Chapter 619: Above the Imperial Court

Li Yi rode his carriage straight into the imperial palace, and once inside, he clearly felt the weight of the Son of Heaven's aura—dragon and tiger energy surged upward and descended like a veil, suffocating to cultivators; had he been as weak as before, he likely couldn't have cast a single spell.

But now, having been granted the title of State Preceptor and formally invested by the court, and having gathered the incense offerings of millions, the influence of the Son of Heaven's aura upon him had greatly diminished.

"No wonder my father had me crowned first before entering the palace—he knew the Son of Heaven's aura suppresses cultivators. Without this, my former strength would have made me vulnerable to danger," Li Yi thought silently, recalling their earlier conversation.

His sudden appointment as State Preceptor would surely draw fierce opposition from the ministers, even invite peril.

Yet now, having grasped the subtleties of incense power, he had confidence to face any threat.

As the carriage halted.

"True Person Taiyi, we have arrived. Please disembark here," said a Golden Iris Guard.

Li Yi stepped down from the carriage and found himself before a palace—gilded and radiant, facing the great sun, its light boundless. To cultivators, the entire structure emitted waves of spiritual energy; due to the convergence of incense power, every brick and tile seemed sentient, alive with awareness.

If this process continued, another thousand years might see this palace itself become a deity of incense.

"Such overwhelming incense power—thankfully this palace is an ordinary object. Had it been a Dao artifact with a sentient core, absorbing this much incense belief, it would have become a Dao-attained being. Truly, the Dao is fair: in this world where incense creates gods, there is no cultivation path, no artifact-crafting method—wasting untold amounts of incense power."

Suddenly, the incense seed on his Primordial Spirit flower awoke again, speaking with deep regret:

"Immortal Lady, so incense power can also enhance Dao artifacts?" Li Yi asked.

"Far more than that—a low-grade Dao artifact subjected to this level of incense could awaken a sentient core capable of battling experts of the Three Flowers Realm. If the core of a top-tier Dao artifact achieved godhood through incense, it could fight Dao-attained beings. Hmm, such an absurd phenomenon has never been seen in history—I've truly broadened my horizons. Not just Dao artifacts: earlier, while using incense power to practice Dao techniques, Taiyi, guess what? I swiftly mastered the Great Expansion and Contraction Art of the Tianyi Sect—as if countless minds were dissecting and pondering the technique's essence, pouring its cultivation insights directly into my Primordial Spirit."

Incense Seed was gradually understanding the mysteries of incense power.

But the more she understood, the more incomprehensible it became.

"Taiyi, your path of using the false to cultivate the true is correct—it aligns perfectly with my thoughts. By relying on incense belief to cultivate, gather qi, comprehend the Dao, and learn techniques—even if incense power one day fades, what you've learned remains yours, never lost with the incense." Incense Seed spoke with high praise.

"Of course. Only one's own realm and power can be trusted. Relying on the incense belief of the masses is always subject to others—it is not the true path."

Li Yi said, and now, under the guidance of the Golden Iris Guards, he walked toward the Radiant Hall.

Outside the hall, someone entered to announce his arrival.

Li Yi stood still for only a moment when a voice echoed from within the Radiant Hall.

"Summon True Person Taiyi."

"Summon True Person Taiyi."

The heralds announced it one after another, their voices booming, echoing outward until they reached the doors of the Radiant Hall.

"True Person Taiyi, you must enter the hall to meet the Emperor," whispered the nearby Golden Iris Guard.

Li Yi nodded.

Soon, escorted by two Golden Iris Guards, he stepped into the Radiant Hall—the place where incense from all under heaven converged, symbolizing imperial authority.

As soon as he entered, he felt countless eyes fixated upon him.

Some scrutinized, some frowned, some were astonished; many eyes radiated clear goodwill or hostility.

"Though most of these men are not cultivators, they hold official rank and high power, bound to the incense of millions. Gathered here, their incense power is unimaginably vast," Li Yi narrowed his eyes, seeing the incense aura of each official take tangible form.

Some were entwined by giant pythons, others bore bears and wild boars on their backs, some had white cranes above their heads, still others trod upon wolves and leopards.

The civil and military ministers—all different.

Yet among them, several bore especially unique incense auras. One stood at the head of the ministers, around fifty, with an aura so majestic his incense belief far surpassed the others—transformed into a golden eagle, capable of battling tigers and dragon-serpents, majestic and sentient as if truly alive.

Another young man was also extraordinary—his incense aura equally immense, coiled around him as a juvenile dragon. Though Li Yi did not know him, only the Emperor or the Crown Prince could possess dragon aura.

Even the Prince of Xin was only a serpent-dragon.

"Is this the Daoist Taiyi? So young—he looks barely twenty. Perhaps he's mastered the art of preserving youth through cultivation."

"Indeed remarkable. Though clad in Daoist robes, his body is entwined with dragon and tiger aura—silver tiger, strange dragon—unprecedented in history." Many in court could read qi; they too noticed Li Yi's dragon and tiger aura, yet immediately discerned: the dragon was not true dragon, but the tiger was divine.

Clearly, he bore the bearing of a prince—but with even greater martial energy.

"Fine physique, fine features," muttered some military officers in awe. A Daoist with a body more striking than any warrior—this man must possess titanic strength, unlike any ordinary man.

Observing his aura and form, many doubts had already faded. Such depth of cultivation—though not a true immortal—was certainly no street con artist. He was a true adept.

But if you possess such power, why enter court politics? Why not remain in the wilds, free and unbound?

On the dragon throne, Emperor Li Jiye, upon seeing Li Yi, unconsciously smiled.

His son truly was exceptional.

This bearing, this posture—truly an immortal descending from heaven, a divine being manifest. No mortal could compare. If this plan to destroy mountain temples succeeds, his son might truly attain Dao, achieve immortality. If so, even after death, he could rest in peace.

"Your servant, Taiyi, bows before Emperor Shenwu," Li Yi said, halting in the center of the hall and bowing. His voice rang clear, carrying a mysterious power that pierced the heart, impossible to ignore.

"True Person Taiyi, rise," Emperor Shenwu gestured.

"I have long heard of the name True Person Taiyi. Today, seeing you, I confirm—you possess the bearing of an immortal, the visage of a divine being."

Li Yi replied: "Thank Your Majesty for the praise."

"Ministers, what say you? Is True Person Taiyi worthy of the title State Preceptor?" Emperor Shenwu then swept his gaze across the court and spoke slowly.

Not a single minister dared speak.

He knew some resented Xiao Yi, and now he seized this chance to let Xiao Yi establish authority.

"The position of State Preceptor concerns the empire's fate. What abilities does True Person Taiyi possess to claim such a lofty rank?" A minister immediately stepped forward to ask.

Li Yi glanced at him: "What abilities are required to become State Preceptor?"

"Observe celestial omens, calculate national fortune, discern loyalty from treachery, map earth veins, master divination—these are basics. Most crucial: can you benefit the state, aid the people, assist the sovereign in ruling?" The minister continued: "If you lack such abilities, Daoist, return whence you came. Harm to yourself is minor; harm to the court is grave."

"Indeed. A mountain Daoist who knows a few minor spells may deceive common folk—but to enter court, become State Preceptor? Pure fantasy." Another minister agreed.

"If you are fearful today, resign the title of State Preceptor—we shall not pursue or harass you. But if you persist, you will face retribution." Someone threatened.

Yet the Grand Tutor, the Crown Prince, and several hidden officials of Yin Son of Heaven remained silent.

They watched coldly, eager to see what true strength and ability this True Person Taiyi possessed.

Li Yi now laughed: "Ha!"

His voice carried dragon and tiger divine force—merely the sound of his laughter shook the earth and mountains, causing the entire hall to tremble as if on the verge of collapse.

And the laughter pierced metal and split stone; the ministers, merely hearing it, felt dizzy, their heads throbbed, blood trickled from their noses. Had it continued, they had no doubt their skulls would explode into misty blood.

Seeing this, many faces paled.

This was the Radiant Hall—the place of strongest dragon and tiger energy. Could this Daoist truly cast spells here?

Some turned to the reigning Emperor Shenwu.

No mistake—the Son of Heaven's dragon and tiger aura still stood strong, in the prime of his vigor. How could he fail to suppress a single Daoist?

On the dragon throne, Li Jiye merely narrowed his eyes in silence—he knew this was not magic, but pure physical power, utterly unaffected by the Son of Heaven's aura. In terms these men could not grasp, Li Yi's voice carried sonic assault—those with weak bodies would be shaken to death.

Only moments passed.

The civil and military ministers turned ashen; many collapsed unconscious, eyes bloodshot, blood streaming from nose and ears. Elderly ministers spat blood and collapsed onto the floor.

Instantly, all were humiliated and broken.

The incense belief they had always relied upon now vanished—utterly powerless to protect them.

Li Yi ceased his laughter; the tremors in the Radiant Hall vanished instantly: "My abilities are vast—how could you, mere mortals, comprehend them? I master countless spells: I summon wind and rain, alter weather across five hundred li, overturn rivers and seas, flatten hundreds of li of mountains, subdue dragons and tame tigers, exterminate evil demons. I can turn land into rivers—just a single finger point, and I carve a great river spanning north to south. With me alone, ten thousand li of land shall enjoy timely rains and bountiful harvests."

"Given my title, I can save a million lives, relieve the suffering of all beings—how could I not be worthy of the State Preceptor's seat?"

As he spoke, he formed a fist seal and released his fist intent.

In a flash, all saw the True Person Taiyi standing in the hall—treading a dragon, riding a tiger, like a Buddha or Vajra: possessing the compassion of a Buddha's smile, yet the divine power to destroy all beings. Instinctively, they collapsed to their knees, unable to meet his gaze.

In a single move, the civil and military ministers had their spirits crushed by his fist intent.

From now on, whenever they saw Li Yi, his fist intent would rise in their minds—fear would arise, and they would never dare raise their heads again.

(End of Chapter)