My Master Knows It All

425: Chapter 168 State Preceptor_1 425: Chapter 168 State Preceptor_1 Cao Zhen felt that the size and location of the mansion he was in did not match the status of the Grand Preceptor.

Before becoming the Grand Preceptor, he had been a General.

Could it be that he had stayed in the old mansion in the Capital City since those times, and even after becoming the Grand Preceptor, he had not moved to a new residence but instead remained in this old house?

In the courtyard of the mansion, the ruler of the vast realm of the Guardian Immortal Imperial Dynasty, the monarch of the Guardian Immortal Imperial Dynasty, listened to Cao Zhen asking if he regretted not being able to practice Immortal Cultivation and laughed lightly, “Regret, how could I not regret it?”

Although he spoke of regret, there was no sign of it on his face, but rather an air of nonchalance and pride.

“If I were to practice Immortal Cultivation, how old could I live?

Three thousand years, or ten thousand years?

Even if I could live ten thousand years, that would just be ten thousand years.”

But now, I have not practiced Immortal Cultivation; instead, I have learned how to govern a country well, how to let my subjects live better lives.

In fact, my life is lived through them.

If they could previously live only thirty years, fifty years, but under my governance, they live better lives, eat better, fall ill less often, have the money to treat their diseases, and do not die from wars.

They can live sixty years, seventy years, or even a hundred years; aren’t those extra years my life as well?

For ten thousand people, each living ten years longer, that’s a hundred thousand years.

And what about a hundred thousand people?

Ten million people?

How many more years have I lived?

Even if I die, but they are still alive, in a sense, it is I who have given them more life.

One could say that though I have died, I am still alive.

Doing a good job as an emperor is what is truly meaningful.”

The emperor is clearly a mortal, but at this moment, Cao Zhen vaguely felt something great emanating from him.

Realizing Cao Zhen’s gaze was full of emotion, the emperor turned towards the Grand Preceptor with admiration and said, “Don’t look at me like that, all these words were taught to me by the Grand Preceptor.”

The words of the Grand Preceptor?

Cao Zhen was momentarily stunned.

If these words came from the Grand Preceptor, that would be interesting.

What the emperor meant was nothing more than: Some people are alive, yet they have already died…

And some people are dead, yet they still live…

Isn’t this the text that everyone learns in compulsory education?

Thinking back on the Grand Preceptor’s theory of equality for all, could the Grand Preceptor truly be a transmigrator?

Astonished to his core, Cao Zhen almost became certain the Grand Preceptor was a transmigrator.

He suddenly turned his head, looking at the Grand Preceptor, and blurted out, “Odd changes, even remains the same!”

“What are you talking about?” The Grand Preceptor looked at Cao Zhen with a dumbfounded expression, filled with confusion.

What did ‘odd changes, even remains the same’ mean?

Although he had traveled the world for many years, his cultivation was expansive, and his experiences were vast, he had never heard of such a phrase.

Could it be a very special type of Taoist Enlightenment?

An epiphany?

Did Cao Zhen suddenly want to engage in a philosophical debate with me?

But I’ve never heard of such a theory, and besides, this statement seems somewhat illogical?

“Odd changes” refers to strange and unique transformations, it is the way of the ‘odd’, it must continuously change to be considered the path of the ‘odd’, but what does “even remains the same” mean?

What does ‘even’ mean?

A humanoid Magic Artifact?

Or “pair”?

Or perhaps it means randomness?

If it’s the latter…

Cao Zhen was dumbfounded.

The Grand Preceptor didn’t understand the meaning?

He didn’t know this?

But that’s a universal code among transmigrators.

Shouldn’t you be a transmigrator?

Shouldn’t you respond with, “Look at the symbol, consider the quadrant”?

Or could it be that you’ve never read any transmigration novels and weren’t a science student?

Although, it’s something taught in elementary and middle school, so maybe after so many years, it’s been forgotten?

Let’s try a different approach.

After giving it some thought, Cao Zhen looked at the Grand Preceptor and continued, “The sun shines on Pill Furnace, producing purple smoke…”

The Grand Preceptor was completely befuddled and finally said after a long pause, “The poem is indeed a good one, but it is night now.

What is the rest of the verse?”

Why did Cao Zhen suddenly switch to poetry, especially at nighttime?

Could it be that he is talking about the way of Cultivation?

Sunshine?

Is it about practicing Sunlight Cultivation?

And then cultivating to achieve the Three Flowers Gathered at the Crown?

The Pill Furnace producing purple smoke, is that the Divine Weapon?

Using the Pill Furnace as the Divine Weapon?

Sunlight shining down, cultivating vapor that ascends to the primal essence?

Theoretically, this is indeed a method of Cultivation, but it’s not particularly clever.

Cao Zhen is a Great Ability reincarnated, so why suddenly discuss such a mundane thing with me?

Cao Zhen was utterly flabbergasted.

You don’t remember this?

Or is the Grand Preceptor not very studious?

Should I try another phrase?

He pondered for a moment and then said, “Hoeing rice under the midday sun?”

You should know this one by now.

The Grand Preceptor’s brow furrowed deeply.

“These two lines, one of seven characters, the other of five, do not make a poem.” A line of five characters, another of seven, Cao Zhen was surely not talking about poetry, definitely Cultivation, engaged in philosophical discussion.

But similarly with ‘midday’, it must also involve the sun.

What Cao Zhen meant must be about how to cultivate during the intense midday sun, but why mention hoeing rice?

To cultivate among the rice fields, to be closer to nature?

This seemed even less profound.

Cao Zhen should not be discussing such common Cultivation Techniques with me.

So what is he actually trying to say?

Cao Zhen was completely at his wits’ end.

I’m prompting you with “sweat drips down to the soil beneath the rice,” you could at least ask me “who is midday?”, and I would understand.

Am I supposed to ponder the difference between five-character and seven-character lines?