Chapter 267: Chapter 266: Low-Grade Elemental Level! Listening to the Waves

Night fell, and the lights of Lijiang City twinkled like stars. From the inn window, one could see the distant outline of Yulong Snow Mountain glowing silvery-white under the moonlight.

The city was more rustic than Jianshui City in Red River Prefecture. Its streets were paved with bluestone slabs, flanked by wooden buildings. Lanterns hung from the eaves, casting a warm, yellow glow.

Zhu Ge sat by the window, toying with three copper coins in his hand.

The copper coins flipped between his fingers, making a crisp clinking sound.

He tried circulating his Literary Energy, infusing a wisp of it into the coins. A faint golden light appeared on their surfaces.

The three copper coins fell onto the table, revealing a hexagram.

He was practicing.

For instance, divining what Liu Jianjian was doing, or the current situation in Red River Prefecture.

After practicing for a moment, Zhu Ge put away the copper coins and stopped his divination. He closed his eyes and sank his Heart Spirit into the Lower Yuan Palace.

The Array Star rotated slowly, with thirty-six Array Patterns circling around it, absorbing the ambient Spiritual Qi from the world.

The number of Array Patterns was still thirty-six, but each one was more condensed than before.

He tried to form a thirty-seventh Array Pattern. Spiritual Qi gathered at his fingertip, slowly tracing a silver line.

The moment the silver line took shape, it disintegrated.

’Just a little more.’ Zhu Ge didn’t lose heart and kept trying.

The thirty-seventh attempt disintegrated.

The thirty-eighth attempt disintegrated.

The thirty-ninth, the fortieth...

Each time, it would fall apart just as it was about to form, as if some invisible bottleneck was holding him back.

’The number of Array Stars must be related to my cultivation,’ Zhu Ge thought.

His Immortal Dao cultivation was only at the Early-First Realm; being able to form thirty-six Array Stars was already his limit.

To form more, he had to first raise his Immortal Dao cultivation.

He stopped trying to form Array Stars and switched to practicing the Thunder Sound Divine Refining Technique.

The sound of thunder echoed through his meridians, and each reverberation made his Divine Soul more solid.

Ever since he obtained the [Fallen Scale] trait, the efficiency of his Thunder Sound Divine Refining Technique had increased significantly. A portion of the thunderous sound was now stored by [Accumulation] for later use.

The night deepened. From outside the inn came the sound of the night watchman’s clapper. Zhu Ge opened his eyes, got up, and walked to the window.

In the moonlight, a figure stood on the rooftop opposite the inn, hands clasped behind his back, his robes fluttering gently in the night wind.

The man was tall and slender with refined features, looking to be no older than his early twenties, but his eyes held a composure that far exceeded his age.

The Third Realm, the Confucian Scholar Realm.

"Mister Zhu Ge," the man began, his voice soft yet carrying clearly to Zhu Ge’s ears. "I am He Baiyu, the City Lord of Lijiang. Might we have a word?"

’The City Lord of Lijiang?’

Zhu Ge glanced sideways slightly.

The Third-Realm Literary Energy of the Confucian Dao coming from this City Lord seemed even more profound than Yan Liyuan’s.

"Please," Zhu Ge said, pushing open the window and making a welcoming gesture.

With a flicker of movement, He Baiyu landed silently on the windowsill and stepped into the room.

He wore moon-white robes, cinched at the waist with a black sash from which hung a white jade pendant.

Just like his name, the man himself was as gentle and refined as jade.

"Forgive me for the late-night disturbance, Mister Zhu Ge." He Baiyu cupped his fist in greeting.

Zhu Ge returned the gesture, invited him to sit at the table, and poured him a cup of tea. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, City Lord He?"

He Baiyu picked up the teacup, took a sip, and set it down. "I have heard that Mister Zhu Ge has created a New Confucian Dao, and I have come to seek your guidance."

He paused. "I have been stuck in the Scholar Realm for twenty years, unable to break through to become a Great Confucian Scholar. In that time, I have read every classic in the academy and traveled all the mountains and rivers of Dali Prefecture, but I am still missing something."

"What is it that you’re missing?" Zhu Ge asked.

"I can’t quite describe it," He Baiyu said, shaking his head. "It’s like being separated by a thin veil. I can clearly see the light on the other side, but I can’t reach it."

He looked at Zhu Ge. "Since you have created a New Dao, your understanding of the Confucian Dao must far surpass my own. Therefore, I would like to ask you to explain the Yi Dao to me. Perhaps I might find some inspiration in it."

Zhu Ge was silent for a moment before saying, "I don’t take disciples, nor do I give lectures for free. One Elemental Level Low-Grade Spiritual Object in exchange for one explanation."

Without the slightest hesitation, He Baiyu produced a black inkstone from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

The inkstone’s surface was covered in fine golden patterns, and a faint flow of Literary Energy circulated within it.

It was an Elemental Level Low-Grade object—and not an ordinary one, but a scholarly artifact specifically for Confucian Cultivators.

"This inkstone is named ’Tide-Listener.’ I obtained it from a Self Realm. Any characters written with ink ground on it will naturally carry a trace of Literary Energy," He Baiyu explained. "It is of no use to me, so I would rather gift it to you, Mister Zhu Ge."

Zhu Ge accepted the inkstone. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and he could faintly hear the sound of tides emanating from within.

He tucked the inkstone into his sleeve and nodded. "Very well. In that case, I will explain the Yi Dao for you, City Lord."

He took out the three copper coins, placed them on the table, and began to explain the first hexagram of the Book of Changes—the Qian Trigram.

"Qian represents sublime success, furthering through perseverance. As heaven’s movement is ever vigorous, so must the superior man ceaselessly strengthen himself..."

He Baiyu listened with great concentration, sometimes nodding, sometimes frowning.

When Zhu Ge reached the line, "Hidden dragon, do not act," He Baiyu suddenly spoke up. "Do you mean... to wait?"

"Not to wait," Zhu Ge said, shaking his head. He took the opportunity to share his own recent insight:

"It is to accumulate. A hidden dragon does not refrain from flying; it refrains from flying when it is not yet able. It accumulates strength and waits for the right moment. When that moment arrives, it becomes a flying dragon in the heavens."

He Baiyu fell into a contemplative silence.

Zhu Ge continued his explanation.

He explained each of the six lines of the Qian Trigram in great detail, from "Hidden dragon, do not act" to "Arrogant dragon will have cause for regret."

He connected the principles of the Book of Changes to his own personal experiences in Red River Prefecture.

The more He Baiyu listened, the more engrossed he became, the light in his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

When Zhu Ge finished explaining the last line, He Baiyu suddenly stood up and gave him a deep bow.

"Thank you, Mister Zhu Ge," He Baiyu said with utmost sincerity.

Zhu Ge quickly helped him up. "There’s no need for such formalities, City Lord."

He Baiyu straightened up, the light in his eyes now firm with resolve. "Mister Zhu Ge, I understand now."

He paused. "I have been stuck in the Scholar Realm for twenty years not because I haven’t read enough books, but because I’ve spent too much time reading other people’s books. The book I should have been reading... is my own heart."

Zhu Ge didn’t speak or offer any comment. He simply nodded.

He Baiyu turned, walked to the window, and with a leap, vanished into the night.

Zhu Ge gazed at the empty rooftop outside the window, sighing inwardly.

’Another cultivator stuck at a bottleneck for years.’

’It’s the same for the Confucian Dao, the Martial Dao, and the Immortal Dao.’

’There are so many Cultivators in this world, but so few who can reach the top.’

He returned to the table, took out the "Tide-Listener" inkstone, and examined it closely.

The inkstone’s surface had fine golden patterns, and the faint sound of tides emanated from within.

He infused a wisp of Literary Energy into the inkstone. It began to glow faintly, and the sound of the tides grew clearer. Within the black stone, an ocean seemed to churn.

’This is good stuff,’ Zhu Ge mused.

His collection had previously consisted entirely of Spirit Level items; now, he suddenly had both High-Grade and Low-Grade items of the Elemental Level.

’Looks like selling lessons really is the best way to make money!’

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