This phoenix tree had gone through many trials by the wind and the rain and once there was a phoenix resting on it. As such, it possessed spirituality which was not found in a normal tree.

　　For most flora and rocks out there, even if thousand or ten thousand years had gone by, they would not possess such spirituality.

　　With spirituality, one could cultivate. With cultivation, one had the hope to be released from the cycle of life and death.

　　When Shen Lian stood in front of the phoenix tree, there was no wind, and the sky was clear. The stars were shining brightly.

　　He stood silently in front of the phoenix tree for a while as he examined it’s every stripe. They were the marks of time, and they too represented its past observation.

　　Shen Lian asked suddenly, “Do you want to become human?”

　　The phoenix tree began to shake gently, and a divine thought was channeled, “It’s great to be a human, at least I do not have to worry that one day I will be cut down. Also, in Diqiu, I will never be able to shapeshift successfully.”

　　Shen Lian said, “Follow me in my cultivation.”

　　Although the phoenix tree was not human, it had lived a long time and had many experiences. It knew how difficult it was to get an opportunity to cultivate under a celestial. It had never even thought about it but the opportunity fell on it suddenly.

　　“Why?”

　　“No particular reason, I just like how you look.” Shen Lian replied leisurely.

　　The phoenix tree then indeed began to follow Shen Lian in his cultivation. It channeled its spirituality to the blood and flesh essence in Shen Lian’s hand. It had the opportunity to become human and hence the opportunity to break out of the samsara. All these were granted by Shen Lian.

　　It thought Shen Lian would ask for something in return but Shen Lian did not say anything.

　　Since that day, there was a new baby in Zhiwei Temple, and its name was Feng Qiwu.

　　The responsibility to take care of the baby fell onto black tiger. It was the only task Shen Lian assigned to the black tiger which was to take good care of the baby.

　　The news of a baby in Zhiwei Temple spread to many people within Diqiu. As Shen Lian was the national advisor of Xia Kingdom, his every action drew a lot of attention.

　　Regardless, he was of important position in the Xia Kingdom.

　　However, everyone’s eyeball was attracted by what happened subsequently – Yinshang’s young master, Wuding would be having a battle with Emperor Xia’s niece, Lei Jing. It would happen in the evening three days later at an altar located at the outskirt of Dongcheng. It was sufficiently spacious and it was also next to Lake East.

　　It was a huge lake which covered a large area. There were many marine mammals being reared in it as tributes paid by other countries. If one was not powerful enough, one dared not be in the vicinity of Lake East.

　　When Lei Jing succeeded in summoning the wind and rain, Lei’s residence could no longer keep her. She did not know how powerful she was currently but she could produce wind, rain and even lightning and thunder with simple movements. It all felt natural.

　　Without Shen Lian’s help, in order for her to get to such level of summoning wind and rain, it would take her at least thirty years.

　　Lei Jing was confused on how she felt about her teacher. She knew that her father was sick because of her teacher. After Lei Jing knew about the reasons, she knew that he was not faking it when he was being nice to her. Unfortunately, his niceness did not extend to her father.

　　When Lei Jing thought about perhaps the teacher had ulterior motives towards her, it made her sad. That feeling did not feel good at all.

　　However, she was not qualified to ask Shen Lian to treat her in any certain way.

　　Despite that, Lei Jing still wanted to have a battle with Wuding and announced it to Diqiu. This news shocked even Emperor Xia and he supported her decision.

　　Wuding’s oddity too was spread around. He was seen as the most outstanding young man in Yinshang and he was thought to be the future master of Yinshang.

　　Emperor Xia did not have a daughter and hence he favored Lei Jing strongly. Even though Lei Jing was not a princess, her status was not too different from one. A lot of people thought that the battle between Wuding and Lei Jing was a showdown between Xia and Shang. As Lei Jing was a woman, it was alright if she lost but It was not the case for Wuding.

　　This was the most stressful challenge for Wuding in his life as the reason for battle was because of a joke between Shen Lian and Guan Longzi.

　　Shen Lian was not at Zhiwei Temple but the Dynasty School. Guan Longzi was at the school too. Due to the upcoming battle between Lei Jing and Wuding, a lot of the students had lost interest in the class. In addition to the fact that Guan Longzi did not add anything new, instead, he kept repeating the same principles.

　　That was why there was nobody in the classroom. Even if there was, it was Shen Lian.

　　Shen Lian listened to Guan Longzi’s lecture from the start till the end today and Guan Longzi too followed the sequence of the knowledge as he spoke.

　　After he finished, Shen Lian clapped, “Even though I’ve never observed your Lianshan but I am already extremely interested in it.”

　　The knowledge taught by Guan Longzi was not difficult. It mainly involved the division of the four seasons, the twenty-four changes in Qi dynamic in a year and also the location when the sun rose from the east and set in the west.

　　The knowledge was dead and not particularly useful. That was why the students were not too interested.

　　Shen Lian however, managed to understand at a deeper level about what Guan Longzi said. It involved the principles of the world and the understanding towards the world. The knowledge that Guan Longzi was teaching was something unchangeable, something as rigid as the mountain.

　　Shen Lian had the temperament of water as he had countless forms. As such, when he fought with others, he could adapt quickly. He did not stick to just one cultivation method. This was his strength but it could hinder his development.

　　Guan Longzi was different. He did not change what he believed in and he could stay put in everything he did. His Dao was unbreakable, like a free-standing mountain, whether you saw it or not, mountain remained as a mountain.

　　Guan Longzi smiled, “Lei Jing may not win and hence you may not be able to get Lianshan for me. Furthermore, Lianshan is my Dao and not yours. You better not have too high an expectation, else you will only be disappointed.

　　“Jing Er will not lose, even if Wuding’s knife technique has entered the path of Daoism and that he has received guidance from Wen Zhong every day.” Shen Lian spoke slowly.

　　“I know you’re confident but do you know what is Zi Zhao’s level now?” Guan Longzi asked slowly.

　　“I don’t want to know.” Shen Lian looked at Guan Longzi with a serious look.

　　Guan Longzi could not help but laugh. Shen Lian was indeed fun at times and you would never be able to guess what he was thinking and would be doing.

　　Spending time with such a person would not be too boring.

　　Wuding was currently at Lake East which was at the outskirt of Diqiu.

　　Wen Zhong, riding on top of a black Qilin was on top of a small hill. From there one could see the Lake East. It was a gorgeous view.

　　A topless young man jumped into the water.

　　He was holding a light wooden sword. While the water of the lake seemed calm, in reality, it was the hideout for many gigantic sea mammals.

　　Some sea mammals were just average in terms of cultivation level and spirituality but they were talented and had strong power. They could even cause a small tsunami for all four corners.

　　The young man was naturally Wuding. He was now at Lake East and his mana was sealed.