Chapter 601: Scholarly Spirit Wang Tianwen

Han Yuexin smiled sweetly and quickly walked up to Wang Qingshan. She enthusiastically said, "Fellow Daoist Wang, my aunt and the others are at the teahouse just ahead. They've invited many fellow daoists and are currently discussing cultivation methods! Would you like to join us?"

Wang Qingshan had originally intended to discuss cultivation methods with fellow cultivators of his own level, so he naturally wouldn't refuse Han Yuexin's invitation.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, when did you set off? The last time I went to Peach Mountain, your clan brother said you were in seclusion. How did you come out so quickly? You often go into seclusion to cultivate, no wonder you've advanced to the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment. I'm still at the sixth layer, but I'm confident I can catch up to you."

The two walked towards the teahouse together. Han Yuexin chatted incessantly, very lively.

Wang Qingshan frowned slightly. Han Yuexin simply talked too much, which he disliked immensely. Every time he was with her, he felt as if a swarm of flies was buzzing around him.

It was precisely for this reason that he avoided Han Yuexin.

Han Yuexin prattled on and on, recounting her experiences over the past few years to Wang Qingshan. For every dozen sentences she spoke, Wang Qingshan replied with just one.

Before long, they entered the teahouse and went up to the fifth floor.

Over twenty cultivators were seated in small groups at the tea tables, discussing cultivation methods.

Wang Qingshan's gaze swept over the other cultivators, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

Following his gaze, a slender young man in red robes sat in a corner.

The red-robed youth carried a long red saber on his back, his expression cold, giving off an unapproachable aura. A faint murderous intent emanated from him; he was at the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment.

Wang Qingshan carefully noticed several swallow patterns on the red-robed youth's sleeves.

The red-robed youth noticed Wang Qingshan's gaze and looked back at him, but quickly shifted his eyes away.

Wang Qingshan and Han Yuexin found an empty table and sat down.

"In two more days, the grand discussion forum will officially begin. I wonder who will win the Talisman Treasure."

"I think it will most likely go to a disciple from Chongyang Academy. They're offering a Talisman Treasure as a prize, so the top spot must go to one of their own, otherwise, it wouldn't look good for Chongyang Academy."

"Not necessarily. Disciples from Taiyi Immortal Sect and Myriad Flower Palace are also participating in the forum. It could be one of their disciples who takes first place."

"Nothing is absolute. My clan brother has already cultivated to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment, has extensive combat experience, and possesses a life-bound spiritual artifact. My clan brother has a very high chance of winning first place."

They initially discussed cultivation methods, but gradually, the topic shifted to the competitive trials of the grand discussion forum.

"Others say cultivators from the Eastern Barrens are frogs in a well. I used to be a bit skeptical, but now it seems that statement is entirely accurate. Sitting at the bottom of a well, ignorant of the vastness of the sky and earth—the Eastern Barrens are nothing more than this."

A man's disdainful voice came from the corner.

Wang Qingshan looked towards the source of the voice and saw the red-robed youth stand up and walk downstairs.

From his words, it was clear the red-robed youth was not a cultivator from the Eastern Barrens.

"Hmph, it's not certain who the frog in the well is!"

"Exactly! Let's see if you're a mule or a horse when the grand discussion forum begins. We hope to see you compete."

Hearing this, the red-robed youth didn't get angry; instead, he laughed. He turned his head, looked at the cultivators on the upper floor, and sneered, "Very well! I hope you all compete when the time comes. I will surely cut you down then."

With that, he strode downstairs.

"A saber cultivator! That's quite rare."

Wang Qingshan murmured to himself, watching the red-robed youth's retreating figure.

Swords embody the king's path, while sabers embody the hegemon's path. Speaking of which, Wang Qingshan had never actually fought a saber cultivator before!

"I think Fellow Daoist Wang will take first place. Fellow Daoist Wang is a sword cultivator, and he defeated me in one move."

Han Yuexin said with a touch of pride, as if she were the one who had won.

Han Yuxin's willow-like eyebrows slightly furrowed. She glanced at Han Yuexin, thinking to herself, "Girls grow up and can't be kept! This girl, not even married yet, and she's already siding with an outsider."

Foundation Establishment cultivators continuously came up and discussed cultivation methods.

Wang Qingshan discovered that most of these people were all talk, with little practical combat experience. No wonder the red-robed youth looked down on Eastern Barrens cultivators.

After discussing cultivation methods, they began to hold an exchange meeting, trading items.

Wang Qingshan took out some demonic beast materials and exchanged them for materials needed to refine flying swords.

Half an hour later, the cultivators began to leave one after another.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, there's a weapon shop up ahead. Their flying swords are quite good. Shall I accompany you to take a look?"

Han Yuexin pointed to a shop ahead and said enthusiastically.

Han Yuxin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. People always said girls should be reserved, but her niece was far too forward!

"No need, Fairy Han. Thank you for your kind offer, but I have other matters to attend to. I must take my leave."

Wang Qingshan politely refused and turned to leave.

"What's going on? Does he dislike me? Isn't it said that when a woman pursues a man, it's as easy as a thin veil?"

Han Yuexin made a bitter face and said with a frown.

"You're a very bold girl, pursuing a man like that. If your father knew, he'd be furious enough to die of anger."

Han Yuxin poked Han Yuexin's forehead with her finger and scolded her unceremoniously.

"Auntie, didn't you say it yourself? Happiness is in one's own hands. I don't want to end up like Fourth Sister."

Han Yuxin sighed and said, "Can't you see? He doesn't like you at all. You can't force matters of the heart."

Han Yuexin's brows were tightly furrowed, and her dark eyes darted around, lost in thought.

After leaving the teahouse, Wang Qingshan walked along the street and, without realizing it, arrived at a bluestone plaza.

There were ten arenas in the plaza, each covered by an egg-shaped azure light screen. Cultivators were engaging in combat on these stages.

These matches were usually stopped before serious injury, so there was rarely any life-threatening danger.

Wang Qingshan shook his head. If the combat in the grand discussion forum was similar to what he was seeing, he felt he could easily win first place.

Of course, he knew very well that true masters wouldn't easily display their full abilities in front of others.

"I finally found you, Seventh Uncle! Something bad has happened. Tianwen got into an argument with someone and almost came to blows."

A member of the Wang clan ran up to Wang Qingshan and said anxiously.

"Tianwen? How did he get into an argument with someone? That's not like him!"

Wang Qingshan frowned. Wang Tianwen enjoyed poetry and ancient texts, and was relatively honest. Logically, he shouldn't have gotten into a dispute with anyone.

"It seems it was over a book of poetry. According to Tianwen, the book was a work by a renowned Confucian Daoist master."

"Quick, take me there. This child truly causes so much worry."

Before long, Wang Qingshan arrived at a bookstore.

A fair-faced, scholarly-looking young Confucian scholar in a green robe was arguing with a middle-aged man, while the shopkeeper stood by, holding a blue ancient text, looking troubled.

"Tianwen, what's going on?" Wang Qingshan looked at the green-robed scholar and asked with a frown.

"Seventh Great Uncle, you've come at just the right time! I saw this book first, so it should rightfully be mine."

Wang Tianwen pointed at the blue ancient text in the shopkeeper's hand and explained.

"Hmph, you didn't pay for it. I've already paid the spirit stones."

Wang Qingshan looked at the shopkeeper and asked, "Is this the only copy? Can't it be duplicated?"

"Seventh Uncle, this is a unique copy. While ancient texts can be duplicated, this one contains the Confucian Daoist master's understanding of the Great Dao. Duplicated copies wouldn't have that; we need the original."

The writing of a Confucian Daoist master was naturally different from ordinary writing; a single character could have many forms, and each form contained a different understanding of the Dao.

Hearing this, Wang Qingshan frowned slightly and said to the middle-aged man, "My friend, we are willing to offer triple the price for this ancient text. What do you say?"

"How can a sage's book be measured by spirit stones? It's not for sale."

The middle-aged man shook his head firmly, showing no regard for Wang Qingshan.