Chapter 1689: King of Wei (I)
Chapter 1689: King of Wei (I)
The scenery was breathtaking, with vibrant clouds drifting gracefully across the sky.
The elevated platform upon the island was filled with figures. A Daoist Master sat quietly in the main seat, while the Li Family cultivators were standing in orderly ranks according to precedence. They were all dressed in formal ceremonial robes. Their usual moon-white robes embroidered with water patterns at the cuffs had been replaced; their weapons were put away; and the jade talismans at their waists had been removed.
Clouds gathered and billowed along the horizon as a point of golden light emerged from the distance. Li Suining watched it closely. Two jade steeds led the way, each carrying a man clad in golden armor. Behind each rider flew a long banner with profound patterns, while they held green-black standards embroidered with the white character for Song high.
They were followed by more than a dozen ceremonial carriages that were bathed in golden light. Each one was adorned with dark jade ornaments in a display of magnificent grandeur. Three-tiered parasols of deep azure and white swayed overhead, while brilliant crimson banners edged in black fluttered in the wind. Banners, parasols, halberds, and staves were held aloft on either side. Countless motes of colored light shimmered throughout the procession, representing wind, rain, thunder, lightning, water, fire, wood, and earth.
Li Suining lowered his eyes and noticed Li Zhouda, standing one position ahead of him, glaring with knitted brows. The burly man was clearly uncomfortable in ceremonial robes, having simply draped the garment over the bronze bells hanging from his waist.
He muttered under his breath, "What a grand spectacle."
Li Suining knew Li Zhouda's fiery temperament well. He had never thought much of the Emperor of Song, nor did he believe that the title of king for their own ruler should come from the emperor's decree. Neither of these opinions were merely thoughts he kept to himself. In his previous life, Li Zhouda had said as much in private. Thus, it was no surprise that he looked upon this imperial procession with disdain.
Fortunately, everyone present was capable of keeping him in check. One stern glare from Li Xuanxuan was enough to render the man sullenly silent. Li Suining then shifted his gaze to the other side.
Li Zhouming stood much farther forward, separated from him by several ranks. Tilting his head back, he stared up at the sky with an expression that suggested he might doze off at any moment. Only when the lifelike jade steeds reached the horizon and a beautiful woman in white descended from the procession ahead of schedule did he suddenly perk up and begin stealing glances at her.
Daoist Master Ning...
Li Suining immediately lowered his gaze. Li Xuanxuan had already stepped forward ahead of Li Zhouwei and greeted her respectfully, "Greetings, emissary!"
The old man's expression was one of complete respect, just as it had been a century earlier when the Heavenly Glow Dawn Cloudliner had descended, and the green-robed emissary had calmly stepped down from the sky.
Yet once those words fell, Li Suining found his emotions the most complicated of all. Quietly looking around, he saw his little uncle, Li Jiangchun, turn toward the island. The younger members of the family all wore different expressions. Li Minggong maintained a courteous smile, while Li Zhouming's grin had noticeably faded. Li Zhouda never even lifted his head, staring fixedly at the ground as though he intended to bore a hole through it.
Ning Wan's expression was equally complicated. She accepted the radiant white imperial edict from an attendant, holding it reverently in both hands without unrolling it.
She even lowered her head slightly before presenting it to the approaching Li Zhouwei, saying, "The Emperor has inherited the True Orthodoxy and remembers the Li Family of the former dynasty. A heavenly branch of Bright Yang and a noble lineage, now undeservedly fallen into obscurity, Minghuang has steadfastly guarded Jianghuai and Tingzhou, serving as the empire's trusted support... It is therefore fitting to bestow lands and establish a hereditary domain. Thus is the title of King of Wei conferred, with full authority to command military campaigns beyond the borders..."
Her delicate brows lowered as her heart gradually tightened. Only after a long moment did the young man before her finally incline his head in a formal gesture and reply, "This subject has long served in the distant frontier, blessed by his majesty's grace beyond measure. I can scarcely repay such honor and favor. I can only remain loyal and steadfast."
His voice was calm yet powerful, echoing across the entire platform. In an instant, everyone dropped to their knees in unison. Whether they were the soldiers of Great Song who had arrived amid immortal radiance or the members of the Li Family assembled upon the platform, all respectfully proclaimed, "We pay our respects to the King of Wei!"
The cry resounded through the heavens. Beneath Li Zhouwei's brows, his golden pupils flashed faintly. Radiance surged continuously around him as his aura rose and fell without settling. The divine ability's radiance within his body blazed brilliantly, yet it seemed to be held down by some unseen force, struggling to break free.
Li Zhouwei merely stood there, yet Ning Wan suddenly felt the imperial edict in her hands dim. Its weight increased dramatically, nearly slipping from her grasp and crashing to the ground. She immediately circulated her divine ability through both hands.
Crack!
The rollers at either end of the imperial edict groaned under an unbearable strain, as though they might burst apart at any moment. The radiance flowing from it became scalding hot, burning her hands. A patch of Bright Yang purple flames flared across her fair arm, while a piercing chorus of cicadas suddenly erupted beside her right ear.
"Hm?"
The flames and the cicadas seemed almost illusory, flickering before her eyes and ringing in her ears for only an instant. As soon as Li Zhouwei accepted the edict from her hands, the strange phenomenon all vanished at once. Only its radiance remained somewhat dimmed.
Yet the moment the scroll came to rest in the King of Wei's hands, it seemed to receive some form of acknowledgment. Every anomaly disappeared, and it once again shimmered with the radiance of True Essence, lying quietly in his grasp.
But how could a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator suffer an illusion? Suppressing her shock, Ning Wan forced herself not to dwell on it. Looking rather embarrassed, she hurried to assist Li Xuanxuan beside her, then glanced up at Li Zhouwei and said softly, "No need for further ceremony. Let us continue our discussion inside..."
Li Zhouwei stepped slightly aside and said, "Please."
Ning Wan turned and gave a signal. One after another, immortal luans[1] descended upon the platform. Dismissing her attendants, she followed Li Zhouwei toward the rear hall, her expression touched with quiet melancholy.
Ning Wan was no longer quite the same woman who had emerged from seclusion years ago. Back then, she was as aloof as autumn, as pure as fresh snow, and untouched by worldly dust. Her experiences over the years, from aiding a tyrannical regime to repeatedly standing on the brink of life and death, had left a trace of melancholy upon her temperament. Even so, with her dark brows gently knit, she remained strikingly beautiful.
After inviting her to take a seat, Li Zhouwei simply said softly, "Congratulations, senior."
How many meanings were hidden behind those words, Ning Wan could not tell. She merely let out a soft sigh. "You flatter me, King of Wei."
Li Zhouwei set down his teacup and asked, "How should I address the emissary?"
Ning Wan's expression grew solemn as she replied, "I am unworthy of being called an emissary. I am merely the Mountain Master of the Azure Pond Sect and a Daoist Master of the Great Song's Immortal Administration Bureau."
After a brief moment, she took out a command token from her sleeve. One side bore the word [Song], the other [Azure Pond], both gleaming with the radiance of True Essence.
"By the emperor's grace, the Immortal Dao remains the foremost priority. The Azure Pond Sect is still permitted to preserve its Dao lineage and continue cultivating within the mountains. I am both the sect master of Azure Pond and a Daoist Master of the Great Song's Immortal Administration Bureau. The two positions do not conflict..."
She turned her head slightly. "Have Chen Wenyao come forward."
Before long, a young man entered the hall carrying a tray. He first knelt before the threshold, then advanced with his head bowed. He knelt once more in front of the two of them and raised the golden tray above his head.
Ning Wan said gently, "Please take a look, King of Wei!"
A veil of light as white as gauze covered the golden tray, illuminating a neatly folded feathered cloak that lay atop it. Every feather was distinct, uniform in length and evenly colored. A faint purple hue touched the tip of each one, and as heavenly light flowed across it, countless precious golden profound patterns emerged across their surfaces.
Though it was merely resting upon the table, it released a dazzling surge of mysterious True Essence radiance, accompanied by wave after wave of wondrous mystics.
Ning Wan's expression turned solemn as she said gravely, "This is the [Wei King's Conquest-Court Cloak], bestowed by the imperial house. Its outer fabric is fashioned from [Divine Light White Silk], a supreme treasure of [True Essence], while [Heavenly Radiant Crimson Gold] was spun into its threads. Attached to it are one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two long feathers from the [Purple Essence] feathered beast known as the [Purple Muntjac Oriole]. Countless spirit materials were expended in its creation...
"I have heard that [Divine Light White Silk] is famed for being damaged without breaking and dimmed without being harmed. This royal cloak has also been reinforced through numerous wondrous arts. Unless it is shattered beyond recognition in a single blow, it will gradually repair itself over time. May it bless the King of Wei with freedom from injury through a hundred battles and aid him in advancing still further!"
She raised her voice slightly and declared solemnly, "Among the cloaks of all the kings, this is the most exalted, second only to the imperial cloak!"
Whatever its actual abilities, the spirit items used to make it were undoubtedly among the most valuable in existence. Moreover, the feathered cloak was thick and substantial, incorporating an astonishingly large expanse of [Divine Light White Silk], enough to be cut into three or four spirit artifacts!
"Oh?" Li Zhouwei's golden eyes flickered as his gaze lingered on the royal cloak. Its texture was smooth and delicate beneath his fingers. He nodded and said, "I should submit a memorial expressing my gratitude."
1. Luan (luán): A legendary auspicious bird, often regarded as a close relative of the phoenix in Chinese mythology and commonly associated with immortals and imperial processions. ☜