In the quiet courtyard to the east of the Imperial Academy.

An old man and a young man were chatting in the vegetable garden, discussing everything from the origin of the universe to the end of the world, sharing insights from two different worlds.

“Confucian Scholar, why couldn’t Li Taibai live past a thousand years?”

Li Ziye voiced his confusion, asking, “Is it because his cultivation was not as advanced as the Confucian Scholar’s?”

“It’s not that.”

Kong Qiu shook his head and said, “This old man has lived past a thousand years because of the existence of the Heavenly Tome. Do you know why, despite the millennia, the Heavenly Tome, which opens every hundred years, only has four names inscribed upon it?”

“Is it because they didn’t pass the Confucian Scholar’s test?” Li Ziye asked curiously.

“Yes, and no.”

Kong Qiu replied calmly, “The test of this old man is, in fact, the test of the Heavenly Tome. Over the millennia, many have reached the end but were unable to inscribe their names on the Heavenly Tome. Thus, even after a long thousand years, only four have successfully inscribed their names.”

“The Heavenly Tome has its own will?” Li Ziye asked in surprise.

“Yes.”

Kong Qiu nodded and said, “Inscribing one’s name on the Heavenly Tome is essentially the process of the tome recognizing its master. Without its acknowledgment, even if one’s cultivation is strong, they cannot inscribe their name upon it.”

“The Heavenly Tome recognizes a master?”

Li Ziye became even more astonished and said, “But wait, there are four names on the Heavenly Tome. Doesn’t it say that a treasure only recognizes one master?”

“The Heavenly Tome is somewhat different.”

Kong Qiu patiently explained, “The Heavenly Tome is the embodiment of the rules of this world, encompassing all things. Therefore, it does not only acknowledge one person. However, there is a hierarchy.”

At this point, Kong Qiu paused slightly before continuing, “For instance, my name is ranked first on the Heavenly Tome, and I have held it for the longest time. In truth, I am the real master of the Heavenly Tome. To some extent, the Confucian Scholar is the Heavenly Tome, and the Heavenly Tome is the Confucian Scholar. This is also why I have lived for over a thousand years.”

“What about the others who have been recognized by the Heavenly Tome?” Li Ziye asked, puzzled.

“Each has their own gains.”

Kong Qiu answered, “Li Taibai was obsessed with the sword, so with the power of the Heavenly Tome, he comprehended the Flying Immortal Technique. Fu Jinglun was obsessed with the Dao, so he stepped into the Five Realms. As for you, well, you know best.”

Hearing this, Li Ziye touched his nose awkwardly, knowing he was the least accomplished.

“Actually, you shouldn’t be disappointed. The Heavenly Tome doesn’t make mistakes in its choice. Perhaps what you have gained is no less than anyone else’s; it’s just not apparent yet.” Kong Qiu said with a smile.

“I hope so.”

Li Ziye muttered, not quite believing his own words.

“Speaking of the Heavenly Tome, there’s another matter I must entrust to you.”

Kong Qiu looked at the young man before him and said seriously, “Now, of the four people on the Heavenly Tome, Li Taibai has passed away, and Fu Jinglun’s name is actually ranked second. If I die, he will automatically become the master of the Heavenly Tome. Therefore, your task is not only to prevent the arrival of the Extreme Night Cold Winter but also to find a way to stop Fu Jinglun from obtaining the Heavenly Tome.”

“No, no!”

Li Ziye quickly shook his head and said, “He’s ranked ahead of me, and his cultivation is so much higher than mine. How can I stop him? Besides, Confucian Scholar, you’ve lived for over a thousand years; living a few hundred more shouldn’t be a problem. That day will never come.”

“Fate dictates otherwise; you cannot escape it.”

Kong Qiu said earnestly, “Moreover, now that you have inscribed your name on the Heavenly Tome, once I die, the only possible masters of the Heavenly Tome will be you and Fu Jinglun. By then, even if you do not compete, Fu Jinglun will not tolerate you.”

“Damn it.”

Li Ziye was shocked by the revelation and said, “Confucian Scholar, why didn’t you say so earlier? If I had known, I wouldn’t have come.”

After all the hardships to break through just one meridian, his cultivation hadn’t improved much, and now he was even targeted by the Temple Master of the Heavenly Mandate Temple. It didn’t seem worth it!

“You, young man.”

Kong Qiu showed a helpless expression and said, “Having the chance to become the master of the Heavenly Tome is an opportunity many dream of, and yet you are unwilling.”

“It’s mainly because I can’t defeat that Fu Jinglun.” Li Ziye said with a wry smile.

“I’m not asking you to fight that scholar right now. This old man won’t die so soon; I’m just giving you a heads-up.” Kong Qiu explained.

“Confucian Scholar, with all due disrespect, you’re almost living as long as a turtle, and I might not even outlive you. You’re thinking too far ahead with these matters.” Li Ziye said.

“Heh.”

Kong Qiu chuckled lightly, not taking offense, and said, “I’m old. In the future, this world will belong to you young people. All this old man can do is ensure a peaceful transition when the day comes.”

“Who can be certain about the future?”

Li Ziye grinned and said, “I hope you live a long life, no, for thousands of years. This burden is too heavy; you should continue to carry it.”

“You…”Kong Qiu shook his head helplessly and said, “Forget it. I’ll hold on for a while longer. When you grow up, we can talk about it. I don’t want you to resent this old man behind my back.”

“How is that possible?”

Li Ziye immediately denied, “The person I respect the most is you, Confucian Scholar.”

At this point, Li Ziye seemed to remember something. He took out a tattered book from his pocket and handed it to the old man in front of him, saying, “Confucian Scholar, I forgot to ask you about something. Do you know what this ‘Extreme Night Frost’ recorded in here refers to?”

Kong Qiu took the tattered book and glanced at it. A glimmer of light flashed in his eyes, and he said, “If I’m not mistaken, ‘Extreme Night Frost’ should refer to… demon blood.”

“Demon blood?”

Li Ziye was surprised and asked, “Are there really demons in this world?”

“All things have spirits. In this world, there are always some existences that people cannot understand. Demons and humans are essentially no different, just different names.”

Kong Qiu said, “The thing you and the Southwest King’s son encountered in the capital city before, was a demon.”

“So, Confucian Scholar knows about this.”

Li Ziye said in a deep voice, “If that thing is really a demon, it’s going to be troublesome. If demons eat people, the world will be in chaos.”

Kong Qiu fell silent for a long time and sighed lightly, “Not all demons eat people. Just as humans have good and evil, demons are the same.”

“Confucian Scholar may think so, but the world doesn’t.”

Li Ziye said seriously, “As long as one demon eats a person, people will fear demons. If two demons eat people, this fear will be greatly magnified. Without being of the same race, there can never be equal treatment. Confucian Scholar should understand this.”

Kong Qiu sighed lightly and said, “I understand, but when the extreme night frost comes, demons are destined to emerge from the extreme night and come to the human world. If they cannot coexist, the world will be filled with blood.”

Li Ziye fell silent. This matter was destined to have no solution.

The difference in races will trigger fear in people’s hearts. Even if it is forcibly suppressed with violence, it can only maintain temporary peace at most and cannot last long. Just a small incident will reignite the conflict.

Demons eating people is deeply ingrained in people’s minds and cannot be changed.

“Li Family’s young master, you have to figure out a way to solve this matter,” Kong Qiu said.

“No.”

Li Ziye immediately refused, “I can’t solve it. This matter is fundamentally unsolvable. Confucian Scholar, you are overestimating me. Each task you assign is more difficult than the last.”

“If it were easy, I wouldn’t have given it to you.”

Kong Qiu smiled and said, “I’ll say it again, there’s no rush. You have plenty of time to think of a solution.”

“Confucian Scholar, I feel like something is not right.”

Li Ziye looked at the old man in front of him with suspicion, “I’ve been here for half a day, and you’ve been giving me homework without any benefits. Isn’t that inappropriate?”

“Benefits?”

Kong Qiu was taken aback, then smiled lightly, “What benefits do you want?”

“I don’t want much, just to enter the Five Realms.”

Li Ziye said with anticipation.

“I can’t do that.”

Kong Qiu shook his head.

“Then help me open the Eight Meridians.”

Li Ziye took a step back and said expectantly.

“You have already opened four meridians in a row. Your body has reached its temporary limit and needs to rest for a while. So, I can’t fulfill this request now. Besides, the effect of the Medicine King’s action in breaking the meridians is much better than mine. The Li Family has connections and silver, so there’s no need to settle for less,” Kong Qiu said truthfully.

“Ugh.”

Li Ziye felt frustrated at this and thought, ‘Nothing works. I want the horse to run, but I won’t give the horse grass.’

“However.”

Seeing the young man in front of him about to lose his temper, Kong Qiu’s tone changed and he said with a smile, “If there’s anything you like here, you can take it. I won’t stop you.”

Li Ziye looked at the old man in front of him with disdain. What’s there to take here, except for a few cabbages? Does the Li Family lack cabbages?

“Confucian Scholar, you’re really stingy,” Li Ziye couldn’t help but say.

“Haha.”

Kong Qiu laughed. In a thousand years, only this little guy dared to speak to him like this.

“Laugh all you want.”

Li Ziye muttered to himself in his heart, of course, he didn’t dare to say it out loud.

“How about this, you switch to the Confucian School, become my disciple, and in the Great Shang Dynasty, you can walk with your head held high,” Kong Qiu suggested with a smile.

“No.”

Li Ziye decisively shook his head and said, “I only want my Fairy Master. With my Fairy Master’s protection, I can still walk with my head held high.”

“Heh.”Kong Qiu chuckled lightly and said, “You should think carefully. Although the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal is formidable, after all, she is but one person. The Confucian School, on the other hand, has disciples all over the world, and with my influence, even the Heavenly Edict Hall would have to admit inferiority.”

“Confucian Scholar, please don’t try to coax me.”

Li Ziye said helplessly, “Do you think I’m a fool? Little Red Cap is the top disciple of the Confucian School, and at the very least, he could become a revered master in the future, or even possibly take your place. Given my relationship with Little Red Cap, what difference does it make whether I join the Confucian School or not? Why should I bear the stigma of being opportunistic and betraying my master and ancestors?”

“True to the Li Family, you’re quite clear-headed in your calculations.”

Kong Qiu smiled and continued, “Well then, if you don’t join the Confucian School, it will save us a lot of trouble. Let the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal worry about your future trivial matters. However, I have a suggestion for you. Since you have the title of a National Scholar, why not come to the Imperial Academy and start a class as an honorary instructor? This way, you won’t have to join the Confucian School, yet you’ll still have access to many resources that only Confucian School disciples have.”

“That’s a possibility.”

Li Ziye’s eyes lit up upon hearing this and he asked, “Can I teach anything?”

“Anything.”

Kong Qiu replied with a smile, “As long as there are students willing to listen.”

“Hehe.”

Li Ziye’s smile grew wider upon hearing this.

He liked this idea very much!