This scoundrel is a bit of a swordsman.

Xiao Xingchen quickly dismissed this absurd speculation. He didn't believe anyone could have traveled from the Tang Dynasty; so many years had passed since then, it had become dust in history.

It must be that ex-boyfriend, just like me, made up a story to mislead people into thinking he was from the Tang Dynasty, just like me now, isn't he also fooling people into thinking he's from the Tang Dynasty?

Thinking of this, he continued his boastful talk.

"Actually, the Great Tang you mentioned is very far from here. It requires crossing the sea to the east and drifting at sea for several years to reach it. Although the place I am in is also called Great Tang, it is just a small mountain valley. The real Great Tang is too far away and is not something we can reach at all, so it is unknown to the world."

"Going to sea? That makes sense. The sage once said that there are powerful nations on the other side of the sea. Now I understand."

Upon hearing this, Ya Sheng immediately added the second half of what Xiao Xingchen wanted to say. He quickly nodded, hoping they would stop asking. If they kept asking, it would be easy to make a fuss, but difficult to back down later.

"The other side of the sea? No wonder I can't find the study. It seems it's time to send someone to take a look."

Lan Beitang was still lost in his obsession, which made Xiao Xingchen's teeth ache. If this guy really went to sea, he probably wouldn't come back. After all, in this world, going to sea was a taboo-breaking thing.

"Uh, teacher, Brother Beitang, I think the Tang Dynasty and such are still very far away from us. Instead of pursuing these unrealistic things, why don't we think about what's in front of us?"

The Saint also snapped out of his daze and, upon hearing that the topic was now being discussed, immediately began to speak.

“Xingchen is right. We still need to investigate further to find out exactly what this Great Tang is. There’s no rush. Beitang, I think you came to Yong’an to attend the Poetry Immortal Gathering, right?”

Upon hearing this, Lan Beitang temporarily put the matter of the Tang Dynasty out of his mind and nodded.

"What the Sage said is correct. I am here representing Blue City Academy. Could it be that you are the chief examiner this year?"

The Second Saint smiled and nodded, stroking his beard in response.

"That's right. Right now, your main focus should be on preparing for the Poetry Immortal Gathering. Let me tell you two, this Poetry Immortal Gathering is different from any other before. There will be great opportunities, and I won't be the only examiner. The scale of participation is also enormous, with many competitors."

Xiao Xingchen's lips twitched. This all made sense. This year's Poetry Festival was too large, leading to an event that shocked the world. He had come to make connections specifically because of that event, and now it seemed history hadn't changed; that event would happen again.

"Teacher, can I participate?" Xiao Xingchen suddenly asked.

"Of course you can. This is a talent selection event, and anyone can participate. There are no barriers to entry. With your literary talent, you should have a place among the candidates for the Poet Immortal this time."

The Quasi-Saint gave him a satisfied look. This was an unexpected gain for him. Although Xiao Xingchen was somewhat unreliable, his strength was undeniable. Coupled with his Quasi-Saint title, he might be able to outmaneuver the other old guys this time.

“That’s settled then. I was just thinking of taking stock of students across the country. This is a good opportunity, and I’ll participate too.”

"Good, I support you. A scholar should have your kind of spirit. When you reach the pinnacle of knowledge, you will find that even the heavens beyond are nothing special."

"Then let's go together. I can keep Xingchen company," Lan Beitang readily agreed. Being accompanied by a disciple of the chief examiner was a golden opportunity, and he had no reason not to seize it.

"Very well, then you two will travel alone. Yong'an is not like other places. After entering the city, you should restrain your temper and not cause trouble. I will keep things under control with the Crown Prince. During the Poetry Immortal Gathering, no one is allowed to cause trouble."

"Thank you, teacher. I will be careful with my words and actions and will never cause trouble."

"Alright, since Emperor Wu has already shown up, I should give him face. I will go ahead and meet up with Emperor Wu. You can go into the city on your own and I will come to find you after I have arranged everything."

The Second Saint seemed to be deliberately ignoring Xiao Xingchen's past. Xiao Xingchen had prepared some explanations to deal with it, but the Second Saint clearly didn't want to pursue the matter further, and even took the initiative to steer the conversation towards the Poetry Gathering.

This made Xiao Xingchen take the old man in front of him more seriously. The Asura probably guessed who it was, but being old and shrewd, he chose to ignore him.

"Thank you, teacher," Xiao Xingchen bowed to the Saint, his meaning understood without words.

"Yes, don't worry, I'll take care of everything. Just go into the city, no one will dare to make things difficult for you."

After giving Xiao Xingchen a guarantee, the Second Saint stood up and gestured for his attendants to follow. His carriage slowly headed towards Yong'an City.

As for why he didn't choose to go with Xiao Xingchen, he naturally had his reasons. Xiao Xingchen guessed that the reason for not going into the city together was related to his encounter with the Martial Emperor earlier.

No one knows what just happened. The Quasi-Sage and the Martial Emperor must have reached some agreement, which allowed the Crown Prince to leave safely.

"Is this the power of a sage? So strong." He couldn't help but exclaim, which drew Lan Beitang's agreement.

"Yes, all three thousand paths lead to the same destination. At the end, regardless of the path, one becomes invincible. We still need to work harder."

"What about us?"

"Let's go, let's hit the road. Here we come, Yong'an City, haha."

The two laughed heartily together, displaying a close, almost intimate, quality that made Daji, who had been watching everything from the sidelines, shake her head helplessly.

If we're talking about who benefited the most from this whole affair, it's undoubtedly her. As an observer, she had a clearer view of everything that happened. She already had some suspicions about Xiao Xingchen, and after he revealed the details of the Tang Dynasty, those suspicions only deepened.

The Tang Dynasty? Was he really from the Tang Dynasty? This was the question Daji asked herself, but she didn't have the answer yet. She wanted to know more about the Tang Dynasty.

Clearly, the Demon Emperor's knowledge far surpasses that of Xiao Xingchen. Her position alone determines that she knows many of the world's secrets. Places that Xiao Xingchen casually mentions are, in her eyes, real, and...

"You seem to have forgotten I exist,"

Daji's displeased voice exploded in Xiao Xingchen's mind, making him shudder, and then he felt embarrassed.

Damn it, how could I forget this ancestor? Not to mention anyone else, even he himself forgot about Daji. This situation should never have happened. When did I become so forgetful?

Or was it because she was too nervous just now? Neither could it be. Xiao Xingchen turned around and looked at the spot where Daji was sitting, in an extremely inconspicuous corner.

She sat there, yet at first glance it seemed as if no one was there. It was an illusion, but while this illusion might happen to others, it didn't apply to her. A strange feeling instantly arose in Xiao Xingchen's heart.

Daji was a very important person to him; how could he possibly ignore her?

But just now, the name of Daji suddenly disappeared from his mind for a moment. Now that he thinks about it, it shouldn't have been an illusion.

For a moment, Daji's name disappeared from his memory. Thinking of this possibility, cold sweat dripped down Xiao Xingchen's forehead. What exactly happened?