Chapter 122: The Poor Doumu Palace

Excuse me, could you please make way?

Stop pushing! Get to the back!

Friend, why not speak more politely?

If you’re not polite, what are you planning to do?

Seeing the chaos ahead, Li Yan and the others exchanged uneasy glances.

After enduring countless hardships to climb the mountain, they never expected it to be packed with people.

Beneath the archway leading to the Doumu Palace lies a stone path, flanked by steep slopes; snow still lingers on the path, making it slippery and treacherous.

In front of the archway, several Taoist priests were stationed, checking and registering each person one by one, with a long line of waiting pilgrims stretching behind them.

Everyone knew that spiritual orifices were limited, yet the crowd here was enormous, so everyone was anxious, and their words naturally carried an edge of irritation.

“Be silent!”

A middle-aged Taoist suddenly spoke, his voice loud and commanding: “This is a sacred ground of Doumu—no noise allowed!”

The Taoist clearly held some authority, and the crowd immediately fell quiet.

But then his actions sparked widespread contempt.

A man in a black robe stepped forward, respectfully pulling a ticket from his bosom and sighing mournfully: “Greetings, Brother Bai. The mountain path is brutal—I can barely hold on. Could you please grant me a favor?”

The Taoist glanced at it casually. “In that case, go right in.”

“Thank you, Brother Bai.”

The old man’s eyes gleamed with triumph as he hurried through the archway.

Li Yan instantly realized this man was the backer of the Bai family inn; gazing at the Doumu Palace above the sea of clouds, he silently cursed.

He never imagined such a sacred paradise could harbor such sordid corruption.

Cultivators who had stayed at the Bai family inn immediately pulled out their tickets and stepped forward to pay respects, each one being let through without delay.

The rest of the crowd, seeing this, grew furious.

“This is unfair! Why do they get to go first?”

“The Tai Bai Zhengjiao—how could you have such a disgrace among you!”

Hearing the crowd’s complaints, Brother Bai showed no shame; he calmly replied: “Have your cultivations turned you into dogs? Is there ever absolute fairness in this world?”

“Have any of you seen the rope bridge and plank path up here?”

“Half a month ago, the plank path was destroyed by falling rocks. My own flesh-and-blood relative died trying to repair it, leaving behind an orphaned widow and child.”

“I must secure a livelihood for them. If anyone wants to complain, go ahead—I won’t stop you. But don’t dare yell at me!”

The crowd fell silent, unable to respond.

Now they understood the hidden cause—since he was so open about it, he likely had the Abbot’s approval.

Plucking feathers from others to benefit his own kin, yet doing so with righteous indignation—there was nothing the crowd could do but accept it.

Some quick-witted individuals immediately offered donations.

Brother Bai didn’t hesitate—he accepted every donation; anyone who paid over twenty taels was immediately granted passage.

Faced with this situation, Li Yan and his companions had no choice but to surrender; they paid sixty taels in silver notes, registered their names, and crossed the stone bridge into the Doumu Palace.

Once inside, they could truly sense the place’s extraordinary nature.

The ancient palace exuded majestic grandeur—its blue bricks and black tiles, carved beams and painted rafters, all displayed exquisite craftsmanship; its upturned eaves rose in layered tiers like phoenixes dancing in the heavens, a breathtaking sight.

Added to this, the sunrise cast its glow over the surrounding mountains, wreathed in shifting clouds, mirroring the palace in a spectacle that seemed like a celestial palace.

Of course, Li Yan had seen countless grand landscapes in his past life—many more magnificent than this—but what truly startled him was the aura within.

Incense curled through the halls, bells rang with serene resonance; though calm and peaceful on the surface, countless sharp, piercing spiritual energies surged skyward, densely packed, seemingly aligned with the stars.

Moreover, after stepping just a few paces past the main gate, his sense of smell was suppressed; by the time he neared the main hall, it vanished entirely, leaving him as ordinary as any mortal.

Li Yan stared in shock, glancing at Wang Daoxuan.

Wang Daoxuan seemed to guess his thoughts and whispered with a smile: “This palace was built at the end of the Han dynasty. Over generations, top Taoist masters gathered here. During the Tang dynasty, it was extensively renovated with vast sums—and rumors say they used many celestial treasures and earthly essences.”

"Moreover, this is the sacred site of Doumu, where a thousand years of incense offerings, combined with the celestial topology, have formed a primordial divine armor—let alone you, even a dragon here would have to cower."

“Remember what Yue the Scar said about the Yellow River stone coffin? It was carried to Mount Wangwu and suppressed by a temple there.”

Li Yan instantly understood—this place likely also suppressed something powerful. The grand array’s power was suppressing his abilities.

Realizing this, Li Yan lost all desire to investigate further.

All Taoist cultivators who entered were forbidden from entering the rear halls and were directed to a large hall in the side courtyard of the Doumu Palace.

Damn it!

Li Yan cursed inwardly—he knew Hong the Blacksmith was right. Letting people in was just the first step; Brother Bai was probably about to play his bidding game and keep plucking their feathers.

Seeing this, he wasted no time. He took his letter of introduction and sealed documents to the young Taoist guarding the rear courtyard entrance: “May I ask if Master Yulinzi is present?”

“Master Yulinzi is in morning meditation. Please wait a moment,” the acolyte replied politely, accepting the letter before turning and entering the rear palace, while Li Yan and the others were barred from following.

The Doumu Palace complex was vast; the front courtyard, though housing the Doumu statue for pilgrims to worship, constituted only one-tenth of the entire palace.

Behind it, undoubtedly, lay the true heart of the sanctuary.

The acolyte’s departure lasted a long time.

Wang Daoxuan and Sha Lifi grew impatient and entered the main hall to light three incense sticks and bow before the Lady Doumu.

Li Yan, after some thought, followed suit and bowed.

Yet perhaps because his abilities were suppressed, the experience felt no different from worshipping gods in his past life—his heart remained unmoved, and the Gou Diao remained utterly silent.

After another incense stick burned down, a Taoist, accompanied by the acolyte, hurried from the rear courtyard.

What an aura of celestial grace!

The moment Li Yan laid eyes on him, he couldn’t help but admire inwardly.

The Taoist was tall and slender, seemingly untrained in martial arts, with a slight stoop and forward-leaning posture.

Most people would appear shabby with such a stance, but his face was pale and refined, his eyes narrow and serene, his demeanor tranquil and detached; his wide Taoist robes billowed as he walked, his three long beards swaying gently—he looked exactly like a celestial immortal wandering the mortal world.

“You must be Master Li,” the Taoist, Yulinzi, smiled warmly. “Morning meditation cannot be interrupted—I beg your pardon. Please follow me.” With that, he led the three into the inner courtyard.

Inside, there were no strange phenomena—only numerous Taoists bustling about—but what startled Li Yan was a structure resembling an observatory in the opposite right corner.

Even a massive brass telescope protruded from its roof!

“That’s the Star-Gazing Tower,” Yulinzi explained with a wry smile. “Don’t laugh—because of this thing, our Doumu Courtyard nearly starved.”

Yet despite his words, his eyes sparkled with pride.

Li Yan nodded in agreement. “This must have cost a fortune. Doesn’t the imperial court provide funding?”

Yulinzi blinked in surprise. “What does our study of celestial phenomena have to do with the court?”

Li Yan fell silent, then changed the subject: “Astronomical calendars and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau must use such instruments, right?”

Yulinzi chuckled and shook his head. “The calendar is already perfected. The instruments used by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau are far larger than ours—they’d never come borrowing ours. The court has countless expenses; they’d never pay for us.”

By then, they had entered a quiet chamber.

Before stepping inside, Li Yan glanced back at the observatory, and a sudden thought struck him: the technological advancements of the Da Xuan Dynasty might be far more advanced than he’d imagined.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

！。

“Excellent tea!”

Li Yan took a sip—it was crisp and refreshing, with a sharp, lingering aftertaste, a top-grade green tea, though he couldn’t identify the variety.

“I already know your purpose,” Yulinzi said, finally turning to business. He sighed. “I naturally owe your friend Luo Mingzi a favor, but I have no authority over this matter.”

He shook his head, smiling wryly. “There’s no need to hide it—it’s because of that observatory out there.”

“Normally, the court allocates funds annually. We guard our ritual altars, conduct patrols at fixed times, and still have some surplus. Combined with the sale of talismans and artifacts entrusted to us by the Taoist guilds, we could sustain the palace.”

“But constructing the observatory drained our resources, even diverting funds meant for repairing the Doumu Palace. We are seekers of the Dao, our sanctuary far from the mortal world, with difficult access and few pilgrims—so finances are tight.”

“My master and senior brothers are devoted to the Dao; they could discuss celestial principles for three days and nights straight—but when it comes to raising money, they’re utterly helpless. Fortunately, Brother Bai came up with the idea of auctions at just the right moment.”

“If successful, it could fill many gaps. With heavy snow soon to seal the mountain and the grand winter solstice ritual approaching, we need funds everywhere...”

Hearing his explanation, Li Yan and his companions were stunned.

They had assumed the Tai Xuan Zhengjiao, as the state religion and head of the Taoist sects, must be overflowing with wealth—yet here they were, struggling for silver.

But considering what they did, it made sense.

The brass lens visible on the observatory alone had an incredibly complex design; not only did it require Taoist craftsmen, but every material had to be hauled up the mountain—imagine the difficulty.

Moreover, this was the residence of Tai Xuan Zhengjiao cultivators—perhaps even possessing unique abilities—so its cost was unimaginable to ordinary people.

Li Yan sighed helplessly. “Compared to the Tai Xuan Zhengjiao, those sorcerers are paupers—they can’t be squeezed for much.”

“Better than nothing,” Yulinzi scratched his head, slightly embarrassed. “I really can’t ask directly. Would you mind waiting?”

“By next spring, prices will surely be lower.”

With his words so plainly spoken, Li Yan couldn’t press further. He said gravely: “To be honest, I can’t wait much longer. If the price is similar, I’d rather pay now.”

By now, it wasn’t about money anymore.

If they delayed any longer, they’d miss countless opportunities.

Yulinzi pondered for a moment. “Don’t rush. There are still unconfirmed orifices on the mountain. Let me ask Brother Bai.”

Yu Linzi scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "This matter is truly difficult for this Taoist to bring up—could everyone please wait a bit?"

"Next spring, the price won't be nearly this high."

Having said this plainly, Li Yan could no longer press further; he said gravely, "To be honest, I truly can't wait much longer—if the price is similar, I'd rather pay upfront."

Now, it's no longer about money.

If we delay any longer, we won't be able to do many of our tasks.

Yu Linzi pondered for a moment, "No rush—there are still other known acupoints on the mountain; let me ask Brother Bai."

With that, he turned and left the quiet chamber.

After he left, Sha Lifei exclaimed, “Well now, we’re short on cash—how has the Doumu Palace come to this?”

Wang Daoxuan shook his head. “In this world, nothing gets done without money. Even the Emperor worries about funds, and has lifted the sea ban just to fill the imperial treasury.”

“And this Tai Bai Prefecture is merely one branch of the Doumu Courtyard—many expenses must be raised on our own…”

As he spoke, footsteps sounded outside.

Yu Linzi returned, followed by the White Steward.

The White Steward seemed busy; he entered without ceremony and, with noticeably gentler demeanor, said directly: “Since you were introduced by fellow disciples of the Sheji Academy, I cannot refuse you face.”

“But winter is coming, and repairs to the Doumu Palace—inside and out—require silver. Too many come begging; I cannot make exceptions for you alone, or we won’t survive the winter.”

“Here’s the deal: the current bid outside is about three thousand taels for a spiritual cavity. You need only pay two thousand five hundred taels—I’ll reserve one for you.”

“Two thousand five hundred taels?”

Sha Lifei swallowed hard and looked at Li Yan and the other.

Earlier, Wang Daoxuan had said that building a pavilion—from renting a spiritual cavity to purchasing ritual implements and all other expenses—cost roughly a thousand taels.

A two-story pavilion was slightly more expensive, about fifteen hundred taels.

For this climb, they had deliberately saved extra—roughly four thousand taels left—yet it still wasn’t enough.

Li Yan, helpless, had no choice but to speak plainly.

The White Steward listened, then gave a slight shake of his head. “I’m sorry, but I’ve taken this duty—I must play the villain.”

At that moment, Yu Linzi spoke up: “Brother Bai, didn’t you discover two more spiritual cavities a few days ago? You haven’t put them up yet…”

“You mean Gan Er and Gan San?”

The White Steward hesitated. “Not ideal—they’re quite far…”

“We don’t mind distance!” Sha Lifei quickly said.

Wang Daoxuan bowed. “May I ask where exactly?”

The White Steward glanced at Yu Linzi, then shook his head.

“At the highest peak of Tai Bai—near Baxian Terrace!”

(End of Chapter)