Chapter 598

The sky tore open; before the bright moon shone everywhere, Lan Changqing was standing on the summit of Emerald Orchid Peak, gazing eagerly at the sky.

Translation: The sky tore open, before the bright moon shone everywhere, Lan Changqing was standing on the summit of Emerald Orchid Peak, looking eagerly at the sky.

The sky tore open; before the bright moon shone everywhere, Lan Changqing stood on the summit of Emerald Orchid Peak, looking eagerly at the sky.

We'll output as one line.

The Lan family, a medium-sized clan in Jade State City, had ancestors who once served in the military, fighting underground demons, and earned an eighth‑rank earl's fief.

Translation: The Lan Clan, a medium-small family in Jade Prefecture City, had ancestors who once served in the army, fighting underground demons, and earned an eighth-rank earl's fief.

He earned an eighth‑rank earl's fief.

The Three Dukes, Six Marquises, and Ninth‑Rank Earls—within the Divine State of Great Jin's nobility system, an eighth‑rank earl is considered the lowest rank, but it is still a noble title after all.

Translation: The Three Dukes, Six Marquises, and Ninth-rank Earls—in the noble system of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom, an eighth-rank earl is the lowest rank, yet it is still a fief.

Thanks to this eighth‑rank earl's title, the Lan family maintained a modest but notable presence in Jade State City. To the southeast of the city, over twelve thousand li away, they possessed a thousand‑li fiefdom, with tens of millions of subjects, hundreds of mines and medicinal fields, and, remarkably, at the heart of their territory lay a small spiritual cavern blessed land.

Translation: Relying on this eighth-rank earl's title, the Lan Clan maintained a modest but notable presence in Jade Prefecture City. To the southeast of the city, twelve thousand li away, the Lan Clan possessed a thousand-li domain, with tens of millions of subjects, hundreds of mines and medicinal fields; moreover, amazingly, at the heart of their domain lay a tiny spiritual cave blessed land.

Relying on the hard‑won foundation built by their ancestors, each generation of Lan family heads has been cautious and prudent, with clan members diligently managing the estate, forging alliances with powerful clans elsewhere, restricting marriages to the main line, and steadily growing the family's business—worthy of their forebears.

Translation: Building on the foundation painstakingly earned by their ancestors, each generation of Lan Clan heads was cautious and careful, each generation of clansmen diligently managed the estate, befriended powerful families elsewhere, restrained the main line of descendants, and the Lan Clan's enterprise flourished, worthy of their forebears.

Especially after Lan Changqing took over as family head three hundred years ago, he employed a "silk‑hiding‑a‑needle" strategy, through several successful marital alliances, extending the Lan family's influence and reach to cover one‑tenth of Jade State's territory.

Translation: Especially after Lan Changqing took over as clan head three hundred years ago, he used the "hidden needle in cotton" method; through several successful marriage alliances, the Lan Clan's influence and reach spread across one-tenth of Jade Prefecture's territory.

Lan Changqing further selected dozens of elite clan members, bringing half of the family's private forces to join the Divine Might Army, heading to the frontiers to expand territory and earn military merit for the Divine State of Great Jin. Though ambitious, he harbored no grand ambitions; his goal was simply to raise the Lan family's rank from eighth‑rank earl up by two or three grades, which would be enough.

Translation: Lan Changqing further selected dozens of elite clansmen, bringing half of the clan's private troops, joined the Divine Might Army, and went to the frontiers to expand territory and earn merit for the Great Jin Divine Kingdom. Lan Changqing was ambitious but harbored no greed; his goal was merely to raise the Lan Clan from eighth-rank earl up by two or three ranks, which would be enough.

Achieving a fourth‑ or fifth‑rank earlship would roughly double the family's lands, providing ample space for a growing clan population and sufficient resources to support an increasing number of family cultivators.

Translation: With a fifth- or fourth-rank earl, the clan's territory could roughly double, enough to accommodate its growing population and provide sufficient resources for its increasing number of cultivators.

A modest, yet concrete goal.

Translation: A small but definite goal.

Therefore, Lan Changqing is very cautious and careful, never involving himself in so‑called national affairs.

Translation: Therefore, Lan Changqing was very cautious and careful, never meddling in so-called state affairs.

Moreover, from a damaged ancient text he learned the sage's saying, "Only petty people and women are difficult to nurture," and thus he had always avoided any dealings with Princess Jing Sheng, keeping his distance from spirits and deities as the saying advises—and he indeed followed this principle.

Translation: Moreover, from a damaged classic he learned the sage's saying, "Only petty people and women are hard to please," so he previously avoided any involvement with Princess Jingcheng, indeed practicing the principle of honoring spirits while keeping distant.

Thus, when the new Lord of Jade State, Huo Xiong, arrived with a great army, Lan Changqing was the first to send a messenger with a letter of allegiance.

Translation: Thus, when the new Lord of Jade Prefecture, Huo Xiong, arrived with a great army, he was the first to send a messenger delivering a letter of allegiance.

Thus, when the great clans of Jade State rose in rebellion, he instructed his clansmen not to become involved in that turmoil.

Translation: Therefore, when the powerful clans of Jade Prefecture rose in rebellion, he instructed his clansmen not to join the chaos.

Perhaps because of that pledge of allegiance, when the Lord of Jade State ordered the great clans to surrender their private forces and merge them into the Eastern Garden Guard, he did not harm a single hair of the Lan family, allowing them to pass peacefully through Jade State's turbulent times.

Translation: Perhaps because of that letter of allegiance, when the Lord of Jade Prefecture ordered the powerful clans to surrender their private troops and form the East Arsenal Forbidden Army, he did not harm a single hair of the Lan Clan, and the Lan Clan peacefully survived Jade Prefecture's turbulent times.

The events that followed convinced even those Lan family members who had previously been dissatisfied with Lan Changqing's conservatism and caution to wholeheartedly accept and respect him.

Translation: What happened afterward made the Lan Clan members, who had been slightly dissatisfied with Lan Changqing's conservatism and caution, completely convinced and obedient.

Unexpectedly, indeed unexpectedly, the Lord of Jade State proved ruthless and vicious, annihilating in a single battle the remnants of the First Army that remained loyal to the former dynasty, slaying countless commanders and generals, and even poisoning his own Four Gardens Twelve Guards.

Translation: Unexpectedly, truly unexpectedly, that Lord of Jade Prefecture turned out so ruthless and cruel, in one battle annihilating the First Army's remnants loyal to the previous dynasty, killing countless generals, and even poisoning his own Four Palaces Twelve Guards Forbidden Army.

Terrifying, terrifying, truly terrifying.

Translation: Terrifying, terrifying, truly terrifying.

The former Lord of Jade State, now the Prince of Peace, is truly an extremely frightening and dangerous figure.

Translation: The former Lord of Jade Prefecture, now Prince An, is truly an extremely dangerous and terrifying figure.

However, when the Prince of Peace returned to Jade State with his retinue, Lan Changqing again had all the family elders personally present a letter of loyalty, trembling with fear.

Translation: However, when Prince An returned to Jade Prefecture with his retinue, Lan Changqing again had all the clan elders personally step forward, trembling with fear, to deliver a letter of loyalty.

"Future developments are unpredictable, but at the very least… the Prince of Peace holds the Black Heaven Cauldron and commands thirty‑six Four‑Spirit warships; with such power, even the current emperor would have to show him some favor."

Translation: "Future developments are unpredictable, but at least… Prince An holds the Black Heaven Cauldron and commands thirty-six Four Spirit Warships. With such strength, even the current His Majesty would have to show him some favor."

Standing on the summit of Emerald Orchid Peak, Lan Changqing, with the caution and meticulousness customary among Lan family heads, commented on the current situation facing Wu Tie.

Translation: Standing on the summit of Emerald Orchid Peak, Lan Changqing, with the caution and meticulousness customary to Lan Clan heads, commented on the situation now facing Wu Tie.

"Putting it simply, as long as the Prince of Peace does not act recklessly, indulge in wanton militarism within his own fief, or display an excessively strong military posture that would threaten the imperial capital of Qingqiu City, the emperor will let him remain peaceful and secure."

Translation: "Putting it simply, as long as Prince An does not act recklessly, recklessly mobilizing troops in his own fief and displaying a force overly strong enough to threaten the situation at the imperial capital, Green Hill City, His Majesty will let Prince An remain stable."

"Speaking more broadly…" Lan Changqing glanced at the several young talents standing behind him, smiled, and said: "The current Grand Tutor, Lord Yang Sanlü, is still alive, so the Prince of Peace's position is as stable as Mount Tai. What kind of person is the Grand Tutor today? To cause him harm is extremely difficult, exceedingly difficult, immensely difficult… unless the emperor abolishes his own martial arts, the Grand Tutor will certainly come to no harm."

Translation: "Speaking more broadly…" Lan Changqing glanced at the several young talents standing behind him, smiled, and said: "As long as the current Grand Tutor Gongyang Sanlü lives, Prince An's position is as stable as Mount Tai. What kind of person is the current Grand Tutor? To harm him is extremely difficult, exceedingly difficult, immensely difficult… unless His Majesty abolishes his own martial arts, otherwise the Grand Tutor will surely come to no harm."

"The Prince of Peace, who wields the Black Heaven Cauldron and the Four‑Spirit warships—who else in the world could be more suitable to contend with the Grand Tutor's authority?"

Translation: "Prince An, the Prince An who wields the Black Heaven Cauldron and the Four Spirit Warships—who in the world could be more suitable to contend with the Grand Tutor's authority?"

"The Prince of Peace, after all, appears before the world having betrayed the First Army and the loyalists of the former dynasty; at court he cannot form factions, nor can he gather many followers and dependents."

Translation: "Prince An, after all, appears before the world with the face of one who betrayed the First Army and the loyal ministers of the previous dynasty. In the court, he cannot form factions, nor can he have many followers."

"A prince whose reputation is ruined yet who possesses tremendous strength, acting cruelly, heartlessly, deceitfully, and shamelessly… hehe, if the emperor merely stirs things up a little, he could become an enemy of the Grand Tutor, and they would clash like fire and water—so the Grand Tutor might well run into trouble."

Translation: "A prince with a tarnished reputation yet wielding immense strength, acting cruel, heartless, deceitful, shameless… hehe, if His Majesty merely stirs things up a bit, he could become opposed to the Grand Tutor, and they would be like fire and water; the Grand Tutor would surely be in trouble."

"Such tactics… tsk tsk…" Lan Changqing pondered for a moment, nodded, and smiled: "The emperor has been too lenient in his rewards… if he wishes to contend with the Grand Tutor, the Prince of Peace must at least become a hall master; even the position of deputy master of the Demon‑Suppressing Hall is insufficient."

Translation: "Such tactics… tsk tsk…" Lan Changqing pondered, nodded, and smiled: "His Majesty's rewards are still too slight… if he wants to contend with the Grand Tutor, Prince An must at least become a Hall Master; the position of Vice Hall Master of the Suppress Demon Hall is insufficient."

Several young Lan family members listened attentively to Lan Changqing's commentary.

Translation: Several young Lan Clan members listened attentively to Lan Changqing's commentary.

"That's also true, after all—he is a recently surrendered former‑dynasty official, and a princely title from the Prince of Peace is already quite prestigious." Lan Changqing smiled and added: "Especially now, the Prince of Peace's strength has been greatly weakened; he must first stabilize his own fiefdom and accumulate sufficient power before he qualifies to become a hall master."

Translation: "But that's also correct, after all, being a recently surrendered official of the previous dynasty, a Prince An's fief is already quite impressive." Lan Changqing smiled: "Especially, now Prince An's strength has been greatly weakened; he must first stabilize his own fief, then accumulate sufficient strength before he can qualify to become a Hall Master."

Clasping hands, with fingers lightly tapping the backs of their hands, Lan Changqing mused: "If I were the emperor… well, the Divine State of Qingqiu has inherited the former dynasty's Divine Might, Divine Martial, Demon‑Suppressing, and Demon‑Dispelling halls; these four halls' functions are already established, so letting the Prince of Peace take charge of any of them would be inappropriate."

Translation: Clasping his hands, fingers lightly tapping the back of his hand, Lan Changqing mused: "Let me say something outrageous—if I were His Majesty… well, the Green Hill Divine Kingdom inherited the previous dynasty's Divine Might, Divine Martial, Suppress Demon, and Expel Demon Halls; these four halls' duties are already established, letting Prince An go to any of them would be unsuitable."

"Currently, the Divine State of Qingqiu faces grave external threats; if we were to establish two new halls—one dedicated to suppressing internal prefectures and the other to resisting foreign foes—this could become a permanent institution for Qingqiu, which would be far preferable to the Divine State of Great Wu invading and hastily setting up an anti‑martial army on the spur of the moment."

Translation: "The present Green Hill Divine Kingdom faces grave external threats; if we were to establish two new halls, one dedicated to suppressing internal prefectures, the other to resisting foreign enemies… this might become a permanent institution of the future Green Hill Divine Kingdom, far better than the Great Martial Divine Kingdom invading and hastily setting up an Extinguish Martial Army."

Several young Lan family members, deep in thought, nodded repeatedly.

Translation: Several young Lan Clan members nodded thoughtfully.

One young man praised him: "Uncle, with your vision and that of the elders, plus your abilities, if you entered government service you would be a fine minister."

Translation: A young man flattered: "Uncle, with your and the elders' vision and ability, if you entered officialdom, you would be a virtuous minister."

Lan Changqing waved his hand and gave a light chuckle: "Going into official service? Never mind; my modest Lan family stature, being a small local tyrant in Jade State, naturally lets me live carefree and content… I also enjoy pondering various trivial matters in my spare time."

Translation: Lan Changqing waved his hand and gave a light laugh: "Enter officialdom? Never mind; my Lan Clan's small frame, being a petty local tyrant in Jade Prefecture, can naturally live carefree and nourished… I also enjoy pondering odds and ends in my spare time."

"If one considers entering official service, look at the First Clan, then recall the fate of the Zhao clan's Zhao Xiong who perished in the southwest—what great men they were, and how horribly they died."

Translation: "Enter officialdom? Look at the First Shi Clan, then think of the Zhao Clan's Zhao Xiu who died in the southwest—what great figures, dying as miserably as possible."

"The Lan family is too small to withstand great upheavals; as things stand now, this is sufficient."

Translation: "The Lan Clan is too small to withstand storms and waves. Just as we are now is enough."

Lan Changqing smiled and sighed with satisfaction.

Translation: Lan Changqing smiled, sighing with satisfaction.

Not being greedy—this is just fine.

Translation: Not being greedy is already good.

He chuckled softly: "'Picking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence, I leisurely behold the southern mountains'… you should ponder these lines well. Ah, it is hard to imagine what the ancient sages who composed such beautiful, philosophically flavored verses must have looked like."

Translation: He lightly laughed: "Picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence, leisurely seeing the southern mountain… you should ponder these lines well. Ah, it's hard to imagine what the ancient sages who wrote such beautiful, philosophically flavored verses looked like."

He shook his head and said leisurely: "Sometimes contentment is a blessing… look at our neighbors—over these years, how many have collapsed? How many families have been exiled to the frontiers? Their land, forests, mines, courtyards and houses—aren't they all now ours? Have we expended even a bit of effort? No."

Translation: He shook his head, Lan Changqing said leisurely: "Sometimes contentment is a blessing… look at our neighbors, over these years how many have collapsed? How many families have been exiled to the frontiers? Their land, their forests, their mines, their courtyards and houses—aren't they all now ours? Have we spent even a bit of effort? No."

Turning around, Lan Changqing reached out and firmly patted the forehead of the young man who had just spoken.

Translation: Turning around, Lan Changqing reached out and firmly tapped the forehead of the young man who had just spoken.

"Moreover, the Xia family, whose entire household was confiscated and exiled to serve before the army of Great Marsh State by order of the Jade State Lord—weren't several of their daughters all bought by you at great expense?"

Translation: "Besides, the Xia Clan, whose whole household was confiscated and exiled to the Great Marsh Prefecture to serve at the front by order of the Lord of Jade Prefecture—weren't several of their young ladies all bought by you at great expense?"

"Sigh!" Lan Changqing heaved a heavy sigh: "Back then, I, as your uncle, personally went to propose to several young ladies of the Xia family for you, kid. And the result? They looked down on us, this petty Eighth-rank Earl... Isn't that right? The Xia family are Fifth-rank Earls! They've got their eyes set on higher branches."

"But what's the result? Back then she refused to be the matriarch of my Lan family, and even mocked you, calling you a toad... Now look, she's become your concubine-in-waiting with no title at all, not even a concubine, yet she fawns over you with endless thanks."

"So, picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence... as long as you're not greedy, the chrysanthemums you can pick will keep increasing, more and more, more and more..."

"Leisurely gazing at the Southern Mountain... the Southern Mountain is indeed fine, but we just need to look at it from afar. A little farther, even farther—you can see the Southern Mountain, but don't get close, lest it collapse and bury you underneath."

"Nowadays, in Yuzhou and the surrounding Nine Provinces, the Prince of Peace is that Southern Mountain. We just need to look up at it from afar, gaze upon it respectfully, and occasionally utter a few praises of its majestic bearing—that's enough."

Lan Changqing chuckled, glancing at the glazed glass pagoda hovering atop Cui Lan Peak—eighteen stories high, each level with eight corners, its entire body densely covered with fine Dao patterns, faintly emanating powerful undulations.

Unlike other clans, the Lan family is merely a medium-small clan.

Other aristocratic clans, those veteran experts in their families—once their cultivation is sufficient, they will extract their own insights, condense the Dao Light Dragon, and forge a Heavenly Dao Divine Weapon. A Heavenly Dao Divine Weapon forged by one's own hands is undoubtedly the weapon they wield best.

When a Fetal Storage Realm cultivator exhausts their lifespan or cannot withstand the heavenly tribulation and finally falls, this Heavenly Dao Divine Weapon can still be passed down through generations, nourished by shared bloodline, growing ever stronger and becoming the clan's foundation.

The Lan family's thinking differs from that of these great clans.

Why should each generation of experts separately forge and refine a Heavenly Dao Divine Weapon?

Is it meaningful? Those scattered Heavenly Dao Divine Weapons merely serve to boost the individual combat strength of the clan's experts.

But the Lan family has never been fond of bravery and fighting, nor does it readily provoke conflict.

Rather than expending vast resources, manpower, and energy to forge countless Heavenly Dao Divine Weapons, it would be better to concentrate the strength of generations of clan members to forge a weapon whose power far surpasses an ordinary Heavenly Dao Divine Weapon—a great artifact worthy of being called a "clan-suppressing divine implement".

Starting from the ancestor who was ennobled as an Eighth-rank Duke, each generation of the Lan family has only three to five Fetal Storage Realm cultivators, who each forge a Heavenly Dao Divine Weapon to pass down. Apart from these three to five carefully selected clan members, all other Fetal Storage Realm experts devote their entire essence, energy, and spirit, and all their cultivation to refining this eighteen-story glazed glass pagoda.

The Lan family's entire strength is gathered here.

The Lan family has also tried before; this glazed glass pagoda has gathered the essence blood and cultivation of countless clan members and countless veteran experts, and its power now surpasses that of an ordinary innate spiritual treasure.

Over the years, this glazed glass pagoda has undergone multiple purifications by the bright illumination of stellar essence.

This time, the gods' grace bestowed, a continuous seven nights' star power essence, whose intensity far surpasses that of previous years, poured down. Lan Changqing and the clan elders had calculated that this glazed treasure pagoda could very well directly transform the acquired into the innate, directly ascend to become a true innate spirit treasure; by then, perhaps it could truly possess a fraction of the might of a national divine artifact.

By then, the Lan family's foundation……hehe.

Lan Changqing smiled and said: "Remember this: the reason other great clans and noble houses find it hard to sacrifice and refine such a clan-protector supreme treasure is that their dispositions are not as good as ours, the Lan family."

Those people of the great clans and noble houses are all full of vigor and imposing presence; their magical power and souls are all vast and intense, stern and fierce, unsurpassed……even the peoples of their various clans cultivate different methods, their attributes are wildly mixed.

Where could you find our Lan family, where every individual is calm and composed, and all clan members love each other like kin, with no distinction between main line and branch?

Moreover, everyone in our Lan family cultivates from the same manual, the Record of Sword Gallantry and Qin Heart, nurturing the literary heart, accumulating literary aura, hiding a needle in cotton, soft and harmonious integration……Only thus can generation after generation of predecessors continuously empower this glazed treasure pagoda, giving rise to its current appearance.

So, you must remember, remember: family harmony brings prosperity……Our Lan family is not skilled in fighting and slaughter; the only thing we have is the character 'harmony', which is the foundation of our Lan family's standing.

The young talents of the Lan family all nodded, each with a smiling face, their bearing as clear and elegant as orchid.

Lan Changqing's words won their wholehearted conviction.

They also came to understand the general situation of Prince An and the Azure Hill Divine Kingdom today, which gave them even greater confidence and hope for their family's future.

They all turned their heads sideways, carefully employing a secret technique to gaze upon Peaceful City far away.

Formerly Orchid Prefecture, now above Peaceful City, the thirty-six Four Spirit Warships are immensely huge, and the military formation of the Five Elements Spirits is even more enormously terrifying. Though separated by over ten thousand li, when observed with a secret technique, they remain clearly visible.

However, Prince An is after all the lord of Jade Prefecture today; our Lan family cannot show no sign at all. Lan Changqing said leisurely: 'So, I have consulted with the clan elders; in a few days, from among you, this generation of young people, we will select a dozen or so to go serve at Prince An's residence.'

We do not demand high office or eminent positions; you just need to take on some low‑level minor official posts, handling concrete document correspondence, and that will be enough.

First, it shows our Lan family's respect for Prince An.

Second, if my elder uncle's analysis just now turns out wrong, and one day Prince An is raided and exterminated, it will not implicate you.

Remember, remember: serving under Prince An, do not appear too outstanding, too clever, too capable; just be a petty official, drift through the days, and that will be enough. The higher the office, the greater the risk—that is an immutable truth.

However, Prince An is actually a fairly good person. Lan Changqing said with a smile: 'My elder uncle has carefully observed Prince An's conduct all along; sometimes his methods are a bit overly harsh, but in fact, as long as you do not provoke him, he truly cannot be considered a bad person.'

He may be selfish and self‑interested, but he is absolutely not a bad person.

As long as you mind your bounds when dealing with him, he can even be quite lovable, someone you could befriend.

Lan Changqing freely commented on Wu Tie here.

At this moment, the canopy of heaven suddenly opened, and moonlight and starlight poured down from the sky.

Lan Changqing happily waved his hand, and the many experts of the Lan family exerted their strength together, lifting that glazed treasure pagoda slowly up into the high sky.

Just then, the sky suddenly darkened; the Black Heaven Cauldron spewed out rolling black qi, which swiftly surged in all directions. Though the Lan family is only over ten thousand li from Peaceful City, in the snap of a finger the black clouds rolled over, completely obscuring the sky.

Lan Changqing stared blankly, then instinctively burst out cursing: 'Huo Xiong, I fuck your mother——'