Spiritual energy resurgence? My former empress wife has also revived!

"What, is it too ugly?"

Qin Zijun saw Wang Shu gently stroking the gray hair at his temples, his tone as always, with a hint of teasing.

"Yes, it's too ugly. I still prefer your old black hair."

Wang Shu rolled her eyes at Qin Zijun, her expression and tone filled with disdain.

Qin Zijun said regretfully, "Alas, as I get older, some things will inevitably change, and that's beyond my control."

"Look, even Wang Shu, you're starting to dislike me."

Qin Zijun sighed sadly, her tone desolate.

Wang Shu wasn't fooled. She snorted and said, "You're so old, yet you're still so unreliable."

"If your students saw this, they'd probably be terrified."

Qin Zijun laughed and said, "Although I am old, I have a young mindset. Do you really want me to become that kind of rigid old scholar? I can't stand myself."

"I reckon you'll dislike me even more then."

"Yes, I find you disgusting. Do I have to give you a disgusted look for you to be happy, young master?" Wang Shu said irritably.

"Still calling me 'Young Master'? You should be calling me 'Master' now."

"No, I won't. I'll still call you Young Master, even when you're lying in bed unable to move."

Wang Shu tidied up the plates on the stone table: "Are you finished eating? I'll take them to wash when you're done."

"Okay, take it to wash. Oh, and Wangshu."

"What's wrong?"

I want to eat lamb.

"You're drooling, okay? I'll make you stir-fried lamb with scallions tonight. Are you satisfied now?"

"I'm satisfied now, but it's all your fault."

"Young Master, you're talking nonsense again. What are you blaming me for this time?"

"It's your fault for spoiling my palate. Even if I go to a restaurant now, I'll find it tasteless."

Qin Zijun smacked her lips and said.

"Hmph, good to know. If it weren't for me, you would have starved to death long ago!"

Wang Shu left with the plate.

After taking a few steps, she suddenly stopped and turned around abruptly.

Beneath the old banyan tree, its still towering and majestic figure, as handsome and dashing as a young man, inspires both incredible majesty and awe.

But Wang Shu always felt that he seemed to have lost some weight.

Is it your graying hair that I find objectionable?

I was actually scared.

I'm afraid to watch you grow old day by day, afraid that one day we will truly be separated forever.

In the days that followed, Wang Shu would read whenever she had free time.

She no longer read those miscellaneous books, but books about alchemy and pharmacology.

Occasionally, when Qin Zijun is handling government affairs, teaching students, or compiling books, Wang Shu will disappear.

When Qin Zijun needs her, she will quietly appear by his side and take care of his daily life.

Qin Zijun knew what Wang Shu was doing.

But he just smiled and didn't stop him.

Just as he once told Wang Shu, it's always good to read more books; even if knowledge can't change your destiny, it will bring you happiness.

On this day, Qin Zijun suddenly had a flash of inspiration and realized what the last step she was missing was.

Chu Kingdom, Royal Palace—

"Prime Minister Qin wishes to resign, but what have I done wrong?"

Chu Jingshan suddenly stood up from his chair, his tone excited.

"This matter has nothing to do with His Majesty; it's just that I've found the key to that final step."

"The final step?"

Chu Jingshan's voice was hoarse: "Prime Minister Qin, are you saying you're about to reach the Taiqing Realm?"

As soon as he finished speaking, even the old eunuch who always stood by his side suddenly looked at Qin Zijun with a look of awe in his eyes.

Those who can attain the Dongxuan realm can establish their own sects and dominate the mortal world like immortals, revered by the people who call them True Lords.

Among the True Lords of the Cave Mystery, those who can also become Dao Masters are extremely rare, like phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Many of those long-established sects had founders who were only Dao Lords at the Dao Master realm.

If the world were to be divided into ten major sects, the leaders of most of them would only be at the Dao Lord realm.

As for Taiqingjing, he is a truly legendary figure.

If two or three Taiqing Realm cultivators appear simultaneously in an era, it is already a golden age of immortality.

For example, in the current Eastern Emperor Realm, there are three Taiqing Realm experts suppressing everything, which is why the Chu Kingdom is able to survive in the cracks.

Most of the time, an era may only have one or two people at the Taiqing Realm, or even none at all.

This is a truly supreme being, capable of dominating an entire era, a rare talent that only one in billions could possibly appear.

Now, a 'young man' who is only 47 years old says that he is about to take the final step and achieve Taiqing.

Throughout all of human history, there has never been a person of such extraordinary talent and brilliance.

He pioneered a new system of spiritual practice, which will surely be revered by future generations.

He is probably comparable to the ancient figure "Donghuang Taiyi", who opened up the path of immortality and is known as the source of the Dao.

Perhaps there are still many shortcomings, but it is already comparable to those great figures of ancient times.

Chu Jingshan was also lost in thought.

When Qin Zijun became the Minister of Rites and the "ritual system" was established, he had already reached the Dao Lord realm, making him even stronger than the ruler of the Yun Dynasty.

After Qin Zijun became prime minister, he made no progress over the years and failed to fulfill the promise he made back then.

But Chu Jingshan no longer cared.

To be born in the same era as such a brilliant and talented person who could create a cultivation system.

To be able to have a close relationship with such a person and to seek their guidance with the respect due to a student.

Chu Jingshan felt that he was already incredibly lucky, so why should he ask for anything else?

The Taiqing Realm itself is extremely mysterious, and only one person might appear every ten thousand years. He no longer cares whether Qin Zijun can succeed.

Qin Zijun has already proven that his cultivation system is feasible and correct.

He was the true pioneer.

Moreover, the years that Qin Zijun "wasted" seem very long to ordinary people.

But in the eyes of Chu Jingshan, a cultivator, it was nothing more than a fleeting moment.

He had already given up hope, but Qin Zijun still gave him an indescribable shock.

After a moment of silence, Chu Jingshan said, "If Master were alive, the position of Prime Minister would be none other than his."

"If you wish to resign, I will not allow it. No matter what you choose to do, the position of Prime Minister will remain vacant."

"But please tell me, Master, what is missing in this final step?"

Chu Jingshan stepped forward, just as he had done countless times with Qin Zijun in the past, asking about both the common people and the gods.

Qin Zijun simply smiled and replied with four words:

"To educate and enlighten the world!"

……

"Wangshu, I'm not just going sightseeing this time. With all these bags and packages, are you moving your whole house?"

I heard that Qin Zijun is going to tour the world, and Wang Shu is the busiest person there.

She packed large and small bags, as if she really intended to move her entire house away.

Wang Shu quickly packed her things, saying, "You can only wear these clothes for three days at most before washing them."

"You need to change your underwear every day. If I don't prepare extra, how will you dry it even if I wash it every day?"

"Also, you don't like very spicy food, but you still need some spice. You also have a strong palate and like a lot of salt and spices."

"If I don't bring more, what if we can't buy these seasonings in smaller towns? If we find them for sale along the way, we'll buy them and use them. When we reach places where we can't buy them, we'll use these as a backup."

"You don't like hard beds and prefer low pillows. If you don't bring your own bedding and pillows, the inn might not be able to provide them for you even when you get there."

"If you don't sleep well, you'll complain of a headache again."

"..."

Wang Shu rambled on about trivial matters concerning clothing, food, housing, and transportation, but all of them were about Qin Zijun's little habits.

There were some little habits that Qin Zijun himself hadn't even noticed, but Wang Shu had taken care of him for so many years and remembered them all.

For example, when Qin Zijun gets into bed, she likes to kick her shoes off, and when she gets up at night to look for them, she can never find them.

After serving him while he rested in the upper bunk, Wang Shu would straighten his shoes, always making him comfortable in details that Qin Zijun might not notice.

Qin Zijun was stunned, suddenly feeling like she had become a useless person.

If I am not taken care of in my next reincarnation, or if the care is not meticulous enough, it will take me a long time to adjust.

He said gently, "Wang Shu, why don't you bring some of your own things too?"

Wang Shu gave a soft snort and proudly raised her delicate chin.

She is the moon goddess, pure and immaculate. Have you ever seen moonlight dirty?

So she doesn't need to wash herself at all, nor does she need any change of clothes; even her clothes don't get dirty.

However, you should bring some things with you.

That old bastard has lost weight recently, and his old clothes no longer fit him. As the current prime minister and a respected scholar, how can he flaunt ill-fitting clothes in public?

I need to sew him a new outfit.

Oh dear, one piece isn't enough; for spring, summer, autumn, and winter, I need to sew at least four pieces.

By the way, his shoes have been worn out for a while now, the soles are all worn out, so we need to make him a new pair.

We should bring some of these silks and other items with us, so we can work on them when we have free time along the way.

Wang Shu was packing her things when a group of young people rushed over.

There are more than ten of these young people, all of whom are disciples that Qin Zijun has taken in over the years.

The leaders were none other than Zilu and Zimo.

The two are now in their mid-twenties, in the prime of their lives.

They all now hold official titles and positions.

"The student greets the teacher and the teacher's wife!"

A dozen or so young people bowed respectfully.

Qin Zijun smiled and said, "Are you here to see me off?"

Ziming and Zimo exchanged a glance: "No, we are not here to see our teacher off, but to travel the world with him and serve by his side."

Qin Zijun frowned: "Nonsense! Why are you giving up your good official positions to come running around with this old man?"

Ziming and Zimo were prepared: "As our teacher once said, it is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books."

"We accompany our teachers on long journeys, and with their words and deeds guiding us, isn't this infinitely better than learning by doing behind closed doors?"

"My fellow students and I still have much to learn from our teacher. Only when we put our knowledge into practice can we petition on behalf of the people."

"I hope the teacher will grant my permission!"

Ziming and Zimo bowed again.

The disciples behind them also bowed and said, "We hope our teacher will grant permission!"

Qin Zijun opened her mouth, but then flicked her sleeve and said, "Fine, do as you please."

Senior brothers Ziming and Zimo were overjoyed. They added, "Some of our junior brothers are serving as magistrates in the county. We have already sent urgent letters to them."

"My fellow disciples will also come together to serve our teacher."

"We fellow disciples rarely get together, but this time it's all thanks to our teacher."

Qin Zijun waved her hand, too lazy to pay them any attention.

……

In the 493rd year of the Jingyuan calendar, the sage toured the world, educating all the people.

Qin Zijun led his disciples from the imperial city, traversing thousands of mountains and rivers, intending to traverse every corner of the Chu Kingdom.

Wherever they went, Qin Zijun would lead Wang Shu and many disciples to inspect the local area and teach water conservancy or farming techniques according to the local conditions.

At the same time, they would gather local scholars and literati to answer their questions, explain the classics, and Qin Zijun would generously teach all the scholars the methods of Confucian cultivation.

The methods of spiritual practice are a closely guarded secret, and cannot be taught to anyone other than a direct disciple.

First, the Dharma must not be passed on to outsiders; second, there is a fear that the Dharma might be learned by those with malicious intent, leading to widespread suffering and karmic entanglement.

However, the Confucian method of self-cultivation is different. To cultivate this method, one must be learned, cultured, and follow the "rites" established by Qin Zijun. Only by cultivating virtue can one attain enlightenment.

Those who are morally corrupt and harbor wicked intentions are incapable of cultivating the Confucian way.

The wider the spread of Confucianism, the stronger the nation's fortune.

The stronger the nation's fortune, the more powerful Confucian scholars become, creating a positive cycle.

Qin Zijun understood this point, which is why she embarked on this tour.

His past experience in cultivation almost misled him, making him think that he could inherit the Dharma by taking on some disciples.

But the Confucian approach is different; it aims to educate the world and spread its teachings more widely.

Along the way, Qin Zijun carried the royal seal, eliminating evil and punishing corrupt officials. He also encountered a clever and studious person, whom he took as his disciple.

Three years later, Qin Zijun had taken in seventy-two disciples, who followed her in a large and numerous manner.

From then on, wherever he went, local officials, scholars, and common people lined the streets to welcome him.

Officials revered Qin's power and virtue, scholars sought knowledge and enlightenment, and the common people hoped that Qin's prime minister could impart skills to them and guide them through their confusion.

Qin Zijun has shown signs of becoming a sage, and the State of Chu is now peaceful and prosperous!

The people of Chu all listened to the teachings of "Virtue" and learned "Principles," practicing the methods of Confucianism. Everyone in the world could call themselves disciples of the Qin sage.

The spread of Confucianism had crossed the borders of the State of Chu and appeared in other places.

Some cultivators were curious and observed this method.

Among them were cultivators from the three higher realms who, unknowingly, even took Confucian teachings with them and left the Eastern Emperor Realm for the Southern Bright Realm, the Western Extreme Realm, and the Northern Star Realm.

Thus, the seeds of Confucian self-cultivation were sown in other realms.

All those who practice this method are disciples of Qin Zijun.

From then on, Qin Zijun truly achieved the goal of having students all over the world!

In the 504th year of the Jingyuan calendar, Qin Zijun was already fifty-eight years old.

He embarked on his journey home with seventy-two disciples.

this day,

Qin Zijun suddenly ordered everyone to stop.

He stepped out of the oxcart, stood with his hands behind his back, and gazed ahead.

There is a mountain there, with its peaks and ridges overlapping.

There is a lake at the foot of the mountain, its surface shimmering.

That mountain is Longevity Mountain, and that lake is Longevity Lake.

Unbeknownst to her, Qin Zijun had returned to her hometown, Shoushan County.

Wang Shu walked up to Qin Zijun's side without anyone noticing, and together they gazed into the distance.

She had a slender figure, like a young girl in her late teens, with bright, sparkling eyes and a graceful demeanor.

"It's Shoushan, we're back."

Wang Shu exclaimed in surprise.

Her voice and tone were still as light and lively as ever.

This is Qin Zijun's hometown in this life, and also Wang Shu's hometown.

She fell here as a shooting star ten thousand years ago, and from then on, Shoushan Mountain and Shouhu Lake came into being.

Ten thousand years later, she finally took human form, got to know him, and met him.

"Yes, we're back."

Qin Zijun said softly.

At that moment, Qin Zijun's demeanor underwent an inexplicable change.

There were no strange sights, no earth-shattering events; it was a change that only Qin Zijun could perceive.

He finally became a Confucian sage!

Qin Zijun knew that in this life, he was invincible once again!