"Is my Master within?"
Han Mo was feasting in the refectory, while Zhang Ruhui, holding the box he had delivered, hurried to the back hall.
"Is something the matter?"
As soon as he spoke, Lin Ling Su's voice echoed from the main hall.
"Master, someone has arrived. I'm unsure of their true intentions!"
"Who could make you uncertain?"
Lin Ling Su had always highly valued his third disciple.
He entrusted most of the affairs of the Taoist temple to him, while his first and second disciples were responsible for handling miscellaneous matters.
Zhang Ruhui quickly recounted everything that had happened and handed over Han Mo's box.
"Valued at 100,000 piculs of rice?"
Lin Ling Su's interest was immediately piqued. He felt the weight of the box in his hands before opening it.
"What is this?"
Upon opening the box, all he found was a thick stack of white paper, nothing else.
Lin Ling Su was taken aback. Still, driven by curiosity, he unfolded the stack of paper.
"Pangu came first when chaos was divided, the Taiji, two forces, and four symbols hung.
Zi and Chou divided earth and man emerged in Yin, auspicious are the wise who cleared beastly ills.
Sui Ren stole fire, preventing raw food consumption; Fuxi drew the trigrams before Yin and Yang.
Shen Nong ruled the world, tasting a hundred herbs; Xuanyuan united people with rites and marriage.
Shaohao and the Five Emperors brought prosperity; Yu the Great controlled floods and cleansed the waves.
Peace reigned for four hundred years until King Jie, whose misrule overturned heaven and earth.
Indulging in wine and women, Cheng Tang rose to cleanse the world.
King Jie was banished to Nanchao, saving all with wishful clouds and rain.
The thirty-first generation passed to King Zhou of Shang, whose lineage was like a broken string.
Disrupting courtly order and familial bonds, he killed his wife and son, believing slander.
..."
After a brief perusal of the contents, Lin Ling Su was stunned.
Though he didn't know what had come over his Master, watching him flip through the pages faster and faster, Zhang Ruhui dared not even breathe loudly.
Lin Ling Su's flipping speed increased, and he soon reached the last page.
"A peerless marvel! Where is this person?"
After reading the contents, Lin Ling Su's breathing became rapid, and he stood up abruptly.
"He is currently dining in the refectory!"
Zhang Ruhui quickly replied.
"Such a prodigy, truly rare in this world. Did you offend him just now?"
Lin Ling Su asked casually while tidying his robes.
"Master, is this thing truly that good?"
Zhang Ruhui cautiously eyed the white papers in Lin Ling Su's hand and asked.
"Look here, look at this!"
Lin Ling Su spoke as he quickly turned to the last page, pointing to a passage.
"It states that Kunlun Mountain's Yuxu Palace, home to the Grand Pure Primordial Heavenly Venerable of the Chan sect, closed its gates and forbade entry because his twelve disciples incurred worldly calamities and faced divine retribution.
Furthermore, due to the Heavenly Emperor's decree for twelve immortal leaders to serve, the three teachings – Chan, Jie, and Human Dao – were unified, compiling 365 deities; they were also divided into eight divisions: the upper four for thunder, fire, plague, and battles, and the lower four for the constellations, mountains, and five peaks, gods of rain, clouds, and good or evil.
At this time, Shang Tang should perish, and the Zhou dynasty should rise; with immortals violating precepts, Primordial invested Fengshen; Jiang Ziya enjoyed the blessings of prime minister and general, fitting the destiny by chance. Thus, when a king rises every five hundred years, there will inevitably be those of renown, which is precisely why..."
"Do you understand?"
Lin Ling Su asked excitedly.
"He... he has arranged the origins of all the celestial deities!"
Zhang Ruhui suddenly realized. The Emperor was becoming increasingly difficult to fool, especially recently.
The conflict between Cai Jing and Lin Ling Su had nearly reached its climax, and it was rumored they were now scouring Bianliang City for extraordinary individuals.
They were taking his Shenxiao Sect's foundational text, the "Great Law of the Supreme Pure True King of the Purple Scroll," and meticulously searching for errors, word by word.
If it were anyone else, he might not have been as fearful, but Cai Jing and others were different.
A person who had experienced several ups and downs, rising to the position of Prime Minister three times, was now making a concerted effort to trouble them. It would be foolish for Lin Ling Su not to be afraid.
To fill in the gaps of his fabricated doctrines, he had almost pulled out all his hair recently.
Yet, even so, his concocted theories were full of loopholes.
However, after reading the contents of the paper today, he truly felt a sense of enlightenment.
Although the content on the paper was largely anecdotal, it was nonetheless an invaluable treasure to him.
"Precisely, this thing is clearly not finished. No, I must meet him! Go now, personally invite him here!"
Lin Ling Su, who had already reached the doorway, suddenly turned back and said.
Regardless of anything else, he was now the foremost authority in the world of Taoism.
Making such a public display to meet a young man seemed rather improper, so he quickly instructed Zhang Ruhui.
"Yes!"
Knowing the importance of this matter, Zhang Ruhui did not dare to delay and hurried towards the refectory.
Upon arriving at the refectory, he was immediately stunned.
The portions of the refectory meal were not large to begin with.
However, even for someone with a good appetite, one or two servings would suffice.
Yet, before Han Mo, there were more than a dozen empty bowls...
Even Xu Fengnian had six or seven empty bowls before him, and only Niu Deyi had a single bowl with a small amount of rice left.
"Uncle-Master, where did these three come from? It's as if they haven't eaten in years."
The refectory manager quickly approached Zhang Ruhui and whispered.
"Cough—cough—cough—"
"Less nonsense!"
Zhang Ruhui coughed a few times, glared fiercely at him, and the manager quickly retreated a few steps.
"Have you seen the item?"
Han Mo asked with a smile.
"Was this written by the young master?"
Zhang Ruhui licked his lips and asked tentatively.
"Why do you care where it came from? I just want to know if you're interested in it."
Han Mo said cheekily, picking his teeth.
"The young master jest. My Master is waiting in the back hall. I wonder if it would be convenient for the young master to accompany me to the back hall for a meeting?"
Before ascertaining the origin of this item, Zhang Ruhui, despite his reluctance, had to endure.
"The back hall?"
Han Mo looked at him with a strange smile.
"Precisely, my Master is waiting in the back hall!"
Zhang Ruhui said with a conciliatory smile.
"This free refectory meal is too enjoyable. I've accidentally eaten until I'm too full and can't move. Why don't you go and invite your Master here?"