Chapter 172: Celestial Observatory

Taking a disciple is a major matter.

A single misstep can bring disaster upon the sect.

Liang He had stayed by Li Rui's side long enough, endured trials, and thus could easily become his disciple.

Others had no such privilege.

Li Rui was not a careless man.

He was no longer new to mentoring; after the Ma Yang incident, he had given his all to teach, yet such devotion did not always earn gratitude—sometimes it bred resentment.

So of course he wouldn't foolishly spread the Changchun Art across the land.

Randomly transmitting techniques would surely invite calamity.

Teaching Qi cultivation must be done, but step by step, with no room for future hazards.

To walk steadily, one must see each step clearly before placing the foot—slowness doesn't matter, as long as you don't fall.

That day.

Liang He moved into Li Rui's residence.

Li Rui, already a patrol officer of the Tiger Riding Guard, simply made Liang He his personal bodyguard, exempting him from all future training.

This made Tang Hai and the others intensely envious.

They dragged Liang He out for drinking, got him thoroughly drunk, and only then let him go.

Cultivation knows no time.

Before they knew it, the plums turned yellow.

Liang He's realm advanced steadily; thanks to the nourishment of Xuanqing Qi, he was nearly equal to disciples of major sects.

He had quietly inquired.

His current realm was now scarcely different from Liu Tong's.

"Plum wine is best with green plums, sweetened with rock sugar and honey—delicious!"

Wei Ming raised his cup, sipping and savoring.

Liang He seized the chance to refill Wei's cup at once.

That night.

Li Rui specially invited Ning Zhongtian, Wei Ming, Ge Hong, and Tan Hu for a small gathering at his home.

Such gatherings happened every few days.

Liang He had long grown accustomed to them.

Tan Hu glared with his ox-like eyes: "Wei, why do you insist on drinking that girly stuff? Burned knife liquor suits me better—too bad Yunzhou doesn't have it."

"Fine."

Wei Ming knew he was talking to a wall.

Tan Hu came from the northwest frontier army, where burned knife liquor was the local brew.

It wasn't good wine, just brutally strong.

Wei Ming had never tried it and had no intention to.

It was a drink for the poor to stir their spirits—burned the throat, and he was born to hate hardship.

Ning Zhongtian propped one leg up, leaning against the soft couch.

He smiled silently, saying nothing.

The Ghost Ming Sect had grown quiet, Cao Wei had ceased his moves—during such idle times, lying down was the most comfortable.

Watching Wei Ming and Tan Hu, two fools, about to bicker again,

he sighed and tapped the couch arm.

The sharp tapping sounds quickly drew everyone's attention.

Ning Zhongtian, seeing all eyes on him, spoke:

"I heard the Celestial Observatory has a new Director, appointed personally by His Majesty. Can you guess who?"

Celestial Observatory!

At those three words, Li Rui and the others perked up; Tan Hu and Wei Ming forgot their quarrel.

Ning Zhongtian deliberately dragged it out, seeing their eager stares, and smiled faintly.

No one, young or old, male or female, could resist gossip.

Especially gossip about the Celestial Observatory, so mysterious to outsiders.

The Celestial Observatory followed the old dynasty's system, but unlike before, Yu Kingdom placed greater emphasis on it.

Ultimately, it stemmed from the ancient emperors' pursuit of immortality.

The previous dynasty sought immortality too, but favored demon-feeding arts and demonic rituals; Yu Kingdom preferred seeking immortals and the Dao.

Originally, the Celestial Observatory's duty was only to observe celestial phenomena and set the calendar.

But with successive Yu emperors' strong support, it had become a colossal institution overseeing demonic beasts, hidden sects, and selecting Daoist talents—even rivaling the Ministry of Rites.

Moreover, its officials were mostly Daoists, radiating deep mysticism.

All these were secondary duties of the Director.

The Director's sole primary duty was to seek immortality for the Dragon Throne.

Legend says an ancient empire's founding emperor ordered all Daoists to seek the elixir of immortality, even sending a great Daoist with three thousand boys and girls across the Eastern Sea to find it.

Li Rui remained noncommittal.

If one pill could grant immortality, what need was there for cultivation?

But the Celestial Observatory's power was undeniable.

Sometimes, the emperor met the Director more often than the Grand Secretary.

As always:

Power isn't measured by rank, but by proximity to the emperor.

From this view, the Director held immense power.

"Ning Boss, who is it? Stop teasing us—you'll choke us to death!"

Wei Ming couldn't hold back.

Ning Zhongtian's smile widened; having drawn out the suspense, he revealed: "The Master of the Ask-Immortal Tower."

He looked at Li Rui after speaking.

Upon hearing the name, Li Rui's brow twitched.

He silently sighed—he should have kept Yao Xue longer.

A demon heart lingering for ten years was common.

"I've heard the Master of the Ask-Immortal Tower has visited the capital many times to meet His Majesty—never imagined he'd leap straight to Director!"

When one man attains enlightenment, even his dogs and chickens rise in status.

With the Master of the Ask-Immortal Tower entering the world, the tower was no longer a hidden sect; its elders and disciples would surely rise in prestige, and connections would naturally form.

Li Rui pondered.

When the Ask-Immortal Tower lost a disciple, Jiang Lin reacted so strongly—looking back, he clearly had known in advance.

Subordinates think their superiors overreact because they lack information.

Only by shifting perspective can one grasp the deeper meaning.

"Whoa, Director!" Wei Ming, Ge Hong, and Tan Hu all drew sharp breaths.

They had all been involved in the Qu Chengfeng case, so they knew of the Ask-Immortal Tower as a hidden sect.

Once merely prestigious, it was now a truly honored major sect.

You know the Minister of War?

He commands all troops, a second-rank official, a godlike figure in the eyes of soldiers like them.

In the Six Ministries, he usually ranked third.

The first two were the Ministries of Personnel and Rites.

The Celestial Observatory Director stood equal to the Minister of Rites—and even closer to the emperor.

In Li Rui's past life terms:

It's a rocket launch!

Ning Zhongtian grinned smugly: "I heard this from Minister Jiang—it hasn't been announced yet. Don't you dare spread it."

"Relax, Ning Boss."

=9+book_bar

Wei Ming and the others grinned ear to ear.

The thrill of knowing a secret before the world was intoxicating.

The group gloated inwardly.

Li Rui, however, gazed thoughtfully at the Seek-Immortal Stone tied to his wrist.

"Immortal fate."

The Ask-Immortal Tower had caught the emperor's eye for a reason—it possessed real ability.

This Seek-Immortal Stone in his hand might yet bring him unexpected surprises.

Along both sides of the avenue, pavilions and towers stood shoulder to shoulder, countless rooftops obscuring the clouds, hiding the horizon.

In the center, a golden glow, impossible to avoid.

This was the unique splendor of the imperial capital—towers linked to clouds, gold scattered everywhere.

People in the capital all call themselves "Jingye."

Which native of the capital hasn't seen a third-rank official? To call oneself "ye" to outsiders from other provinces isn't even excessive.

On a bustling street.

A carriage moved slowly, and passersby all stepped aside.

A quick glance revealed that the guards on either side of the carriage were Imperial Guards.

Yu State had only one Imperial Guard unit.

The sole purpose of the Imperial Guards was to guard the Imperial Palace and protect the Zhu imperial family.

Whenever the Imperial Guards appeared, it meant a member of the imperial family was present.

Passing through the grand and majestic Divine Dragon Avenue.

The carriage glided smoothly into the Imperial Palace, the highest seat of power in the world, without any obstruction.

Yet the occupant inside was not of the imperial family.

Inside the carriage.

An old Daoist sat with eyes closed, cultivating his spirit; Yao Xue and Qu Chengfeng sat on either side of him.

"The Imperial Palace is truly enormous."

Yao Xue lifted the carriage curtain and peered out like a thief, gazing at sights she had once been unable to see even on tiptoe.

Qu Chengfeng chuckled: "Sister, the Imperial Palace isn't actually that big. I heard the old Immortal Court was truly vast."

"Brother, you shouldn't say things like that."

Yao Xue quickly cut him off.

Criticizing or belittling the Imperial Palace—if overheard—was a grave crime.

Qu Chengfeng laughed carelessly, utterly unconcerned.

Yao Xue sighed softly.

Her younger brother had survived a life-or-death trial and barely escaped back alive, yet his restless nature hadn't changed one bit.

It was enough to drive one mad.

Out of nowhere, a figure surfaced in her mind.

"Li Rui."

Compared to Qu Chengfeng, Li Rui was the opposite extreme—calm, steady, as if nothing in the world could stir his heart.

At that moment, Master Zhang slowly opened his eyes and stroked his beard with a long laugh:

"It's fine. Your junior uncle is an old friend of the Emperor. As long as you don't commit treason or rebellion, you'll still be protected."

Yao Xue blinked her beautiful large eyes.

This was the first time she'd ever heard her master speak so boldly.

When they traveled the world with him before, he always told them to endure everything, to avoid conflict at all costs.

Now that they'd come to the capital—the deepest waters in the realm—he'd changed his tune.

Master Zhang saw his disciples' confusion:

"Your junior uncle serves in court. As relatives, we can't let him lose face."

"Oh."

Yao Xue nodded.

Master Zhang had another reason he hadn't told his two disciples.

Their journey to the capital was destined to be anything but smooth.

Since it was already inevitable, better to be open and bold—so at least the Holy Emperor could rest easy.

Is Wuxian Tower powerful?

That depends on who you're comparing it to.

Compared to the true great sects of Yu State, it's vastly inferior.

Even many court officials have misunderstood one thing.

The new Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau didn't gain the Emperor's favor because of Wuxian Tower—he elevated Wuxian Tower to heights it never deserved because of himself.

"Your junior uncle was once a celestial immortal cast down to the mortal world; he will surely become a great talent."

Master Zhang recalled his own master's words when taking him as a disciple.

Wuxian Tower accepted no more than three disciples per generation.

Usually, three generations gathered together was already impressive; after his master died, Master Zhang still had one senior uncle.

Altogether, Wuxian Tower had only six people.

The senior uncle was elusive, wandering the world—no one could find him.

Your junior uncle needs help in court. If he won't come, who will?

"A lifetime of toil."

Master Zhang sighed softly.

Wuxian Tower entering the world seemed glorious, but in truth, it was fraught with peril—not necessarily a good thing.

Serving the sovereign is like serving a tiger.

One misstep, and the entire sect is wiped out.

"This Imperial Palace appears splendid and serene, but every corner hides deadly danger."

(End of Chapter)