15: Chapter 15 Nine Songs Convey the Way

"Finally, there is the Yao Race, once the protagonists of the world in the Mountains and Seas era. After the ancient Mountains and Seas War, the Human Race rose to prominence, and the Yao Race gradually faded from the world stage. However, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Despite their decline, the Yao Race still has great powers hidden within the Mountains and Seas, making them a force that cannot be ignored."

"The above are the three major powers of the Great World of Mountains and Seas," Jiang Zhiqiu said.

"If you have any sense, you should leave this troubled place as soon as possible."

Hearing this, the doubts Shen Moyan had suppressed for a long time finally surged to the surface. He carefully began, "Sir, there's something I've never been able to understand."

"I didn't grow up in this Dongshan City; I was raised in the wilderness and stumbled in here by mistake," Shen Moyan said candidly. "But last night, while reading books from the city at the inn, even though some characters were completely unfamiliar, I instantly grasped their profound meanings."

"And those children in the private school yesterday, many couldn't even recognize all the characters. Yet when that Old Teacher recited the scriptures, they could accurately articulate the essential teachings. It's too abnormal."

These words made Jiang Zhiqiu pause. He turned to look at Shen Moyan, his gaze now holding a measure of genuine regard. "You, kid, are sharper than most people in this city."

"In fact, this is not abnormal. It is a universal benefit of the Path of Literature established over ten thousand years ago by one of the Holy Court's Four Great Immortal Lords during his inscription of the Dao."

In ancient times, the world's scripts were complex and diverse. Across the Three Thousand Prefectures, barriers existed between different races and regions. Even those cultivating the same Dao often engaged in disputes due to textual ambiguities, and countless Cultivators wasted their lives unable to interpret legacies.

"The Great World of Mountains and Seas is vast and boundless, with a history stretching back to antiquity."

"After the great change of heaven and earth, the old laws were abolished. The Immortal Dao perished, and the Twisted Immortal Path was established, further fueling the obstacles to communication in this world."

"It wasn't until the emergence of the [Nine Songs Wenchang Immortal Lord] that the barrier named ignorance was swept away, with the meaning of texts enveloping the Mountains and Seas."

When mentioning this revered title, Jiang Zhiqiu's tone unconsciously carried a trace of awe.

"The Nine Songs Immortal Lord used literature to carry the Dao. Where there is intelligence, enlightenment is guaranteed."

"That Immortal Lord devoted his life to studying the Path of Literature, mastering ancient and modern knowledge. After his Cultivation reached its Peak, he underwent the true inscription of the Dao."

"Legend has it that on the day the Nine Songs Immortal Lord inscribed his true Dao, a seven-colored literary light descended from the Nine Heavens, piercing through the entire Mountains and Seas," Jiang Zhiqiu's voice held a tone of admiration.

"Since then, any intelligent life form with awakened wisdom, whether within the Great World of Mountains and Seas or within its radiating planar range, can resonate with written words."

"No matter how obscure the ancient script or how alien the foreign text, as long as it enters one's sight, its core meaning is directly imprinted into the Sea of Consciousness. This is the mighty power of the Nine Songs Immortal Lord's 'using literature to carry the Dao'."

"So that's how it is," Shen Moyan suddenly understood. No wonder in his previous life he could easily comprehend the Biyang Sword Sect's Cultivation Techniques and communicate with them, and those illiterate children could grasp the scriptures.

This was a blessing for all living beings, exchanged through the Dao of an Immortal Lord.

"It's a pity that such a magnificent feat is now being used for evil by those Sects." Jiang Zhiqiu's tone abruptly turned cold. Mana dissipated from his shoulders, transforming into a rising aura.

"They exploit the characteristics of the Path of Literature to disseminate long-abandoned, now harmful Dao Methods, conditioning children from a young age to accept Cultivation as natural and inevitable, stifling any thought of resistance."

Everyone has a heart yearning for the Dao, everyone desires longevity, and in the end, everyone will become the 'nourishment' they speak of.

"Immortal Lord... using literature to carry the Dao..."

"May I ask, Inspector, what are the Realms of the Twisted Immortal Path?"

"The Nine Songs Immortal Lord, to which Realm does He belong?"

After all this time, Shen Moyan still didn't know the Cultivation Realm divisions of the Great World of Mountains and Seas.

Jiang Zhiqiu looked at Shen Moyan, hesitating to speak:

"Where there is speech, there is knowledge. The Cultivation of the Twisted Immortal Path prohibits private oral transmission, lest one incur Karma."

"When you go to the Academy, or pass through the Pilgrimage Steps and see the [origin dao preaching stele], you will naturally know."

"Is that so..."

Afterwards, Shen Moyan and Jiang Zhiqiu discussed many more things in the private school, giving him a somewhat rudimentary understanding of this Great World of Mountains and Seas.

"Alright, I still have official duties to attend to, so I'll take my leave here."

"Since you have no intention of getting involved in the City Lord's Mansion's affairs, it's best to leave the city as soon as possible. Dongshan City will soon be in great turmoil. Staying here only adds risk."

"By the way, if you, young friend, are going to the Academy, you can mention my name." Before parting, Jiang Zhiqiu reminded Shen Moyan once more.

His heart stirred slightly. He had originally planned to leave this eerie city after figuring out the basics. Now, he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for the advice, sir. Until we meet again."

The two left the private school and parted ways at the street corner. Jiang Zhiqiu's figure flickered and vanished in the direction of the City Lord's Mansion. Shen Moyan turned and walked towards the city's West Gate. Inside his wide robe, the heavenly demon sword hung and swayed gently with his steps.

The sky grew dim as the sun set in the west.

"The Twisted Immortal Path: Qi Gathering, Mortal Transformation, Purple Mansion."

"The Path of Immortality: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core."

Through indirect inquiries earlier, Shen Moyan had managed to figure out these first three Realms.

"The Twisted Immortal Path... and the Path of Immortality... what exactly is the difference?"

Ever since the great change of heaven and earth, the Path of Immortality was no longer called the Path of Immortality, but was called the Twisted Immortal Path.

"The character for 'Immortal' [ Immortal] in this world is quite interesting."

In the Great World of Mountains and Seas, regardless of the script, the character [ Immortal] (Immortal) is composed of the character for 'person' [ people] plus the character for 'mountain' [ Mountain], or the character ' 䙴'.

' 䙴' represents Ascension and lifting, a 'person' flying in the sky, or a 'person' who attains the Dao in deep 'mountains', that is [ Immortal].

"[Person] [ people] ascending from within the [mountain] [ Mountain], is attaining the Dao and becoming an Immortal."

"But the character [ 佡] (Xian) is a bit more intriguing."

Thinking this, Shen Moyan summoned [As I Have Written].

[True Name: Shen Moyan]

[Race: Human Race]

[Realm: Qi Gathering Ninth Layer (Twisted Immortal Path)]

"Even the Bookmark of 'As I Have Written' is inscribed this way."

佡 (Xian): a 'person' [ people] running towards the 'mountain' [ Mountain], but there is already someone on the mountain.

"Hah, this kind of character analysis, anyone with a discerning eye can see there's something off." Shen Moyan dispelled his distracting thoughts and stopped pondering further.

"Enough, I'll focus on Cultivation for now."

Currently, Shen Moyan's Cultivation is low, only at the Qi Gathering Ninth Layer.

In such a dangerous world, one should lie low when necessary. I'll come out after Mortal Transformation.

Shen Moyan activated the Turtle Breathing Great Technique as he walked on the road leading out of the city. The West Gate had already appeared at the edge of his vision.

"Kid, you seem to be carrying something quite interesting."

A deep, muffled voice came from behind. Shen Moyan's heart skipped a beat. He turned slowly and calmly to look at the newcomers.

One was a burly man with a rough, meaty face, the other was a youth.

They were also Xian Dao Cultivators, one at Qi Gathering Sixth Layer, the other at Qi Gathering Fifth Layer.

They don't look friendly.

"Kid, be smart. Take out that sword and let me have a look." The burly man stared at Shen Moyan's sleeve with an aggressive gaze, as if sensing the treasured sword within.

Hearing this, Shen Moyan raised an eyebrow. He had deliberately concealed the heavenly demon sword's aura, yet someone had still seen through it.

Incidentally, the heavenly demon sword is Shen Moyan's Ascension Artifact in this life, originally from the Great World of Mountains and Seas.

"Alright."

Shen Moyan wore a smile, but his right hand had already quietly grasped the hilt.

"Good, you... you!!" The burly man frantically circulated his spiritual power to form a protective barrier, but it shattered like paper.

Blood splattered profusely as an arm soared into the air.

Shen Moyan sheathed the sword back into his sleeve, his eyes as calm as an ancient well without ripples.