True Sage

In the morning, the next day.

Mao Nianzu woke up. He was dazzled by the sunlight from the open window, and to his surprise, he found himself accidentally sleeping with the yellow parchment opened, showing the array diagram.

Frantic, he snatched the yellow parchment and hurriedly closed it.

"Did someone come to the second floor?" Mao Nianzu lay on the swinging chair.

Due to the unintentional sleep, some part of his body numbs. He stretched his back and cracked his neck and fingers, feeling a satisfying sensation.

After that, Mao Nianzu snooped around his bedroom, searching painstakingly for a black scroll. His hands moved busily, ravaging every nook and cranny for any black stuff he had. Swinging chair, clothes, mats – he tried everything.

"Where's that black scroll?!"

An anxious feeling grew within his heart as he moved to the living room, flipping everything into a mess as though the room was a rubble of shipwreck.

"I haven't even read anything inside it! Come out, black scroll!" He whispered while peeking through a gap under a wooden table. Suddenly, a black scroll appeared out of nowhere, gripped by his right hand.

"Eh?" Mao Nianzu was surprised. When did he grip this stupid scroll...

Because the scroll had been found, he immediately opened it.

As Mao Nianzu opened it, strange characters flew from the scroll and hovered around his body.

Knock! Knock!

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Three rapid knocks sounded soon afterward.

"Hey! Are you blind? That door is very fragile. Don't knock it loud, you damn lawnmower!" Mao Nianzu could not focus at all. Closing the scroll, he hurriedly ran downstairs. Then grabbed a shovel and opened the door.

He's ready to unleash his anger!

"Greets the Young Master!"

"Young master!"

A palanquin with many exquisite decorations was majestically placed in front of the entrance. More than ten people cupped their fists and spoke out with utmost respect.

Mao Nianzu was at a loss. His jaw dropped, and he compared himself to them subconsciously.

Contrary to the luxurious people in front of him, he wore a robe he treasured the most yet looked nothing compared to them.

A shovel in his right hand accentuated his meager impression like a usual mortal with a shameful appearance.

"I am Yuan Zhen. The leader has entrusted me to escort you. Please." A man in a golden, half-armored spoke out.

He had a sharp face, looking reliable, with an extraordinary aura around him. Even when Mao Nianzu appeared in such a shameful appearance, Yuan Zhen did not show any emotion.

"Me?"

Mao Nianzu couldn't help but ask to ensure these people did not come to the wrong place. The onlookers gasped, wondering what was happening.

"You must be joking, Young Master. Of course, it's none other than you," Yuan Zhen replied.

Hearing this, Mao Nianzu wanted to curse badly.

Not sure what he had done in his past life or the recent days, but he had enough confusion on hands. Now, what weird situation had occurred to him again?

Cluck.

Mao Nianzu closed the door and quickly calmed himself as he went upstairs, packing yellow parchment and some important stuff into a bag.

Creak.

He returned, walked casually with a bag on his back, then entered the palanquin as he stepped inside a thin membrane, all noises outside.

"Ar'an?" Inside the palanquin, Ar'an sipped a cup of tea. He appeared elegant, calm, and benevolent—no trace of the frightening bloodlust around him.

"Call me Tian Shen, young master." A gentle smile adorned his face. Tian Shen's beaming crimson robe gracefully spread on a red carpet. He offered a cup, and Mao Nianzu reluctantly received it.

The tea he drank had a rich scent, calming one's mind.

As he sipped it, all uncomfortable sensations on his body gradually melted. He couldn't help but be satisfied.

"Does this treatment show you how wealthy you are now?" asked Tian Shen.

Smiling, Tian Shen peeked at the outside through the gap in the curtain.

"Young master has officially inherited a position of True Sage of Myriads Academy. I sincerely congratulate you, young master," said Tian Shen.

'Congratulate, my ass. Oh, spare me! Why am I entangled with this matter?'

Mao Nianzu grew weary of this. But the title True Sage sounded magnificent and formidable, so it was not bad, right?

Besides, since the Ar'an – Tian Shen was his servant, he did not think Tian Shen would do something funny to him.

Unless that introduction with four beings, including Ar'an, was a lie.

"Is it a fabricated identity?" asked Mao Nianzu.

"Formidable groups in any form have their own secret. Young master is one of the secrets of Myriads Academy. People know your name, but not your power and story," said Tian Shen.

"Is that a no?"

"You will see whether it's true by seeing the disciples' reaction. It's unreasonable for a mere made-up identity to be known by the public, right?" Tian Shen smirked.

"I do commence your attitude, though. Despite the sudden event, you can adapt fast and act accordingly." Sipping the tea, Tian Shen added in a calm manner.

"Hm..." Mao Nianzu fell into his thoughts.

Morals were something his strict parents often emphasized.

Thanks to that, Mao Nianzu lived through until this day, even developing an adept control of expressing emotions which kept him from many troubles.

For example, the encounter with Supreme Elder. Had he shown a bit of unusual behavior, probably something would go in a different direction.

At this point, morals restricted his inner, filthy thoughts and attitude, chained it more.

After he finished the thought, they chatted more on the journey.

------

At a mountain.

Numerous cultivators filled both the sky and the streets. Indistinct chatter noises rang everywhere, with everyone minding their own business.

A golden palanquin lifted by eight people flew at a high yet constant speed, leaving a trail of golden haze.

This standout arrival sucked people's attention as many heads looked above, gasping and frowning while squinting their eyes to see the object clearly.

Several lights shot out from different peaks, then they dived, slithered, and glided in spectacular maneuvers, performing a fascinating attraction that left people in awe.

Stopped a few meters in front of the palanquin, the lights transformed into several figures who stood with flying swords.

They lowered their head, cupped their fist, and said with the utmost respect: "Welcome to the Rocky Mountain. Let us have the honor of escorting you."

"I appreciate it," said Tian Shen within the palanquin. "But I'd like to start as everyone does. Walking barefoot towards the summit."

With that, the thin membrane spread. Tian Shen stepped out, followed by Mao Nianzu behind; both were barefoot.

A perplexed look adorned the several figures. They secretly glanced at Mao Nianzu. Guessing who he was. After both men landed on the ground, these figures returned to their respective places quickly.

"Who are they?" asked Mao Nianzu.

A rowdy and good-natured crowd filled his vision. In a new black robe given by Tian Shen, Mao Nianzu walked with an uninterest look.

The onlookers caught a glimpse of his elegant visage.

A rough white skin yet slender fingers. One calm look along with fluttering long hair. The black robe accentuated Mao Nianzu's mysterious figure.

"They are my servants. What's mine is yours as well." Next to Mao Nianzu was Tian Shen.

Enshrouded by hazy brilliance lights. He wore a crimson robe draped on the ground. His expression showed a faint smile.

Despite his middle-aged man visage, he had a unique charm that could make people revere him wholeheartedly.

Both of them casually strolled in the streets, yet as soon as the passersby noticed their presence, people looked perplexed with a hint of admiration.

Mao Nianzu cared less. He adapted to his new 'role' and secretly wracked his brain to get a well-prepared image befitting his position.

Though he found it hard to believe, acting as a high-position man was easy. Since people depicted his fearsome image, all Mao Nianzu needed to do was acting accordingly.

Of course, once someone requested him to perform his power, he had no idea how to face it yet. That's the difficulty.

The scorching sun was solitude with scarce fluffy white dots revealed in the expanse. Birds flew around along with flying cultivators.

Soon after, they arrived in front of a gate with thousands of stairs behind it. It led upward, going above until an indistinct summit.

Mao Nianzu was secretly amazed at the stairs.

Many were climbing the stairs with sweats visibly seen on their body. All of which wore an ascetic robe of different colors. And they were also barefoot.

"Why do we all go barefoot?" asked Mao Nianzu.

"This is the tradition in Rocky Mountain." Tian Shen offered a golden fan to him and continued: "A little bit of suffering may give us insight. No rush. Just treat it as a stroll."

'It seems like this tradition is so important that not a single soul has footwear,' thought Mao Nianzu.

It meant no one dared to violate it—total submission.

Why did this tradition appear? And why did everyone obey it?

Barefoot or not, it was a matter of process.

Life is for oneself. Choosing the easier is better.

For instance, if one's feet began to blister because of this tradition, it would prevent one from doing daily activities the next day.

Unproductive life. The loss was more than the gain.

But this was the perspective of Mao Nianzu, the mortal.

"Let's go." Tian Shen stepped on the stair.

And then they strode together, along with many cultivators, toward the summit.