The heavy sound of horse hooves sounded from far to near.
Supervisors Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling hurriedly arranged their robes, and with almost all the students from the Second Department of Gewu and Xuan Gong, Wu Yangyang arrived at the academy's newly painted red door, which was still freshly painted, meaning "Investigate Things to Attain Knowledge".
The sun shines through the clouds and shines right on the newly laid red carpet in front of the door.
Yuan Feng wore a brand-new fifth-grade blue tuan-collar hepeng court uniform, while Yan Jiuling rarely changed into a navy blue tapestry scholar's ordinary uniform.
Everyone held their breath and focused on the car approaching in the distance.
It was not the bright yellow given by the emperor, but an unassuming but fine-quality rosewood wooden sedan carried by four people, surrounded by more than a dozen personal servants in brown shirts with a calm and capable atmosphere.
The sedan stopped steadily in front of the main entrance of the academy.
Before Yuan Feng and others came forward to exchange greetings, a personal attendant quickly opened the sedan curtain.
A pair of scarlet palace boots with a gold embroidered python stepped out, followed by a figure wearing the same scarlet python robe with gold embroidery and Three Mountains Hat on his head.
It is Directorate of Ceremonial, the eunuch with a pen, Zhao Wujiu.
He is still the same, with a pale face, withered white hair, and covered with age spots. He looks like he is about to die soon, and he has no trace of the rumored eunuch's lusty appearance Killing Intent.
When a pair of slender eyes scanned the crowd, they were so sharp that they could see through the five internal organs.
"Seen Eunuch Zhao!"
Led by Yuan Feng, everyone bowed and bowed, showing respect.
Zhao Wujiu stepped out of the sedan, and his eyes slowly swept around the grand welcoming scene - from the neatly lined up students holding their breath, to the main figures bowing and bowing, to the newly laid red carpet on the ground.
There was no expression on his calm face, he just slowly raised his hand, his movements were understated, but carried an undoubted weight.
"My lords, what is this?"
Zhao Wujiu's voice was low and hoarse, but it penetrated the silent air with extraordinary clarity. "We are just an old slave of the emperor. We were on an errand and passed by the academy to take a look. Such a scene is really embarrassing for the old slave."
"Old slave - I can't bear it."
His last few words contained a hint of almost imperceptible sarcasm, and his eyes fell on the faces of Yuan Feng, who was dripping with sweat, and Yan Jiuling, who was trying to remain calm.
The smiles on Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling's faces froze instantly, and the flattery they had prepared was stuck in their throats.
To be honest, they are also frustrated.
The academy was full of troubles and was already very busy. I originally thought that after the opening ceremony and admissions were over, I would be able to work with peace of mind and get the academy up and running first.
Who would have thought that Zhao Wujiu would be here in less than two days.
Everyone up and down Imperial Court knows this evil name, how can they dare to neglect him?
Seeing their silence, Zhao Wujiu shook his head slightly and said, "Both of you are real people, Imperial Court, you don't need to pay attention to these dirty things, they are all serving the emperor, and our family will not allow others to cause trouble for you."
Supervisor Yuan Feng breathed a sigh of relief, raised his hand sideways and said, "Eunuch Zhao please."
Everyone came to the central square with the "round sky and square earth" pattern. Zhao Wujiu took a few steps forward, glanced at the surrounding halls, and then towards the towering statues, with a satisfied arc on his lips:
"'Sui wheel, water and fire True Lord'... What a good thing. Recently, the Holy Spirit often mentioned to the old slave the 'new god' worshiped by the new Book of Jin courtyard."
"Yuan Jianzheng, Lord Yan, could you please borrow a quiet place to ask for a cup of tea? Old slave, I have a few questions that I would like to ask you."
He said it politely, but the implicit coercion and the word "holy" behind it made the strings in Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling's hearts tighten instantly.
"Father-in-law, please."
Everyone came to the side hall and sat down.
After the waiter served the tea, Yuan Feng cautiously raised his hands and asked, "Eunuch Zhao, here you are, what are the instructions from the Holy One?"
"No rush."
Zhao Wujiu calmly took a sip of tea and said, "I heard that Young Hero Li from Twelve Yuan Chen is also in the academy. You might as well invite him here and we can talk together then."
After hearing this, Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling looked at each other, wondering what to do with Li Yan, but since Zhao Wujiu had already said it, they had no choice but to do it.
Li Yan When he stepped into the side hall, his steps suddenly stopped.
He could feel some kind of threat.
There was no murderous intent at all, but it felt like he had stepped into the territory of a tiger, sending chills down his back.
Looking up, I saw the sunlight passing through the carved window lattice, casting alternating light and dark spots on the smooth gold brick floor.
Supervisors Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling were sitting on both sides, their expressions respectful and slightly tense.
The Directorate of Ceremonial eunuch Zhao Wujiu, who was wearing a scarlet and gold python robe, was facing the door with his back to the door, standing with his hands behind his back, quietly looking at a painting "Laozi comes out Hangu Pass" hanging on the wall.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, Zhao Wujiu turned around slowly.
On that face that was as withered as old tree bark and covered with dark brown age spots, a pair of eyes were as sharp as obsidian blades tempered by ice, and they fell precisely on Li Yan.
There was no impressive momentum, but it made Li Yan suddenly shudder.
This old eunuch... is unfathomable!
Li Yan The alarm bell sounded instantly.
As Living Underworld Messenger, he is more sensitive to breath than ordinary monks.
The Zhao Wujiu in front of him gave him an extremely weird feeling.
The appearance is that of a dying old man, with declining vitality and blood, but the thin and restrained "god" is as solid as a majestic mountain, with an icy will that has been polished by countless bloody storms and heavy bones.
What's even more weird is that besides the introverted "god", there is also a kind of... inhuman, extremely thin but extremely profound "empty" and "cold" that is faintly entwined.
It's as if what he's standing here is just a projection.
The real body is connected to a dark and unpredictable place.
Earth Immortal? Not like...
Conspiracy? There is nothing unusual about the conspiracy...
What kind of old monster is this?
"Young Hero Li is here, sit down."
Zhao Wujiu's voice was hoarse and low, and he pointed to the empty space below Yuan Feng.
Li Yan calmly handed over his hand. "I've seen Eunuch Zhao."
He sat down as he was told, looking straight ahead, but his mind was highly concentrated, secretly trying to figure out the other person's depth and intention.
This Zhao Wujiu is the eunuch Directorate of Ceremonial, who is extremely powerful and powerful. He is also the emperor's confidant. He came to visit in person, and his purpose is no small matter.
And the inhuman feeling I just felt...
Could it be related to palace secrets?
"Yuan Jianzheng," Zhao Wujiu looked directly at Yuan Feng without greetings, getting straight to the point, as if time was extremely urgent, "We are looking at the golden body of Sui Lun True Monarch. Its charm has begun to take shape, and its appearance is solemn. It is indeed auspicious for the country."
"I just don't know when the merits will be complete and I will be able to enshrine Land and Grain Altar and receive incense from all people?"
Yuan Feng hurriedly leaned forward. "Back to my father-in-law, the main body of the statue has been completed. There will be blessings from the secret techniques of 'opening the face and dotting the eyes', 'improving the gods to seal the treasure', and 'gangqi channeling the spirit'."
"This is based on the joint deduction of the Mo Sect and several Xuanmen Attendant. If we want to use the artifacts as a chance to create spirituality, we must follow the weather, the right place, the right people, and be safe. It is estimated that it will take a month."
"A month?"
Zhao Wujiu's gray eyebrows seemed to be raised slightly, and the withered wrinkles on his face did not change at all, but the air in the side hall seemed to suddenly freeze for a moment, as if it was grasped tightly by an invisible giant hand.
This is not a surge of Qi, but more like a suffocating feeling caused by mental pressure, which is fleeting.
"Too long."
Zhao Wujiu stood up slowly, his voice still calm, but with a cold and decisive voice. "It must be completed within two days. Before Zi Hour the day after tomorrow, the statue must enter the Land and Grain Altar main hall, and His Majesty will personally preside over the first ceremony to seal the edict."
"Two... two days?!" Yuan Feng's face changed suddenly.
Yan Jiuling also lost his voice and said, "Father, this is absolutely impossible! Channeling the spirit with Gangqi is not something that can be done overnight. If you do it forcefully, you may risk the artifact becoming dusty or even damaging its foundation..."
Zhao Wujiu's eyes slowly swept over the anxious Yuan Feng and the shocked Yan Jiuling, and finally landed on the face of Li Yan, who had his eyelids lowered and seemed calm but was shocked in his heart.
No matter Yuan Feng or Yan Jiuling, their faces were all red with anger at this moment.
They didn't expect that Zhao Wujiu would take action against Sui Lun True Monarch as soon as he arrived.
This is the foundation for the academy to stand on in the future.
The two of them were secretly jealous, and as soon as the old hermaphrodite left, they went to the palace to complain, saying that they could not stop him from messing around.
Seeing that the atmosphere was tense, Li Yan was silent for a moment, and then said with cupped hands, "The emperor also knows the time when the statues will be moved. May I ask Eunuch Zhao, is there a reason for the temporary change of mind?"
Zhao Wujiu took his time, picked up the blue and white bowl on the table, gently skimmed off the foam with the tea lid, took a sip of tea, and said in a calm tone, "Yuan Jianzheng, Lord Yan..."
"Our family is aware of your concerns. But times wait for no one!"
"In the past few days, Dragon Tiger Mountain Zhang Tianshi, Mount Wudang Yu Chanzi True Person, Daoist Zhongnan Quanzhen Qiu Changchun... and the leaders of the Qingcheng and Emei sects have all left the mountain, traveling under the stars and night, heading straight to the capital..."
As he spoke, he raised his eyes and said, "Do you know what they are here to do?"
As soon as these words came out, the three of them looked at each other.
For a while, the sound of needles dropping could be heard in the side hall.
Li Yan was thoughtful, with a flash of light in his eyes. "The leaders of all Xuanmen sects are moving together! Are you here for Sui Lun True Monarch?"
He knows a lot of things. It has only been two or three days since Sui Lun True Monarch appeared in this world, but all the Daoist sects in the world have already heard about it, and their leaders have all headed to the capital.
No matter how fast the news is, it cannot spread throughout Divine Land instantly.
Such battles would only appear during the founding of the People's Republic of China or when the world was in chaos.
Unless... there is a higher level command!
Definitely from the Great Luo Dharma Realm!
No wonder, he was only allowed to support him for a short period of time, but it turned out that he had a back-up plan...
"That's right!"
Zhao Wujiu gently put the tea bowl back on the tray, making a soft "click" sound, which was particularly clear in the silence.
"In the name of protecting True Lord and stabilizing the Divine Court..."
Zhao Wujiu's voice was lowered, but it was filled with a bit of coldness, and his eyes became cold, "In fact, you all know why."
"Human Path The opportunity for change has arrived. Who holds the power of the new god between the imperial court and Xuanmen is very important. His Majesty When the Holy Mingzhu shines, how can we allow Xuanmen sects to use artifacts to build temples?"
Zhao Wujiu's speaking speed suddenly accelerated, with an unquestionable determination.
"This is an important weapon of the country! A social God of Millet weapon! It must be returned to the imperial court and Land and Grain Altar Attendant! No foreign objects can have any influence on it!"
He paused and glanced at the three of them again. The gaze was like substantial pressure, causing cold sweat to break out on the foreheads of Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling, and also making Li Yan's heart skip a beat.
"So, the construction deadline must be advanced!"
"Whatever it takes!"
"The palace Attendant, the royal secret treasury, and the Capital Region garrison can all be mobilized. If there is a shortage of manpower, immediately recruit the best craftsmen from the inner court workshop and Five Armies Commandery!"
"If Spiritual Material is scarce, go to Taicang to withdraw it immediately!"
"No matter what secret method, side method, or even forbidden method that destroys Yangshou... our family only wants results!"
He looked at Yuan Feng with sharp eyes and said word by word, "Before Zi Hour the day after tomorrow, the Sui Lun True Monarch golden body must be consecrated and placed in the altar and set up in Altar of the God of Earth and Grain."
"This matter is related to the rise and fall of the country's destiny, and it is also related to the order of changes in the world Human Path!"
"You have to think about how to choose..."
There was dead silence in the hall, only Zhao Wujiu's hoarse and cold words echoed.
It turned out to be because of this...
Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling glanced at each other, and both stepped forward and said with cupped hands, "This is about the imperial court and the country, please rest assured His Majesty, we will live up to the holy hope!"
This time the opponent is the entire Xuanmen.
No wonder Zhao Wujiu came in person instead of notifying Luo MingZi.
Although they have an irreversible relationship with Xuanmen, no matter Mo Sect or Open Sea Faction behind Yan Jiuling, their interests are deeply bound to Imperial Court. They will both gain and suffer, so naturally they must try their best to avoid this.
Zhao Wujiu nodded and looked at Li Yan, "Young Hero Li, what about you?"
Li Yan was stunned, "What does such a big event have to do with me?"
Zhao Wujiu's eyes were cold, "We don't play tricks in our family. Twelve Yuan Chen has a deep relationship with Xuanmen, so we have to guard against it. To be honest, Qiankun Academy's defense has been fully taken over by Commandery Commandant Office, and Capital Region is guarding the outside, led by Grandmaster Huo Yin."
"According to our family's intention, we want to ask you Young Hero Li to leave, but His Majesty said that although you are from the world, you are a person who cares about the world, so we asked our family to ask."
Li Yan was silent for a moment, nodded and said, "My father-in-law, you are worrying too much, it is related to Divine Land's destiny. The important weapon of change is controlled by Xuanmen, which can easily lead to disasters. I can still distinguish between right and wrong."
To be honest, even if you let him go, he won't want to leave.
This matter is not only related to Divine Land, but also his official mission.
Anyway, Heavenly Court's order is just to ensure the safety of Sui Lun True Monarch. As for who gets it in the end, he really doesn't have the final say.
"That's good!"
Zhao Wujiu looked at him deeply and said, "If this matter comes to pass, the court will not treat Young Hero Li badly."
After saying that, he stood up and strode out.
In the square outside the main hall, without realizing it, a dense crowd of Commandery Commandant Office teams had poured in. There were thousands of people in the Divine Firearm team alone.
On the steps of the main hall in the distance, Huo Yin also appeared.
In the academy, everyone who was originally Enforcement Hall was asked to leave with aggrieved expressions. Even the alchemy master Wang Jingxiu cursed and walked out carrying his baggage.
Seeing this, Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling quickly walked out of the side hall.
One of them was there to offer persuasion, and the other was there to make arrangements.
Although there is an order from the imperial court, it cannot chill the hearts of the academy.
Looking at the chaos in front of him, Li Yan shook his head and looked at the towering statue in the distance.
He seemed to see a new era, with an irresistible storm vortex swirling around it.
Now, it's just the beginning.
And his identity of Living Underworld Messenger and Twelve Yuan Chen Youxian are probably caught between these two torrents that are about to collide...