Chapter 431: The News of the Nine Cauldrons

"Sir, these are all porcelain."

"We are honest merchants; how would we dare harbor outlaws?"

"Please do us a favor…"

On deck, "Fast Boat Zhang," disguised as a merchant, bowed repeatedly and slipped money to the officials, indistinguishable from any ordinary river trader.

You have your clever stratagems; I have my own ways around them.

The Salt Guild is powerful—they can even bribe the Wushan authorities.

But "Fast Boat Zhang," an old hand at this game, has his own methods to handle it.

After slipping them a dozen taels of silver, the officers went through the motions of inspection, then waved them off impatiently: "Go on, go on!"

"Ah, thank you, officers!"

"Fast Boat Zhang" bowed repeatedly to send them off, then turned and bellowed, "Set sail!"—the cargo ship immediately unfurled its sails and departed.

This vessel had been specially modified: though it appeared to be piled high with cargo at the rear, the real purpose was to conceal a hidden compartment amidships, custom-built by the Bai family elsewhere.

Inside the hidden chamber, candlelight flickered faintly.

With Li Yan's group and the Bai family women together, even the relatively spacious hidden room felt cramped.

This arrangement had been made by the old woman Bai Wan, and Li Yan had not objected.

They could have revealed their identities—the Capital Guard, the Enforcement Hall, the Ministry of Works—none of which the Wushan authorities would dare provoke.

But this mission was about transporting people; safety came first.

They were still within Wushan County, and their main concern was the scattered cultivators there—even Bai Wan, a fifth-layer cultivator, had been humiliated, so why should he care?

Yes, Bai Wan was a fifth-layer cultivator.

Though her magical techniques certainly couldn't match those of the Dragon Subduer from the Five Dragon Palace, her cultivation level was just as high—she was a true expert anywhere she went.

But what good was high cultivation?

The old woman was already elderly, her vital energy depleted, and she had to protect a whole group of disciples and two granddaughters—she had no desire to stir up trouble.

In the candlelight, Wang Daoxuan was performing divination.

He held yarrow stalks, winding them around the fingers of two young girls, murmuring incantations, forming seals, then removing them and placing them among a pile of yarrow stalks, chanting, scattering them, and parting them with a wooden stick.

This was called the yarrow stalk divination method.

Though ancient, it was highly practical, and when combined with the Seven Arrow Secret Incantation, it could even determine whether someone had cast a curse.

After several divinations, Wang Daoxuan smiled. "Yes, the curse's traces have been completely erased—you can rest easy from now on."

Bai Wan sighed in relief. "Thank you, Daoist."

"No need for thanks."

Wang Daoxuan shook his head. "Your own divination methods far surpass mine; you're merely anxious for your loved ones, which disturbs your spirit."

"Thank you, Daoist."

Chao Yun and Xing Yu also chimed in with grateful thanks.

Not long after leaving Wushan, the two girls developed fevers and vomited foul fluids, then woke up much improved.

Bai Wan had cast a divination herself, which showed that misfortune had turned to fortune.

Overjoyed but hesitant to believe it, she had asked Wang Daoxuan to perform a divination as well.

"Good… that's good."

Long Yan'er exhaled in relief and smiled. "Could those old hags have had a change of heart and destroyed the life tablets?"

"No way."

The old woman Bai Wan shook her head. "The Bai family has served them for generations—if they had even a shred of sentiment, they would never have done this."

"Something must have happened on Wushan Mountain…"

"Well, it's over now."

Li Yan smiled and rose, addressing Wang Daoxuan: "Daoist, we've passed Wushan—come with me and enjoy the scenery."

"Hmm."

Wang Daoxuan said nothing more and followed him out immediately.

Sha Li-fei and Lu San, sensing the moment, remained in the cabin.

The team's operational pattern had now become routine.

As leader, Li Yan primarily made decisions.

In wilderness or mountainous terrain, he would consult Lu San.

When matters involved the martial world, Sha Li-fei was the expert.

When it came to the Daoist sects, they turned to Wang Daoxuan.

Both Lu San and Sha Li-fei had witnessed the scene in the cave—Wang Daoxuan, ever the gentle soul, had gone to great lengths to conceal things even from the Bai family; clearly, something major was afoot.

Their presence here was to keep watch.

The old woman Bai Wan, as head of her family, could see it too—but she didn't want trouble, so she chose to pretend ignorance.

But Long Yan'er's eyes flickered, and she asked, "Hey, Big Beard, where are you lot headed next, running around like this?"

"Heh!"

Sha Li-fei casually blurted out: "In the martial world, life is like duckweed—no control over where it drifts; wherever it ends up, that's where it stays…"

…………

"Young Master Li."

As soon as they left the hidden cabin, "Fast Boat Zhang" approached, his voice grave: "We've passed Wushan and are about to enter Kuimen. The Salt Guild will likely ambush us here."

"I've already sent my disciples ahead in small boats—if anything's amiss, they'll signal immediately. But Kuimen is treacherous; ambushes on the cliffs won't be spotted. I'll need your help, Young Master Lu."

"Understood. Thank you, Master Zhang."

Li Yan nodded and returned to fetch Lu San.

Soon, the falcon "Lidong" soared into the sky, flying toward the distance.

Meanwhile, Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan went to the stern cabin.

"Fast Boat Zhang," ever perceptive, realized they had something to discuss, so he dismissed his disciples and stepped away himself.

Even so, once inside the cabin, Wang Daoxuan made a gesture, signaling Li Yan to hold his tongue.

Li Yan's heart tightened—he immediately pulled out the Three Talismans of Demon-Sealing Coin Tassel, formed the seals, and unleashed a wave of dark energy to block all magical surveillance.

Only then did he ask: "Is it that serious?"

Wang Daoxuan nodded slightly, his expression complex.

"It's about the Nine Tripods."

"The Nine Tripods?!"

Li Yan's scalp prickled.

The Nine Tripods' significance was undeniable—they symbolized the Nine Provinces, represented imperial authority, served as state ritual vessels, and channeled the divine fortune of the land.

Anything tied to state rituals was a national treasure.

For example, the "Yingluo Pearl" he had obtained from Tongtian San Niang in the Earth Immortal Grotto was a ritual artifact of the Liao Kingdom.

The "Xuanhuang Heaven Talisman" taken from Liu Gang was one of the Thirteen National Treasures of the Tang Dynasty.

All national treasures could conceal earth immortals by masking them with the nation's collective fortune.

And national treasures had tiers.

The Nine Tripods were unquestionably the highest tier.

The Blood Jade Cong in the Goddess Palace was already astonishing—but now it turned out to be connected to the Nine Tripods…

The thought made Li Yan's head ache.

"What exactly is going on?"

Wang Daoxuan pulled out the bamboo slip from his robe and said gravely: "Have you ever heard the names 'Lu Sheng' and 'Hou Sheng'?"

"Of course."

Li Yan nodded. "If I don't know other alchemists, I certainly know these two."

"After the First Emperor unified the realm, alchemists like Lu Sheng, Han Zhong, Xu Fu, and Hou Sheng all came to serve him, and their names were recorded in history."

"They were sent to seek the elixir of immortality on mythical mountains: Xu Fu sailed to Japan, Han Zhong either died testing the elixir or vanished to Korea to found the Three Han states… As for Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng, legend says they deceived the First Emperor, directly triggering the burning of books and burying of scholars…"

In this world, the influence of the Daoist-Alchemical sect was immense.

Especially the "Library of Immortal Longevity," whose poisonous legacy was endless; as their primary adversary, Li Yan had gathered extensive intelligence on them.

"They didn't just deceive the First Emperor!"

Wang Daoxuan gripped the bamboo slip tightly. "These two sought to seize the Nine Tripods, using the divine fortune of the land to ascend to godhood."

"The First Emperor was already aware of the Nine-Headed Phoenix vein in Chu, and there were other ancient fengshui patterns left over—some even unknown."

"Someone devised a plan: during transport to Xianyang after the fall of Zhou, they secretly sank the Nine Tripods into the Si River, letting them circulate along the Three Dragon Veins of the land, while standardizing writing and cart axles—thus establishing the pattern of unity after division, division after unity."

"So that's how it happened…"

Li Yan said gravely: "What did these two do?"

"Nothing more than fish for the Nine Tripods!"

Wang Daoxuan held the bamboo slip tightly. "It says that in ancient times, when heaven and earth underwent great change, some grotto-heavens and blessed lands transformed into entities existing between being and non-being."

！。

"The Cloud Lord's Palace and the Goddess Palace?"

Li Yan instantly understood.

"Yes."

Wang Daoxuan nodded and said, "This cavern is strange—it seems entirely composed of primordial gang qi, shifting endlessly, yet nothing on the scroll clarifies it."

"But if such a thing happens to lie directly above one of the Three Dragon Veins' key points, it becomes like a fish trap, waiting to capture the Nine Cauldrons as they pass through."

"Upon learning this secret, Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng used the pretext of seeking the elixir of immortality, leveraging the power of Great Qin to accomplish many deeds, then burned all related records and fled."

"The First Emperor flew into a rage, buried alive other Daoist sorcerers in the palace, and many Confucian scholars were also implicated…"

Li Yan mused, "Fortunately, it seems these two never succeeded."

"It's probably not that simple."

Wang Daoxuan said gravely, "Shenzhou is vast; even with the method, moving the Nine Cauldrons won't be accomplished in a day or two."

"This Hou Sheng first found the secret caves of Wushan, slaughtered every surviving cultivator of the Goddess Palace, then smuggled out the First Emperor's terracotta warriors to suppress the Goddess Palace."

"During the Chu-Han Contention, he traveled abroad under the alias Hou Gong, joined Liu Bang's forces, remained obscure at first, but suddenly emerged during the conflict as an envoy who demarcated the 'Chu River, Han Boundary'…"

"After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he praised him as 'the greatest orator under heaven,' granted him the title of Marquis of Ping, yet he vanished that very day, gone without a trace."

"As for Lu Sheng—he's an old acquaintance. Do you recall who first spread word of the Cloud Lord's Divine Palace?"

"It was Lu Sheng!"

Li Yan suddenly understood. "That brat is also an Yin Fan!"

He clearly remembered Tian Wei mentioning the Three Treasures of Yunmeng.

During the Kaiyuan era of Tang, a Confucian scholar from Chang'an named Lu Sheng wandered Yunmeng at night; thick fog suddenly rose, he wandered into a palace, dreamed of seizing a jewel, and thus the tale of the Cloud Lord's Divine Palace spread.

Now it's clear this was merely a tactic.

He likely failed to seize the Cloud Lord's Divine Palace, so he spread rumors to stir trouble and search for an opening.

Seeing the matter clarified, Wang Daoxuan picked up the bamboo slip again. "How should we handle this?"

Li Yan thought for a moment. "It concerns Shenzhou's destiny, and the Nine Cauldrons are too astonishing—even the orthodox Daoist sects can't be trusted."

"Destroy it. And keep watch for any news of Lu Sheng…"

"Agreed!"

Without hesitation, Wang Daoxuan brought a brazier, placed the bamboo slip inside, chopped it into fragments, then burned it to ash.

After finishing, the Daoist said gravely, "I vow here: I will pursue and kill Lu Sheng, even at the cost of my life!"

Li Yan had never before seen Wang Daoxuan with such murderous intent…

At that moment, a loud cry of an eagle echoed from afar.

"Entering Kuimen!"

A disciple of "Fast Boat Zhang" shouted loudly.

Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan also came onto the deck.

"Entering Kuimen!"

"Entering Kuimen!"

Many boats still floated on the river, their shouts rising and falling.

It was both a warning and a farewell.

As the saying goes: "All waters converge at Fu and Wan; Qutang vies for but one gate."

Kuimen has been the world's greatest peril since ancient times; since Qin and Han, it has been a strategic battleground. Every dynasty, in times of war, would chain iron cables across the river to control passage.

Qutang Pass was built here, also serving as the gateway to Shu.

In an instant, the river narrowed, waves surged violently, and the entire cargo ship began to rock.

Especially the cliffs on both sides grew narrower, like a heavenly gate slowly closing, pressing down with overwhelming force.

At this point, navigation became cautious.

Vessels large and small kept ample distance from one another to avoid collision, and exchanged greetings.

There were dialects from Ezhou, and accents from Ba and Shu—it was lively.

Eagle cries echoed, swirling through mist and clouds.

Lu San, upon seeing this, nodded. "Don't worry—there are no ambushes on either mountain. But many boats have gathered at White Emperor City, beating drums and gongs, not knowing what they're up to."

"Fast Boat Zhang" also sighed in relief. "You all descended secretly; the Salt Guild probably hasn't received word yet."

"Li Shaoxia, aren't you heading to Fengdou? Should we stop there?"

Li Yan thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Fengdou's affairs are handled during the New Year. Bringing the Bai family along would be inconvenient. Let's go straight to Mount Qingcheng, deliver the people, and also take some items up the mountain."

From the Ezhou serpent-slaying, he obtained a dragon horn, suitable for forging a divine weapon. Li Yan had gathered other materials and planned to first communicate with the "Fire Head Monk" upon reaching the mountain.

As they spoke, the mountains on both sides grew steeper.

On the cliffs, one could still see ruins and broken walls; beyond today's Qutang Pass, fortresses from other eras had once stood.

But the sounds of war drums and horns had long faded with the river; the once-garrisoned strongholds had become ruins.

In some places, one could still see the massive pits left by ancient iron chains stretched across the river.

As for the rusted iron, it had long been pried off and sold for coin.

The Great Xuan Dynasty had ruled for a century, and Shu had never seen great chaos; the prosperity of the Land of Abundance surpassed even its past glory, so only iron stakes remained at Qutang Pass, kept for emergencies.

But now, the atmosphere at Qutang Pass had grown tense.

Many soldiers were stationed above, and warships patrolled, inspecting all passing vessels.

After all, the unrest in the southwest had reached Shu.

Their large cargo ship was naturally a target for inspection.

These soldiers were no mere Wushan constables—they searched every corner thoroughly; hidden compartments couldn't be concealed.

Discovery would mean trouble.

Li Yan had no choice but to produce the travel permit issued by the Ministry of War, along with his black Daoist credential. When a Battalion Commander came aboard to inquire, they were immediately allowed to pass.

Of course, they didn't know that, moments after leaving Qutang Pass, someone had already sent word of their entry into Shu.

After passing Qutang Pass, the river instantly widened. Wang Daoxuan's mood improved, and he smiled. "Shu is a fine land. During the Tang, Emperors Xuanzong, Dezong, and Xizong all fled here for refuge."

"In my youth, I traveled the world, but I regret never having entered Shu. Now, at last, my wish is fulfilled."

As they spoke, White Emperor City appeared ahead.

Around it, countless boats crowded the river—some with loud drums and gongs, others with mournful music, and men on some vessels striking each other with oars.

"Fast Boat Zhang"'s apprentice had already arrived ahead to gather news and returned to report.

"What's going on over there?"

"A minor matter."

The apprentice grinned. "Two factions are fighting over a temple…"

(End of Chapter)