Chapter 621: The Court's Scheme

The meeting venue is the Shangqing Hall.

Originally, the Shangqing Hall was cramped; during the time when the Sichuan sword immortal Cheng Jianxin oversaw affairs, Qingcheng's prestige steadily rose, prompting its expansion.

Now, it is a towering, spacious hall; above, the massive ceiling coffer is painted with star maps and the Taiji and Bagua symbols, while three divine statues are enshrined against the rear wall.

Tai Shang Lao Jun sits centrally, with Zhang Sanfeng and Lu Dongbin flanking him on either side; the statues tower high, the hall is vast, and with the cold, overcast weather, even the numerous beef-tallow candles fail to dispel the gloom and mystery.

Outside the hall, pines and cypresses are frosted, and the cold wind howls, carrying damp mist; bronze bells at the eaves chime clearly in the wind.

Inside, heads throng, the atmosphere solemn and reverent.

Blue smoke rises from the sandalwood incense burner, coiling like a dragon around the beams and pillars, interweaving with the light filtering through the windows, causing the enshrined statues to flicker between light and shadow.

Guided by the acolytes, everyone had already taken their seats.

Chen Confucius of Qingcheng sat at the left front, below the altar.

After the ritual, he had changed into new robes: a black crane-cloak, a Five Peaks crown on his head, and a green jade fly-whisk in hand.

Two acolytes stood silently behind him, holding a treasure sword and a fly-whisk.

The aura of a sect leader was immediately evident.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Rites, Pei Zongti, sat at the right front.

He wore a crimson official robe, starkly incongruous with the Daoist sect's plain colors; on his knees rested a gilded official seal box, the imperial edict's yellow silk partially exposed, as he sat with eyes closed, resting.

Since this gathering involved both the Daoist sect and the martial world, certain customs had to be observed: the host called out names, and everyone took turns to burn incense and pay respects, a process that took half a day.

Yet the gathering's atmosphere grew increasingly solemn.

Only then did Chen Confucius rise and say: "Fellow Daoists, today's gathering is not merely to retrieve the hidden treasures, for you all know why."

"The Nine Tripods have appeared, firearms have been innovated, the celestial timing of Shenzhou has shifted… all signs indicate that the transformation of human Dao has arrived; you must deliberate on a strategy…"

His lengthy speech essentially meant that no one could remain detached from this matter—they must establish new rules to prevent chaos.

Afterwards, Minister of Rites Pei Zongti rose to read the imperial edict.

His voice was cold and hard as iron: "I have heard that the Daoist sect understands yin and yang. Now, as Shenzhou stirs and demonic elements wreak havoc, I hereby order the Ministry of Rites to assist in investigation and regulation…"

Upon hearing the edict, many faces darkened.

The appearance of the Nine Tripods would inevitably draw the court's attention—this was anticipated by all—but no one expected the court to seize this opportunity to make moves.

"Those who secretly possess the Nine Tripods shall be charged with treason!"

This did not trouble them; after all, the Nine Tripods were too significant, many had died over them, and none dared touch them.

Moreover, the court demanded that the Daoist sect report all information related to the Nine Tripods—a demand within their acceptable limits.

But the following clauses caused them discomfort.

The court revised the Da Xuan Code, formally incorporating Daoist sorcerers' offenses into it, and any sect that harbored offenders would be punished as accomplices…

Certain Daoist techniques would be reviewed by the Imperial Daoist Examiner; if deemed forbidden, the offense would be classified as witchcraft harming others…

Furthermore, disaster relief, temple construction, teaching and establishing sects, and large-scale exorcism rituals must all be reported to the Imperial Daoist Examiner…

Although some of these had been informal rules before, their formal codification now made everyone feel constrained.

Especially their inclusion in the law.

The court could either turn a blind eye or enforce them strictly.

How it acted depended entirely on the court's whim.

"Isn't this going too far?!"

After Pei Zongti finished reading the edict, someone finally could not hold back: "The Daoist sect has always stood above worldly affairs. We have never refused to cooperate when Shenzhou's stability was at stake—but is the court trying to turn us into its hounds?"

This speech was blunt and disrespectful.

But with his opening, others followed suit.

"Yes, what does the court intend?"

"It's pushing us step by step—it clearly doesn't want us to survive…"

Li Yan glanced over, his expression unchanged.

The speaker was an elder of the Shigong Jiao, originating from Guangdong and Guangxi, popular among the common folk, with considerable local influence.

But whether he truly spoke for the Daoist sect's interests was questionable.

This sect was a mix of good and bad, disorganized, and some members colluded with local merchants, using exorcism as a pretext to extort wealth and build private temples.

But if pursued, many matters would become unmanageable.

He glanced again at Pei Zongti above.

Yesterday, this official had spoken kindly to him; now, he seemed like a different person, ignoring the uproar below, calmly sipping tea.

Chen Confucius of Qingcheng remained equally composed.

Yesterday, he and Minister Pei had appeared to chat amiably, the atmosphere pleasant—but it was far from harmonious on the surface.

He had guessed what the emperor in the capital intended.

Since ancient times, the Daoist sect and the martial world have been unstable elements; whenever the world plunges into chaos, someone always exploits their power to stir trouble.

The Xiao family seized the Da Xing throne in the same manner.

Other emperors were one thing, but the emperor in the capital was ambitious—he had already destroyed the Bozhou Yang family, which had centuries of roots—how could he allow the Daoist sect to remain uncontrolled forever?

Last year's tightening of Daoist credentials was his doing.

Now that the Nine Tripods have emerged and human Dao is transforming, he is restless and will surely use this chance to curb the sects and constrain the Daoist sect.

He understood, but could not agree.

First, as the head of Qingcheng, he did not wish to place a noose around his own neck.

Second, the Daoist sect was no ordinary group—if pushed too hard, who knew what might happen?

Yet this Minister Pei paid no heed—he merely demanded that Chen Confucius stand with the court at the critical moment.

Qingcheng was a mainstream Daoist sect; to avoid losing this status, it could not become too estranged from the court, so Chen Confucius agreed without hesitation.

What he wondered was: what exactly did this Minister Pei intend to do?

Meanwhile, the noise below grew louder.

Seeing the momentum, many sects that wished to avoid trouble now joined in, hoping to prevent this.

But at that moment, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Fellow Daoists, this is going too far!"

A short, stout middle-aged man rose, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and black robe, smiling: "We are the Daoist sect, but we are also the people of Shenzhou. Human Dao is about to transform—if we do not rein ourselves in, disaster looms. Therefore, my Meishan Jiao supports this."

At these words, everyone was stunned.

"Tang Laojiu, have you lost your mind?"

"Exactly! What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Someone could not help but rebuke.

Meishan?

Looking at the short, stout man, Li Yan was also surprised.

On his way to Qingcheng, Zou Shaohai, head of the Sichuan Divine Fist Association, had sent a messenger on horseback with a letter.

The letter was a plea for help.

Tang Ling, a famed demon-hunter of Meishan, had avenged his sister by associating with the Wu Xiang Young Master and killing someone with firearms in public; afterward, he was imprisoned in Chongqing's heavy prison by Inspector Wang.

The Tang family was a major power in Meishan; Zou Shaohai asked Li Yan to help if he could—both for personal gain and to earn a favor.

Li Yan had dealt with Tang Ling before.

Though single-minded, he was no great villain; after careful thought, Li Yan had decided to help.

Yet after arriving in Qingcheng, the Meishan people had not sought him out.

Li Yan was puzzled, but had no time to dwell on it.

This sudden attack…

Li Yan stole a glance at Minister Pei.

They must have reached a deal!

Indeed, facing the crowd's condemnation, Tang Laojiu of Meishan showed no fear; instead, he spoke confidently: "Minister Pei's words of 'cooperation' are not about absorption. The Daoist sect protects the land's veins; the court ensures the people's peace—there is no conflict."

"If the Nine Tripods fall into demonic hands, they will trigger earthquakes, floods, and mass suffering—then even the Daoist sect cannot remain unscathed…"

These words were true, but they were a diversion.

After all, no one had opposed the Nine Tripods issue.

Yet Tang Laojiu gave them no chance to rebut; he bowed solemnly: "In this calamity of Shenzhou, Meishan bears an inescapable duty—we not only support this, but will send disciples to serve in the army!"

At last, the mask was off.

Those in the hall realized it.

Some laughed bitterly,

others nodded slightly.

Meishan Jiao wanted to rise further—to become a mainstream Daoist sect!

But to be fair, this was indeed the best opportunity.

With the new firearms emerging, Meishan Jiao was the first sect to develop firearm techniques—and still the only one.

Many suspected it was tied to their hunter lineage.

Regardless, they were among those favored by fate in this transformation of human Dao, and naturally sought to seize the chance.

Meishan was not united.

They were divided into Upper Cave, Middle Cave, and Lower Cave—the so-called Three Caves of Meishan—with scattered water sects and family lineages across the land.

Becoming a mainstream Daoist sect would unify all their forces, propelling their strength forward to become one of the top sects!

Moreover, since Mei Shan is rooted in Xiangxi, if the court can bring it under control, it can leverage its power to suppress the southern regions of Shenzhou.

For a moment, many practitioners from southern magical sects grew solemn.

Even Chen Confucius, the abbot of Qingcheng, paused in surprise.

Controlling the state's sacrificial rites is no trivial matter—it's a fixed slot for each position, already fully occupied, which is why the slots for orthodox Xuan sects are so few.

If we give it to Mei Shan, whose slot do we take away…?

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.

The Ministry of War!

The military does have soldier cultivators, but they excel only in personal combat and tactics, with no one specializing in sacrificial rites.

Moreover, the military frequently venerates the War God Chiyou, whose origins are tied to Mei Shan's teachings, and both are skilled in new-style firearms…

Qi-yun.

Chen Confucius sighed inwardly, with no further hesitation, and said directly: "Qingcheng Mountain supports the court's decision."

"Wudang also supports it."

"Doumu Court supports it…"

These were the main forces of Tai Xuan Orthodoxy; almost immediately after Chen Confucius agreed, they all voiced their support.

Pei Zongti had naturally approached them all beforehand.

But these people, like Chen Confucius, had been watching and waiting.

They were no fools; Mei Shan alone might not matter much, but with court backing, weapons and spells targeting cultivators—and the personnel to wield them—would surely emerge soon.

The tide had turned. If they continued to stall, they would inevitably offend the court.

For a moment, the hall fell utterly silent.

No one had anticipated the situation would turn this way.

Minister of Rites Pei Zongti finally set down his teacup, raised his head, and said calmly: "Mei Shan's magical teachings have deep roots. With such a heart for the realm, His Majesty will surely be pleased. On the day of your sect's grand celebration, the Clan Office will send envoys to offer congratulations."

He then turned to the assembly and said frankly: "I am a disciple of Confucianism, and also a member of the Xuan path. You must understand: under a toppled nest, no egg remains intact."

"His Majesty once said: the power of the Xuan path can be righteous or evil—the path you choose depends on your own decision."

"Since no one opposes it, the matter is settled…"

Li Yan gave Pei Zongti a long, deep look.

No wonder he's the head of the Xuan Sacrifice Office.

Deeply calculating, and truly formidable in tactics.

The only thing unclear is,

how many will actually abide by this new rule…

………

The Qingcheng Xuan Assembly left many with heavy hearts.

That very day, countless spirit birds and messenger pigeons took flight.

The court's rules had grown harsher; Mei Shan sought to claim an orthodox sect's status; Tai Xuan Orthodoxy, Confucianism, and the Buddhist sects all endorsed it—this course could no longer be reversed.

Many of their plans now had to be adjusted accordingly.

After all, everyone knew the first bird to fly out always got shot.

Even so, the Jiaocang opening ceremony proceeded as scheduled.

The next day was the day the treasure vaults would be opened.

Just after the hour of Yin, the ritual altar on the sheer cliff of Zhangren Peak reopened. Dozens of Qingcheng Daoists chanted scriptures, formed arrays, and calmed the earth's qi.

The treasure vaults were essentially ice cellars built within the earth's spiritual nodes, nourished by the earth's spiritual qi—since the Song Dynasty, they had likely become fused with the earth's veins.

Opening the vaults meant breaking into the earth's veins.

One misstep could trigger a dragon's upheaval.

The worst outcome might even summon demonic qi.

Fortunately, the ritual proceeded smoothly.

By the hour of Si, Qingcheng disciples, each tied with black iron chains, scaled the cliffside walls and entered Tiancang Cave, using the "Divine Gold Finger" to shatter the sealing mud and reveal massive earthen jars.

Qingcheng's vaults were arranged according to the Five Elements.

Some rumors had already spread.

The Metal Vault contained Shoushan copper ore, lightning-struck meteoric iron, sword blanks…

The Wood Vault held triple-refined lightning-struck jujube wood, the Tang Dynasty carved edition of the Daozang…

The Water Vault held fragments of the "Sleeping Iron" from the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, once used by Li Bing to subdue the waters—now a spiritual artifact…

The Earth Vault held ancient Shu ritual jade zhang artifacts…

These were merely the famous items; even the ordinary spiritual materials, nurtured since the Song Dynasty, were likely extraordinary.

Of course, these items could not be purchased outright.

Qingcheng would first classify and sort them, removing defective pieces—a considerable undertaking. Even with all Qingcheng disciples working, they would not finish until nightfall.

Thus, the actual buying and selling would take place on the third day.

On this day, Li Yan did not go to observe the ceremony. Instead, he remained in Zhaoyang Cave, carefully studying the stone shrine he had brought from the Dragon Palace's Water Mansion.

This object was a Cave-Tian stone, capable of helping him expand Luofeng Mountain.

Last time, after absorbing the Immortal Mountain Boshan Censer, he had opened the Eight Outer Caves. According to the Fengdu Method, this time he could open the Eight Inner Altar Spirit Palaces.

The Eight Inner Altar Generals of Fengdu, also called the Eight Fiendish Generals or the Flying Eight Generals, jointly governed the Fengdu Underworld, stationed in the Li Palace, patrolling the Nine Dark Realms, recording life and death, and summoning grievous spirits.

They were far stronger than the Eight Outer Generals.

Their appearances were also more fearsome.

Normally, those who cultivated the Fengdu Method must strictly observe precepts, endure years of arduous practice, and achieve extreme mental purity before slowly opening the Eight Inner and Outer Altar Spirit Palaces.

Yet, even the one who transmitted the Fengdu Method could never have imagined a freak like Li Yan, who could cheat using the Great Luo Body.

The opening of the Sixteen Spirit Palaces—Eight Outer and Eight Inner—would guard the Central Spirit Palace.

Li Yan had already built four tiers of pavilions last year, an achievement already miraculous in the Xuan path; he could not possibly ascend further in such a short time.

But these sixteen spirit palaces would make Luofeng Mountain far stronger.

His combat power would now suffice against experts of the Fifth Tier.

The only thing Li Yan worried about was the shrine.

This was no ordinary Cave-Tian stone.

It was carved with the ancient Queen Mother of the West.

In recent days, strange phenomena had begun to emerge…

(End of Chapter)