Confucian and Taoist scholar

A hilltop outside the city in a certain area of ​​Taiping.

Feng Xin stood with his hands behind his back, taking in the surrounding scenery.

After leaving the Phoenix Clan's ancestral land, he did not go directly to Yongding City, but instead went to other places in the Northern Region, and even wandered around the border of Wei before returning north.

Having stayed in his ancestral land for decades without ever leaving the pass, Feng Xin discovered that the Chaofeng Kingdom had not changed much, and even many places in the Wei Kingdom looked familiar.

However, it is said that the orthodox Buddhist sect has appeared in the world of Wei, and Wei is carrying out large-scale reforms.

As for the Taiping Domain, it has undergone earth-shattering changes, and the familiar areas have become completely different.

In many ways, it is even more extraordinary than what his descendant Feng Cheng described.

"The Peaceful Realm, is this the peaceful world he built according to the ideals of sages? He really does have some remarkable abilities..."

Feng Xin sighed inwardly. In his youth, he had also traveled the world, visited those great dynasties, and met some so-called capable people who could govern the world.

It seems that Lu Zheng is the only person who can truly implement the principles and guidelines of the ancient sages.

Just then, Feng Xing keenly sensed a barely perceptible fluctuation of divine thought.

He couldn't help but glance sideways, and facing this familiar aura, he released a wisp of his mental energy to search for its source.

A short while later, a tall, middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes appeared not far from Fengxing.

Upon seeing Feng Xin, the middle-aged man's eyes flashed with surprise. He chuckled and said, "So it's Fellow Daoist Feng Xin. It's been decades. I thought you had already passed away."

Feng Xin narrowed his eyes. The person in front of him was named Gu Feng, a demon saint from the Ancient Lan Demon Kingdom.

The relationship between the two sides is neither particularly good nor particularly bad. There have been some frictions in the past, but they have never reached the point of being mortal enemies.

After all, everyone has cultivated to such a level that if they were to fight to the death, no one would gain any advantage.

Feng Xin said calmly, "I'm still in excellent health. But looking at you sneaking around like this, are you planning to take revenge on someone?"

Gu Feng said leisurely, "Fellow Daoist doesn't seem to be very upright either..."

Revenge? He visited several places in the Taiping Domain and learned quite a bit.

Even members of the royal families of several great dynasties trained here, as did disciples from other sects renowned throughout the land.

That person has a very wide network of connections, and if he wants to retaliate, it is very likely to provoke public outrage.

Even if they were to actually destroy several areas of the Taiping Domain, the price they would likely pay would be even higher.

Feng Xin said, "I heard that there is a peaceful place here, so I came to take a look. I haven't been out for decades, and the changes in this world are really quite significant."

"Yeah yeah……"

Gu Feng chuckled and said, "This place is quite interesting. I just came from the south and saw people repairing roads and building bridges. Some of them were even performing orthodox Taoist rituals to summon spirits. They were working very hard. I wonder which Taoist sect they came from..."

Gu Feng said it was interesting, but he was quite surprised. Even the talents from powerful forces had to do all kinds of rough work and actively participate in the construction here. It was unheard of.

What kind of ability would it take to command those people of noble birth and status?

Even if it were a member of the royal family of a great dynasty who went to the Kingdom of Gulan, Gu Feng wouldn't have the guts to order people around like that.

If they really did that, the dynasty's million-strong army could probably crush the entire Quran by the next day.

The two renowned demon saints of the Northern Region chatted about the Taiping Domain for a while, and then fell silent again.

After a while, Gu Feng said, "Is the Northern Region really about to change?"

Feng Xin said quietly, "Who knows? It seems to be unstoppable. Even the Wei Kingdom hasn't reacted at all; they might even be helping to push things along..."

Gu Feng said in a low voice, "The Taiping Domain has already established trade relations with the Wei Kingdom. It is said that members of the Wei Kingdom's royal family are studying and training here in the Taiping Domain? I haven't deliberately looked for them, but it should be true..."

Feng Xin remained silent for a few moments before speaking, "I'm planning to go to Yongding City. What about you?"

Gu Feng narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a smile, "Coincidentally, I had the same idea, so let's go together!"

Both of them are now very clear about what the future situation in the Northern Region will be, and it is likely that the young man in Yongding City is playing a leading role.

Although they are Saint Realm experts, their combat power may surpass that of Lu Zheng.

However, he lacked Lu Zheng's governing abilities and influence across the land.

Sometimes, force cannot solve all problems.

The two exchanged a glance and prepared to head to Yongding City, but suddenly sensed something unusual about the world around them.

Others may not have noticed, but their perception was extraordinary. They vaguely sensed some kind of energy flowing in this world, heading straight in one direction.

"This is……"

Gu Feng raised an eyebrow. "Is someone manipulating the power of heaven and earth?"

Feng Xin and Gu Feng's expressions shifted slightly, and they both headed towards the direction of the flowing energy.

……

Inside Yongding City, Lu Zheng remained seated atop the mountain, his entire being immersed in a mysterious state.

In his little world, the entire world was subtly changing, and a powerful aura of the Dao filled the entire space.

Those extraordinary objects all exude brilliance and spiritual charm.

The spiritual energy and Daoist principles converge in one place, with the Taiping Codex shining brightly in the center.

"Without rules, nothing can be accomplished..."

Lu Zheng murmured softly, and an invisible aura burst forth from his body, soaring into the sky and reaching the heavens.

In an instant, a Daoist aura surged between heaven and earth, spreading rapidly in all directions.

At the same time, the artifacts guarding various districts in the Taiping Domain immediately sensed the change.

In the darkness, the entire Taiping Domain was drawn together, with the power of heaven and earth surging towards where Lu Zheng was.

Inside and outside Yongding City, some highly skilled individuals keenly sensed something amiss and felt a sense of oppression emanating from their very souls.

Zhang Wencheng, who was handling affairs, suddenly realized something, stopped what he was doing, left the room, and looked towards where Lu Zheng was.

"Is he going to...ask a question?"

A hint of uncertainty appeared in Zhang Wencheng's eyes, but he clearly sensed that this world was undergoing unusual changes, indicating that someone was about to break through.

The source was indeed Lu Zheng, but he didn't detect a strong Confucian or Taoist aura.

An Dingyuan and the others also sensed something and curiously went to check the situation.

Seeing that the Daoist energy of heaven and earth was gathering at Lu Zheng's place, everyone had strange expressions.

An Dingyuan stared wide-eyed and said, "Is he about to break through? Why does this commotion feel so big..."

A young prodigy said in a deep voice, "Asking the Dao... he has actually reached this level of cultivation?"

They had witnessed Lu Zheng suppressing Yongding City alone, but they hadn't been able to discern his true level of cultivation.

After all, the methods Lu Zheng used were too powerful, clearly exceeding his own cultivation level, and were difficult to assess.

Feng Xuan stared blankly at the figure enveloped in profound Daoist energy, momentarily stunned. Everyone was still speculating whether Lu Zheng had reached the Profound Realm, and now he's attempting to advance to the Dao Inquiry Realm?
Even consuming rare and precious herbs every day wouldn't allow for such a rapid cultivation speed, right?

An Dingyuan looked at Zhang Wencheng beside him and said excitedly, "My goodness, Zhang Wencheng, I heard that you recently became a great scholar in the Northern Region, and now another great scholar is about to emerge!"

"If word gets out about this, countless Confucian scholars will want to come to our Taiping Region. We need to spread the word properly..."

An Dingyuan stroked his chin and said, "We need to have the propaganda department in Qingcheng issue a notice to spread the word..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wencheng didn't say anything, but instead frowned, because he felt that Lu Zheng wasn't cultivating a great Confucian scholar.

Seeing that Zhang Wencheng's expression was a bit off, An Dingyuan couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Is someone planning to cause trouble?"

An Dingyuan looked around and subconsciously pulled out a sign, thinking that if anyone dared to cause trouble at this time, he would kill that person.

Zhang Wencheng said in a low voice, "No, I just feel that he doesn't seem to be practicing Confucianism or Taoism."

Everyone turned their heads in surprise upon hearing this, but soon it seemed somewhat expected.

It's not surprising that Lu Zheng's various methods, which he demonstrated, were not from a single school of thought, and that he didn't become a great Confucian scholar.

An Dingyuan blinked. "Really? Mr. Lu is exceptionally talented. It wouldn't be a problem for him to first cultivate the Dao and then become a great Confucian scholar! Sigh, people really can't be compared."

An Dingyuan's gaze was deep and his face was full of envy.

……

Outside the city, some people who were hiding in the shadows and observing the situation in Yongding City were filled with suspicion.

Soon, several more figures appeared from a distance.

Feng Xin and Gu Feng also arrived at an extremely fast speed.

When they saw the changing clouds above Yongding City, everyone's eyes flickered with a strange light.

I thought some powerful figure had come to attack Yongding City to settle scores with Lu Zheng, but it turned out that Lu Zheng was the one who caused the commotion.

Such a commotion is clearly a sign that he is about to break through to a higher realm.

The expressions of the two demon saints hardened slightly. Although they were avatars, they were the ones who had the clearest perception of the changes in this world.

A Daoist principle they had never experienced before was enveloping this world.

It was as if they were in Lu Zheng's territory and were being suppressed to a certain extent.

Gu Feng said in a low voice, "This doesn't seem like Confucianism or Taoism?"

Gu Feng had met some Confucian and Taoist scholars, and they all possessed an easily identifiable aura of Confucianism and Taoism.

However, such scholarly air was not particularly prominent in Lu Zheng.

Feng Xin thought for a moment and said, "He cultivates multiple Taoist methods, which is probably a mixed bag, so his Confucian and Taoist influences aren't strong? But the power he possesses is very pure, which means he has integrated them very well?"

Feng Xin wasn't entirely sure either, after all, he was a demon and didn't have a thorough understanding of human cultivation methods, especially since Lu Zheng was a rather unconventional individual.

Gu Feng clicked his tongue and said, "To cultivate multiple Dao techniques at such a young age and reach this level, even the sons of ancient sages would find it difficult to have such talent."

Gu Feng found it hard to imagine that such a person would appear in the world; such a person would probably be rare even in thousands of years.

High above, in a void, the aura of the Great Dao enveloped an area, exuding a rich Confucian and Taoist spirit.

In the hazy depths, a magnificent palace appears and disappears intermittently.

Within each palace, a powerful Daoist aura flowed.

These palaces are the halls of sages and virtuous men, carrying the thoughts of ancient sages and wise men, enduring through the ages.

When a wisp of Lu Zheng's aura reached this place, it caused the entire literary palace to tremble.

"For scholars who wish to continue the legacy of past sages, we can lend a helping hand!"

From the most magnificent palace, a powerful voice rang out.

From a nearby palace, Meng Sheng leisurely walked out and waved his hand, knocking down a cloud of Confucian and Taoist aura to the mortal realm.

In another void, the sound of Buddhist chants echoed everywhere, and Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were enveloped in Buddhist light, chanting sutras with their eyes closed.

Suddenly, the Buddha slightly opened his eyes, made a mudra with his right hand, and a beam of golden Buddha light flashed and disappeared.

"Road to Road, very Avenue……"

An old man's melodious voice transformed into a surge of Daoist energy, heading towards Lu Zheng's location.

……

Above Yongding City, the sky suddenly bursts with dazzling light.

A surge of profound Daoist energy instantly enveloped Lu Zheng.

Even the Taiping Codex, which was being nurtured within Lu Zheng's body, was affected, continuously absorbing these rare powers.

Feng Xin's eyes flickered uncertainly, and he could not hide his surprise, because he instantly sensed several kinds of Great Dao power empowering Lu Zheng to help him break through his realm.

For ordinary people, spiritual practice involves accumulating knowledge to a certain level and then attempting to break through to a higher level.

But with Lu Zheng, things seemed to have changed. In addition to his own accumulation of knowledge, it seemed that even heaven and earth and the Great Dao were willing to lend him a hand.

Gu Feng's mouth was slightly open, and he didn't know how to comment for a moment. He remembered that when he broke through to the Dao Inquiry Realm before, he had used a lot of methods and even used countless rare and precious materials.

Where else can one find someone like Lu Zheng, who can so easily draw upon the power of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth to help him break through and elevate his realm as effortlessly as eating and drinking?

"How on earth is this done?"

Gu Feng was completely baffled. Even as a powerful demon saint, he felt utterly ignorant in the face of such a scene.

He had never heard of anyone breaking through and gaining access to several different Dao powers.

In just a short while, all the hazy Daoist aura surrounding Lu Zheng was completely absorbed.

Most of the power was integrated into the Taiping Codex, while the rest allowed Lu Zheng to break through to the Dao Inquiry Realm.

The world quickly returned to calm, and no unusual phenomena or opportunities occurred.

Apart from Lu Zheng, no one else received any benefits such as spiritual energy.

Everyone even felt that they were still in a special aura, with a faint sense of suppression.

This feeling didn't come from Lu Zheng; it seemed to come from this place, from this world...

Feng Xin and Gu Feng stared intently at Lu Zheng, unable to discern which path he was taking.

However, the slight suppression that existed between heaven and earth made them feel a sense of danger from the depths of their hearts, and made them feel that Lu Zheng's current power was extraordinary.

After all, having integrated the power of many Great Daos, how could such a Dao-seeking expert be judged by ordinary standards?

Lu Zheng remained calm, also sensing the differences after entering the Inquiry stage.

Within this area, there are rules and regulations.

In this world, the rudiments of a Great Dao are already beginning to take shape, slowly growing and expanding... (End of Chapter)