and praised him for his chivalry and willingness to help others. Because of this, he was titled Chaoyang—the morning sun representing the Jiuyang Continent. He founded the Chaoyang Sect at the age of 30, and disciples flocked to join.

Twenty years later, having defeated all opponents, he left behind his life’s masterpiece: the Chaoyang Secret Code, then ascended beyond the void. The secret code became the sect’s top secret, only to be practiced by successive sect leaders. The sect flourished for a while but eventually waned due to lack of successors. A millennium later, it had been relegated to this small mountain near Qingyue City, struggling to maintain its heritage.

Were it not for the Patriarch's extensive goodwill, the sect might have disappeared long ago.

With these thoughts, Tao Ci lazily got up and headed to the dining hall.

The short queue led to the serving point—today’s meal was a wild vegetable stew. Food in the sect was easy to manage; the mountain provided everything needed. Although the spiritual energy was average, there were plenty of wild vegetables and herbs. Elders skilled in medicine prepared nutritious meals for everyone daily.

The food was naturally nutritious and the taste, though plain, was something everyone got used to. Simple fare and curling smoke created an idyllic lifestyle.

After getting his food, Tao Ci spotted Xiao Wang and Zhu Er waving at him from afar. With a smile, he walked over to them.

“Xiao Ci, what do you look at every day sitting there? It’s just a river,” Xiao Wang asked curiously.

“Gou’er, you don’t get it. It’s called posing. Didn’t that lonely silhouette look cool?”

“Your mouth never stops,” Zhu Er laughed and scolded.

“Zhu Er, is your lunch too much again? Haha.”

“Take it, take it.”

Wang Xiao Gou, despite being skinny, had a huge appetite and always had to get extra food from Zhu Er. Boys matured later, not understanding Tao Ci’s posing. They only cared about playing and eating. Seeing the rice grains on Xiao Gou’s face, Tao Ci laughed heartily.

Though it had only been eleven years in this life, these two held a significant place in his heart. Growing up together, their hearts were pure and kind. The mountain children were especially innocent, making Tao Ci feel like he had returned to childhood—carefree and without worries about career pressure, marriage troubles, or the endless desires and precious time in the information age.

Because of this, the three were inseparable from a young age, childhood sweethearts.

Reflecting on this, Tao Ci sighed deeply, “So, it really is a time-travel.”

Chapter Five: The Academy

“Xiao Ci, are you going to the academy to read again today?” asked Li Zhu'er.

“Yeah, how else can I play it cool?” replied Tao Ci.

“You’re all muddled up. Forget it, if you 

 Prev. P 15/180 next