Chapter 739: The Tianshi Comes

Dusk settled heavily, flags fluttering fiercely atop the city walls.

Zhang Tianshi’s purple robe hung low as he gazed at the row of black gun barrels on the wall, his expression unchanged, his voice crisp: “Eunuch Zhao has come—why not show yourself?”

“I have a question: is ‘eating lakes and ponds’ better, or ‘controlling mountains and seas’ wiser?”

Zhao Wujiu coughed as he emerged from the shadows, squinting down at the man below.

“Eating lakes and ponds, controlling mountains and seas” was a famous debate in the *Salt and Iron Discourses*.

During the reign of Emperor Zhao of Western Han, the Confucian literati clashed with Minister Sang Hongyang at the Salt and Iron Conference over whether wealth should be stored among the people or centralized to strengthen the state and its military.

This remark sounded more like a dispute between regional factions and the maritime-opening faction.

But Longhu Mountain had taken no side in previous factional struggles; now raising it again clearly carried hidden intent.

Just moments ago he had threatened “defying heaven’s will,” yet now he hesitates and evades—this old Tianshi clearly doesn’t wish to clash too openly with the court.

But this phrase is another trap.

If we speak only of mortal affairs, the court must naturally “control mountains and seas”; but the old Tianshi has come here knowing full well this is a decree from the Heavenly Court.

The Emperor, claiming to be the Son of Heaven, naturally becomes the one who “eats lakes and ponds.”

Yet to answer thus would contradict court policy.

So no matter how he replies, he is wrong.

With his mind made up, Zhao Wujiu grew even more composed, his fingers rubbing the jade pendant at his waist as he said calmly: “Tianshi, you are learned in antiquity; I am a eunuch, serving by imperial grace. I do not understand your words.”

“But I do know one thing.”

“What is that?” Zhang Tianshi asked, eyes narrowed.

Zhao Wujiu sighed, lifting his gaze to the sky: “When Shaohao declined, the Jiuli corrupted virtue; mortals and spirits became entangled, indistinguishable—thus Emperor Zhuanxu severed the connection between heaven and earth.”

“Tianshi seeks the Dao of Heaven—yet how can you disregard the Dao of Humanity?”

Zhang Tianshi fell silent, then spoke: “When Yu the Great tamed the floods, the River Luo yielded the Book, and the Nine Categories were established. Without heavenly mandate, how could the *Hong Fan*’s Five Phases exist?”

The *Hong Fan* is a chapter of the *Book of Documents*, recording how King Wu of Zhou visited Ji Zi, a remnant minister of Shang, who expounded the nine fundamental principles of ruling the realm—the Five Phases being the first of the Nine Categories.

His meaning, again, was a veiled plea for the court to follow Heaven’s will.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wujiu’s gaze turned icy.

Longhu Mountain and the Kong family had been granted imperial titles for generations because of Confucian orthodoxy and the Tianshi’s spiritual authority—but they could not be allowed to grow too powerful or lose control, so the court had taken measures.

For instance, two successive Dukes of Yansheng from the Kong family had fallen into moral decay; even earlier, one had defected to the Golden Yurt Khanate, yet the court did nothing, merely watched and sneered.

Thus today, the Kong family’s prestige has greatly declined; various schools have risen within Confucianism, and many even take pride in denouncing the Kong family; the Kong family, wise to the situation, has kept quiet and made no moves.

But Longhu Mountain is somewhat different.

After the founding of the Great Xuan, the founding emperor kept a watchful eye.

He revoked Longhu Mountain’s title of “Tianshi,” replacing it with “Zhenren,” yet preserved hereditary privileges and imposed strict control.

Meanwhile, he elevated Wudang Mountain, dividing the Daoist sects.

Longhu Mountain’s followers naturally resented this; except during the founding emperor’s reign, when the Tianshi himself came to the capital to serve as National Teacher, thereafter only senior elders were sent.

This time the Tianshi has descended the mountain clearly intending to act with heavenly mandate.

Thinking of this, Zhao Wujiu no longer bothered to speak.

Seeing his silence, Zhang Tianshi continued: “Is His Majesty present? I wish to enter the palace tonight and meet His Majesty face to face.”

Zhao Wujiu replied coldly: “His Majesty has retired. Tianshi, speak tomorrow. I have already arranged lodging for you…”

“No need for your trouble!”

Zhang Tianshi’s face darkened; he turned on his heel.

Whoosh~

A gale of dust and wind rose—and he vanished.

Zhao Wujiu stared at the direction he had disappeared, eyes narrowing slightly.

“Dugong.”

Tian Battalion Commander spoke low beside him: “It seems he went to the Academy…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Zhao Wujiu said coolly: “Huo Yin is at the Academy—he can stop him. If the old Daoist wishes to avoid humiliation, he won’t fight him.”

All who heard this nodded in agreement.

Master Huo Yin was one of the court’s hidden cards—a force that suppressed the realm’s destiny.

Though the old Tianshi was powerful, once he and his disciples set up a ritual altar, even spirits and demons would flee—but in single combat, he was no match for Huo Yin…

…………

Dusk was ink-black on the mountain path outside the capital.

Zhang Tianshi, purple robe hanging low, stood beneath an ancient pine.

His withered fingers formed the Zi-Wu seal, murmuring: “Zi-Wu, Kun-Gen, qi turns to Tian Gang.” Instantly, faint blue smoke rose around him, mingling with the night dew among the pine needles.

On the Shenji Camp watchtower three li away, the musketeers suddenly grew drowsy.

They noticed neither the purple shadow darting through the pine grove nor the wisp of dust creeping beneath their feet.

But as soon as he passed several hidden sentries, flames flared in the air.

Zhang Tianshi halted, gazing upward.

Several large flame lanterns floated in the sky.

These were specially crafted by skilled artisans from the Mo Men, after acquiring Lu Ban’s wooden magpie—similar to Kongming lanterns, but with arrays and talismans beneath, glowing brightly at night to disrupt enemy concealment techniques.

“Ding and Jia to the left, Bing and Ren to the right.”

Zhang Tianshi watched coldly; three copper coins slid from his sleeve and landed, forming the Sancai formation.

The coins trembled slightly, and everyone involuntarily shifted their gaze.

This was the secret “Yin Guang Zhang” from the *Shangqing Tianshuyuan Hui Che Bi Dao Zheng Fa*, borrowing the residual power of the Six Ding and Six Jia generals to distort all perception.

Even the forces of Gang and Sha were affected.

For instance, the protective bronze bells on the Academy’s walls remained utterly still.

Zhang Tianshi stepped forward in the Yu Bu, arriving at the wall’s base, his ears twitching.

He heard the rhythmic hammering of nails and chisels within, pondered, formed a seal and entered the hidden character, tracing a “well” character with his fingertip on the blue brick.

Water seeped from the cracks, instantly freezing into ice.

Ice crystals spread along the seams, cracking the wall in a spiderweb pattern.

The old Daoist’s figure seeped through like water; the brick surface rippled like disturbed water.

Had anyone been watching, they would have cried out in shock.

This was the Daoist art known as “Wall-Piercing Technique”—a technique bordering on divine.

In this age, few could wield it; the old Tianshi’s mastery was evident.

As he passed through the high wall, Zhang Tianshi suddenly closed his eyes and blocked his senses.

With his seven orifices sealed, his robe stirred slightly, yet his spiritual awareness surged like a tide.

Sounds and scents flooded in: ink fragrance from the eastern-southern library, iron stench from the western workshop, and from the pines halfway up the slope—

A sharp, blade-like aura lurked!

The old Daoist snapped open his eyes; his purple robe stirred without wind.

Thirty paces away, atop a pine branch, stood a figure with arms crossed.

Rough hemp robes, washed silver by moonlight—Huo Yin, the Divine Fist Master.

“Tianshi visits at night—why not deliver a formal notice?”

Huo Yin’s voice rang like metal clashing. As he spoke, every pore on his body sealed shut—not even a wisp of breath escaped—the hallmark of the Primordial Realm, “Locking Essence, Closing Orifices.”

Zhang Tianshi’s expression didn’t change: “Master Huo’s ‘Eight Steps Chasing Cicadas’ has grown even more refined than twenty years ago.”

Moonlight glinted off the hidden thunder patterns embroidered on his sleeve—the forbidden seal of Longhu Mountain’s “Five Thunder Heart Orthodox Method,” now faintly warm.

Crack!

A pine branch suddenly snapped.

Huo Yin plummeted like a meteor, shattering the mountain path’s blue bricks with his landing, then strode forward, voice cold and solemn: “Tianshi, do you know the Academy is protected by both the *Great Xuan Code* and the *Daoist Prohibitions*?”

As he spoke, his thumb pressed against the jade belt at his waist—hidden within were thirty-six “Demon-Nailing Spikes,” seized during the suppression of the White Lotus rebels, specifically designed to pierce the spiritual orifices of Daoist sorcerers.

He was the foremost Grand Master; by martial world rules, he could fight without restraint—so long as he didn’t use musket volleys, if he drove back Zhang Tianshi, it would be Longhu Mountain that lost face.

“Let’s move elsewhere…”

Zhang Tianshi glanced around, then shook his head slightly.

The moment he finished speaking, he retreated into the air, flipping over the courtyard wall.

Around them, several Commandant officers had already gathered.

Huo Yin stepped forward; as his foot touched the ground, he vanished—only his cold voice echoed through the night: “On alert—watch for a diversion.”

The Commandant troops immediately deployed their muskets.

Huo Yin and Zhang Tianshi, one ahead and one behind, soon reached the foot of the mountain.

On the open field, night wind howled—only the two faced each other.

Zhang Tianshi gazed toward the Academy and sighed: “Old Daoist comes under the Three Pure Ones’ divine decree—Brother Huo, will you truly oppose Heaven’s will?”

Before his words ended, three bronze thunder seals slipped from his sleeve.