Many years later.
In the city full of steel, a bus stopped by the roadside.
"Classmates, today we are visiting the Eastern Capital Museum, which is the largest national museum of our Martial Country. It houses a large number of historical artifacts..."
"It's now free time, classmates can visit on their own. We will gather here at twelve o'clock. Please pay attention to the time, and don't get lost."
The beautiful teacher in a black professional outfit smiled slightly, giving freedom to these young and restless students.
"Yay!"
The crowd dispersed, Xiao Nan came to his best friend Xue Xi's side: "Phew, finally getting a breath of fresh air. Living school and home two points in a line every day, I'm really fed up."
Xue Xi glanced at him: "If you don't endure a bit now, you'll truly suffer later."
"Exactly, exactly!"
Just as the words fell, a youthful and beautiful girl chimed in,
The girl standing next to Xue Xi gave Xiao Nan a sidelong glance: "It's the third year of high school, more pressure is normal. If you can't endure now and fail to get into a good university, you'll find it even harder to endure when you're out in the society later, and that's when you'll truly suffer."
"Why do you show up everywhere?"
Feeling thwarted by these two, Xiao Nan was somewhat frustrated: "I just want to come out and relax. How come it sounds like I'm giving up on life when you put it that way? Don't worry, I can definitely get into a university, and it will be the top-ranked Eastern Capital University."
"You think you can get into Eastern Capital University?"
The girl gave him a sidelong glance: "With those skinny arms and legs of yours, can you score three hundred points on the martial exam? And then get into Eastern Capital University?"
"You'll see then!"
Xiao Nan snorted and didn't argue further with her.
Xue Xi, feeling helpless at the bickering duo, could only step in as the peacemaker: "Alright, why do you start arguing once you meet? This visit needs insight writing, which can increase cultural class scores. If you two keep arguing, I'll just tour on my own."
"No more arguments, let's go!"
Hearing about extra points, Xiao Nan couldn't be bothered to bicker with the girl anymore and followed Xue Xi into the museum for sightseeing.
Before long, the group arrived at an exhibition room filled with various cold weapons.
"This saber..."
Xiao Nan stood still, attracted by a large saber in the display cabinet.
It was a short-handled large saber with a grand blade and a curved hook, reminiscent of the ghost head sabers used by ancient executioners. But the hilt was dragon head-shaped rather than ghost-like, the blade showed black gold color and was adorned with red rubies, aristocratic yet ferocious, not merely a saber but a dormant wild dragon.
"What kind of saber is this?"
Seeing Xiao Nan standing still, Xue Xi and Xue Ling gathered around to look at the Dragon Saber in the display cabinet: "Looks quite valuable!"
"Why is there no label?"
Xue Xi looked down and was surprised to find no related signage for item introduction on the display cabinet.
"The sign was accidentally knocked off this morning."
Just as the three were wondering, a gentle voice came from behind them.
The three turned back to see an elder with white hair but still energetic standing behind them.
"Elder, you are...?"
"I am the administrator of this place."
The elder smiled slightly, came forward, looked at the exhibited Dragon Saber, and his eyes showed traces of reminiscence: "This saber is called Slaying Karma!"
"Slaying Karma?"
The three were taken aback, looked at each other, all puzzled.
The elder kept smiling: "A hundred and fifty years ago, our Martial Country changed titles and established a system unlike anything before, before all the people of the world, those Late Song Emperors Hui and Qin were executed with this precious saber."
"Emperor Song?"
"Emperors Hui and Qin?"
The three were startled, then awakened, Xiao Nan spoke directly: "Those were the bastards ordered by Martial Ancestor to be beheaded?"
"Correct!"
The elder nodded: "Our Martial Country altered titles and established systems, unprecedentedly abolished the emperor position, along with the division into scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, governed nationwide by the Cabinet, implementing Orthodox Technique!"
"Such an unprecedented matter was also not tolerated historically, hence a lot of resistance occurred at the start, even counterattacks from various forces."
"Some royal family members with unknown truths, along with former gentry and dignitaries, as well as all sorts of demons and ghosts sprang out, stirring trouble all over..."
The elder narrated calmly about the past and present, although not passionately, he still depicted that era of dramatic change and splendid waves vividly.
Xiao Nan tightened his gaze: "And then?"
"And then?"
The elder chuckled: "There was no then."
"Huh?"
Xiao Nan was taken aback: "How come there's no more?"
"Of course, there's no more!"
Xue Xi looked at him speechlessly: "Martial Ancestor was invincible under the heavens, entered Eastern Capital less than a year, then sent troops from all directions to pacify the rebellion, later led an army across the border to extinguish Eastern countries, eventually sailed across the sea to conquer the West, unified five oceans and seven states in less than a hundred years..."
"Oh!"
Xiao Nan nodded, seeming to understand or not, then inquired: "So what happened next?"
"So there's nothing more!"
Xue Xi looked speechlessly at him: "So many countries were subdued, how could small fry create waves? Not to mention that Martial Dynasty's early legal system was extremely severe, with numerous major cases causing rivers of blood to flow..."
As the words reached this point, realizing the wrong, Xue Xi quickly stopped and looked towards the elder with some unease.
At the elder's age, there was usually overwhelming admiration for Martial Ancestor, speaking like this may not please him, or even provoke anger.
Seeing Xue Xi's slightly nervous appearance, the elder smiled slightly: "Seems this young student has done in-depth research about the early days of Martial Dynasty."
"Research? I wouldn't dare call it that!"
Xue Xi quickly shook his head: "I just checked some information online."
"Really?"
The elder still smiled: "Then, do you think these people should be killed or not?"
"They should be killed, indeed!"
Seeing that the elder didn't become angry, Xue Xi relaxed: "But killing doesn't completely solve the problem, and it's not the ultimate goal. It's just an initial method. Once things stabilize, it's unnecessary to continue, it's permissible to let the people rest, which is why the Cabinet has amended laws numerous times."
"Hmm!"
The elder smiled: "You must have good cultural studies grades, right?"
Xue Xi also returned the smile: "Not bad. Thank you for your concern, sir."
Xiao Nan glanced at Xue Ling beside him: "Your brother is getting better at pretending, claiming 'not bad' while being first in the grade."
Xue Ling rolled her eyes at him, saying nothing.
The elder continued to laugh lightly: "Then, do you think the Martial Ancestor is benevolent or not, kind or not?"
"Of course, greatly benevolent and kind, greatly merciful and compassionate!"
Xue Xi's expression remained unchanged, as if he predicted the question, he answered calmly: "The land is filled with lament, the city soaked in blood, all for the one thought of saving the people. Reform demands violent action to swiftly cut through the chaos without causing greater harm. Though it seems like killing one person, it's actually saving thousands, even millions, which is truly great compassion!"
"Hahaha, good lad!"
The elder laughed heartily: "No wonder you're first in your grade, you're a fine candidate for a government exam!"
Xue Xi humbly said: "Thank you, sir, for the compliment."
"Hehe!"
The elder chuckled again, inexplicably, then glanced at the Dragon Saber in the cabinet: "This saber executed the Late Song Emperors, the dignitaries, and even the emperors of the world, the Ten Directions Gentlemen, and all sects and religions, fake Buddhism and Daoism. Though it caused the death of millions, it bore no sin of murder, only the merit of slaying karma."
"What a pity, what a pity..."
The words suddenly sank at the end, dimming his gaze further.
Xue Xi cautiously asked: "What pity?"
"Easier to change mountains and rivers than one's nature."
The elder murmured, sighing deeply: "The human heart..."
Saying no more, he turned and walked away without waiting for the three's reactions.
"Sir!"
Xue Xi called out hurriedly upon seeing this.
"Hmm!?"
The elder paused: "Anything else?"
Xue Xi asked carefully: "May I ask your name, sir?"
"My surname is Ge, call me Elder Ge!"
The elder smiled, left behind these words, and walked away steadily.
"Elder Ge?"
Xue Xi muttered, doubt flashing in his eyes: "Not him?"
Beside him, Xiao Nan and Xue Ling looked puzzled: "What do you mean, not him?"
"Nothing, nothing!"
Only then did Xue Xi return to his senses, watching the elder's departing figure, feeling somewhat lost.
Elsewhere, the elder exited the museum, sat in a car but couldn't bear to leave, gazing through the window at the people coming and going, murmuring to himself: "Teacher..."
...
Meanwhile, at the East Sea Shore.
On a high cliff, a lone figure sits.
A young man with ink-black hair, cold eyes like an abyss, untouched by the marks of time, yet inexplicably worn.
He sat serenely on the high cliff, eyes closed, silent for a long time, seemingly wandering beyond the heavens.
Indeed, wandering beyond the heavens.
In reality, inside a hotel, Shen Hex opened his eyes and checked the professional panel again.
Shen Hex
Profession: Transmigrator.
Professional Rank: Tier One Level Two.
Professional Talent: Zhuang Zhou's Dream of the Butterfly.
Professional Skills: None.
Professional Items: None.
General Skills: Yuan-Devouring Skill, Xingyi Fist.
"Transmigrator Professional Level has increased to Level Two!"
"You can acquire a second Professional Talent!"
"Please choose one of the following talents as your second talent for the Transmigrator profession!"
"First: Anchor of All Heavens (Consume Professional Experience to anchor a world coordinate, allowing the Transmigrator to cross again)"
"Second: Gate of Ten Thousand Realms (The Transmigrator can consume Professional Experience to create a gate of ten thousand realms for crossing)"
"Third: Ten Thousand Dao Fruit (The Transmigrator can, after using 'Zhuang Zhou's Dream of the Butterfly' to cross, consume Professional Experience to refine the professional item Ten Thousand Dao Fruit, which can bear a professional system. After use, directly gain the profession and pathway within the fruit)"