Chapter 346: The Yin Clan's Enfeoffment

Jiang Ding sent a sliver of his divine sense to possess Armor-25, concealing its aura and figure as it flew through the sky; villages, cities, mountains, forests, and rivers swept past beneath its feet.

"That True Person Tiankuang moves very fast, almost impatient — barely a month after breaching the Qi Yu Zong mountain gate, and without even killing the Xiang Qiyu Sect's Jin Dan, he has already begun laying out schemes among the mortal world."

Jiang Ding's gaze lingered for a moment on the city wall of a small town, the dragon banner atop the prefectural mansion, and the character 'Yin' on the banner.

"In just twenty-six years, the Kingdom of Yue has changed dynasties three times — truly calamity-ridden."

"Moreover, the Liu Dao Sect's method of governing the Kingdom of Yue seems somewhat more meticulous? Every commandery has two or three Qi Refining cultivators stationed to keep watch — not like the Xiang Qiyu Sect's strict emphasis on the separation of immortal and mortal."

The invisible fleeing light paused briefly above Chizhong Prefecture.

The quasi-divine sense particle radar wave spread out in all directions — indeed, there were only three Qi Refining cultivators: two mid-stage and one late-stage.

Jiang Ding thought for a moment, then dropped into a street corner, and with a turn, transformed into a down-on-his-luck middle-aged swordsman.

He lifted his steps toward the direction of the teahouse he had often visited in Chizhong Prefecture back when he was still in high school, twenty-six years ago.

Before long, a two-story wooden building appeared before his eyes.

"The Liu Family Teahouse — it's actually still here."

Jiang Ding could not help but sigh with feeling.

In just twenty-six years, having endured in succession the rebellion and city-butchery of General of the East Marquis Tang Wang, the rampage of Xuetudian cultivators, and the man-eating demon cultivators of the Demon Kingdom, it had still managed to survive — even the owner had not changed — truly remarkable.

This is the mortal way of survival: utterly without the ability to protect oneself, like wild grass, relying entirely on sheer numbers, so that some portion will always manage to keep living.

Stepping into the teahouse, it was a scene of bustling noise.

The Kingdom of Yue's latest dynastic change had not triggered military chaos, and the demon cultivators' rampage had also been suppressed — the common folk's lives had actually recovered somewhat.

He found a spot by the window and, familiar with the place, ordered a pot of Biluochun tea.

Jiang Ding silently gazed at the scenery outside the window.

Compared to many years ago, the mountain views remained the same, but the houses and roads along the street had changed in many ways — familiarity mingled with strangeness.

"How did the Dragon and Phoenix List just stop?"

A thin, wizened old man sighed lamentingly; one could faintly recall some of his features — he seemed to be someone who had lived in the neighborhood for many years: "Since my great-grandfather's time, the Dragon and Phoenix List has been there. Every day, hearing about the great heroes of the jianghu — how wonderful that was. Just like that it's gone, it's really hard to get used to."

"Ain't that the truth."

"What are the lords up there thinking? The Dragon and Phoenix List was perfectly fine, wasn't bothering anyone."

The thin old man's words struck a chord with the surrounding tea customers, who chimed in with complaints one after another, the uproar growing deafening — the reaction was extremely strong.

In these times, productivity was underdeveloped and supplies were scarce.

Everyone's forms of entertainment were extremely limited; each issue of the Dragon and Phoenix List carried much of their hope—it could be said to be a spiritual sustenance second only to food, of great importance.

Moreover, they had been accustomed to it for years; suddenly losing it made their whole bodies itch unbearably.

"Ahem!"

From within the teahouse came a stern cough, and the crowd instantly fell silent, looking toward the one who had spoken.

It was a tall, burly, big-bearded man, cultivation at the Internal Qi realm, wearing a constable's uniform, with a long saber in a black sheath at his waist.

"Fellow neighbors, from now on do not discuss this Dragon and Phoenix List anymore — don't make things difficult for me, Liu Xiong."

The big-bearded constable said sternly: "This is an order issued from the yamen of the Lord of Chizhong, personally enfeoffed by Jingcheng. You must understand, my lord is an immortal among the clouds."

"You all heard about the Qingyi Tower assassins a few days ago, didn't you?"

"Twenty-some people, all Internal Qi realm experts, and even one Innate realm legend of the jianghu — and the result? My lord just waved his hand, fire rained from the heavens, and in the blink of an eye they were all killed clean."

"We'd best stay peaceful — don't think about any Dragon and Phoenix List anymore; that's something only rebels would do."

"Yes, yes, yes — this old fool knows his fault."

The thin old man's face showed terror, and he slapped himself several times in quick succession.

"Old Zhang, there's no need for that — just be more careful. You've watched me, Liu Xiong, grow up."

The big-bearded constable's expression softened somewhat: "These are all orders coming from my lord's manor. If something happens, this junior truly couldn't bear the consequences."

The teahouse instantly fell quiet.

"Constable Liu,"

After a long while, someone finally mustered the courage to ask: "From now on, does our Chizhong Prefecture just need to follow my lord's manor? There won't be any more commandery yamen or imperial court and the like?"

The others also looked over.

This concerned matters of life and livelihood — who to pay taxes to, who to serve, who was the one above your head — none of this could be muddled.

"That's right, exactly so."

The big-bearded constable said bluntly: "His Majesty in Jingcheng... no, that's wrong — it's our Lord Yue Bo of the Great Yin Dynasty, who has enfeoffed various Viscounts and Barons across the lands. Apart from Yuezhou, which is Lord Yue Bo's own fief, the other places are all managed by the various Viscounts and Barons. We only need to obey our Lord Baron of Chizhong."

"His Majesty... how did he become Lord Yue Bo?"

Someone was stunned for a moment.

"Naturally, he's in an extremely distant place — I hear it's in the immortal lands, and there is still a true His Majesty of the Great Yin!"

The big-bearded constable's eyes shone with fervor, sharing in the glory: "Our Great Yin is far stronger than the previous Kingdom of Yue or Kingdom of Tang — only immortals can serve as lords."

"The good days are still ahead!"

"If it's really like this, the future certainly won't be bad."

Many people's eyes flickered, showing a tempted look, as they recalled something: "Didn't my lord say a few days ago that he was widely taking in concubines? Is there still a chance now?"

Previously, although there had been various rumors, everyone still didn't dare believe it — thinking it was just a shabby troupe that had only been here a month, they didn't dare push their daughters into the fire pit. It wasn't like being the principal Lady — you could gamble on it.

Now, with these words spoken personally by their neighbor Liu Xiong, many immediately believed.

If successfully chosen,

one might ascend to the heavens in a single step, becoming an immortal

"As I know it, my lord's requirements are extremely strict — one must have both virtue and talent. In a few more days, the manor will stop taking concubines."

"My younger sister Liu E was fortunate enough to be selected."

Liu Xiong boasted for a moment, then said with longing: "I heard my lord say that the Yin clan's ancestor was originally a woman of the mountains. Once, while resting by a river, she dreamed of meeting an immortal, and through the mingling of yin and yang returned. Three years later she gave birth to a son, whose talent was unrivaled through the ages. He cultivated to an extremely profound realm — Shen De Jing — and even achieved immortality."

"If my younger sister can give birth to a son, that would be a bloodline of an immortal, and in the future, who knows, she might…"

"Your esteemed nephew will surely attain the Dao and become an immortal!"

He did not say it, but everyone fell into their own imaginings, faces flushed with excitement.

Many could no longer sit still and hurried home running; the bustling teahouse instantly thinned out considerably. Those left behind were all households with no unwed female relatives at home, sighing and lamenting that they had missed a heaven-sent opportunity.

"A divine son conceived in a dream?"

"That's a rather standard legend. Many mortal dynasties like to gild the faces of their founding ancestors with similar embellishments—something about the birth chamber filled with red light, something about clouds on the horizon glowing like sunset, something about the courtyard tree's canopy spreading like a royal parasol, possessing the aura of the Son of Heaven—nothing unusual."

Jiang Ding's divine sense swept out faintly, confirming that this big-bearded constable had not lied; indeed, that Baron of the Pool had once said similar words to him.

"However, for a cultivation clan that possesses a Nascent Soul cultivator to actively spread such a legend on its own—that's rather beneath its dignity."

"Why?"

He fell into deep thought.

(End of this chapter)