Chapter 2618: The Son Master

Suddenly receiving such an arrangement, Zhao Wuyan also felt a great headache. Why bother coming here to accept the scrutiny of these absolute top figures? Her path wasn't in this place!

"Not Dean Zuo," she sighed. "It's the great Confucian who came down from Shushan, holding Mister Zi's handwritten order."

Zhao Wuyan shook her head. "I don't know either. The person who notified me didn't say anything, only that this is Shushan's arrangement, asking me to handle Taixu Pavilion matters well, manage Knife Pen Pavilion well, and not lose the Confucians' right to speak in the Taixu Illusion Realm."

The distribution of Taixu Pavilion member quotas at that time would deeply reflect the post-war world order.

"They also didn't say how Mister Zhong is?"

"They didn't say."

The term for a Taixu Pavilion member is thirty years. In theory, the selection of the second session's members would only need to be considered in the second year after the Shenxiao War began. Depending on the intensity of the war, it might even be delayed until the end of the war.

Seated among the group, each person had their own thoughts.

Jiang Wang had actually also heard Old Mister Yan mention such a figure once, but he didn't feel there was anything special about him.

In today's world, destined to shine in history's great contention, all sorts of strange and powerful figures were stepping onto the stage, and various layouts that had continued for millions of years were successively being revealed. And then some failed, some failed, and some also failed.

It felt like a casino about to close, where all the gamblers at the tables had staked their lives in a cruel and beautiful gamble.

In front, there was the nameless one in Fallen Immortal Forest; behind, there was the Ksitigarbha held by Central Escape Zen. Mister Zi sounded scary, but he wasn't even a transcendent being. If he made a little move, he made a little move; it wasn't worth fearing.

He thought for a moment. "Is it confirmed to be Mister Zi's handwriting?"

Zhao Wuyan sighed. "Although this is the first time I've seen Mister Zi's handwriting... this handwriting, no one can forge. And a fake couldn't be sent to me here, because my teacher has already gone to Shushan."

She actually had no interest in being a Taixu Pavilion member. Her interest was in scholarship. And the time outside of scholarship was all arranged by Xu Xiangqian, filled with morning flowers and evening snow, seeking seclusion beyond the heavens. In short, it was about playing everywhere. Xu Xiangqian claimed they were a "Nine Heavens Ten Earths, happy couple," while she called it "traveling and studying."

Longmen Yao Fu ascending Shushan added another heavy layer to this.

Huang Sheli seemed thoughtful.

Ju Kui said seriously, "Please, Girl Zhao, wait outside for a moment. We will discuss Officer Zhong Xuan's matter later— we a few people need to discuss a bit."

In theory, Shushan had the right to change the person. Other members couldn't interfere too much, because this quota originally belonged to Shushan, and the person sitting in this position was recommended by Shushan.

But why was theory just theory? Precisely because the process of putting it into practice was often long and distant, and not necessarily as people wished.

Zhao Wuyan, of course, understood that she was still not recognized by the people in front of her. She just nodded. "It's just right for me to stroll around the Taixu Illusion Realm a bit. It's been a long time since I felt the changes here."

Jiang Wang personally escorted her to the door and explained, "They aren't doubting Senior Sister Zhao's ability, just that they still have expectations for Mister Zhong. After all, they've worked together for so many years..."

Zhao Wuyan waved her hand. "This is also a normal human emotion. Why would I mind?"

She thought for a moment and then said, "This matter is very complex. Although I don't know the inside story, I also feel thick clouds hanging overhead. Even Mister Zi is alarmed, and Master and the others have also gone to Shushan... Junior Brother Jiang, be careful in all matters, don't be impulsive."

Jiang Wang said broadly, "Senior Sister, rest assured, I am not a reckless person."

Zhao Wuyan looked at him and finally said nothing.

Killing the nameless one, then killing Ksitigarbha, fighting Ksitigarbha, then fighting Cangtu God... Was there anyone in the world more reckless than Junior Brother Jiang?

But Jiang Wang called her "Senior Sister Zhao," and she couldn't truly treat Jiang Wang as a junior brother and teach him.

Xu Xiangqian could be completely unrestrained. She, however, had to remember that the person in front of her was Zhenhe True Monarch.

She still owed him a life from inside the Text Cocoon.

The pavilion door closed tightly, and the small building became a single entity.

When Jiang Wang returned to his position, the most important topic of today's Taixu meeting began—

This was a discussion about the missing member, Zhong Xuan.

Jiang Wang still held the pen to record.

Zhao Wuyan's arrival had already elevated the seriousness of this matter. Among the people present, only those who were too lazy to think had no real brains. They all knew the principle of planning before acting. At this time, they all sat there expressionless, their divine senses secretly buzzing— all using their respective connections to probe the various details of this matter, the causes before and after.

Shushan Mister Zi sending Zhao Wuyan to the Taixu Pavilion to substitute was a declaration of the situation. To these people with far-reaching influence, this attitude itself was also a clue.

Jiang Wang had just touched his butt to the chair when Li Yi spoke. "Latest news, the Hanqing Jian has already closed, and now the entire Qin Ku Book Academy is in a sealed state. Inside and outside are isolated, communication is blocked. It's impossible to probe what is happening inside."

As expected of the one who held the initial position, even the information he grasped was faster than others.

Of course, relying on the Dao Gate and the Central Empire, there weren't many people in this world who could compare with him in terms of intelligence.

The faces of the crowd showed no change in color, obviously all having already confirmed this news through their respective channels.

A version that no one disagreed with!

Jiang Wang also confirmed this through the expressions on the faces of the crowd.

It wasn't just Zhong Xuan who had a problem; it actually involved the entire Qin Ku Book Academy! What could cause the Hanqing Jian, the world's first book academy, to be thus sealed and closed?

Jiang Wang believed that the Hanqing Jian closing was definitely something that had just happened today, or even just now.

As the Qin Ku Book Academy's treasured artifact, the Hanqing Jian, a very high-ranked Cave Heaven, was always in an open state, widely recording literature and not refusing communication. The true mountain gate of the Qin Ku Book Academy was located within this Jian.

The world's first book academy closing and sealing the mountain, such a big matter, absolutely couldn't be hidden for long.

Who among those present was not sharp-eared and keen-eyed?

But if it had closed yesterday, people wouldn't be asking how Zhong Xuan was today.

"It seems that the letter Zhong Xuan wrote to me was the last external communication. Considering his time was already chaotic, it should be said that this letter was the last communication captured by the outside world." Ju Kui calmly analyzed, "Combining his replies to Member Jiang and Member Cang, I think the changes in the Qin Ku Book Academy should be a gradual process. A step-by-step process, with a sudden result."

Zhong Xuan Zun said with some emotion, "A thousand-mile dike collapses from an ant hole. Once the mountain collapses, it's in a thought."

"If the Qin Ku Book Academy has already become a collapsing dike, who is that ant hole?" Qin Zhizhen asked carefully, "Mister Zhong?"

"How can one ant hole bear such a great responsibility?" Zhong Xuan Zun said, "Dean Zuo Qiu Wu, the contemporary True Person Jin Qingjia, this generation's book academy great disciple Cui Yi Geng... Anyone who has lost contact within the Qin Ku Book Academy could be the cause."

These words were somewhat shocking, and the crowd all looked at him.

"Recently, I researched a bit of history. I flipped through books and checked the author's habits. Nothing is clear-cut in the annals. But the author of 《Shi Dao Zao Hai》, the most influential historical classic of our time, has actually been missing for a long time. The Qin Ku Book Academy told the outside world that he was always secretly seeking historical truth, hence he was elusive. But there is a very important point—"

Zhong Xuan Zun pondered, "After Emperor Sheng Wu of Mu Country ascended to godhood, 《Mu Shu》 has been greatly enriched. The 《Mu Lue》 within 《Shi Dao Zao Hai》 has also been completed... This is the completion of Sima Heng's Dao path. He shouldn't have no reaction."

Huang Sheli touched his chin. "Or perhaps the current state of the Qin Ku Book Academy is precisely the reaction he made?"

"We still can't determine what happened to the Qin Ku Book Academy." Cang Ming said slowly, "Mister Zhong still sent a letter to Mister Ju's hand yesterday. Even if his time was already wrong, it at least indicates that news could still come out at that time. The experts within the Qin Ku Book Academy are like clouds, and there is also a great master like Dean Zuo. It's very possible that the key problem was detected early. The truth of the matter should be in Shushan's hands, we just have no way of knowing it currently."

"Sending Zhao Wuyan to substitute, sealing relevant information, Shushan's meaning is already very clear. They are going to handle this matter themselves, to resolve everything within the Confucian internal affairs." The lightning between Ju Kui's eyebrows seemed to already be a real existence, about to tear through his heavenly court. "The problem now is— do we want to interfere or not?"

This most serious member within the Taixu Pavilion, who seemed to be straightforward at any time, maintained a public business tone even now. "Shushan's strength is immeasurable. They at least have two Confucian Zong elders who provided the first treasure tool of a small Cave Heaven, the Chunqiu Pen. True Monarchs like Old Yang, Prince Taifu Yan Sheng, should also still exist, and several deans are all masters of a generation. Now even Mister Zi is alarmed... Looking at the entire present world, there shouldn't be many things they can't solve."

"I don't understand the people on Shushan, but Dean Chen Pu, Dean Yao Fu, and Little Dean Bai Ge, each of their visions is above ours. Their understanding of the event is more detailed than ours, and their judgment of the event should also surpass ours. In reason, we should accept and not resist. We should wait and not cause trouble."

"The Taixu Pavilion, in the end, is an organization serving the Taixu Illusion Realm. We are not the people who formulate the rules of the present world, nor are we the executors of the present world order. In theory, we do not have enough right to interfere in the internal affairs of the Qin Ku Book Academy."

He analyzed one by one, then paused here, perhaps feeling there was no need to say more.

Who among them didn't understand these reasons?

He lifted his pupils. "There are many reasons not to interfere, but only one reason to interfere— Zhong Xuan is a Taixu Pavilion member, our colleague, our comrade."

"Since the first Taixu meeting on September 9, Dao Calendar 3926, we have already worked together for five years. These have been five years of rapid expansion for the Taixu Illusion Realm, and we have experienced countless things together. Shushan sending Zhao Wuyan to substitute has already declared Zhong Xuan's death."

"But to me— even if Zhong Xuan is really dead, I must see him personally."

Ju Kui's speaking speed was not fast throughout the entire process. At the end, he just calmly said, "This is my stance."

Qin Zhizhen looked at him somewhat surprised, as if seeing a block of cold, stiff stone stele suddenly become flowing water, become burning fire. This rarely smiling old man, his stubbornness always targeted at the law. This seemed to be the first time it fell on a specific person.

"You are always a person who lives by the rules. Occasionally being willful makes you much more adorable." Dou Zhao commented lazily, "But it's still not enough."

"A great man born in heaven and earth, where do so many thoughts and shackles come from!"

He slowly straightened up. "Is Zhong Xuan not one of our people? Is he not out of contact? Then we'll just go and contact him. If writing a letter doesn't get a response, we'll just go to his door. If the door is locked, we'll just smash it open— it's just that simple."

He placed his horizontal knife on his knee, lifted his hand, and wiped the back of the knife. "Who will block? Who can block? Looking at the entire world, even if there are consequences we cannot bear, it's not on this matter."

"The Taixu Pavilion's going this time is not to interfere with anything." Jiang Wang's voice summarized at this point. "We are just going to bring Mister Zhong back to meet. Everyone is very busy, and it's not okay for him to always be so lazy. He always makes me write the records, and my words... aren't very good-looking either."

The pavilion was silent for a moment, then each person stood up.

Ju Kui's eyes did not look at anyone. He just used that nearly constant, stone-carved voice to announce, "Regarding the proposal to search for Zhong Xuan... Passed unanimously."

The entire Taixu Pavilion building, in an instant, was filled with brilliant light, and then disappeared from sight.

Available at eight o'clock tonight.

Usually, when people say "Shushan's decision," they are referring to the common decision of the four great masters: Dean Zuo Qiu Wu of Qin Ku Book Academy, Dean Chen Pu of Mu Gu Book Academy, Dean Yao Fu of Longmen Book Academy, and Little Dean Bai Ge Xiao of Qingya Book Academy. A decision signed by any two of them can represent Shushan.

And now Mister Zi has actually personally transmitted a handwritten order, letting Zhao Wuyan come to the Taixu Pavilion to replace Zhong Xuan.

Would merely such an arrangement require Mister Zi's handwritten order?

Mister Zi is the chief of Shushan Mountain. He held the existence of Shushan just before the new start of the Dao Calendar, the true leader of the Confucians. But he is very mysterious. Before the new start of the Dao Calendar, he had no eye-catching deeds, and in the nearly four thousand years after the new start of the Dao Calendar, he has almost made no movement.

No one knows his name, his nature, his appearance, or his books.

Only through the mouths of a few book academy deans and some great Confucians who came down from Shushan do people know that such a person exists.

He seems to be just a silhouette sitting alone facing the ten-thousand-year-old green pine all year round, a kind of longing guarding in front of the remains of the green pine day after day, year after year.

All the old Confucians on Shushan are white-haired and studious, and they actually don't care much about worldly matters. It is a very rare situation for Yan Sheng to descend the mountain to chase and kill Rakshasa Mingyue Jing.

Even with Ju Kui's seriousness, he temporarily lost his voice. "Mister Zi?!"

"Who notified you?" Ju Kui asked, "Dean Zuo Qiu Wu?"

What kind of earth-shattering event has exactly occurred?

Has Zhong Xuan's fate... already been decided?

The last time there was a replacement, it was when Dou Zhao fell into Arani Ghost Cave and was missing for a long time, already considered a war dead. Chu Country urgently needed someone in the Taixu Pavilion to fight for Chu Country's rights, which led to Zhong Li Yan being pushed forward.

Therefore, when Dou Zhao saw Zhao Wuyan today, his eyes were not very friendly.

So Hong Junyan, this kind of emperor who overlooked the world, began preparing several years ago.

Objectively speaking, among these nine people, no matter which one, there was no opportunity to be replaced halfway. They were already figures who stirred up the waves of the era, representatives of the most genius of their time.

If it weren't for the fact that the "Catch Horse Mountain Double Pride" were famous for a time, and it was known that Jiang Wang and Xu Xiangqian were life-and-death friends, and that he once saved Zhao Wuyan in the Text Cocoon... he wouldn't be this polite and silent. He always had to give his colleagues face. No matter how stingy the colleague.

"So, are you saying that Mister Zhong is in trouble?" Jiang Wang's tone was calm, unable to see what he was thinking. "Senior Sister Zhao might know the inside story?"

Reading Red Heart Patrol Heaven.