Chapter 343

"Oh?"

Hearing Li Yan mention Qiankun Academy, Yuan Feng was obviously a bit surprised, "Li Li Shaoxia's news is quite well-informed."

Li Yan nodded: "I have some friends, just happened to know about this matter."

This matter was still informed by Yan Jiuling in a letter.

The imperial court wanted to establish an academy specifically for researching all kinds of miscellaneous studies, which would be set up in the capital; Yan Jiuling was very optimistic and wanted to enter it to hold a position...

Thinking of this, Li Yan couldn't help but ask: "Does this Qiankun Academy want to be responsible for gunpowder allocation?"

"Not at all."

Yuan Feng stroked his beard and smiled: "This matter is also a coincidence."

"During the previous dynasty, because foreign missionaries colluded with pirates, taking advantage of the confrontation between the north and south of the Shenzhou, they harassed the coast, and all foreign strange sects were eradicated by the Mystic Sect."

"Since the opening of the sea, these missionaries have come from the sea again, offering many treasures to the imperial court, wanting to preach, and were repeatedly opposed by several national masters."

"But they didn't give up, and offered many books and artifacts, involving medicine, divination, mechanisms, firearms, and navigation charts, which only then attracted the attention of the imperial court."

"The Emperor asked carefully, only then knowing that many foreign countries had large academies specifically for researching all kinds of miscellaneous studies, and these years were even more flourishing."

"The Emperor had the heart to imitate, but this matter also caused controversy in the court and became a matter of struggle between the Local Faction and the Open-Sea Faction."

"The Local Faction believed that these were all strange skills and small tricks, and if one played with things and lost their ambition, it would be of no benefit to the country's economy and people's livelihood, and even launched famous Confucian scholars to attack them wantonly..."

"The Open-Sea Faction also invited people, saying that this was investigating things to gain knowledge, exploring the great Dao of heaven and earth, benefiting the country and the people, and the merit would last for thousands of generations."

"In short, both sides fought endlessly. Finally, the Emperor made a decision, preparing to establish the Qiankun Academy."

Saying this, he couldn't help but show a smile, "This Qiankun Academy, although it holds the name of the Confucian Sect's investigating things to gain knowledge, and also has famous Confucian scholars entering, it recruits more experts in miscellaneous studies such as agriculture, mathematics, and mechanisms."

"For our Mohist Sect, it is naturally a good thing."

"Not to mention anything else, this Qiankun Academy hasn't been established yet, and the Emperor has already given tasks, wanting us to travel all over the Shenzhou to find mineral deposits in mountains and forests everywhere."

"For example, the Shenzhou is vast; the thirty-six grotto-heavens and seventy-two blessed lands set back then are no longer applicable, and there are many hidden places; the Qiankun Academy will send people to explore specifically."

"The Mystic Sect also responded actively, and many Feng Shui masters from Ganzhou have already joined; with this Off Lu Ban Wooden Magpie, it is simply like adding wings to a tiger..."

Seeing this old man getting more and more excited, Li Yan had to helplessly interrupt: "Senior, what does this have to do with firearms?"

Yuan Feng replied: "The Shenzhou is too big, and the Qiankun Academy has just been prepared, so its power is limited, so people will be dispersed to various places when the time comes."

"In the mountains and forests, it is inevitable to encounter mountain spirits and wild monsters, and some matters involve the secrets of the imperial court, so naturally they cannot be handed over to outsiders completely; therefore, the academy will also recruit some high-level guards to specifically escort them."

"With Li Li Shaoxia's current reputation in Ezhou, you naturally have the qualifications; the old man can help you hang a name, and you can directly receive gunpowder from local Yamen in the name of the Qiankun Academy."

"But for one, you can't sell it privately, and for another, you have to help the Qiankun Academy do some things occasionally, which can block everyone's mouths."

Saying this, he blinked, meaningfully saying: "Crucially, you don't even have to spend money to buy it..."

"Deal! Thank you, Senior."

Li Yan was overjoyed and immediately nodded in agreement.

This new-style gunpowder wasn't cheap; after all, it had two heavenly spiritual treasures, and even the imperial court's army only dared to use it at critical moments.

Just this item alone could save a lot of money.

After reaching an agreement, both sides were naturally very satisfied.

With this Off Lu Ban Wooden Magpie, the Mohist Sect could carry out imitation; if it could play a role in this Southwest War, it would be a heaven-defying merit for them.

Thinking of this, Elder Yuan Feng's mood became even better, and he asked: "Li Li Shaoxia, what arrangements do you have recently?"

Li Yan replied truthfully: "The Shen mansion matter is over, and it's not convenient for us to stay, so we will find a place nearby to live in seclusion, consolidate our cultivation, and when the time comes, we will go to the Zhenwu Palace to build a building."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Yuan Feng was also surprised, "If the old man remembers correctly, Li Li Shaoxia's cultivation is now at the second floor, right?"

Seeing Li Yan nod, he pondered for a moment, smiled and said: "The Ministry of Works will send people later; this can also be considered a task before the establishment of the Qiankun Academy; Li Li Shaoxia might as well hang a name directly, and after it's done, the old man will report it directly, which will save a lot of trouble."

"When the Qiankun Academy is established, Li Li Shaoxia can also be considered a veteran, and no one will be able to pick any faults."

Li Yan was surprised: "This also counts as a task?"

"Why wouldn't it?"

Yuan Feng stroked his beard and smiled: "In this tomb, there is the inheritance of our Mohist mechanism arts, which might be the foundation for standing in the Qiankun Academy in the future."

"Since there is the Off Lu Ban Wooden Magpie inside, there might be other mechanism treasures, which cannot be missed."

"It's just this 'Shi Rou', not only is its body quite large, but it also merged with the land of great evil, turning itself into an evil object, which will sooner or later cause chaos, so the old man has already invited many experts to come and help."

"When the time comes, both Buddhist and Daoist sides will take action at the same time; the Daoist side will open a thunder altar to suppress and kill, and the Buddhist side will set up an altar to eliminate the evil energy; Li Li Shaoxia just needs to help."

"Of course I can."

Li Yan nodded and smiled: "We also want to see it."

…………

The next day, in a mountain hollow near Liang Zihu.

On the rugged mountain road, Shen Jinghong and two servants led the way in front, while Li Yan and the others followed behind.

Shen Jinghong was walking while persuading: "Li Li Shaoxia, the Shen family has many houses, why not stay..."

"Young Master Shen, no need for formalities."

Li Yan smiled: "We are all rough people, dancing with knives and guns all day, and you have to be busy with business, and the mansion is now full of women, so it's not appropriate to stay."

After the conditions were negotiated yesterday, Yuan Feng took people to transport the Off Lu Ban Wooden Magpie, and Master Lin was naturally impatient, taking the "Canyan" meat back to cure his son's illness.

Li Yan also planned to leave the Shen mansion, live in seclusion nearby, consolidate his cultivation while watching the fun.

Shen Jinghong was naturally unwilling.

He originally only treated Li Yan and the others as high-level sorcerers, but after going back and forth these few days, seeing all the forces he couldn't afford to offend, he immediately understood Li Yan's value and wanted to curry favor.

Li Yan naturally knew what he was thinking, meaningfully saying: "See that Master Yuan? Many people will come in a few days; although there are many villages near Liang Zihu, some things are not convenient."

"You come to the door more, cooperate a bit, and naturally there will be benefits."

Shen Jinghong immediately understood and cupped his hands: "Thank you, Li Li Shaoxia, for your guidance."

While speaking, everyone had already entered the mountain hollow.

Passing through a bamboo forest, the view suddenly opened up, appearing as an open space, with lush vegetation, and two stilt houses hidden, but the wood was mottled, clearly abandoned for a long time.

"Here, it's this place."

Shen Jinghong said: "The Miao village is closed, not liking outsiders to enter, and sometimes they hold meetings and fight among themselves. Many years ago, because of some quarrels, two villages formed a feud, fought each other, and many people died." "Later, this matter was calmed down by officials sent by the imperial court, but one village had too many deaths, so they migrated to other places."

"One family refused to leave, built a building here to live alone, worked in my Shen family's kiln, later the old people died one after another, leaving an only son, who ran to other places to venture, so this place became empty."

After saying this, he ordered the servants to clean up the house, and also left a cart of firewood, rice, oil, salt, and cured meat and other supplies.

After a toss, after Shen Jinghong and the others left, it was already dusk.

Li Yan and the others lit a bonfire in the open space outside the building.

Not long after, the fragrance of the meat soup in the iron pot drifted in all directions.

Here, looking down from a high position, one could just see Liang Zihu, but seeing the stars all over the sky, the bonfire crackling, the night wind blowing, and drinking meat soup with pancakes, everyone felt refreshed.

"Finally can rest for a while."

Wang Daoxuan felt emotional, "The old man walked the martial world before, although most of the time sleeping in the open, coming and going were all poor common people, but it was comfortable; as long as there was something to eat, it was enough."

"Now nothing is missing, only the heart is tired; the more one seeks, the more one feels it's hard to move an inch..."

Li Yan noticed the abnormality and hurriedly asked: "Daoist, have those books been read? Did you find any clues?"

!.

At that time, Liu Gang used Wang Daoxuan's inheritance as a condition and also threatened Lu San's life, making him take action against Tongtian Tongtian San Niang and others.

Although they finally escaped danger and killed a group of monsters, the secret in Liu Gang's mouth was not extracted.

Fortunately, the other party left many Feng Shui secret books, and Wang Daoxuan spent most of his time studying them hard on this journey.

If there were clues, perhaps they were in these books.

"Indeed, there are clues."

Wang Daoxuan shook his head helplessly: "But they are just some leads."

Li Yan became interested, "Daoist, tell me, no matter what difficulties there are, everyone will find a way."

Wang Daoxuan said in a deep voice: "Liu Gang tried to achieve the Earth Immortal, which couldn't be separated from the Grotto-Heaven Treasure Land, so he collected many Feng Shui secret books, wanting to find the Five Great Grotto-Heavens."

"Although the old man didn't find the inheritance location, he found out the origin of my lineage."

"My Xixuan lineage, if tracing the source, comes from the Eight Immortals of Tang..."

"Eight Immortals?"

Sha Lifei became interested upon hearing this, "Daoist, your backing is big enough; Tieguai Li, or Lu Zu?"

Wang Daoxuan laughed dumbly, "Not those few, but the Eight Immortals of Tang Yao, respectively the Heavenly Emperor True Man, Guangchengzi, Master Hongya, Zanjian, Chisongzi, Ningfengzi, Ma Qin Shi Huang, and Chijiang Ziyu."

"My lineage's source comes from 'Chijiang Ziyu'; it is rumored that he was a person of the Yellow Emperor's time, not eating grains, eating the flowers of a hundred herbs. 'Dining on flowers and drinking dew' refers to him."

"By the time of Emperor Wen of Han, there was a person named Pei Xuanren, whose home was in Hancheng, Shanzhou, who met a Daoist named Zhi Ziyuan, who passed down the 'Five-Head Divine Formula' of 'Chijiang Ziyu', and after cultivation, he was a great Mystic Sect cultivator at that time."

"Later, he had merit in attacking the Xiongnu, was enfeoffed as a marquis, and moved to be the Inspector of Jizhou. As his cultivation became profound, he resigned from office and abandoned his family, traveling all over famous mountains, making friends with all kinds of immortals, teaching them true scriptures, founding the Xixuan lineage, and successfully ascending to godhood."

"Until the third year of Xingning of the Jin Dynasty, he descended to Yang Xi's house with True Man Wang Tongbai, Middle Marquis Wang Lady, and Southern Peak Wei Lady, teaching the 'Precious Divine Scripture'."

"Daoist, wait a moment."

Li Yan frowned, immediately noticing something wrong, and asked: "Pei Xuanren was a person of the Western Han Dynasty, and that Middle Marquis Wang Lady was the daughter of King Ling of Zhou; since they had already successfully ascended to godhood, how could they still descend to the mortal world without fearing violating the 'Heavenly Law'?"

Wang Daoxuan shook his head: "The old man doesn't understand this matter either. In history, immortals often descended to the mortal world to enlighten mortals, which didn't violate the Heavenly Law; perhaps they were ordered to come."

"For example, this Yang Xi later founded the Shangqing Sect of the Daoist Sect, and was later enfeoffed as the Cave-Spirit Manifestation Supreme Virtue True Man."

"According to Liu Gang, the Xuanqi Manifestation Chen Tianjun that the old man worships was of the same era as him, and was also a person of the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, precisely Pei Xuanren's disciple, the leader of the Xixuan lineage."

"He was called a True Man, and probably had also successfully ascended to godhood, but there was no record in history, only passed down in my Xixuan lineage; something big must have happened in between."

"On those books of Liu Gang, the orientation of my Xixuan ancestral court was marked, to the west of Juqu Mountain."

"Juqu Mountain was the ancient name, which is today's Maoshan."

Li Yan understood immediately upon hearing this, and said in a deep voice: "Maoshan is the Shangqing Sect altar, Pei Xuanren passed the dharma to Yang Xi... Daoist suspects that the decline of the Xixuan lineage has something to do with the Shangqing Sect?"

Wang Daoxuan nodded and didn't speak again.

The Shangqing Sect was not easy to provoke, worshipping Wei Huacun as the ancestor, rising in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, flourishing in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and the Maoshan talismans shook the world.

Although it declined during the Southern Song Dynasty, its influence was still not small, and some people merged into the Zhengyi Dao of Long Hu Mountain.

For them, it was still a behemoth.

If there was really some entanglement in it...

Thinking of this, Li Yan said in a deep voice: "Daoist, don't worry, your business is our business, we have plenty of time."

"Might as well inquire secretly, figure out what happened, and then plan later."

"That's right!"

Sha Lifei also persuaded: "Daoist, rest assured, you are the Xixuan orthodoxy, we are just helping you take back the inheritance; they have a big family and a big business now, so they wouldn't block us, right?"

However, Wang Daoxuan was silent for a moment, shook his head and smiled: "Everyone's good intentions are accepted; as for the inheritance, the old man doesn't care anymore."

"The dharma methods left by my Xixuan lineage now are mostly helping people pray for blessings and dispel disasters, which I think is the ancestor's intention."

"Not hindering cultivation, and being able to accumulate merit, is enough for the old man; seeking too much is just adding trouble."

"Let's talk about this later."

Li Yan shook his head slightly and stopped the topic.

Wang Daoxuan could give up on this matter, but he would definitely find a way to inquire clearly; saying more was useless.

Thinking of this, Li Yan said in a deep voice: "Everyone, rest assured and practice; also practice firearms openly, striving to go to Mount Wudang after autumn!"

After setting the plan, everyone stopped thinking about it.

In the following days, they each practiced, and at a fixed time every day, they would go to the unmanned mountains nearby to practice firearms.

In their spare time, Li Yan didn't hide anything, telling Sha Lifei and Lu San his understanding of martial arts, and helping the two of them spar.

Of course, most of the time, they practiced on their own.

For example, Li Yan mainly practiced the Lei Gang Martial Law...

Wang Daoxuan tried more advanced prayer and disaster-dispelling arts...

Lu San often took a group of spiritual beasts and Wu Ba, under the introduction of the Liang Zihu wild god Black Head Great King, running to various wild mountains nearby to communicate with those mountain spirits and wild monsters...

And around Liang Zihu, it was becoming more and more lively.

Another five days passed, and finally a small official came down the mountain, handing over a post, "Li Li Shaoxia, the old man is ordered by Master Yuan to invite you down the mountain..."

(End of chapter)