Refuse to trample on the pride of heaven

Deep in the bamboo forest, four newly erected stone tablets glowed with a cool luster under the quiet light and shadow, and the air was filled with the smell of freshly turned soil and the fragrance of bamboo leaves.

Lin Zhengxiu stared at the stone tablet engraved with "The Tomb of My Father Lin Zhuxuan" for a long time, and his fingertips unconsciously brushed across the powerful handwriting, as if drawing the final comfort.

His straight back revealed a sense of determination. The surging emotions just now had been forcibly suppressed, leaving only the bottomless depression in his eyes.

He slowly turned around and faced Lu Wensheng.

The face that usually showed aloofness and sarcasm now looked particularly pale, but the eyes were unusually sharp, like a cold blade tempered by fire.

"Lu Kui Shou," Lin Zhengxiu's voice was low and clear, with a texture that was almost like metallic friction, "I will take his place and walk the future path, but..."

The corners of Lin Zhengxiu's mouth twitched upward ever so slightly. Instead of warmth, that smile revealed a chill and stubbornness that penetrated deep into his bones. "This doesn't mean I've let go of my hatred and my debt."

He paused, meeting Lu Wensheng's probing gaze. His eyes were as deep as a cold pond, as if hiding a ferocious beast waiting to devour its prey. "My revenge will never stop here."

Lu Wensheng frowned slightly: "You mean..."

Lin Zhengxiu just shook his head slowly: "It's not the time yet, but you will know eventually."

A gentle breeze, carrying the fragrance of bamboo leaves, blew through the forest at the right moment, gently lifting the scattered hair on his forehead and brushing against the lingering tear marks on his cheeks. The cool touch made him shiver slightly.

He raised his hand and gently stroked his wet and cold cheek, as if confirming some existence, or seeking some response.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze still glued to the stone tablet. His voice was so low it was almost a whisper, carrying a childlike fragility and a desperate persistence. It penetrated the rustling of bamboo leaves and landed clearly in this quiet world:

"Dad, you'll always watch over me, right?"

That soft question didn't seem like a search for an answer, but more like a declaration of faith engraved in the bones.

Regardless of whether he responds or not, Lin Zhuxuan's existence, his expectations, and his unfinished journey have all turned into an invisible mark, deeply engraved on Lin Zhengxiu's life trajectory, becoming his only lighthouse and inescapable shackles in the long years to come.

Lin Zhengxiu walked away alone. The wind blew, and the shadows of the bamboo swayed, like a silent sigh.

------

Returning to the original site of Xuanyin Sect, the air seemed to still linger with the solemnity and aftertaste of the previous thunderous means.

Yan Zhaoming, Cang Lige, Tan Heng and other geniuses seemed to be very interested. They were hooked by Lu Wensheng's words "earth-shaking" and "can reduce debts" and were almost looking forward to Lu Wensheng finishing his trivial matters.

As soon as Lu Wensheng appeared, this group of gifted young men surrounded him. Yan Zhaoming couldn't wait to rub his hands together, his eyes shining brightly. "Brother Lu, tell me! What's this earth-shattering and exciting thing? Are you going to raid some old demon's lair? Or have you discovered some ancient secret realm?"

Cang Lige also rarely put away his arrogance and showed curiosity; even Qin Xiao next door raised his eyelids, obviously his appetite was whetted by this "earth-shaking event".

"Just follow me." Lu Wensheng had a mysterious smile on his face. Without saying much, he turned around and left.

The geniuses were filled with excitement and anticipation, as if they were about to embark on a thrilling adventure. They followed Lu Wensheng step by step, crossing the devastated square and bypassing the collapsed palaces... Finally, their footsteps stopped in front of a huge building that was damaged but the skeleton was still intact, emitting the smell of old ink and dust.

Everyone subconsciously looked up, their eyes fixed on the mottled plaque hanging at the door - "Book Collection Pavilion".

“…” The scene instantly fell into an eerie silence.

The excited smile on Yan Zhaoming's face froze, and the corners of his mouth twitched. He swallowed hard, his neck seemed to be rusted, and slowly turned to Lu Wensheng, his voice carrying a hint of unbelievable dryness: "Lu Wensheng...it can't be what I thought..."

Lu Wensheng turned around, facing the shocked faces that looked like they were joking, but his smile remained gentle, even with a hint of approval, "This child is teachable." "Well, you are all very perceptive indeed. The so-called 'earth-shaking', 'fun', and 'significant' event is precisely to use the remaining books in the Xuanyin Sect's library to 'check for omissions and fill in the gaps' and 'remove the dross and retain the essence' of the many magic arts.

We need to select those techniques that still have a solid foundation, aren't deeply evil, or are easily reformed, and then transform them into righteous magic techniques that adhere to the principle of 'not harming nature or morality.'"

Sure enough! Lu Wensheng thinks that good things are not good!

"Boom!" These words were like a bolt from the blue, hitting Song Wen's crown accurately.

The blood color on his face faded away completely, and his eyes lost their luster in an instant, as if the whole world had collapsed.

He finally managed to break free from his master's "devil's clutches" (the mountain of books), thinking that from then on, the world would be vast and boundless, that he could open the gates to heaven with a single sword and swallow a golden elixir. His life was his own, not the will of God's. This was a passionate monk's fantasy adventure...

The result? After endless twists and turns, he'd ended up from one pile of books, plunging into another, vaster, and more obscure ocean of magical tomes! What a mockery of fate! He seemed to be seeing countless tomes filled with twisted runes and bizarre illustrations, drowning him like a black tide.

"Ah?" Cang Lige reacted the fastest, her beautiful blue eyes were immediately covered with a layer of innocent mist, her brain spinning rapidly, her tone innocent and a little righteous: "But... Lord Kuishou, I... I am a mermaid! Fish can't read! We communicate in the sea by singing and blowing bubbles!" She tried to get away with it cutely.

Tan Heng, who was standing by, received Canglige's signal, and silently turned away his beautiful but cold face, looking at the top of a remaining pillar. His voice was cold, as if stating a very natural fact: "Well, snakes can't read. We don't even... have hands." The implication was that even if he wanted to help, he could do nothing.

Li Zheng was even more direct. A puff of white air blew out of his huge nose, followed by a deep, long "Moo!" His eyes, as big as copper bells, glared at Lu Wensheng, his meaning clear: Have you ever heard of playing the lute to a cow? I, an old cow, am a rough man!

The other human prodigies, such as Yan Zhaoming, Yun Wujiu, and Jiang Jinyue, though lacking the "natural advantages" of the demon race, immediately followed suit, waving their hands frantically in unison, their faces filled with resistance. "Ya Meidie! I don't even like to study this at home unless it's necessary, and you're asking me to come out and modify my technique?!"

That expression seemed as if letting them enter the library was more terrifying than asking them to fight the devil alone.

Pretending to be illiterate? Pretending to have no hands? Pretending to be awesome? Interesting! To avoid reading, these geniuses threw everything they could at it, leaving their moral integrity in the dust.

Looking at the scene of the eight immortals crossing the sea, each showing off their magical powers to evade responsibility, the smile on Lu Wensheng's face not only did not diminish, but became even brighter. That smile was like the warm sunshine in March, but it made everyone present feel an inexplicable chill.