Zhen Danxing?

He gaped with eyes wide open and mouth agape, his face filled with shock and horror.

It wasn't just the ethereal old man, even those who had studied poetry were stunned and dumbfounded by this poem.

After reciting the poem, it felt as if something inside them had been shaken!

The ethereal old man quickly regained his senses. He gazed at Guo Zimei, temporarily rendered speechless. His face gradually turned red with embarrassment over his earlier thoughts.

He took a deep breath, realizing he shouldn't feel awkward but should continue probing.

This poem was simply too formidable. Even poems passed down from sage-like masters paled in comparison. He had never heard such a fluent yet emotionally rich poem before.

In other words, this poem must have been composed by a powerful person and never publicly released before. Otherwise, he would have heard of it.

"Zimei, are you sure this poem was composed by your mentor?"

The ethereal old man began scrutinizing Guo Zimei intently. At this moment, he seemed more credible than before, more like the headmaster he was supposed to be.

Seeing the old man's change in attitude, Guo Zimei smiled faintly. Earlier, it seemed the headmaster had looked down on Chen Xiansheng. Now, it appeared he had been swayed by this single poem.

Yet this was merely one poem Chen Xiansheng had taught him - he had even better ones memorized!

Guo Zimei said, "This poem was indeed taught by Chen Xiansheng, and there are others besides this one."

The ethereal old man hastily replied, "Then recite another one!"

The others pricked up their ears in anticipation, eager to hear more.

Guo Zimei nodded and recited the poem Chen Pingan had spoken when bidding him farewell not long ago, expressing the emotions of leaving one's hometown. Guo Zimei had profound understanding of such feelings and recited it with heartfelt emotions.

When he finished, the surroundings had fallen deathly silent. The ethereal old man looked stunned once more, gaping with his mouth open. Shortly after, he swiftly sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

Not long after, he reopened his eyes, shining with excited light. His cultivation had actually improved somewhat! He had forgotten how long it had been since his cultivation last progressed, yet listening to a single poem had such an effect - it was astonishing!

The ethereal old man looked thrilled yet reverent. "Zimei, if these two poems were truly composed by the Chen Xiansheng you mentioned, then he is definitely no ordinary person!"

Guo Zimei nodded. He had always felt Chen Xiansheng was the reincarnation of a great sage. However, Chen Xiansheng had always claimed to be just an ordinary man.

The ethereal old man continued, "You should know where he resides? I must visit him. If possible, our academy wishes to invite him to teach!"

The old man had considered that the two poems might have been plagiarized by the Chen Xiansheng mentioned, though it was also possible this person was truly a master. To discern truth from falsehood, he just needed to see for himself.

Guo Zimei replied, "He's in my hometown."

The old man nodded. "Wait for me there. I'll arrive in an hour." With that, he hastily cut off the connection.

...

In the town of Qingyuan, inside an ordinary courtyard, Chen Pingan was lying on a lounger, gazing at the slanting sun on the horizon. Su Ling was leaning against him, even napping.

For this life of tranquility, Chen Pingan felt it was decent enough. Five years had passed without it feeling too dull.

As Chen Pingan looked towards the sky, his brow suddenly furrowed and he sighed. "This mission is quite difficult."

The latest task issued by the system was for him to establish a sect, to be named after him - the Ping'an Sect. Just the name itself felt awkward to Chen Pingan.

Moreover, he had no cultivation base at all. How was he supposed to start a sect?

He had considered asking Murong Gong and the others for help. But he didn't know if their relationship allowed for such a request. Furthermore, opening a sect near them might be seen as encroaching on the Kaizhan Sect's territory.

Not to mention, he was supposedly the Venerable of the Kaizhan Sect himself...

Until now, Chen Pingan still didn't understand how he had ended up with that title. He couldn't fathom what Murong Gong and the others were thinking, calling him Venerable when he had no cultivation abilities, couldn't fly, and had no great strength. He was utterly ordinary.

He even wondered if Murong Gong and the others, having cultivated for too long and grown bored, were simply playing a prank on him, treating him like a monkey to amuse themselves... Just like how some wealthy people on Earth would casually torment others for laughs when bored.

"Ah, forget it. Next time Murong Gong and the others visit, I'll humbly ask if they can help me establish a sect."

Chen Pingan stopped pondering. After all, he still had three months. Slowly would be fine.

As Chen Pingan continued gazing at the sky, two figures were already standing outside his gate - a white-haired, white-bearded old man and a handsome youth. They were none other than Guo Zimei and the headmaster of Shushanxian Academy, Zhen Danxing.

Zhen Danxing looked at the ordinary courtyard before him and asked, "You say the Chen Xiansheng you mentioned resides here?"

Guo Zimei nodded. "Headmaster, please wait a moment while I call for Chen Xiansheng."

Guo Zimei then called out, "Chen Xiansheng, are you there?"

Inside the courtyard, Chen Pingan was jolted from his daze upon hearing Guo Zimei's voice. However, he didn't respond immediately, as Su Ling was napping beside him. He quietly made his way to the gate.

Upon seeing Guo Zimei, Chen Pingan looked puzzled. "Zimei, didn't you go to Guangzhong City? How did you return so quickly?"

By his reckoning, the round trip should have taken over two days.

Guo Zimei smiled amiably upon seeing Chen Pingan. "Chen Xiansheng, greetings. This is the headmaster of Shushanxian Academy who wishes to meet you."

Hearing "Shushanxian Academy", Chen Pingan was stunned for a moment. Upon hearing "headmaster", he was thoroughly shocked.

The headmaster had come? No way!

He swiftly turned his gaze towards the old man beside Guo Zimei. The Shushanxian Academy held great prestige across the continent, and its headmaster was rumored to be among the top experts.

Such a figure would never normally appear in a place like this, much less to meet him!

Chen Pingan noticed the old man's scholarly demeanor and his robes emblazoned with "Shushanxian Academy". So it was true?

Chen Pingan was very surprised and prepared to respectfully address the man as "Senior". However, before he could open his mouth, the other man spoke first, calling Chen Pingan "Senior"!

Chen Pingan was dumbfounded, his mouth twitching as he saw Zhen Danxing's face filled with shock, his hands cupped in salute with his head lowered deeply.

What...was going on? This eminent figure was calling him "Senior"?

He felt utterly confused. Then a thought occurred to him: Was he truly some great figure?