Chapter 765

Wuuu~

Sobs and the sound of rummaging through rubble continued without pause.

After the earth-shattering night on Mount Tai, the city of Tai’an below was far from unscathed.

The violent tremors in the earth’s veins were not confined solely to the Jade Emperor Pavilion atop the mountain.

Many of the city’s aging buildings, especially in the suburban zones near Mount Tai, collapsed or were damaged by the shaking. Beams and pillars lay shattered, tiles cracked and scattered across alleys, raising dust still lingering in the air, mingled with morning dew, lending an especially desolate and sorrowful air.

Gloom hung heavy over the city, wails echoing endlessly.

Homeless civilians gathered by the ruins, some numbly sifting through remnants of their belongings, others leaning on each other as they wept, sorrow and rage thick in the air.

Officials dispatched by the Shandong Provincial Administration Commission and Surveillance Commission had rushed into Tai’an.

They set up porridge stalls, distributed clothing, organized soldiers to clear rubble, and assisted civilians in rebuilding—so overwhelmed they were in chaos. Under the supervision of the Prince De’s Chief Secretary, no one dared embezzle. Yet inefficiency in relief efforts and uneven distribution of supplies frequently sparked new minor conflicts and complaints.

The people cursed not only the natural disaster, but also human misdeeds.

Zhao Bingzhong, Zhou Xian, dozens of officials throughout Tai’an, and all lesser and greater officials who had colluded with them in the Tai’an Commandant’s Office, turned a blind eye to the blood sacrifice of boys and girls, neglected their duties by ignoring anomalies within the city, and even aided the wicked—all became targets of the people’s curses.

The Prince De’s Chief Secretary Xiao Chengyou and others acted swiftly, interrogated and confirmed their crimes, then shackled the major offenders in iron chains and escorted them under heavy guard to Jinan.

What awaited them was nothing but “execution pending review” or even “immediate beheading.”

The procession taken away yesterday was met with a chorus of curses from the crowd; rotten vegetables and clumps of earth thrown from the rubble directly struck and killed several elderly officials.

Meanwhile, a rumor quietly spread through the city’s streets:

“The Lord of Mount Tai… has changed… the True Lord Er Lang… has ascended…”

Ordinary folk were half-believing, half-doubting this news.

The Lord of Mount Tai was a deeply entrenched, exalted deity in their hearts—the sovereign of life, death, and the netherworld. His succession was tantamount to heaven and earth turning upside down.

The authorities made no mention of it; Daoists also remained tight-lipped.

Yet perhaps the terrifying sight of Mount Tai looming overhead and the ensuing disaster had planted doubts in some hearts.

Some civilians began secretly erecting crude plaques in corners of ruins or hidden spots in their new homes, clumsily carved with the words “Manifested Saint True Lord Er Lang,” placing a little clear water or coarse grain before them, silently praying that this newly ascended deity, as the rumor went, would dispel the gloom of Mount Tai and protect their homes from further evil spirits and wicked men…

…………

Unlike the suffering within the city, Mount Tai remained steeped in grimness.

Though the netherworld passage had been sealed, the lingering consequences were severe.

The carcasses of beasts corrupted into malevolent spirits by the intense yin miasma, as well as soldiers and nearby mountain villagers who had turned into walking corpses after contact with the yin miasma, hid themselves after dawn.

Disciples from supporting Daoist sects formed small teams, carrying talismans and ritual implements, guided by local Mount Tai Daoists, penetrating mountain paths, forests, gullies, and caves to eliminate the remaining walking corpses.

As for the beast carcasses, they were mostly purified by fire.

More troublesome were the broken seals.

Mount Tai’s Daoist sects had suffered heavy losses and could only repair the talismans, re-erect the ritual stelae, restore the earth’s qi pathways, and reactivate the spirit veins tainted by yin energy—with help from senior elders of the supporting sects.

Especially the Blood Maple Grove and the Wordless Stele were key areas under heavy protection.

Of course, a grand ritual to pacify the dead was also underway.

The disaster had struck too suddenly: Mount Tai’s core forces had been gathered at the Jade Emperor Pavilion to “discuss grand plans,” outer disciples dispatched to patrol the mountain, inner disciples guarding the pavilion’s gates—most had perished, their Dao extinguished.

Inside the still-ruined Jade Emperor Pavilion, bells rang incessantly.

Under the leadership of Daoist Shou Mingzi, elders of the Bi Xia Yuan Jun’s mansion, and surviving elders of various sects, a solemn and mournful rite of transcendence was being conducted.

Incense and candles curled in the air, prayer flags fluttered, the scent of incense drifted everywhere.

“Dear fellow Daoists, please bear your grief with restraint.”

After the rite, Xu Cangsong from the Jinan City God Temple stepped forward to offer condolences.

But after Mount Tai’s disciples had all thanked him, he shifted tone and asked: “Mount Tai has suffered grievous losses, yet the Eastern Peak is a vital land of Shenzhou, of great consequence. What plans do you have?”

His words, though seemingly well-intentioned, instantly froze the air in the hall.

For years, though Mount Tai’s sects had been fragmented, they had always united against outsiders.

Mount Tai was no ordinary grotto-heaven; it housed numerous spirit nodes and was the sacred site of imperial fengshan ceremonies, inevitably tied to the capital in many ways.

To claim other sects in Shandong were not envious would be false.

Take Xu Cangsong—he maintained decent relations with Mount Tai’s sects due to his role in the Enforcement Hall, but he was originally from Penglai Pavilion; faced with this situation, he naturally would not miss the chance.

“Hmph!”

The elder of Mount Tai’s Thunder Court, known for his fiery temper, immediately sneered: “We remember your aid, but Mount Tai’s internal affairs are none of your concern.”

“That’s not how it should be said…”

Xu Cangsong remained calm, stroking his beard: “Mount Tai’s safety concerns the state. The mountain holds down so many troublesome entities—if another mishap occurs, it will be the entire Shandong Daoist community that suffers.”

Upon hearing this, many senior elders from the supporting sects nodded in agreement.

But the Mount Tai sects’ members turned grim.

This was precisely what they feared most.

After such a massive scandal, if the court blamed them and others stirred up trouble, stripping them of their authority over Mount Tai, they would have no strength left to recover.

And they were no longer capable of handling the sealed sites on the mountain.

This time, they would have to surrender considerable authority.

“No need for you to worry, Elder Xu.”

At that moment, Shou Mingzi suddenly spoke: “My senior brother has personally journeyed to the capital to plead guilty. We have also agreed that the Jade Emperor Pavilion and other sects will jointly establish the Mount Tai Sect.”

To prevent further calamity, we will hold a Great Vault-Opening Assembly, opening all remaining spirit vaults to raise funds, repair the mountain gates, and comfort the affected civilians below.

“After the Vault-Opening Assembly, we will store new spirit materials. Now that the Shenzhou Qiankun Academy has produced a human artifact—the Su Lun Water-Fire True Lord guarding the state—metallic spirit materials will surely become scarce.”

“We lack the strength to gather them; we require your assistance.”

Upon hearing this, the assembly’s faces varied.

Among the Mount Tai sects, several opened their mouths but sighed and fell silent.

They had already discussed this matter.

Given Mount Tai’s current state, uniting to form the Mount Tai Sect was the best solution—to consolidate strength against various troubles. But like today’s Mount Qingcheng, some lineages would inevitably fade over time.

Shou Mingzi revived this proposal while others were on the offensive; they could only go along with it.

Some of the supporting sects no longer argued.

They were far away; Mount Tai offering them access to the spirit vaults was already a substantial gain.

Pressing further would be kicking a man when he’s down—disgraceful.

In an instant, Shou Mingzi had effortlessly defused the situation.

Xu Cangsong, unwilling to yield, glanced at the gilded statues in the hall, their paint peeling, and asked: “I’ve heard the Lord of Mount Tai has changed hands. Is this true?”

This was what he truly cared about.

Others, upon hearing this, also leaned in attentively.

The position of Lord of Mount Tai could determine a sect’s rise or fall.

But the matter was secret; they had only learned of it on their way here.

“Hahaha~”

Shou Mingzi smiled, stroking his beard: “The Lord’s seat is beyond the interference of mortals. Yesterday, we received a divine edict: True Lord Er Lang has ascended. After the Vault-Opening Assembly raises funds, we will build a divine palace within the Jade Emperor Pavilion.”

The elders of other sects exchanged glances.

Xu Cangsong’s eyelids twitched. “Are you jesting, Elder?”

Shou Mingzi replied calmly: “Would I dare speak falsely of such a great matter? If you doubt it, you may divinate and verify the truth yourself.”