My Dreams Connect to Ancient Times-Chapter 193 - 36: A Palm Slays a Demon Saint, a Word Brings a Harvest, a Flood Bows and Retreats

Chapter 193: Chapter 36: A Palm Slays a Demon Saint, a Word Brings a Harvest, a Flood Bows and Retreats

Duke Mu of Qin glanced sideways. ’What’s wrong with this Lu Zi...?’

But in the next moment, Lu Xuan seemed to return to normal. He banished the doubts from his mind and closed his eyes slightly, feeling the two strands of Human Dao Fortune coiling around him. A thought stirred in his heart.

He could clearly feel that the two strands of Human Dao Fortune were far stronger in these Ancient Times than they had been in the Current World.

’If I could alter the weather over ten *li* with a single word back in the Current World, then here and now, a mere utterance is enough to alter the heavens for a thousand *li*!’

’Why is that?’

After pondering for a while to no avail, Lu Xuan calmly looked to the side and asked nonchalantly,

"Duke Qin, that Duke Huan of Qi should know by now that I am heading for the Qi Region, shouldn’t he?"

"Certainly." Duke Mu of Qin returned to his senses and nodded lightly. "If all goes as expected, Linzi has likely already begun to heighten its security. The troops are arrayed, the generals are armored, and they are all on high alert."

Lu Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, looked up at the sky, and said,

"Then, Duke Qin, do you think the Immortals in the heavens are aware of this matter?"

"What?"

Duke Mu of Qin was momentarily stunned, then replied,

"The Immortals in the heavens rarely cast their gaze upon the Human World. They are probably unaware."

"Is that so?" Lu Xuan lowered his eyelids. With a thought, he took off his Supreme Daoist Robe and Supreme Crown, changing into a simple, ancient-style long robe.

"Lu Zi, you... what are you doing?"

"It’s nothing. I’m just worried I might scare some people away."

As he spoke, Lu Xuan’s mood quickly calmed. He could clearly perceive a kind of momentum—similar to, yet distinct from, the Thoughts of All Living Beings—continuously gathering toward him.

With every bit that gathered, the two strands of Human Dao Fortune he possessed grew stronger. And as he was revered as "Lu Zi" and "Great Virtue," the mysterious power surrounding him also strengthened.

’This must be the "Gathering Momentum" Duke Mu of Qin spoke of,’ he thought. ’Waiting for the news of the Great Sage Zhang Ling’s death to spread across the world, waiting for the great public outrage over Duke Huan of Qi’s slaughter of a hundred cities.’

With this in mind, Lu Xuan didn’t hold back and candidly asked Duke Mu of Qin about the matters of "Saint," "Virtue," and "Sage."

"Saints, Virtues, and Sages are all titles for the great thinkers of our time. Among them, Great Sages are many, Great Virtues are few, and there is not a single Saint. However, I once heard Shang Yang give a simple summary of them, which I will now relay to you, Lu Zi."

Duke Mu of Qin spoke as he recalled,

"For a Great Sage, their words are reasonable."

"For a Great Virtue, there is Unity of Virtue and Conduct."

"And a Saint... their actions are the Dao, their words are the truth, and they themselves are truth itself."

Lu Xuan listened quietly to Duke Mu of Qin’s words, his mind racing. ’A Great Sage’s words are reasonable. A Great Virtue has Unity of Virtue and Conduct...’

As he pondered, he opened his Form Acupoints and surveyed the invisible, intangible, profound power that had gathered around him from his Position of Great Virtue, attempting to draw it into his physical body.

This power was exceedingly profound. Even using Dao Generating One, he could not discern its origin. Lu Xuan could only vaguely sense that it seemed to be related to the Truths of Heaven and Earth.

Moreover, this power was very strange. Unlike Human Dao Fortune, which still existed in the Current World, albeit in a weakened state, this profound power from the Position of Great Virtue would dissipate completely the moment he left the Ancient Times.

’How strange. How very strange.’

After talking with Duke Mu of Qin for a while longer, Lu Xuan closed his eyes and silently comprehended the mystical power he could command as Lu Zi, gradually integrating it into his skin, membranes, muscles, and bones.

According to his understanding, this was exactly what Duke Mu of Qin meant by "Unity of Virtue and Conduct." The unity of virtue (德) and conduct (行) was the unity of profound principles and the physical body.

Feeling the profoundness gradually added to his Physique, Lu Xuan’s gaze deepened. ’It seems... my understanding is correct.’

At the same time, he sank his consciousness into his Spiritual World to observe All Skills, attempting to achieve Unity of Body and Soul and step into the Celestial Human Extreme Realm.

Time passed, bit by bit. Day turned to night, and night to day.

The cyan carriage traveled past mountains, rivers, farmlands, and towns. The tale of Lu Zi Invading Qi grew more intense with each passing day, and the "great momentum" gathering above the carriage became increasingly dense.

By the thirty-third day, the "great momentum" had coalesced into a form resembling a ceremonial canopy.

By the forty-seventh day, the canopy of great momentum blotted out the sky for ten *li*.

By the sixty-sixth day, the canopy descended upon the cyan carriage—or rather, upon Lu Zi’s body—like a cloud drooping down from the Nine Heavens!

"Lu Zi, in another five days, we will reach the Qi Region!" Duke Mu of Qin’s mind trembled slightly as he glanced at the terrifying, tangible "great momentum" surrounding the Daoist beside him.

Lu Xuan opened his eyes and gazed at the clouds, listening to the thudding hooves of the hundred riders and the heavy steps of the Eighty-One Armors behind him. He asked calmly,

"Duke Qin, you have been away from the Qin Region for sixty-five days. Won’t there be unrest in your domain?"

"It is of no concern."

Having accompanied each other for two months, Duke Mu of Qin and Lu Xuan had become quite familiar. He said softly,

"The great enemy of Qin is Qi. The news of your journey to Qi has spread throughout the world. The Qi Kingdom is on high alert with its armies gathered. How would they dare to invade the borders of the other Dukes States?"

Lu Xuan nodded thoughtfully. He toyed with the flowing clouds of great momentum that shrouded him and asked again,

"Duke Huan of Qi is without virtue, so why do the heavenly gods still aid him?"

"That is something beyond my knowledge," Duke Mu of Qin sighed with a wry smile.

On the seventy-fourth day since the carriage departed from Luoyang, which was also the seventh day before arriving in Linzi.

Lu Xuan finally and completely merged the power he had named "Virtue" into his body, achieving the so-called "Unity of Virtue and Conduct." He truly felt the mighty power that a Great Virtue could possess.

It was not cultivation, yet it was no weaker than cultivation.

’Unfortunately, it is only during these Ancient Times that I possess the Position of Great Virtue.’

Duke Mu of Qin glanced over. Seeing that "Virtue" accompanied Lu Zi’s every word and action, he couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

"Congratulations, Lu Zi, on achieving Unity of Virtue and Conduct and truly becoming a Great Virtue of this era!"

Lu Zi smiled but said nothing.

At that moment, the carriage was passing through a land afflicted by a great drought. The farmlands for a hundred *li* were withered, and farmers were slamming their heads on the ground, their cries reaching the heavens.

The Daoist sat upright in his carriage. Observing this scene, he was suddenly moved and spoke,

"The sunlight is too fierce, evaporating the moisture from the Earth. This moisture rises into the sky and should form clouds and mist... What do you think, Duke Qin?"

"Reasonable Words," Duke Mu of Qin replied with a smile.

As the words were spoken, the blazing sun suddenly dimmed, and thick clouds rolled in like a tide.

Lu Zi spoke again,

"Since clouds and mist now cover the sky, with moisture held within, these million-layered clouds should release a torrential downpour... What do you think, Duke Qin?"

Duke Mu of Qin said,

"Reasonable Words, Reasonable Words."

As his voice fell, the endlessly churning clouds in the sky turned pitch-black, and a torrential downpour began to fall!

Countless suffering peasants faced the rain and began to laugh with joy.

"It’s raining! It’s raining!!"

In the carriage, Lu Xuan quietly watched the downpour, watched the rain soak the parched fields, and suddenly spoke again,

"Water itself symbolizes the Source of Life. Irrigated by this great rain, the farmlands should flourish, and the rice stalks should be heavy with grain... What do you think, Duke Qin?"

"Reasonable Words, Reasonable Words, Lu Zi’s words are truly reasonable!" Duke Mu of Qin clapped his hands and laughed heartily.

And just then, under the irrigation of the great rain, the once-withered seedlings flourished in a single breath, and in the next, they were already bearing heavy heads of grain!

Lu Xuan sighed softly.

’So this is the "Reasonable Words" of a Great Sage.’

’Virtue is a rank above Sage, so it naturally possesses the characteristic of "Reasonable Words" as well. As long as what is said conforms to reason, it can become reality.’

’This isn’t "Words Become Law," but rather using words that follow reason, allowing all phenomena to arise naturally.’

The rain poured down, the hundred grasses grew lush, the grain was bountiful, and the people celebrated. Then, they knelt down on both sides of the field path, all with the utmost sincerity.

"Lu Zi is of Great Virtue! Lu Zi is of Great Virtue!"

Lu Xuan accepted their reverence calmly. Under the sincere worship of the farmers, the canopy of great momentum above his head thickened by a good measure.

Seeing this, the accompanying Historian engraved a record on his bamboo slips.

[Lu Zi, Invading Qi, passed through a land of great drought. Lu Zi pitied the suffering of the common people.]

[Therefore, Lu Zi said: The fierce sun evaporates the water vapor from the Earth; the vapor rises to the sky and should form a thousand clouds and ten thousand mists. Instantly, clouds and mist did indeed cover the sky and block the sun. Duke Mu of Qin praised him, saying: "Reasonable Words."]

[Lu Zi spoke again: Since clouds and mist are seen, rain should fall. Instantly, a great rain did indeed pour down. Duke Mu of Qin, at his side, praised him again, saying: "Reasonable Words."]

[Lu Zi spoke once more: With the great rain for irrigation, the fields should grow lush, and the grain should be bountiful. Instantly, the farmlands for a hundred *li* were seen to have a bountiful harvest, a sea of gold. Duke Mu of Qin praised him yet again: "Reasonable Words!"]

[With three statements from Lu Zi and three praises from Duke Mu of Qin, the common folk across a hundred *li* were saved from the suffering of drought and disaster. The people all prostrated themselves, chanting: "Lu Zi is of Great Virtue!"]

By the next day, the seventy-fifth since Lu Zi’s carriage left Luoyang, there were still six days remaining on the road to Linzi.

On this day, they encountered a flood. A great torrent broke through a dike and was about to inundate Giant Deer City.

Lu Zi rose from his carriage. Under the gaze of the entire city’s populace, he stood alone before the great flood. The torrent stopped abruptly, then bowed to Lu Zi before receding.

Duke Mu of Qin praised him greatly, saying,

"Lu Zi has achieved Unity of Virtue and Conduct! The myriad people bow when they see Lu Zi, the mountains and rivers bow when they see Lu Zi, and even this flood bows when it sees Lu Zi!"

The Historian once again carved on his bamboo slips.

[A great flood raged to the heavens. Lu Zi stood alone before it. The flood stopped abruptly, paid its respects to Lu Zi, and retreated to the riverbed.]

When Lu Xuan returned to the carriage, the people of Giant Deer City came out bearing gifts, kneeling on the ground in gratitude. The City Lord also bowed his head and said,

"I am willing to follow Lu Zi to invade Qi!"

Lu Xuan smiled, waved his hand to decline, and said,

"Since you were willing to face the flood with your citizens, you are a worthy official. If Giant Deer were to lose you, its people would grieve."

As he spoke, the canopy of great momentum above his head grew heavier by another measure.

The Historian recorded that by the seventy-seventh day, they were four days from Linzi.

Along the way, they encountered a Little Saint of the Demon Race entrenched on Tiger Head Mountain. It devoured humans, took lives, and enslaved three cities and eighteen towns. Every day, it demanded three hundred young boys, three hundred young girls, and another three hundred young women who had just come of age—a total of nine hundred people.

When Lu Zi heard of this, he was enraged. He drove his carriage straight toward Tiger Head Demon Mountain. The Demon Saint emerged, its claw blotting out the sky.

Duke Mu of Qin was furious and wanted to slay this Little Saint of the Demon Race, but Lu Zi stopped him. He then personally descended from the carriage. With Unity of Virtue and Conduct, he struck down with his palm. Truths were densely woven into his palm lines, and thick Virtue manifested in his palm.

The Demon Saint fell. The people of the three cities and eighteen towns poured out, overflowing with gratitude.

But Lu Zi simply returned their salutes and cried out in sorrow,

"I have come too late!"

The masses bowed as one.

The canopy of great momentum above Lu Zi’s head grew heavier by several degrees, now shrouding the Celestial Vault for a hundred *li*.

...

By the seventy-eighth day, there were still three days until they reached Linzi.

The carriage was already nearing the Qi Region.

Lu Xuan sat calmly in the carriage, silently comprehending the "Virtue" that permeated his entire body.

Yesterday, he hadn’t used the Keeper of the Records’ command, nor had he employed various Divine Techniques, Killing Skills, or Supreme Treasures. He had purely used the power he possessed as a "Great Virtue."

With just a single palm, under the power of Unity of Virtue and Conduct, he had suppressed and killed that Little Saint of the Demon Race, a being equivalent to a Ninth Grade True Immortal!

’Is this what it means to be a Great Virtue?’

Lu Xuan mused to himself, filled with emotion. But then his gaze deepened once more as he looked far ahead.

At this moment, Duke Mu of Qin said grimly,

"Ahead lies the Qi Region. There is a great pass before us, with tens of thousands of soldiers in formation. They will not let us pass."

Lu Xuan nodded slightly, saying nothing.

When the carriage arrived before the great pass, a hundred thousand soldiers had their bows drawn. A fierce general stood atop the wall and shouted a halt.

"Halt! Retreat at once! This road is closed!"

As he spoke, he raised his arm, and the hundred thousand soldiers roared in unison,

"Retreat at once! This road is closed! This road is closed!!"

The earth-shaking roar scattered the heavy clouds in the sky, yet it failed to move the canopy shrouding the Celestial Vault for a hundred *li* in the slightest. The fierce general’s expression changed.

Lu Xuan raised his head and looked calmly at the great pass, at the terrifying military formation slowly rotating atop its walls. Just as he was about to speak, suddenly—

A carriage came speeding from the East, leading a retinue of seventy-two people. It stopped before Lu Xuan’s own carriage.

In front of the hundred thousand soldiers at the pass, a middle-aged man jumped down from the carriage and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Lu Zi. This student has a doubt in his heart that has long lingered, causing me to toss and turn, unable to sleep. Hearing that Lu Zi was Invading Qi, I have come especially to seek your guidance."

Lu Xuan glanced over, the stern look on his face dissolving into a smile.

"Zhongni, why stand on such ceremony?"

Confucius bowed once more before rising.