Chapter 647: Unexpected development

Outside the city, on Yuquan Mountain, a Daoist arena was opened, and a Daoist temple was built, named Yuquan Palace. The temple master was none other than the old acquaintance, Pure Yang Zhenren.

When Chen Guanlou learned of this news, he nearly sprayed.

Several hundred years ago, the Taizu Emperor waved his hand and divided the hundred-mile-long Yuquan Mountain to Jixia Academy. Since then, Yuquan Mountain had become the private property of Jixia Academy, and no one was allowed to enter without permission.

It had only been a few months, and half of Yuquan Mountain had been cut out, and a Daoist arena had been built, with Pure Yang Zhenren as the temple master.

A proper slap in the face!

He, Chen Guanlou, slapped the face first, and Pure Yang Zhenren slapped the face later, tsk...

Emperor Jian Shi's move—the territory was a small matter, but face was a big matter. Because of this, Jixia Academy's status dropped in a straight line.

Worthy of being an Emperor, seizing every opportunity to stir up trouble.

He asked Master Du, "Slapping the face so hard, Jixia Academy didn't make a scene? With so many officials from Jixia Academy in the officialdom, they didn't have any reaction?"

"How could they not make a scene! I heard the memorials piled up half a room. But His Majesty was unmoved, only saying that it was a pity that such a large Yuquan Mountain didn't have a Daoist arena. Plus, officials not from Jixia Academy fully supported it, so they finally took down half the territory and built Yuquan Palace."

"The people of Jixia Academy must be so angry their noses are crooked."

"You are wrong. The people of Jixia Academy don't hate the imperial court, nor do they hate His Majesty; they hate you."

"Hate me?" Chen Guanlou pointed at his own face, a face as handsome as jade; who could bear to hate it?

"It is precisely hating you. You tore open the window paper and gave His Majesty an opportunity. You broke Jixia Academy's 'Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth Shirt', causing the world to no longer mythologize Jixia Academy from now on. You also tore off their face, causing them to lose face in public, and gave others an opportunity to take advantage of. You are the culprit behind the fall of Jixia Academy!"

Master Du said sonorously.

As a scholar, initially, hearing that Jixia Academy had lost, his heart was very complicated. He was happy for Chen Guanlou, yet worried for Jixia Academy. He didn't expect the worry to become reality. Victory every time was expected. As long as there was one defeat, it would attract a pack of wolves.

Was half of Yuquan Mountain important?

It wasn't important!

However, when Yuquan Mountain was closely related to Jixia Academy, it wasn't just territory, but face, the inner lining, influence, and the right to speak. Half the territory seemed exceptionally important.

Being cut off from half the territory meant Jixia Academy's transcendent status was gone.

Emperor Jian Shi personally beat down the academy with the greatest influence in the world, reducing it to the ordinary.

Painful!

At this moment, Master Du couldn't help but feel a bit anxious, and his speech was also very impolite.

Who could have imagined that a simple spar would become a weapon for court struggles, with such serious follow-up influence.

Regrettable!

Master Du poured a glass of wine in one gulp, feeling very depressed. As if he had lost a spiritual symbol, he looked very decadent.

Seeing this, Chen Guanlou sighed and exclaimed, "Master, you don't have to be like this."

"You are not a scholar; you don't understand."

"You also think I am the culprit."

"Not so! Without Chen Guanlou, there would be Li Guanlou, Wang Guanlou. They wanted to do it, and sooner or later they would find a suitable person to lead the charge. You just happened to be at the right time, caught up in it, and were seized by others. Alas, it's all fate!"

Master Du sighed repeatedly.

Sorrowful for the fall of Jixia Academy. Clearly, he didn't value it much on weekdays, but when the day of the fall truly arrived, watching it helplessly and being unable to do anything, scholars' hearts ached! Drink first as a sign of respect!

"As long as the Master can figure it out, it's fine. I am just a tool person; initially, I just purely wanted to find someone to fight, and the students of Jixia Academy bumped into me, so I naturally met them. As for the follow-up development, it was not my wish, nor could I control it."

As far as the world is concerned, everyone is a chess piece.

Even the one sitting on the dragon throne is a chess piece on the chessboard of the world.

Who is the chess player?

There is no specific "who," only the "trend"!

The trend of the world!

The trend has arrived, and Jixia Academy should fall.

Bidding farewell to Master Du, Chen Guanlou went outside the city and headed straight for Yuquan Mountain.

Today, Yuquan Mountain was very calm; Jixia Academy's mountain gates were closed, and there were few people and carriages. Students seeking knowledge would mostly return disappointed.

Continuing forward, he arrived at the western foot of Yuquan Mountain, and indeed, construction was in full swing.

The stone steps up the mountain had been paved, the plaza had been built, and the main hall dedicated to the Three Pure Ones had already lit up with curling green smoke.

Chen Guanlou went straight in and saw Pure Yang Zhenren, who was directing the craftsmen on how to shape the golden body for the Ancestor, in the second hall.

The Zhenren was still the same, with the demeanor of an immortal.

"Fu Sheng Wu Liang Tian Zun!"

As soon as Pure Yang Zhenren saw him, he performed a Daoist salute.

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen has returned; it is a joyous and congratulatory occasion!"

"I also want to congratulate the Zhenren on returning safely from prison, and now being the temple master of the imperial Daoist arena, Yuquan Palace; it is a joyous and congratulatory occasion!"

"Same joy, same joy!"

Pure Yang Zhenren led Chen Guanlou to the backyard tea room, and after the tea was served, he waved away his disciples.

Chen Guanlou didn't rush to drink tea, but asked, "So, your family's case is closed? No one will bring up the late Emperor's cultivation again to make things difficult for you?"

"Whether someone makes things difficult depends on the specific situation. No one is making things difficult today, but that doesn't guarantee no one will make things difficult ten years from now."

"Since His Majesty uses you and lets you serve as the temple master of Yuquan Palace, I think he won't turn against you in the short term."

"I hope so."

"Seeing the alchemy room on the way here, could it be that His Majesty let you serve as the temple master also for alchemy?" Chen Guanlou guessed curiously.

Pure Yang Zhenren smiled faintly. "Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, living in the Heavenly Prison is a waste of talent! You guessed right; His Majesty let me station in Yuquan Palace precisely for alchemy. Our Daoist sect has countless alchemy formulas, and there are some that can be used. His Majesty is very curious about their effects and hopes to refine them."

"In that case, His Majesty is no different from the late Emperor."

"His Majesty at least learned a lesson and didn't ask us Daoists to enter the palace for alchemy, so there's no need to bear the scolding of court officials every day."

"Does the Zhenren have confidence?"

No need to ask to know that the alchemy His Majesty asked Pure Yang Zhenren to refine definitely wasn't ordinary medicine. It must be rare, scarce, and rare medicine that "prolonging life" wasn't enough to describe; the success rate was likely very hard to guarantee.

"I don't have full confidence. I barely have a two or three-tenths chance; let's try it." Pure Yang Zhenren seemed very open-minded; whether in the Heavenly Prison or the Daoist temple, he was calm and collected everywhere, viewing things with a normal heart.

Pure Yang Zhenren suddenly said, "I have an alchemy formula here, called 'Qi-Inducing Pill'; I don't quite know its specific function. Taking the opportunity of refining alchemy for His Majesty, I intend to try refining the Qi-Inducing Pill. If it succeeds, I wonder if Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen would dare to try it?"

Let him test the poison?

No!

Test the medicine!

Chen Guanlou pondered for a moment; this business could be done. He had the Longevity Dao Fruit and didn't fear any poison, nor did he fear the pill killing him. ===== CHAPTER 648 =====