At the foot of Cyan Mountain, inside the study room.
Chang Qing was earnestly wielding his brush and ink, and on the desk, a painting titled "Thousand Mile Rivers and Mountains" was slowly unfurling.
Although it's just a simple painting, if you stare at it long enough, it truly feels as if you are amidst the endless mountain ranges, imbued with a timeless charm.
Before long, the last stroke of the painting fell, completing the rivers and mountains, as real as illusion.
"Junior brother's progress is truly astonishing."
Shu Han, who was seriously observing from the side, picked up the painting scroll on the desk, a look of admiration on his face.
Chang Qing's improvement is visibly evident; with every painting, his artistry is continuously enhancing.
"Senior brother is also very impressive. Back in the day, you followed the teacher for just half a year, and your artistry was almost on the path."
Chang Qing sincerely praised.
Shu Han's face turned dark; was this more of an insult?
"Chang Qing, Shu Han, today accompany me on a trip."
Li Qingchen, who had been resting with eyes closed, unbeknownst to the others, opened his eyes and spoke.
"A trip? Is it outside Cyan Mountain Village?"
Chang Qing's eyes lit up as he asked.
He almost never left the vicinity of the endless Cyan Mountains in his entire life, his curiosity about the world outside was immense.
Meanwhile, Shu Han seemed to have understood something, "Is it the start of Chang Qing and Ling Si's cultural competition?"
Li Qingchen nodded, smiling, "It's been two years, it's time to meet people."
This literary competition is also a good opportunity for Chang Qing to meet his senior uncle.
Though Wei Cang and he don't get along, if something happens to his disciples after he's gone, the first one to fight to the death will definitely be Wei Cang.
"We'll depart in an hour, aside from brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, nothing else needs to be brought."
With that said, Li Qingchen turned and walked out the door.
Taking Chang Qing out, he had to inform Su Nan so that he felt assured.
"Senior brother, is the person I'm having this competition with strong?"
After Li Qingchen left, Chang Qing suddenly asked nervously.
This was his first time competing with others, he was not at all confident.
"Uh..."
Shu Han was struck speechless by Chang Qing's question.
Is the opponent strong?
Is this something a person who has mastered the four arts of Confucianism and Taoism should worry about?
The opponent might be strong, but no matter how strong, there's no chance of winning because the person they're up against is Chang Qing.
"Relax."
Shu Han patted Chang Qing's shoulder and sighed:
"In the future, don't ask such questions; as long as the opponent is educated, just go ahead."
Chang Qing frowned upon hearing this and pondered for a while, then asked, "Senior brother is advising me not to fear challenges."
"Even if the opponent is stronger, should I still press forward bravely?"
The corner of Shu Han's mouth twitched; although the understanding was somewhat off, it was not a big deal.
After all, among educated people, Chang Qing probably wouldn't meet many stronger than him.
Before long, Li Qingchen returned, along with a carriage that seemed to have been brought from somewhere.
Chang Qing and Shu Han closed the study room and were ready to board the carriage.
Just then, Brother Er Niu's surprised voice came from a distance.
"Eh? Are you going out?"
Brother Er Niu originally came to find Shu Han for a fight, but seeing Chang Qing about to leave, he was quite puzzled.
Did Patriarch let Chang Qing out? Where are they going?
"Brother Er Niu, I'm going out with the teacher, meeting a friend and will be back in a few days."
Chang Qing explained but didn't mention it was for the competition.
After all... it'd be embarrassing if he lost.
"Oh~ I understand."
Brother Er Niu suddenly realized, the two years are up, meaning the scholar immortal is about to leave.
Before leaving, taking Chang Qing to meet some seniors on Confucian path is quite reasonable.
"Enjoy the trip."
Brother Er Niu smiled and waved, then glared sideways at Shu Han,
"Book fool, I'll beat you up when you get back."
Shu Han smirked upon hearing, "Savage, I'll fix you when I return."
With that said, Shu Han raised the horse whip in his hand, vanishing in an instant.
Brother Er Niu was left behind, somewhat bored, even had no mood to practice his sword skills.
"It's good, peaceful for two days, might as well accompany Qing Qiu."
Thinking of this, Brother Er Niu picked up the communication talisman and sent a message over.
Brother Er Niu: "What's up Qing Qiu, still reading?"
After a while, Qing Qiu replied: "Not reading these days, the competition is starting, I'm going to show my teacher some talent!"
Brother Er Niu: "Beat that bastard!! Go for it!"
Qing Qiu: "Haha, with your poems, winning should not be a problem."
"Just right, I'm coming to the Southern Domain, after the competition, remember to introduce that gentleman to me, I need to properly thank him!"
Brother Er Niu: "No problem, just don't be scared when the time comes~"
Brother Er Niu was delighted at heart; if Qing Qiu finds out he's visiting the scholar immortal, won't she be extremely surprised?
Thinking of that scene makes him excited; maybe he can use this to further his relationship with Qing Qiu!
Qing Qiu: "I'm almost at the Southern Domain, chat later."
Brother Er Niu: "Let me know once the competition is over, and I'll tell you how to get here."
Disconnecting the communication, Brother Er Niu was immediately filled with excitement and rushed straight to Chang Qing's home.
If outsiders were to come to Cyan Mountain Village in the past, it would have been impossible.
But now Chang Qing is about to complete his Confucian training, about to embark on his cultivation journey, which means Cyan Mountain Village's existence is not that necessary anymore.
Perhaps if the Patriarch could be persuaded to let Qing Qiu and the others come once, it wouldn't be a big issue.
...
Meanwhile, as Li Qingchen and his companions left Cyan Mountain Village, Wei Cang and his group also arrived in the southern domain.
However, compared to the smooth journey of Li Qingchen and the others, their luck seemed to be less favorable.
"Slash!"
Just as Wei Cang and his party set foot in the southern domain, a stern shout resounded through the heavens and earth.
Boom!
The blade light stretched thousands of feet, seemingly about to cleave the heavens and earth apart, and in the distance, a dozen monks shouted angrily, dazzling golden light soaring into the sky.
An Arhat's golden body, as if a mountain, instantly enveloped several people.
However, as the terrifying blade light descended, the Arhat shattered like broken porcelain, crumbling in an instant.
"Puff!"
A dozen monks spat blood and retreated in horror.
Yet one of them reacted swiftly, his eyes brightening upon seeing Wei Cang and his party suddenly appear, and he shouted loudly:
"You're here! Act quickly!"
With those words, the dozen monks didn't care if the strategy worked and turned to flee.
Encountering this unexpected misfortune left Wei Cang and his party a bit speechless; could this really be considered extortion?
However, these monks' judgment seemed off.
"Stop!"
Wei Cang spoke softly, and a vast and powerful righteous aura instantly pervaded the heavens and earth, leaving the fleeing monks motionless without any chance of reaction.
The dozen monks turned their frightened eyes toward Wei Cang filled with terror.
They hadn't expected their delaying tactic to meet such a formidable opponent.
Before they could even plead for mercy, a young man, his clothes stained with blood and hair wildly dancing, appeared holding a long knife, which suddenly dropped.
Boom!
The monks' bodies were obliterated, leaving behind only a fragment emitting fluorescence, which naturally flew into the young man's hand.
"Young man, I just immobilized them, and you killed them."
"Now we also get embroiled in the karmic consequences of the Buddhist sect."
Wei Cang said, somewhat frustrated.
He hadn't expected this young man to act so ruthlessly and so swiftly that he didn't even have time to react.
"If the Buddhist sect seeks vengeance, let them come to the Su family in the southern domain. We will be ready to receive them at any time."
This young man was none other than Su Zian.
Chang Qing was about to come out of seclusion, but the opportunity he prepared for himself was still short of one last item.
He had originally brought people to search the Void Forbidden Abyss and found it, only for the monks hidden inside to snatch it away.
He pursued them all the way here to finally retrieve the item.
"With this fragment, the inheritance should be able to begin."
Su Zian looked off into the distance, his blood-stained hair fluttering, his eyes carrying a hint of a smile,
"Just waiting for you, brother, to come out."
Seeing Su Zian's audacious demeanor, Wei Cang and the others frowned slightly.
Yet, once Su Zian revealed his name and displayed the long knife in hand, everyone had a sudden realization.
"You are the second son of the Su family, Su Zian."
Wei Cang said with some frustration, "So, this calamity was unavoidable, wasn't it?"
The Su family, not to mention White Deer Academy, even if they brought all the Confucians along, wouldn't be able to do anything against them.
"Are you suggesting I'm bullying others?"
Su Zian raised an eyebrow, "Judging by your imposing righteous aura, you must be from the Central State, traveling across regions, likely for a significant purpose."
"Although I didn't need your assistance earlier, you did help me somewhat."
"My Su family is not one to bully, if you have any needs, I can assist you once."
Wei Cang replied helplessly, "I appreciate your kind offer, but we are just scheduled for a literary competition with the Scholar Immortal in the southern domain, with no other demands."
"Oh? Scholar Immortal?"
Originally lacking much interest, Su Zian's eyes lit up, "Considering the status of Scholar Immortal, you are clearly unworthy of competing with him."
"So that means you're competing against his disciples?"
Scholar Immortal's disciples, a literary competition set in the southern domain—wasn't that his little brother?
At this moment, Wei Cang's face darkened slightly. Though it was the truth, it was still hurtful.
"Indeed." he replied, dissatisfied.
"Then, how confident are you of winning?"
Su Zian toyed with the long knife in his hand, lowering his gaze inquisitively.
"Since we're daring to come, we surely have a full certainty!" Wei Cang responded confidently.
"Full certainty?"
Su Zian's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint murderous aura gradually surrounded him.
Full confidence?
Meaning his little brother was bound to lose?
"My brother is competing for the first time, and it's surely destined for defeat?"
Su Zian grinned, his white teeth flashing a chilling gleam.
Clearly, the group that had seemed amicable moments ago now seemed increasingly displeasing!