Chapter 73: Killing Deity Within Qingyang Palace (Part 2)

Wu Shizhen, with ears perked, still hadn't quite caught Xu Fengnian's murmur. Seeing a large number of Taoist priests pouring out of Qingyang Palace like a tide, he felt a surge of boldness. He quickened his pace, putting distance between himself and Xu Fengnian, who had two sabers. Then, pointing at a stone tablet outside the hall, he chuckled, "It reads 'Princes and Nobles Dismount' – a personal bestowal from His Majesty the Emperor."

Xu Fengnian glanced sideways. He recognized the handwriting; it was indeed the Emperor's, just like the main plaque of the Nine Dragons at Listening Tide Pavilion, neat and proper but utterly devoid of spirit or vitality.

Xu Fengnian ignored him, whipping his horse and riding straight into the hall. The horse's hooves clattered distinctly on the white jade steps.

Wei Shuyang followed closely, and Lu Qiantang, Shu Xiu, and the other person named Yang followed suit. Lu Qiantang, in particular, felt immensely pleased. "Princes and nobles dismount? I, Lu Qiantang, a commoner from a fallen kingdom, can simply ignore it!"

Shu Xiu, who had almost been handed over to Qingyang Palace by the Young Master, had a grim expression. Consequently, the sound of her horse's hooves beneath her beautiful figure seemed unusually heavy.

Wu Shizhen offered no obstruction. This beloved son of the King of Qingcheng, who valued decorum above all else, tidied his headscarf and Taoist robe. He slowly and gracefully ascended the steps. All the masters from Qingyang Palace poured out, no fewer than fifty people.

His father, Wu Lingsu, had established the Shenxiao Sect, a brilliant and grand undertaking. Coupled with being enfeoffed as a king, even though the Jiudoumi Taoists had been completely expelled, they gradually absorbed many talented and extraordinary individuals who admired them. Eventually, thirty-six people formed the Shenxiao Sword Formation. Once activated, the thirty-six swords roared like thunder.

When he was young, he saw countless old Jiudoumi Taoists from Qingcheng Mountain go to Qingyang Palace to argue, only to be thoroughly beaten by the Yuxiao Sword Formation, which at the time comprised merely eighteen members. Now, Qingyang Palace held immense power on Qingcheng Mountain. The Yuxiao Sword Formation was said to be invincible against opponents below the second rank, and the Shenxiao Sword Formation could contend with first-rank masters. Wu Shizhen was no frog in a well; he knew there was still a gap between these two sword formations and the three great sword formations, famous for hundreds of years. But could this group of people in front of him withstand them?

That burly man with the great sword was somewhat troublesome. The guards with hands as white as snow might also possess peculiar skills. As for the old Jiudoumi Taoist closest to the young master, Wu Shizhen had always disregarded him.

With victory seemingly in hand, Wu Shizhen now found himself in a dilemma. Qingyang Palace specialized in dual cultivation techniques for the bedroom. In recent years, he had engaged in some not-so-above-board activities. Yet, "rabbits don't eat grass near their burrows"—even if there were female pilgrims with good looks and excellent physical constitution among the mountain visitors, he dared not be too reckless due to his father's strict orders. He would only act if he encountered an exceptionally good "furnace" (a term for a female partner in dual cultivation). The two most favored Taoist nuns in the palace were captured last year. All their servants had been killed, their bodies discarded in the wilderness, and the blame was pinned on a group of mountain bandits. It was very simple. Otherwise, what was the point of keeping various mountain bandits around? Would Wu Shizhen care about the pitiful few hundred taels of silver in annual tribute?

These two female Taoists were an aunt and niece. Initially, they resisted in every possible way, but after experiencing the delights of Qingyang dual cultivation, they became utterly submissive. Being "happy immortals" in Qingyang Palace was much more pleasant and relaxed than being ordinary mortals dealing with daily chores down the mountain. What secular woman wouldn't long for the art of preserving youth and eternal beauty? His father had said that even the empresses in the imperial palace couldn't avoid this desire.

There was horse assessment, and there was human assessment. Human assessment was divided into many types. Wu Shizhen only chose the one he was most interested in: how to identify a dual cultivation "furnace." At the Crane Resting Pavilion, he immediately saw that the female "furnace" candidates among these pilgrims were of exceptional quality, the best he had ever seen. The one he teased as "Madam Shu" was of high grade. The blue-clad maid driving the carriage and the exquisite beauty who only poked her head out once were both of superior grade.

And the inwardly charming woman riding a horse and holding a dark-skinned girl was a coveted "immortal grade," almost reaching what his father called the "Second Grade Immortal: Sitting Lotus Bodhisattva Aspect."

Wu Shizhen's heart was stirred. His dilemma wasn't about the robust attendants of this Beiliang young master. "No matter which Beiliang general's descendant you are, do you have the ability to bring thousands of cavalry to Qingcheng? But would Yongzhou, which General Gu Jiantang has fortified into an iron barrel, allow your Beiliang soldiers to cross half the province?"

"Both are martial artists with illustrious achievements from the Spring and Autumn period. Why did you, Xu Xiao, get the title of Grand Pillar of the State and were enfeoffed as the King of Beiliang, with your tiger tally as heavy as Mount Tai, while I, Gu Jiantang, am just one of the eight Upper Pillars of the State, serving as an official in the court with military power as light as a feather?" Wu Shizhen didn't believe Gu Jiantang would be magnanimous enough to simply let it go. Over the past decade, Yongzhou's military generals had been frequently replaced, and a third of General Gu's old subordinates had been intentionally or unintentionally placed there. His father had privately remarked earlier this year while drinking, "Gu Jiantang is locking horns with Xu the Cripple. In terms of cunning and strength, Gu is slightly inferior to the Man-Slayer, but Gu Jiantang is only forty-three years old, and that's enough." If Xu Xiao was in such an awkward position, let alone Beiliang's generals? Wu Shizhen had no fear. Furthermore, the real power of Beiliang's 300,000 cavalry generals was in the hands of the six young adopted sons. He had never heard of a descendant of this age belonging to the young master in front of him.

Therefore, Wu Shizhen's dilemma was how to distribute those few women. How many to give to his father? Should he hand over the "Bodhisattva-like" fair-skinned young woman and keep the others himself, or simply desire only that one woman from the "three thousand weak waters"? But would his father, who was determined to achieve enlightenment through dual cultivation and showcase it to the world, agree?

On Qingcheng Mountain, King Wu Lingsu of Qingcheng was heaven, and Wu Shizhen was undoubtedly the "Son of Heaven." Whenever Wu Shizhen had a headache, he would habitually use his index fingers to curl the two fluttering ribbons of his carefree scarf, which made the dozens of Taoist nuns who had run out of the main hall to watch the commotion feel dizzy and enchanted. The female Taoists were most obsessed with these small gestures of Wu Shizhen. As for in bed, of course, they preferred his broad and unrestrained style. Compared to the strict rules when dual cultivating with Wu Shizhen's father, where every movement had to follow the book and not a single step could be wrong, they all, without exception, preferred to experience "Wushan" (a euphemism for sexual intercourse) with Young Master Wu.

This "little immortal" who knew how to please people would fan a peach blossom beauty fan, play a white jade flute, and could play the guqin to attract hundreds of birds singing in unison. Even the perfect couple who were seized and brought into Qingyang Palace were willingly content and no longer thought of returning home, let alone some young female Taoists who had been brought up the mountain at an early age.

Wu Shizhen looked up at Xu Fengnian, who was sitting high on the red horse, and laughed, "This horse is mine now."

Xu Fengnian glanced at the eighteen people who instantly formed a sword formation. He turned to ask Wei Shuyang, "Grandpa Wei, does this formation have a name?"

Wei Shuyang, looking composed, gently stroked his beard and said, "If this old Taoist is not mistaken, it's the Yuxiao Sword Formation, which Wu Lingsu secretly learned from a secret formation in the Laojun Pavilion of Longhu Mountain. One could say it surpassed the original. Wu Lingsu's talent is exceptional; he can infer three things from one, which even the old Celestial Master of Longhu acknowledges. Unfortunately, his mind is not righteous, and he can't endure hardship. He always seeks shortcuts and refuses to follow the grand path. At that time, the old Celestial Master deliberately reprimanded Wu Lingsu and neglected him on the Alchemist's Rock, actually harboring the good intention of letting this King of Qingcheng refine his heart. Unexpectedly, Wu Lingsu left Longhu Mountain in a huff. His life seems splendid, but in reality, his cleverness backfired; otherwise, he might not have failed to become an external Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain."

Xu Fengnian smiled and asked, "Leaving aside this King of Qingcheng, if these eighteen people form a sword formation, are the forty-odd sword-wielding Taoists just standing by and watching?"

Wei Shuyang's expression was solemn. He shook his head and said, "That's the Qingyang Palace's guardian sword formation. Wu Lingsu calls himself the 'Heavenly Monarch of Shenxiao,' and he has his reasons. Somehow, he managed to devise a set of 'Thirty-Six Heavenly Constellations Shenxiao Sword Formation.' Its power cannot be underestimated. At least, I wouldn't dare to easily challenge this sword formation. I would most likely be defeated and might even die within it. This is one of the most renowned major formations currently. Those who are close to Qingyang Palace and enjoy stirring up trouble have heavily promoted it in official and unofficial circles, saying that this sword formation, which can summon heavenly thunder, is no weaker than the three great sword formations. Three years ago, when Wu Lingsu re-entered the imperial palace, he brought thirty-six sword formation Taoists with him. Rumor has it that outside Yinghua Hall, sword light flickered, and on a clear day, thunder suddenly boomed, competing with the sun and moon. Some say that even Celestial Master Zhao, who was in the capital at the time, lost his color while observing the formation."

Xu Fengnian sneered, "I believe the Shenxiao Sword Formation is powerful, but I don't believe for a second that the Second Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain was startled speechless. Old Huang told me about the three great sword formations back then. He said he hadn't been to the Wu Family Sword Tomb, so he wouldn't comment, but the sword formation of Longhu Mountain is deservedly the best in the world. The Second Celestial Master is an old gourmet who has tasted all kinds of delicacies. How could he be shocked by small fish and shrimp? At most, he'd say it tastes good. This is Wu Lingsu, who's best at creating hype, desperately trying to gild his old face."

The Longhu Mountain's "Hundred and Eight Sword Army Massacres Fengdu" sword formation, with a hundred swords forming an army, guards the Demon Slaying Platform.

Wudang Mountain's Taiji Sword Formation, with eighty-one peach wood swordsmen, is said to be inexhaustible. Its sword momentum is like rolling clouds. As long as the central swordsman is not killed, no one can die. It has never been defeated to this day.

The Wu Family Sword Tomb claimed that a mere nine withered swords could break ten thousand cavalry, but this was just an absurd, unverified legend. Two hundred years ago, nine Wu family swordsmen, the nine most skilled in swordsmanship, left the tomb to save one person. Nine horses and nine swords went to Beimang. The nine of them fought to the death against Beimang's most elite unit of ten thousand heavily armored 'Ghost Back' soldiers. Whether this is true or false is unknown. However, the nine suffered heavy casualties, and only three eventually returned to the Wu family. The Sword Tomb suffered a severe blow and has been in decline for nearly two hundred years, never regaining its former glory – this much is true.

The carriage stopped at the foot of the steps. Jiang Ni and the old sword god alighted from the carriage. Jiang Ni, who revered ghosts and gods, was extremely cautious, fearing that lightning might strike from the sky. Xu Fengnian's sins were immense, and it was hard to guarantee that he wouldn't incur the wrath of the immortals on Qingcheng Mountain. The books said that the more famous the mountain or great river, the more one dared not speak loudly, for fear of disturbing heavenly beings. Wasn't that the logic? If she were to be collateral damage because of Xu Fengnian, Jiang Ni felt she would die too unjustly. He had committed countless wicked deeds, but she was a good person who would even leave food for hungry rats in her leaky thatched hut in Beiliang. In summer, when mosquitoes bit her so much she couldn't sleep, she dared not kill them, only enduring the heat and wrapping herself tightly in her blanket.

The one-armed old sword god saw Jiang Ni constantly looking up, her face changing in panic even when a cloud drifted overhead. He couldn't help but tease her with a laugh, "Jiang lass, what are you afraid of? I told you that even if lightning strikes the ground, I can break it with a single sword, not harming you a bit. So you can wholeheartedly wish for the weather to change, for dark clouds to gather, and ideally, for that great villain Xu Fengnian to be struck dead!"

Jiang Ni stood on the stone steps, choosing a spot as far from Xu Fengnian as possible, not daring to advance further. She said glumly, "But you don't even have a sword."

The old master of swordsmanship, self-assured, chuckled softly, "That day on the muddy path, I held a small umbrella and casually performed 'One Sword, Immortal Kneels.' For me, what in the world cannot serve as a sword? It's just that as long as I haven't truly held a sword for a day, I don't have the desire to retrieve half of the 'Wooden Horse Ox' (a legendary sword). Naturally, I also lack the peak sword intent from back then. This was an agreement I made with the Man-Slayer before leaving Listening Tide Pavilion, which cannot be easily broken. Little girl, do you know the origin of that move, 'One Sword, Immortal Kneels'?"

Jiang Ni was constantly on guard against the sky. She also stole glances at the tense standoff on the plaza. As expected, she said, "Don't want to know."

The old sword god rolled his eyes.

Xu Fengnian had been speaking very loudly to Wei Shuyang, and Wu Shizhen heard him clearly. He crossed the bluestone plaza, retreated to the main hall entrance, and called out with a smile, "Whether Qingyang Palace's two great sword formations live up to their name, you'll know once you test them."

Xu Fengnian laughed heartily, "Not at all. I brought too few people up the mountain this time. Qingyang Palace is a dwelling of immortals, so let's not fight and damage the harmony. I, your humble servant, came seeking immortality. It's still the same phrase: if you can teach me the immortal art of longevity, I'll give Qingyang Palace thousands of catties of gold. If not, superior bedroom arts will suffice. What's the harm in giving you Madam Shu? My manor has countless such women. As long as Qingyang Palace is fortunate enough to forge a karmic bond with me, I'll send them to you every year."

Wu Shizhen, whose patience had reached its limit, finally dropped his pretense and said darkly, "Did you see those four words, 'Princes and Nobles Dismount'? I warned you. Riding your horse up here is a capital offense."

Xu Fengnian asked in a puzzled tone, "Oh?"

Wu Shizhen pointed successively at Shu Xiu, Yu Youwei, Qingniao, and the farthest Jiang Ni. "If you are willing to hand over these four, I will not only waive the death penalty for riding your horse but also give you several dual cultivation secret manuals and even have my father personally teach you the art of longevity. How about it?"

Xu Fengnian said with a smile, "Lu Qiantang, go break the formation."