He quietly asked his friend beside him, "Have you met everyone? I can finally rest for a bit."

A struggling expression appeared on his friend’s face, hesitating to speak.

"What’s wrong, hesitating like that? Is there anything between us that can’t be said?" Wei Ze said with a smile.

The two of them were fellow townspeople and had studied together in a private school since they were young, sharing a kindred spirit.

This time, they had traveled together to the capital to sit the imperial examinations, but sadly, while Wei Ze had happily placed first, his good friend missed the examinations due to illness.

Fortunately, his friend was open-minded and did not envy him. Instead, he took care of the affairs for Wei Ze, saving him from a lot of hassles.

"There is someone outside asking to see you. Will you meet them?" his friend asked softly.

"Who is it?"

"A shop assistant."

"A shop assistant?" Wei Ze asked, eyes wide in surprise.

"Yes!"

"What business does a shop assistant have with me? Do we know him?" Wei Ze asked curiously.

Ever since he became the top scholar, he had been in the company of distinguished scholars and hadn’t mingled with commoners. People like a shop assistant were of the lower classes and fundamentally had no right to seek an audience with him unless it was an old acquaintance, for old times’ sake.

Ordinary people wouldn’t dare visit him on such a crucial occasion.

"It’s precisely because we don’t know him that I hesitated to tell you. The person claims to have a very important message for you and has been waiting until now," his friend said.

Wei Ze thought for a moment and then said, "Let’s see him then, and find out what he has to say. If he’s here to deceive, I’ll make sure he is arrested and brought before the officials."

After a while, an ordinary-looking shop assistant hurried in.

Trembling, he knelt before Wei Ze and said, "Your humble servant pays respects to the top scholar!"

In fact, at this time, Wei Ze held no official post, and even if the shop assistant didn’t kneel, nobody would have minded. Sadly, for many years now, the story of the top scholar being the incarnation of the Wenqu Star descending from the heavens had widely spread, so ordinary folk would naturally feel overwhelmed when meeting the top scholar.

Wei Ze examined the shop assistant carefully and saw that his expression didn’t seem feigned. His wariness eased slightly. If this man was a swindler, his acting skills were truly exceptional.

"We have never met before, so I wonder what brings you to me," Wei Ze spoke softly and lightly, as if chatting with an old friend.

Now that he had suddenly risen to a high position, it was inevitable that he would draw attention, so he had already made up his mind to be cautious and prudent in everything he did, maintaining a kind demeanor at all times.

"Your servant here has very urgent news for the top scholar," the assistant said, glancing around cautiously.

Wei Ze, however, laughed and said, "Brother Zhu is my dear and close friend. There’s no need to hide anything from him."

The shop assistant then breathed a sigh of relief and reported everything he had seen during the day.

"Your servant rushed here to deliver the message to the top scholar, hoping you will be careful," the shop assistant said sincerely.

Wei Ze laughed upon hearing the news, "I thought it was something serious. A gentleman does not speak of strange powers or chaos of gods, such things should not be taken seriously. Still, thank you for coming to inform me."

Having said that, he politely escorted the Shop Assistant out.

Seeing the concerned look in his good friend Zhu Xing’s eyes, he smiled and said, "You and I are both scholars; naturally, we should adhere to the path of sages. Those two are probably street fortune-tellers, intentionally saying such things to tempt me to seek them out, just to swindle some money. It’s not worth our attention."

Wei Ze said this because there had been precedents; some folk sorcerers, in order to deceive people, would deliberately make outrageous statements to attract attention, then gradually lead them into well-crafted traps, eventually causing the victims to lose everything. Thus, Wei Ze was very disdainful of such talk.

If it weren’t for the fact that the Shop Assistant meant well, he would have scolded him outright.

But Zhu Xing frowned and said, "It’s still best to be careful with such matters. After all, there is much in this world that we do not know, and some experts enjoy playing games with the mortal world."

"Haha, Brother Zhu, you are being too superstitious. We scholars, as long as we uphold integrity, need not fear any demons and ghosts," Wei Ze was entirely unconcerned.

A few days later, this spirited Top Scholar passed away at a young age, without even receiving his official post, leading everyone to say that the Top Scholar had been killed out of jealousy.

The trivial affairs of the mortal world did not affect Lin Fang and the others’ journey; by this time, they were ready to cross the ocean and head for Luzhou in the North.

At the same time, a group from the Heavenly Court stealthily left the Gate of the Southern Heavens; it was none other than Taoist Qingyun and his associates who had been hiding in a secret chamber within the Heavenly Court for a long time.

After gradually moving away from the Gate of the Southern Heavens, Taoist Qingyun looked back at the gate with palpable relief. The massive portals stood not far away, like shadows of ancient persistence, overwhelming him with indescribable pressure.

In those days they lived with their hearts in their mouths, all too aware of the gravity of their crimes. If they fell into the hands of the Heavenly Court, they feared that even soul dispersion would be a light punishment.

They had no choice but to stay in that cramped secret chamber, counting the days with difficulty, waiting for good fortune to arrive.

Fortunately, the chamber was well-hidden, and for some reason, after surviving the initial storm of blood and violence, the Heavenly Court seemed to gradually return to calm, as if the incident had been forgotten.

It was only then that Taoist Qingyun and his followers found the opportunity to quietly slip out of the Gate of the Southern Heavens.

"That was too close. I thought we wouldn’t make it out alive," said one man, still shaken.

The days in the Heavenly Court were the most torturous of his life. Several times he felt he couldn’t go on, on the brink of a mental breakdown. Thankfully, it was over, and they had finally left the Heavenly Court alive.

From that moment on, the sky was the limit, and they were free to roam the world at last.

After this experience, he suddenly had an epiphany. He felt as if all his previous obsessions were but fleeting clouds, insignificant.

"Brother Qingyun, let’s part ways here," he suddenly declared.

"Why?" asked Taoist Qingyun, puzzled.

"The hardships have taught me that power is like floating clouds, merely a passing sight. Only self-cultivation is paramount. I need to find a place to cultivate in seclusion," he said resolutely, his eyes clear and his tone firm, convincing everyone of his determination.

"As for past meritorious deeds, let them be carried away by the wind."

Without waiting for Taoist Qingyun and the others to stop him, he boarded the clouds and left the Gate of the Southern Heavens.

Taoist Qingyun watched his departing figure, lost in thought, and after a while, he sighed softly, "Well, to each their own. Since he wants to leave, let him go!"

"This time we’ve successfully retrieved the core of the Immortal Transformation Pond. Our contribution is considerable. Once we arrive, we will surely be rewarded," Taoist Qingyun said to the others, visibly excited.