Three years passed with rapid changes and undercurrents surging incessantly.
While Song Qianji cultivated Thousand Canals, burying himself in the fields, he remained oblivious to the swift passage of time.
When Meng Heze found him, he was watering spring cabbages inside the four-season greenhouse.
Following the "seed fields" for cultivating superior crop varieties, the four-season greenhouses built by Song Qianji were gradually promoted throughout Thousand-Ditch Prefecture.
Inside the gauze-covered enclosures, the soil temperature was maintained by formation arrays, while improved Focusing Light Talismans controlled the lighting. This allowed the people of Thousand Canals to enjoy fresh vegetables even during the cold, barren winter months, no longer relying solely on pickled vegetables to endure the season.
Emerald-green cabbage leaves glistened with water droplets, crisp and tender like freshly unearthed jadeite. Song Qianji couldn't resist praising them: "You've been doing well lately, keep up the good work!"
The cabbages ignored him, basking lazily in the golden light of the Focusing Light Talismans.
Meng Heze, thinking the praise was for him, immediately perked up: "Yes, senior brother! We've made progress in selecting a curator for the Thousand Canals Library!"
Song Qianji paused momentarily before recalling the matter.
Within the Wheat Field Domain, the "working spirits" tirelessly copied classics and dao texts day and night to accumulate points.
The lingering souls routinely discussed and verified their learnings with each other, not only restoring some long-lost ancient texts but also refining old cultivation methods by eliminating flaws and creating improved versions.
After three years of gradual accumulation, the collection at Thousand Canals Library had become more comprehensive and advanced than even the Huawei Sect's repository.
Previously priceless texts that required Outer Sect disciples to risk their lives just to borrow were now ordinary books on shelves after being printed in bulk.
The barriers to cultivation and learning were no longer insurmountable. In Thousand Canals, even those without Spirit Roots were required to attend school to learn characters and understand principles.
With books available, there needed to be teachers to educate and librarians to manage them.
But Thousand Canals had no dedicated personnel available. Meng Heze oversaw hunting and city defense teams; Ji Chen managed all formation arrays; Xu Kanshan and Qiu Dacheng handled finances, grain, trade routes, census, and housing; Zhou Xiaoyun and Ji Xing managed clinics and sanitation; Minister of Agriculture Liu the Carpenter traveled between villages helping people build greenhouses; Minister of Works Tie Sanniu was busy constructing bridges and reservoirs... Everyone had two or three responsibilities keeping them fully occupied.
One year earlier, Song Qianji had posted notices recruiting teachers and library curators with excellent benefits.
Scholars and calligraphy enthusiasts from across the land came flocking upon hearing the news—half drawn by Thousand Canals' abundant collection, half hoping to see Song Qianji's authentic works firsthand.
After the Grand Audience Assembly, the Calligrapher Sage had secluded himself, refusing visitors and no longer wielding brushes or evaluating younger artists' works. Thus, the "Hero Summons" came to be known as "the last great calligraphy," remaining unsurpassed in recent years.
Daily, talisman practitioners gathered at Tiancheng Square, gazing up at the "Yield Per Acre: One Thousand Jin" plaque, tracing the strokes in the air, studying the brushwork with unfocused eyes as if their spirits had left their bodies.
Although many of Song Qianji's authentic works circulated throughout Thousand Canals, they contained no poetry or odes.
Most featured terms like "potatoes, cabbage, wheat sprouts, corn," alongside flower names such as "wisteria, magnolia, azalea, balsam."
Among them was "Exhortation to Learning," written to persuade reluctant youths from border villages to attend school. Its essence was "sharpening the axe won't delay woodcutting—finish school before farming," encouraging people to first master numeracy, literacy, reasoning, and basic agricultural knowledge.
The brief hundred-character text was simple to understand, balancing reason and emotion. The characters showed no flourish, with simple and solid brushwork and a structure that appeared artless yet profoundly skillful.
Many scholars, moved by studying these works, journeyed to Thousand Canals.
With numerous literati gathered, literary gatherings became frequent, featuring calligraphy competitions and poetry compositions that left many verses documenting Thousand Canals' development. As these poems spread widely, they attracted even more people to Thousand Canals.Meng Heze, careful not to trample the vegetable sprouts, cautiously stayed on the ridge: "This man is only thirty years old. Though his cultivation is ordinary, he is widely read and intimately familiar with all kinds of classics and cultivation methods. He has a gentle temperament, is very patient with younger disciples' questions, and excels at organizing, cleaning, and storing. After a year of observation, among the teaching candidates of the same period, he is the most suitable to be the library director."
Song Qianji scooped another ladle of water: "Then choose him."
He answered casually, but Meng Heze hesitated: "If I propose it and you agree immediately, it might not be appropriate. Perhaps he has some major flaw that I haven't noticed... The position of library director is crucial. Should we wait longer and observe him for some more time?"
"I'll go meet this person." Song Qianji smiled. "Let me decide whether he's suitable, alright?"
He vaguely guessed Meng Heze's concern. It was probably about the incident three years ago when they pulled strings to hire a steward.
"Good, that's great!" Meng Heze finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Let's go!"
"Not in a hurry." Song Qianji said, "Let me finish watering this section first. Watch your step."
...
The Thousand Canals Library was designed by Chief Engineer Tie Sanniu. Three connected buildings, each three stories high, with three types of pathways inside.
A spiral staircase, a gentle slope, and a manually operated lift, accommodating all kinds of people.
Meng Heze led Song Qianji upstairs, where they found a young man on the third floor bent over his desk writing scrolls and cataloging books.
"This is Mr. Zhu Ping." Meng Heze said.
The young man, dressed in a long gown with an elegant scholarly demeanor, unhurriedly set down his brush and stood up calmly: "Immortal Official Song, I've long heard of your reputation."
"Hello, Mr. Zhu. Are you accustomed to life in Thousand Canals?" Song Qianji silently repeated his name while carefully examining his face. He felt the man looked very familiar, yet the impression was vague.
After the three exchanged pleasantries for a while, Zhu Ping guessed why they had come, understanding this was an interview examination, and naturally grew somewhat nervous.
Meng Heze thought to himself, why am I nervous? The incident with Wei Ping's special treatment happened three years ago. Besides, this doesn't really count as pulling strings today.
Song Qianji flipped through Zhu Ping's work notes, listening to his explanations of book classification methods, indexing systems, and suggestions for the Thousand Canals Academy. He found this person indeed meticulous and intelligent, with strangely familiar handwriting.
With two people nervous and one silent, an awkward atmosphere spread across a radius of ten zhang.
Suddenly Song Qianji slapped the table and stood up: "Mr. Zhu, you're still so young!"
He finally remembered. Wasn't this the Academic Dean of Green Cliff seventy years later?
Mr. Zhu was startled, and seeing Meng Heze also looking bewildered, he could only stammer: "Immortal Official Song is even younger, no, more accomplished at a younger age than me."
"Why did Mr. Zhu initially want to come to Thousand Canals?"
Song Qianji was secretly surprised. Had their makeshift Thousand-Ditch Prefecture become so famous that they could poach talent from major sects like Green Cliff?
"I heard that Thousand Canals has simple, honest customs, abundant book collections, and was precisely at a time when teaching scholars were needed, so I came." Zhu Ping looked around at the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. "There are even more books here than I imagined. It's truly a sacred paradise for scholars."
Song Qianji asked: "The Thousand Canals Library was established not long ago. In terms of scale, the Green Cliff Library is ten times larger than here."
"Four years ago, Hua Wei City's population was also ten times larger than Thousand Canals, but what about now?" Zhu Ping said quietly. "To be honest, I come from humble origins. Without recommendations, if I went to Green Cliff on my own, it would probably take over twenty years just to lay eyes on some precious texts."
"Indeed so." Song Qianji suddenly understood.The larger the sect, the more emphasis placed on one's background, and the more complex and rigid its systems become.
Seeing Song Qianji nod with a gentle expression, Zhu Ping's tension eased considerably. He smiled and said:
"I've read 'Encouraging Learning' and strongly agree with Immortal Official Song's principle of 'education without discrimination.' Who says commoners shouldn't be literate? That farmers shouldn't know how to read? The world outside grows increasingly chaotic these days. Young cultivators hold daily debate assemblies, delivering lengthy arguments determined to defeat their opponents—sometimes even drawing swords... I only wish for a place where everyone, regardless of gender, age, or background, can write their own name."
Meng Heze curiously interjected: "What are they debating?"
Zhu Ping smiled wryly: "All kinds of topics. The most heated argument is whether Fairy Miaoyan is truly beautiful—and if even Fairy Miaoyan isn't considered beautiful, then what standard defines beauty? Does beauty even need standards?"
Song Qianji thought to himself, the world truly has changed.
Unconsciously, even the consensus about Miaoyan's supreme beauty had become debatable. Going to Purple Cloud Temple or Green Cliff was no longer the only path for scholars and academic cultivators in the Cultivation World.
After pondering for a moment, he asked: "Does Master Zhu have any family? Would they be willing to settle in Thousand Canals together?"
Zhu Ping replied: "My parents passed away early. As the eldest, I have two younger brothers and a younger sister. The four of us depend on each other." His expression softened considerably when speaking of his family. "I prefer stability and tranquility, enjoying reading and teaching. But my second brother is naturally combative and exceptionally brave. Two years ago, he went to serve Wei Wang, determined to carve out a new future..."
Hearing "Wei Wang," Meng Heze's eyebrows twitched as he hurriedly glanced at Song Qianji's expression.
Song Qianji merely touched his eyebrows, maintaining his warm smile as he gestured for the other to continue.
Wei Zhenyu had established autonomous rule in Northern Sky Continent and formally declared himself king last year.
His flamboyant and assertive style had earned him numerous enemies, and he spent half of each year fighting battles.
"My third brother neither enjoys scholarly pursuits nor wishes to come to Thousand Canals, nor does he care for martial combat or want to go to Wei's city. Though simple-minded, he's extremely diligent and steadfast. Hearing that Fairy Chen is most patient, personally guiding cultivation practice daily without discriminating against disciples' talents, he went to Eastern Sky Continent and joined 'Little Huawel Sect.'"
Hearing "Fairy Chen," Meng Heze couldn't help glancing at Song Qianji again.
Song Qianji only asked: "Where is your younger sister now?"
"My sister's spirit veins aren't resilient enough for swordsmanship, but she has talent in music cultivation. She's now under Fairy He, the head senior disciple of Celestial Sound Sect. The sect's internal division into two opposing factions has long been an open secret. Fairy He has been selecting trusted followers from outer sect disciples in recent years, precisely when she needs capable people.
"These four places now all disregard background distinctions. Our four siblings have thus scattered across the four continents, each pursuing our own path, promising to reunite in our hometown every Lantern Festival."
At this point, the three fell silent. They felt both hope for the promising future and melancholy about the unpredictable roads ahead.
Song Qianji spoke first: "Each developing their strengths, following their own paths, yet watching out for one another—this is good."
Zhu Ping said happily: "Immortal Official Song is truly enlightened."
Song Qianji continued: "But this world is both vast and small. If someday Wei Wang and Celestial Sound Sect contend for something, or if Little Huawel Sect opposes Celestial Sound Sect, what will you siblings do? Have you considered this?"Zhu Ping let out a long sigh. "Since ancient times, loyalty and righteousness have been hard to reconcile. We must each serve our own masters and offer counsel."
The conversation should have ended there. But Song Qianji insisted on probing deeper:
"If it's not just about offering counsel, but meeting on the battlefield—you holding a sword, your younger siblings also holding swords, facing each other and recognizing one another—what would you do?"
Meng Heze froze, his heart suspended in fear, silently wondering whether Senior Brother Song was asking about the four Zhu siblings or about himself and old acquaintances.
Master Zhu fell silent, then suddenly declared loudly: "If it comes to forcing siblings to fight each other, what kind of good era could that be? If it truly reaches that point, we'd throw down our swords—never mind which king or sect leader, what grand ambitions or hegemony—our siblings would become Rogue Cultivators fleeing to the ends of the earth!"
He slammed the table in anger, his usual elegance and gentleness gone.
Meng Heze's vision darkened, thinking it was over—the curator position was lost.
But then he heard Song Qianji laugh: "Master Zhu suits Thousand Canals, and Thousand Canals suits Master Zhu. Effective immediately, Thousand Canals establishes the new position of Education Commissioner, overseeing all schools, compiling teaching materials, and educating the masses. Curator Zhu, would you be willing to concurrently serve as Education Commissioner?"
...
When Song Qianji left Thousand Canals Library, dusk was approaching and lanterns were beginning to glow.
From the school behind the library came the sound of someone reading aloud, carried by the spring breeze like willow branches swaying along the street.
The willow colors were fresh, but the scenery remained familiar.
Song Courtyard looked similar year after year, but beyond its walls, great changes swept through the land—beacon fires burned everywhere, and new shipping routes spread across the four continents.
"Never imagined such changes when I first revived," Song Qianji mused.
Though he cared more about the harvest in his seasonal greenhouses and the quality of his seed fields, hearing occasional news from outside still left him contemplative.
Change began among mortals and Outer Sects, forcing major sects to improve conditions or risk failing to recruit mortal disciples.
Some Immortal Officials no longer dared to extort recklessly, for they might suddenly receive death threats from meddlesome assassins, or find their Immortal Official Manors stormed by crowds declaring territorial autonomy.
Others refused to yield, suppressing resistance with even crueler methods.
Whether this world would improve or become more fragmented—accelerating toward destruction through intensified conflicts—even Song Qianji didn't know.
Chen Hongzhu hadn't stayed in Huawel Sect to assist her senior brother Yuan Qingshi, but instead founded "Little Huawel Sect."
The Celestial Sound Sect had split into two factions. After Jiangyun took He Qingqing as her disciple, her influence surpassed Wangshu's. Wangshu might not ascend to the sect leader position as she had in the previous life.
Without going through his early period of prolonged obscurity, apprenticeship, and quietly gathering advantages, could Wei Zhenyu still achieve his perfect ending from the previous life?
Young cultivators now had more choices—they could go to any continent, and those who survived could make their mark.
"Senior Brother Song, are you worried right now?" Meng Heze suddenly asked.
"Who do you think I'm worried about?"
"About those... not in Thousand Canals." Meng Heze paused mid-step. "Other people."
"So I am worried." Song Qianji's mind stirred slightly as he looked up at the sky.
Before his words faded, the sky darkened abruptly. A great wind rose, and commotion erupted all around.
At the horizon surged a dark red glow, spreading like tidewater to cover half the sky.
Song Qianji narrowed his eyes. Some sealed space was shaking—violent airflow changes causing celestial phenomena.
"The secret realm is opening!" he declared.
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