite helpless, and said, "I say, even if you're hiding your identity, you don't need to disguise yourself as a man. Won't it be a bit inconvenient on the battlefield?"
"Can't be helped. To avoid assassination by the Holy Spirit Society, the more discreet, the better."
Tan Chenyu shrugged. Her voice was no longer feminine, but a deep, resonant bass, which suited her current physique quite well.
"Holy Spirit Society?"
This was the first time Yun Ze had heard this name. "The name is quite similar to the World Purifying Society. What's their background?"
"Their names are more than just similar; their goals are also similar."
Tan Chenyu gave a wry smile and then explained, "The latter aims to purify all filth in the world, while the former aims to bring forth the Holy Race to descend and then purify all filth in the world."
"This filth..."
Yun Ze tentatively asked, "I'm afraid it's the same filth, isn't it?"
"Naturally."
Tan Chenyu nodded. "To the Holy Spirit Society, all beings who do not believe in the Holy Race are filth! Although their definition of filth may differ, you tell me, isn't it similar?"
"...It really is."
Yun Ze was speechless for a few moments, finally replying with just that simple sentence.
He knew that the so-called Holy Race was their term for the demon race sealed beneath the Nine Nethers.
But he was still somewhat confused. "But why would they assassinate you? What benefit would targeting you bring them?"
"To disrupt my father's state of mind."
"State of mind?"
"Let me put it this way."
Tan Chenyu turned to look outside the light skiff. "Most people in this organization are demonic cultivators, and there are also some immortal cultivators among them. They are all cultivators who have lost control of their seven emotions and six desires, and have been invaded by inner demons. Such cultivators usually exhibit strong verbal aggression, are easily agitated and irritable, and have extreme desires for certain things. For example, spirit stones, spiritual artifacts, heavenly treasures, or sex. The demon race finds their foothold in these desires and thus controls their minds. Everyone has desires. If I die, my father's state of mind will inevitably be disturbed, and that will be their opportunity."
"Control an Emperor Lord!?"
Yun Ze was instantly shocked. He never imagined the Holy Spirit Society would be so audacious!
"Is... is that possible?"
"Yes."
Tan Chenyu looked at Yun Ze and said earnestly, "Not only is it possible, but the other party has already succeeded once, and is now happily trying again. My father said that there is currently an Emperor Lord within the Holy Spirit Society, who was lured into joining by them exploiting changes in his state of mind."
"Hiss..."
Only now did Yun Ze understand why Yun Xiao was so worried. He even went so far as to expose his own identity to protect Tan Chenyu's life at a crucial moment. It was a matter of an Emperor Lord's state of mind! No wonder Yun Xiao was so cautious.
"But don't worry, Senior Brother."
Tan Chenyu smiled. "I have my own means of self-preservation, and besides, everyone believes that my father and I have left, so I'll be fine. If you have time to worry about me, you'd better pay more attention to your disciple. With his sharp tongue, he's easily tempted by the Holy Spirit Society!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiu took a deep breath, but did not speak. Instead, he quickly wrote something on the piece of Xuan paper before him. This was an agreement he had made with Yun Ze. If he wanted to participate in this trial, he could only speak ten sentences a day thereafter, communicating through letters at other times. The stated reason was to temper his state of mind. However, the truth was that Yun Ze was afraid of him speaking carelessly and imposed this restriction. Ji Xiu readily agreed without much thought. Not speaking? It was a good opportunity to practice calligraphy. Tongtian Academy had plenty of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones! He quickly finished writing a sentence and then smilingly unfolded it in front of Tan Chenyu.
"Junior Uncle, don't worry. Even if you die, my state of mind won't change."
Tan Chenyu rolled her eyes and turned to Yun Ze. "Senior Brother, if one day I am angered into becoming a demon, will you uphold righteousness and eliminate your kin for the greater good?"
Before Yun Ze could answer, Ji Xiu quickly wrote another line.
"Junior Uncle, don't worry. If you become a demon, Master and I will definitely uphold righteousness and eliminate our kin!"
"You little thing! I meant eliminate you!"
Tan Chenyu said, pouncing forward and grabbing Ji Xiu by the neck. "Apologize! Quickly!"
"Mas... Master, help!" Ji Xiu, pinned beneath Tan Chenyu, quickly called out to Yun Ze for help.
"Don't look at me, I know nothing."
Yun Ze got up and walked to the side of the light skiff, standing with his hands behind his back, gazing out at the surroundings. He let the floating clouds drift past him as if he were unaware of what was happening behind him. He didn't know why these two were always bickering since they met. Ji Xiu's mouth was never idle. Afraid to be glib with Yun Ze and Yun Xiao, he could only vent his frustrations on Tan Chenyu. Tan Chenyu, having grown up in a sheltered environment, didn't know how to retaliate. When she was angered, she would simply resort to physical action. However, both of them had their limits. One wouldn't truly inflict heavy blows, and the other would know to apologize when defeated. Yun Ze could only pretend to be oblivious. In less than half a day, Ji Xiu had already been beaten several times.
"I'm dying, I'm dying, Junior Uncle, I'm sorry!" Ji Xiu, on the verge of suffocation, quickly apologized.
"Hmph! Will you dare next time!" Seeing Ji Xiu beg for mercy, Tan Chenyu let him go.
Ji Xiu remained silent, merely writing six characters on the paper.
"I was wrong, I'll dare next time!"
"Hey, I really..."
Tan Chenyu was about to make a move again when her peripheral vision caught sight of a scene. Not only her, but all the cultivators on the light skiffs stood up and walked to the edge of their boats, staring blankly ahead. Yun Ze was no exception.
A裂地? No, more accurately, this should be a canyon! A canyon spanning hundreds of miles, with purple energy constantly rising from its depths and spilling outwards. All the soil, trees, and living beings touched by the purple energy were now withering. Not dead, but withered! It gave an indescribable sense of desolation.
This... was this the Nine Nether Gate? Even in its early stages, before the demons had truly appeared, it had already caused such changes to the world. What would it be like when one truly descended into the Nine Nethers?
As Yun Ze frowned in thought, the Island of Enlightenment in front suddenly plummeted!
Boom!
A muffled sound exploded!
Yun Ze couldn't help but rush to the bow of the boat, looking down at the situation below. The Island of Enlightenment had instantly crashed into the forest less than fifty miles from the edge of the canyon!
A white figure soared into the sky, and with a sweep of his brush, drew a circle around the Island of Enlightenment.
"Here, there shall be an unyielding clear spring!"
As the words fell, several clear springs gushed out from the withered forest! Was this the power of words manifesting reality?
"Let the springs converge, and a hundred-mile spirit lake shall form!"
Yan Luoshuang's voice echoed again. In an instant, the springs converged into a lake, slowly lifting the Island of Enlightenment. In mere moments, a spirit lake had taken shape!
"With a lake, there must be a dragon spirit to accompany it, guarding this land!"
Roar!
A dragon's roar followed! A semi-transparent figure leaped out of the lake. With deer antlers, a lion's head, and fish scales, it was indeed a dragon spirit! Was this also the power of words manifesting reality? In just three sentences, he had fundamentally altered the landscape and even conjured a dragon spirit!? Was the Confucian path so unreasonable?
As Yun Ze was shocked, he felt his sleeve being tugged. He turned to see Ji Xiu holding up a piece of Xuan paper, on which were written seven large characters.
"Master, I want to learn this!"
Yun Ze consciously turned his head away, pretending not to see. Who wouldn't want to learn this? But the problem was, he hadn't even reached the introductory stage of the Confucian path!