Chapter 782: Meeting the Emperor

"I am Qixian, under the seat of the Dongji Emperor, here to pay a visit to Yan Shidi Taixu."

Between the Lingxu mountain range, a deep, resonant voice rang out.

A middle-aged Daoist with black-and-white at the temples slowly stepped onto the Banluo Cliff, and bowed toward the old man ahead: "Greetings, Senior Lingxu."

Ordinary disciples, upon meeting a Jin Xian, would address them as Martial Uncle or Martial Elder, yet Qixian used the form of address "senior."

Lingxu Zi nodded, not finding it inappropriate.

To be precise, this Venerable Qixian was not really a fellow disciple of the other juniors; he belonged to the Dongji Emperor's estate as a wandering envoy of the realm, taking orders only from that one Emperor.

Being able to meet a first-rank titan face to face meant his standing was little different from that of any number of Jin Xian.

His age was also considerably greater than that of Hongze Daxian, Li Shan, and the others. The reason he still addressed the younger disciples as peers was, first, because he remained at the third-rank realm, and second, because he wished to slip through the cracks and take part in the great tribulation under the identity of a member of the younger generation.

"My disciple is tempering his temperament in the rear mountain. What pressing matter brings you to seek him?"

"It is no pressing matter. Qixian knows Yan Shidi's Dao is profound, and has come especially to seek his counsel."

Hearing the polite pleasantries of this junior, Lingxu Zi deliberated for a moment, clearly somewhat unwilling.

After all, Shen Yi was already causing quite a stir these days. Fortunately, Master Qingguang had stepped in to suppress things, which was the only reason he could stay put in peace and settle down for a time.

Now even Qixian was coming to call in person. If this little disciple truly got carried away, where would he still find room in his eyes for his own Lingxu Grotto?

Yet refusing outright would seem somewhat petty.

Lingxu Zi waved his hand: "Go ahead."

"Many thanks, Senior."

Qixian rose to his feet and, in a few strides, swept toward the rear mountain.

Soon, in a secluded grotto, he saw that familiar face.

The young man was still sitting cross-legged in quiet meditation, his hair bound with a golden hairpin, a jade belt cinching his waist, a robe of dark blue setting off that already fair complexion and making him look all the more otherworldly.

Even the divine technique he had previously used to veil his face had long since been withdrawn.

Simply sitting there, he gave one a sense of noble, dignified bearing.

Heh… Qixian sneered inwardly. Fine clothes make the man, fine saddle makes the horse — he's really perked himself up.

Still, this was not a bad thing.

From this single act of rushing to change his attire, one could tell that his earlier restraint had been nothing more than forbearance to blend into Beizhou. Now that he had gained the upper hand in a single stroke, he could no longer hold back his true nature.

It was his formidable strength paired with his meticulous mind that had forged that Taixu Zhenjun who had so shaken his fellow disciples in Beizhou. Without the latter, he would be nothing more than a brute with power and nothing else.

"Yan Shidi Taixu, we meet again."

Venerable Qixian forced a smile, and, setting aside his pride, took the initiative to bow to the other.

He did not give Shen Yi a chance to speak — after all, if this fellow had the nerve to bring up the matter at Tashan last time, it really would cost him face: "You've been reflecting here in the mountains for several months now. It was Hongze's fault to begin with, so there's no need for you to blame yourself so. Moreover, the situation in Beizhou is growing more and more turbulent. The reason I have come today is to invite you to travel together and have a chat."

"Might you do me the honor?"

"…"

Shen Yi slowly opened his eyes.

After all that had happened, he was no longer that insect-demon disciple of obscure origins he once was. If he wished to continue moving among the Sanxian Sect, mingling with the other members of the faith had become unavoidable.

After all, if he wanted to gather intelligence on the sect, he could not rely solely on the channel through the Human Sovereign.

"Please," Shen Yi gave a slight nod of his chin.

"Yan Shidi, how straightforward."

Venerable Qixian glanced in the direction of Banluo Cliff. The matters to be discussed today could not be allowed to reach that old thing's ears.

With this thought, he turned with a smiling face, summoned an auspicious cloud, and swiftly carried Shen Yi out of the Lingxu mountain range.

"…"

With this stretch of time to digest things, Shen Yi had gradually come to accept the strangeness that had appeared when he ascended to second-rank.

Disappointment was certainly there — after all, the lure of immortality and invulnerability to a cultivator could hardly be dispelled in a few words, and even he was no exception.

But since it was already a fact, he could only accept it.

No matter how one put it, he did possess the cultivation of a second-rank realm. When he had still been a Daluo immortal he had not been afraid; now that he possessed the methods of a Jin Xian, there was no reason to be frightened off.

When the old man at the frontier lost his horse, who could say it was not a blessing?

What he did want to know now was why this wandering envoy under the Dongji Emperor had suddenly come knocking.

"Yan Shidi, do you know that Beizhou has been growing more and more chaotic of late?"

After putting some distance between them and the Lingxu mountains, Qixian finally slowed his pace, turned to look at Shen Yi, and sighed: "Friction among our fellow disciples, great and small, has never ceased. Just two days ago, there was even a case where words failed and blows were exchanged, leading to serious injury."

Saying this, he added with a teasing smile: "These matters cannot be said to have nothing to do with you, Yan Shidi."

"You and I are both the elite of the sect; every move we make carries great influence. We must not set a bad example, and we ought to shoulder the responsibility of setting the tone."

"If the situation keeps deadlocking like this, with no one to call the shots, how can we gather the strength of our followers to contend with those Monks of the Puti Sect?"

Having said this, Venerable Qixian stared fixedly at Shen Yi.

But to his surprise, the young man's face showed no particular change; he merely said lightly: "I'm afraid I don't quite follow."

"Tch."

Qixian was not angered. He laughed long and said: "What I mean, Brother, is — surely you can see that Senior Lingxu has not been treating you as a true disciple, has he?"

"Last time at Tashan, the way Senior Qingguang treated you, Senior Lingxu's manner… to speak a most disrespectful word, had it not been for Grand Immortal Elder Chi Yun passing by to help, he might not have had the courage to protect you."

"You were lucky this time. What about the next?"

Qixian stepped closer, with a faintly aggressive air: "You must understand, every disciple has a senior backing them. True, you are indeed of the lineage of the Shangqing Sect Lord, and the Sect Lord's dignity is not to be offended. But that lineage has more than one disciple — toss a brick anywhere in Beizhou and you'll hit a whole crowd of the Shangqing Sect Lord's disciples and grand-disciples."

"Is Lingxu Zi truly the one who can back you up? You can't keep pinning your hopes on luck every single time."

"Yan Shidi."

Venerable Qixian seemed to have forgotten their earlier rift. With the air of a concerned elder, he placed his palm on Shen Yi's shoulder: "This is precisely the moment for you to press forward, yet Lingxu Zi pretends not to know, leaving you here in the mountains to 'temper your temperament.'"

"Heh. You know what I said earlier was in jest, but it is also fact. Your attitude toward the common folk of the Divine Dynasty has long drawn the dissatisfaction of many fellow disciples. Of course, you have just now vented the sect's grievance by killing those Monks, so no one dares say much. But there is no such thing as an unchanging favor in this world. Once this matter fades from memory, you will surely become the target of all arrows."

"You absolutely must not miss this chance!"

"..."

Shen Yi quietly shook off the other's hand, raised his eyes, and said: "So?"

"So?"

Seeing the other take the bait, Master Qixian put away his smile and said seriously: "So I want to introduce you to someone. Come quickly with your elder brother."

He called it an introduction, yet he had come to the Heavenly Tashan of Kaiyuan Prefecture.

Qixian stepped slowly into that Zhenjun Shrine, revealed a meaningful smile, then swept his sleeve and took the statue of Taixu Zhenjun on the altar and set it on the ground. Immediately after, with a respectful expression, he took out another small statue, then carefully placed it on the altar, and devoutly bowed down.

When he stood up and turned back to look at Shen Yi, though the smile still lingered on his lips, his entire bearing had changed.

"..."

Shen Yi silently swept his gaze around. He clearly felt no aura whatsoever, yet it was as if a pair of invisible eyes had quietly turned toward this place.

That thick, heavy pressure came surging over like a tide, giving one the feeling of being unable to catch one's breath.

He withdrew his gaze and looked again at the exquisite little statue on the altar.

Clearly, the consciousness now shrouding the immortal shrine came from one of the Six Imperials who governed the turning of heaven and earth — the Dongji Emperor.

"Junior brother, your elder brother will just say it straight."

Master Qixian's lips curved slightly upward: "You are immensely powerful, and the timing is just right. You only lack some backing, and I happen to be able to give you exactly that."

"Beizhou cannot go a single day without a master. You and I join hands, suppress Li Shan, and from then on our fellow disciples will have no more strife. We stand alone at the top, sharing the dao-fields of these twenty-nine prefectures."

At this point, he finally revealed his true purpose.

Like Li Shan, Qixian had also realized that under the present circumstances, forcibly pressing down Shen Yi's momentum was nearly impossible.

But unlike Li Shan, who chose to imitate, he had keenly seized upon this Taixu Zhenjun's weakness.

"And then?"

Shen Yi stood with his hands at his sides, seemingly not having realized at all that this "dao-brother" was putting pressure on him with his position, and asked calmly.

"From what I can deduce, that Lingxuzi probably rarely discusses the Sect's affairs with you, junior brother — he simply treats you as a handy tool."

Master Qixian's lips curved slightly upward: "I'll just say it straight. The Yuqing Sect Master, as the head of our Sanxian Sect, now wishes to appoint twelve Jin Xian. After all, once the great tribulation ends, someone must govern this realm. These twelve are personally chosen by the Sect Master — future first-rank powerhouses, steady and sure."

"All junior brother needs to do is be willing to help me ascend to the position of Immortal Emperor. With the Emperor above, I, Qixian, dare not speak a single false word. The Dongji Emperor's Court will surely push you with all its might into the ranks of the Twelve Jin Xian — even to the very first among the Jin Xian!"

"When that day comes, the two of us brothers — I shall hold the seal and guard the Immortal Court, while you govern the mortal world. We complement each other, enjoying endless ages of incense and worship."

At this point, a faintly beguiling note had crept into Master Qixian's words.

He stood before the altar, the Dongji Emperor's statue behind him. As the lamplight flickered, the swaying shadows gradually swallowed Shen Yi.

That inexplicable pressure grew thicker and thicker.

Shen Yi had expected that as his status rose, he would draw the attention of more great powers within the Sect, but even he had not anticipated that the very first one would be so terrifying in identity.

Compared to the easygoing man in the wine pool of the imperial city, the Dongji Emperor's majesty was a hundred times greater—without even needing to manifest his true form, he could pin a person down until they could not breathe.

This was what the Six Imperials truly looked like.

Shen Yi raised his eyes. Facing Qixian's expectant gaze, he suddenly smiled: "What if I'm unwilling to agree?"

"..."

Master Qixian's expression faltered slightly. A moment later he realized — this boy's ambition was higher than the heavens, his appetite was vast; clearly he was not satisfied with a mere seat among the Twelve Jin Xian.

Pfft! He should take a look in the mirror and see what sort of trash he actually is.

No matter how strong his cultivation, it was still confined within the bounds of third-rank. In the past, when everyone abided by the rules, this level of strength was naturally invincible.

But now, the situation already showed signs of chaos. For now it was still disciples fighting and being gravely wounded, but if this standoff continued, it would not be long before lives were lost.

Once casualties became commonplace, and this one's fame faded with time, then even if one more Taixu Zhenjun died, it probably would not be considered any great matter.

What was even funnier was that it was the other party himself who had broken these rules in the first place.

Qixian sighed softly and put on a troubled look: "If that's the case, then your elder brother will have no choice but to go chat with Li Shan. After all, junior brother's momentum is so great now — if we don't join forces, we simply have no power to resist."

"But junior brother should think this through clearly. If your elder brother and Li Shan join hands, I can't guarantee anything else, but at the very least you won't be able to take another single prefecture. Surely junior brother's grand ambition isn't just to guard these five great prefectures for the rest of his life?"

"Lingxu Grotto cannot support your stride. If you don't believe it, go back and ask your master — see whether he supports you continuing to press forward. If this drags on, it will only end in both sides being broken. Besides... junior brother shouldn't forget that a long night invites many dreams."

"The precedent you set — in the end, if you reap the bitter fruit yourself, it would be rather a pity."

Qixian raised a brow and said meaningfully: "Think it over carefully. In front of the Emperor, think it through before you speak."

Listening to these words thick with the flavor of threat.

Shen Yi's gaze passed over Qixian and landed on that statue.

Although this man's words were somewhat harsh, in truth everything he said was true. If his own ambitions lay with the position of Immortal Emperor, then Lingxuzi really was not a qualified backer. It would be better to take second best and secure a seat among the Twelve Jin Xian.

Although going from second-rank to first-rank depended on immortal oaths and grand vows, if one had the Sect Master's aid, and on top of that a share of the people's imperial qi, ascending to first-rank would only be a matter of time.

To tell the truth, between Immortal Emperor and Emperor, if you asked that group of Jin Xian to choose, ninety-nine out of a hundred would pick the latter. The nominal status was lower, but in reality the former was nothing more than a puppet set up by the two Sects — no freedom at all. Where was the carefree ease of the Emperors?

The reason Qixian absolutely had to have this position was that he represented the Dongji Emperor's Court — this matter benefited the Emperor.

Shen Yi had absolutely no need for this.

This was a win-win situation.

But somewhat regrettably, Shen Yi's mind was not on this at all.

He gently stepped forward, and under Master Qixian's puzzled gaze, moved the Dongji Emperor statue to the side, then placed his own statue back on the altar.

Seeing this scene, Qixian's eyes instantly went wide.

After doing all this, Shen Yi only then picked up the Emperor's statue, turned around, and said with a light laugh: "Reaping one's own bitter fruit... what a coincidence — I was born with a thin fate, I happen to enjoy a bit of bitterness."

Before the other could react, he had already put away his smile, held out the divine statue, and said seriously: "This junior respectfully sees off the Dongji Emperor."

"You dare show disrespect to the Emperor!"

This déjà vu scene instantly brought the memory of their last meeting back to Qixian.

He could hardly believe it — even when facing one of the Five Imperials, this boy's words were still as sharp and biting as ever.

Just as he was about to burst into curses, the Emperor statue in his hand grew warm, and those stone eyes suddenly came to life, scaring Qixian into shutting his mouth at once.

Facing the gaze of an Emperor.

Shen Yi still wore that same composed, neither servile nor overbearing expression.

After a long while, a warm, mellow voice rose within the Taixu Zhenjun Shrine.

"I shall be waiting for the day you come to pay your respects at the Emperor's Residence."

(End of chapter)