Chapter 820: Meeting the Emperor

“I, Qixian, under the Eastern Pole Emperor, come to pay respects to Brother Taixu.”

A deep voice echoed through the Lingxu Mountains.

A middle-aged Daoist with streaks of gray and black in his temples slowly stepped onto Banluo Cliff and bowed deeply to the elder before him: “Greetings, Master Lingxu.”

Ordinary disciples would address a Golden Immortal as Senior or Junior Uncle, but Qixian used the term “elder.”

Lingxu Zi nodded, finding nothing amiss.

Strictly speaking, this Master Qixian was not a fellow disciple of the younger generation; he was a Celestial Walker under the Eastern Pole Emperor’s court, answering only to that Emperor.

He could directly petition a Rank-One titanic force, his status nearly equal to that of the Golden Immortals.

His age far surpassed that of You Yao, Li Shan, and others; he addressed the younger disciples as peers not only because he still held a Rank-Three cultivation base, but also to exploit the loophole of appearing as a youth to participate in the Great Calamity.

“My disciple is cultivating his nature in the back mountain. What business do you have with him?”

“It’s not urgent business. I know Brother’s cultivation is profound, so I’ve come to seek your guidance.”

Hearing the young disciple’s flattery, Lingxu Zi fell silent for a moment, clearly reluctant.

After all, Shen Yi’s name had already become widely known; fortunately, Qingguang Zi had kept him in check, allowing him to remain secluded and settle his spirit for a while.

Now even Qixian had come personally to visit. If this young disciple truly began to swell with pride, how could he possibly still respect this Lingxu Cave?

But to refuse outright would seem petty.

Lingxu Zi waved his hand: “Go.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

Qixian rose and swiftly flew toward the back mountain.

Soon, he spotted the familiar face in a quiet grotto.

The young man sat in meditative stillness, his hair bound by a golden hairpin, his waist girded with a jade belt; his black robe accentuated his already pale, otherworldly complexion.

Even the spiritual technique he had once used to conceal his face had long been dispelled.

Merely sitting there, he radiated an aura of noble dignity.

Hmph… Qixian sneered inwardly. Clothes make the man, saddle makes the horse—truly, he’s putting on airs.

But this was actually a good thing.

The haste with which he changed his attire revealed that his earlier restraint had merely been an act of concealment to blend into Beizhou; now that fortune had turned, his true nature could no longer be suppressed.

Only the combination of formidable power and shrewd cunning forged the Taixu Zhenjun who had shaken Beizhou’s disciples. Lose the latter, and he’s merely a brute with strength.

“Brother Taixu, we meet again.”

Master Qixian forced a smile and lowered his stance, bowing to the young man first.

He gave Shen Yi no chance to speak—after all, if this man brought up the incident at Tian Ta Mountain, it would embarrass him: “You’ve secluded yourself in these mountains for months. It was You Yao’s fault; why blame yourself so harshly? And now the situation in Beizhou grows ever more turbulent. I’ve come today to invite you on a journey to discuss matters.”

“Would you grace me with your company?”

“...”

Shen Yi slowly opened his eyes.

After all he’d endured, he was no longer the lowborn insect-demon disciple he once was. To remain within the Three Immortal Sect, he must now interact with its members—inevitable.

After all, to uncover the sect’s secrets, he couldn’t rely solely on the Emperor’s path.

“Please,” Shen Yi gave a slight nod.

“Brother, you’re straightforward.”

Master Qixian glanced toward Banluo Cliff—what he needed to discuss could not be overheard by that old man.

Thinking this, he smiled warmly, turned, summoned a blessed cloud, and swiftly carried Shen Yi out of the Lingxu Mountains.

“...”

After this period of reflection, Shen Yi had gradually accepted the strangeness of his ascent to Rank-Two.

He was undeniably disappointed—after all, immortality’s allure was not easily dismissed, even for him.

But since it was done, he accepted it.

At the very least, he now possessed Rank-Two cultivation. He had never feared the Great Immortal realm before; now that he wielded Golden Immortal abilities, he would not be driven away by mere fear.

A loss may turn out to be a blessing.

He now wondered why this Celestial Walker of the Eastern Pole Emperor had come to him so suddenly.

“Brother, have you noticed how chaotic Beizhou has become?”

Once far from Lingxu Mountain, Qixian slowed his pace and turned to Shen Yi, sighing: “Minor clashes among disciples never cease. Just two days ago, a dispute erupted into a violent brawl, leaving one severely wounded.”

Here, he chuckled teasingly: “These events are hardly unrelated to you, Brother.”

“We are both the sect’s elite. Every move we make carries weight. We must not set a bad precedent—we must shoulder the duty of restoring discipline.”

“If this stalemate continues without a decisive authority, how can we unite the sect’s strength to contend with the Buddhist monks of Bodhi Sect?”

Qixian stared directly at Shen Yi.

To his surprise, the young man showed no expression, only replied calmly: “I don’t quite follow.”

“Tsk.”

Qixian didn’t anger. He laughed long and loud: “What I mean is, you surely can’t have missed that Master Lingxu doesn’t treat you as a true disciple?”

“Remember last time at Tian Ta Mountain—how Qingguang treated you, how Master Lingxu looked on… To speak bluntly, had Chi Yun the Great Immortal not passed by to intervene, he wouldn’t have dared protect you.”

“You got lucky this time. What about next time?”

Qixian stepped closer, his tone increasingly aggressive: “Every disciple has a senior backing them. Yes, you are of the Shangqing Sect Master’s lineage—the Master’s authority is unchallengeable—but that lineage has more than just you. In Beizhou, throw a brick and you’ll hit dozens of Shangqing Sect Master’s disciples.”

“Is Lingxu Zi truly the one who can shield you? Can you really rely on luck every time?”

“Brother.”

Master Qixian, as if forgetting past tensions, placed his hand firmly on Shen Yi’s shoulder, speaking earnestly: “You stand at a critical moment of advancement, yet Lingxu Zi pretends ignorance, telling you to cultivate your nature in the mountains.”

“Heh, though I spoke lightly before, it was true: your attitude toward the Celestial Court’s people has angered many disciples. True, you’ve just avenged the sect by killing those monks, so no one dares speak now—but no favor lasts forever. When this fades from memory, you will become the target of all.”

“Do not miss this opportunity!”

“...”

Shen Yi quietly shook off the man’s hand and looked up: “And then?”

“And then?”

Master Qixian, seeing the bait taken, dropped his smile and said seriously: “Then I shall introduce you to someone. Come quickly with me.”

Though he said “introduce,” he led them to Kaiyuan Prefecture’s Tian Ta Mountain.

Qixian stepped slowly into the Zhenjun Shrine, smiled meaningfully, then swept his sleeve to place the statue of Taixu Zhenjun on the ground. Next, he reverently retrieved another small statue and carefully placed it upon the altar, bowing deeply.

When he rose and turned back to Shen Yi, though still smiling, his demeanor had completely changed.

“...”

Shen Yi silently scanned the surroundings—he felt no aura, yet it seemed an invisible gaze had already settled upon this place.

The thick pressure surged like a tide, making it hard to breathe.

He lowered his gaze and returned to the exquisite statue upon the altar.

Clearly, the consciousness enveloping the Immortal Shrine belonged to the Eastern Pole Emperor—one of the Six Sovereigns who governs the cycle of heaven and earth.

“Brother, I’ll speak plainly.”

Master Qixian’s lips curled slightly: “You are powerful, and the timing is perfect—you lack only a powerful backing. And I can provide that.”

“Beizhou cannot remain leaderless. Join me, crush Li Shan, and from now on, no more factional strife. We shall stand alone, sharing these twenty-nine sacred domains.”

At last, he revealed his true intent.

Like Li Shan, Qixian realized that forcibly suppressing Shen Yi’s momentum was now nearly impossible.

But whereas Li Shan chose to imitate, Qixian keenly perceived the young Zhenjun’s weakness.

“And then?”

Shen Yi stood with hands at his sides, as if utterly unaware of the pressure being applied, asking calmly.

“From what I surmise, Master Lingxu rarely speaks to you of sect affairs—he merely sees you as a useful tool.”

Master Qixian smiled faintly: “I’ll be direct: the Yuqing Sect Master, head of our Three Immortal Sect, intends to appoint twelve Golden Immortals. After the Great Calamity ends, someone must govern this world—these twelve are the Master’s chosen, destined to become Rank-One titans.”

“If you aid me in ascending to the Immortal Throne, I swear before the Eastern Pole Emperor: the Emperor’s Court will spare no effort to elevate you into the Twelve Golden Immortals—and even to their leader!”

“When that day comes, you and I, brother—I shall hold the seal and rule the Immortal Court, while you govern the mortal realm. We shall complement each other, enjoying eternal incense and worship.”

As he spoke, Qixian’s voice subtly grew seductive.

He stood before the altar, the Eastern Pole Emperor’s statue behind him; the flickering lamps cast shifting shadows that slowly engulfed Shen Yi.

The inexplicable pressure grew denser.

Shen Yi had anticipated that his rising status would draw attention from sect elders—but even he had not foreseen that the first to approach him would be this terrifying figure.

Compared to the casual man in the imperial wine pool, this Eastern Pole Emperor’s authority was a hundredfold greater—he need not even manifest his true form to crush the breath from one’s lungs.

This was the true nature of the Six Sovereigns.

Shen Yi raised his gaze, meeting Qixian’s expectant eyes, and suddenly smiled: “What if I refuse?”

“...”

Master Qixian’s expression froze for a moment, then he recovered—he realized this boy’s ambition was boundless, and a mere place among the Twelve Golden Immortals was not enough.

Hah! Let him look in the mirror and see what he truly is.

No matter how strong his cultivation, he remains confined to Rank-Three. When everyone followed the rules, this power was unmatched.

But now, chaos is brewing—first, disciples brawl and injure each other; if this continues, deaths will follow.

Once death becomes commonplace, and this boy’s fame fades with time, even the death of a Taixu Zhenjun would be no great matter.

Even funnier: he himself broke the rules.

Qixian sighed, feigning reluctance: “If so, I shall have to speak with Li Shan. After all, Brother, your power is great—if we don’t unite, we cannot stand against you.”

"But younger brother, think carefully—if I join forces with Li Shan, I can’t guarantee much, but you certainly won’t be able to claim another prefecture. Surely your ambitions aren’t to spend your whole life guarding these five great prefectures?"

"Lingxu Cave can’t support your pace. If you don’t believe me, go ask your master—he won’t support your continued advancement. If you keep dragging this out, it’ll only end in mutual ruin. Besides… younger brother, don’t forget: the longer it drags, the more trouble brews."

"You started this path; when the bitter fruit comes back to haunt you, it’ll be a pity indeed."

Qi Xian raised an eyebrow and said with deep implication: "Think carefully. Think clearly—before the Emperor."

Hearing these words heavy with threat.

Shen Yi’s gaze passed over Qi Xian and settled on the statue.

Though the man’s words were harsh, they were true. If his heart truly sought the Immortal Emperor’s throne, Lingxu Zi was no reliable support. Better to settle for second best—secure a position among the Twelve Golden Immortals.

Though the leap from second to first rank hinges on divine oaths and grand vows, with the sect master’s aid and a share of the imperial aura, ascending to first rank is merely a matter of time.

Honestly, if that crowd of Golden Immortals had to choose between the Immortal Emperor and the Emperor, nine out of ten would pick the latter. The former holds a lower official status, but in truth, he’s nothing but a puppet set up by the two sects—bound, unfree. How could he compare to the free-spirited Emperors?

Qi Xian insisted on this position because he represented the Eastern Pole Emperor’s Court—and this matter served the Emperor’s interests.

Shen Yi had no such need.

This was a win-win situation.

But unfortunately, Shen Yi’s heart wasn’t in this.

He took a light step forward. Under Qi Xian’s puzzled gaze, he moved the Eastern Pole Emperor statue aside and returned his own statue to the altar.

Seeing this, Qi Xian’s eyes widened instantly.

After finishing, Shen Yi lifted the Emperor statue, turned, and smiled softly: "Bitter fruit to taste… how convenient—I was born with a thin fate, and I love bitter things."

Before the other could react, Shen Yi’s smile vanished. He extended the divine statue with solemnity: "Your humble disciple respectfully sees off the Eastern Pole Emperor."

"You dare disrespect the Emperor!"

This familiar scene instantly brought Qi Xian back to their last encounter.

He could hardly believe it—before the Five Sovereigns, this boy still spoke as sharply and cruelly as ever.

Just as he opened his mouth to curse, the Emperor statue in his hands grew warm. The stone eyes suddenly came alive, and Qi Xian snapped his mouth shut in shock.

Facing the gaze of an Emperor.

Shen Yi remained calm and unyielding.

After a long silence, a gentle voice echoed within the Tai Xu Zhenjun Shrine.

"I await the day you come to pay your respects at the Emperor’s Court."

(End of Chapter)