Chapter 1087: Chapter 1086: Can’t Hide It Anymore
"Why is it the Yanzhou City God?" Lu Zheng asked.
"Yanzhou is the administrative center of Lingbei Dao. The State City God of Yanzhou, also known as Dao City God, oversees the State City Gods within the Dao," Shen Ying explained.
"I see," Lu Zheng nodded and then asked, "So this invitation to the City God Conference is because of ’Peach Blossoms,’ or because of your high cultivation level?"
"Both, I suppose," Shen Ying smiled. "After all, the connection between me and ’Peach Blossoms’ isn’t really a secret within the City God system. It’s just that no one ever imagined ’Peach Blossoms’ could spread to such an extent, or that I could grow to this level."
Great Jing is vast, with flourishing incense offerings. The City God system is filled with civil and military talents, and unusual people emerge constantly. Though they knew of a Peach Blossom Fairy whose embodiment matched a poem, it was never given much attention.
After all, it’s just a poem. What of it?
How long can it circulate? How much incense can it gather?
Important figures of the Da Jing Court, located mainly in Zhongjing, are unaware, but those who have seen Shen Ying do not underestimate her.
The Jade Dragon King believes Shen Ying’s foundation surpasses many True Dragon descendants, while Si Lingxi thinks Shen Ying’s potential is even stronger than the Great Jing Imperial Family’s Incense and Candle God.
These are very high evaluations.
Clearly, even if the City God system’s leaders haven’t met Shen Ying, the spontaneous spread of ’Peach Blossoms’ is genuine, and the incense flow shared by Taohua Temple is unmistakably real.
Shen Ying’s growth has caught their attention, and this City God Conference is also a meeting for Shen Ying with the various City Gods of Lingbei Dao.
"So, are we being too low-profile?" Lu Zheng pondered, stroking his chin.
He already possesses three thousand years of Dao practice; even in White Cloud Temple, he’s considered a master of the back mountain. Not to mention within the Ming generation, among the elders of the Yue generation, none might surpass his strength. Among the younger ones, perhaps only Master Qing Song measures up.
"What do you think?" Shen Ying smiled, her brows and eyes shining.
She never leaves Peach Blossom Plain. Information within the City God system is always relayed via the Tonglin County City God Temple, so many have heard of the Peach Blossom Fairy but have never seen her.
A merit-filled Celestial Fox from Tushan, an infinitely blessed Peach Blossom Fairy, a top young master of White Cloud Temple.
Acquainted with the Northern Domain Celestial Fox Elder Lady, friends with the East Sea Jade Dragon King, married to the Southern Border Fire Phoenix, cultivating Immortal Techniques, yet spending a decade quietly in Tonglin County, practicing medicine and listening to books.
Truly, one could say they exemplify low-key behavior.
But gold shines wherever it is. Shen Ying is invited to the Lingbei Dao State City God Conference; Lu Zheng is attending White Cloud Temple’s New Year Dharma Assembly, simply because they can’t hide anymore.
Under the guidance of Si Lingxi, Shen Ying, with her abundant incense and candle qi, has approached millennial-level Dao practice. Not to mention Xin Zhanting; even Yizhou City God might not be her match.
Liu Qingyan is slightly weaker, but surpassing Tushan Celestial Fox Tu Yuya is just a matter of time.
The only one slightly weaker among them is Lin Wan, but she’s not short of elixirs. With calm heart cultivation, her progress is fast-paced; while not yet cloud riding and mist driving, she’ll soon catch up with Yuan Jing.
Yuan Jing: 눈_눈
...
Listening to Shen Ying’s response, Lu Zheng couldn’t help but laugh. But after some thought, he felt a bit unsettled and turned to Si Lingxi to ask, "I haven’t dealt much with the Da Jing Court. Will Shen Ying’s situation attract unwanted attention?"
Si Lingxi raised an eyebrow and immediately caught his meaning, "You’re worried someone might covet Ying’s incense and candle qi?"
"Indeed," Lu Zheng nodded, then shook his head. "Not just her incense and candle qi."
On Blue Star, he’s unworried, knowing most upper echelons possess political wisdom and foresight. The primary reason is he no longer fears the few greedy shortsighted individuals that might exist.
But in Great Jing, he dares not be so relaxed and reckless.
The saying goes, ’A common man holding treasure is guilty of a crime,’ Shen Ying’s connection with ’Peach Blossoms’ has transcended Imperial constraints, merging with human essence. Strictly speaking, her potential exceeds all Incense Masters and Star Official City Gods of the Great Jing now.
"Shen Ying once drew the Peach Mother Divine Tree from the Southern Border Peach Mother Divine Mountain, so who’s to say the Da Jing Court doesn’t have some extraordinary methods capable of seizing Shen Ying’s opportunities?" Lu Zheng said solemnly.
Shen Ying, being right beside Lu Zheng, felt deeply moved. She embraced Lu Zheng’s arm and leaned close to him.
Si Lingxi thought for a while, "Ying’s connection to ’Peach Blossoms’ might even be recognized by Heaven’s Dao — such recognition isn’t easily stolen.
The Peach Mother just happens to have over a thousand years of Dao practice, sensing Ying’s aura due to similar origins. How much does she really know?
Even if she kills Ying and devours her, the ethereal connection can’t be absorbed. She’ll still only receive incense offerings from the Peach Mother Divine Mountain’s surrounding people; Ying taking some won’t change that.
I haven’t heard of any methods to steal opportunities from Heaven’s Dao. But of course, not hearing of them doesn’t mean they don’t exist."
"However..."
Si Lingxi elongated her voice.
"However what?"
"The fact Ying is crowned Peach Blossom Fairy by the Court, that decree makes her one of the court’s own. Over the years, she’s been paying incense offerings timely, without concealment."
Si Lingxi laughed, shaking her head, "The Great Jing Court isn’t foolish. A person like Ying, they’re eager to recruit rather than deceive her initially."
"Unless Ying’s loyalties lie elsewhere, within Cao camp but with Han heart. Otherwise, given ’Peach Blossoms’ spread rate and Ying’s growth potential, the Great Jing Court will only treat her better in the future. They may even rely on her assistance one day.
After all, Great Jing has been established for six hundred years. The founding Emperor and civil-military generals, even if divine now, seem naturally faded. Today’s leading figures are the second and third generations; their potential and Dao practice foundation are increasingly lower."
Everyone nodded at her words, and Lu Zheng sighed in relief.
Si Lingxi chuckled and continued, "Even if, worst-case scenario, someone in the court or City God system harbors ill intentions, with us around, what would Ying fear?"
"Eh?" Lu Zheng and Shen Ying looked up.
"Not to mention me; just you, Lu Lang, have White Cloud Temple’s backing and three thousand years of cultivation within merely ten years."
Si Lingxi laughed, "With you as husband, what’s there for Ying to fear?"
"Hmm?" Lu Zheng instantly straightened his chest.
Si Lingxi said, "The true high officials in the Great Jing Court would never act shortsightedly against Ying. As for sinister beings within, how dare they risk offending you to harm Ying?"
With that, Si Lingxi glanced at Shen Ying.
"The establishment of Taohua Temple back then had Lu Lang’s contributions, so during this visit to the Lingbei Dao City God Conference, make sure to mention Lu Lang."
Si Lingxi smiled, "A Peach Blossom Fairy with endless potential of millennial cultivation, coupled with a White Cloud Temple successor of three thousand-year practice—I’m curious to see if anyone has the audacity to plot against you."
Shen Ying seemed like a blossoming flower as she smiled, "Alright!"
