The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 418 Writing and Establishing a Work
In the central command tent, brightly lit, Zhao Ti slowly opened his eyes on his bed.

This is getting more and more interesting. I've finally started practicing martial arts in that other world, and my progress is incredibly fast, crushing all the geniuses.

It's just that I haven't realized the memory yet, and there's always something wrong with it. I don't know when my soul will be able to awaken.

As for Yuzhou City, something is bound to happen. The crow described the conversation at the blacksmith's shop, and all the forces from all over the world will gather in Yuzhou. There are probably only two reasons for this.

One type is for discussing important matters, gathering to make oaths, and deciding right and wrong.

One possibility is the emergence of a treasure, perhaps a rare and precious gem, or even a supreme secret manual or divine weapon, attracting various factions to vie for it.

The first possibility is not so great, because if aristocratic families are involved, it will inevitably alarm the imperial court. If it is a discussion of important matters, how can they be so careless and speak so casually, allowing that good-for-nothing Crow to hear it?
Moreover, the aristocratic families are not very harmonious among themselves, so what could they possibly be discussing at a gathering? Furthermore, the claim of having sectarian power is even more unfounded, as most members of these families hold positions of power in the imperial court and would not have anything to do with martial arts sects.

Then it must be the second possibility: a treasure will appear in Yuzhou, and it will most likely be a divine skill or weapon, which will attract a gathering of powerful figures, with noble families and martial arts practitioners coming together, and perhaps even the imperial court getting involved.

Yuzhou is under the control of the Qin family. The Xiao family is at odds with the Qin family, which is why they are worried that the other party or allies will discover them in advance and drive them out.

That's why they didn't stay at an inn, but bought a shop to live in, thinking they could avoid being investigated. But they weren't thorough enough. It can only be said that the news of the treasure in Yuzhou was already known everywhere and was no longer a top secret. That's why the Qin family didn't conduct a large-scale search for people who had infiltrated the city. Otherwise, they might have found the blacksmith shop.

With so many people coming from all directions, and their forces mixed together, the secrets have already been leaked. They're just here to spend more time scouting and gathering information. Once the treasure appears, it will be extremely difficult to stop all sides from vying for it. The Qin family has no need to offend so many people and families.

Zhao Ti shook his head at this thought, then thought of the dark, narrow sword blank. Although he didn't recognize the material, it was certainly not an ordinary thing. If it were ordinary cast iron or steel, it would have rusted away long ago and wouldn't be able to be salvaged. It must be a rare and excellent material for forging weapons.

Yuzhou is about to produce a treasure, and I've started practicing martial arts again in that world. I wonder if I'll have a chance to get involved and gain some benefits.
If he didn't practice martial arts, he would stay as far away as possible. But now that he has mastered the Four Illuminations Divine Skill and practiced fifteen moves of the Peach Blossom Sword Technique, he might have some ideas.

He calculated carefully for a moment, then frowned. He still had too few methods at his disposal. One internal energy cultivation technique and one sword technique were not enough. Unless he could master the Four Illuminations Divine Skill to the highest level and form four pillars of light to protect his body, it would be better to stay away from it.

The Four Illuminations Divine Skill was indistinguishable in that world, but it was actually an extremely powerful internal skill. Especially after mastery, with the four pillars protecting the body, it was no less powerful than the Shaolin Vajra Indestructible Body Divine Skill, and might even be far superior.

In this way, secretly seeking opportunities, like the mantis stalking the cicada unaware of the oriole behind, doesn't pose too much risk. One can always protect oneself, since even within the Yang family, probably not many people can master this skill to a high degree...

Just as Zhao Ti was pondering this, the Illusory Yin True Qi within his body suddenly surged up, rushing straight into the Gouchen Prison on the tenth floor of the Twelve-Story Tower. Then it rolled upwards, seemingly intending to break through the Tengshe Cave on the eleventh floor.

The eleventh floor of the Twelve-Story Tower is called the Tengshe Cave, and the corresponding tribulation is the Tribulation of Forgetting Love in the World.

Seeing this, Zhao Ti quickly suppressed his anger and then slowly stopped his practice. By then, it was already dawn, and the morning light shone through the gaps in the tent, making the light spots inside float and look very strange.

He sat quietly for a moment, then asked someone to brew tea. After drinking the tea, he tidied up and began to eat breakfast before discussing matters.

Every morning, he would go to the front of the Zhuxian Sword Formation to take a look, and this day was no exception. After he went to observe, it was already noon. Everyone returned to the camp to do their own thing, while he sat in the tent talking to Wang Yuyan.

Wang Yuyan whispered, "Your Highness, I didn't tell my great-grandfather about Yunxiao's reincarnation."

Zhao Ti laughed and said, "If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. There's no point in talking about it. Although it's a matter from a past life, it might still be awkward and affect family ties."

Wang Yuyan looked worried and said, "But now that my great-grandfather is reworking the Investiture of the Gods, will he take all of us who were on the list back with him once he finishes it?"

Zhao Ti looked at her and said, "Could your great-grandfather revert to his former self and become the person he was in before?"

Wang Yuyan said, "It seems that's not possible..."

Zhao Ti said, "Since that's the case, what's there to worry about? You're not the same person you were in your previous life."

Wang Yuyan hesitated and said, "Your Highness, but the Investiture of the Gods is a tool for summoning souls. These souls haven't changed, have they?"

Zhao Ti shook his head: "There will still be some changes, otherwise why not just awaken the memories directly, like the tide coming in on the Qiantang River, only today do I realize who I am?"

"Only today do you realize who I am?" Upon hearing this, Wang Yuyan unconsciously revealed a hint of understanding.

"That's right. I've discussed this with Kumārajīva many times before. Reincarnation can be roughly divided into three situations. One is that the memory is never restored and the mystery of the womb can never be solved. This means that one does not know the past life, only knows this life, and lives as a completely different person."

"The second option is to awaken all the memories of one's past life, restore all supernatural powers and magic, return to one's divine position as a god, and return to one's immortal abode as an immortal. All identities remain unchanged, and this cycle of reincarnation in the mortal world is merely a tribulation."

“The third situation is somewhat special. It is what is called living a second life. You will not directly awaken the memories of your past life. You will awaken little by little by chance. You will not take your past life as your true self. Instead, this life is your true self. You will not follow the things of your past life. You will only cultivate this self in this life,” Zhao Ti said slowly.

“Your Highness, I understand. You mean I am currently in the third situation, following this life, cultivating this life, and my soul is somewhat different from my previous life?” Wang Yuyan said.

“It must be that an accident occurred before or after the reincarnation process, causing slight changes in the soul. The three senior brothers should have been the same. Moreover, I suspect that the reason why Senior Brother Tongtian’s three souls were separated and the other two souls did not reincarnate is this. He must have realized something at that time and hid himself because he did not want to lose his true self. I do not know what form he is in now,” Zhao Ti pondered.

"Actually, it's nothing. It's a common legend that many immortals and Buddhas cultivate to the second, third, or even ninth life. They don't return to their previous lives. They only count the life they cultivate to the last life. It's not uncommon."

Wang Yuyan nodded and said, "That seems to be the case. There are indeed many reincarnations in Taoist and Buddhist scriptures who have become immortals or Buddhas. They no longer talk about their previous lives, but only say that they are revered in this life."

Zhao Ti said, "Do you remember the story of the Monkey King's Journey to the West that I told you and A Zhu? The Golden Cicada in it is a reincarnation who became a Buddha. The reincarnated Tang Sanzang was named the Sandalwood Merit Buddha by the Buddha, based on his present life's cultivation and merits in successfully obtaining the scriptures, not his previous life. He was not the Golden Cicada, or even the identity of Chen Yi, Jiang Liuer, etc."

“I remember now, that’s right…” Wang Yuyan pondered.

"When the Buddha bestowed the title upon Tang Sanzang, he said that Tang Sanzang's merits and virtues were now complete. He emphasized his current merits and virtues. His previous life was Jin Chanzi. However, when he was bestowed the title, the Buddha did not look back on his previous life. Instead, he was determined by his current achievements in attaining enlightenment. Therefore, he is the monk Xuanzang, Tang Sanzang. The same is true for the pig spirit Zhu Ganglie. In this life, he is Bajie and is no longer the Marshal Tianpeng from his previous life."

Zhao Ti said, "The mounts of the gods who descended from the upper realm to the mortal world, the relatives of the immortals and Buddhas, are reincarnated in different ways, and it is a different story. In the end, they all regained their previous identities and returned to heaven. This is the second type of reincarnation."

Wang Yuyan thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, I feel that those who reincarnate voluntarily or secretly can restore their original selves from their previous lives, while those who are forced to reincarnate, or reincarnate due to some calamity or other bad things, are considered to be living a second life, which fits the third situation?"

Zhao Ti laughed and said, "That is indeed the case. That's why Kumārajīva and I concluded that the third situation must be that the soul has changed and no longer recognizes the actions of the previous life. Although we don't know the exact reason, since the soul has changed, the Investiture of the Gods will definitely not recognize it. Not to mention that it is not on the same list as the one on that day, even if it is on the same list, it is impossible to be absorbed again."

Wang Yuyan showed a hint of joy, but then exclaimed in surprise: "Your Highness, doesn't that mean that my great-grandfather, my other reincarnations, and I all encountered something..."

“Indeed, it’s definitely not a normal reincarnation.” Zhao Ti stroked his chin. “Perhaps it encountered some great upheaval, or suffered some calamity, or experienced some unimaginable and unpredictable danger. It’s not a normal and peaceful reincarnation. But then again, if it were normal and peaceful, how could a sage be reincarnated? Sages are immortal and indestructible, the Way of Heaven is eternal, and sages are immortal…” Zhao Ti suddenly raised his eyebrows, as if he had thought of something, and gently exhaled: “The Way of Heaven is eternal, and sages are immortal?!”

Sages are protected by the Way of Heaven, live as long as Heaven and Earth, and shine as brightly as the sun and moon. It can be said that as long as the Way of Heaven exists, sages will enjoy a day of freedom.

If something truly changed, it might not just be the sages, but the Way of Heaven. What great change did the Way of Heaven encounter that caused the sages to reincarnate in search of survival?
The Heavenly Dao is the condensation of the rules of the universe. The Heavenly Dao of the Pangu world was originally chaos. Later, the Taoist Hongjun merged with the Heavenly Dao, which became the Hongmeng Heavenly Dao.

It seems the problem may not lie with the Three Pure Ones or other sages, but rather with the Heavenly Dao.
When Heaven is at peace, it naturally protects sages; when Heaven encounters trouble, sages are not protected.

But what could possibly happen to the Heavenly Way?
“Your Highness…” Wang Yuyan’s eyes showed surprise, and she also thought of this point, so she looked at Zhao Ti.

Zhao Ti shook his head, his gaze deep as he looked out of the tent. It was midsummer, and the tent flaps were open to the sides, revealing distant grasslands, green mountains, and fragrant flowers.

It seems nothing much has happened. Dynasties have come and gone, people have changed, rivers have flowed, and since the founding of the Zhou Dynasty eight hundred years ago, nothing major has occurred in the world.

Then... unless what we're looking at isn't that sky, that land, that world, that universe at all...

"Your Highness, are you still thinking about your previous guesses?" Wang Yuyan asked.

Previously, Zhao Ti, Murong Longcheng, and Lin Lingsu had speculated about what had happened to cause the reincarnation of saints and the fall of immortals and Buddhas. One theory was that this world was not the same as the previous one, and that this world was not the Pangu world. It was unclear whether it was a case of substitution or a misrepresentation.

However, many details remain unexplained and cannot be definitively confirmed. But now, the answer seems to be getting closer and closer to this conclusion.

“That guess is the closest, but why is it possibly exactly the same, almost without any difference?” Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes and said slowly.

“Yes, it’s strange enough that the mountains and rivers are the same, but didn’t Your Highness say that the people are the same too? Why would the people be the same? That’s really bizarre,” Wang Yuyan said, puzzled.

"Personnel matters..." Zhao Ti pondered. Wang Yuyan didn't actually know if the personnel matters were the same, and neither did Murong Longcheng, Xiaoyaozi, and Lin Lingsu, because their dreams only went as far as the Investiture of the Gods ended, and there was no follow-up.

In other words, they could only compare the events before the founding of the Western Zhou Dynasty with historical records to see if they matched the descriptions in the books. As for whether the subsequent developments differed from those recorded in the books, they had no idea.

There is probably no one in this world who understands me except myself.

Aside from a few minor flaws, there are no legends about the Investiture of the Gods, and some names of the celestial constellations are missing, but otherwise it is exactly the same.

However, this is similar to authenticating antiques. If nine out of ten points are the same, or ninety-nine out of a hundred points are the same, or even if nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine out of ten thousand points are exactly the same, like twins, then if there is even one difference, it is a fake.

Any authentication or identification of authenticity involves finding differences, not similarities.

In the vast starry sky, if even one star is incorrect, then the entire starry sky is fake.

If even one tree in this vast land is abnormal, then the land itself is a forgery.

Now, we just don't know who fabricated this world, what caused it, or what their purpose is.

Zhao Ti stood up, walked outside, looked up at the sky, saw a few wisps of white clouds, a blazing sun moving westward, and a gentle breeze blowing. The sky was still the sky, the wind was still the wind, it was just a real and unique world.

He turned back to his tent expressionlessly, flicked his sleeve, and the tent flap fell shut.

Through the haze, I saw Wang Yuyan's eyes blinking, her voice as melodious as a nightingale's song: "Your Highness, I, I'll light the lamp..."

Zhao Ti didn't speak, but walked over and gently pulled the other person into his arms, whispering, "Perhaps, it really was all a lie..."

"I, Your Highness, but we are really together..." Wang Yuyan murmured, looking up at Zhao Ti, their eyes meeting in the darkness.

“You are real, but I may not be…” A sense of confusion suddenly rose in Zhao Ti’s heart, something he had never experienced before.

Over the years, I have been scheming and plotting, almost calculating everything under the sun, but I have never considered the hypocrisy of this world.

Although things are still not out of control, there is a sense of loss, as things are starting to move in an unpredictable direction.

"Does Your Highness feel that you didn't expect this?" Wang Yuyan pressed her cheek against Zhao Ti's chest and held his hand. "I have always heard the ancient saying that even the wisest person can make a mistake, and even the most foolish person can have a stroke of luck. Your Highness is wise, so how can you blame yourself if you make a mistake? After all, nothing in this world is perfect. Even the sun and moon are not without flaws, let alone human affairs..."

"Even the wisest person can make a mistake. Life is unpredictable, and it's hard to guarantee that nothing will go wrong," Zhao Ti shook his head.

“Your Highness, that’s how it is…” Wang Yuyan said softly.

“Even a fool can have a stroke of genius. Of the fifty great derivations, forty-nine are used. Heaven hides one, and its subtleties are inexhaustible. Existence arises from non-existence, and non-existence gives rise to existence. Observe things and take their forms. All things are one…” Zhao Ti murmured.

"What is Your Highness saying?" Wang Yuyan asked. "It seems quite mysterious."

At this moment, Zhao Ti flicked his sleeve, and all the candlesticks and lamps in the tent were lit, illuminating the area brightly.

"I intend to write a book."

"What book does Your Highness wish to write?" Wang Yuyan shyly released him and took a step back.

"Yan'er, please prepare the paper and grind the ink for me." Zhao Ti nodded and smiled slightly, "Wouldn't it be nice to have a beautiful woman by my side?"

"Alright, alright, Your Highness, I will now assist you in your writing." Wang Yuyan said with a smile, and then quickly finished tidying up the table and arranging the writing brush, ink, paper and books.

Zhao Ti walked behind the desk and sat down. He closed his eyes for five or six breaths, then opened them, picked up a wolf-hair brush, dipped it in ink, and neatly wrote two large characters on the cover of the book: "Confucian Classics!"
Just as the words "Confucian Classics" were written, a golden lightning bolt suddenly streaked across the sky outside the tent, followed by a deafening roar of thunder. The weather, which had been clear just moments before, suddenly turned into a torrential downpour, as if the sky were collapsing.

Zhao Ti paused slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. Wang Yuyan carefully turned the page, and he began to write again…

(End of this chapter)