This is what an immortal should be like

Chapter 181: To conform to history, to change history, to deceive history?

Compared to their previous anxieties and low morale, this time, at least when they set off and faced their hometown elders, the more than 30,000 new soldiers were in high spirits.

In contrast to the relatively somber atmosphere before, this moment also holds special significance for the people of Xiangyang. Seeing such an army setting off, with their own relatives among them, it is hard not to feel excited.

As the Xiangyang army set off, the local people who had been surrounding the military camp also walked a distance to see them off.

The army was not actually 30,000 combat-ready soldiers. In addition to the able-bodied men, there were also laborers, carts, and other personnel for transportation and dispatch. The actual number of soldiers was about 20,000, but it was claimed to be an army of 50,000.

Only after the army disappeared from the road heading north did the people of Xiangyang gradually return home.

Local officials were also seeing off the army outside the city. Shao Jiling, the prefect of Xiangyang, witnessed the scene before the army set off and was extremely excited.

"With such a powerful army, why worry about not being able to repel foreign enemies? We might even be able to recover our lost territories!"

Compared to the fear he felt when he first heard the military intelligence, Shao Jiling was now even filled with ambition, and the officials around him echoed his sentiments.

A memorial to the emperor, praising the high morale of the Xiangyang army, was definitely necessary, something Shao Jiling excelled at.

Above Xiangyang City, Zhuang Lin and his companions floated northward on clouds. Their gazes shifted from the direction of Xiangyang City to the northward-bound army, whose speed had noticeably increased.

The new army was indeed a new army, but most of the soldiers and laborers who enlisted were young and strong men who had grown up working since childhood. They were not hothouse flowers. They might be relatively inexperienced in fighting, but their physical strength and endurance were by no means lacking, so marching was not a problem at all.

"This Yin Kuangzhi is truly a talented individual!"

Liu Hongyu couldn't help but say this from the cloud.

The soldiers and the people of Xiangyang all thought that the old general was boosting morale on the battlefield. However, for the people in the sky, it was not difficult to understand that Yin Kuangzhi was the one who brought this up.

This method of boosting morale may not be unthinkable for people in later generations, but it is not easy to actually do. First of all, you have to be able to mobilize the emotions of the soldiers and civilians in Xiangyang.
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This was also Yin Kuangzhi's first time going on a military expedition. No matter how calm and composed he appeared in front of others, he couldn't help but feel excited at this moment.

To be honest, I've read quite a few military articles since I was a child. It's not that scholars don't admire martial arts. A gentleman must learn the Six Arts, and a gentleman in the military is a gentleman by his side. Being proficient in both literature and martial arts is the kind of achievement that a son of a prominent family like Yin Kuangzhi should have.

Before us were Sun Tzu and Wu Qi, and after us were Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang. Great figures of the past were all skilled in both literature and martial arts, possessing strategies for governing the country and the ability to pacify the world through military prowess!
"Young master, swords and spears have no eyes in this battle. No matter what happens afterward, you must never leave our side!"

Li Yanming, who had not appeared for a long time, returned to Yin Kuangzhi's side once again. This time, he was to protect the latter closely during the expedition. His words also brought Yin Kuangzhi back to reality.

Both were riding horses. Li Yanming was fine, but Yin Kuangzhi was already wiping away sweat repeatedly.

"It's so stuffy, is it going to rain?"

We've only been gone a short while. What if it starts raining right away? Are we going to have to set up camp again soon?

It was already late autumn, but the weather was still hot, which was not conducive to the army's march. However, since the decision had been made to take action, the weather was no longer an issue.

About half an hour after the army had marched forward, Zhuang Lin in the sky once again took out the mini "little dragon" he kept in his sleeve, and then gently blew on it.

"Alas."

Zhuang Lin's breath in the sky quickly turned into an autumn breeze, which brought a refreshing coolness to the marching troops without carrying away any dust. It also dispersed much of the heavy rain clouds that had gathered in the sky, turning the gloomy weather into a cool, cloudy day.

Yin Kuangzhi and some of the officers on horseback could also feel this change in the weather at this moment.

Peng Yanyu rode ahead on horseback, feeling the cool autumn breeze, and couldn't help but look up at the sky.

"This is truly a blessing from heaven! Order the soldiers to speed up their march today, for the autumn breeze is refreshing!"

"promise!"

The messenger cavalryman immediately spurred his horse along the ranks to relay the order.

When marching and setting up camp, weather conditions must be taken into account. You can't always move fast. When the opportunity arises, you have to speed up so that you can spread out the time that may be wasted along the way.
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In the sky, Xi Miao and Wuming were alright, but Liu Hongyu couldn't help but show a hint of surprise when he saw Zhuang Lin casting the spell so directly. In reality, he still had some contradictions.

"Master, aren't we forbidden from interfering in human affairs at will?"

Zhuang Lin held the small dragon in his hands, looked down at the army formation with its morale soaring, and glanced at his eldest disciple beside him.

"It's not about being casual now, but about conforming to history!"

"But perhaps the history books are wrong, or perhaps they have been altered? The ones I have are modern compilations, which may not be consistent with the original, and the translations may not even be accurate!"

For Zhuang Lin, or rather, for all the people of Hidden Immortal Valley, and even for all people in later generations, changing history has always been a very dangerous thing.

This is what Zhuang Lin had been teaching his students for some time, and it's what he told the people of Hidden Immortal Valley.

But at this moment, some crazy ideas were stirring in Zhuang Lin's mind.

Since we have come to this era, we will inevitably encounter some choices. The general trend of history cannot be easily changed, but sometimes people are often bound by their own thinking.

Is history really like that? Later generations even said that things involving gods and ghosts were nonsense!
Rather than remaining hesitant and restrained, it's better to first verify some possibilities. The historical records of this great battle seem to contradict reality, so this is a good opportunity to "set things right."

"Is that so? But it is the history we know! Perhaps the Jin army should have been defeated, but it was because of us that history was able to move back on track!"

Is this okay?
Liu Hongyu's eyes widened. He was somewhat frightened by his master's words, but at the same time, he felt inexplicably excited.

"Hongyu, have you noticed?"

"What did you notice?"

Liu Hongyu felt a sense of doubt, while Zhuang Lin looked down at the little dragon in his hand.

"To perceive the Tai Chi within that cycle of change, what exactly is interference in the human world, what is altering the course of events, what is true history? We can only see so much that we do not yet know the truth or falsehood, right or wrong. What about what we cannot see?"

When Zhuang Lin said this, his thought process had inevitably shifted to another level.

Are there any "loopholes" in history that can be exploited?
This should be seen as a rectification of past wrongs, so the facts align with later official history.

So if we don't take action this time, will future generations suddenly discover historical materials that overturn the official history?

Furthermore, what if the historical materials I see in the future match the official history, but I still change my mind? Will future generations suddenly discover historical materials that overturn the official history?

Did people fulfill the promises of history, or did someone rewrite history?
This somewhat crazy idea shouldn't have appeared in Zhuang Lin's mind, but it did. Perhaps he himself is a crazy person.

"Everything is subject to change. The Great Dao has fifty heavens and forty-nine heavens. We are the one that has escaped!"

As Zhuang Lin spoke, a smile appeared on his face, a smile he often wore during the "Breaking Illusion Plan".

Spanning two different time periods and bearing the weight of the world's uncertainties, isn't that crazy enough? If the world can change, what else is impossible?

This doesn't mean we can act recklessly and arbitrarily change the course of events, but rather that at least in moments of hesitation and wavering, we can act according to our conscience!

To conform to history, to change history, to deceive history!

Everything has a cause and effect; as long as you can bear it.

By this time, Xi Miao probably understood what Zhuang Lin was thinking. Although she was from ancient times, her thinking was still up-to-date.

"Sir, there is still something wrong with what you said. We are practitioners outside of history. We live in the past as we live in the past, and we live in the present as we live in the present. Our actions are in accordance with the world we live in, and we are integrated into the world. We can do whatever we want, just like a game!"

Xi Miao's words also made Zhuang Lin realize the truth.

"Excellent! Excellent! Well said!"

Zhuang Lin makes too clear a distinction between ancient and modern people. In fact, as Xi Miao said, the past and present are two different environments.

Whether it's the cultivators of Hidden Immortal Valley, Immortal Fox Cave, or even the Yanzhen Sect, the most important thing is to integrate into this era and be a part of it.

So, as cultivators of immortality in this era, what they want to do based on the era itself is reasonable. Even if there is cause and effect, it is within the torrent of the times, which is why everything that followed happened.

At this moment, Zhuang Lin had an even clearer understanding. In the past, his cautiousness and avoidance of any delusions might have been the real delusion. Now, though he had "delusions" in his mind, his thoughts were clear and unobstructed. This could be considered another "breakthrough of delusion"!
Having considered this, Zhuang Lin put away the little dragon in his hand and solemnly bowed to Xi Miao.

"Oh, sir!"

This left Xi Miao somewhat at a loss, and she quickly helped Zhuang Lin up, but Zhuang Lin had already bowed down.

As soon as she bowed, Xi Miao suddenly felt dizzy and her body went limp. Originally, she was the one who went to help Zhuang Lin, but suddenly it was Zhuang Lin, who had been awakened, who went to help her.

"Fellow Daoist Xi Miao?" "Senior Xi Miao!"

Liu Hongyu and Wuming, who were standing nearby, were also startled. The former had no idea why, but the latter was slightly moved.

Xi Miao had already collapsed onto Fayun, holding Zhuang Lin's arm and panting heavily. Her face was flushed and she was too weak to exert any strength, creating a strange and beautiful sight that could be misunderstood.

Many thoughts flashed through Zhuang Lin's mind at once, and Wuming spoke up at that moment.

"Fellow Daoist Ximiao seems to be unharmed, and may even have benefited greatly."

"Oh, oh, thank you so much, sir. Your bow is like, oh, it's like you've bestowed merit upon me, so that my imperfections can be made whole."

Seeing this, Zhuang Lin felt slightly relieved. It seemed that Xi Miao was alright, and upon hearing this, he couldn't help but make connections.

Merit? Yes, doing extraordinary things and receiving extraordinary rewards should indeed bring merit, but what I have done so far clearly doesn't amount to much merit.

"Being able to share in the merits proves that you are right!"

Zhuang Lin's words amused Xi Miao, who couldn't help but laugh out loud despite her still feeling weak. He was clearly talking nonsense!
(End of this chapter)