Chapter 1054: Unbroken Past Twenty-Three

The topic of Mr. Ji quickly faded. It wasn't that people didn't want to hear more, but there wasn't much to say, and anecdotal "unofficial histories" weren't worth discussing. So, everyone's attention soon returned to the Dharma Assembly.

At this moment, a master was delivering a sermon from the center of the cloud sea. His voice echoed throughout the entire area. Although not everyone found it perfectly suited to them, it contained profound principles that could inspire others and allow for mutual corroboration.

Mi Huang was also listening attentively, but the path discussed by the speaker didn't quite align with his own, and he was preoccupied with his own calculations. Distracted, he continuously fiddled with the prayer beads in his hand, rubbing them for a long time. He then plucked the largest bead from the string and casually tossed it.

The luminous pearl transformed into a lightless ripple and flew out of the pavilion. Although all the onlookers possessed profound cultivation, few noticed this faint light. Those who did either glanced sideways or showed no reaction.

The ripple flew directly to the edge of the Luoxuan Cloud Sea, landing in the hand of a Celestial Realm cultivator, where it reformed into a shimmering pearl.

This was understood to be a message. After inspecting it, the cultivator drew several talismans in the air over the radiant pearl with his finger, then sent it out of the Luoxuan Cloud Sea. Such messages were often sent during the assembly, so it was not unusual; after all, it was common for those who didn't wish to leave the assembly to suddenly need to send a message using a magical artifact.

The pearl flew out again, quickly reaching the Heavenly Gate. After its identification and verification, the Heavenly Gate shimmered faintly, allowing it to fly out of the Celestial Realm. The two guardian gods at the gate stood unmoving, seemingly not even casting a glance.

A hundred li after passing through the Heavenly Gate, the pearl accelerated continuously. After flying for an unknown duration, it reached the sky above Banana Leaf Mountain. After hovering there for a moment, it immediately descended.

The pearl flew over the spot where lightning had previously struck, finally arriving at the Mountain God Temple. The next moment, the stream of light from the pearl expanded outwards, quickly transforming into a person resembling Mi Huang, but with vermilion hair and a flame-like vermilion pattern on his brow. His attire was also more solemn and magnificent.

"Crack... Pop..."

The person stretched his body, letting out a comfortable groan, and his joints crackled. A faint divine light subtly emerged from his back, casting a soft glow over his entire body.

The person's gaze swept around the Mountain God Temple before settling on the statue of the Mountain God. After a moment, he nodded slightly and spoke using a telepathic spell.

"I request the Mountain God of this place to appear for a discussion."

The voice traveled far, following the ley lines connected to the Mountain God Temple until it reached the ears of Elder Gong. The latter had been on edge recently, constantly in a state of readiness. Upon hearing the "summoning god" incantation, he immediately used earth evasion to depart.

A few breaths later, the Mountain God appeared within his temple. Seeing the eminent figure before him, he immediately cupped his hands and bowed.

"This humble deity, Gong Muhua, greets the immortal master."

The man with vermilion hair looked at the Mountain God and spoke with a smile.

"The Celestial Realm's Thunder Department is displeased with your previous act of blocking the heavenly lightning. However, you need not worry; your tribulation is not here. I have already handled it, and no celestial deity will come to hold you accountable."

Gong Muhua trembled slightly. He looked up at the man, then bowed deeply. The man nodded slightly, accepting the bow, and then turned to leave.

The Mountain God, sensing something, watched expectantly from behind. But when the other party said nothing more, he couldn't help but speak.

"Immortal Master..."

The red-haired man paused, turned around, and spoke.

"I almost forgot. I actually shouldn't have gotten involved in this matter. Hmm, don't tell Hu Yun I was here."

"Yes!"

Gong Muhua quickly responded, but the excitement in his heart was irrepressible. Having received no clear answer last time, he decided to ask again.

"Immortal Master, may this humble deity presume to ask, how can I achieve full cultivation?"

The man thought for a moment and smiled.

"That cannot be spoken! Has Hu Yun told you much? I'll have to remind her. How much did she tell you, and do you know where she is now?"

Gong Muhua quickly shook his head in denial.

"Immortal Master, Immortal Hu Yun never said much. Please don't misunderstand. I simply spoke a little because she showed some interest in Lady She Ji, but she left before I finished. She should be back in Ning'an County now to see Sun Yiqiu."

Sun Yiqiu?

The red-haired man's expression remained perfectly calm as he nodded indifferently.

"I believe you. That's good then. Consider that I was never here. Remember, cultivate diligently, and we shall meet again if fate allows!"

After saying this, the red-haired man stepped out of the Mountain God Temple, transformed into a stream of light, and vanished, leaving the Mountain God in the temple feeling both excited and a little disappointed.

Meanwhile, the red-haired man was already flying towards Ning'an County, his mind racing. Of course, he had heard of Ning'an County's renown – the birthplace of the Sage of Literature, regarded as the origin of all literary traditions under heaven. Thus, it was not surprising that Hu Yun would go there.

'Sun Yiqiu?'

The red-haired man pondered, realizing this was a crucial person.

That afternoon, the red-haired man arrived in Ning'an County. Instead of flying directly into the town, he transformed into a scholar outside the county limits and then caught a carriage, slowly entering Ning'an.

What kind of outsiders were most numerous in Ning'an County? Scholars, without a doubt.

Shortly after entering Ning'an County, the red-haired man alighted from the carriage. After thanking the driver, he walked to Miaosi Fang, paid respects at the Temple of the Sage of Literature, observed Miaosi Fang, ate pastries from Louwai Lou, drank Huadiao wine brewed in Ning'an County, and then toured the so-called "Sage of Literature's Hometown," a large complex of official residences and buildings.

The man spent three or four days in Ning'an County, combining pilgrimage with sightseeing, before reaching the street outside Tianniu Fang. From a distance, he saw the sign for Sun's Noodle Stall and walked towards it with a smile.

Before he even reached the stall, his voice carried ahead.

"I've heard that Sun's Braised Noodles have a long history, and that even the Sage of Literature himself once ate them. Is that true?"

"Come in, come in, esteemed guest!"

Sun Yiqiu enthusiastically motioned for the guest to sit down and replied proudly.

"What you say is absolutely true, esteemed guest! Our Sun family's craft has been passed down for dozens of generations, and even Master Sage of Literature enjoyed our noodles back then. You'll know how delicious they are once you taste them. Many of our regulars remember this flavor; if they've been away for a long time, the first thing they do upon returning, after reuniting with family, is to come here for noodles!"

"Yiqiu, stop chattering. Esteemed guest, please excuse his talk. What would you like to eat? Our shop is small and only serves braised noodles and some braised dishes."

The red-haired man glanced at Sun Yiqiu.

"Does the proprietor have any recommendations?"

"How about a bowl of braised noodles and a bowl of offal? Many of our regulars order that."

"Alright, as you suggest, one bowl of offal and one bowl of braised noodles!"

"Coming right up!"

As the Sun father and son prepared the noodles and poured tea, the red-haired man subtly observed them. Suddenly, his heart stirred slightly, and he turned his head to the side, where two large yellow dogs were passing by the stall.

'Interesting, it seems this is indeed the place!'

When the noodles were ready, the scholar immediately began to taste them, praising them effusively. After finishing and paying, he chatted for a while before departing without delay.

For several consecutive days, the scholar came to eat noodles, either in the morning or at noon, sometimes twice a day, sometimes once. He grew quite familiar with the Sun family. By the evening of the fourth day, the scholar was chatting with the Sun father and son as they were closing up their stall.

"Young Master Hong, we're closing up now. Let's continue our talk about the outside world tomorrow."

"Hahaha, I accidentally lost track of time. Can I help?"

Father Sun called out from his side.

"No need to trouble Young Master Hong. Yiqiu, be quicker with your work, stop chatting."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The scholar quickly stood up and moved aside to make it easier for Yiqiu to pack away the tables and stools. He then watched them fold the oilcloth, arrange their items, and stack everything neatly onto the cart.

As the cart started to move and turn, the scholar's eyes glinted. He sharply noticed a wooden plaque on the inner side of the cart, and the moment he saw it, his heart jolted with surprise.

'Leave a portion? The spiritual resonance of this spell is so strong, and its artistic conception extraordinary. How did I not notice it before? Was it left by the Sage of Literature? Or... Mr. Ji?'

"Oh? The spell on this wooden plaque is truly exquisite. Whose calligraphy is this?"

The man displayed the curiosity befitting a scholar and quickly stepped closer to examine it carefully. Sun Yiqiu answered with a smile.

"Oh, this is an ancestral heirloom. Our stall also has a rule: no matter how good business is, we must always reserve a portion of ingredients, in accordance with this plaque."

"Uh, by whom was it left?"

The scholar was extremely curious. Sun Yiqiu scratched his head, but Father Sun spoke first.

"Hahaha, Young Master Hong, this plaque has been passed down for dozens of generations. Nowadays, it's just a symbol. We've long forgotten for whom it was left, and it doesn't hold much meaning anymore."

"Oh, indeed. But if that's the case, aren't you wasting noodles?"

"Of course, we take it home and eat it ourselves."

"That's still a bother, having to eat it every day, hahaha. Oh, I apologize for my impertinence."

Father Sun replied with a laugh.

"No worries, Young Master Hong, what you said is true. It is indeed troublesome, but we've grown used to it. Alright, that's enough for today."

"Very well, I'll come for noodles again tomorrow. I'll take my leave now!"

Young Master Hong cupped his hands and bowed, then looked towards the nearby area. Sun Yiqiu was already greeting another cart, where an old man and a girl were present. He was chatting and laughing intimately with the girl.

The scholar smiled, shook his head slightly, then turned and left, muttering regretfully to himself.

"Ah, what a pity about this calligraphy. It's an ancestral heirloom of the Sun family, so they definitely won't sell it. I wonder which famous master created it, perhaps even the Sage of Literature. Hmm, no, that's not right. If it were left by the Sage of Literature, it would have been confiscated by the imperial court long ago..."

The scholar returned to the inn, greeted the waiter, and then proceeded with his usual ablutions before going to bed. At midnight, he left a decoy body on the bed and quietly slipped into the underworld.

Many official written records in Ning'an County in the mortal realm were incomplete, growing more so with time due to factors like insect damage, rodent gnawing, damp rot, and human interference. To view a complete history of Ning'an County, the Underworld was the proper place to go.