Chapter 151: The Scripture of Reincarnation

Inside the Rosy Cloud Palace, cups and goblets were exchanged in a lively celebration, and many members of the dragon clan stepped forward to toast Chu Youcai, their attitudes exceptionally respectful.

This was not only because the Dragon King held scholars in high regard, but also because, as they had just read the poem and lyrics, they felt a sense of shared glory.

Chu Youcai returned their bows with equal courtesy, and for a time, both host and guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

As the banquet slowly progressed, Chu Youcai suddenly felt countless strands of rosy mist seeping into his body. Those elusive wisps of vapor possessed a crystal-clear radiance; as they shone upon him, they seemed to cleanse his physical meridians, and before long, his meridians even grew slightly broader.

Chu Youcai was inwardly astonished. He had once cleansed Shangguan Wanru's physical frame and attempted to expand her meridians, but alas, defying heaven and altering fate was exceedingly difficult, and those meridians had automatically reverted shortly after. What, then, was happening to him now?

Chu Youcai noticed that these wisps of rosy mist were seeping in from the dragon folk around him.

Suddenly, a thought stirred in his mind: "Could this be the literary Qi of poetry and prose?"

He had gradually cleared his name of being a frivolous prodigal, and following his victory as the top contender in the Commandery Prince's estate trials, his poetry and prose had begun to spread far and wide. Now, having composed such a lyric and having it witnessed by these members of the dragon clan, it carried the momentum of spreading across the Four Seas. These dragons were no ordinary people; every single one of them possessed great fortune, and the sincere appreciation of each individual outweighed the admiration of tens of thousands of ordinary mortals.

At this thought, Chu Youcai could not help feeling immensely pleased. If this was the case, after a little more time, if his poems and prose could spread throughout the entire Loulan Mansion, he would be able to harvest a vast amount of literary Qi.

Just then, after three rounds of drinks, the Dragon King raised his cup to Chu Youcai.

Chu Youcai naturally drank with him.

The Dragon King said, "With the mister's exceptional talent, if you could linger a while longer in the Dragon Palace, it would be my utmost honor. The Third Prince has a volatile temperament, acts imperiously, and lacks composure. If the mister could constantly guide him by his side, it would surely help him make great progress."

Hearing this, Chu Youcai repeatedly said, "I dare not, I dare not."

The Dragon King replied, "The mister need not be modest. The fortune of the world is about to change, and if he does not undergo some tempering to blunt his sharpness, it will still be difficult for him to achieve greatness. Given the mister's supreme talent, how about I bestow upon you the title of Lord Wenqu Star? According to heavenly laws and statutes, I cannot grant official ranks to mortals, but this title of Lord Wenqu Star exists outside of official ranks, and within the Dragon Palace, it commands absolute respect."

Hearing this, Chu Youcai was moved. Such a title was unimaginably precious. He hesitated for a moment in his heart, then nodded in agreement, saying, "Thanks to the Dragon King's deep affection, I shall obey."

Instantly, the other dragons felt a jolt in their minds, and their expressions grew even more respectful.

So it was the position of Lord Wenqu Star! Centuries ago, it had been granted to a gifted scholar who not only possessed extraordinary literary talent but also rendered numerous meritorious services to the Dragon Palace, only then receiving this designation. That scholar later entered the Immortal-Slaying Academy and shook the world with his fame. For hundreds of years since, not a single person had received such an honor.

Little did they expect that Chu Youcai would be favored thusly based solely on a single lyric. Who knew what the reason might truly be? Could it be that the heavenly mandate was obscure and unsettled, foretelling great changes, and the Dragon King was beginning to gather talent ahead of time?

Before long, everyone was thoroughly satisfied with their drink, and the banquet finally came to an end, with the guests dispersing one by one.

Then the Dragon King summoned Chu Youcai into the True Dragon Hall, which served as the Dragon King's study. The Dragon King smiled slightly and said, "I noticed the mister seemed to have doubts in his eyes earlier. Why not voice them?"

Chu Youcai then asked, "The title of Lord Wenqu Star is supremely noble. I wonder why Your Majesty has bestowed such a generous reward?"

The Dragon King sighed and said, "You will understand once the grand millennium event of the Immortal-Slaying Academy concludes. At that time, you may come to the Dragon Palace of your own accord. Bound by heavenly laws and commandments, I cannot speak of it for now."

Chu Youcai could not help but nod. Seeing that the Dragon King's mood was melancholy and carried the intent of seeing him off, he retrieved the golden scripture from his bosom and said, "Dragon King, Your Majesty, I previously obtained this relic from my mother, but I cannot recognize a single word upon it, leaving me utterly baffled. Hearing that Your Majesty is the most knowledgeable person in the world, I have come specifically to seek your guidance."

The very instant the Dragon King laid eyes on the golden scripture, he froze completely.

For a moment, an expression of astonishment appeared on his face as he murmured, "It is actually this!"

He took the golden scripture into his hands, gazing at it with affectionate eyes. After a long while, he sighed and said, "This item still exists in the mortal world! Lord Wenqu Star, it turns out Heaven had arranged this long ago."

Hearing this, Chu Youcai was left in a complete fog. What did this item have to do with Lord Wenqu Star?

The Dragon King stroked the characters upon it with his hand and then said, "This object has an extraordinary origin. It is called the Reincarnation Scripture."

A jolt ran through Chu Youcai's heart. He had never heard this name before, but it sounded profoundly formidable.

The Dragon King's expression grew solemn. "Hundreds of years ago, that gifted scholar who attained the title of Lord Wenqu Star also possessed this very object. Afterward, he relied upon it as his foundation, successfully passed the examinations for the Immortal-Slaying Academy, and shone brilliantly."

Hearing this, Chu Youcai finally understood why the Dragon King said the position of Lord Wenqu Star had been predestined long ago. Yet he remained inwardly astonished: if that person could pass the exams for the Immortal-Slaying Academy by relying on this object, what on earth was this Reincarnation Scripture?

The Dragon King continued, "The characters upon this scripture are ancient inscriptions, recording the method of cultivating into an Inscription Master."

Upon hearing this, Chu Youcai felt as though his inner self had been struck by lightning, and he stood frozen in place.

So that was how it was!

No wonder the golden scripture produced a searing reaction whenever it encountered inscriptions.

He had witnessed the lofty status of Inscription Masters after arriving at the Luosha Sea Market. Once an Inscription Master carved inscriptions, they could vastly increase the power of cursed treasures, earning millions or even tens of millions of silver taels.

Wishing to train as an Inscription Master was even more difficult than mastering Daoist magic or demonic arts; countless people cultivated for over a decade without even finding the door to it. It was precisely because Inscription Masters were so scarce that these inscriptions were so precious!

Yet he had racked his brains trying to find the secret of the golden scripture and wanting to hire an Inscription Master to enter the Scripture Pavilion, never dreaming that he himself possessed such a supreme treasure.

Truly, finding what one looks for without lifting a foot, it takes no effort at all!

The Dragon King then said, "However, although you have obtained this Reincarnation Scripture, to learn from it, you must first study ancient inscriptions. The process is extremely arduous. I happen to have a volume of ancient inscription texts here; you may study it thoroughly first."

The Dragon King brushed his hand across a cluster of coral, and an ancient book exuding the fragrance of literature landed in his palm. He then handed both the golden scripture and the book to Chu Youcai.

Chu Youcai took the two items in hand, feeling their heavy weight, and bowed to the Dragon King, saying, "Many thanks to the Dragon King for this generous gift."

The Dragon King nodded and said, "Go. Study with dedication. Since you are now Lord Wenqu Star, you should press forward with even greater effort."

Chu Youcai nodded and withdrew.

He was led by two maidservants into a side palace. There was a bed made of coral, surrounded by all sorts of precious jewels, with tassels hanging outside the canopy adorned with pearls as large as dou measures. The bedding on the bed was both fragrant and soft, exceptionally comfortable.

Yet he simply leaned against the table, intently studying the ancient book.

To his astonishment, this ancient text possessed a powerful heart-and-soul force. Every single character he read required an immense expenditure of mental energy, and attempting to memorize the characters on the page was simply impossible.

With his ability to read ten lines at a glance and retain everything he saw, he flipped through a page, closed his eyes, and promptly forgot everything, his mind leaving a total blank.

Chu Youcai knew that the more ancient the text and the rarer the ancient treasure, the more bizarre their forms. Knowing that he had now encountered a wondrous opportunity of a millennium, he cherished it all the more, staying awake the entire night to study with all his might.