Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

“Empty Dragon… Ancient Path of Gods… Three years…” Zhou Qingfeng slowly opened his eyes, his face numb, his eyes empty, his voice hoarse, speaking with difficulty, his thoughts stuck, like an old and poorly maintained machine, getting stuck a little with every step, and a big lag every three steps.

For the past eight years, I have devoted myself to cultivation, repeating the same thing every day with focus and instinct, without realizing how fast time has passed. Looking back, eight years seem to have passed in the blink of an eye.

In reality, it wasn't like that. Eight years was eight years, not a single second had disappeared. It was just that his memory and cognition were malfunctioning. The days in his memory were too monotonous, too boring, and too tedious. It was the daily cultivation that made him feel that eight years had passed in the blink of an eye.

For eight years, he transcended the mundane world, temporarily severing ties with worldly grudges and emotional entanglements. He spent his days cultivating himself, remaining silent and withdrawn. His seven emotions and six desires gradually faded, and he became devoid of desires, even his lust for power diminished significantly.

This is a sequela that every cultivator who has been in seclusion for a long time will experience. It is very simple to cure the sequela of seclusion. Just spend some time with your family and soothe your mind with the warmth of the mortal world. You will be back to normal without any medical treatment.

Zhou Qingfeng was no longer a novice cultivator. He knew how to adjust his condition quickly after the seclusion ended. He was not confused or worried about his abnormal state. Instead, he continued to cultivate, summoning his illusionary form to hone his combat abilities.

Deepen the application of techniques and physical skills.

For two and a half years, Zhou Qingfeng used himself as a whetstone to hone his combat abilities. Only when he encountered himself did Zhou Qingfeng realize how troublesome and difficult he was. He maintained the same frequency of combat throughout the entire battle, both in terms of combat awareness and combat skills.

The same strategies that one possesses can also be used in one's imagination.

The illusionary form also possesses the spells that it knows.

The physical skills I know, my fantasy form also knows.

All the techniques are replicated one-to-one, making it virtually unbeatable in a fight, with no way to break through the opponent's moves.

After each battle, Zhou Qingfeng would carefully review the battle and study new ways to use his spells and physical techniques.

For the past two and a half years, his cultivation level has not increased, but his combat ability has been steadily improving.

With only six months left, the Echoing Dragon will descend upon Sword Tower City, guiding 108 passengers to retrace the Ancient Path of Godhood.

Zhou Qingfeng was unwilling to miss this once-in-a-millennium opportunity. After all, stepping onto the Ancient Path of Godhood would give him the chance to obtain the unparalleled inheritance of ancient powerhouses. Countless lost secret techniques, forbidden techniques, divine artifacts, divine medicines and other peerless treasures would appear on the Ancient Path of Godhood.

How many opportunities one can obtain depends entirely on one's own abilities.

Anyway, as long as I can retrace the entire Path of the Gods, I will surely reach the pinnacle one day.

This was incredibly tempting for Zhou Qingfeng, but he didn't necessarily have to participate. After all, with his talent, luck, hard work, and the power and resources he controlled, the probability of him becoming a top expert was not low; he just needed time to take it step by step.

Because of his long period of seclusion, Zhou Qingfeng's thinking had become rigid, and he had lost his sharp judgment. Therefore, he was not in a hurry to make a decision, lest he make a wrong step and regret it for the rest of his life. He still felt that he should come out of seclusion first, restore his condition to its peak, then collect information about the Fengshen Ancient Path, and finally make a decision.

On July 1, 1102, after eleven and a half years, Zhou Qingfeng emerged from seclusion.

"The Fourth Young Master has emerged from seclusion! Quickly, pay your respects!" Outside the White Bone Foundation Building Tower, several servants were cleaning. When they saw Zhou Qingfeng walking out alone, they immediately dropped their cleaning tools, clasped their hands, and bowed, saying, "Congratulations on the Fourth Young Master's great success in his divine skills."

Zhou Qingfeng's expression was indifferent, his eyes flat, as if he were looking at a group of ants. It wasn't that he truly regarded people as ants, but rather that his long period of seclusion and solitude had made him emotionally detached and aloof, looking at everyone with an attitude of superiority and indifference towards all living beings.

Several servants lowered their heads, not daring to look Zhou Qingfeng in the eye.

Zhou Qingfeng pointed to a servant with graying temples and said, "I've seen you before. What's your name?"

The servant stepped forward, bowed, and clasped his hands in response: "I am Zhang Suchai. I have indeed met the Fourth Young Master several times. The last time the Fourth Young Master came out of seclusion was when it was snowing. I was here with my servants to clear the snow."

"Zhang what?"

"Zhang Suchai, the 'Su' in 'meat and vegetables' and the 'Chai' in 'firewood'."

"Oh, it's been so many years, you've aged."

"Thank you for your concern, Fourth Young Master. My health is indeed not as good as before. One can't deny getting old. However, whenever I see you, Fourth Young Master, I feel full of energy, as if I have inexhaustible strength. If you have any requests, Fourth Young Master, I am willing to do them."

"Hmm." Zhou Qingfeng nodded slightly, a flash of green light appeared in his palm, and he casually tossed a string of magic coins over. He then put his hands behind his back, turned around, and left.

The servant Zhang Suchai took the money and hurriedly clasped his hands in a gesture of gratitude towards Zhou Qingfeng's back, shouting repeatedly, "Thank you for the reward, Fourth Young Master!"

As Zhou Qingfeng walked towards the outside of the City Lord's Mansion, the servants he encountered all bowed and stepped aside, addressing him as Fourth Young Master. Zhou Qingfeng nodded in response to each of them, giving the impression of being kind and approachable. In reality, however, Zhou Qingfeng was extremely cold-hearted, as if he were looking at a group of dead people.

It was definitely not appropriate to meet his mother in this state, so after leaving the city lord's mansion, Zhou Qingfeng disappeared into the bustling streets.

Street vendors enthusiastically greeted passersby, while children ran and laughed among the crowd, chasing colorful kites. The air was filled with the enticing aromas of various delicacies: roasted chestnuts, baked sweet potatoes, and freshly baked pastries.

In a corner, an old man was intently repairing an old umbrella. His technique was skillful and meticulous. A small circle of people watched quietly, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones.

Not far away, a little girl held her mother's hand, her eyes fixed on the candy at the roadside stall. Her mother smiled and bought her one, and the little girl immediately broke into a bright smile, as if the whole world had become a better place because of it.

Passing by a teahouse, I heard the voice of a storyteller recounting ancient legends and tales of heroes. Guests sat on long benches, sipping tea or engaging in quiet conversation, enjoying this rare moment of leisure. Outside the teahouse, several elderly men played chess, sometimes frowning in deep thought, sometimes bursting into laughter. A few onlookers stood around, occasionally offering a comment or two; the atmosphere was lively and harmonious.

These ordinary yet heartwarming scenes gradually softened Zhou Qingfeng's originally cold heart.

For several days in a row, Zhou Qingfeng spent his time in brothels and alleys, like a young man who didn't do any proper work. He tried everything, eating, drinking and having fun, and went wherever there were crowds. He listened to storytelling, drank tea, strolled around, watched plays, drank and gossiped, just like a typical commoner.

He is doing everything he can to live like a human being.