Chapter 122: The Money-Strapped Doumugong

"Excuse me, please make way."

"Don't squeeze, get to the back!"

"Fellow Daoist, can you speak more politely?"

"If I'm not polite, what are you going to do!"

Looking at the chaos ahead, Li Yan and the three looked at each other in dismay.

They had climbed the mountain with great difficulty, never expecting it to be already crowded with people.

Under the archway leading to the Doumugong, there was a stone path, with steep mountain slopes on both sides. The snow on the stone path had not yet melted, making it slippery and difficult to walk.

Before the archway, several Daoists were blocking the road, checking and registering one by one, and a long line of people were waiting.

Everyone knew that the number of spiritual apertures was limited, but there were many people here, so everyone was anxious, and their speech naturally carried a bit of fire.

"Quiet!"

A middle-aged Daoist suddenly spoke, his voice loud and majestic, "The Doumu Daoist field is a holy land, no loud noises allowed!"

This Daoist clearly had some status, and the team immediately quieted down.

But subsequently, his behavior aroused everyone's contempt.

They saw an old man in a black robe step forward, respectfully taking out a ticket from his bosom, sighing and saying, "I have met Manager Bai. The mountain road is difficult, and this old man really can't hold on anymore. Can you make it convenient?"

The Daoist glanced at it casually, "Since that's the case, go in first."

"Thank you, Manager Bai."

A trace of complacency appeared in the old man's eyes, and he passed through the archway quickly.

Li Yan immediately knew that this guy was the backer of the Bai Family Inn. Looking at the Doumugong on the sea of clouds, he couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Never expected that this fairyland holy land would have such filthy matters.

Cultivators who had stayed at the Bai Family Inn saw this and immediately took out their tickets, stepping forward to pay respects one after another, and were let through one by one.

The remaining people saw this and were immediately dissatisfied.

"Unfair, why do they get to go first!"

"Mount Taibai Orthodox Sect, how did you get such a scumbag!"

Manager Bai heard everyone's words, his face showing no shame, and he said calmly, "Have you all cultivated your cultivation to the dogs? Is there any absolute fairness in this world?"

"Have you ever seen the suspension bridge and plank road when you came up the mountain?"

"Half a month ago, the plank road was damaged by falling rocks. My secular blood relative died falling off the cliff while repairing the plank road, leaving behind orphans and a widow."

"I need to get some livelihood for them. Whoever wants to complain, go ahead. Don't shout at me!"

Everyone was speechless after hearing this.

It turned out there was such a cause and effect. Since he was so frank, it was possible he had already obtained the supervisor's permission.

Plucking wool from them to benefit his own family, and keyly, he was righteous and nepotistic. Everyone had to admit defeat.

Those who were a bit clever immediately wanted to donate money.

Manager Bai was not coy, accepting everything on the list. As long as it exceeded 20 taels, he agreed directly and let people pass.

Encountering this situation, Li Yan and the three also admitted defeat directly, took out 60 taels of silver notes, registered, and passed through the stone bridge into the Doumugong.

After entering the gate, they could perceive the extraordinariness of this place even more.

The ancient palace was majestic, with blue bricks and black tiles, carved beams and painted buildings, showing ingenuity, with flying eaves and corners, layered and scattered, like a phoenix dancing in the nine heavens, which was spectacular.

Plus, at this time, the sun was rising, the surrounding mountains were towering, and the sea of clouds was swirling, unpredictable, reflecting with the palace, like a celestial palace.

Of course, Li Yan had seen all kinds of landscapes in his previous life, and there were quite a few that were more magnificent and spectacular than this. What truly shocked him was the aura within.

The palace was filled with incense, the bell sound was melodious, and it looked peaceful and serene, but there were streaks of biting Gang and evil qi rushing into the sky, dense and numerous, seeming to be related to the arrangement of the stars.

Moreover, after taking a few steps into the main gate, his olfactory supernatural ability began to be suppressed. When approaching the main hall, it disappeared completely, no different from an ordinary person.

Li Yan was full of shock and looked at Wang Fu.

Wang Fu seemed to guess what he was thinking and smiled, whispering, "This place was built at the end of the Han Dynasty, gathered by Mystic Sect experts of successive generations. During the Tang Dynasty, it was renovated with huge sums of money. I heard that quite a few heavenly treasures were used at that time."

"And this place is the Doumu holy land. A thousand years of incense combined with the blessed land layout has formed innate Divine Might. Not to mention you, even if a dragon came, it would have to nest."

"Do you remember the Yellow River stone coffin that Yue Bala mentioned? It was carried to Mount Wangwu and suppressed by the Daoist temple there."

Li Yan understood immediately. It was possible that there was something suppressed here too. The formation's power was extraordinary, and his supernatural ability was also suppressed.

Thinking of this, Li Yan no longer had the mind to continue exploring.

Mystic Sect cultivators who entered were forbidden from stepping into the rear hall and were arranged in a large house in the side courtyard of the Doumu Main Hall.

Damn it!

Li Yan cursed inwardly, knowing that the blacksmith was right. Letting people in was just the first step. This Manager Bai mostly wanted to play a bidding game and continue plucking wool.

Seeing this situation, he didn't bother with nonsense and went directly to the Daoist boy guarding the rear courtyard passage with the visiting card and letter, "May I ask if Daoist Yu Linzi is here?"

"Uncle Master Yu Linzi is doing morning lessons, please wait a moment, layperson."

The Daoist boy was still quite polite. After taking the visiting card, he turned and entered the rear hall, while Li Yan and the others were blocked outside.

This Doumugong Daoist temple was huge. The front courtyard where they were, although it had a Doumu idol for pilgrims to burn incense, actually only occupied one-tenth of the entire palace.

Behind, I fear, was the true core.

The Daoist boy went for a long time.

Wang Fu and Sha Lifei were impatient, so they entered the main hall, lit three sticks of incense, and bowed to the Doumu Yuanjun.

Li Yan thought for a moment and also went in to bow.

However, perhaps because his supernatural ability was suppressed, he felt no different from worshipping gods in his previous life, with no waves in his heart, and the hook certificate had no movement at all.

After waiting for another stick of incense, a Daoist was led by the Daoist boy and hurried over from the rear courtyard.

What a celestial demeanor!

At the first glance, Li Yan couldn't help but praise inwardly.

This Daoist had a long and slender figure; he seemed to have never practiced martial arts, was somewhat thin, and hunched his back and chest, leaning his body forward.

If an ordinary person were like this, it would mostly be a wretched temperament, but his face was fair, his eyes were long and narrow, his temperament was quiet and indifferent, his Daoist robe was wide, and when he walked, his large sleeves fluttered, and his three-strand long beard drifted, truly like a worldly wandering immortal walking toward them.

"It's Layperson Li, right."

Daoist Yu Linzi's smile was very gentle, "Morning lessons cannot be interrupted halfway, I hope you forgive me. Everyone, please follow me." Having said this, he actually led the three into the inner courtyard.

There was no strange phenomenon inside, just quite a few Daoists coming and going busily, but what surprised Li Yan was that in the corner on the right, there was an ancient building similar to an observatory.

There was even a huge copper telescope sticking its head out!

"That is the Stargazing Terrace."

Yu Linzi smiled bitterly and explained, "Everyone, don't laugh at us. Because of this thing, our Doumugong almost couldn't afford to eat."

Although he said so, his eyes were full of joy.

Li Yan nodded in agreement, "This thing looks expensive. Doesn't the imperial court allocate silver?"

Yu Linzi was stunned, "We study astrology, what does it have to do with the imperial court?"

Yu Linzi smiled and shook his head, "The calendar has already been perfected. The one used by the Imperial Observatory is much larger than ours. How could they come to borrow it? The imperial court has many places to spend money, so it's even more impossible to pay for us."

!.

As he spoke, he had already led everyone into a quiet room.

Before entering the room, Li Yan turned his head and glanced at the Stargazing Terrace again, suddenly having a guess in his heart that the various skills of the Great Xuan Dynasty were probably more developed than he imagined.

Of course, he couldn't think too much about this at the moment.

Yu Linzi's cultivation was not bad, but he was very kind, personally brewing tea for everyone, "There is a tea garden halfway up the mountain of the Doumu Temple. I picked and stir-fried it myself before the Pure Brightness festival. Everyone, try it."

"Good tea!"

Li Yan took a sip, but felt it was refreshing, the aftertaste was biting, it was high-quality green tea, but he couldn't tell the variety.

"I already know your intentions."

Yu Linzi started talking about business, sighed, "Entrusted by Feng Feng Shixiong Luo Mingzi, naturally I have to take care of you, but I can't speak on this matter."

As he spoke, he shook his head and smiled bitterly, "There is no need to hide this matter. It is because of that Stargazing Terrace outside."

"It stands to reason that the imperial court allocates silver every year. We guard one side with the ritual altar, and by driving troops to patrol at fixed times, we can always save some. Plus some ritual artifacts sold on consignment at the Mystic Sacrificial Division, it is enough to maintain the palace."

"But building the Stargazing Terrace consumed quite a bit, and it also misappropriated the silver for repairing the Doumugong. We are seekers of the Dao, the Daoist field is far from the red dust, the journey is difficult, and few pilgrims come, so naturally, it is a bit tight."

"The masters and uncles are focused on seeking the Dao. Let them talk to you about astrology and Daoist methods, and they can talk for three days and three nights, but how to get silver, they are at a loss. Fortunately, there is this Feng Feng Shixiong Bai, who seized the opportunity and came up with the bidding idea."

"If it is done, it can fill quite a few deficits. Seeing that the heavy snow is about to close the mountain, and there is a grand ritual during the Winter Solstice, silver is needed everywhere..."

Hearing the reason, Li Yan and the three felt it was incredible.

They thought the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect was the state religion and the head of the Mystic Sect, so it must be rich, but they never expected they were also worrying about silver.

But thinking about what they were doing, they felt it was normal.

On that Stargazing Terrace, just the exposed copper mirror had an extremely complex workmanship, requiring not only Mystic Sect craftsmen, but all materials had to be transported up from the foot of the mountain, and the difficulty could be imagined.

Moreover, this is the residence of the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect cultivators. It is possible they have some special abilities, and the cost is far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.

Li Yan was helpless, "Compared to the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect, these sorcerers are poor ghosts, and not much oil can be squeezed out."

"A little is a little."

Yu Linzi scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, "I really can't speak on this matter. Everyone, why not wait?"

"Next spring, the price will definitely not be this expensive."

Since people had said this much, Li Yan naturally couldn't force it, and said in a deep voice, "To tell you the truth, the junior really can't wait. If the price is about the same, I'd rather pay first."

By now, it was no longer a question of money.

If they delayed any longer, many of their things would be left undone.

Yu Linzi pondered for a moment, "No rush, there are actually two spiritual apertures discovered a few days ago, but Feng Feng Shixiong didn't release them this time..."

"You mean Qian Two and Qian Three?"

Manager Bai hesitated for a moment, "Not appropriate, that place is a bit far..."

"We are not afraid of distance!" Sha Lifei hurriedly opened his mouth.

Wang Fu cupped his hands, "May I ask where it is?"

Manager Bai looked at Yu Linzi and shook his head:

"It is near the Pulling Immortal Terrace, the highest peak of Mount Taibai!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 123 =====

This Steward Bai seemed very busy; he didn't talk much nonsense after entering the door, and his attitude was much kinder, saying directly, "Since it was introduced by the brothers from the Sheji Academy, naturally I cannot refuse to give face."

"But seeing that the snow season is approaching, the repairs of the Doumugong and the expenses inside and out all require silver; there are too many people coming to plead, and I cannot make an exception for a few, otherwise, this winter will be impossible to get through."

"How about this, the price called outside just now is about 3,000 taels to rent a spiritual aperture; if you all just pay 2,500 taels, I will leave it for you."

"2,500 taels?"

Sha Lifei swallowed his saliva and looked at Li Yan and the other two.

Previously, Wang Fu had said that the cost of building the Daoist tower, from renting the spiritual aperture to purchasing various ritual artifacts, would require 1,000 taels inside and out.

The second-story building was slightly more expensive, about 1,500 taels.

For this trip up the mountain, they had specifically left some extra, about 4,000 taels remaining, but they didn't expect it still wouldn't be enough.

Li Yan was helpless and had to tell the truth.

Steward Bai shook his head slightly after hearing this, "My apologies to you all; I have taken on this errand, and I can only be the villain."

Just at this moment, Yulinzi beside him said, "Feng Feng Shixiong Bai, I remember that two spiritual apertures were discovered a few days ago, and you didn't release them this time..."

"Are you talking about Qian-Two and Qian-Three?"

Steward Bai hesitated for a moment, "That's not appropriate; those two locations are a bit far..."

"We aren't afraid of the distance!" Sha Lifei said hurriedly.

Wang Fu bowed and said, "May I ask where they are?"

Steward Bai glanced at Yulinzi and shook his head:

"At the highest peak of Mount Taibai, near Baxiantai!"

(End of chapter)