Chapter Fifteen Human World

  Taiqing Pool is located on the west side of Taishang Daode Palace, named as a pool, but it actually covers an area of thousands of acres, vast and majestic, with red lotus and green water lilies floating on the surface. There are also cranes and other rare birds wandering around the lake and by the water's edge. In the center of the lake, there is a small pavilion, elegant and charming. The top of the pavilion is like a gourd facing the sky, with emerald green tiles covering it, shining brightly and radiating colorful lights. The four corners have flying eaves, like an eagle spreading its wings, as if about to take flight. On top of the red pillars, there are also colorful paintings, vibrant and lifelike. The entire small pavilion is exquisitely beautiful, but what's even more mysterious is that this pavilion is actually floating in mid-air, about ten feet above the water surface.

  Taiqing Pool is so vast, it has become a scenic spot in the Palace of Supreme Virtue. The lakeside is paved with white sandstone paths, winding through flowers and trees, dividing water over stones, elegant yet majestic.

  At this time, dozens of young disciples were strolling by the lake, and they seemed to be admiring the southern scenery on top of the snowy peaks, but it was more like they were watching the magnificent and majestic celestial spectacle. The majority of these people were young men, each with a refined and elegant demeanor, and their spiritual aura was not weak at all. As this group walked together, the precious light and celestial energy interacted and collided with each other, instantly attracting countless bees and butterflies that flew around them in circles without leaving.

  On the other side of Taiqing Pool, there are several tall buildings, backed by the blue sky and facing the vast lake, which can be described as majestic and magnificent, with an extraordinary momentum. The high-rise building has red pillars and gray tiles, carved beams and painted rafters. Especially the doors and windows inside the building, double-sided hollow carvings of strange flowers and grasses, precious birds and beasts, and applied with vermilion paint and gold foil. Seeing this building, one cannot help but feel a sense of grandeur and majesty that surpasses the ordinary world.

  Shang Qiushui and Ji Ruochen were standing on the top floor of one of the tall buildings, leaning against the railing and gazing out at a group of young people boating on the lake. Among them, a small portion were disciples of the Daoist sect, while the majority were young masters from various schools who had come to pay their respects, as well as several middle-aged Daoist priests who were leading the three residents of Yunzhongju on a tour of the Taishang Daode Palace. Shi Ji, Chu Han and Gu Qing stood in the midst of the crowd, surrounded by a throng of young people like stars surrounding the moon.

  Far and away, the rocky shore smiles charmingly, with every gesture and movement, often causing the young monks surrounding her to lose their composure and become flustered. The chilly jade tree sways in the wind, responding elegantly, with a subtle yet majestic aura that captivates one's heart.

  Gu Qing still had that calm and indifferent look, as if even if a mountain collapsed in front of her, she would remain unmoved. Unlike Shi Qi and Chu Han, Gu Qing's surroundings were somewhat empty, those young monks kept stealing glances at her, but no one dared to approach her.

  "Hmph! These reckless and flighty people, with such a temperament and character, also want to cultivate the Great Way?" Shang Qiushui commented viciously and sarcastically.

  He stood at the railing, gazing out into the distance, not afraid of being discovered by the three people in the clouds. Firstly, as he said, dozens of bees and butterflies were flying around him, making a racket that would have been enough to distract anyone from observing their surroundings. Secondly, there were many seniors and disciples from various sects standing at the edge of Taiqing Pool, all wanting to catch a glimpse of the successor of Yunzhong Sect who had come to compete with Daode Zong.

  Ji Ruochen was dragged over by Shang Qiushui with great reluctance, but as he casually glanced towards the opposite side of Taiqing Pool, his eyes were suddenly fixed and couldn't be moved away.

  "Alas, the world is declining, and people's hearts are no longer ancient." After being with Ji Ruochen for a long time, Shang Qiushui seemed to have revealed her true nature, becoming more and more charming. Even this sentence of pretentious criticism was said with a hint of flirtation.

  He scolded and criticized for half a day, but Ji Ruocheng remained silent and still. Shang Qiushui felt slightly surprised, turned his head to look, and saw that Ji Ruocheng was staring at the stone reef, almost as if he didn't blink. Shang Qiushui's face changed slightly, but he immediately discovered that Ji Ruocheng's face was pale, with an unusual expression, not like someone who had been enchanted by the demon. He hastily asked: "Ruocheng, what's wrong?"

  Ji Ruochen suddenly shuddered, let out a mouthful of air, and his face finally regained its rosiness. He was still shaken as he said, "What a vicious and ruthless thing!"

  Shang Qiushui was greatly surprised, he had just seen Ji Ruochen looking at the stone pillar, and didn't expect him to say such a thing. He asked in pursuit: "Brother Ruochen, are you talking about the stone pillar? I've dealt with her before, hmm, how should I put it, although my instincts don't like her, but judging by heart, she is extremely rare in both appearance and talent, and she's also very comfortable to get along with. Why does Brother Ruochen have such a bad impression of her, even using the word 'thing'?"

  Ji Ruocheng let out a sound, turned to look at Shang Qiushui, and said in surprise: "Brother Qiushui, since you have fought with Shi Ji, how can you still have such an evaluation? I think Shi Ji's appearance is beautiful and flawless, but her nature is extremely ruthless and cruel, absolutely a rare evil creature. Even from afar, just looking at her for a few moments, one can feel her ferocity! It's strange, Yun Zhongju is also a renowned sect, how could they take in someone like Shi Ji? Even if she were human, her nature would not meet the requirements of the righteous path, let alone I couldn't see what her true form was, but it's certain that she's not of our kind!"

  Shang Qiu Shui let out a soft "ah" and then stood there, staring blankly at Ji Ruochen, silent once more.

  Ji Ruocheng was startled, and called out to Shang Qiushui several times before he finally came back. Shang Qiushui stared at Ji Ruocheng left and right, then glanced at the stone a few more times, before letting out a long sigh and saying: "I once faced off against that stone, but I couldn't see anything unusual about her. But Brother Ruocheng only took one look and already saw through to her true nature... Ah, born with wise eyes, born with wise eyes..."

  Ji Ruochen's face turned red with embarrassment, and he quickly changed the subject, saying: "I've already met Chu Han, and indeed, he's a heartthrob. Autumn Water Shixiong said that Gu Qing is one of the top disciples of Yun Zhongju, but I didn't see him?"

  Shang Qiushui said in surprise: "I haven't seen Gu Qing either, but it should be her. There's no one around her, which is a bit strange."

  "Which one? How come I didn't see it?" Ji Ruochen asked again.

  Shang Qiushui was greatly surprised, and while looking at Ji Ruochen's gaze, he stretched out his hand to point to the other side of the Taiqing Pool, correcting him: "Brother Ruo Chen, it should be that woman in a white shirt. Hmm, indeed aloof and unparalleled... Eh, Brother Ruo Chen, where are you looking? Look a bit further away... You're looking too far again, bring it back... How did you shift to the east side again? She's right in the center, center!"

  To correct Ji Ruochen's line of sight, Shang Qiushui almost leaned against Ji Ruochen. Ji Ruochen's whole body stiffened and involuntarily bent to one side, like a slender bamboo in the midst of a violent wind. But his gaze, for some reason, kept drifting away, refusing to fall on the center of that crowd.

  Shang Qiushui had apparently never encountered such a strange thing before, and after several attempts, he still couldn't get Ji Ruochen to see Gu Qing. He was so angry that his eyes lit up, and suddenly spoke in a soft voice: "Brother Ruo Chen..."

  Ji Ruochen was shocked, knowing that if she delayed any further, things would only get worse. She took a deep breath and forcibly activated the Heart-Shocking Technique, finally spotting Gu Qing standing alone in the midst of the crowd, as if isolated from the world.