Chapter 161: Have a Celestial Being Emerge from Out of Body

After the Prince of Beiliang left, Yangchun City finally returned to peace and tranquility. No matter how the scholars of Huting Prefecture denied it, as long as that Prince was in Yangchun City, they felt uneasy. They had originally hoped that the empress in the palace would pressure the widow in the Linlang Lu family mansion, but to their surprise, it was all talk and no action, ending without resolution. Later, Mr. Chengzai was actually beaten to death, and it was rumored that the entire Imperial Academy in the capital was stirred up, with thousands of students jointly submitting a petition. Unfortunately, they still couldn't obtain an imperial decree for Jiangnan. The biggest general's descendant in the dynasty simply packed up and left Yangchun City after getting what he wanted.

The cavalcade left the Lu mansion, not lingering in Yangzhou, and headed directly for Longhu Mountain, the Taoist holy land. There were two carriages, one driven by Qingniao, who had recovered miraculously fast, and the other by the bored Old Sword God. Xu Fengnian had Yu Youwei and Princess Jing'an ride in the same carriage. The two ill-fated women seemed to sympathize with each other; although they didn't speak much, there was a sense of shared animosity. However, Yu Youwei was clearly more reserved, while Pei Nanwei was more eager. Xu Fengnian chose to ignore the Princess's little schemes, treating them as a minor amusement unrelated to the big picture, confident that Yu Youwei wouldn't switch allegiances so easily. Xu Fengnian sat inside the carriage, counting his assets on his fingers and muttering to himself, "I've acquired most of the Talisman Generals' Red Armor, but unfortunately, too much of it is damaged. I wonder if it can be fully restored. It's largely certain that the Talisman Generals' combat power is directly linked to the strength of the puppets in their former lives. Longhu Mountain is the progenitor of this art of driving gods and commanding spirits, so I absolutely cannot return empty-handed from this trip. I'll collect secret techniques and moves to integrate into my blade: 'Stabbing Whale,' the most profound killing intent from the 'Whale Slaying Sword' of the Forbidden Mountain Villa; 'Stacked Thunder' from the 'Green Water Pavilion Sixty-Year Sword Practice Record'; an 'Armor-Breaking' move from Aunt Zhao's sword manual; and I secretly learned the Old Sword God's 'Immortal Kneels' move. Recently, I've been studying 'Arm Record' and learning Qingniao's 'Vein Reversal Disarmament' technique. My drawing sword technique is from the East Yue royal family, and my sheathing technique imitates the 'Calm Waters' of the South Sea Nunnery. All in all, with Old Huang's nine swords, I've gathered about twenty moves. With the 'Grand Yellow Court' as my foundation, I wouldn't dare say I'm proficient, but at least I have a rough framework. Once the framework is established, the rest will be much easier."

Xu Fengnian reached out and stroked Wumeiniang's head, chuckling, "Gu Jiantang is the foremost blade user in the world. I wonder how many of his strikes I could withstand if we truly faced off?" As expected, Yu Youwei replied indifferently, "I don't know." Xu Fengnian hadn't expected an answer from Yu Youwei; no matter how splendid her sword dance was, it wasn't a killing sword path. He flicked the white cat's head with his finger and mused aloud, "Cao Changqing mentioned, without intending to, that besides his unrivaled 'Two Sleeves Green Snakes,' Old Li also has an even more domineering 'Sword Cleaves Heavenly Gate.' It sounds incredibly impressive, but how come I've never heard of it before? There are no rumors about it in the jianghu either. That doesn't make sense; it's strange. The Old Sword God's 'Two Sleeves Green Snakes' emphasizes both technique and intent, varying in complexity each time. Though called one move, it encompasses endless changes. I barely have time to dodge and flee, let alone try to secretly learn from him. The Old Sword God talks a good game about imparting his unique skills, but he's clearly just venting his boredom on me."

Princess Jing'an said sarcastically, "Greed knows no bounds; a snake tries to swallow an elephant." Xu Fengnian mimicked her, retorting with extreme sarcasm, "Swallow? Since you know your little mouth is nimble, don't show off your skills in front of this Prince. Be careful, lest you try to steal a chicken and lose the rice; I might just execute Princess Pei on the spot." Princess Pei, having been repeatedly teased and humiliated by the Prince regarding her private affairs, felt as if her weakness had been seized. Previously, she would have flushed with anger every time, but today, she showed no change in expression. Instead, she glared coldly and retorted with biting sarcasm, "I originally thought His Highness the Prince feared no vassal king, and the Reed Marsh incident truly made me see you in a new light. But I never imagined that you'd expose yourself so soon after leaving Qingzhou for Yangzhou. You're just a paper dragon crossing the river; encountering a jianghu figure like Official Cao made you put up with insults and meekly hand over your maid. From this, it's clear that you'll only meet with rejection when you go to Longhu Mountain, where several Grand Celestial Masters reside."

Xu Fengnian's face darkened, and he chuckled ominously, "Princess Pei's little mouth is becoming more venomous. How commendable." The Prince lifted the carriage curtain with his Embroidered Winter scabbard and called out, "Shuxiu, stop riding your horse. Take our Princess Pei to the carriage behind and let her stew a bit to temper her backbone." Just as Princess Pei was about to speak, Xu Fengnian kicked her out of the carriage, and she was then taken away by Shuxiu, who reached out an arm. Yu Youwei shook her head, but her slightly thinner face showed no emotion. Xu Fengnian glanced at her, then sat near the carriage door, hooked the curtain corner, and looking at Qingniao's slender back, softly chuckled, "How is it?"

Qingniao, who was wielding the horse whip, reined in the galloping horse slightly. She turned, her expression still annoyed, and said with downcast eyes, "Two priceless golden elixirs!" Xu Fengnian's foul mood, caused by Princess Jing'an's words, instantly brightened. He burst into laughter and said, "Qingniao, you look just like a stingy young wife whose husband bought fish too expensively at the market. Frugal and good at managing a household!" Qingniao smiled gently, a slight blush on her face. Her expression was always subtle and calm. Even amidst the life-threatening storms like those at the Reed Marsh, she remained the same. On her face, there seemed to be no great sorrow, and the spring fever and autumnal melancholy common to women had no connection to her. Xu Fengnian and Qingniao always spoke freely and directly. He said, "Let Shuxiu and Princess Pei stay in the same room. With Shuxiu's Southern Border disguise techniques, I wonder how much of a likeness and spirit she can achieve. If it's merely superficial, it will likely be a waste of effort. Before we reach Longhu Mountain, let's see if Madam Shu's efforts can truly pass for the real thing."

Qingniao asked doubtfully, "Is Shuxiu going to make a human skin mask?" Xu Fengnian smiled and shook his head, "It's even more sophisticated than that. That's why they say it's easier to draw a tiger's skin than its bones. This disguise art has two stages: yin mold and yang mold. The latter, especially, nearly involves reshaping bones. Shuxiu briefly told me the steps; it's very complex, similar to Taoist alchemy, the most profound internal and external cultivation. To succeed, Shuxiu will undoubtedly suffer, but 'no pain, no gain' applies perfectly to her. If she's lucky enough to succeed, she could become one of the few true princesses in the dynasty. With Shuxiu's personality, she'd fight to the death for such a fortunate opportunity."

Qingniao quietly and cautiously asked, "That old fox, King Jing'an, is extremely cunning and vicious. Won't he recognize her?" Xu Fengnian nodded, "Zhao Xun, the infatuated Prince, might not see through it, but his father, Zhao Heng, definitely would in a few glances. So, I'll first write a letter to test the waters, simply revealing the truth. If King Jing'an's mansion is willing to accept a fake princess and set her up as a facade to save face, then it's a win-win. If not, and they refuse her entry, that's understandable too. I'll just consider it having Shuxiu train Princess Pei; no loss there. It's one thing to risk keeping a useless Princess Jing'an who's all show and no substance, but this woman also keeps provoking me every now and then, ungrateful as she is. There's no such aggravating thing in the world."

Qingniao still couldn't believe that King Jing'an's mansion would accept such an absurd arrangement—allowing a fake princess to usurp the true one? King Jing'an, Zhao Heng, had always been called narrow-minded and jealous by the Prince. Could he really tolerate this? Xu Fengnian saw the incredulity on Qingniao's face and smiled, "Let's just consider it a gamble."

Hearing the call of the blue-white luan, Xu Fengnian lifted the carriage curtain. The magnificent spiritual bird immediately flew in. The Prince raised his arm to let the bird land, then used his right hand to pluck a jade slip from its leg, retrieved the secret message, and after reading it, handed it to Yu Youwei. She carefully perused it, then looked up and said, "The imperial court intends to change the prefecture-county system to a 'lu-dao' (circuit-province) system, dividing the realm into sixteen circuits, and redefining prefectures and counties below the circuits?"

Xu Fengnian smiled and asked, "Tell me your thoughts."

After a brief consideration, Yu Youwei softly replied, "After pacifying the eight kingdoms, the dynasty's territory expanded several times. Now, the number of prefectures and counties has surged to over eighteen hundred. The large prefectures, originally established to accommodate the former eight kingdoms, easily became autonomous feudal towns, which indeed made it difficult for the imperial center to control. From the letter, it seems everything will be reorganized: sixteen circuits and seventy-six prefectures will be newly established. Large prefectures will be split into several smaller ones, and all major administrative centers will be elevated to prefectures. The changes to the foundation of the eighteen hundred counties will be relatively smaller. Two high-ranking military and political officials, a Jiedushi (Military Governor) and a Jinglueshi (Grand Coordinator), will be appointed, along with an Inspector to oversee each circuit. The King of Beiliang and the six major imperial clan vassal kings will each govern one circuit."

Xu Fengnian calmly said, "I heard Xu Xiao say that Grand Councilor Zhang Julu has been waiting for this day for almost twenty years."

Yu Youwei frowned and asked, "But if the three-tiered system of prefectures, commanderies, and counties becomes four tiers, won't the empire fear obstructed decrees? If this is merely to weaken the vassal states, isn't the cost a bit too high?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head and said, "It's not that simple. Except for the seven vassal kings, including Xu Xiao, all other Jiedushi, Jinglueshi, and Inspectors will be rotated every four or six years. This hasn't been publicly announced yet; perhaps in three or four years, when the situation is generally stable, Zhang Julu will make his move."

Xu Fengnian pointed to the secret message and sneered, "Don't forget that besides the circuit system, the court is also targeting both Buddhism and Taoism simultaneously. Previously, the management of Buddhism was lax; only the Bureau of Profound Worship within the Ministry of Rites oversaw monastic registrations and appointed the Three Guides. From now on, there will be an official 'Monk Regent.' I just wonder which monk will be qualified to be the first leader of all monks in the realm; I suspect Yang Taisui might not be willing to step forward. As for Taoism, the court's reach is even longer: all disciples in Taoist temples will be assessed and divided into eleven ranks. Except for the Celestial Master's Residence, which is a special exception, all Taoists in the realm must advance within this framework. Now, connect this with the recent examination system reform that started with the Huangmen Lang. Do you think Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism will all eventually fall under the court's complete control?"

Yu Youwei murmured, "The net of heaven is vast, and though its meshes are wide, nothing escapes it."

Xu Fengnian lifted the curtain, waved his arm to let the blue-white luan fly out of the carriage, and clapped his hands, chuckling, "You put that well. With this net cast, no one can be a carefree dog anymore. Zhang Julu, the weaver of this net, is employing incredibly ruthless methods."

Yu Youwei's eyes were hazy as she asked, "Is the dynasty flourishing?"

Xu Fengnian lay down, resting his head on Yu Youwei's supple thighs, and closed his eyes. "That's why I advised Xu Xiao not to consider rebellion, no matter what happens."

Yu Youwei lowered her head and softly asked, "Even if the court kills you, he still won't rebel?"

Xu Fengnian's lips curved into a smile. He reached out to stroke her chin, smiling but remaining silent.

After a moment, Yu Youwei exclaimed in annoyance, "Where are you touching!"

Xu Fengnian opened his eyes in surprise and awkwardly retracted his hand. He had, it turned out, touched a towering peak.

Yu Youwei's face was flushed, and she was panting.

Xu Fengnian, taking advantage of the situation, looked up and teased, "Looked at horizontally, it's a range; from the side, a peak; near or far, high or low, it's never the same. Truly magnificent; this Prince can't even see your face anymore. Come, give this Prince a 'Mount Tai pressing down' and crush me to death. It would save me the headache of these bothersome matters."

Yu Youwei reached out, grabbed the Prince's ear, and twisted it hard.

Xu Fengnian made no sound. In retaliation, he used both hands to cup those peaks, regretting only that his palms were too small. He slowly massaged them, then returned, repeating the motion. At first, Yu Youwei's ear-twisting still had some force, but after less than a third of an incense stick's time, only her soft breaths could be heard, and her hand had stopped exerting pressure. Perhaps the soft, warm, prominent curves, like chicken gizzard meat, obstructed her view and provided her with a surge of immense courage, preventing her from reprimanding the Prince's shameless behavior. Still not satisfied, Xu Fengnian was about to discreetly undo the restraints on those ample "jade rabbits" to fully admire the view. Just as he started to move, Yu Youwei kicked out, hitting the Prince's "sword" precisely below the waist. Xu Fengnian instantly gasped, his fiery desire extinguished as if a basin of ice water had been poured over him in winter, making him a hundred times more proper than any gentleman. Yu Youwei first looked away with a guilty expression, not daring to look at the young Prince, then hid in the corner of the carriage, hugging her chest and smiling coquettishly. Xu Fengnian had intended to give up, but seeing that she had no idea when to stop, he laughed in exasperation. Without a word, he dragged her into his embrace, not allowing her to move, and guided her slender hand downwards. He expected Yu Youwei to struggle fiercely again, but unexpectedly, this time she was unusually docile, as if possessed. Her slender fingers were well-behaved, yet her palm subtly stroked, reigniting the Prince's previously quelled desires.

Xu Fengnian's hand delved into her collar, and he sighed contentedly, "Yu Youwei, this is truly a sight of prosperity!"

Yu Youwei's eyes were hazy, and she tilted her head, exhaling softly like an orchid, "Are you still thinking about Princess Jing'an?"

Xu Fengnian froze for a moment, then chuckled wryly, "No wonder."

Yu Youwei remained silent, simply breaking free from his embrace and moving further away.

Xu Fengnian pointed at Yu Youwei's chest and quipped, "Can Pei Nanwei compare with you here? It's like a bun challenging a pancake—overestimating one's own strength."

Yu Youwei glared at him with a seductive look.

Xu Fengnian whispered mischievously, "I want to see your sword dance, and you're allowed to wear nothing but a thin veil."

Yu Youwei, her ears flushed crimson, turned her head and cursed, "Go to hell!"

Xu Fengnian pouted, leaned against the carriage wall, and said, "No sense of romance."

Standing up, Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "I'm going out for some air."

Yu Youwei's eyes held a smile.

Xu Fengnian sat beside Qingniao and asked, "How much longer until we reach Jianzhou?"

Qingniao thought for a moment and replied, "Ten days at the fastest, twenty days at the slowest."

Xu Fengnian hummed in acknowledgement, then looked up at Mount Kuanglu, the highest mountain in this prefecture, and chuckled, "We'll rest on the summit tonight. On the back of Sword Cliff, halfway up the mountain, there's a thousand-zhang waterfall flowing straight down. They say if you're lucky, at sunrise in the morning, you can see the waterfall turn golden from the peak. We should reach Longhu Mountain around the beginning of autumn."

During the ascent, Xu Fengnian kept bantering with Qingniao.

They reached the summit as night fell, lit a bonfire, and after a rich wild game dinner, Xu Fengnian walked near Sword Cliff. The strong wind hit his face, and he sat down cross-legged.

The old man in the sheepskin coat walked behind him. Xu Fengnian asked, "Shall we begin?"

The Old Sword God shook his head and said, "Not today. Enjoying the scenery is fine too."

Xu Fengnian felt a bit regretful; enduring 'Two Sleeves Green Snakes' one more time was a blessing.

Old Li, hunchbacked and bent, stood at the cliff edge, gazing at the magnificent mountains winding like a long snake. He softly asked, "Why didn't you keep Jiang Ni?"

Xu Fengnian calmly replied, "I couldn't keep her this time."

Li Chungang nodded, not pressing the Prince on the matter. It was indeed difficult to expect young Xu to contend with that old Confucian scholar, Cao Changqing.

Xu Fengnian hesitated, wanting to speak but refraining.

The old man chuckled, "Want to know about my 'Sword Cleaves Heavenly Gate,' the one I've never mentioned to you?"

Xu Fengnian grinned.

The Old Sword God said calmly, "I had intended to tell you some things when we part ways back in Beiliang, but since the time, place, and conditions are all right, I won't be stingy with these old tales."

Xu Fengnian instinctively sat up straight, pricking his ears to listen carefully.

Li Chungang let out a self-deprecating laugh and slowly said, "Do you know why my cultivation realm significantly regressed after I descended from the Demon-Slaying Platform back then?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head, "I don't know."

Li Chungang paused for a moment, then, after a long time, returned to his senses and sighed, saying, "When I wielded my sword, my sword intent reached its peak, far surpassing 'Two Sleeves Green Snakes.' It was the one that struck the Heavenly Bell, cleaving open the Heavenly Gate to slay celestials. A senior sword master once scoffed, 'Since there are no dragons in the world, your few sword techniques are merely dragon-slaying skills—just a joke.'"

Xu Fengnian was about to ask a question, but the Old Sword God waved his hand and instead asked, "What is a celestial?"

Xu Fengnian gave a wry smile, "This junior's knowledge is shallow; naturally, I don't understand."

The Old Sword God Li Chungang chuckled and said, "The doctrines of the three religions differ, yet their foundations are the same. The ancients said that the 'Yi' (Book of Changes) aligns with heaven and earth, thus encompassing the Way of the universe. This is the threshold of a celestial: Confucian sages, Taoist immortals, Buddhist living buddhas—all are like this. The term 'Terrestrial Immortal' comes from this. The Four Realms of the First Rank are not made up: 'Vajra' comes from worshipping Buddha, 'Finger of Profundity' praises the Tao, 'Heavenly Phenomenon' flatters Confucianism, but only the Terrestrial Immortal transcends the three religions. Reaching this realm means being a deity, a celestial."

Xu Fengnian felt as if his eyes had suddenly been opened.

Li Chungang said in a deep voice, "When I practiced my sword, my ambition was to slay a celestial with a single strike. That move, its swordsmanship, its techniques, even its sword intent and aura, were not top-tier. But I stumbled upon it by chance, and every time I used this move, I aimed to kill the enemy with one strike. Imagine, I was almost at the pinnacle of sword arts by the age of twenty, and for the next twenty years, I roamed the world freely. Every time I unleashed this sword move, it was unstoppable, and no one ever survived it. My sword became increasingly fierce and unparalleled. Strike after strike, I was truly invincible. My defeat by Wang Xianzhis back then, when my Wooden Horse Ox was broken, was not because I couldn't defeat Wang Xianzhis at that time. It was out of pity for his talent that I didn't unleash that sword. Otherwise, there would be no 'Second Under Heaven' in Wudi City today."

Xu Fengnian was struck as if by lightning.

The old man said with infinite melancholy, "It wasn't until I went to Longhu Mountain to seek elixirs, and Qi Xuanzhen was about to ascend, that things became clear. Old Qi and I were clearly talking past each other, neither convincing the other. So Qi Xuanzhen said he wanted to test that very sword. If I won, he would hand over the elixir. If I lost, well, there would be nothing more to say."

Xu Fengnian murmured, "The senior lost?"

Li Chungang squinted and murmured, "I lost. From then on, I had no sword path, and my cultivation plummeted a thousand li."

The old man sneered, "Since in the end, I couldn't slay a celestial, that sword was merely a castle in the air."

Xu Fengnian's mind was churning, and he asked curiously, "What is a divine celestial?"

Li Chungang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Among the three schools of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, I've only truly witnessed one celestial, Qi Xuanzhen. I only know that when a Taoist master reaches the Terrestrial Immortal realm, their spirit and essence merge in their furnace to form an infant, which can then leave the body and travel thousands of miles. Five hundred years ago, when Patriarch Lu's flying sword decapitated someone from a thousand li away, it was precisely due to this principle."

Xu Fengnian softly said, "In that case, are there still opponents in the world?"

Li Chungang scoffed, "When one reaches such a realm, who would still care about worldly disputes? For example, if you were the Prince of Beiliang, would you contend with a beggar over a few copper coins of alms? Furthermore, those who reach this realm possess hearts as firm as rock, perfectly aligned with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Those with perverse thoughts fall to heterodox paths and cannot achieve enlightenment. That Huang Longjia, who boasts of being Huang Sanjia, possesses world-class martial arts and intellect, but has he ever truly comprehended? It's not that he's unwilling; it's truly like trying to carry Mount Tai and leap over the North Sea—he simply cannot."

Xu Fengnian murmured, "Oh," and joined Li Chungang in gazing at the distant world.

His mind felt refreshed, and the vital energy within his chest surged like thunder or a serpent coiling.

The Old Sword God took the dagger from his topknot and tossed it to the Prince, saying grumpily, "Before Jiang Ni left, she said to give this divine talisman to you. I'm reluctant, but I have no choice."

Xu Fengnian held the divine talisman, lost in thought.

Li Chungang turned and walked away, muttering, "One gives a divine talisman, the other gives the Grand Liang Dragon Sparrow. They're all damned spendthrifts."

Xu Fengnian took off his Spring Thunder and Embroidered Winter twin blades, placed them on the ground, closed his eyes to rest, his right hand propping his cheek, while his left hand twirled the divine talisman dagger between his fingers.

He was neither fully asleep nor fully awake.

He didn't know if it was a brief quarter of an hour or a long thousand years.

Xu Fengnian suddenly opened his eyes, gripping the divine talisman.

He heard the thousand-zhang waterfall hanging from Sword Cliff roar deafeningly, piercing his eardrums.

Outside the cliff, mist permeated the air, purple energy surged, and a colossal head emerged. That head bore a striking resemblance, seventy to eighty percent similar, to the python-dragon embroidered on Xu Xiao's python robe!

The Heavenly King glared, his whiskers flared!

It breathed out purple energy, its eyes fixed on Xu Fengnian, appearing monstrously terrifying.

A figure, like a comet or a firefly, seemed to streak from thousands of miles away, landing on the head of what was either a dragon or a giant python. Before the person arrived, their voice preceded them: "Three score years have passed since I attained the Dao, yet I have never used a flying sword to take a head. No heavenly decree has reached the Celestial Court; I simply listen to the spring flow on Longhu Mountain."

Xu Fengnian stared blankly, seeing only that the newcomer's entire body was clear and lustrous like jade, their eyes swirling with light. Only the Taoist robe they wore, from Longhu Mountain, seemed like a mundane object.

Xu Fengnian suddenly realized.

A celestial, having left their body, arrived riding a dragon!