Chapter 617

Erlang's actions,

would never be without a purpose!

Holding the bronze Nuo mask, many things flooded into his mind.

The first time they met, the other party was disguised as a wealthy guest in Chengdu, following them to the Lord Tian Sheng City outside Wanzhou, solving the evil object without a sound...

The second time they met, he was a gluttonous old man...

It seemed that every time they met, Erlang was changing.

He was a lonely person wandering outside the crowd, and also a god walking among the human world, finally transforming into Yang Jian to ascend to godhood and leave.

Many things seemed strange, but they all had a purpose.

Just like when he took the Nuo mask voluntarily at the time; some people thought he was unreliable, but in reality, he had completely mastered the divine position of the Shu Lord, which led to the later gathering of a thousand years of incense to re-suppress the Nine Tripods and resolve the calamity.

Suddenly, Li Yan remembered the night of the 30th.

They were drinking wine on the riverbank amidst the flying snow.

They talked about a lot and chatted about a lot.

He said he was very curious about the Great Luo Dharma Realm.

Erlang smiled and said, "What's difficult about that? When the time comes, I'll go up, see what it looks like, and then secretly tell you..."

Could it be?

Li Yan's heart stirred, and holding the Nuo mask, he slowly buckled it onto his face.

However,

there was no movement at all.

Forming seals, storing spirit, calling Erlang's divine name...

The bronze Nuo mask never showed any anomalies.

Perhaps,

Erlang hadn't settled down yet?

Li Yan was helpless and had to put it away first.

These three treasures all had immense consequences, so they naturally couldn't be sold casually.

Fortunately, the rest were useless to him.

For example, the Si Dao of the Blood Nuo Master, the Corpse-Forest Dharma Robe of the Black Sect Lama, and Lu Sheng's Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword were all top-tier good things.

They couldn't use them, so they could just be used for exchange.

Besides that, there was the Xuan'e Armor that Wang Daoxuan found in the Dragon Palace; leaving one to make a compass, the remaining two would definitely attract competition from Earth Masters.

There was also the spirit tea they obtained from the Tea Immortal.

Those sect elders would definitely be willing to pay a high price.

As for the fragments, there were some spirit materials found in the Bai family's secret cave, which, although not comparable to the Qingcheng treasure cellar, were also some rare items.

Come to think of it, they really had quite a lot of things in their hands.

Some ordinary Dharma sects couldn't even compare.

He didn't know what he could trade them for...

Just at this moment, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door, and then a Qingcheng Daoist boy knocked on the door, "Is Li Li Shaoxia there? Uncle Ling Yunzi asked me to tell you that the Sect Leader invites you."

"Alright, I'll be there immediately."

Li Yan slapped his head, only then remembering that when he went up the mountain, Ling Yunzi said the Qingcheng Sect Leader Chen Kongzi had something to find him for.

Things were chaotic, and he almost forgot the appointment.

Li Yan didn't dare to be slow and hurriedly went out.

Led by the Daoist boy, they left Zhaoyang Cave and headed straight for the Patriarch Hall.

The weather had changed, and it was much colder than in previous years; the mountain was still shrouded in cold mist, and the mountains were all reflected in black.

Walking on the mountain path was like walking in an ink-wash landscape painting.

While walking, Li Yan inquired about the news of the Cellar Opening Assembly.

Now that he was an honored guest on Mount Qingcheng, the little Daoist boy didn't hide anything and recounted what he knew one by one:

"The location of the assembly is at Tianshi Cave, and the entrance to the treasure vault is at Zhangren Peak. There is a natural karst cave there, which is also a cave-heaven aperture. After being reinforced by arrays, the cave walls are engraved with the 'Yan Wuyue True Form Map,' and it is sealed in five cellars: 'Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth'..."

"On the first day, we must set up an altar to sacrifice to heaven, perform Dharma rites to verify the cellars, and then the Sect Leader will invite the various sects to discuss matters and attend a banquet..."

"On the second day, we will open the cellars to take the treasures, and on the third day, they will be sold and traded at Shangqing Palace. I heard that there are experts helping to appraise the treasures..."

"Tomorrow's sacrifice to heaven is at the Chen hour (7-9 AM); Li Li Shaoxia, don't miss the time..."

Listening to the little Daoist boy's account, Li Yan was thoughtful.

This set of procedures was about the same as the Cellar Opening Assembly on Mount Hua, only the level and specifications of the treasures had been raised quite a bit.

What Li Yan paid most attention to was the meeting on the first day.

The transformation of humanity was no longer a secret in the Mystic Sect.

I'm afraid it was to discuss how to deal with this matter...

Just as he was thinking, the two had already arrived at the side room of the Patriarch Hall.

Before they even got close, they heard a hearty laugh from inside, "Hahaha... My Lord is truly witty."

There were outsiders?

Hearing this, Li Yan frowned.

They arrived at Mount Qingcheng the day before yesterday; although it was already night, after he settled down, he still visited Chen Kongzi at the first opportunity.

Resolving the disaster of the Nine Tripods this time was also helping Qingcheng; after all, they were an orthodox Mystic Sect and had the responsibility of suppressing the land.

If Lu Sheng succeeded, Qingcheng would also lose face and have endless trouble.

Chen Kongzi had already expressed his gratitude at the time, saying the benefits would be given at the Cellar Opening Assembly, and also hinted that if they encountered anything in the future, Qingcheng would help support them.

Down the mountain earlier, he had already openly favored him.

Logically speaking, what should have been given had already been given.

To invite him suddenly, could it be because of this outsider?

Li Yan became vigilant, and after approaching the side room, he looked inside through the open red door without changing his expression.

Sure enough, a middle-aged man was sitting inside, wearing a three-beam Jinxian cap, dressed in a scarlet robe with large sleeves, with a peacock patch on his chest; his features were square, and three long whiskers hung down to his chest, looking quite dignified.

Someone from the imperial court,

or a third-rank high official?

Curiosity rose in Li Yan's heart.

It was not strange for people from the imperial court to come.

The so-called "Under the whole heaven, is there any land that is not the king's land?" The hallmark of the orthodox Mystic Sect is to control national sacrifices, occupy cave-heaven blessed lands, and naturally, they also have to offer tribute and sell a portion to the imperial court at a low price.

At the last Mount Hua Assembly, people from the imperial court also came.

But what did they want with him?

"Little Friend Li, please come in."

Chen Kongzi naturally saw him long ago. After greeting him to come in, he smiled, "Let me introduce you. This is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Lord Pei Zongti, who is also the director of the Xuan Sacrifice Division."

Li Yan's heart tightened, and he cupped his hands, "Greetings, Lord Pei."

The Xuan Sacrifice Division was the government office that managed the Mystic Sect for the imperial court.

Like their Daoist certificates, they all had to be registered in the Xuan Sacrifice Division, and the cave-heaven blessed lands of the Mystic Sects in the world also had to be registered, and the construction of some large sect palaces often had to pass through the Xuan Sacrifice Division...

It could be said that their status in the Mystic Sect was pivotal.

For the Cellar Opening Assembly, the Vice Minister in charge of the Xuan Sacrifice Division came in person, mostly because of the transformation of humanity.

In a short period, Li Yan had already figured out many things.

"No need for formalities, Li Li Shaoxia, please sit."

This Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Lord Pei, spoke quite politely.

After Li Yan sat down and the Daoist boy served tea, he nodded, "I heard Li Li Shaoxia's name last year."

Li Yan knew it was mostly about Zhao Changsheng.

After all, the clues about this person were discovered by him, and Luo Mingzi, who had a good relationship with him at the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect in Chang'an, was transferred to the capital because of this.

Sure enough, Lord Pei's expression became solemn, "This monster Zhao Changsheng has been causing trouble everywhere since the Great Song Dynasty; he joined the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom in the previous dynasty, and now he is stirring up trouble again. His Majesty attaches great importance to this."

"I came here this time, one to preside over the Cellar Opening Assembly, and two, under the orders of the Emperor, to investigate this matter..."

Sure enough, he came for the Nine Tripods.

Li Yan was helpless and had to recount the matter again.

The appearance of the Nine Tripods shook the world.

Except for Shen Sanyou, he had already told Chen Kongzi once, and he didn't expect this Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites to want to inquire in person.

Of course, he also understood.

Everyone had a different perspective, knew different situations, and had different attitudes toward this matter; perhaps there were different angles.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Lord Pei fell into deep thought and suddenly asked, "Did Lu Sheng ever mention the method of calculating the movement of the Nine Tripods' earth veins?"

Li Yan shook his head, "I don't know, but Zhao Changsheng definitely knows. If we catch him, perhaps we can ask."

"Hmm."

Lord Pei nodded slightly, seemingly having made up his mind, and stopped asking, instead stroking his beard and smiling, "Let's not mention this for now. I came here and also helped someone bring a letter."

As he spoke, he took a letter from his bosom and handed it over.

After Li Yan took it and read it a few times, he was full of joy, "Brother Yan passed the imperial examination?"

This letter was sent by Yan Jiuling, who had passed the imperial examination as the top scholar.

"Yes."

Lord Pei also stroked his beard and smiled, "Jiuling's scholarship is extraordinary. Upon entering the capital for the first time, he was appreciated by the Emperor. He also lived up to expectations, answering freely in the palace, and several ministers in the central government also praised him endlessly."

Jiuling?

Calling him so affectionately...

Li Yan's heart stirred, "I wonder what relationship you have with Brother Yan..."

Lord Pei smiled, "Jiuling was appreciated by Lu Hongyuan and has already been accepted as his disciple; he can be considered my junior fellow apprentice."

Well!

Li Yan was secretly surprised.

Who was Lu Hongyuan?

The master of the Mingde Martial Arts Hall, the son-in-law of the Kong family of Qufu, proficient in Xingyi, Bagua, and Taiji, merging the three fists into one, incorporating the Confucian school's Haoran Qi, becoming one of the top ten masters in the Divine Land, and also one of the leaders of the Confucian school...

There were too many legends about him.

This kid Yan Jiuling really soared the moment he entered the capital.

He was an ordinary person, yet he was accepted as a disciple by Lu Hongyuan.

He must have been favored by the Confucian school.

Lord Pei continued to stroke his beard, "Jiuling wants to go to the newly established Qiankun Academy, and the Emperor has already agreed."

"He heard that you were invited by Lord Yuan of the Ministry of Works and have already joined the Qiankun Academy, so he specifically asked me to bring a message: on the day the Qiankun Academy opens, you must go to the capital to meet."

Li Yan's heart stirred and he asked, "Has the date been set?"

He knew Yan Jiuling's character and knew he wouldn't ask him to travel thousands of miles to the capital just for a simple meeting between friends.

The opening of the Qiankun Academy must have some benefits that couldn't be missed.

"It has been set."

Lord Pei nodded, "The Emperor attaches great importance to this and personally chose the date, which is after Qingming."

After Qingming...

There was still one month left.

Li Yan calculated and cupped his hands, "I will definitely go."

After saying this, Lord Pei lowered his head to drink tea and said nothing.

Li Yan was not a fool and knew these two still had things to say, so he took his leave.

Returning to Zhaoyang Cave, he told everyone about this.

"The capital?"

Sha Lifei said happily, "I've long wanted to see it, but Brother Zhao the Donkey is still missing, so we have to find him first."

"That is natural."

Li Yan nodded, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes, "Elder Di Longzi's heartbeat was wrong when he spoke; he must have hidden something. After the Cellar Opening Assembly, we will take him to Yuzhou and see who is playing tricks!"

The next day, while the sky was still dark, Li Yan and the others set off.

Mount Qingcheng was shrouded in mist, the sky could not see the stars or the moon, the whole mountain was pitch black, and only lanterns could be seen flickering in the mountains.

When they rushed to Tianshi Cave, a little morning light appeared in the distance.

The vermilion gate and copper nails of Tianshi Cave shone with cold light in the morning sun.

The eighty-one blue stone steps were swept spotless, and the orange light mixed with the candlelight of the lanterns illuminated the plaque "Ancient Changdao Temple."

The people who came to watch the ceremony had all gathered.

There were monks, Daoists, and laypeople, a black mass of people, heads moving, but no one spoke, just solemnly looking at the main hall in the distance.

This was the venue for the sacrifice to heaven, which had already been arranged.

I saw seventy-two black scripture streamers hanging from the dome of the main hall, a bronze Bagua incense burner in the center, spitting out the green smoke of agarwood, and the unburned candle tears in the corner piled up into a small dark red mountain on the offering table...

Clearly, the preparatory ritual for the sacrifice had already begun last night.

*Dong! Dong! Dong! *

As the morning bell rang, it represented the arrival of the Chen hour.

I saw an old Daoist wearing black and white Dharma robes walk out with wide strides and say in a loud, solemn voice, "The auspicious time has arrived, open the altar!"

Li Yan recognized him; this was the Qingcheng elder Zhu Qingzi, a rigid person who paid attention to Dharma and was the person in charge of sacrificial rituals on the mountain.

Following his chant, the sound of drums and music suddenly rang out.

Outside the main hall, a six-story Dharma altar had already been set up, with a golden statue of Zhang Daoling standing on the main altar, a Seven-Star Lamp array surrounding the Dharma altar, and nine-fold Dharma flags inserted according to the Bagua directions, symbolizing the three talents of "Heaven, Earth, and Man."

All the arrangements were very rigorous.

Amidst the sound of drums and music, the Qingcheng Sect Leader Chen Kongzi walked out of the main hall.

He was wearing a crimson gauze Dharma robe, a lotus crown on his head, holding a Tianpeng ruler, and led twelve high-merit Daoists and twenty-four Daoists to ascend the altar.

Sprinkling water to open the altar, stepping on the Gang steps, stepping on the Dipper, and chanting the *Qingcheng Secret Blessing*: "Xuan Yuan opens the peace, the Yan Wuyue pay homage to the truth; the treasure cellar for a thousand years, blessing the common people..."

The process was very cumbersome, but no one was impatient.

One reason was that disturbing the quiet of the Dharma altar was against the rules; it was one thing for ordinary people, but for cultivators to make noise, it was slapping the face of the Qingcheng Sect.

Another reason was the awe of the Mystic Sect for heaven and earth.

After the chanting ended, Chen Kongzi burned the "Five-Color God-Communicating Talisman," sacrificing to Zhang Tianshi with plain imitation of the three sacrificial animals, spirit tea, and Shu brocade.

Zhang Tianshi entered Shu to promote the Dao and was also one of the patriarchs of Qingcheng.

After the sacrifice to heaven here ended, everyone moved again and headed toward Zhangren Peak in a mighty procession.

Zhangren Peak was the highest peak of Qingcheng and had another name, "Mount Zhaogong," rumored to be the place where Zhao Gongming practiced, and it was also the place where Li Yan built a building for seclusion at the time.

Of course, they didn't go to the cave-heaven, but followed the main road straight to the palace on the mountain.

A Dharma altar had also been set up here.

Everyone stood on the mountain terrace, but saw that the surroundings were steep as if cut, the mountain peaks were howling, and when the vines at the entrance of the opposite Tiancang Cave were lifted by the mountain wind, the ochre-red "Fifth Cave-Heaven" seal script on the stone wall would be revealed.

The Dharma rites here also took a long time.

When the Yang energy was at its strongest at noon, the twelve high-merit Daoists held demon-subduing swords, lined up in a Big Dipper array, and stepped on the Gang steps to lead the thunder technique.

Led by Chen Kongzi, the sword tips pointed together at Tiancang Cave.

"Order!"

With a shout, purple energy sprayed out from the cave opposite like a dragon.

The sound of the pine and cypress waves howled in the mountains, and the onlookers felt the Gang wind hitting their faces, hearing the sound of metal clashing, as if the sword energy left by immortals in the past was ringing.

That Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Lord Pei, also guarded the Dharma altar, and seeing the purple energy spraying out from the cave, he immediately stepped forward, held a brocade silk, and said in a loud voice, "The seal is undamaged, the treasure aura is full!"

Hearing this, many people breathed a sigh of relief.

Unlike Mount Hua, which had many metal items, the treasure cellar of Mount Qingcheng imitated the Yan Wuyue True Form Map and built five large cellars for Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.

After all, it had been from the Song Dynasty until now, and it had gone through many wars.

If things went wrong, the entire cellar storage would have problems.

The purple energy and green smoke meant that the cellar storage was intact.

Of course, this was only the first step; all the courtyards of the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect would send people to confirm it, so as not to be polluted by evil spirits.

After everything ended, Chen Kongzi announced, "The auspicious time has been set, open the cellars tomorrow morning. Everyone, please move to Shangqing Palace."

Many people perked up after hearing this.

Everyone knew that this assembly was unusual, and the director of the Xuan Sacrifice Division had come in person.

Under the transformation of humanity, where would the Mystic Sect go?

Perhaps today there would be a statement...

(End of chapter)