Chapter 1352: Chapter 63: Contract Signing and Legal Agreements
Three months later, the Zhongtai Sect once again summoned the various cultivators atop the golden platform, this time for the matter of signing a Dharma Contract.
This time Sect Leader Qiao did not appear, but handed this matter over to Great Elder Yan Qinghui; this elder held high status and seniority, and among the elders of the sect, all took him as their head.
After the hour of Chen had passed, Zhang Yan rose from the Pavilion in a tunneling light, riding the wind to arrive; with a bow of his body and a sweep of his gaze, he saw incense burning and offerings laid out below, blue smoke curling upward, and two Daoist boys standing in attendance upon the platform hall, one holding a bell, the other clutching a sword.
Below the Dharma Platform were several dozen cushions, with more than ten people already seated upon them. Because there was no Prohibition covering the place today, so many Nascent Soul cultivators gathered together caused Spirit Light to shoot forth, radiance shining out over more than ten li around; Gang Wind whirled, soaring straight up to the sky, so that clouds and rain could not gather, revealing a stretch of clear blue heavens.
At this time, one of the Daoists raised his head, then stood up, bowed toward him with clasped hands, and said with a smile, "True Master Zhang, you have arrived as well." He then glanced behind him, and said in surprise, "How is it that I do not see Daoist Tang and Daoist Song?"
Zhang Yan recognized this man as Chen Shougu, who had come to visit the Pavilion several times before, so he returned the courtesy and said with a smile, "So it is Daoist Chen. After the three fellow Daoists thought it over, all believed that the certainty of victory in this Battle Array was not great, and were unwilling to come."
The Dragon Pillar Battle was perilous beyond measure; once a Dharma Contract was signed, there would be no more path of retreat. He had come for Spiritual Medicine and thus had no misgivings, but those three could now be counted as people of the Han Yuan Sect; they need not exert themselves and fight to the death for Zhongtai, only to make wedding clothes for others.
Chen Shougu showed a face full of regret and said, "What a pity, what a pity. I heard that this time the rewards are abundant; to miss it today is to never again have such an opportunity."
Zhang Yan faintly smiled and made no comment.
The two exchanged a few more polite words, then each took his own seat.
After about a quarter of an hour, the various cultivators arrived one after another.
A month earlier, Zhongtai had already sent over a Contract, on which were all sorts of clauses; those unwilling to sign the Contract had long since departed. As for those who came today, most were unwilling to give up so easily.
Zhang Yan took a look; although at the banquet there had been nearly fifty people, at present those who had come numbered but a little over twenty, less than half the previous count.
At this moment, a bell sounded and Gang Wind suddenly rose; three streams of Spirit Light flew out from within the mountain, fell upon the Dharma Seats on the platform hall, and revealed three Daoists in bright, fresh robes, their hair-knots bound high.
Chen Shou secretly sent him a voice transmission, saying, "Brother Daoist, please look: the one in the middle is Elder Yan, of high status and seniority, with great authority. It is said that even Sect Leader Qiao sometimes must look at his expression. All affairs regarding the Battle Array can be decided with a word from him. The man on the left is Elder Lin, also not to be underestimated. The man on the right is Elder Bai; he showed his face at the banquet, so Brother Daoist should recognize him."
Zhang Yan raised his eyes to look and saw that the man in the middle had kindly brows and pleasant eyes, a tortoise-like frame and crane-like bones, Spiritual Energy coiling about his body; above his head three clusters of Gang Cloud stretched out, as if a spring struck gold stone, echoing through a secluded valley, making one seem faintly to hear strands of elegant tones. Judging by cultivation, on the surface he appeared only a shade lower than Sect Leader Qiao.
After Elder Yan had seated himself, he looked toward the crowd and said in a gentle, mellow voice, "Many thanks to all fellow Daoists for coming from afar to exert yourselves for my Zhongtai. Only, our sect also has rules which cannot be lightly violated. Today we shall establish laws and contracts together with all fellow Daoists: those who are willing may stay, those unwilling may leave—we will by no means force anyone."
He flicked his sleeve, and over twenty streaks of Spirit Light flew down.
Zhang Yan raised his hand to receive one and placed it before him to look; what entered his eyes was a lustrous Jade Tablet, on which were carved several dozen lines of text. He read them one by one; the contents were different from that earlier Contract. It spoke of how, after going up to battle, any who fled without cause or quailed before the enemy would be subject to Zhongtai’s authority in meting out punishment; once the Contract was signed, there would be no possibility of repentance.
Looking further down, he saw that it was Zhongtai’s promised rewards; this had not been there before, and he could not help but focus his mind and examine it carefully.
At this moment, the other cultivators had also read to this point; perhaps their hearts were stirred, for someone read aloud in a loud voice, saying, "For slaying one Xuanyue Nascent Soul cultivator, aside from the items requested in the formal gift list, an additional fine piece of treasure clothes will be granted, and three Golden Platform Fertility Pills."
"For slaying one Xuanyue Elder, one can be granted the position of Master of an immortal city."
"For slaying Rong Junzhong, Sect Leader Qiao is willing to become a sworn brother not of the same surname with him, and will present three cities in gift, requiring no tribute and issuing no summons; his kin and disciples shall be sheltered by Zhongtai for generations."
Upon seeing this, several low exclamations sounded in the hall. These rewards were indeed incomparably generous; even though those present were all Nascent Soul cultivators, they could not help but be moved.
Someone beside them muttered, "Does Zhongtai truly have so many immortal cities to bestow?"
Chen Shougu let out a low chuckle and said aloud, "If all the Xuanyue Elders can be put to the sword and eradicated, by the time the two sects are merged into one, would there still be any fear of having no immortal cities to confer?"
Once these words left his mouth, several people immediately made up their minds, forced out a drop of Essence Blood, and swiftly signed the Dharma Contract.
