Mao Xiaodong was standing in the Righteous Scholarly Hall  halfway up the mountain with his redwood ruler strapped to his waist, and he appeared to be dozing off.0

Following the emperor's personal visit to Eastern Splendor Mountain, all of the spies on the mountain had already been withdrawn, and even the 10th tier Qi refiner who had been assigned with the task of protecting the mountain only dared to reside near the mountain, prohibited from setting foot in the academy unless it was for a good reason. 0

This was the respect that Great Sui Nation was giving to Mountain Cliff Academy, and it was also a reflection of the trust that the emperor of Great Sui Nation had in Mao Xiaodong.0

Inside the Righteous Scholarly Hall, portraits of the three Sages with ties to Mountain Cliff Academy were hanging in front of an offering of incense. At the center was naturally a portrait of none other than the Paramount Sage, the patriarch revered by all followers of Confucianism under the heavens. 0

The other two portraits depicted the Scholarly Sage, whose identity had been intentionally concealed on the portrait, and the first mountain master of the academy, Qi Jingchun.0

At the entrance of the academy at the foot of the mountain, Cui Chan submitted his clearance documents, then scaled the mountain all the way up to this point. 0

He poked his head into the Righteous Scholarly Hall and took a glance inside, but refused to go in, standing outside the doorstep with a furious expression as he yelled, "Mao Xiaodong! Are you doing this just to make me mad, or are you trying to screw me over? You better give me an explanation right now! If I'm not satisfied with your explanation, I'll leave this place right away and never return!"0

Mao Xiaodong's eyes remained closed as he replied with an indifferent expression, "Either come in to offer some incense, or let's get to the bottom of this. Otherwise, if I take so much as even a single glance at you, I'm your grandson."0

Cui Chan sat down at the doorstep...0