Something's off!
The scholar before me, out of nine points, ten points are definitely off!
"Are you also here to seek immortality and enlightenment?"
The Great Sea Being took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Lu Xiu, unwavering.
"No, I am here to learn the ways of saving the world, to aid and rescue people."
The young man curiously asked, "In the past, the Literary Sage preached across the world, rescuing countless souls. You, as a scholar whose talent is evident and filled with a righteous aura, why would you need me to teach you the ways to save the world?"
Lu Xiu shook his head and said, "Studying cannot save people. I was once the top scholar, yet I couldn't escape the hardships of this troubled world. Had it not been for a noble benefactor, I would've perished long ago."
"A scholar, in the end, is just like clay crossing a river, needing others' help themselves. How could they talk about rescuing others?"
After Lu Xiu said this, he stepped forward and bowed deeply with his hands clasped:
"There is no set order in learning, the enlightened ones lead the way. Although you look young, you saw through my foundation with just a glance, clearly possessing true skills. Please do not disdain my lack of refinement and kindly impart to me the immortal methods to save the world."
The young man smiled lightly and said, "I am just a rough person, without the great wisdom to see through others at a glance."
Seeing Lu Xiu look up with doubt in his eyes, the young man explained, "Don't be fooled by my frail appearance; in truth, I too am a warrior capable of extraordinary feats!"
Lu Xiu's eyes lit up, and he immediately untied his garment, revealing a strong chest tattooed with a great dragon over the shoulder!
"Do not take me merely as a scholar; I also have the heart to settle the world with martial arts."
"..."
The young man looked down at his slim arms and legs, then looked up at the scholar with the ferocious golden dragon tattoo.
If it weren't for the familiar face, he would have thought he'd mistaken him for someone else!
"From whom did you learn this method?"
The Great Sea Being had a look of astonished disbelief.
While many civil officials in the upper realms could fight better than generals, this was indeed an authentic deity governing the worldly literary luck, fame, and fortune, as well as innumerable works.
A true Literary Immortal, whose spoken words would turn into grand literary works, how could he carve dragons and tigers on his body and encroach upon the livelihood of coarse martial artists?
Generals abandoning armor to become literati, literati abandoning pens to become martial artists...
The world has indeed fallen into great imbalance, even the energies of literature and martial arts seem to have turned upside down!
The Great Sea Being didn't believe this peculiarity; he preferred to think Lu Xiu was under the influence of evil spirits.
Maybe the other party's real intent was to undermine Lu Xiu's path and drag him into the mundane world, making him lose his original heart, never to return to the upper realm.
"This method was taught to me by my lifesaver, who also led me onto the path, a sect leader master..."
The Great Sea Being narrowed his eyes, speaking dangerously, "What kind of master? You, a Literary Immortal so glorious, capable of rivaling stars and moons in glory, yet forsake your roots and defile yourself, isn't this self-destructive to your path? As for the master you mentioned, I'm afraid he is a demon in disguise, trying to draw you into the Demon Dao, making you unable to ever rise again!"
"Take me to find your master; I want to see which demon has the audacity to lay hands on you!"
Lu Xiu frowned and corrected, "My master is no ordinary person, and certainly not a demon! Furthermore, this 'Literary Imbuement of Dragons' is no ordinary training method, it uses saintly texts and righteous aura to transform literature into martial power, a correct method to deter evildoers."
"Perhaps you misunderstand, senior."
"Misunderstand?"
The young man, who was eager to stand up for his colleague, halted, half-believing, and doubted, "I've heard of upright energy dispelling evil and subduing demons, but I've never heard of a literary person using their talent to physically train themselves, transforming literature into martial power."
The young man pointed to a plaque someone had swapped on the temple, which read, 'Cultivation is not easy, be wary of fraud.'
"You haven't been deceived, have you?"
Lu Xiu looked at the inscription on the plaque, finding it somewhat familiar.
He removed his robe, turned around, showing his broad back to the young man, and said with a smile:
"This 'Literary Imbuement of Dragons' is formed by painting with saintly words, using the righteous aura as ink to outline the design."
"Upper Immortal, please look!"
Lu Xiu invoked the literary energy within his chest, every word from the books he ever read transformed into dragon scales, emitting radiance!
The light emerged from every pore, with colors dazzling and splendid, splendid as brocade, and could illuminate the firmament!
Lu Xiu's aura surged, and he spoke thunderously, "This is the path of the Literary Sage, below manifest as rivers and mountains, above as the sun and stars. Every dragon scale is the manifestation of a sage's words; if this is an Evil Technique, then there is no rightful technique in the world!"
Even the knowledgeable Great Sea Being was momentarily stunned.
Upon closer inspection, indeed there were minuscule flowing characters on Lu Xiu's golden dragon tattoo.
Those tiny characters formed distinct dragon scale rivers, flowing along their paths without pause, ultimately forming a grand dragon composed of sages' words, clinging to Lu Xiu's chest and back, constantly nurturing his physique and spirit.
"What's your master's name?"
Lu Xiu shook his head, "My master doesn't seek fame or fortune, content on his path, he forbade us from speaking his name."
The Great Sea Being was puzzled in his heart; in such a chaotic world, could there indeed emerge true sages?
"You possess great virtue, your foundation is extraordinary, indeed not ordinary. But I cannot teach you."
"Why not?" Lu Xiu was puzzled.
"Because you are also a celestial being from the upper realm, the same as me."
Reincarnated celestial beings are, according to heavenly laws, not to reveal their identities to one another, but the Great Sea Being never cared for heavenly laws.
While in the heavens, he might follow the rules, but on Earth, he wouldn't let the heavens govern him!
"Compared to your master, the words of the Upper Immortal sound more like a scam."
Lu Xiu glanced sideways at the motto on the plaque, increasingly doubting the reliability of this Upper Immortal.