All realms have enabled me to achieve the Great Dao.

Chapter 331 Neighbors' Visit

Watching Zhu Yuanzhang's departing figure, Zhou Yongcheng withdrew his gaze.

Knowing that Zhu Yuanzhang had asked him many questions about governing the country, Zhou Yongcheng added many books on governance to the jade seal exchange panel to avoid Zhu Yuanzhang having to ask him about these matters again.

With these books, Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to know how to govern the country, so he bought the books and studied them slowly.

Zhou Yongcheng had never studied governance, nor had he ever served as an official or an emperor.

Thinking about this, Zhou Yongcheng felt that he could try being an emperor in other worlds if he had the chance.

Putting aside other thoughts, Zhou Yongcheng brewed another cup of tea and focused on the changes in the river of time.

Upon returning to his office, Zhu Yuanzhang received a message in his mind: some books had appeared in the Imperial Seal exchange panel.

The information didn't specify what additional books had been added, but the message in his mind was that the exchange panel had received notifications of new books.

Zhu Yuanzhang took out the imperial seal, and with a thought, the panel displayed only books.

He discovered this feature by accident. Whenever he wanted to see something, it would be displayed on the exchange panel, so he didn't have to search for it on the panel.

The panel displayed a large number of books, some of which Zhu Yuanzhang had also read; the books he had read were all ancient texts.

There were also some books he had never heard of before. Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at them and found that most of the books on the panel were related to governing the country.

What pleased Zhu Yuanzhang most was that the extra books on the panel were quite cheap; a wisp of national fortune could be exchanged for many books.

So Zhu Yuanzhang used a wisp of national fortune to select dozens of books related to governing the country.

Sitting in his chair, Zhu Yuanzhang waited for the imperial seal to deliver the books he had purchased. After a while, he received a message that the books would be delivered the next day.

This puzzled Zhu Yuanzhang. He had previously exchanged secret manuals and elixirs, which were delivered instantly. Why was it that books on governing the country would be delivered the next day?

Books were not among the items the Empress had purchased recently, so Zhu Yuanzhang had not received them yet.

The treasures connected to the Imperial Seal are unwilling to spend the nation's fortune to gather things that can be purchased. Why spend the nation's fortune to gather things that can be purchased? Isn't it better to just earn the nation's fortune?

After receiving the books, Zhu Yuanzhang began to handle government affairs.

In Zhou Yongcheng's temple, Zhou Yongcheng looked out over the river of time and space, his gaze fixed on the Song Dynasty and on Zhao Kuangyin.

He was preparing to create a portal to another time in the Song Dynasty timeline when he sensed two people not far from the courtyard.

Zhou Yongcheng looked outside the courtyard. Judging from the direction they were heading, the two were coming towards his courtyard.

After a quick glance, Zhou Yongcheng knew where the two men came from.

Withdrawing his gaze, Zhou Yongcheng did not conjure a portal to the Song Dynasty, but waited for the two to arrive.

In the distance, an old man and a young man were chatting as they walked toward Zhou Yongcheng's courtyard.

"Master, when did this quaint courtyard appear here?" Qiao Daifu asked his master.

“You’re asking me? Who should I ask? I remember when I came back a while ago, these were all the old houses. It hasn’t been long, and the houses have changed so much,” Yang Xiuchang said.

Yang Xiuchang is a martial artist who usually lives in the courtyard next door.

A while ago, an old friend invited me to help him out, so I left for a period of time.

When I returned, I found that the old house had changed and become a quaint courtyard.

Since the old houses here have disappeared, it means that someone must have lived here.

The area where he lives is mostly populated by people who prefer quiet.

Because this place is too remote, with inconvenient transportation and no market nearby, people generally don't live here.

Since someone lives here, he must come to visit. Perhaps the person living here is a kindred spirit.

Besides, as neighbors, shouldn't we get to know each other?

"Master, where did you go last time you went out?" Qiao Daifu pressed.

When his master went out a while ago, he didn't stay at his master's place. Instead, he went back home. After all, this place is too remote. If he hadn't been learning martial arts from his master, he definitely wouldn't have been able to stay here.

As soon as his master returned, he asked where his master had gone, but no matter how he asked, his master wouldn't say where he had gone, only that he had gone to help an old friend at the invitation of the friend.

"Children shouldn't pry into adults' affairs," Yang Xiuchang said irritably.

This kid is so curious; he wants to get to the bottom of everything.

“Master, I’m over twenty years old, not a child anymore,” Qiao Daifu said speechlessly. Then he added, “Could it be that Master is going to see my mistress whom I’ve never met before?”

Yang Xiuchang raised his right foot and kicked Qiao Daifu.

"You brat, what are you talking about? I am a Taoist disciple, although I didn't officially enter the Taoist sect. But I still abide by the Taoist precepts. If you talk nonsense again, I'll have to teach you a lesson." Yang Xiuchang said, blowing his beard and glaring.

That kid needs to be taught a lesson. He just blurts out whatever comes to mind without considering the consequences of his words.

As they chatted, they walked to the gate of the ancient courtyard.

The main gate of the courtyard was not closed; they only glanced inside before not going in.

"Hello, is anyone home?" Qiao Daifu called out from the gate.

"Come in," Zhou Yongcheng's voice reached their ears.

Upon hearing the sound, Qiao Yongfu didn't seem to think anything of it.

Yang Xiuchang sensed something different from the sound; the sound they heard didn't just enter their ears, but went directly into the depths of their souls.

Just from the voice, he could tell that the owner of the courtyard was no ordinary person. He must be a martial arts master who had cultivated his martial arts to an extremely high level. The specific level was beyond his comprehension, since his own martial arts level was still too rudimentary.

"When you go in, be more proper in your attitude and don't be too frivolous," Yang Xiuchang warned sternly.

Seeing his master's serious expression, Qiao Daifu knew that his master might have noticed something.

"Don't worry, Master, I definitely won't let you down."

Yang Xiuchang straightened his clothes and led his apprentice through the gate.

Upon entering the gate, Yang Xiuchang immediately sensed that the inside and outside of the courtyard were two completely different worlds.

The air in the courtyard smelled wonderful to him. As he inhaled the air, he felt his internal energy circulating rapidly, as if it were about to leave his body.

This made him realize that the owner of this courtyard was no ordinary person.

Qiao Daifu felt very comfortable in the courtyard as soon as he entered. Since his master had told him not to be so frivolous, he did not tell his master how he felt.

Knowing that the owner of the courtyard was no ordinary person, Yang Xiuchang did not look around the courtyard carefully, but only glanced at it casually.

Upon entering the gate, Yang Xiuchang saw many mysterious plants in the courtyard, none of which he recognized.