Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Era of the Saints

g, and though I managed to win by a stroke of luck, I feel overwhelmed with humility. I humbly request another duel, to prove your might once again.""What the heck is this Jiang Wang scanned to the si...Zhong Xuan followed his own principles and didn't care what others said—but Dou Zhao was definitely an exception.

Although Jiang Wang proposed this match unilaterally, it was not entirely fair. The two opponents had different strengths, and their current battle states were also different. Even their exertion levels differed...

But if he really fell behind, Dou Zhao would at least have the upper hand in arguments for a decade.

Although the competition was childish, Dou Zhao's expression was very genuine.

Two peerless geniuses were fighting fiercely there. Jiang Wang received Ning Shuangrong's sword manual, Ji Li's treasure inkstone, and Zhuo Qingru's chain of entanglement...

May I be reduced to poverty, penniless and ostracized from this game.

Ning Shuangrong's sword manual needs no introduction in terms of quality, and Ji Li's wagered inkstone is also a fine writing instrument. The entwined lock chain is even one of the top ten lock chains made by the School of Law.

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"Alright. Deal's done!" Jiang Wang collected the heavy bet and watched the competition with extra seriousness.

"Chop it! Chop its claws first, attack it down lane, quickly, quickly!" Master Jiang kept giving instructions from the sidelines, getting more excited than anyone watching the match.

Ning Shuangrong and Zhu Qingru both bet on Dou Zhao to win, while Ji Li bet on Chong Xuanzun.

At this moment, holding a white cat, she whispered, "Master Jiang knows them all well. Who do you think will win"

Jiang Wang stared intently: "They definitely both believe in themselves more."

What about Jiang Zemin's judgment

“I didn't know the moment victory or defeat came. That's what gambling is, isn't it”

Ji Li thoughtfully said: "They are equally matched in terms of strength and combat talent, both at the pinnacle of the world. Victory or defeat sometimes comes down to luck, the opponent, and the determination with which they participate in this competition."

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"Exactly what I was thinking, Miss Ji."

Ji Li said, “Now it seems like Dou Zhenren's determination is stronger.”

Jiang Wang casually said, "Dou Zhao is someone who wants to win everything, and Chong Xuan follows his example, winning only what he cares about."

"What about Master Jiang" Ji Li asked.

Ning Shuang said from the side, "It's best if Master Jiang wins, and do your best without regrets."

Jiang Wang laughed and said, "A true friend is one who knows me well, even if they are a swordsman!"

As for the house, if this match absolutely had to have a winner, then it would be better for Chongxuan Zun to win. He only needed to lose one bet and could collect two, making a profit. Therefore, he praised Ning Shuangrong while quietly setting a spark of divine fire on Dou Zhao's opponent, allowing the formidable evil spirit within the cave to last a few more moments.

"Speaking of it, why is Champion Hou the only one who attracts misfortune" Zhu Qingru curiously asked at this time: "Was he also invited by Master Jiang"

"It has nothing to do with me," Jiang Wang said. "But I think he probably had a connection with the Blood River Sect himself. The former Blood River True Monarch wanted to take him as his disciple, but he refused. Afterward, he unfortunately died in battle with the scourge and entrusted him with becoming the leader of the Blood River Sect... Well, I'll just ask him directly later."

"As for me, this is the first time I've heard of it. I was quite surprised: 'Can the inheritance of such a grand lineage be entrusted to outsiders'"

>The Dusk Drum Academy can be considered a neighbor of the Blood River Sect. Qi Li explained, "The Blood River Sect's tradition has always been to prioritize talent over blood relations. Even the position of Sect Master, throughout history, has several times not been passed down to disciples within the sect. If they felt that no suitable disciple could be found, they would pass it down to an extraordinary genius from outside the sect. Perhaps this is also the reason why the Blood River Sect has had successive True Monarchs and its lineage has never declined."

Zuo Qingru added, "The Blood River Sect's legacy doesn't lie in those martial arts and secret techniques, but in their spirit of governing water for tens of thousands of years. This blood river is composed entirely of human blood. Those who wish to quell the calamities with water for humanity can all be considered members of the Blood River Sect. Since ancient times, cultivators who died in battle against the calamity waters or perished within the blood river have been recognized by the Blood River Sect and honored as heroic spirits."

Zhu Wei sighed, "Xue He Sect is truly a respectable sect."

When these brothers first met, they joined forces to slay the Heart-Devouring Demon Bear, a disciple cast out by the Blood River Sect. Today, as they stand together once more, bringing calamity upon this place, memories of that day fill their minds, stirring up a myriad of emotions.

Jiang Wang casually said: "A sect that can survive for generations naturally has its greatness. Only a great belief can resist time..."

“Wow!” He suddenly raised his voice, overjoyed: “The game is over!”

Everyone could see that Dou Shao and Chong Xuan almost sheathed their swords at the same time. The evil spirits they fought against each transformed into a huge ball of water, clear and transparent, crashing into the muddy waves.

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The two-headed pit demon was slain, and the murky waters of this area seemed to have cleared somewhat.

Who won

While the gamblers were still trying to find that perhaps possible, infinitesimal difference, Jiang Wang had already raised his hands for a week, smiling brightly: "Sorry everyone. It's a tie! The banker wins all. I concede, I concede."

The Evil Eye possesses no intelligence, only the instinct for slaughter and strength. In the face of an opponent of equal power, it will undoubtedly be at a disadvantage.

And when faced with top-tier fighters like Dou Zhao and Chong Xuan, saying that Evil View was just a target to be slaughtered wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Of course, even if you let them be slaughtered endlessly, it's still an evil view with a profound level of power. It inevitably consumes energy to do so.

The two of them secretly competed against each other, working themselves to the bone. However, Jiang Wang was elated and made a fortune. At one point, his eyes weren't very kind.

Jiang Wang walked over enthusiastically: "Long time no see, Chong Xuan brother, your bearing is even more impressive than before! This time we came to Huoshui as a team centered around Dou Zhao Zhenren for the trials. What about you, why did you come alone"

As the saying goes, "don't hit someone who's smiling," Zhong Xuan followed suit with a smile: “I’m not alone. I also have Kou Zhenren, the guardian of Xuehe Sect, with me.”

As for Dou Zhao...

He's already at the core, what else is there to consider!

Jiang Wang let out an "Oh" : "I thought you were with Wang Yiwu."

“He’s... over there,” Chongxuan explained. “After the Dragon Palace banquet, he went to the Demon Realm to carry out his duties. I fought a few big battles over there, and it's not easy to go back right now.”

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Jiang Wang had also heard from Xuan Sheng about this champion. When he was in the demon world, this champion even single-handedly defeated several demon kings, turning a small skirmish into a large-scale battle. He bravely charged ahead and helped Xiu Yuan capture a major demon city. Now, he is a human prodigy listed on the demon clan's roster.

"Then he asked, "So you came with Kou Zhenren this time to spread chaos... just for convenience"

"It's not inconvenient at all," Chongxuan smiled. "Wang Yiwu obtained an ancient killing technique in the Dragon Palace, which requires Chiqiong's blood to be cultivated. He has the military god as his master, so he doesn't lack any killing techniques anyway. It's nothing to him. But I was bored anyway, so I came to try my luck with this disaster water. After all, it was won at the Dragon Palace banquet, and it would be a waste if left unused. Before coming here, I asked Elder Kou, and she said she could help me find Chiqiong."

The mythical beast Qiongqi is said to be a demon that rewards evil and punishes the good. It devours those who are righteous and just, and it rewards the wicked and cruel. It has long since vanished from the mortal world. No wonder only misfortune befell Chongxuan Zun.

Ge really dared to venture into the dangerous waters, seeking fame and recognition. He disappeared without a trace, serving as a cautionary tale for others. But Ge was talented and fearless, seemingly unconcerned with such risks.

“Where is Kou Zhenren” asked Zhu Qingru.

Chong Xuan followed the path, saying: "She went to search for lotus seeds, and I'll wait here for her. By the way, I'll kill a few of those True View demons and sharpen my blade."

"What do you mean by lotus seeds" Seeing that the others all understood, Zhu Wei frowned slightly.

Because he was going to explore the calamity with Master Zhu, Jiang Wang had done his homework in advance. When he went to the demon realm before, he hadn't had time to supplement relevant knowledge and was punched into the Frostwind Valley by Zhuang Gaixian, which made him take many detours. He wouldn't make this mistake again.

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The Duke of Huai's mansion had comprehensive records. It was when he borrowed related materials that Zuo Guangsu realized he was coming to wreak havoc with the trial.

At this time, he explained to his senior brother, "Disaster can have many names, and each name can be seen as a kind of cognition. Taoism calls it the 'Ocean of Calamity', Buddhism calls it 'Unrooted', and Confucianism calls it 'Evil Lotus'."

"This lotus seed, as it is said, comes from the 'evil lotus'. What the Confucian scholars see as misfortune is an endless world of lotuses. Within this world, there are small worlds that depend on misfortune and hide within it. These are seen as 'lotus seeds'. The rare beasts found in these worlds are usually hidden within these lotus seed worlds. To say that misfortune holds no treasure would be inaccurate; it's just that they are difficult to find and extremely dangerous."

> May my talents and strength never be lacking. However, due to my humble origins in a small country, my horizons are limited. He may wish to learn about these treacherous things, but he doesn't even know where to begin.

Huang Jinmo, of course, is not lacking in discernment. However, she has already been taken away by the Mohist school for several years.

Jiang Wang was no different.

Over the years, he has diligently studied to make up for his lack of knowledge. He admitted that he was shallow in his learning and narrow in his outlook. Before leaving Fenglin City with his younger sister, his biggest ambition was to become a criminal investigator for Zhuang Guo.

It's not even a comparison to compare him with an unparalleled genius like Chong Xuan Zun, putting him alongside Xie Baoshu is an insult to Xiao Bao.

But he will work hard. Thousands of words, he has already memorized most of them. Simply memorizing is actually fine, but his reading method is still the one taught by Prince Qi, which requires understanding each word and sentence. To feel the heart of Emperor Jingtaizu when he deposed the empress from a single sentence, "The prince shot the dragon fox," this is an extremely huge amount of work... Many old scholars spend decades or even centuries without fully understanding it.

Besides, whenever he was free, he would also read, keeping himself constantly updated.

From not knowing anything when asked three questions, and feeling lost at a glance, to being able to chat with my fellow students now, it's all time well spent.

I nodded and said, “So this is how it is with ‘lotus seeds’.”

He was very proud of Jiang Wang: “Junior brother, you are so knowledgeable, I admire you!”

Jiang Wang laughed and said, "This isn't some vast knowledge. I just looked up some information before we left."

Then he turned to Chong Xuan and said, “Dragon King, you’re being too stingy! Sending such a harsh and old-fashioned technique is torturing someone, isn’t it Poor Qi's blood is so hard to find! Let me take a look, maybe I can help improve it.”

"Thank you." Chong Xuan smiled and said, "I left in a hurry and didn't bring anything."

Jiang Wang sighed and lamented, reminding him to be sure to bring it next time.

He also said he will definitely do it next time.

Rustling sounds filled the air as waves parted before them. A cold and imposing woman clad in crimson armor emerged from the depths, a ruby-red longsword held firmly in her hand, stepping out of the sea of affliction.

She was naturally the former Blood River Sect's right protector and now the left protector, Kou Xuejiao.

“How many lotus seeds does a lotus produce I don’t know either.” As she walked, she said, “Master Jiang knows this is the world of evil lotuses, but does he know where the lotus seeds come from”

"I must confess, I'm not familiar with this." Jiang Wang bowed slightly. "Would you enlighten me, Master Kou"

“The scourge is boundless and endless, born with a bubble world within it. Like oases in the desert, fragrant grasses in poisonous forests, this is the natural order. Even in the most evil places, there is vitality. Since ancient times, many creatures have sought refuge there for various reasons. In the distant past, countless races existed, some more, some less. Throughout history, there have also been some among humanity. Kou Xuejiao said: “But a bubble world is ultimately a ‘bubble,’ empty and fragile, easily shattered. Over millennia, it has been born and destroyed countless times. Who knows how many are left”

At this time, the four celestial beings and four divine presences are scattered throughout the waters here. The evil views have been eliminated, the wind and waves have calmed, the water is clear, and there is peace all around.

Jiang Wang asked, "Are these bubble worlds the lotus seeds of the Evil Lotus"

"Not quite." Kou Xuejiao said, "I believe everyone here knows about the Era of Saints"

The last emperor of the Shang dynasty, Huangdi Lie Shan Shi, was also known as ‘the Last Emperor’. His death marked the end of the Shang dynasty.

>

During this period, the schools of Confucianism, Legalism, Mohism...each had passed down their teachings and expanded their branches. The era when Taoism was the only dominant school came to an end, and the era of a hundred schools of thought contending emerged.

Thus, the recent past began.

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And the Era of Saints, is the first grand chapter in this great era!

You probably have some vague recollection, although that was already history ten thousand years ago.

Seeing that everyone nodded, Kou Xuejiao asked, "What is a saint"

Jiang Wangdao: "Those with noble character, great personalities, and who have made immortal contributions to humanity can all be called 'saints'."

Kou Xuejiao shook her head. “You're talking about 'sages,' not the 'saints' of the era of myriad saints. Of course, they initially defined themselves as sages, but history has justly categorized them. Some can be called 'sages,' while others are simply referred to as 'saints.'"

As for the era of the saints, Jiang Wang is indeed not well-informed. Thousands upon thousands of words describe only the history of the last four thousand years. And I haven't even finished reading it yet!

For him to know the history of ten thousand years ago at his age is truly asking a lot.

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But upon hearing Kou Xuejiao's words, he couldn't help but ponder: "It seems that in Kou Zhenren's definition, 'Saint' represents a kind of rank."

"This is not Kou Zhenren's definition, it's history's definition," Zhu Qingru said from the side.

Ji Li's cat in her arms also let out a meow, as if in response.

"A saint, supreme and pure, can also be called 'The King of All Under Heaven'!" Kou Xuejiao said. "But there is a more direct way to put it—transcending the mortal realm and attaining sainthood."

She further supplemented: "This term was born in the era of saints, and its meaning has changed today. But its earliest expression was to fulfill the extraordinary peak, and then enter the saintly realm."

Jiang Wang was startled: "After Transcendence Apex... 'Saint' is transcendence"

Kou Xuejiao still shook her head: "Transcendence is indescribable, the word 'saint' is not enough."

She lamented, "Transcendence is unattainable. 'Saint' resides between the peak and transcendence. Of course, it also possesses the power to break through the limits of this world."

"That's terrifying too," Jiang Wang murmured. "During the era of the Three Saints, prodigies abounded, stars were brilliant, and there were so many revered saints..."

During the Warring States Period, a hundred schools of thought vied with each other, leaving behind countless great thinkers. Besides the six major disciplines of our time, there were also the Yin-Yang School, the Family Name School, the Miscellaneous School, the Farmer School, the Novelist School, the Vertical and Horizontal School, and the Medical School...

If they were all "sacred," what a glorious age it would be!

But Zhu Qingru quickly explained: "So-called 'all saints' is just a general term. There are many fake saints and minor saints that need not be mentioned...True saints, there are only a dozen or so. Look at today, how many schools of thought remain"

Ji Li seemed to know what Jiang Wang was thinking and added, “The Sage Confucius is transcendent. Of course, the Legalist master Laozi is also.”

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Kou Xuejiao, while not a Confucian or legalist, can objectively say a few more things: "Like the ancestors of Confucianism and Legalism, these transcendent figures are also called '至聖'. However, they are mostly just given such an honorable title out of respect from their disciples. They essentially follow their own path of transcendence, not the kind of 'great achievement and complete sainthood' pursued during the era of the Three Sages."

“What is ‘great accomplishment and perfect saintliness’” Jiang Wang asked.

Kou Xuejiao looked back into the distance, and her voice at this moment also became far away: "Unifying all thoughts, achieving the state of supreme saintliness, is also proof of transcendence. It is like the 'Emperor of All Under Heaven' in the present world!"

Let me know if you have other text you'd like translated! know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!As for the future, she wouldn't even consider it. Not long ago, Xiang had publicly questioned Jiang Wang about his efforts for Qingyang Town...