558: Chapter 558 Ten Years of Teaching: Separation of Immortals and Mortals

Shang Yang's reforms began in the military before permeating the imperial court and reaching deep into the countryside. Ordinary citizens could now find protection under the law; right and wrong were no longer decided by the powerful, but adjudicated by legal statutes. The law bound both the people and the monarch—the King could no longer act on a whim, policies did not stem from private interests, and the nation's power became as solid as a rock. The atmosphere of the Qin lands was quietly transformed, becoming stern and orderly, as if the entire land had grown bone and will.

This change was not the work of a single day. Round after round of adjustments suited to the times and cycles of breaking the old to establish the new eventually pushed the world into a brand-new landscape: the Six Kingdoms were unified, commanderies and counties replaced fiefdoms, and imperial power was centralized. This was no accidental turn, but an irreversible torrent of history. From this point, Huaxia entered a new era that would flourish for over two thousand years; the strength of its Foundation and the resilience of its structure had long been proven through the passage of time.

"Revered Master, the people here all have stern faces, yet there's a hint of joy in the corners of their eyes... it's very strange." Qian Gang scratched his head, full of doubt. "How could Handan be like this? Looking at them makes me feel uneasy."

"Heh," Jiang Chen gave a light chuckle. "It is nothing more than change. The world is different now; old branches must be pruned and new buds must be kept. Only by adding a few sources of living water can a new situation bloom. Look closely—how is this place different from Handan beyond just the streets? This is what it looks like when the law takes root. Furthermore, look at this atmosphere where a hundred schools coexist—the Daoists speak of nature, the Confucians emphasize human relations, the Legalists uphold rules... walk around and see for yourself, and you will understand."

He led Qian Gang into a bookstore, pointing out the distribution of classics from various schools and introducing him to the currents of thought behind the words. However, bamboo slips remained the mainstream; a single scroll often cost several pieces of gold and were rare in the world, making it difficult for ordinary people to catch a glimpse of them.

This stay lasted for a full ten years.

The small child who once stood on tiptoe to serve tea had now grown into a handsome young man. Before the morning mist had dissipated, he was already practicing his swordplay in the courtyard. The sword's edge broke the air with a whistling sound; his steps kicked up dust as waves of Qi surged; even the old leaves on the branches were shaken loose, fluttering down like rain.

"Good! Good! In ten years' time, your sword momentum has been perfected." Jiang Chen stepped slowly out of the house, his gaze sweeping over the youth's tall figure and the lingering aura in the courtyard. He nodded and sighed, "It is time to go out. Only by traveling the various kingdoms, seeing the mountains and rivers, and understanding the hearts of men can you truly be said to have started."

Hearing this, Qian Gang sheathed his sword and rushed forward, his voice changing pitch: "Revered Master! Don't drive me away!"

"What nonsense are you talking?" Jiang Chen's smile faded slightly. "What should be taught has long been taught; what should be guided has been guided through. You must tread the path yourself and realize the truths yourself. Every heart is different; how can you simply copy others? Do not act like a young girl. If fate permits, we will meet again—as long as you practice that Sword Intent and that mental drive into your very bones."

Qian Gang stood with his hands down, his expression already as calm as a deep pool. Over these years, he had personally seen that his Revered Master's appearance never changed and his spirit remained as vibrant as ever; every gesture seemed to carry the flow of clouds, like an Immortal from a painting. At first, he had asked questions in ignorance, but later, after scouring through Incomplete Manuals and lost texts, he finally pieced together some clues from obscure alchemy scriptures and notes of occultists—the more he investigated, the more he believed; the more he believed, the more certain he became: his Revered Master was indeed an Immortal Master.

To a Mortal, an "Immortal" was a memorial tablet for offerings or a legend passed by word of mouth. But to him, it was the mentor he faced every day who personally taught him his skills. He stopped asking questions, not out of fear, but because he understood—there is a boundary between Immortal and Mortal, and keeping a respectful distance is proper etiquette. Having this chance was already a massive blessing; how could he dare to dream of staying forever? Yet at the thought of leaving, his throat tightened and his eyes quietly reddened.

"You are quite sharp." Jiang Chen's gaze was warm. "Since you have glimpsed the threshold, you are considered an entry-level Disciple. Cultivate diligently, and on the day you reach Perfection, you and I can discuss the Dao as equals. I shouldn't let you travel far at this time, but one matter remains unresolved—an old Karma has been dragged on for too long, and I must go now. You should take this opportunity to walk the world. There are many recluses in the mountains and unpredictable experts; remain three parts more cautious."

"Also," his expression suddenly turned solemn, his voice deep as a bell, "if you wish to serve a certain kingdom, it is up to your heart. But remember: a practitioner of the Dao must not wantonly harm the innocent. Those who violate this will be consumed by the fires of tribulation; the net of heaven misses nothing. When that time comes, do not seek me out, for I will not lend a hand."

Qian Gang dropped to his knees, his forehead touching the ground, his voice clear and steady: "Yes! Xiao Gang will keep it in mind. I will not be arrogant or reckless, nor will I kill or deceive. If I violate this, I will willingly accept Heaven's punishment!"

"Very good." Jiang Chen looked toward the horizon, a trace of urgency flashing in his eyes. "Is there anything else?"

"In response to Revered Master, Xiao Gang has no more questions." He lowered his head and kept his hands down, but his heart was filled with uncontrollable surprise and doubt—in ten years of following him, he had never seen his Revered Master with such an expression, anxious like an arrow on a bowstring, yet he dared not say another word.

"Do you think I'm being too calm? Sigh... in the end, it's the root of disaster planted by a single mistaken thought back then. Now, it's just time to go and clean up the mess. It's useless to tell you more—when your cultivation reaches that level, you will naturally understand. Alright, I must go. Stay alive, stay well for me; don't go charging into the Ghost Gate Pass at every turn. If that happens, my old face will be completely disgraced. Trust in yourself."

Jiang Chen pressed his palm heavily onto Qian Gang's shoulder, a flash of gratification in his eyes: this child had truly grown up. Finally, he added in a deep voice: "The great trend is irreversible, but small trends can be adjusted. The Heavenly Dao has its own laws; you just need to follow the flow and act according to the people. If you insist on struggling against the current, your death will not be far off. Think thrice about everything and do not act on impulse—take care of yourself."

Qian Gang had just opened his mouth to respond when the figure before him dissipated like mist in the wind, leaving no trace. Even though he had a premonition, he still stood frozen in place, dazed: Was this his Revered Master?

"Xiao Gang, Cultivate without ceasing. When you achieve success, this humble Daoist will find you. I hope you take care."

Time and space suddenly tore apart, with ripples and folds everywhere. Even someone like Jiang Chen, who was well-versed in the changes of temporal order, momentarily could not distinguish north from south. His brow furrowed tightly, and a knot of frustration in his chest was hard to soothe—he had just touched upon a clue and fully expected to resolve an old regret, but the spatial-temporal turbulence was like a blade, instantly shredding all traces. He couldn't find it, couldn't grasp it; it was truly stifling!

Borrow the power of the Heavenly Dao? It wasn't impossible. But if he owed this Karma, it would be even harder to repay in the future. Forget it, if I can't find them now, does it mean I can't find them later? Hmph, I'll let you breathe for a few more days—until the day I lock onto your tracks... He flicked his finger, and a portal of ghostly light cracked open in the Void Realm. He stepped inside, and his figure vanished into the vastness of the Primordial Chaos.

Looking up, the sea of stars was vast and bottomless. There, even the Heavenly Dao could not reach out, let alone find someone. With no way to start, he was truly anxious. A dignified Great Dao Saint was actually hampered by the power of time and space—it seemed his comprehension of this Path was still far from enough. As the thought fell, he had already turned and entered the Wuji Grotto-Heaven.

"Revered Master, you've returned!" Qing Zhuzi was stepping out from the side hall. Seeing Jiang Chen appear, his face lit up with joy.

"Yes, I'm back." Jiang Chen nodded. "This period of secluded meditation is to specialize in one matter. Cultivate on your own; there's no need to wait on me. I will have to go on a long journey again soon and might not notify you. Just focus on your own progress."

"Yes, your Disciple obeys Revered Master's command." Qing Zhuzi bowed in response, not daring to ask more, and turned to leave.

Jiang Chen stepped into the Dao Chen Hall. The hall doors closed silently, and the Restriction immediately activated. The entire hall was saturated with the power of time and space; an ordinary Saint who blundered in would lose their way, and those below the level of Quasi-Saint would be shredded by invisible blades upon contact, without even a chance to escape—was the power of time and space a mere joke?

With a thought, the chaos bead floated before his chest, emitting a layer of hazy clear light that wrapped around his entire body. His Primordial Spirit sank into the bead, tracing back to the Origin of time and space, dismantling, chewing, and reconstructing. If it didn't work once, he did it again; thousands, tens of thousands of times, he only chiseled deeper. The mist gradually thinned, the path ahead began to show, and his heart calmed down, leaving only one thought: break the barrier.

"Your Majesty, this action might be improper! The Earth Star is a Forbidden Ground personally designated by the Holy Lord. Let alone ordinary Immortals, even the direct descendants of Saints would not dare to cross the line by half a step. If we anger the Holy Lord, the consequences will be unimaginable... the Ancestor of the Dao will definitely not take responsibility for us in this matter."

"The Queen Mother worries too much." The Jade Emperor waved his hand, his tone relaxed. "I have only ordered the Great Emperor Gochen to descend to the Lower Realm to arrest the Great Shaman. Now the Earth Star is entirely occupied by that Shaman Race; if the Holy Lord were there, how could he stand by and watch? Is this not perfectly justifiable?" He spoke with certainty, but in his heart, he knew: if he weren't certain the Holy Lord had already left the realm, he wouldn't even dare to entertain this thought—one would have to be truly tired of living to touch a single blade of grass on the Earth Star. Before his voice faded, he turned to warmly comfort the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother looked at the Jade Emperor in silence, her expression weary. Although the Heavenly Court was fully equipped, which of those mighty beings from the Chan and Jie Sects was willing to listen to their commands? She understood his difficulties but didn't know how to speak.

"Fine, don't keep such a stiff face." The Jade Emperor sighed. "It's best to handle this quickly. Besides, the various Immortals have all nodded their heads. Let Gochen go down first to scout the situation—it would be best if he can lure that Great Shaman out; if not... I only hope it doesn't turn the world upside down." How could he not know the weight of this? The Earth Star was still the place where the Luck of the Human Emperor resided, and since the Earth Immortal Realm had not yet taken shape, this battle had to be fought.

"Very well, but you must be cautious. Do not cross the boundary—otherwise, if the Holy Lord investigates, no one will be able to bear the responsibility."

The Jade Emperor slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. How could he not know the stakes? But the current situation had already spiraled out of control; dragging it out further would only make it more unmanageable. Only by cutting off the root would it be the best policy. If the Earth Star were allowed to fall into the hands of the Great Shaman, the Qi of the Human Emperor would only be able to wait for the heavenly timing to return; wouldn't that be waiting for death?

"Your Majesty has unified the six directions, your achievements are eternal! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, shining as brightly as the sun and moon!" The officials prostrated themselves and shouted in unison.

The First Emperor of Qin, Ying Zheng, laughed toward the heavens, his gaze sweeping over the mountains and rivers prostrate below the steps, the joy in his chest uncontrollable. However, although the world was settled, there were still several cultivation sects that refused to come to court. This thought had not faded when he immediately issued an edict: the Sect Masters of all sects were limited to three days to come to Xianyang for an audience; violators would be treated as rebels. Only in this way could he truly be said to hold the Luck of the Human Race.

The various sects on the Earth Star received the decree and tore the bamboo slips to pieces on the spot, throwing them angrily to the ground. A mere Mortal emperor dared to command those who practiced cultivation? Utterly preposterous!

Sure enough, several major sects formed an alliance overnight, vowing not to kneel. Who would have known that Ying Zheng was actually a Great Shaman descended to the world, possessing heaven-reaching Divine Power? The allied forces collapsed in an instant, with countless Disciples killed or wounded, yet they still preferred death over surrender. In their desperation, they could only invite the Great Emperor Goujiang to descend to the realm.

"We welcome the Great Emperor's arrival! We hope the Great Emperor will slay this Prodigy and restore the Righteous Path of heaven and earth!"

"Rest assured, everyone. I have come by the personal decree of the Jade Emperor specifically for this scoundrel." The Great Emperor Goujiang was originally Lei Zhenzi; having held a high position for many years, he had long cultivated an air of arrogance, feeling that a mere Mortal emperor was not worth mentioning. Moreover, he came from the Chan Sect, which gave him three parts more confidence; he didn't even bring an extra Magical Artifact on this trip.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.

"You are the Great Emperor Goujiang?" Ying Zheng looked up at the person in the clouds, the corner of his mouth twitching. "They must have sent the wrong person. This wet-behind-the-ears brat is fit to be called 'Goujiang'? Today, I'll let you see what real skill is—having a bit of tutelage and letting your tail curl up to the sky, how laughable."

Lei Zhenzi was furious. His wings flapped as he dived down with the momentum of thunder, his thunder hammer wrapped in blinding electric light as it smashed toward the top of Ying Zheng's head.

The hammer's shadow hit nothing.

Before Ying Zheng's cold sneer had faded, his figure was already before his eyes. Lei Zhenzi only felt his vision go dark as a giant fist pressed down like a mountain; in his haste, he only had time to raise his hammer horizontally to block—

Bang!

His whole body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, his seven orifices buzzing. Before his consciousness could clear, the second strike had already arrived.

"What Great Emperor Goujiang? Nothing but a useless embroidered pillow. Do you even deserve to take my life?" Ying Zheng brushed off non-existent dust from his sleeve, not even looking at the mist of blood splashing across the sky as he turned and walked into the palace gate.