Chapter 58: Enlightenment

  Xue Pan was not clear about the relationship between Ding Chen and Ding Yan, and thought they were father and son.

  "Father, you really know this immortal master?" Xue Haikong exclaimed excitedly.

  Earlier in the wine building, he had already experienced Ding Yan's means, that kind of power was simply not internal force.

  Xue Pan waved his hand, signaling his son not to speak. Since he had witnessed Ding Yan's power back then, he understood that the other party was absolutely not an ordinary person. Ding Chen had followed him for so long, and if he didn't know 'immortal techniques', Xue Pan would find it strange instead.

  "Does the dog son offend the young master?" Xue Pan asked.

  He knew his son's temperament better than anyone else.

  "How could it be? I had a pleasant conversation with your husband." Ding Chen shook his head.

  Xue Hai Kong, who was standing next to him, secretly let out a sigh of relief. He knew Xue Pan's temper all too well, and if Ding Chen had told the truth, he would probably have been thrown into the Suffering Mountain Dungeon by Xue Pan.

  Ku Shan was where Xue Pan made his sword enlightenment years ago. It's only a few hundred miles away from Yi Shui City.

  Looking back at the painting in the center of the living room, Ding Yan asked, "Is this painting the one from that year?"

  In the middle of the living room, a painting hangs with a large character "Dao" written on it! This character was exactly what Ding Yan gave to Xue Pan at the beginning, and it was also because of this character that Xue Pan became who he is today. After retiring from politics, Xue Pan specially found someone to frame this painting with two rollers and hung it in the middle of the living room to show his respect for Ding Yan.

  "Not bad, this character is indeed the one that Mr. En gave me at the beginning." Xue Pan nodded and then sighed, saying "It's embarrassing to say, I, Xue, have been contemplating this painting for decades, but still only understand its surface meaning... it can be imagined how profound Mr. En's realm is..."

  Writing is also one of Xuepan's methods of enlightenment.

  To grasp the connotation of the word, Xue Pan has written nearly a thousand "Dao" characters. However, every time he finishes writing, he feels that his own "Dao" character lacks a certain connotation compared to the one in the living room, a certain enlightenment about the realm.

  This is not to say that Xue Pan's comprehension is poor, but rather that compared to Ding Yan, he has experienced too little. In Ding Yan's words and paintings, in addition to the insight into the realm of scattered immortals, there are also his experiences and accumulation from thousands of years of cultivation in his past life. This kind of thing cannot be understood overnight, but requires long-term accumulation.

  "No matter what, Xue Daxia was able to come up with a set of sword techniques from this character, it's already an impressive achievement." said Ding Chen.

  Xue Pan stroked his chin whiskers and revealed a hint of a smile.

  His swordsmanship was indeed his most proud achievement in this life. Ding Chen's words were also a kind of recognition for him.

  "What brings you here, young master? Is there something on your mind?" Xue Pan asked.

  Ding Chen said, "Xue Da Xia can just call me by my name."

  Xue Pan burst out laughing and said "In that case, I'll call you Young Master Ding then."

  Without beating around the bush, Ding Chen directly stated his purpose for coming. "I came to ask if Sir Xue has seen my uncle in the past two years or heard any rumors about him."

  Xue Pan was taken aback and said, "Isn't Master Wen with you?"

  "Uncle left six years ago, I don't know where he went either. I came to Yishui City also to see if Uncle had come back." Ding Chen shook his head.

  Xue Pan smiled wryly.

  He had originally wanted to ask Ding Yan about his cultivation issues, but now it seemed that there was no opportunity.

  "Master En is a divine being, always appearing and disappearing like a dragon, even you, Ding Xiaoyi, can't find him, let alone me. Speaking of which, the last time I saw Master En was that time in Ning Mountain City..." Xue Pan couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia as he recalled Ding's majestic aura.

  That kind of state, I'm afraid I won't be able to reach it in this lifetime.

  Although it was expected, Ding Chen still couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

  "In that case, I won't disturb Mr. Xue any further." Ding Chen stood up and walked towards the outside of the Xue residence.

  Xue Pan was taken aback, not expecting the other to leave so suddenly. He immediately opened his mouth to persuade him to stay, saying "Ding Xiaowu, why don't you stay at the Xue manor for a few more days? Perhaps Master En will arrive in Yishui City after a while..."

  He stopped in his tracks, as if Ding Chen had suddenly remembered something.

  He drew his long sword and walked into the courtyard. The yuan force in his body circulated once, flowed to his hand, and suddenly covered the entire long sword.

  "Xian Guang!!" Xue Haikong exclaimed as he walked out of the living room and saw this scene.

  "No, this is not Sword Qi, but a power that is even more terrifying than Sword Qi." Xue Pan's face was also solemn, his eyes fixed tightly on Ding Chen's right hand.

  Cheers!

  Ding Chen took one step forward and swept his sword horizontally.

  The sword left his hand and transformed into a semi-transparent sword energy that instantly split the stone mountain in front of him.

  Carla...

  Rocks keep falling down.

  Sheathing his sword, Ding Chen turned around and bowed slightly to Xue Pan "Farewell, Sir Xue. Until we meet again..."

  After finishing speaking, he ignored Xue Ping and his son, took a step forward, and disappeared into the mansion.

  Xue family father and son stayed behind, staring blankly at the stone mountain.

  After leaving Yishui City, Ding Chen wore a black bamboo hat, carried an iron sword on his back, and rode a jujube yellow horse, gradually disappearing into the distance.

  Looking back at the towering city wall, Ding Chen said quietly, "If one day, Uncle also went to Xue Fu and saw that sword aura, he should understand that I've been here before..."

  Turning back, one gallops towards the distant horizon.

  ......

  After leaving Mojia Village, Ding Yan did not fly again, but walked step by step towards the capital of Chu State like an ordinary person.

  A green robe, long sleeves fluttering, like a poet walking in the wild countryside.

  Within half a day, Ding Yan kept thinking about the news of Wangshi City.

  Needless to say, the Muye City is an opportunity for Ding Yan now. If he grasps this opportunity, he may soar to great heights. Of course, even if he doesn't go to Muye City, Ding Yan still has a good chance of reaching the height of Liu Jie San Xian, and as for beyond that, it's hard to say.

  "Oh, the vast ocean, please don't go! There's no more food at home, and that imperial examination is a curse on humanity!! If you continue to take the exam, my mother and I will definitely starve to death..."

  A burst of sobbing.

  Following the sound, Ding Yan found himself unknowingly walking to the outside of a farmhouse. At the door, a plainly dressed peasant woman and a young man in scholar's attire were arguing, the previous voice was coming from that peasant woman's mouth.

  "I must go! If I can get into high school this time, we won't have to live such a hard life anymore..."

  "You've been taking the imperial exam year after year, but you always end up failing. Our family's savings have all been spent, and now our home is empty with nothing left. We only have enough food for three more months. If you go take the exam again, what will happen to me and the child?" The woman sobbed.

  "Yuè Rú, you must believe me!" Shūshēng said firmly.

  "I believed in you, I believed in you ten years ago, but what about now?"

  "I've persisted for ten years, if I give up now, it would be as if I've gained nothing. If I really succeed in the imperial examination, then all my hardships will pay off! I must strive, only then do I have a chance!" The scholar's body was extremely thin, but at the moment he spoke these words, his spirit was like an ancient pine tree, with a strong and unyielding backbone that made people dare not look down on him.

  “......”

  Ding Yan outside the temple, hearing this sentence at that moment, was like a sudden enlightenment, all troubles were resolved.

  "Struggle, and you'll have a chance! This is survival."