My Master Knows It All

428: Chapter 168 State Preceptor_4 428: Chapter 168 State Preceptor_4 In this black night, a flash of brilliance streaked by, and though it was but a brief moment, Cao Zhen could confirm that he had never seen such a dazzling light.

In that instant, he even had the illusion that all of him had been seen through.

That light also gave him the sensation of being filled with endless wisdom.

In that moment, he even felt that what he saw was not a person, but the illusion of a true Immortal.

After that fleeting moment, the Grand Preceptor’s boundless aura suddenly retracted, the divine light contained within.

In the brief time it takes to breathe, he had returned to normal, even resembling a mortal so much that one could not sense any imposing aura from him.

A smile appeared on the youthful face of the Grand Preceptor as he looked at Cao Zhen and said with a laugh, “I originally had the confidence that I could, with each slash, reduce my cultivation base down to the Golden Core, and then wait until the Minor Era of Inversion of Heaven and Earth disappeared.

After the Way of Heaven and Earth changes again, I would recover through cultivation.

But whenever you told me that phrase, my enlightenment deepened, and my confidence grew!

I understand even more what I should do!”

‘The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao’!

How did you comprehend such a Dao?”

Filled with admiration, the Grand Preceptor gazed at Cao Zhen, even feeling that such a revelation was directly seeking the origin of the Heavenly Dao.

Just how profound had Cao Zhen reached in his past life to have such an understanding!

“Those words were not realized by me,” Cao Zhen gently shook his head.

There were things he dared to claim as his own realizations, but ‘The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao’—this he did not dare claim.

Further questioning on the matter would reveal his lack of understanding, he felt, even with Zhang Daoling’s theories on Immortal Cultivation at his disposal.

Those words were spoken by one of the most supreme existences, Laozi.

He was one of the Three Pure Ones, Taishang Laojun!

“Oh?

So it wasn’t a revelation from Cao Dao Companion, then…

could it be…” recalling what Cao Zhen had said about the era, the Grand Preceptor asked, “Could this be the understanding of a Great Ability from the Taichu Era?”

Cao Zhen nodded slightly and said, “If you put it that way, you’re not wrong.”

“Then, which Great Ability would that be?” The Grand Preceptor looked earnestly at Cao Zhen, “In any case, although the phrase came from your mouth, I have gained enlightenment from it, and I owe that individual a favor.

So I want to know, who exactly is that person?”

In a low voice, Cao Zhen replied, “This person is known as Laozi…

commonly addressed as Taishang Laojun.”

“Taishang Laojun, I wonder just how exalted one must be to be referred to as ‘Taishang’ by others,” the Grand Preceptor lamented with a hint of regret, “It’s a pity that we are separated by different fates.

If there were a chance to meet him, I would have one less regret in my life.”

Having said that, he turned his head to Cao Zhen, “This time, if it hadn’t been for you, I would not have enlightened.

You’ve truly helped me quite a lot.

I also know your current situation.

Besides the medicinal ingredients you’ve spoken of, is there anything else you desire?”

Before Cao Zhen could speak, the emperor had already said, “In my life, I’ve never seen anyone who could aid the Grand Preceptor.

The Grand Preceptor has done far too much for our Guardian Immortal Imperial Dynasty.

Helping him is helping the Guardian Immortal Imperial Dynasty.

If there’s anything you want and it’s within my power, I will give that to you as well.

Even an Alchemy Book Iron Ticket or a Death Exemption Token, I can grant you.”

Although he was not a Cultivator, he knew about the significance of enlightenment through the conversation between the Grand Preceptor and Cao Zhen, and he was aware that the Grand Preceptor’s enlightenment came because of Cao Zhen.

“Alchemy Book Iron Ticket?” Cao Zhen seemed to remember something, and suddenly turned his head to look at the emperor with a serious question, “Your Majesty, may I ask you a question?”

The emperor nodded and said, “There are only the three of us here, ask away.”

“Good, then I’ll ask.” Filled with curiosity, Cao Zhen looked at the emperor and inquired, “Your Majesty, is your surname Zhu?”

“Zhu?” The emperor clearly did not expect Cao Zhen to seriously ask such a question.

After being taken aback, he still shook his head and said, “I do not have the surname Zhu.”

“Not Zhu?

Then I’m relieved.

Since that’s the case, I’d like to request this Alchemy Book Iron Ticket,” Cao Zhen immediately decided.

A life-saving item like the Alchemy Book Iron Ticket, how could he not want it!

The emperor was completely baffled, unable to find any connection to Cao Zhen’s words, “What does your surname being Zhu have to do with whether or not you want the Alchemy Book Iron Ticket?”

“It’s very much related,” Cao Zhen began to bluff, “In the Taichu Era where I came from, there was a Dynasty called the Great Ming.”

The emperor, curious, asked, “Ming?

As in the brightness of the sun and moon?”

Cao Zhen nodded and said, “Exactly, that Ming.”

“What ambition, to name a dynasty for the brightness of the sun and moon,” the emperor praised, and then realizing he had interrupted Cao Zhen, he took a small step back and urged, “Go on.”

Recalling the historical books he had read, Cao Zhen complained, “The emperors of that Ming Dynasty all had the surname Zhu, and in that Dynasty, Alchemy Book Iron Tickets were a death warrant.”

The emperor was puzzled, “What do you mean?

Alchemy Book Iron Tickets are for salvation from death.

Why would they become death warrants?

Could it be that in that Ming Dynasty, Alchemy Book Iron Tickets were not for salvation from death?”

“The Alchemy Book Iron Tickets of the Great Ming and our Guardian Immortal Imperial Dynasty should be no different; both are for salvation from death.

The issue lies with the person granting the Alchemy Book Iron Tickets.”