Chapter 42: Master, I’ve Succeeded—Truly Succeeded

Upon hearing this, Ji Ge felt a slight ease in his heart.

“Very well, the venerable founder of the Daoist sect, personally taught by the sage himself—I suppose he would not be one to break his word.”

“Allow me to recite their names to you.”

Ji Ge spoke softly, one name after another flowing from his lips.

Lu Ge narrowed his eyes slightly.

Some of those names were familiar to him, others unfamiliar, yet all were etched deeply into his memory.

He had been worried about traveling the world with no clear destination, but now, at last, he had a goal.

“That’s all,” Ji Ge finished and closed his eyes, resigned to fate.

Lu Ge wasted no time. He pointed a finger, directing it to Ji Ge’s forehead.

The last Grand Music Master of the Great Zhou had perished.

Lu Ge returned to the ancient qin platform where hundreds of Ji Ge’s admirers still lingered in a trance, yet to awaken.

Shen Dao, however, had already come to, though his mind was still somewhat foggy, sitting there in a daze.

Seeing Lu Ge’s return, Shen Dao hastily rose.

“Master, I—”

Lu Ge cut him off sharply, “What ‘I’?”

“Listening to that melody nearly drove me mad,” Shen Dao admitted with a sheepish expression. “My Dao heart still requires refinement.”

“But Master, I think I’ve truly succeeded.”

Lu Ge was taken aback. Had his young disciple developed some aftereffect?

Shen Dao’s face was filled with excitement as he spoke loudly, “My words shall be the law of Heaven and Earth.”

“Now, the winds shall come.”

As his voice fell, a gentle breeze began to stir, drifting across the ancient qin platform.

Lu Ge stared, astonished.

What was this? Summoning the wind?

It didn’t seem quite right.

“Master, how is it?” Shen Dao eagerly asked Lu Ge.

Lu Ge looked at him in surprise.

“This is your divine ability?”

“Your words become law?”

Shen Dao nodded repeatedly, “Master, you are truly learned.”

“My original divine ability was called ‘Supreme Justice of the Dao.’”

“Under your guidance, I began to study the laws of Heaven.”

“Today, beguiled by that qin melody, I fell into an illusion.”

“Unexpectedly, misfortune turned to blessing, and years of confusion were resolved in an instant.”

“My divine ability, Supreme Justice of the Dao, has transformed.”

“It has become ‘Words that Command the Law.’”

Lu Ge was momentarily speechless. Was Shen Dao really that fortunate?

That was no ordinary ability—it was “Words that Command the Law.”

“It’s a pity this command of words comes with many restrictions.”

“The matters I speak of must be things I am capable of accomplishing.”

“For example, the breeze just now—I could fan the air with a fan to stir a gentle wind here.”

“Thus, my words become law.”

“But if I were to say it will rain today by divine power, that could not be realized.”

Lu Ge suddenly understood. Shen Dao’s “Words that Command the Law” was only just beginning.

Not everyone who comprehended a divine ability could master it outright as Lu Ge had.

Lu Ge’s extraordinary insight came from the Tao Te Ching.

But everything operates according to principles.

Even extraordinary insight was not granted out of thin air.

Within the Tao Te Ching lay the boundless Dao resonance left by Lao Dan.

When reading the Tao classic, the corresponding Dao resonance would manifest, allowing Lu Ge to draw analogies and understand deeply.

When Lu Ge successfully comprehended a divine technique, the corresponding great Dao resonance would flood in like a torrent, instantly filling in his understanding and allowing him to achieve mastery in one step.

Of course, this did not apply to innate divine abilities.

Those innate powers were bestowed from external sources—either the Big Dipper Star God or the Ancestral Dragon.

Their Dao was that of the Big Dipper, or that of the Ancestral Dragon.

Only when Lu Ge fully mastered them and transformed them into his own Dao could he trigger the passive effects of the Tao Te Ching.

But by that time, Lu Ge’s innate divine abilities would already be perfected, making the Tao Te Ching’s support unnecessary.

At present, only one thing limited the power of Lu Ge’s divine abilities: his realm of cultivation.

Like the “Carefree Journey,” Lu Ge had yet to achieve the path fruit of the immortal man.

He could never surpass the speed of light with that divine ability.

But once his Dao fruit was complete and his life evolved—his mortal body transformed into an immortal one—he could withstand the impact of light speed.

Then, with a single stride, he could surpass light speed.

Other powers, like summoning wind and rain, would also grow stronger as Lu Ge’s realm advanced and his body adapted.

“You’re indeed lucky.”

“Study diligently, and in time you will achieve great success.”

Lu Ge patted Shen Dao on the shoulder.

“Words that Command the Law” was, by Lu Ge’s understanding, already a great divine ability at its inception.

If cultivated to the extreme, it could become a supreme divine power.

A single utterance could overturn Heaven and Earth, restarting the universe.

It was just a pity Shen Dao had not attained immortality; it was unlikely he would live to see that day.

“Let’s go.”

Lu Ge turned and headed toward the carriage.

“Master, what about these people? Shall we not intervene?” Shen Dao gestured toward the hundreds of Ji Ge’s fans still trapped in the illusion.

“No need.”

“The Grand Music Master is dead.”

“The divine resonance will dissipate naturally.”

“In an hour or so, they will awaken.”

“Then we can bury Ji Ge.”

Lu Ge killed but did not concern himself with burying the dead.

Ji Ge’s body still lay where it had fallen.

Shen Dao nodded and followed Lu Ge.

The carriage resumed its journey.

“Shen Dao, how much do you know about the Mohist school?” Lu Ge asked from inside the carriage.

After some thought, Shen Dao replied, “Since Mozi’s passing, the Mohist school divided into three factions.”

“Deng Lingzi founded Chu Mo, mostly wandering knights.”

“Xiang Fuzi led Qi Mo, focused on debate and often persuading sovereigns to lay down arms.”

“Xiang Li Qin established Qin Mo, specializing in mechanical devices and warfare.”

Lu Ge nodded. “Do you know where Chu Mo gathers nowadays?”

Shen Dao pondered briefly. “Chu Mo are wanderers without a fixed abode, hard to track.”

“But this branch has halls across countries called Supreme Justice Towers.”

“Those with grievances may seek help there.”

“Once Mohist disciples investigate and find the truth, they act to punish evildoers and uphold justice.”

“I recall there is a Supreme Justice Tower in Yingdu.”

Lu Ge’s eyes brightened. “Then that will be our destination.”

The carriage turned sharply, heading toward the city of Yingdu.

Along the way, Lu Ge recounted the ambush set by Ji Ge and the Hundred Schools' disciples.

Shen Dao suddenly realized, “I once thought Chu Mo acted with impartial hearts toward virtue.”

“But now they are blind and foolish enough to attempt to assassinate the Master.”

“Mozi’s virtue is utterly lost.”

Lu Ge replied calmly, “Everyone has different perspectives and motives.”

“To them, I am merely a traitor aiding Qin to rebel against the Zhou royal house and usurp the realm.”

“For them, killing me makes sense.”

“Of course, my retaliation is also justified.”

“In this world of rivalry and chaos, there is no absolute right or wrong.”

Chu had relocated its capital several times; Yingdu was one of them.

Though a bit faded now, as a former capital it remained bustling.

As the carriage entered the city, many figures in the crowds flickered with watchful eyes before quietly dispersing.

“Master, should we find lodging first or go straight to the Supreme Justice Tower?” Shen Dao asked.

Lu Ge stretched leisurely. “It’s late; let’s find a place to rest.”

“The Supreme Justice Tower is nearby.”

“You can run from the monk, but not from the temple.”

Shen Dao was taken aback.

What monk? What temple?

What on earth was he talking about?