The north wind blew, and the leaves fell in the cold winter. The sky was getting brighter and brighter. On the fields, many farmers were busy planting crops.
The child held the eggs and tightened his linen clothes. His face was red from the cold.
"I'm actually afraid of the cold …"
Xiao Tong was surprised. He had a feeling that he hadn't experienced this for hundreds of years.
There was a red birch forest at the head of the village, and in the middle of the forest stood a thatched cottage and a private school.
In the school, in the creaking old house, the sound of a young and tender recitation came from afar.
"At the beginning of the Immortal Realm, there is no nature. Ascending the Path to Heaven and entering the Sea Diagram, one's magic power is vast and cannot be admired. Only when one's Dao Heart is firm can one see …"
The boy stopped outside the school. He didn't push the door open and just stood there quietly.
The children in the school recited the "Three-Character Immortal Classic" written by the teacher himself.
Its purpose was to enlighten the child. The child had heard this scripture seven times. Every month, his mother would ask him to send a basket of eggs to the teacher. Seven months, seven opportunities. He stood outside the school and almost memorized the entire Three-Character Immortal Classic.
The little boy knew that he was smart and intelligent, and was not inferior to the other village children. Unfortunately, the teacher refused to accept him.
"Why didn't Teacher accept me as a student …" The little boy was puzzled. He faintly felt that this was related to the matter he had forgotten.
When the boy appeared outside the private school, a boy who was a year younger than the boy immediately spoke excitedly from within the dilapidated private school.
"Mister Zi, Big Brother Ning Fan has come to acknowledge you as his master again. On account of his sincerity for the past seven months, you must accept him into your school this time!"
That child's name was Ning Gu. He was one of Ning Fan's few friends in Ning Village.
After he spoke, all the children stopped reciting and looked at Ning Fan through the dilapidated window.
"Today is the seventh month, but it is also his seventh day. If he still doesn't understand why he can't enter the private school, then he is not fit to stay in this world …"
Inside the school, a purple-clad teacher smiled faintly.
This person had long hair like a waterfall and a handsome appearance. There was a purplish-gold stone flame mark on his forehead.
"But Mister Zi, Big Brother Ning Fan is really sincere …"
"He is different from you … Let him stand! As for you, study hard … "
In the teacher's hand, there was a purplish-gold ruler. He gently knocked on Ning Gu's head with love and gentleness.
He did not ruthlessly slap the child's palm. He would never do that.
He taught without discrimination, taught by word and example, and did not punish anyone. This was also the reason why Mister Zi was famous in the village.
It was rumored that even the county magistrates outside the village had to bow to Mister Zi.
This person did not seek fame or fortune, but many of the disciples who listened to him were officials of the State of Yue.
In the land of Yue, Confucianism flourished. Daoism, Mohism, Military Strategy, Law, and other schools of thought were also filled with scholars.
As for Mister Zi's school of thought, it was … the Purple School.
After the teacher reprimanded him in a soft voice, Ning Gu rubbed his head and sat down in embarrassment. The chanting of sutras resounded in the school again.
Ning Fan, on the other hand, was standing outside the school with the egg in his hand. His fists were tightly clenched.
"He is different from you … Let him stand!"
Recalling Mister's words in his mind, Ning Fan gently gritted his teeth. This time, I'm afraid I will fail again
But why didn't the teacher accept me … Why am I different from the other children here …
…
On the Dao Seeking Cliff, Meng Xuanzi looked at Ning Fan who was standing in the purple mist and frowned.
"Today is the seventh day. Countless Peak Nascent Soul Cultivators have stopped at this step … I wonder if this young man can cross this threshold … My Dao Heart Illusory Realm in the past was about getting married. This young man seems to be seeking for knowledge … whether he can obtain a Dao …"
…
Ning Fan did not know how long he had been standing outside the school.
He kept thinking about it. The reason why Mister Zi did not accept him seemed to be because he was different from the others. But why was he different? What was different about him?
His eyes gradually revealed a hint of profoundness that did not match his age.
At the moment when this expression appeared, the purple-robed young man inside the school smiled faintly.
"This young man is beginning to comprehend …"
Different? What is different about him …
Dark clouds gradually appeared in the sky. Within the dark clouds, the cold winter rain began to fall.
Ning Fan stood under the eaves and looked at the raindrops that resembled pearls. His eyes became more and more profound. When it reached a certain level, it gradually became clear.
"Different … That's right. I am naturally different from them … There are no similar people in this world and there are no similar raindrops … The reason why each raindrop is different is not because of their different shapes. The main reason is because of their different trajectories … Their trajectories are to study in the Ning Village of Yue Country, learn how to write, obtain scholarly honors and become an official. As for me, I don't think that's the case … I want to seek knowledge and seek the Dao but my goal is not to become an official in Yue Country … However, I can't remember my goal …"
On the seventh month, Ning Fan finally understood what Mister Zi said.
The purple-robed teacher's eyes shone with a satisfied smile. He pushed open the door and went out. He did not take the egg but just smiled and patted Ning Fan's head.
"Take the egg home for your mother to nourish her body … As for you, you have the qualification to enter the school. However, before that, there is still a test …"
"Test?" Ning Fan raised his small face.
"Yes, a test … My mortal name is Sun. However, you don't need to know that my immortal name is Zi Dou … They call me Immortal Sovereign Zi Dou …"
"Immortal Sovereign Zi Dou!"
Ning Fan took a few steps backwards. After hearing those words, his memories were awakened like a river that broke its dam.
That's right. I'm in an illusory realm …
Everything here is an illusory realm …
However, the purple-robed teacher in front of me is actually called Zi Dou and he is crowned as the Immortal Sovereign!
Have I been learning from the Immortal Sovereign all this while?!
"Immortal Sovereign, may I ask …"
"Call me mister …"
"Yes, may I ask mister if you are real or an illusion?!" Ning Fan's eyes turned serious.
"I'm neither real nor an illusion. I'm outside of the real void, the end of the Holy Road … The fourth step! If there's a chance, you will know. Now, you only have one thing to do … Go home and be filial to your mother. Only after you and your mother live a comfortable life will you have the qualification to study. If you can't be filial, you aren't fit to be a human. If you aren't a human, you won't be able to ascend the Dao Mountain and become an immortal … Go … "
"Yes!"
Ning Fan bowed and carried the egg, returning to his residence in the rain.
The rain was born in the sky and died on the ground. However, when it was about to reach his body, it strangely changed its trajectory.
The purple-robed teacher looked at Ning Fan who was leaving in the rain and nodded slightly.
"The successor of Ancient Chaos, huh? He's a promising talent …"
…
Ning Fan passed through the curtain of rain and his mind gradually became clear.
He had stayed in the Ning Village of Yue Country in this purple mist illusory realm for seven months. In the outside world, it was seven days.
In just seven days, his magic power had increased from 1015 units to 1085 units. It was not his demon power but the improvement of his magic power …
"If I stay here for one more month, my magic power will increase by one unit …"
He fell into silence for a moment. This purple-robed teacher was Immortal Sovereign Zi Dou, an expert that even True Immortals could not look up to. He was also the teacher of Ancient Chaos.
However, Ning Fan could not tell whether this person was real or illusory because his cultivation realm was far from enough. He could not even tell if this person was just an illusion created by the purple mist.
The only thing he could tell was that this person had a graceful bearing. He also told Ning Fan that in order to become an immortal, one must first be a human. In order to become a human, one must first be filial.
The word 'filial' was almost never mentioned in the cultivation world. Moreover, some sects would even erase their disciples' memories of the mortal world. Even if they did not erase their memories, they would also make their disciples abandon their connection with the mortal world …
As for Immortal Sovereigns, compared to cultivation realm, magic power, innate talent and Dao Comprehension, they valued their emotions more.
It gave him a chance to be filial to his mother …
"Mother …"
Ning Fan's heart felt warm. He saw his mother's appearance on the Ten Steps Bridge. He saw Zhihe's body in the Bell of Samsara. Immortal Sovereign Zi Dou gave him a chance to make up for his regrets in the mortal world with his mother and Zhihe.
In this way, the pain in his previous life and the regrets in this life could be made up for in this illusory realm.
In this way, his heart could become stronger because of the lack of cracks.
"But is this really right …?"
Ning Fan buried this thought deep in his heart.
He stood outside the bamboo fence and looked at his mother who was busy driving the chickens back to the chicken coop. Then, he secretly pointed at the sky.
The rain stopped!
"Hmm? Why did the rain come and go so suddenly … Eh? Fan Er is back? Is it possible for you to acknowledge me as your master this time …? "
Before Ning Qian could finish her words, her beautiful eyes which were drenched by the rain became gloomy.
"Why did you bring the eggs back?! You didn't acknowledge him as your master, did you?! "
"No, he had already accepted me. He just felt that I was too young and asked me to learn how to be a man at home … He also asked me to bring back this egg."
"Be a man? Are you the only one like this? The other children are also young but why can they study in the school? "Ning Qian asked in surprise.
"Because I am different from them!" Ning Fan's eyes flashed with a hint of pride.
In a flash, eight years had passed.
During these eight years, Ning Fan never mentioned anything about studying. He just stayed at home and helped with the farming.
He was filial to everything he did and never let Ning Qian do anything.
He did not show off and was like an ordinary man who lived in seclusion in Ning Village.
At the age of sixteen, his body was obviously thin and weak. However, he managed to cultivate one hundred mu of fertile farmland in the wasteland outside the village. He alone could cultivate one hundred mu of farmland.
Ning Qian gradually stopped working when she had enough money. Only when she was free would she go out and chat with her neighbor's wife.
Half a year was equivalent to ninety-six months. In the outside world, it was ninety-six days.
On the ninety-seventh month, Moneybags Wu of the county sent a matchmaker to Ning Village to ask for Carpenter Wang's daughter's hand in marriage!
Zhihe was already fourteen years old and had grown into a slender and elegant woman. She had already gained some fame in Ning Village and the surrounding counties.
Although her family background was poor and she would not be favored by the officials, there were quite a few local moneybags who wanted to take her as a concubine.
Among them, Moneybags Wu's family background was the highest. His name was Wu Dongnan. He even spent money to become a scholar and could barely be considered as a family of scholars.
With such wealth and family background, marrying Zhihe as a concubine was truly a wonderful thing. Even Carpenter Wang himself did not have any intention to refuse.
Zhihe hurriedly hid in Ning Fan's house, causing Ning Qian to feel pity and sigh.
Aunt Qian, Zhihe doesn't want to marry that Moneybags Wu! Zhihe wants to marry Big Brother Fan!
"Silly girl … That Wu Dongnan has a big family business. What's so bad about him? Why don't you like him and instead like my family's poor boy …"
"Who said that Big Brother Fan is poor? He has opened up hundreds of acres of fertile land and can be considered a rich man in Ning Village. I will marry him and rely on him for a lifetime. I will let him buy me delicious food and drink. How great is that!" The paper crane curled her lips. Her words made Ning Qian unable to restrain her laughter.
So, in Zhihe's mind, marrying Ning Fans is just like having an extra purse of money
However, Ning Qian knew that this silly girl wasn't interested in Ning Fan's money. Otherwise, why would she refuse to marry a wealthier rich man and disregard her reputation as a lady to stay in the Ning Family.
"Silly girl, you can be considered as infatuated … Fine, when Fan 'er returns, I will ask him to prepare a gift and go to your house to propose marriage! As for Moneybags Wu, I'll think of a way to deal with him if he continues to pester us and cause trouble. "
"There's no need to go through so much trouble …"
Outside the door, the silhouette of Ning Fan riding on a cow could be heard. He held a willow whip in his hand and his long hair draped over his shoulders. Although he was dressed in plain clothes, he still looked like an immortal.
"Wu Dongnan doesn't dare to cause trouble in front of me. He doesn't dare!"
"Zhihe is my wife, no one can take her away from me!"
…
On the 97th day, Meng Xuanzi's eyes were unprecedentedly focused.
In the past, he had broken through the threshold of 97 days and stopped comprehending the Dao.
Can this Ning Fan break through the threshold of 97 days and surpass me?!
Moreover, what puzzled Meng Xuanzi the most was that the purple mist that enveloped Ning Fan's body emitted a purplish-golden light from time to time.
That purplish-golden light had a kind of might that made Meng Xuanzi, who was an Immortal Emperor, have an illusion of wanting to worship it.
"How powerful is this purple mist … What level of immortal might is this … Could it be an Immortal Sovereign?!"
Immortal Sovereign Zi Dou! (To be continued.)
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