Chapter 1646: The Army Arrives (II)
Chapter 1646: The Army Arrives (II)
Helin Prefecture.
The Helin Mountain Range was one of the most renowned mountain ranges in Yue State. Although its spiritual energy was not particularly abundant, its vast expanse and rugged terrain more than made up for its shortcomings. Towering peaks rose layer upon layer beside the endless plains, facing the Quanwu Mountain Range in the east from afar. Together, the two mountain ranges produced the vast majority of Yue State's low-grade spirit materials.
The two mountain ranges sandwiched a vast plain that bordered the Mushroom Forest to the north and Tongmo Prefecture to the west, with fertile land extending as far as the eye could see. Two prefectures had been established there, Helin and Cangwu.
Helin Prefecture lay directly beneath the Helin Mountain Range. It boasted a long history and backed onto forests where demonic creatures were remarkably scarce. Situated deep within Yue State's interior, it rarely suffered outside disturbances. Its marketplace was enormous, and stood right beside the mountain gate.
At this moment, the marketplace blazed with light. A magnificent platform stood at its center, towering above the surroundings and covered with intricate formation patterns. At its highest point rose an exquisitely crafted pavilion. Music filled the air as indulgent melodies drifted in every direction, while singing girls and musicians moved gracefully among the banquet tables, smiling sweetly as they poured wine for the guests.
Seated at the head table above was a Daoist with fair skin and two neatly trimmed black mustaches, giving him an air of shrewdness. Reclining comfortably with one leg crossed over the other, he swayed gently to the rhythm of the music. His pale hand moved lazily from side to side in time with the melody, yet not a single drop of wine spilled from his cup.
After a while, another burst of fawning laughter rang out. An old man approached with a wine cup in hand, knelt before the Daoist's seat, raised the cup high above his head, and respectfully said, "Lord Zhuang! This worthless life of mine was spared entirely thanks to you... I beg you to honor me with a cup of wine!"
Lord Zhuang merely cast him a sidelong glance, his expression unchanged, before replying leisurely, "Back then, Situ Mo came to the Helin Mountain Range and left an old bastard like you behind as a liaison, so he could sell off the Situ Family's outer-sea interests for his own personal gain... Who would've thought that, in the end, you would be the one who survived."
The old man hurriedly bowed again and said mournfully, "Indeed... Indeed... It's just a pity about the lake..."
Those words caused Lord Zhuang's expression to change slightly. He lashed out with a vicious kick, smashing his foot into the old man's chin. The old man was launched into the air, flipped once, then crashed heavily onto the ground, coughing up blood.
Damn it all! You might have a death wish, but I still want to stay alive!
Of course, he knew exactly what the old man meant. In fact, that was precisely why he had spared him in the first place.
Changxiao Gate had originally been founded as an orthodox gate. Master Changxiao's Dao lineage was impeccably orthodox, establishing its path upon [True Essence], [Purple Essence], and [Cold Essence], complemented by the principles of Lesser Yin and Lesser Yang. Its very foundation was unquestionably righteous. Moreover, the Grand Daoist Master's direct lineage possessed an additional Douxuan Orthodox Dao, passed down in strict secrecy and renowned for its formidable power.
Yet over the past decade or so, the atmosphere within this orthodox sect had grown increasingly strange. Master Changxiao, the founding Grand Daoist Master of Changxiao Gate, had been missing for many years, leaving Daoist Master Chengyan to oversee the gate in his stead.
But Daoist Master Chengyan's personal affairs had become the talk of the town. Even outsiders knew about them, let alone the disciples of Changxiao Gate themselves. During the years of Master Changxiao's disappearance, the Grand Daoist Master's wife had gradually begun extending her influence throughout the gate, while Chengyan indulged her without restraint. Thus, the gate had long since lost the purity and tranquility it once possessed from its very roots.
The current gate master was Master Baibin, an old cultivator who had once taken part in the attempt to kill the White Qilin. However, during his tenure, the White Qilin had broken through to the Purple Mansion Realm. Consumed by equal parts jealousy and fear, Master Baibin had tirelessly promoted the enemies of the Li Family. The reason Daoist Zhuang had been able to return from the outer-sea and take charge of such a large marketplace was precisely because he, too, had participated in that operation!
Unlike Master Baibin, Daoist Zhuang gradually calmed down after the first few months of fear. He quietly gathered information and learned that the White Qilin had severed his worldly ties upon reaching the Purple Mansion Realm. Since he had not been killed on the day of that breakthrough, and he himself was backed by a Grand Daoist Master, he would most likely remain safe in the future, unless he was foolish enough to personally offend the White Qilin and fall into his hands.
So he remained in the marketplace, quietly watching and waiting for the day conflict erupted between the lake region and the Buddhist cultivators. The people he gathered under his command were all those with grudges against the Li Family. Whether they were remnants of the Song Family or old cultivators from the Situ Family, he kept sending them into the gate one after another.
If the entire gate becomes their enemy, that's far better than me being their only enemy! If the Grand Daoist Master ever decides to make a move, at least there'll be plenty of others to share the blame!
With Chengyan remaining in seclusion and these people working tirelessly day after day, it would have been strange if the atmosphere within the Changxiao Gate had remained healthy. Though its disciples still cultivated a grand Orthodox Dao, the gate had long since lost the open-minded, inclusive tradition of master and disciple that had defined it a century ago!
But why would Daoist Zhuang care? The people who had truly cared about Changxiao Gate had all been burned alive by the White Qilin over Lake Xian. Like white cranes falling from the sky, they had died without leaving even complete corpses behind!
He was smiling to himself when he suddenly sensed something. Lowering his head at once, he saw the silver formation patterns beneath the main seat beginning to glow faintly. Raising an eyebrow, he casually propped his crossed feet onto the table, leaned lazily against the lofty seat, and said in an unconcerned tone, "Which merchant caravan is flying so high this time? Fine them properly!"
"Ah!"
A white-robed cultivator hurried over. His face was flushed red, and he was clearly quite drunk, to the point that even his movements had grown improper.
Channeling his mana into the grand formation while holding a wine jug in one hand, he repeatedly apologized, "My apologies... My apologies! At this hour, the shipment of [Cypressheart Fruit] under my charge should have arrived... I'll personally open the grand formation for inspection. Sorry for disturbing you, my lords... Just treat it as enjoying the view... I'll drink one cup as an apology... no... three!"
His face reddened as he forced an apologetic smile, pressing a hand against the formation plate. As his mana flowed into it, the lavish purple-and-green roof overhead gradually faded from view. Wisps of mysterious energy condensed between the eaves, dissolving every obstruction until the night sky beyond the hall was laid completely bare.
Everyone inside the pavilion looked up to admire the night scenery. Daoist Zhuang raised his head, a look of disdain still frozen on his face, but his pupils suddenly widened. Reflected within them was an enormous golden ship stretching across the night sky, its towering decks layered one upon another, together with countless streams of escaping light filling the heavens.
The terrifying sight seemed frozen against the night sky. Countless gazes looked down upon them from above, some icy, others filled with contempt, as though they had been waiting there for a very long time.
The entire banquet fell silent in an instant. The silence was so complete that a pin dropping could have been heard. Everyone's mind went blank, yet a grating laugh suddenly broke the stillness.
"My mistake... my mistake... I'll apologize... Isn't my apology enough..."
The cultivator who had stepped forward was too drunk to notice anything. Without even lifting his head, he continued drinking and mumbling to himself. At last, unable to withstand the alcohol any longer, he collapsed backward onto his knees. The bronze wine jug slipped from his hand, struck the floor with a loud clang, and sent wine splashing across the ground.
Yet the stunned crowd continued staring at the sky.
Immortal lights gathered one after another around the colossal flying vessel. Some wore feathered robes, while others gleaming scale armor, but each radiating a different brilliance like heavenly soldiers. They stood at varying distances, respectfully awaiting orders from the pavilion aboard the immense immortal boat. Every gaze was fixed upon the pavilion, no, upon the face of the young man casually leaning against the dark-hued purple-gold railing.
A pair of cold golden eyes, with platinum rings encircling their pupils, surveyed all before him.