Critiquing the Ills of the Day

Daoist Jinlian sent a message via the Earth Book fragment:

【NINE: I do not understand military affairs, but there is something you all seem to have overlooked. That is, Heilian!】

When they saw Daoist Jinlian’s message, the members of the Heaven and Earth Society all felt a chill in their hearts.

【ONE: Daoist, do you mean…】

【NINE: Yes, the existence of the Heaven and Earth Society members had long been exposed. There must inevitably be a conclusion between Heilian and myself. Now that Xu Qi’an had entered the beyond-mortal realm, and you are all fourth rank, your fighting power is considerable.

【Put yourself in their shoes. If you were Heilian, what would you do?】

Join hands with the Yunzhou rebels to attack the Great Feng… This thought flashed across the minds of the members of the Heaven and Earth Society. As for Lina, it suddenly occurred to her that when she first joined the Heaven and Earth Society, she had indeed agreed to help Daoist Jinlian clean house once her cultivation had greatly advanced.

It had been so long, she had almost forgotten that promise.

Besides, she had absolutely not meant to go against Daoist Jinlian just now, she really could not figure out where Daoist Jinlian had been wrong.

【TWO: But Heilian has not appeared.】

【ONE: Could it be that Heilian is in seclusion, too preoccupied to deal with outside matters, just as you were previously, Daoist Jinlian?】

Whenever major issues arose, Huaiqing always spoke actively and was never shy with her opinions.

【NINE: That would not be the case. Although Heilian spent most of his time in deep slumber, he always left an avatar outside and would not completely cut off the outside world.】

Chu Yuanzhen sent a message:

【This matter is indeed unusual. Heilian once formed an alliance with Zhende to deal with Xu Ningyan. In that case, he would surely ally himself with the Yunzhou rebels as well. Even if Heilian was unwilling, Xu Pingfeng would surely persuade him.

【Yet the rebels have been entangled with the Qingzhou army for so long, and Heilian has still not appeared. What is he plotting?】

Daoist Jinlian analysed via the Earth Book fragment:

【Heilian is cunning and treacherous. If he were to conspire with a second-rank arcanist, combining their schemes, no one could predict what they might be plotting.】

The members of the Heaven and Earth Society instantly grew vigilant.

But they were not too afraid, because with Xu Qi’an’s current status, if he went all out, dealing with Heilian alone would not be too difficult.

Although that guy was a third-rank martial artist, he had many tricks up his sleeve and many trump cards. The power he could unleash was by no means that of an ordinary third rank. Moreover, Heilian’s condition was abnormal, he was incomplete.

Among those of the second rank, he should be considered middle to upper tier, not quite the level of top experts like Luo Yuheng, who had half a foot in the first rank.

Daoist Jinlian sent a message: 【Just now Number Four mentioned Xu Pingfeng…】

Chu Yuanzhen replied: 【Xu Pingfeng is that second-rank arcanist.】

【NINE: That name is a bit odd.】

Daoist Jinlian tactfully expressed his doubt, if he remembered correctly, Xu Qi’an’s second uncle was called Xu Pingzhi.

Ah, um… The members of the Heaven and Earth Society were momentarily at a loss for words.

The relationship drama between the Xu family father and son was just too complicated; they did not know where to begin. You could say that “listeners were heartbroken and those who saw it wept”, that wouldn’t be wrong. You could say that times were deteriorating and morality decaying, also not wrong.

【THREE: He was my father, my second uncle’s elder brother.】

At this point, Xu Qi’an jumped in.

He had actually been lurking the whole time. Now, lying on a small boat, basking in the sun and feeling the sea breeze, with a flock of seagulls wheeling in the distance.

The group leader has finally come online. If you had stayed in seclusion another year or two, even the Central Plains might have changed dynasties… For some reason, Xu Qi’an felt much more at ease.

It was not so much that Daoist Jinlian was so powerful, but that when Xu Qi’an had been weak, Daoist Jinlian had always played the role of a reliable senior. Even now that he had become a peak expert, he still felt a sense of security like a child seeing his parents.

In the Heaven and Earth Society, while Huaiqing and Chu Yuanzhen were certainly clever and the others reliable, none could compare to the group leader.

In Xu Qi’an’s eyes, Daoist Jinlian was one of the few “old foxes” capable of playing chess against the Jianzheng and Xu Pingfeng.

With his advice and analysis of pros and cons, coupled with Daoist Jinlian’s rich experience in the martial world, Xu Qi’an would find things much easier.

The second-rank arcanist in Yunzhou is Xu Qi’an’s father?!

Daoist Jinlian’s mind buzzed for ages. He never imagined Xu Ningyan’s background would be so bizarrely convoluted.

His father is a second-rank arcanist, a graduate of the Sitianjian. Xu Ningyan is wrapped in fortune and favoured by the Jianzheng as an important piece… In that instant, inspiration struck Daoist Jinlian like a spark.

He suddenly understood many issues that had previously puzzled him.

【NINE: What are the specifics?】

Number Three did not reply for a long time.

Xu Ningyan isn’t speaking, because he doesn’t want to bring up that insane father of his… Chu Yuanzhen, ever astute, sent a message:

【FOUR: This matter must start from the time after Zhende was killed…】

Zhuangyuan Chu, explained everything from Xu Pingfeng’s first appearance, his intention to seize fortune, then all the way up to Yunzhou’s rebellion. Logical and articulate, his words were concise but detailed.

He fully showcased the literary skill of a first place Zhuangyuan.

From Zhende to Xu Pingfeng, all “good fathers”, truly… Daoist Jinlian sighed with emotion.

【TWO: Xu Ningyan, can you tell Daoist Jinlian the secret of the Buddha?】

【FOUR: Yes, Daoist, you are widely experienced and have access to more high-level secrets than we do. You might be able to offer a different perspective.】

Li Miaozhen’s words were endorsed by Chu Yuanzhen.

Li Lingsu also agreed, sending a message: 【This matter involves secrets of Beyond-ranks. Our previous level was far too low, and we lacked sufficient background. All we could do was be shocked, but you, Daoist, as the Human Sect Daoist Leader, may be inspired by this and recall certain things.】

What are you all talking about… Daoist Jinlian stared blankly at the Earth Book fragment.

Secrets of Beyond-ranks? The secret of the Buddha? No, although I’m the Human Sect Daoist Leader, I don’t know the secrets of the Beyond-rank either… No, that’s not the point. The point is, how did you lot even come to know the secret of the Buddha?

And from the looks of it, it also seems to involve Xu Qi’an?

Daoist Jinlian began to suspect that rather than being in seclusion for half a year, he had been in seclusion for a whole sixty years.

【THREE: I’ll tell it!】

Immediately, Xu Qi’an told Daoist Jinlian about the relationship between the Buddha and Shenshu, the hidden truth about the battle against the Yao five hundred years ago, and his two speculations.

After sending the message, Daoist Jinlian did not respond for a long time, there was no movement at all.

For so long that the Heaven and Earth Society members thought Daoist Jinlian had gone offline.

【NINE: Shocking, even I did not expect there to be such a hidden truth behind the Sixty-year extermination of the yao five hundred years ago.】

Having come back to his senses, Daoist Jinlian sent a message with a sigh, making his meaning clear, this level of secret was too deep, even he did not know.

It seems Daoist Jinlian can’t reach secrets concerning Beyond-ranks either, even though he’s the Daoist Leader of the Earth Sect… The members, who had hoped there might be clues in the Earth Sect’s records, now understood and did not pursue the matter, nor did they sigh with things like, “Even Daoist Jinlian doesn’t know?”

It was not that he could not say; it was simply not necessary.

Half a year ago Daoist Jinlian was the backbone of the Heaven and Earth Society, any time someone had a question, he would always have the answer.

Just as the others were about to change the topic, Lina belatedly sent a message:

【Ah, even Daoist Jinlian doesn’t know? I thought for sure you would know something, you’re the Daoist Leader of the Earth Sect, one of the most important people in all of Jiuzhou.】

…The members of the Heaven and Earth Society silently covered their faces.

【NINE: Actually, when Lina said that a half-step Martial God appeared in that Sixty-year extermination of the yao, I already found it strange. As far as I know, the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox was first rank, almost no possibility to advance even further.

【At first I thought Lina had remembered wrongly, but later during the Sangpo affair, Shenshu attracted my attention. He came from the Buddhist sect, and he too was sealed at Sangpo five hundred years ago. His physical body is undying, his primordial spirit immortal, not even the Buddha could kill him.

【Although I have no evidence, I am almost certain he is that half-step Martial God.】

Daoist Jinlian is struggling very hard to retain his dignity… Xu Qi’an sent a message:

【As expected of Daoist Jinlian, you have long been aware. By the way, everyone, I have just returned from overseas, and I have a secret about the gods and demons to share with you all.】

Why does he always have so many secrets… The Heaven and Earth Society members instantly perked up, but their feelings were complicated.

Since when did ancient secrets and Beyond-rank mysteries become like cabbages, and he was the only one to run into them all?

【THREE: Do you all know how the gods and demons were destroyed?】

Xu Qi’an opened the discussion.

【SEVEN: At the end of the gods and demons era, the human and Yao clans rose, one powerhouse after another appeared, and the two races ended the era of gods and demons. In this, the credit goes mostly to pioneering ancestors of our human race, the Yao at best played a minor role. Our Daoist Venerable, as the first Beyond-rank of the human race, was among those who destroyed the gods and demons.】

Li Lingsu stated the textbook answer.

Li Miaozhen added:

【TWO: But actually, the era of the Daoist Venerable should have come after the gods and demons, though none of the Heaven, Earth, or Human Sects have detailed records on the Daoist Venerable.】

After that, she and the rest of the Heaven and Earth Society stared closely at their Earth Book fragments, awaiting Xu Qi’an’s reply.

【THREE: While returning from overseas, not long ago, I encountered a descendant of a god demon who had survived from ancient times to the present, personally witnessing that upheaval.

【It told me that the real reason the gods and demons era ended was because the gods and demons went mad for no reason and slaughtered each other.】

This message was like a cannon shell, striking the hearts of the Heaven and Earth Society members, driving up a storm strong enough to shatter rationality.

For a time, Li Miaozhen, Huaiqing, Chu Yuanzhen and the others were struck speechless, and the Earth Book chat group fell into silence.

Xu Qi’an’s revelation had cleared the mists of history for them, like a bolt of lightning slashing through their minds, bringing sparks of inspiration.

Some were suddenly enlightened, some were shocked and bewildered, some found it incredible, some were thrilled and excited… none could remain calm.

And this brought new questions.

【FOUR: Why did the gods and demons slaughter each other?】

Perhaps they all shared the same obnoxious habit of “What are you looking at? Looking for a go?”… Xu Qi’an sighed and replied:

【I don’t know, nor did that descendant. But it said the Daoist Venerable might know. Back then, the Daoist Venerable drove all the descendants of gods and demons out of Jiuzhou.】

The Daoist Venerable even drove out all the descendants of the gods and demons from Jiuzhou?! Daoist Jinlian was shocked yet again, yet another secret he did not know.

The Heaven and Earth Society members offered no opinions. Obviously, this was an ancient secret an even higher level than the “Buddha’s secret,” and any guess would be meaningless speculation.

But that did not mean they did not take it seriously, they had already engraved it deeply in their memories.

Seeing that the discussion had wound down and no one was speaking, Daoist Jinlian took the initiative to send a message:

【The Holy Son has finally regained his freedom. How did it feel to weather the tribulation of love?】

You’ll need to ask him privately about his waist… Xu Qi’an mentally lampooned, and believed the other Heaven and Earth Society members did so as well.

【SEVEN: I am ashamed to say, enduring the tribulation of love did little to help me achieve “Supreme Detachment from Emotion.” Instead, all those years travelling the jianghu with Brother Xu nearly led me to understanding it.】

After sending the message, the Holy Son inwardly spat in contempt, Xu Ningyan, that womanising scoundrel.

Daoist Jinlian was not interested in Li Lingsu’s mental journey, and sent a message:

【I am about to go look at Number Eight’s place of seclusion. Number Eight has been in seclusion for many years, never waking, I am a bit worried.】

Ah, we have a Number Eight in the Heaven and Earth Society? This question flickered through the mind of every member.

【TWO: Daoist, who exactly is this Number Eight?】

Li Miaozhen voiced everyone’s curiosity.

【NINE: Heh, though the seven of you have now met and become friends and need not worry about exposing your identities, this does not include Number Eight. Unless he wishes it himself, I must also abide by the Society’s rules.】

Having heard this, they did not press further. It had just been a casual question anyway.

When Number Eight emerged, they would all ostracise him (or her) together.

【THREE: When I return to the Southern Marches, I’ll head north to join the war in Qingzhou. You should all come too. If Heilian dares to show himself, we’ll destroy him once and for all.】

With the matters concerning the shaman clans and Yao resolved, he had no more worries and could throw himself on the battlefield to take on Xu Pingfeng.

The members of the Heaven and Earth Society all agreed, and Li Miaozhen was even eager to return to her old ways and go to war.

…

Southern Marches, Strength Gu clan.

Lina sat on the door sill outside the courtyard, turning her Earth Book fragment over and over.

“Huh, why is no one saying anything?”

The fair-skinned girl from the Southern Marches blinked in confusion, banging the Earth Book fragment on the sill, but still received no message.

“Why did everyone stop talking all of a sudden? Are you all still there?”

Hugging her Earth Book fragment, Lina sent a message to the group.

The message vanished like a stone into the sea, no response at all.

After she had said, “Ah, even Daoist Jinlian doesn’t know?” it had become like this.

She vaguely felt something wasn’t quite right.

At this moment, Xu Lingyin ran over with a group of children from the Strength Gu clan, waving her hand:

“Master, take us hunting! Take us to play!”

Lina immediately stuffed the Earth Book fragment into her arms, happily saying,

“Alright!”

She cheerfully went off with the children to play.

Critiquing the Ills of the Day

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