Chapter 243: 243
Hostel, the guest hall.
Exalted Vajra and Universal Literary Vajra sat on chairs and both stood up upon hearing footsteps.
“No need for formalities, masters.”
The elegant young man in white entered with a beaming smile on his face.
Universal Literary Vajra, looking at the young man before him, exclaimed, “My lord, we meet again.”
Who could have imagined that the Ghost Swordsman hidden behind the mask would be such a young man?
...
An Jing bowed with his fists clasped and said, “Due to unavoidable reasons, I hope the master won’t blame me.”
Universal Literary Vajra had initially been willing to lend him a helping hand, something he had always remembered.
Universal Literary Vajra smiled and said, “My lord, concealing your identity must be due to some unspeakable difficulties; I understand.”
An Jing turned to Exalted Vajra, his eyes lit up, “Master Exalted’s spirit is abundant, and his soul energy seems to be almost realigning. It seems the Four Qi Realm is not far off.”
Exalted Vajra joined his palms together and said, “Amitabha, thanks to the lord’s guidance, otherwise I would have needed several more years.”
He had been stuck in the Three Qi Realm for decades without an opportunity for breakthrough. Now, after the battle at the Heavenly Martial Sect combined with the final pieces of advice from An Jing, the shackles had subtly begun to crack.
Given time, he had a great chance of reaching the Four Qi Realm.
“It was the master’s own enlightenment, I merely assisted,” An Jing said.
An Jing took the seat of honor and smiled, “Having the honor of both masters’ visit, there must be some important matters?”
Exalted Vajra pondered for a moment and said, “Today, indeed, there are some matters to discuss with Master An. I’ve heard that Master An is a straightforward person, so I will just speak frankly.”
“Your sect forming an alliance with the Yan Country has almost been finalized. Now, with this National Teaching Order, it will only be a matter of time before your teachings spread across Yan Country.”
An Jing nodded slightly. It was indeed only a matter of time before the Demon Sect would openly return to Yan Country.
It was just a question of how soon or late it would be.
Exalted Vajra continued, “Now, as the national religion of Yan Country is powerful, your sect and Buddhism, being foreign factions, have indeed infringed upon the interests of the Zhenyi Sect and will definitely face repression and resistance from them. Therefore, today I have come to propose an alliance with your sect so in the future we may support each other and overcome adversities together.”
An Jing’s heart stirred, “An alliance!?”
From the intelligence, Buddhism had been in Yan Country for nearly half a year, establishing temples everywhere, collecting followers, but things hadn’t gone as smoothly as expected.
After all, the Zhenyi Sect was the national religion and had been rooted in Yan Country since its establishment. Today, it boasts disciples almost numbering one hundred thousand, and one could say that every inch of Yan Country had a Taoist temple of the Zhenyi Sect.
Its influence was profound, far beyond what Buddhism could match. Watching the rapid development of Buddhism was merely superficial.
Additionally, after Buddhism’s defeat in the battle at Heavenly Martial Sect’s gate, not only had Buddhism’s prestige been damaged, but they had also lost an order that should have been theirs. Now, facing the Zhenyi Sect in Yan Country was even more challenging.
For Buddhism, forming an alliance with Zhenyi was somewhat unlikely, whereas uniting was much more realistic.
Yu Qiurong and Qian Cishan exchanged glances, surprised that Buddhism had come today to propose an alliance with the Demon Sect.
But upon further consideration, it wasn’t surprising, as currently, Yan Country’s Jianghu was dominated by the Zhenyi Sect, and both Buddhism and the Demon Sect were outsiders and weaker in comparison.
Universal Literary Vajra added, “Master An must also be aware that the Zhenyi Sect is not as simple as it appears. Apart from the seven real people and the four peak masters, there’s the martial prodigy Xiao, the Sect Leader. Furthermore, Hidden Mountain within the Zhenyi Sect houses many of their senior disciples from the Qing and Hua generations.”
“Their foundation is unfathomably deep due to the development over these centuries.”
The reputation of the Zhenyi Sect was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.
It was like an iceberg; what you see is just the tip, and what is hidden beneath the sea is the truly formidable part.
An Jing laughed lightly and said, “Forming an alliance with Buddhism would naturally be a wonderful thing, but this matter is of great significance, and I need to think it over.”
Exalted Vajra responded, “Of course, it is naturally a significant matter.”
If An Jing had agreed immediately, it would have made him suspicious.
An Jing seemed to think of something and spoke to Exalted Vajra, “I have always had a question that I wish to ask the master, if you could enlighten me?”
Exalted Vajra joined his palms and replied, “Please go ahead, my lord. If I am aware and it does not involve the secrets of Buddhism, I shall spare no detail.”
An Jing then spoke directly, “It’s actually about the Great Zhou Dynasty’s sealing. I have always been curious—what exactly is under that seal? Was the fall of the Great Zhou Dynasty because of that seal?”
Exalted Vajra and Universal Literary Vajra exchanged glances upon hearing this.
An Jing asked, “Is it inconvenient for the master to disclose?”
“Not at all.”
Exalted Vajra pondered for a long moment and said, “Benefactor holding the Evil Suppressing Sword should be aware that this sword was originally forged by the royal family of the Great Zhou Dynasty for suppressing and sealing purposes. And this seal is none other than the earth veins of the ancestral land.”
An Jing had also heard from Jiang Sanjia that the underground indeed constituted the earth veins, and according to the Demon Sect’s scriptures and other sources of information, he understood much about the earth veins.
The earth veins are precisely the root of heaven and earth, the foundation of humanity. Human bodily meridians correspond one-to-one with those in the earth, known as earth veins.
Lengping used to be the hub of the earth veins, but with the disintegration of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Dragon Locking Well in Yujing City became the new hub of the earth veins, with the twelve major channels all converging in Yujing City.
The twelve major channels balance the yin and yang qi of humanity, maintaining the fortunes of Yujing City and Yan Country without decline.
The earth veins correspond to the five spirits and change with the gathering and dispersal of the five spirits between heaven and earth; yin and yang harmonize, perpetuating endlessly.
Exalted Vajra’s expression grew somewhat solemn as he said, “In our Buddhist teachings, it is recorded that the earth veins contain vibrant and explosive spiritual energy. However, they also harbor filth, bloodiness, and calamities. This bloodiness and filth will contaminate the world, turning it into wasteland and bringing about great catastrophes. The mysterious disappearance of the Great Qin Dynasty was due to such calamities.”
“Thus, every dynasty must guard against this surge of bloodiness and filth, lest a great disaster befall them. Yet, no one knows exactly what this disaster is, as those who knew have all perished in the calamity.”
With Exalted Vajra’s words concluding, the reception hall turned utterly silent.
An Jing furrowed his brows, baffled by how mysterious and terrifying the seal was. What exactly is this catastrophe?
No wonder the Human Emperor asked for Buddhism to cross eastward, and why the Zhenyi Sect made no response.
Suppressing the earth veins’ hub to prevent disasters was indeed of utmost importance, especially since if Yan Country fell apart, the Zhenyi Sect would cease to exist.
After a while, An Jing finally spoke up, “So it’s said, the Great Zhou Dynasty also perished because of that seal…”
Exalted Vajra shook his head, “The fall of the Great Qin Dynasty remains a deep mystery, and the decline of the Great Zhou Dynasty was also very rapid. The specifics seem much more complicated. Our Buddhist records are extremely limited; it’s not only related to the seal but also involves human actions.”
“Too much time has passed, and many things have been concealed, making verification extremely difficult.”
An Jing was struck by a sudden realization, filled with doubt.
Human actions!?
Who could have caused the downfall of the once mighty Great Zhou Dynasty?
That was the most powerful dynasty at the time; even Zhao Country could not compare to the Great Zhou Dynasty then.
Exalted Vajra sighed, “There’s much that even our Buddhist sect has lost, and we know very little. It’s like the split of the Mystical Sect back then. In the unknown, there might have been instigations, but there’s no record of the specifics.”
An Jing offered a bow to the two Vajras, “Thank you very much, Masters.”
Then An Jing and the two Vajras from Buddhism chatted idly for a bit longer before they stood up to leave.
Watching their departing figures, An Jing began to ponder deeply, “If it’s due to human actions, does Tian Yin know something or is there any relation to the Black Ice Platform?”
When the sky falls, no one can remain uninvolved; some things cannot be escaped.
……
Yu State City, Fa Xi Temple, Grand Hall.
In the Grand Hall, the Buddha’s statue looked solemn and majestic, with the air of grandeur. Incense smoke curled up gently.
A woman dressed in light pink palace attire, fairly beautiful, came before the cushion and devoutly bowed to the Buddha statue above, then placed the incense she held into the censer.
“Miss Ye, are you here to offer incense again today?”
Just then, a monk with a fierce-looking face and a bulky speech ‘accidentally’ passed by and said.
Seeing the person, Miss Ye smiled, “Master Jie Lu, what a coincidence meeting you again.”
Despite Master Jie Lu’s fierce appearance, he was a kind person.
Jie Lu placed his palms together in front of his chest and mimicked his fellow monks by solemnly saying, “Perhaps, this is the fate that Buddha speaks of.”
Listening to this, Miss Ye gazed at the Buddha statue above and dreamily said, “Yes, it’s thanks to Buddha that I found my destined path.”
Jie Lu’s heart suddenly began to beat rapidly, “Five hundred glances in a past life to exchange for a brief encounter in this one, it’s rare to meet in this lifetime. Perhaps, he had already been looking forward to this since his past life.”
Miss Ye earnestly said, “I will definitely cherish this hard-won affection.”
Jie Lu, nearly fainting with excitement, quickly said, “Miss Ye, you must take it seriously, do not waste this good relationship.”
“Master Jie Lu, your Buddhist teachings are profound, enlightening us with every word.”
Miss Ye sighed softly, “It’s a pity that I have to marry Young Master Fan from Lijiang City next month, so I’ll have fewer opportunities to listen to your Buddhist teachings, which is a significant regret.”
What!?
Hearing this, Jie Lu felt as if struck by lightning.
“Isn’t your fated one me!?”
Miss Ye’s face slightly reddened, “Master Jie Lu, you might have heard about the Ghost Swordsman recently? It is said that he drifts about in white robes, a true Sword Immortal of our times. That young Master Fan is also a somewhat famous swordsman, truly a good match,”
At that moment, Jie Lu’s mind went blank, unable to clearly hear what Miss Ye was saying.
“Zhenzhen, let’s go.”
Just then, a young man in white stood at the entrance of the Grand Hall and softly called out.
“Young Master Fan has arrived, Master Jie Lu, may we meet again if it’s fated.”
Upon seeing this, Miss Ye bowed towards the stunned Jie Lu and hurriedly ran towards the young man in white.
“Zhenzhen, are you hungry? Let’s go grab something to eat first.”
“Brother Fan, you are so kind.”
“Who was that person?”
“Just a monk from Fa Xi Temple, not very familiar,”
The young man and woman cozily leaned against each other, holding hands as they sweetly walked out of the Grand Hall.
Jie Lu watched their departing figures, unable to snap back to reality for a long time; he wandered towards his quarters, seemingly soulless.
The setting sun cast a somewhat desolate and lonely shadow behind him.
“Creak—!”
Upon pushing open the door, he saw his senior brother Jie Se lying on the bed, sound asleep, clearly exhausted from negotiating some billion-worth deals last night.
“Senior brother.”
Jie Lu sighed and walked over to Jie Se.
“What is it?”
Hearing the noise, Jie Se groggily opened his eyes.
Jie Lu seriously said, “Senior brother, I have a very serious question to ask you.”
Jie Se yawned, “What’s the question?”
“It’s about if you found out, the woman you like…”
Jie Lu’s expression darkened and he said, “Fell in love with another man, what would you do?”
Saying that, Jie Lu looked to his senior brother, hoping he could provide some guidance.
Jie Se glanced at Jie Lu and said, “I would do exactly what you are doing, asking around.”
Jie Lu: “….”
Jie Se patted Jie Lu’s shoulder and sat up, saying, “About this love, senior brother has some feelings. Clench your fist, and your hand is empty; unfold your palm, and you hold the whole world.”
Those were words once said by An Jing but now became his words.
Jie Lu perplexedly asked, “But senior brother, didn’t you say that five hundred glances in past lives merely exchange for a brush past in this life?”
Jie Se shook his head, “Five hundred glances can only lead to a single brush past; yet, you hoped to spark flames? That’s impossible.”
Jie Lu was speechless, his mouth opening and closing, unable to utter a word.
Jie Se continued lying on the bed, saying, “Recently, senior brother feels very empty and extremely exhausted, I’ll go to sleep first, tomorrow I still have to visit the dog left by my brother.”
Jie Lu, recalling something, rubbed his bald head and said, “Senior brother, have you heard? That Ghost Swordsman who fought against our exalted Buddhist ancestor is called An Jing.”
Jie Se opened his eyes and said, “It’s just someone with the same name as my brother, don’t worry. Once I’ve perfected my divine skills, I’ll help Buddhism reclaim its honor.”
The rumors of the conflict between Buddhism and the Demon Sect in Yujing City had been boiling. Upon first hearing this, Han Wenxin’s heart raced, but he soon abandoned the unrealistic thoughts.
His good friend An Jing, a divine doctor who saves the dying and helps the injured, how could he be involved with the Demon Sect?
Jie Lu also sighed. Indeed, the doctor named An Jing who lived in Yu State City had already died, and besides, his senior brother Jie Se could not possibly know such a great Sword Immortal!?
He knew his own worth, and as his junior brother, how could he not know?
It couldn’t possibly be related.
……
Outside the monk’s quarters, two dark figures darted through the shadows.
Both individuals had extremely high cultivation levels; their tiptoes touched the roof tiles without making a sound.
Soon, they landed on the roof of the quarters and exchanged glances, both revealing a gleam of cold light.
“Amitabha Buddha!”
Just then, a young voice sounded behind them.
Both were startled and hurriedly turned around, only to see a monk about eight or nine years old, who had appeared behind them at some unknown time, now watching them calmly with hands clasped together.
One of the figures in black furrowed his brow and demanded, “Fa Xi Temple’s abbot, Fa Wu?”
Fa Wu replied, “Indeed, it is I. May I know who you are? Why sneak into the quarters of Fa Xi Temple? This is a sacred place of Buddhism and off-limits to outsiders.”
“Let’s kill this young monk first.”
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“Swoosh!” “Swoosh!”
The figure on the left did not hesitate and darted toward Fa Wu, his hand transforming into a claw aimed at Fa Wu’s throat.
“Thud!”
Just as the claw was about to make contact, it was suddenly blocked by a burst of golden light, sending the black-clothed man flying backward.
“You!?”
The other black-clothed man saw this and was immediately shocked and frightened, not anticipating that Fa Wu’s strength would be so formidable.
“Why such anger, coming here to fight and kill?”
Fa Wu extended his palm and struck forward.
“Boom!”
The palm struck out, dispersing everything before him like it was shifting mountains and overturning seas.
The two men in black quickly circulated their inner strength to protect themselves, but their robust inner strength crumbled like tofu in an instant under that palm strike.
“Ah!” “Ah!”
They fell heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.
This single palm strike left both of them not lightly injured, and it appeared that Fa Wu hadn’t even used his full strength yet.
Fa Wu descended, looked at them, and smiled, “Why don’t you accompany me to the Precepts Courtyard?”
One of the black-clothed men thought of something and looked at Fa Wu in astonishment, “Are you the reincarnated child of Buddha?”
Fa Wu shook his head, “There is no reincarnation in this world, nor is there such a thing as a child of Buddha.”
Feeling a chill in their hearts, they quickly leapt away, aiming to leave this place quickly and relay the news to their superiors.
“Once here, you should not leave.”
Fa Wu watched their retreating figures, his body surging with golden light.
“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!”
The two men felt a powerful force strike their backs, shattering their internal organs and sending them plummeting to the ground like broken kites, where they lost consciousness.
Normally, such a shock of golden light would either kill or cause blood to flow from all seven orifices for a skilled fighter, but these two only lost consciousness, indicating that their physical resilience far exceeded that of ordinary experts.
“Great Snow Mountain, eh?”
Fa Wu walked over to them and scrutinized them closely.
…….
Dongluo Pass, Dongluo Tower.
Zhao Qingmei wore a light purple robe as usual, sitting in front of the desk, browsing through the secret correspondence and documents sent from all over the world.
Soft sunlight poured in, filling the room with a warm orange glow.
Tan Yun stood by, drowsy and totally unspirited.
“Tan Yun.”
Zhao Qingmei put down her pen and called out softly.
“Sect Leader!”
Tan Yun suddenly snapped back to attention.
Zhao Qingmei asked, “Where’s the fruit delicacy you were supposed to prepare?”
Today, she had specifically instructed Tan Yun to prepare some fruit delicacies, but the table was as empty as usual.
Tan Yun stammered, “I… I forgot, I’ll go right now.”
“Wait.”
Zhao Qingmei stopped Tan Yun, who was about to leave, and said, “Lately, you seem to be completely out of spirits. Do you find it boring to be by my side?”
“How could that be?”
Tan Yun pursed her lips and quickly explained, “I just… just…”
She tried to find a reason, but couldn’t come up with a good one at the moment.
Zhao Qingmei’s voice grew somewhat cold, “The sect does not maintain idlers, as you should know. If you can’t even manage such a simple task, what use are you to us?”
Tan Yun bowed her head, “This subordinate knows her mistake.”
Zhao Qingmei picked up a pen and continued, “When you work, you must be focused and responsible. No matter where you are in the future, it’s the same, there’s no free lunch in this world.”
There’s no such thing as a free lunch….
Tan Yun’s complexion turned pale in an instant; could the Sect Hierarch mean….
Just then, Duanmu Xinghua rushed in, a trace of joy in her eyes, “Hierarch, great news, great news, the National Teaching Order is in hand.”
Zhao Qingmei was also shaken by the news, “Oh!?”
When she had learned that the Exalted Vajra had been sent to Yan Country, her heart was also filled with worry, as the Exalted Vajra was known as the foremost Vajra in the Buddhist sect.
Duanmu Xinghua took out a white sheet of paper and handed it forward, joyfully saying, “According to the intelligence, An Tributor confronted the Exalted Vajra at Heavenly Martial Sect and ultimately reached the Sixth Realm, defeating the foremost Vajra of the Buddhist sect and seizing this National Teaching Order.”
Defeating the foremost Vajra of the Buddhist sect was something she could hardly even imagine, yet An Jing had accomplished it.
Her heart then filled with some relief; had this mission to Yan Country been granted to someone else, they might not have secured the National Teaching Order.
Zhao Qingmei took it and started to carefully examine it.
“Son-in-law defeated the Exalted Vajra?”
Meanwhile, Tan Yun’s lips parted slightly, her mind going blank.
Son-in-law defeating the foremost Vajra, the Exalted Vajra, how could this be possible, it felt somewhat surreal, like a dream.
Zhao Qingmei’s lips curved into a faint smile, “With this, we seize the initiative.”
Duanmu Xinghua thought of something and looked towards Tan Yun, “Tan Yun, there’s another confidential letter on my desk, can you fetch it for me?”
“…Yes.”
Hearing Duanmu Xinghua’s words, Tan Yun walked out blankly, still pondering over her words.
Zhao Qingmei looked towards Duanmu Xinghua, a trace of doubt in her eyes. Duanmu Xinghua was known for her steady, meticulous work—this was obviously a pretext to send Tan Yun away.
Duanmu Xinghua took a deep breath and said, “The intelligence from An Tributor also stated that the Lv Sect wishes to have Tan Yun return. Essentially, they’re asking us to release her.”
Zhao Qingmei pondered for a long while, “The Lv Sect, huh?”
Duanmu Xinghua sighed, “No matter how you look at it, Tan Yun is Lv Guoyong’s granddaughter. It’s natural that they’d want her under their own watch.”
Now that the cover has been lifted, Tan Yun’s true identity is known to the world; there’s no need for secrecy anymore.
Zhao Qingmei nodded, “Then let her go back. In this way, Lv Guoyong can be seen as having extended this courtesy, which may help our sect’s propagation in Yan Country down the line.”
“Yes.”
Duanmu Xinghua felt somewhat reluctant; seeing that girl in the future might become difficult.
But establishing a connection between the Demon Sect and the Lv Sect would be immensely beneficial for the future development of the Demon Sect in Yan Country.
“Tra-tra-tra-tra…”
Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
The newcomer was none other than Shui Zhongyue, the Guardian of the Demon Sect’s Human Sect.
“Hierarch, there’s big trouble.”
Shui Zhongyue’s complexion was somewhat pale.
Zhao Qingmei asked, “What happened?”
Shui Zhongyue took a deep breath and hurriedly said, “The Soul Seeker Mansion has received intelligence, and they suddenly started a thorough investigation, arresting our sect’s experts from the Demon Sect. Now, the line in Houjin has suffered tremendous losses, with casualties around seventy percent.”
Zhao Qingmei and Duanmu Xinghua frowned upon hearing this.
A seventy percent loss of the experts, which meant that the arrangements made in Houjin over the years were destroyed all at once, a blow that had not occurred since they were expelled from Yan Country over twenty years ago.
Duanmu Xinghua said solemnly, “Sect Hierarch, I feel there is something fishy about this.”
The spies of the sect weren’t highly skilled in cultivation, but were adept at concealment and disguise, usually hiding unnoticed all over the world.
But this time, it seemed like someone pre-emptively knows the information of our sect’s spies, and directly eliminated seventy percent of them, dealing a devastating blow to the line in Houjin.
“I know.”
Zhao Qingmei nodded and said to Shui Zhongyue, “For now, do not contact any of the Demon Sect’s experts in Houjin, let them hide on their own to avoid exposure.”
“Yes.”
Shui Zhongyue clasped his hands, turned, and left.
Duanmu Xinghua’s brow was knotted in worry.
Meanwhile, Zhao Qingmei watched Shui Zhongyue’s departing figure, her beautiful eyes narrowed into slits, with a hint of cold light emerging from them.
……
In Lengping City, Yan Country, a remote small town.
The lake gleams under the autumn moon harmoniously, and the calm lake surface, unmarred by wind, reflects the sky, clouds, green mountains, and trees in a picturesque scene akin to a painting.
Near the lake sat an old man wearing a conical hat, holding a fishing rod in his hand.
If one were to only look at the old man, he seemed plain and ordinary with nothing novel. However, the two women behind him were striking, capturing one’s gaze so firmly it could not be shifted away.
On the left was a woman in white, with delicate features and a gentle, soft demeanor, radiating a saintly purity, like a fairy from the mortal realm.
The woman in black on the right had a similar appearance to the one in white, but her aura was vastly different. She carried a hint of enchanting charm, especially her enchanting eyes and red lips seemed to suck away the souls of men.
These two women were none other than Su Lian and Su Yue.
Su Yue pouted and said to Jin Deng, “Old man Jin, the Ghost Swordsman is not dead; he is quite at ease now.”
As they initially agreed to help the Ghost Swordsman, conditions were involved; now they had assisted him, but he had yet to fulfill his promises.
Su Lian looked towards the distant north and said, “It really is surprising; his strength must have increased significantly.”
Jin Deng chuckled softly and said, “I was curious before. How could someone capable of subduing the Evil Suppressing Sword die so easily?”
When he first heard of the Ghost Swordsman’s death, he was also surprised, but given that Su Lian and Su Yue wouldn’t lie, along with the widespread news, he had no choice but to believe. Now it appeared everyone had been deceived by the Ghost Swordsman and the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect.
After pondering for a moment, Su Lian said, “Old man Jin, what should we do now, should we sisters go ask him again?”
“I don’t want to,” Su Yue snorted pridefully. “That boy doesn’t know how to cherish beauty at all.”
“Sister was so kind to him, and he completely ignored me. I don’t know how he manages it,” she continued arrogantly.
Su Lian raised an eyebrow and said, “You were kind to him? You even poisoned him. If It hadn’t been for my timely arrival, the big plan would have been ruined.”
Su Yue’s eyes glimmered coquettishly as she retorted, “But in the end, wasn’t he perfectly fine? I even risked my life to accompany him into the Demon Sect. Doesn’t he remember this favor?”
Su Lian looked at Su Yue and felt rather headache.
“No need,”
Jin Deng waved his hand and said, “We’ve already invited him once. He knows that’s enough, and he will come to Lengping.”
With a spark of realization, Su Lian asked, “Because of the Evil Suppressing Sword?”
Jin Deng smiled and replied, “The Evil Suppressing Sword, comprising six blades, one of which is around this area of Lengping City. If he wants to gather all the blades of the Evil Suppressing Sword, he will certainly come here.”
Su Yue asked, puzzled, “Old man Jin, why must you see An Jing? Could it be that he has a connection with our Tian Yin?”
Just then, the float on his fishing rod bobbed. Jin Deng skillfully lifted the rod and said, “There is a connection, and a significant one at that. The Evil Suppressing Sword was created by the Great Zhou royal family to suppress and seal. Although the sword has never recognized a master for countless years,
the fact that it might now recognize a master indicates he not only has destiny on his side, but also carries royal blood.”
Su Yue continued, “It’s no longer surprising that members of the Great Zhou Royal Family are scattered all across the land.”
After the fall of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the royal family members faced massive purges and were forced to live in exile, concealing their identities. However, many were not killed and their lineages continued.
An Jing was not the only one.
Jin Deng, looking at the big fish on the hook, his smile deepened, “Yet the Evil Suppressing Sword is of critical importance; he is the only one who has been recognized as the master of the Evil Suppressing Sword.”
Su Lian suddenly realized and said, “Old Jin, are you suggesting that there is more to this Evil Suppressing Sword than meets the eye?”
Old Jin did not answer Su Lian’s question but instead spoke deeply, “Moreover, the purpose of Tian Yin is also to protect the Great Zhou Royal Family. Since the Ghost Swordsman has the blood of the Great Zhou Dynasty, we naturally have to exert all our efforts to protect him.”
Su Yue huffed softly, her red lips slightly parting, “What’s the use of protecting him? He does not even care for his sister, and are there not people in the royal family who are closer to his heart than him?”
Su Lian rubbed her temples and said, “You really are becoming more and more fond of spouting nonsense; you’re bound to create trouble one of these days.”
Su Yue retorted, “Sister, it is you who has a penchant for speaking nonsense, not me.”
As if anticipating something, Old Jin said indifferently, “If you two have nothing better to do, go and cultivate. That Ghost Swordsman, in his early twenties, has already reached the Second Qi Grandmaster Realm, reflecting his diligence and effort. Now look at you two…”
Hearing this, neither dared to speak and exchanged knowing looks as they withdrew.
Jin Deng watched them leave and couldn’t help shaking his head.
……
In Yujing City, at a hostel, within the courtyard.
An Jing leaned back in his chair, looking at the book in front of him.
Qian Cishan was on the side eating the cakes that had just been delivered today, his face showing complete satisfaction, and he mumbled to himself, “Hearing from the maid that the Princess made these herself, who would have thought a princess could possess such culinary skill? Truly surprising.”
An Jing said calmly, “If it tastes good, eat more.”
Envy filled Qian Cishan’s heart; he knew that his chance to eat these cakes was purely due to An Jing’s influence.
Yu Qiurong then came out and said, “Gentleman-in-law, it’s almost time.”
It had been ten days, and today was the day the Human Emperor had summoned him.
“Let’s go and meet this Human Emperor,” said An Jing.
An Jing took a deep breath, stood up, and walked towards the hostel exit.
The hostel was located in the outer city. To enter the inner city, one had to go through a bustling, lively market. About half an hour later, An Jing arrived at the front of the Zhengyang Gate of the Imperial Palace.
The first thing that caught his eye were the two large red doors, topped with a sign framed in gold, bearing the prominent golden characters “Zhengyang Gate.”
At that moment, Xu Qianyue, the Human Emperor’s Imperial Sword-Bearing Guard, was waiting for him at the gate.
An Jing said, “You wait here.”
Yu Qiurong thought for a moment, then said solemnly, “Gentleman-in-law, be careful, and stay safe.”
Although meeting this Human Emperor posed no danger, this was an unpredictable emperor of the human world, whose thoughts were hard for ordinary people to gauge.
If the Human Emperor harbored a killing intent, even someone with An Jing’s capabilities would find it difficult to walk out of the palace.
An Jing walked forward a few steps, saluted with a fist, and said, “Mr. Xu.”
Xu Qianyue gestured with his hand and said, “Please come in.”
Entering the palace, one could feel the weight of years accumulated, as well as its majestic grandeur; the golden yellow glazed tiles were dazzling under the sunlight.
The weighty eaves of the glazed tile roof, the vermilion doors, and the platforms all bound many emperors of past dynasties.
They led to the downfall of dynasties, displacements of the people, and the world changing hands.
The golden throne in the palace was now occupied by a reigning sovereign of the human world, the most powerful man in Great Yan.
On their way, they encountered several palace maids and eunuchs who, upon seeing Xu Qianyue, bowed deeply from a distance and only dared to raise their heads long after he had passed.
Their gazes towards the young man in white trailing behind Xu Qianyue were filled with amazement.
Who was Xu Qianyue?
He was the Human Emperor’s Imperial Sword-Bearing Guard, the Great Commander of the Xuanyi Guard. Someone of such stature leading the way implied the young man’s importance. Who could he be?
Eventually, Xu Qianyue stopped in front of a large hall. The hall was surrounded by ancient trees that reached the sky, providing shade, with red walls and golden tiles that were strikingly splendid.
The atmosphere around the hall was complex, and a single glance was enough to sense its immeasurable depth.
Step by step, An Jing ascended each layer of the staircase, where six guards stood, each a member of the Imperial Guard with supreme cultivation. They had mastered the method to conceal their spiritual energy, so much so that even An Jing couldn’t discern their true cultivation level.
If he had channeled the “Nameless Heart Scripture,” perhaps he could have caught a glimpse of their abilities, but to act cautiously, An Jing did not attempt it.
“Please.”
Xu Qianyue extended her hand.
An Jing took a deep breath and walked up the stone steps towards the front.
Soon, he arrived at the doorway of the Imperial Study Room, guarded by the eunuch Fan Daoji, who had white eyebrows.
An Jing clasped his fists and saluted, “Senior.”
Fan Daoji smiled faintly and said, “His Majesty is inside, please enter.”
Upon hearing this, An Jing proceeded forward.
As soon as his footsteps crossed the threshold of the grand hall, a dense, mountainous pressure suddenly bore down on him. The “Nameless Heart Scripture” inside him spontaneously circulated, making the sensation somewhat more tolerable.
This pressure was not specifically targeted at him; it was an innate presence that became heavier the stronger one’s cultivation was.
This Imperial Study Room was extraordinary indeed.
An Jing continued forward and could see a curtain of pearls swaying ahead of him, through which a purplish-gold spiritual energy was visible, profound and unfathomable.
He could feel that the Great Yan Emperor was within.
“Your Majesty, the tributor from Outer Heaven has arrived.”
Xu Qianyue and the white-browed eunuch both stood to one side, their expressions calm and detached.
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
An Jing bowed forward.
There was a silence in the grand hall, and it was uncertain how long it passed before a voice came from ahead, “No need for formalities.”
The voice, deep and resonant, echoed throughout the grand hall, as if reverberating next to An Jing’s ears.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
An Jing stood up and looked toward the pearl curtain.
From behind the curtain, the voice said, “The mental method you cultivate possesses the strangeness and dominance of Outer Heaven, the fierceness and grandeur of the Buddhist methods, and the profundity and spontaneity of the Mystical Sect, encompassing everything naturally and harmoniously.”
“Taking the strengths of many, and forming your unique doctrine, it seems your martial arts attainment has already surpassed Xiao Qianqiu.”
At these words, the expressions of both Xu Qianyue and the white-browed eunuch remained unchanged, but inside, they were incredibly astonished. They had not expected such high praise for An Jing from the Emperor, even placing him above Xiao Qianqiu.
Xiao Qianqiu was a talent of mythical proportions, a future contender for the Grandmaster Realm. Could it be that this youth in front of them had even greater prospects of reaching the Grandmaster Realm than Xiao Qianqiu?
An Jing too was surprised, and said, “It’s just a bit of superficial knowledge that I’ve managed to integrate; it’s flattering to hear His Majesty make such a joke.”
Jun Qinglin hadn’t been able to unravel the secrets of his cultivation, but this Great Yan Emperor had seen through his martial arts foundation at a glance. Could the Emperor’s cultivation surpass that of Jun Qinglin?
The voice spoke again, “If merely scratching the surface can allow one to take the strengths of many and reach the Second Qi Grandmaster, then surely all the grandmasters in the world must be fools and incompetents.”
“You have your destiny, and I have no interest in it. I believe you know why I summoned you today. Let’s be frank.”
An Jing did not feign ignorance and straightforwardly said, “If I am not mistaken, Your Majesty is concerned about the National Teaching Order.”
“You’re quite astute,” the Emperor remarked.
“Leave the National Teaching Order here, and I will allow Outer Heaven the same support as the Six Sects to spread teachings across Yan Country, excluding Capital Road and the other eight paths,” he stated, his tone as deep as before but now unquestionably firm.
An Jing pondered and said, “I have one more request.”
There was a brief silence from behind the curtain before the response came, “I don’t like others setting conditions.”
As soon as these words were spoken, a silent oppression descended on An Jing.
Although the struggle between Buddhism and Demon Sect appeared as a loss for Buddhism on the surface, those who knew the full story were aware that it was also a blow to the Emperor’s prestige.
Previously, the Demon Sect was a forbidden religion in Yan Country; now, being allowed to proselytize within the country was already a tremendous favor.
…..
PS: I was taken to do an audit today, and I resumed writing as soon as it ended, though it is still a bit late. It’s the last day for double Monthly Tickets, so don’t forget to vote, Little Fat Rabbit thanks you.