This reconnaissance operation left the ancestral elders of the Thirteen Great Clans with a sense of defeat. Their original plan was to sound out Creation Little Five first, then decide whether to move against Chen Shi.
Chen Shi and Li Tianqing had committed numerous misdeeds. They created the Red Horse Bandits in Qingzhou and raided the spiritual herb fields and medicine plots of the Thirteen Great Clans. These spiritual herbs were ostensibly the Wan Family's assets, but in reality, they were used to extend the lifespans of these ancestral elders. Chen Shi and Li Tianqing hadn't taken all the herbs, only one-fifth, leaving four-fifths behind. Yet this act had cost these elders over twenty years of their remaining lives!
How could they tolerate this?
To eliminate Chen Shi, they first had to sound out Creation Little Five.
They had emerged from seclusion and traveled to the Western Capital precisely to probe Creation Little Five's depths.
They had indeed sounded out Creation Little Five's capabilities. But their own depths had also been sounded out by Creation Little Five.
This situation shouldn't have occurred.
Given the strength of the Thirteen Great Clans, they absolutely should not have been probed to their limits.
Yet Creation Little Five was just too bizarre!
The battle in the Western Capital's streets and alleys made these god-like figures fight like old men and women brawling. Their heaven-piercing, earth-shaking spells and divine abilities were reduced to bare-fisted brawling.
There were those who were knocked down, kicked over, had fingers twisted and broken, toes stomped on, eyes gouged, noses dug at, groins grabbed... all sorts of despicable tactics. Though, in the heat of the fight, they had also resorted to some low blows themselves.
The most crucial point was that Creation Little Five could leave whenever he wished. These peerless powerhouses actually couldn't stop him from leaving.
How severe were Creation Little Five's injuries? How badly was he hurt? They could only guess.
This was what made them most wary.
"Our faces are utterly lost," sighed Fei Yuji, the ancestral elder of the Fei Family, his enthusiasm waning.
Everyone else also felt their dignity had been thoroughly trampled.
Ma Jun proposed, "Fellow Daoists, we rarely meet. Why not find a scenic spot with clear waters and green mountains to sit for a while and have a light drink?"
The ancestral elders of the various great clans nodded in agreement. Now that Creation Little Five had left, and they didn't know the extent of his injuries, they dared not separate, lest they encounter an attack from him.
If it were an existence like Chen Yindu, they wouldn't have this worry, as Chen Yindu had pride and integrity. But Creation Little Five clearly did not.
Creation Little Five was like Chen Yindu in his youth, a Chen Yindu unbound by morality or sentiment.
They had to gather together, properly discuss countermeasures, and could no longer fight separately.
At the entrance of Wenchang Alley, the child holding the umbrella was still looking around, waiting for the scholar to come retrieve his own umbrella. His little friends ran over, asking him to come play cuju, but he refused again.
Some time had passed since the incident of the elderly mob beating the scholar, and that scholar still hadn't come.
He was about to place the umbrella against the wall when that scholar walked over through the rain.
"Your umbrella!" the child said excitedly.
Creation Little Five took the umbrella. The child happily ran towards his companions, then suddenly stopped and turned back, saying, "When you fight in the future, you can't use just one hand to look cool! If you use one hand and there are many people, they'll beat you down. You need both hands, grab one old man and keep hitting him, cripple that old man. When the other old men see how fierce you are, they won't dare fight you!"
Creation Little Five's expression turned solemn. "I am enlightened. How do you know this?"
"When we play cuju in the streets and meet others playing cuju, we have to compete. If we don't compete well, we fight. After getting beaten up a lot, you understand."
Creation Little Five nodded slightly, feeling the child spoke sense. "I'll treat you to soybean milk."
"No!" The child ran off.
Though rejected, Creation Little Five wasn't angry. Holding the umbrella, he went to Wuchang Street for soybean milk, a touch of melancholy in his heart. "I said that when fighting me, not a shred of the power from their spells and divine abilities would leak out. Yet, it still leaked. A bystander trying to stop the fight was pulverized. I lost."
His injuries were severe, but what vexed him most was the death of that intervening bystander.
Though not directly killed by his hand, the fact that power leaked meant his skills were not yet perfect, his control not fine enough.
He excelled at everything, except his standards were too high.
Back when doing research with Chen Yindu, Chen Yindu had also mentioned this, feeling he demanded excessive precision in details while being biased in major matters.
Sitting in the soybean milk shop, Creation Little Five closed his umbrella, thinking, "But I just can't change."
His injuries were still serious, serious but not enough to die in a soybean milk shop. So, he still had to drink the soybean milk.
This was one of his few pleasures since arriving in the capital.
Many eyes in the Western Capital were watching him, but he paid them no mind.
The former Director, Eunuch Feng Tianhuan, came to the Yan Mansion again, seeking the former Grand Secretary Yan Xianzhi.
Eunuch Feng sat in a wheelchair. Two maids knelt by the wheelchair, diligently massaging his paralyzed legs.
"Lord Yan, did you see the incident of the ancestral elders of the great clans ganging up on Little Five?" Eunuch Feng inquired.
Yan Xianzhi sighed, seeming somewhat dispirited. "I saw it. It was just dozens of old men and women beating up a young scholar. All talk of Great Ascension Realm perfection, peerless masters... their dignity was utterly swept away."
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Among them were four ancestral elders from his own Yan Family, also beaten black and blue, bearing multiple wounds.
As a former Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Yan Xianzhi was also a Return to Emptiness Realm existence. Though not equal to the ancestral elders, his insight and experience remained. He could see that while this fight seemed like an old folks' street brawl, it was actually extremely perilous.
After all, even the heavy treasure stabilizing the fate of the Western Ox New Continent sensed the threat and unleashed its power. Anyone who wasn't blind could tell this battle was no ordinary affair.
Eunuch Feng leaned to the side. "My lord resigned from the Grand Secretary position before Little Five arrived in the Western Capital, avoiding unnecessary risks and potential infamy. Now, the Grand Secretary is Lord Zhang Fuzheng. The one suffering infamy and headaches is him. After Creation Little Five's stir, the Thirteen Great Clans will likely compromise with him and reveal who took the Innate Dao Embryo."
He smiled slightly. "Lord Yan, if you don't reclaim the Grand Secretary position soon, Lord Zhang will solidify his hold."
Yan Xianzhi smiled. "Is Lord Zhang's position really that secure?"
He picked up his teacup for a sip, smiling. "When he's helpless, he'll beg me to return as Grand Secretary. But Elder Feng, how will you take back the Eastern Depot? How will you return to the position of Seal-Holding Chief Eunuch?"
Eunuch Feng kicked a massaging maid aside with his leg, laughing. "I was crippled by Chen Yindu, having toiled with great merit. Returning to hold the seal again is justifiable, isn't it?"
Yan Xianzhi stared at his legs. "Your legs have been crippled for ten years, right? Still not healed?"
"Not healed," Eunuch Feng said seriously.
Yan Xianzhi glanced at the kicked-aside maid. "If you say they're not healed, then they're not healed. The current headaches are Creation Little Five on one hand, and the Spring Examinations on the other. Lord Zhang can't handle them. If he can't handle them, he'll have to find someone to clean up this mess."
Eunuch Feng said, "Lord Yan, who will be this year's Top Scholar?"
Yan Xianzhi replied irritably, "The Metropolitan Examination hasn't even been held yet. How would I know who the Top Scholar will be?"
He paused, then said, "The Young Master's reputation is very high. The Sect Leader of my Yan Family sent word, saying after discussing with the clan elders, if the Young Master competes for the Top Scholar position, the Yan Family will step back, letting the stars surround the moon."
Eunuch Feng raised an eyebrow, smiling. "The Yan Family lets the stars surround the moon. What about the other clans?"
Yan Xianzhi laughed and scolded, "You eunuch just love prying. How would I know the decisions of other clans? But... the Thirteen Great Clans share the same breath and branches. Presumably, if my Yan Family has made this decision, the other clans are the same."
He waved his hand, dismissing the maids attending them, and said leisurely, "The Young Master needs momentum, needs to build momentum, to find a reason for his rise, to earn the reverence of the masses, gather popular support, only then does he have a chance to ascend to the great throne and revive the Ming Dynasty. The Thirteen Great Clans also need a leader who can rally the call, to break free from the constraints from above."
Eunuch Feng became solemn, silent for a moment. "Can it be done?"
Yan Xianzhi fell silent, slowly drinking his tea.
He put down his cup, speaking softly. "If we don't do it, it will never be accomplished. The True King's Era ended over six thousand years ago. The heavens are changing, different from the past. The Western Ox New Continent needs a new True King."
Eunuch Feng let out a long breath, gently tapping his legs, a glimmer of light dancing in his eyes.
Before, there was no opportunity. But now, the heavens are changing!
That vacant True King throne in the imperial court must eventually be filled!
The Young Master is the True King chosen by the Thirteen Great Clans!
"Then, what about Chen Shi?"
Eunuch Feng asked. "I heard Chen Shi is also coming to take the Presented Scholar examination. After passing, he'll take the Palace Examination. There's only one Top Scholar. If it's given to the Young Master, it can't be given to him."
Yan Xianzhi said, "Then Chen Shi can only be the Second-Place Graduate."
Eunuch Feng smiled. "I heard the Young Master and Chen Shi have a very tense relationship. A Sima from the Young Master's Fu Zheng Pavilion died because of it. Do you think Chen Shi is willing to play second fiddle, to be this Second-Place Graduate?"
Yan Xianzhi picked up his teacup to drink, found it empty, put it down, and said calmly, "What can he do if he doesn't play second fiddle? Him passing the Provincial Examination was also a reward from the court; otherwise, he'd still be just a Xiucai. Giving him Second-Place Graduate is already the court showing great favor."
He clapped his hands, signaling a maid to refill his tea.
Eunuch Feng covered his teacup, indicating no need to add water for him, and smiled. "That guy has over a hundred demons inside him. If he makes a fuss, he'll die on you. What can you do?"
Yan Xianzhi smiled slightly. "That's a headache for Grand Secretary Zhang. I'm currently idle at home."
"Slippery! So slippery!"
Eunuch Feng laughed heartily. "You're waiting for Zhang Fuzheng to fail to solve it, to come beg you. Then you can reclaim the Grand Secretary position and remain the Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet!"
Central Wilderness, Nanfeng Province, Western Ox New Continent.
Nanfeng Province is famous for its perennial south winds. The wind here has three peculiarities.
First peculiarity: the wind is strong. The sound of the wind is like an ox bellowing or a dragon roaring. When gales sweep through, sand and stones fly, trees are uprooted, and thousand-catty boulders roll as fast as galloping horses.
Second peculiarity: the wind is sudden. Often without warning, a fierce wind suddenly arises, catching people off guard.
Third peculiarity: there are strange things in the wind. People often see packs of strange beasts running upon the wind. Some see tall, thin humanoid figures standing motionless in the wind. There are also evil spirits in the wind, appearing and disappearing mysteriously.
Chen Shi found an ancient temple, drew Wind-Stabilizing Talismans, and hung them on the four walls.
Black Pot gathered firewood and built a bonfire. Hu Feifei turned a wooden crank, rotating the flea-pig over the fire. It was already roasted to a golden yellow, sizzling and dripping oil.
Nannan swallowed saliva while using a brush to coat the flea-pig with fruit paste.
They had found some sour fruit paste outside. One bite filled the mouth with sourness, making one salivate constantly, but it should be good for basting the flea-pig.
Sun Yisheng looked outside. The sky was yellowish, as if desert sand floated in the air. "I'm afraid there's still wind."
These past few days, Black Pot had taken his Primordial Spirit to the underworld, using the horn-shaped Underworld Lamp to help treat his injuries. The wounds on his Primordial Spirit had lessened considerably.
Then, voices came from outside.
Chen Shi looked out and saw many Provincial Graduates coming, dozens of them in succession, mostly poor scholars carrying book boxes.
These poor scholars, seeing this ancient temple, couldn't help but rejoice and hurried their steps.
Although Nanfeng Province was in the heartland of the Western Ox New Continent, it was extremely dry, making it hard to grow crops. The population was also very sparse, with only around a million people in the provincial capital. It was hard to see people elsewhere.
The Provincial Post Road had fallen into disrepair over the years and was effectively broken. Traveling on such a yellow-sand day, it was easy to lose direction. This ancient temple was one of their few resting places.
Chen Shi opened the door, letting them in. "I've drawn Wind-Stabilizing Talismans. You don't need to hang more talismans."
These Provincial Graduates, covered in dust, entered the temple, thanking him repeatedly.
Someone stamped their feet, patting the dust off their clothes, and was chased out by several female graduates, who laughed, "Go pat outside! Can't you see people are cooking?"
So they ran outside to pat themselves clean before coming back in.
Chen Shi observed these graduates. Their faces were red from wind and sun, lips dry and cracked. They must have been traveling in Nanfeng Province for a long time.
"Where are you all from?"
Chen Shi smiled. "Judging by your accents, you don't seem to be from the same place."
A female graduate went outside, loosened her hair, and shook out the sand within, smiling, "We're from several provinces! Zhenzhou, Guizhou, Bi Province! We came before the New Year!"
Her accent was heavy, requiring careful listening to understand.
Another graduate said, "We weren't originally together. We met on the road and teamed up. There were originally over a hundred of us. We encountered evil spirits, then met bandits several times. Only this many are left."
Seeing they had no water, Chen Shi took water from the small courtyard and gave it to them. Hu Feifei cut some roasted flea-pig meat and also shared it with them.
Everyone thanked them profusely and sat on the ground to eat.
The female graduate, tying up her hair, asked, "Little brother, judging by your accent, you're from Xinxiang, right?"
Chen Shi said, "I am from Xinxiang."
Someone was puzzled. "Why take this route from Xinxiang? Isn't it a detour?"
Chen Shi said, "The other route passes through Gongzhou. It's not very safe."
Everyone suddenly understood, saying, "Passing through Gongzhou is indeed unsafe. Better to take a longer detour and avoid Gongzhou."
Wind rose outside, howling. Everyone hurriedly closed the doors and windows.
Chen Shi had hung Wind-Stabilizing Talismans on the four walls. Even without closing doors and windows, the wind couldn't blow in.
The wind sound gradually grew louder. The wind rolled large stones, rumbling.
Someone spoke outside, shouting for them to open the door. A graduate intended to open it but was stopped by Sun Yisheng, who said, "The thing outside isn't human; it's an evil spirit. Nanfeng Province's wind often has these things. They talk to you in the wind, either pleading for help or making small talk, lulling your guard. If you let it in, it will harm you. Distinguishing is simple: press your eye to the crack and look. You won't see its feet."
Everyone pressed to the ground, looking out through the crack. Sure enough, the thing outside had no feet.
Sun Yisheng smiled. "That thing is just a mass of wind, of course it has no feet."
Everyone was filled with admiration.
"You two look pale. Are you injured?"
A graduate stepped forward, smiling. "I studied medicine for a few years. Perhaps I can help treat your injuries."
Chen Shi thanked him. "My Nascent Soul is slightly injured. His Primordial Spirit is injured. I'm afraid it's not easy to treat."
That graduate was startled and quickly said, "I can't treat such injuries. I received your kindness and intended to repay it, but my medical skills are limited. I dare not treat you two."
Chen Shi smiled. "Such trivial matters are not worth mentioning."
As they spoke, the wind sound gradually diminished. After a while, the wind stopped.
Everyone opened the doors and windows. Outside lay a thick layer of dust, along with stones of various sizes scattered across the wilderness outside the ancient temple like stars in the sky.
There were also a few large stones near the ancient temple. Nannan was about to go take a closer look when suddenly those large stones grew four legs, stuck out heads, and ran off.
Nannan was dumbfounded.
"Those are Nanfeng Province's stone birds. Because the wind is too strong, they can't fly. Their wings degenerated, so they turned into legs to run on the ground."
A graduate recognized these creatures. "When the wind comes, they retract their legs, feet, wings, and heads into their bodies and roll in the wind."
"What's that?" someone pointed into the distance.
Everyone looked. In the yellow sky, streaks of fiery light flew towards them.
Chen Shi watched this fiery light, feeling somewhat familiar. Suddenly realizing, he shouted, "Cannons! Red cannons!"
The graduates' faces turned pale.
They were just traveling to the capital for the examinations. Why would red cannons be fired at them?
One after another, projectiles inscribed with Great Five Thunder Talismans shot through the air. Before even getting close, their thunder power erupted, crackling with electric sparks!
The target of the red cannon bombardment was precisely this ancient temple they were in!
