What Yan Qingsang admired most about Jiang Chen was his bearing. Many words, spoken by others, would sound somewhat ridiculous.
But when Jiang Chen spoke them, people couldn't help but believe that this was simply how things would be.
Yan Qingsang chuckled. "Brother, you know what? What I admire most about you is that commanding presence of yours. I'm getting more and more excited, looking forward to the day you stomp that guy under your foot and turn all his arrogance as the so-called number one genius into a joke in the Divine Capital. If that day ever comes, I'd laugh even in my sleep. When it happens, I'll definitely drink my heart out with you, my dear brother-in-law."
Yan Qingsang had originally been somewhat annoyed at Jiang Chen's motives for getting close to him, but now he no longer minded at all — in fact, he found it thrilling.
For the first time, among the younger generation of the entire Eternal Divine Kingdom, there was finally someone who was completely indifferent to Xiahou Zong.
Before this, when many people spoke of their defiance toward Xiahou Zong, there was actually a certain amount of jealousy involved.
But with Jiang Chen, the disdain he showed was genuine through and through — utterly convincing. It left people no choice but to believe.
Jiang Chen had no time to banter with Yan Qingsang. He said, "Brother Yan, keep following the training plan I laid out for you. I'm about to go see Elder Ziche — he's taking me to the banks of the River of Eternity to contemplate the Laws of Heaven and Earth."
"You… you're going to attempt a breakthrough to the Heavenly Position?" Yan Qingsang was startled.
"One has to face this day eventually. The sooner, the better."
"Sigh, comparing yourself to others will just kill you." Yan Qingsang let out a long breath. "But don't worry — I'll catch up before long."
Ziche Min had actually watched Jiang Chen's battle with Gan Ning as well. He simply hadn't come to find Jiang Chen right away.
After Jiang Chen saw Yan Qingsang off, Ziche Min arrived outside Jiang Chen's cave dwelling.
Jiang Chen sensed Ziche Min's arrival and stepped out to greet him.
Ziche Min smiled. "Well done. Your battle with Gan Ning has raised your reputation considerably. If you can achieve a breakthrough during this contemplation at the River of Eternity, it will surely become a legend of the Sacred Land. After that, no one will dare question your standing."
Jiang Chen's eyes burned with fighting spirit. "Please lead the way, Elder Ziche."
The River of Eternity lay in the southern region of the Eternal Sacred Land. Amid the mountains and valleys of the south, a river flowed slowly from the Sacred Land's source, gathering momentum as it grew into a vast and magnificent waterway. Throughout all four seasons, the River of Eternity displayed different aspects of its majesty.
Not just anyone from the Sacred Land could casually enter the River of Eternity.
Only those who had achieved a breakthrough through Dao comprehension could apply to set foot on the River of Eternity's banks. Everyone else was strictly forbidden. Within the Eternal Sacred Land, the River of Eternity was considered holy water — under normal circumstances, treading upon it without permission was absolutely prohibited. One needed the Sacred Land's explicit authorization to enter.
Jiang Chen had received the Sacred Ancestor's personal authorization, which was equivalent to the Sacred Land's highest decree. Entering the banks of the River of Eternity was naturally no problem at all.
"Shao Yuan, I can only take you this far. The River of Eternity is a forbidden zone — even I cannot enter it freely."
Ziche Min accompanied him to the perimeter but stopped there.
Jiang Chen didn't hesitate. With a flash, he entered.
The River of Eternity wound through countless mountains and valleys, sometimes calm, sometimes surging. Different stretches of the river and different times of day each brought their own distinct atmosphere.
Jiang Chen traveled upstream, taking in the river's varying moods with meticulous attention, not letting a single detail escape him.
The Sacred Ancestor had sent him to the River of Eternity to comprehend the Dao — there had to be a reason.
The River of Eternity was surely an extraordinarily suitable place for Dao comprehension. As for exactly what made it suitable, he would need to perceive that for himself.
Half a year — neither particularly long nor particularly short. If he focused his heart and engaged in genuine contemplation, he would surely reap great rewards.
Sometimes, Jiang Chen stood on the bank, watching the waters of the River of Eternity rush ceaselessly onward, feeling time flow and vanish between those currents.
He couldn't help but feel the ancient lament: "It passes like this, does it not?"
Sometimes, Jiang Chen stood upon the water's surface, gazing at the mountains and valleys, their myriad atmospheres — and he couldn't help but feel that all these different moods mirrored life's journey: sometimes smooth, sometimes bumpy, sometimes reaching great peaks, sometimes encountering treacherous shallows. Moment to moment, the winds and clouds shifted and changed.
Sometimes, Jiang Chen opened his eyes and heard the singing of birds.
Sometimes, in a flash he turned his head and saw blossoms falling.
Sometimes, he started in sudden awareness to find snowflakes drifting all around him.
Sometimes, he casually looked up and let his gaze drift with the clouds rolling and unfurling beyond the sky.
So many different aspects of nature, the patterns of heaven and earth, the Dao following its own natural course.
Some of these things, it seemed, Jiang Chen had understood in his previous life. Others, it seemed, he was only now beginning to grasp in this one.
Here, Jiang Chen suddenly felt that the boundary between his past life and present life was growing ever more blurred — as if the two had never truly been separated at all.
Was his past life a dream of this one? Or was this life a dream of the past?
In his heart, Jiang Chen seemed to have an answer — yet it seemed there was more than one.
"Heaven and Earth, nature, all living things, my heart..." In Jiang Chen's mind, images flashed by one after another, thoughts came and went — some from his past life, some from this one, and some that spanned both.
Countless inspirations seemed to resonate with heaven and earth, to dance in harmony with nature.
All the inspiration that existed between heaven and earth, all the wondrous principles that existed in the cosmos — in this moment, they were all incredibly eager, jostling to come to Jiang Chen as guests, knocking at his door one after another.
The so-called Dao, the so-called Law.
In this moment, they were everywhere.
Open your eyes and see the grass and trees — the grass and trees are the Dao.
Open your eyes and see the mountains and rivers — the mountains and rivers are the Dao.