Chapter 544

"How did Third Third Shixiong come here too?"

"If all of you came, why can't I?"

"Zi Di's obsession is too strong; he's pressing us step by step. If we deny the elder's claim that the golden light rising from the Spirit Stone Mountain in the north was seen by local spirits, they'll conclude that the Floating Pool Ji Xianren has left his mountain. If we cannot defeat the Floating Pool Ji Xianren today, not a single immortal will remain on Mount Fuchiu—we'll lose the Great Yin-Yang Art to the Nine Heavens. But if Third Third Shixiong stays behind and stays uninvolved, at least one immortal will remain to preserve the soil for our Fuchiu Monastery to achieve immortality."

"Zi Di has lost his mind! He's not only hunting and killing demons across the land—he's even targeting the Mountain Yili Shenjun of Yishan, a deity who never left his mountain and never committed evil! Our Fuchiu Monastery has long been cared for by the Mountain Yili Shenjun; how can we stand idly by now?" Third Third Shixiong said, "If the Mountain Yili Shenjun is gone, Yishan might be shattered half to pieces—whether Fuchiu Peak even remains is uncertain, let alone Fuchiu Monastery!"

"Hah! I think you've gone mad, Younger Third Shixiong!"

At that moment, a middle-aged Daoist in a thin robe, bare-chested and bare-bellied, walked over:

"This old farmer's five energies are purest, his heart and nature most steadfast—he has supreme talent and the spiritual energy of Yishan. Without the Great Yin-Yang Art, fine; but with it, even if he does nothing else, merely sits in some hidden corner of the mountains for decades, he will surely attain true immortality. Have you never wondered why he still goes to such trouble seeking materials to refine a Golden Core? Isn't it all for today?"

Third Third Shixiong smiled warmly, still as humble as ever.

Lin Jue remained silent.

"Shhh!"

Lin Jue opened his eyes.

He sat cross-legged on a mat in the Fengshan Pavilion, his body slightly tilted, leaning comfortably against the chair behind him—he had dozed off during meditation, exhausted from cultivating and contemplating the Dao.

It was only a dream.

A dream, an illusion—and also the divine power and foresight of Ji Xianren Ji Xianren Yuanqiu.

This scene is unlikely to truly happen, and even if it did, it wouldn't unfold exactly like this—but if it did happen, these are precisely the words Third Master would speak.

Every word in it is true.

Third Third Shixiong's five energies are purest, his heart and nature most steadfast—he has supreme talent and the spiritual energy of Yishan, and with the Great Yin-Yang Art, he is likely the one among the disciples, aside from Lin Jue, with the greatest chance of attaining true immortality.

He need not rush.

Yet now, and before, before he went to Feilai Mountain to enter the Ji Xianren Yuanqiu Ji Xianren Realm, he indeed sought materials for the Golden Core.

"Sigh…"

Lin Jue stood up; a fox on the chair behind him lifted its head to look at him.

Lin Jue patted his Daoist robe, shook his head, and walked out; the fox licked its fur, leapt down from the chair, and trotted after him in quick little steps.

"The sun is bright today!"

The fox said, walking beside his feet.

"That's called spring's radiant beauty."

"Spring's radiant beauty!"

"Take an Ji Xianren Yuanqiu fruit—we'll visit Luo Gong."

"Good!"

This time the little creature had no objections at all, didn't mention that the Ji Xianren Yuanqiu fruits were nearly gone, and immediately ran off to the Storage Pavilion.

Not long after, the man and the fox rode a thundercloud straight toward Jingcheng.

From Fengshan to Jingcheng took only a moment.

Years had passed in wasted time, days and nights filled with toil and worry; even though Luo Gong attained the Dao through martial means, he now bore the signs of age and hardship—though he still looked far younger than most men his age.

The Emperor lay casually on a long couch in plain robes, one hand holding a memorial scroll, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

Outside, a faint commotion arose.

"It's going to rain! Your Majesty, come back quickly!"

"How can it rain? The sun was just out!"

"Your Majesty doesn't know—this time of late spring and early summer, the weather is always unpredictable with thunderstorms. Look, a dark cloud's already forming overhead!"

"Speak softly~ Don't disturb His Majesty~"

Though the noise disturbed the Emperor's thoughts, it also briefly freed him from his worries. He shifted his gaze, turned to look out the window, and saw bright sunlight still streaming through the paper window, casting faint checkerboard patterns on the floor—hardly the sign of an approaching storm.

That's not right!

As he thought this, a voice came by his ear:

"Luo Gong, have I disturbed you?"

In an instant, the Emperor dropped the memorial scroll and stood up, scanning the empty room:

"Where is the Daoist? Why not show yourself?"

Only then did a cool breeze blow in.

A man and a fox appeared before him.

"Luo Gong."

Lin Jue extended a Ji Xianren Yuanqiu fruit the size of a dou bowl: "This was given to me by the Ji Xianren Ji Xianren Yuanqiu of the Ji Xianren Yuanqiu Ji Xianren Realm—I brought one for you too."

"Thank you!"

Luo Gong took the immortal fruit, then bowed in greeting: "Long time no see!"

"Indeed, it's been a long time. I waited two years in Huizhou, then spent nearly a day in the Ji Xianren Yuanqiu Ji Xianren Realm—never thought that one day inside equals one year outside."

"So such a miracle truly exists?" Luo Gong was astonished. "Immortals in the mountains truly lose track of time and seasons."

"Indeed."

"Daoist, please sit."

"Hmm…"

Lin Jue sat down, then glanced around: "I've come to catch up with an old friend—do your generals still need to guard?"

Luo Gong's expression remained calm; he too turned his head to look around.

Faint divine light and spiritual aura rose from the ceiling; no spirit appeared, yet a voice spoke: "Since the True Person has arrived, no demons or ghosts would dare intrude upon the palace—we shall withdraw."

These were the spirits guarding the palace—like door gods or courtyard generals—protecting the palace from demonic and ghostly intrusions.

Since Zi Di ascended the throne, even the city god of Jingcheng has been completely replaced with more capable ones, and countless day-and-night patrols and military officers have been added; naturally, the palace spirits are now more numerous and diligent than in the previous dynasty.

These spirits had originally been stationed throughout the palace, and only gathered here upon Lin Jue's arrival.

For most emperors, this would be a good thing.

But Luo Gong is different.

He is the founding emperor, whose authority dominates the land, whose boldness pierces the clouds—he refuses to be bound by such constraints, nor does he need them. As one who attained the Dao through martial means, he fears no demons or ghosts; even if any did come, he'd prefer his own generals to guard. Moreover, these palace spirits are too domineering, constantly meddling in human affairs.

Thus, as Lin Jue turned, Luo Gong's expression darkened.

Lin Jue promptly spoke: "Luo Gong, you have many martial spirit-officers guarding your palace…"

"Hmph! How many demons would dare come to me? Why should I need them to guard?" Luo Gong clearly resented it.

"Are the heavenly edicts still coming frequently?"

"More than frequent! Unprecedentedly frequent—even the previous dynasty never saw this!"

"Will you obey them?"

"Of course! Don't you know me, Daoist?" Luo Gong sighed helplessly. "But sometimes, they're right—and sometimes, decisions that should be mine, that should be the court's, are made ahead of time by them, decreed down as heavenly edicts—delivered not by Zi Xiu Palace, but by the Ministry of Rites. Honestly, Daoist, I'm not a man who seeks absolute power, yet I'm deeply troubled."

"It's only natural."

Lin Jue nodded, then asked: "What of Zi Xiu Palace?"

"What else? They abuse their power under the guise of demon-hunting, sometimes even ignoring imperial orders—as if spirits are above the emperor!" Luo Gong was furious. "Thankfully, we have Nan Tian Shi."

"You've used Nan Tian Shi well."

"Yes! We owe him greatly!"

"If you wish to counterbalance Zi Di, live more freely, and ensure your descendants also live freely, I believe you must rely on Nan Tian Shi."

"What do you mean…?"

Luo Gong immediately sensed Lin Jue had come specifically to discuss this.

Lin Jue did not mention his "ten thousand years in one glance" within the Ji Xianren Yuanqiu Ji Xianren Realm—someone like Luo Gong would not be easily swayed by such tales, and given their relationship, no such persuasion was needed.

"Are not spirits themselves born from humans? The emperor is the common lord of all under heaven, and by right can bestow divinity. With Nan Tian Shi's accumulated reputation and virtue, even if you do not make him a god after his death, the people will naturally worship him as a divine lord. If you do enshrine him as a god and emperor, no one will dare object. Moreover, given Nan Tian Shi's nature, if he truly becomes a great deity—and if he receives your aid in the process—he will inevitably support you, for he already despises the spirits' lawless behavior and overreach."

"To become a god… an emperor…"

Luo Gong, sharp as ever, understood instantly.

"Explain further."

"Luo Gong only needs to know: the greater Nan Tian Shi's reputation and prestige before his death, the stronger his divinity will be afterward. And during this process, his name must remain untainted." Lin Jue spoke plainly, following Sixth Master's plan. "Nan Tian Shi, while alive, can help you counterbalance Zi Xiu Palace; after death, he can help you restrain Zi Di and the spirits. Though Zi Di seems strict, he is in truth tyrannical—Nan Tian Shi will face hardship both in life and death, and only you, as emperor, can aid him."

A founding emperor who dominates the land, a saintly Tian Shi of flawless virtue—combined, they are flawless.

But clearly, it will take many years.

Luo Gong nodded repeatedly, lost in thought.

In truth, he could probably have thought of this himself.

He probably could have thought of this himself.

But without someone to remind him, it remained vague and uncertain—more a matter of letting things unfold naturally: waiting for Nan Tian Shi to accumulate fame and prestige on his own, die naturally, then be enshrined as a god by default.

But without anyone to remind him, it never became clear or certain—more often, it was left to unfold naturally: as the Southern Heaven Master gradually accumulated fame and prestige, he would naturally pass away, and then, as a matter of course, be enshrined as a deity.

The palace maids and eunuchs bringing food were kept outside the door; the emperor's study remained shut; the thundercloud above never left—but no rain fell.

Outside, whispers spread: Lin Lingqing Zhenren's cloud beneath his feet was a thundercloud that exorcised demons, punished evil, and rewarded virtue; whenever Lin Lingqing Zhenren came, a thundercloud appeared, and His Majesty would close his doors to receive the immortal—this time too, Lin Lingqing Zhenren must have descended from heaven to visit the emperor.

Outside, whispers spread that the cloud beneath Lin Lingqing Zhenren was a thundercloud that expelled evil, subdued demons, punished wickedness, and rewarded virtue; every time Lin Lingqing Zhenren arrived, a thundercloud appeared, and the Emperor would always close his doors and await the immortal—this time too, it must be Lin Lingqing Zhenren descending from heaven to pay the Emperor a visit.

The two had moved from discussing Zi Di and the spirits to reminiscing about the past and recent events, from official matters to friendly conversation—and now the talk had ended.

"Daoist, you're leaving again, aren't you?" Luo Gong sighed suddenly. "I… I haven't left Jingcheng in a long time. So many troubles. If you're not busy, could you take me out for a walk?"

"Master Dao is leaving again, isn't he?" Luo Luo Gongceng sighed suddenly. "I—I haven't left Jingcheng in ages. So many troubling matters. If you're not busy, could you take me out for a walk?"

Lin Jue smiled faintly, swept his sleeve—and the two turned into a gentle breeze, leaving the palace at once.

Lin Jue smiled faintly, swept his sleeve, and the two turned into a wisp of clear wind, straight out of the imperial palace.

The fox paused slightly, then followed.

No one knew the Emperor had left the palace, gone with an old friend from years past to seek brief freedom and joy amid his burdens and worries.