Chapter 315: The Transformation of the Nine Cauldrons: Encounter with Mo Sect

Before nightfall, during the battle between the Ancient Crimson Dragon and the Nine-Colored Divine Deer, Li Guanyi stood atop the dragon's head wielding the Tiger-Roaring Heaven Spear, and at that moment, the Nine Cauldrons seemed to absorb the escaping qi of the Nine-Colored Divine Deer.

But after Li Guanyi went to inspect the Nine Cauldrons, he found no change.

Just before sleep, however, the Nine Cauldrons underwent transformation.

Li Guanyi's spiritual essence observed inwardly, fixing its gaze upon the Nine Cauldrons: originally, only one-ninth of the cauldrons had shed their heavy, ancient bronze hue and reverted to their original golden form; now, this one-ninth of golden radiance began advancing further.

The heavy, profound bronze color receded.

In its place emerged a faint golden glow, faintly revealing splendid auspicious clouds, echoing the mist-laden skies of Jiangnan, as if a divine deer lurked within; then, the bronze cauldrons' resonant hum grew fiercer, more majestic—

And then, it ceased abruptly.

Li Guanyi: "…………"

He couldn't help pressing his forehead, though he had anticipated it, still feeling a trace of regret:

"Of course—only a fleeting echo. If even that could restore more of the Nine Cauldrons' divine essence, the Ancient Crimson Dragon, with its eight-thousand-year foundation, would never have lost eight hundred years of lifespan to begin with."

"But at least this confirms it."

"The Nine-Colored Divine Deer is indeed a western auspicious spirit recognized by the Nine Cauldrons."

Li Guanyi pondered deeply, closely observing the transformation of the Nine Cauldrons.

Though only a portion of the massive cauldron had changed, its exquisite patterns were now faintly visible; the thick bronze hue had crumbled into fine dust, like accumulated grime upon the Nine Cauldrons, dispersing at the slightest breath.

The Nine Cauldrons trembled, transmitting waves of divine essence to Li Guanyi.

Li Guanyi's vision blurred, suddenly seeing the boundless, desolate western desert, the vast oasis at its center—the domain of the Tuyuhun, now the domain of the Tangut Kingdom—then the sweeping desert, dotted with scattered springs.

Then he saw the kneeling people, and saw a great wind rise.

The wind swept across all directions, unleashing a desert storm that darkened heaven and earth; suddenly, a brilliant nine-colored divine light appeared in the sky—a massive, beautiful divine deer emerged, leaping only a few times, and the storm that seemed ready to engulf the world ceased.

The people bowed in worship.

The Nine-Colored Divine Deer leaped away into the sky; the scene froze, then lost its color, becoming like a painted mural on ancient clay tablets, dissolving in the wind. Li Guanyi's consciousness flickered, and he perceived the Nine Cauldrons' divine essence.

"The Crimson Dragon of Jiangnan brings clouds and rain."

"The Divine Deer of the West calms the dust storms."

"They are vessels of state. If even two of the Nine Cauldrons could truly be restored, they could stabilize the most dangerous desert sandstorms… protect the oases, the living beings, and build cities in the unimaginable."

Li Guanyi watched as the Nine Cauldrons' luminous glow slowly dimmed.

He was moved again by the Nine Cauldrons' power.

These two abilities were not offensive spells; Li Guanyi could sense that the Nine Cauldrons' power was fundamentally rooted in the qi of human destiny. To use the Nine Cauldrons' power to kill living beings would be like using one's own spear to strike one's own shield—utterly ineffective.

Yet for nation and state, the Nine Cauldrons' power far surpassed even the Tiger-Roaring Heaven Spear, Chi Xiao Sword, or the Wooden Sword Dragon Map.

The Nine Cauldrons transform the divine beasts' own abilities into powers beneficial to the people and the state.

"Calming the desert sandstorms…"

"If such power existed, the journey through the West would be far simpler…"

Li Guanyi sensed the Nine-Colored Divine Deer's power slowly fading, yet the Nine Cauldrons detected a faint trace of destiny—so weak, like a thin dewdrop on a leaf just before sunrise.

Li Guanyi opened his eyes, watching the source of this faint destiny.

It came from the tribe, destined to be swallowed whole by the cruel West, whose gratitude, whose destiny was as thin as morning dew, as insignificant as mayflies—like these lives, mere grass in this chaotic age.

So small.

But that did not mean they did not exist.

Yao Guang's breathing was steady—she had fallen fully asleep. Li Guanyi leaned his head against a rock, gazing at the brilliant stars above, thinking of the complex situation in the West: Wang Hou and generals, noble clans and Mo Sect, Tangut and Tiele, Yu Langwang's Ying State.

Thinking of Jiangnan, thinking of the Central Plains, thinking of this vast world, where heroes rise.

Thinking of these lives, like mayflies and morning dew, fleeting in an instant.

Like gazing at the boundless, magnificent starry sky, sitting alone here, pondering this turbulent age, he finally felt his own loneliness and insignificance, a weakness rising within him; Li Guanyi closed his eyes, the back of his head pressing against the stone, murmuring softly:

"Mr. … what should I do?"

When dawn broke the next day, Li Guanyi was awakened by a cold fingertip prodding him.

Slowly opening his eyes, he saw a pale, slender finger gently tapping his cheek; in his vision was the exquisitely beautiful face of Nangong Wu Meng, wearing a mischievous, triumphant smile:

"Every time you scare me, but this time I won't be startled—rarely does Miss Yao Guang let me watch over you waking up. I'm a martial world woman; if I don't take this chance to get revenge…"

"Revenge for what?"

Nangong Wu Meng, the top scout of Tiance Prefecture, froze.

Nangong Wu Meng stared at the young lord, seated against the rock, his gaze calm and still.

Nangong Wu Meng's face flushed crimson in an instant.

She leapt back three steps in a flash.

Her unparalleled Yin-Yang Wheel Transformation martial art was fully displayed.

Nangong Wu Meng hid behind a large boulder, her face burning as she shouted: "Don't ambush me! Don't suddenly scare me, General! I—I was just… just… yes, yes, I was just waking you up!"

She had been startled, and now, furious at how unbecoming her reaction was for a martial woman, her cheeks burned even hotter with shame and irritation.

She spun and punched the rock.

Crackling.

Shattered stones fell, revealing something clear and pure inside.

Lei Laomeng rushed over instantly, gaping: "Huh??"

"Western jade? Or emerald-grade?"

"Holy shit?"

"Little sister, you—you're…"

"Why don't you dig a little more? No, just one more dig—that's all!"

Li Guanyi pondered, drew out Qiushui Sword, and scraped away the stone with a grating sound—only to feel disappointment; what he unearthed was merely a small fragment of jade, the rest impurities.

It's not worth much money.

Li Guanyi thought about it as he shoved the thing into his belt.

But even a little money is still money.

He couldn't help wondering—if he let Nangong Wumeng dig alone, would she dig up a whole big piece of jade?

Bringing Nangong Wumeng along on this journey into the Western Regions was the wisest decision ever.

The Western Regions are vast.

Sparse population across wide lands.

Who knows how many good spots there are?

That Fire Qilin? Just a little glutton.

Praise the Fire Qilin Army and Tiance Prefecture's true auspices!

Nangong Wumeng!

The Yin Yang Lunzhuan Sect's martial arts are excellent; not knowing where Nangong Wumeng had fled in shame and anger, Li Guanyi stretched, then saw Yao Guang staring at something by the lake—the vast sky and earth, and the tribe members already preparing for the day.

They washed their cattle and sheep, some went out to hunt, others sharpened their blades, some began cooking; though life was hard and plain, everyone's spirits were good.

Sa Atandi washed clothes while singing a Western Regions folk song in a clear voice.

Beautiful and melodious, carefree; seeing Li Guanyi wake up, she said:

"Xu Tiange, you're awake?"

"We prepared breakfast—want some?"

Li Guanyi nodded with a smile.

The people on both sides treated him well, especially the elders who had nearly stayed behind to die for the tribe—they clasped their hands and murmured prayers.

But they still called him "Jin Zhu," "Jin Zhu."

Some even called him "Jin Zhu Bodhisattva."

Li Guanyi was helpless.

First, those were just gold beans.

Second, that's not his name.

As Li Guanyi ate the local breakfast, he asked Sa Atandi about local news; Sa Atandi had been trained as the tribe's shaman-priest and was one of the few who spoke Tuqun official speech.

The others only knew two phrases, like Xu Tiange, though he was just a farming fanatic.

But he was still a top student of the Central Plains Academy, trained in the ancient Confucian Six Arts, fluent in Western Regions scripts and languages—but when speaking with these tribespeople, he had to gesticulate wildly and use facial expressions just to barely communicate.

When Li Guanyi asked about the overall situation in the Western Regions, Sa Atandi wiped her hands and replied: "The Western Regions aren't a solid block as the Central Plains people imagine—a single nation—but a chaotic mix of ethnic states; the Thirty-Six Tribes aren't tribes at all—they're thirty-six countries."

Li Guanyi said: "Thirty-six countries?"

Sa Atandi stared at Li Guanyi with wide eyes: "Of course—just as the Prophet Grandpa said: Central Plains people always speak so grandly. Our Western Regions kings, in the eyes of the true king of the Central Plains, are merely chieftains."

"Only when an entire Western Regions—so vast that a divine eagle must fly from one end to the other—is united under one great hero, will the Central Plains king consider it a nation worth taking seriously."

Li Guanyi thought about it, and had no reply.

Among the Thirty-Six Western Regions Tribes, even the Tiele alone comprised the Nine Tiele Clans.

The smaller ones weren't even worth the Central Plains people's notice.

Eight hundred years ago, even over a thousand years ago, during the peak of the Gongyang School, the Central Plains dynasties routinely dispatched a special profession called "Central Plains Envoy."

They announced to the four directions: "Here's your chance—kneel, sing, and call me Father."

One reason the Central Plains imperial court angrily launched wars was:

"We've been so courteous."

"Yet you refuse to kneel and call me Father?"

"Then let your father show you what true great-nation magnanimity means."

The Central Plains' current territory is twice as large as it was eight hundred years ago, and eight hundred years ago was twice as large as when the first Confucian Master lived; the Son of Heaven has always blended benevolent rule with hegemonic power, teaching the world through virtue.

But why, in recent years, has the empire's territory gradually expanded?

I don't know.

Yet somehow, new barbarian tribes always appear at the empire's borders.

Xu Tiange is the perfect example.

Right now, in the southwestern region of Chen State, that land was once pacified and absorbed by Tai Ping Gong.

Sa Atandi sighed: "Anyway, it makes no difference."

"Central Plains people, Western Regions people, rulers of this state, generals of that kingdom—they all fight each other endlessly. But the wind is still wind, the rain is still rain, our elders are still left beside the lake—hundreds of years, eight hundred years."

"Nothing has ever changed."

"The nobles say this is fate."

Li Guanyi said: "Fate?"

Sa Atandi cut horse grass, answering naturally:

"Yes—the king's law in the Western Regions says the highest class are those with boundless merit: one drop of blood equals one tael of gold; the middle class: one drop of blood equals one li of gold; we are the lowest class—our blood is full of filth."

"We were born to atone."

"People are not the same."

"The Buddha says this life must be spent enduring hardship, so we repay our karmic debts—and next life, we'll live well."

"I don't care about next life."

Sa Atandi pressed her lips: "I want to cut more horse grass, so the horses eat well, can hunt more game, so we can trade more in town—and maybe save a few more lives."

"When we turn fifteen, our tribe gathers with others, and we take a foal, a bow, and three stacks of sheepskin to another tribe, to marry a hunter or warrior."

"Then bear sons or daughters—and when the eagle flies from one end of the desert to the other, back and forth fifty-five times, we stop by the lake and return to the goddess's embrace."

She tilted her head up and smiled: "This is our fate, Xu Tiange."

"But I don't believe in fate."

She clenched her fist tightly and smiled:

"I have this strength. I am this brave."

"I will surely live to see the fifty-sixth circling of the falcon!"

"I want to live until I'm fifty-six before I die, Xu Tiange!"

Li Guanyi stared at her face, unable to speak.

Sa Atandi added: "We've met the noble lords of the Western Regions, the Buddha-lords too—each with their own majesty—but we hear that when they encounter the sovereigns of the Central Plains, they travel tens of thousands of li just to see them."

"The sovereigns of the Central Plains wear crowns with dangling pearls and jade coronets. Those mighty lords who journey to the Central Plains must don splendid robes and kneel before the sovereign."

Li Guanyi smiled and said: "Ten thousand nations bow before the imperial headdress."

Sa Atandi said: "Huh? That's beautifully said."

"Have you seen it, Xu Tiange?"

Li Guanyi's expression didn't change as he replied:

"How could someone like me have seen it?"

"I'm just a merchant."

Sa Atandi let out an "Oh," sounding disappointed, and said:

"Grandfather Azati said that eight hundred years ago, the greatest king of the Central Plains was wrapped in a crimson dragon, wielding a sword—what we call it in our tongue is 【Jin Zhu】."

Li Guanyi's expression didn't change as he shifted Chi Xiao Jian slightly backward.

While they chatted, Changsun Wuchou and Nangong Wumeng set out to find someone, but drawing on desert experience, Changsun Wuchou advised they prepare thoroughly—otherwise, even two fourth-tier cultivators like them would struggle to endure desert storms.

The tribe was poor; Changsun Wuchou lacked many of the items he needed.

Fortunately, a city lay nearby; Batuer had obtained Li Guanyi's Jin Zhu and planned to exchange it there for what the tribe required. Li Guanyi decided to go along and see a Western Region city firsthand.

Sa Atandi couldn't go with them. Batuer's voice was low: "Sa Atandi is only fourteen. A girl her age and appearance, if she enters the city, might be seized and sold as a slave."

Fan Qing's expression turned grim: "Slave?"

Things long vanished from the Central Plains seemed commonplace here.

Batuer frowned: "What's wrong with that?"

"In such places, when our tribe children marry, the lords may take the bride's first night. So many tribes tied to oasis cities have this rule."

Batuer rode his horse, speaking plainly, as if stating an obvious truth:

"The first child in the family must be killed."

The Tiance Prefecture group fell silent in an instant.

They felt a jarring, profound dissonance.

Sa Atandi nodded. Li Guanyi saw the girl's longing to enter the city, yet knew she couldn't. After a moment's thought, he asked: "Then, Sa Atandi, is there anything you'd like?"

Sa Atandi froze: "No…"

Li Guanyi smiled: "Don't be modest. You've taught me so much—consider it our gift to you."

Sa Atandi hesitated, shyly brushed a strand of hair from her temple, and whispered: "Then… could you bring me a mirror?"

At that moment, this spirited, courageous girl who had sworn to live until the falcon circled fifty-six times, revealed a trace of girlhood. Li Guanyi smiled: "Of course. I'll bring you the finest mirror!"

Sa Atandi unconsciously smiled.

Then she realized such a smile didn't suit the daughter of a desert hero; she coughed and said: "Then… I'll prepare a proper thank-you gift."

"Xu Tiange."

Li Guanyi smiled: "Then I look forward to it."

The group now faced the true Western Regions. Li Guanyi pulled Yao Guang close, making the girl cover both his and Nangong Wumeng's faces—otherwise, trouble might follow.

They entered the city without incident.

Even Li Guanyi's group, by appearance alone, were clearly not Western Region folk.

But gold and gold coins proved far more reliable than a face.

They entered successfully and looked around. Most houses were rammed-earth, built of large bricks and mud, unlike those of the Central Plains. The sky was deep blue; the city's style was dull gray. Between the buildings hung colorful silk banners embroidered with tales of Buddha's sutras.

People moved about, all with kind expressions. Near the city gate, a tavern's flag fluttered in the wind. At a table outside sat two swordsmen, clad in dull gray robes, drinking Western Region's fiery liquor.

Beneath the tavern flag, a woman in sheer, colorful silk danced, revealing her slender waist as she spun—her garments swirling like clouds and rosy dawn. It was the Western Region's Hu Xuanwu. Nangong Wumeng stared at the woman's seductive form and the exposed midriff, her face flushing crimson.

"Indecent… shameless."

Li Guanyi sighed. Nangong Wumeng's defenses were far too weak.

So the group dispersed. Batuer and others went to purchase supplies. Changsun Wuchou, experienced, prepared essentials for desert travel—ideally acquiring goods suitable for a caravan.

Pan Wanxiu went to inspect the city.

Gongsun Huai zhi went to examine the city gate's mechanical devices.

Xu Tiange vanished instantly, heading straight for the city's crop market.

Fan Qing, thoughtful, went to the slums.

Lei Laomeng wandered everywhere, stopping at the horse relay station to poke and prod here and there.

The Tiance Prefecture contingent that had come out were all seasoned elites.

Once inside the city, each immediately pursued their assigned tasks.

Even Xu Tiange began studying the Western Region's unique climate, terrain, crops, and machinery.

For a moment, Li Guanyi felt utterly idle, so he simply strolled with Yao Guang, silently noting the city's produce and layout.

The people here were all kind.

Provided you were a free citizen—not one of the lowest class.

Otherwise, you deserve to be whipped to death.

This was almost an ingrained order beneath the Western Regions: Li Guanyi and Yao Guang entered a tavern, a two-story building unlike anything in the Central Plains, exuding the sensation of drifting sands. Li Guanyi ordered a pot of wine—cloudy, watered down.

Glancing at the desert knife-wielder drinking alone, he followed the information he'd received from Sun Wuchou and attempted to hire these knife-wielders, just as one would hire guards in a Central Plains city—in this chaotic age, it was an extremely simple matter.

The leader of that group of knife-wielders said: "I need five large gold coins per month; my brothers get three large gold coins and five silver coins each month. We also need two female slaves to serve us and quench our fires. Wine and water must be plentiful. Is that acceptable?"

After a silence, Li Guanyi declined.

Li Guanyi and Yao Guang sat at another table, ordering a kind of plump, sweet-tasting date to go with their wine, when a voice laughed: "Young sir, you're from the Central Plains, aren't you? Not used to the local customs."

Li Guanyi turned and saw a man, around thirty, already sitting down as if they were old friends: "This place is like this—it can't be compared to my glorious Celestial Empire. I'm Zhang Ziwen, running trade routes. Young sir, would you care to travel with me?"

As soon as the man arrived, laughter erupted through the tavern: "Zhang Ziwen, you're tricking someone again!"

"Is it those Western Region crops you always talk about?"

"The fruits you claim will make a fortune once brought to the Central Plains?"

Everyone mocked him. Zhang Ziwen's face turned red with anger: "What do you know? Such deliciousness—there are certainly people in the Central Plains who'll eat it. As long as we can get it back across this chaotic age, it'll last for generations!"

He argued with them, clearly a regular here. Li Guanyi and Yao Guang watched the scene when suddenly they heard a chorus of Buddhist chanting. When they looked, they saw a procession of monks advancing along the main road, while the townsfolk all stepped aside in unison.

Li Guanyi had paid no attention at first—but then he froze slightly.

Then he stood up.

………………

Batuer stared in shock and fury at the monks before him. The Western monks said: "Good sir, you have karmic ties with us. Please offer some merit."

Batuer clutched his money pouch tightly: "My people must travel far ahead. Without these gold coins, they'll starve!"

The monk said: "Amitabha. Is that not even better?"

"To cast a golden statue for the Buddha brings boundless merit."

"You too will share in that merit."

Batuer knew these people were beyond his power to resist, so he said:

"How much do the masters require?"

The lead Western monk's gaze was deep: "Karma has no price—how could I state it?"

"It depends on your sincerity."

"I see that golden bead in your hand—it's quite suitable."

Batuer was shocked and furious, yet he could only pull out the Jin Zhu and slowly place it into the merit box. As he let go, a hand reached out, seized the Jin Zhu, and slowly withdrew it.

Batuer and the monks turned to see Li Guanyi standing there, his mouth covered in a beard he'd somehow stuck on.

Batuer exhaled in relief—then tensed again.

Li Guanyi held the Jin Zhu in his hand. The monk stared at him, displeased:

"Good sir, you take merit from the Buddha's domain—do you not fear dying and falling into the Avici Hell, enduring the eighteen tortures of the underworld, dragging your family and friends down with you, so that even in your next life you'll never escape?"

Batuer tried to urge Li Guanyi to back down, but Li Guanyi's gaze dropped.

He felt a familiar aura.

These were clearly monks.

Yet he clearly sensed the aura of the Mo Sect.

A Mo Sect branch temple… already encountered so soon.

The youth's heart stirred slightly, and he replied: "You're right."

He returned his hand.

The monk smiled.

Then they saw the boy's hand grasp again—and pull out once more.

He swept the entire merit box's gold and silver into his palm with one swipe.

The smiling monk: "…………"

The Central Plains youth, who had only intended to take his own Jin Zhu, smiled faintly: "Buddha?"

The Mo Sect monk opened his mouth to speak.

Li Guanyi's hand shot out—shhhhhhh!

Li Guanyi overturned the merit box entirely: "Even the Buddha must return the money!!"

The atmosphere of the city instantly fell silent.

"？？？？！"

?? Everyone, go to sleep early, peacefully.

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