The Yu Zhen Garden, the Pavilion at the Heart of the Lake.
Not long after Ke Mo and Ying Bing left, Jiang Yu, dressed in a long robe embroidered with silver-threaded qilin patterns, with a long sword hanging from his waist, entered the Pavilion at the Heart of the Lake silently.
However, he only saw the back of Emperor Jingtai, not his expression, yet he could feel the imperial authority.
Jiang Yu’s heavy-lidded eyes saw the two cups of tea on the tea table, and his fists clenched involuntarily:
“Father, your son has come late.”
“What do you want?”
Emperor Jingtai did not turn around but asked instead.
Jiang Yu stared at his back: “The Jiangshan Yizhi Map is the foundation of the nation. As both your subject and your son, I should naturally share your burdens and request permission to join in defending the city.”
Emperor Jingtai looked at the lake:
“I don’t trust it.”
“Your son can take care of himself…”
“Implicitly, the Jiangshan Yizhi Map remains under my family’s control; thus, your safety needn’t be a concern.”
Emperor Jingtai shook his head, speaking casually: “What I don’t trust is that you might cause more harm than good.”
“Your son…has listened to the teachings of many teachers and has followed Your Majesty in handling state affairs.”
Jiang Yu’s knuckles turned white as his voice became high-pitched: “The City of Divine Beings handles great nations like cooking small dishes, precisely where my abilities lie.”
“I have also read some books recently. Since you say so, let me test you. I’ve been reading books about water management lately. What insights do you have on this?”
“Answering Your Majesty, I have read ‘Annotations on River Channels’ and ‘Records of the Celestial Flower Treasure Ship,’ just a few days ago.”
Emperor Jingtai’s expression relaxed, as if they were chatting between father and son.
His questions were casual, and Jiang Yu answered fluently, speaking confidently and citing classics.
After a while, Emperor Jingtai turned around and walked to Jiang Yu, pouring him a cup of tea water for the bowing and respectful son:
“Without studying history, one cannot understand rise and fall. Have you delved into the history of previous dynasties?”
“Answering Your Majesty, I have just read ‘Shang Lu’…”
“That’s coincidental.”
Emperor Jingtai’s voice suddenly lost its warmth:
“I tested you on such obscure topics, and you happened to know everything. Whatever you read, you read immediately. You had ‘Shang Lu’ just the day before yesterday.”
“Could it be that your study is larger than the imperial library?”
Gurgling—
Tea overflowed the cup, wetting the ground.
Jiang Yu’s breath paused as his heavy-lidded eyes met Emperor Jingtai’s sigh in his eyes:
“You are clever, but not too clever. You cannot match Chu Ge in learning, nor can you match me.”
“Doing evil, you aren’t vicious or treacherous enough. Doing good, your kindness fluctuates, easily influenced by external factors. Calling you clever, you only use it in my imperial library.”
“The fourth realm is called Inner Scene, reflecting the inner landscape. I have been waiting for you to clean up.”
Jiang Yu’s eyes went blank, sweat breaking out.
He bit his palm, struggling to bow respectfully, no longer daring to mention going to the City of Divine Beings.
“I… withdraw…”
But just as he was about to leave, he heard a voice behind him:
“Go, if you still wish to.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
…
On the other side, in the Hall of Mountains and Rivers.
“Jiang Yu came even later than us?”
Ke Mo watched him enter, feeling somewhat curious.
But he had no interest in talking to Jiang Yu.
With this time, it would be better to discuss strategies with Ice Chunk.
After a moment, two elders walked into the Hall of Mountains and Rivers.
One was slightly familiar, Lord Qian, and the other was older, with a less noticeable aura.
Lord Qian spoke: “Today we will enter the City of Divine Beings. Considering you all must be well-prepared, I won’t waste words. Rise.”
Once the three stood up, he exchanged glances with the other elder.
…
The floor of the empty Hall of Mountains and Rivers suddenly lit up with intricate patterns.
This hall was never meant for living or storing items.
The floor of the hall was engraved with a simplified version of the Jiangshan Yizhi Map, capable of connecting with the supreme entity.
Lord Qian and the other elder held the keys that imbued their respective paths with divine properties.
The world shifted, the surroundings expanding and contracting.
Li Mo instantly lost his sense of direction, the world around him becoming surreal as if experiencing a lucid rebirth.
His memories began to blur, as if being erased.
“Enter the City of Divine Beings, only leaving the true essence.”
Lord Qian’s voice echoed from the void.
This was not something they had deliberately set up; it was a characteristic retained since the City of Divine Beings or the Heavenly Phoenix Domain.
Reflecting the heart.
It was because of this that the Inner Scene remained pure and perfectly aligned with oneself.
“Forgetting past events, only leaving the essence, what will remain in my heart?”
Li Mo’s thoughts were muddled, yet he dared not think too deeply.
As a traveler from another world with a system, he feared that everything would be revealed.
Unless those things weren’t truly his core essence…
But what else could there be besides that?
Suddenly,
A clear and familiar voice rang in his ear:
“Li Mo, I will find you.”
Before the echo faded, Li Mo lost consciousness completely.
…
At that moment, above the Imperial Capital.
The Jiangshan Yizhi Map fully unfolded, rippling like surging waves.
All other divine phenomena began to fade, leaving only the scene of the City of Divine Beings visible, revealing the grandeur of its inner, middle, and outer cities. In the shadows of that world, mysterious eyes seemed to watch.
“They have entered the City of Divine Beings!”
Xie Xuan, who had entered once before, warned solemnly.
“Is it true that entering will result in a rebirth?” Huang Donglai asked.
“Yes, the better the talent, the higher the starting point. Generally speaking, it usually happens in the Heavenly City,” Xie Xuan explained to everyone.
Murong Xiao pondered: “This is similar to the concept of ‘reincarnation’ in the scripture that Brother Li gave me.”
“Being born directly in the Heavenly City implies innate divine qualities and a higher starting point, making subsequent tasks easier.”
Xiao Qin had just listened to Qianxing Wuzun’s explanation.
In Qianxing Wuzun’s era, the City of Divine Beings was still in its early stages, and entry was not limited to the top three among the hidden dragons.
Thus, in the realms of heaven, earth, and man, there were always those who descended upon entering, and he had experienced it once, descending into the Underground City.
However, with Brother Li and Sister Bing’s talents, they must certainly be in the Heavenly City.
As for Jiang Yu? The few present did not particularly care about him.
…
In the scene:
“A descendant of our clan has been born.”
A group of celestial beings in white robes, each with unique powers, stood on the welcoming platform. Some were surrounded by fierce winds, others spoke with thunderous voices, and some caused storms with their breaths.
They all watched the first beam of light in the sky.
That beam of light, trailing a long tail, carved a magnificent purple arc in the sky.
“Purple! This descendant might be extraordinary!”
“When he grows up, he might also gain the recognition of the Divine Sword!”
“Wait, look! The starlight has turned golden!”
