Chapter 386: Chapter 372: Sacred Literary Utterance, Boundless Dao

“Young man, do you want to escape your predicament?”

In the Hundred Battles Ruins, Chen Xu chose Ji Yang.

This young man stood behind the stall, and when the mystical voice sounded in his ears, he initially did not respond.

It wasn’t because he was exceptionally calm and composed, but rather because at first, Ji Yang did not think the voice was talking to him.

He just thought he was confused, that his ears could spontaneously hear “dreamlike words” beneficial to him.

Until the voice gently sighed again.

It was just a sigh.

Yet somehow, this sigh had an extraordinary penetrating power.

It deeply etched into Ji Yang’s frustrated heart, making Ji Yang suddenly tremble.

Ji Yang then suddenly realized: Wait, there really was a voice speaking to him!

The feeling of horror came first, and then, Ji Yang finally began to ponder the content of the words, realizing belatedly the meaning within.

Thus, Ji Yang’s heart rose.

He couldn’t help but look around and nervously called out: “Who, who are you? Come out… What do you mean?”

Even as he called out, Ji Yang subconsciously lowered his voice.

He looked around, the surroundings were bustling.

Adjacent were cultivators and stall owners bargaining, and up ahead on the street, someone was performing illusions, with a crowd around, cheering loudly.

The Hundred Battles Ruins were lively, yet this bustle seemed unrelated to him.

Ji Yang looked left and right, unable to discern who had just spoken to him.

Seeing that his calls didn’t elicit a response, he was about to say: “Who exactly are you? If a true hero, how can you hide…” and other such words.

But as the words crept to his lips, Ji Yang hesitated internally.

He remembered the gentle sigh from earlier, and for reasons unknown, the sigh held significant weight in his heart.

Clearly just a stranger, a mysterious voice appearing out of nowhere, yet Ji Yang was deeply attentive to that sigh.

Ji Yang naturally did not know that Chen Xu’s sigh was actually derived from the enlightening power of the Confucian cultivator.

This technique was called “Literary Heart Sacred Words”.

Chen Xu previously did not possess this ability, he had only seen “Literary Heart Sacred Words” on Wen Daoyuan.

At that time, as the two traversed the Great Li Kingdom on an airship, even though Chen Xu spent most of the time calculating waterways, occasionally, he would chat a few words with Wen Daoyuan.

While speaking, Chen Xu would inquire about some doubts in his own cultivation, and Wen Daoyuan would casually enlighten him.

With guidance from a Great Scholar, it was naturally extraordinary.

Chen Xu possessed a memory that retained everything ever heard, he kept Wen Daoyuan’s every casual pointer in his heart.

Though he hadn’t fully digested them, after reflection during these past two days, suddenly, Chen Xu suddenly understood what “Literary Heart Sacred Words” meant.

In his Sea of Literature, the waves rolled, ink boats sailed like arrows.

These past two days, his Literary Qi has been rising continuously!

Chen Xu reckoned that it has much to do with the success in diverting southern water north.

This originated from the article he wrote, “Strategy Against Locust Demon” and his crafted map, “North-South Waterway Map”, with such world-altering deeds accomplished, merit helped him successfully “ascend”.

Yet the residual effect of this extends far beyond.

In the Great Li Kingdom, anyone benefitting from the North-South Grand Canal would inevitably recite the canal’s origins, and naturally, this invisibly bolstered Chen Xu’s literary reputation.

As his literary reputation grew, his Literary Qi naturally matured too.

Though separated by two realms, the movement of Literary Qi seemed unimpeded.

Unbeknownst to him, when Chen Xu checked the Literary Qi pool at the center of his ink boat, he suddenly noticed his Literary Qi had grown crystal clear, faintly emitting a pale golden glow.

This is… the mark of Literary Qi evolving to the Advanced Scholar level!

Chen Xu hadn’t yet participated in the imperial examinations, yet on the Confucian cultivation path, he already possessed Literary Qi equivalent to an Advanced Scholar.

Moreover, from the sheer quantity of Literary Qi, he ought to be stronger than ordinary Advanced Scholars.

Additionally, his path toward becoming a Great Scholar seemed clear.

As long as the North-South Grand Canal continued to function, and the strategies mentioned in “Strategy Against Locust Demon” gradually implemented, even if Chen Xu could never write such articles again, even if he relied on past achievements—

Over time, there will inevitably come a day when, through accumulation of literary reputation and Literary Qi, he could become a Great Scholar.

Of course, if Chen Xu could base on this foundation to write books and establish his own doctrines and theories, then the time for him becoming a Great Scholar would surely be accelerated.

However, for now, Chen Xu seemed to lack somewhat in “writing books and establishing doctrines”.

This is fundamentally different from writing some articles or poems.

Ultimately, he is too young, lacking accumulation.

Nonetheless, Chen Xu is not anxious, he has much to learn.

At this moment, he used the “Literary Heart Sacred Words”, an ability available only to scholars above Advanced Scholar, during the magic process, regardless of Ji Yang’s experience, Chen Xu himself first felt intensely wondrous.

The exhibition of Literary Heart Sacred Words should not simply be termed “casting magic”.

This isn’t like magic, more like an instinct.

An instinct capable of stirring the inner hearts of beings, making them unconsciously heed advice, and experience enlightenment.

It seems to open up the shield of the human heart!

Precisely because Literary Heart Sacred Words aren’t considered magic, Chen Xu dared to display them at this moment.

To be honest, the depth of this world is truly unfathomable.

Chen Xu is currently in the Hundred Battles Ruins. If you asked him to openly use Literary Dao magic, he wouldn’t do so unless absolutely necessary.

In the lower-tier cultivators, the Golden Core Stage seems quite powerful, but what does it amount to in the whole Xuantian Star Realm?

“Alas…”

Ji Yang was disturbed by that sigh, feeling a strong sense of disappointment hidden within it.

It seemed as if the person was lamenting his foolishness, or perhaps lamenting how people are so eager in pursuit, yet continually miss opportunities.

In the vast Xuantian Star Realm, a little cultivator is akin to a small ant in an ant kingdom.

As they say: Ants have their leaders, the laborers are like servants.

If one cannot seize the opportunity, won’t they end up living an uneventful life, never seeing the light of day?

Ji Yang felt anxious, eventually gritting his teeth and saying: “You… honorable one, elder, I wonder where you are? Can you teach me some truth?”

I…Naturally, I have the desire to escape this predicament.

If the elder is willing to teach me, I’m willing to pay whatever price.”

He was usually tongue-tied, but this was the first time he managed to speak so fluently for his own sake.

Even though he was “fluent,” Ji Yang nonetheless spoke with his head lowered.

As he talked, he cautiously looked around.

The way he lowered his head, rolled his eyes, combined with his honest yet stubborn face, truly seemed comically secretive.

Chen Xu chuckled lightly.

His leisurely voice reached Ji Yang’s ears, as if coming from afar but somehow resonating deeply in Ji Yang’s heart.

“Any price you’re willing to pay? Even if it’s death?”

Ji Yang’s heart skipped a beat; he was both frightened and shocked, yet somehow overwhelmed by a great determination.

Fueled by that resolve, he spoke sorrowfully, “I don’t hide from you, elder, my father… my father died half a month ago on the road to collect goods at Sihe Manor.

He died incomplete, and the upper cultivators of the Demon Slayer Guard said he died due to demon chaos.

However, near Bailiu City, it’s clear that no demons have been seen for almost half a year.

I don’t believe it; I have my suspicions.

I ask for nothing else but the ability to earn extra resources, elevate my cultivation, and someday avenge my father!

As long as I can avenge my father, elder can have this life of mine, it’s nothing!”

Ji Yang was resolute.

He looked around but couldn’t see where Chen Xu was located. However, it was precisely this mystery that made Ji Yang increasingly convinced that he had encountered a fortune.

He had nothing left to lose, he was willing to gamble!

Thus betting his life as the bet—

After all, where in the world is there such a thing as a benefit obtained out of thin air?

If the other party was an evil cultivator who needed to consume lives for cultivation, as long as he could avenge him, Ji Yang accepted it.

His heart was pounding, yet he heard another sigh beside his ear.

Ji Yang’s heart leaped to his throat.

Suddenly, a force as light as a feather fell upon his shoulder, as if a hand gently patted him!

That seemingly comforting force immediately eased Ji Yang’s tension, making his nose sour.

That mysterious adept, who didn’t reveal himself, actually patted his shoulder to console him?

Ji Yang was feeling touched as he heard that mysterious voice faintly say, “It’s done, I’ve planted a mark on you.

Ji Yang, follow my instructions, do not betray, and your wishes can naturally be fulfilled.

If you harbor any betrayal…”

The voice stopped at this point.

Yet the unfinished implication behind the words was far more terrifying than explicit threats.

Ji Yang was stupefied, his just-relaxed heart was now raised again.

He wished he could slap himself, as punishment for his naive ignorance.

He only felt his shoulder, where he had been patted, burning; there seemed to be an indescribable mysterious mark on it.

Ji Yang was uneasy all over, but he had no way to retreat.

He could only become even more determined, gritting his teeth to say, “Please be assured, elder, I…”

He looked around, seeing everyone engrossed in their own affairs, nobody paying attention to him.

Ji Yang whispered a vow: “As long as elder commands, I will never disobey. If there’s any betrayal, elder may as well take my life!”

Thus, they reached a preliminary “agreement”.

Though this was evidently a very unequal agreement.

Chen Xu only promised benefits verbally, but Ji Yang needed to pledge his life.

Ji Yang was blissfully unaware anything was wrong.

After vowing, he heard that mysterious voice faintly resounding beside his ear.

The mysterious voice was teaching Ji Yang the subsequent steps.

As Ji Yang listened, his eyes widened.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep