Chen Yan raised his head and looked toward the Cloud King's Mansion, which stood towering right before him.
What grandeur.
The three-zhang-high vermilion gates were studded with nine rows and nine columns of gilded door studs, proclaiming the residence's imperial status. The two white-jade Azure Magpie statues before the main gates were even more clearly symbols of the Qin family.
The walls extending from the gates on either side were built from massive blocks of green granite, each several zhang high. Even to immortals, granite of such size was exceedingly precious.
To the Cloud King's Mansion, the immortal masters of the Empty Mountain Sect were undoubtedly honored guests.
Thus, the Cloud King had long since sent household servants to wait at the gates and welcome Lu Li and the others.
"Welcome, immortal masters of the Empty Mountain Sect, to the Cloud King's Mansion!"
When the group drew near, the head steward of the mansion, standing at the front, called out in a strong, resonant voice. The dozens of servants and maids lined up behind him hurriedly bowed as well:
"Welcome, immortal masters of the Empty Mountain Sect, to the Cloud King's Mansion!"
The spectacle undoubtedly left the Empty Mountain Sect cultivators awestruck.
"Good heavens, what a display..."
Zheng Fei muttered under his breath:
"Cloud King sure is impressive. It makes me want to stop cultivating on the mountain and go down to build a kingdom of my own."
Zheng Fei let out his quiet sigh.
"You've got it all figured out. Then some passing powerhouse would casually wipe you out, and you'd learn your place."
Li Xiuxiu immediately mocked Zheng Fei's ridiculous idea.
It really was ridiculous.
No Immortal Cultivator dynasty had ever been established in this world. After all, Immortal Cultivators ruling over mortals was the greatest taboo in any era.
Every Immortal Cultivator in the world would rise up against it.
Immortal Cultivators must not interfere in worldly affairs. That was common knowledge across the world.
"Immortal masters."
The steward waiting before the mansion's gates approached with a beaming smile. After bowing to Lu Li, who led the group, he said:
"His Highness the Cloud King has been awaiting your honored arrival for quite some time. Shall I escort you to meet him now?"
"Thank you for your trouble."
Lu Li replied.
The group followed the steward into the mansion. The courtyard was a sea of blossoms, with rare flowers and exotic plants vying to outshine one another. Their rich fragrance filled the air, lifting the spirits. The bluestone path beneath their feet wound and twisted, while oddly shaped lake rocks lined either side. Each seemed carefully chosen, with its own unique charm.
Farther ahead, a grand hall came into view. Its sweeping eaves and carved beams were adorned with intricate paintings, and the golden glazed tiles glittered in the sunlight. Before the hall stood another pair of Azure Magpie statues, though smaller than the two white-jade ones before the mansion's main gates.
But these were carved with even greater lifelike detail.
The eyes of the two Azure Magpies in particular glowed with a faint golden light, as if they might spring to life at any moment.
It was only when Chen Yan drew close and took a careful look that he realized the statues' eyes were set with Superior Spirit Stones.
"...Spirit Stones?"
Chen Yan wasn't the only one who noticed something unusual about the Azure Magpie statues. Zheng Fei seemed to have spotted it too.
"Country bumpkin."
Qian Xun, walking at the rear of the group, let out a disdainful snort.
Zheng Fei furrowed his brow but ignored Qian Xun. He lowered his voice and quietly complained to Chen Yan:
"Senior Brother Chen, what's that guy's problem? Why has he been picking fights ever since we left the mountain today?"
"He's got something wrong with his head."
Chen Yan answered flatly.
He couldn't think of any other explanation.
"The immortal masters have arrived!"
The guards stationed before the hall announced.
The steward stopped in front of the great hall and bowed respectfully:
"Immortal masters, His Highness the Cloud King is waiting inside."
Lu Li nodded, straightened the Daoist robe draped over him, and entered the hall first.
The hall was spacious and bright. Fine works of calligraphy and painting, all by renowned masters, hung on the walls.
Of course, such works were only valuable in the mortal dynasties.
To cultivators, mortal paintings and calligraphy were no different from wastepaper.
At the center of the hall, raised above the rest, stood the Cloud King's throne. Yet no one sat on it.
The Cloud King stood at the foot of the steps before the throne.
He was a middle-aged man dressed in splendid robes, his features imposing and his bearing composed.
"You immortal masters have traveled a long way. I regret that I wasn't there to welcome you. Please forgive me."
As Lu Li and the others entered the hall, Qin Ming, the Cloud King, hurried forward a few steps to greet them.
"Lu Li of the Empty Mountain Sect pays his respects to Your Highness."
Lu Li bowed toward Qin Ming.
Though the Qingque Kingdom was entirely dependent on the Empty Mountain Sect—one could even say it was the sect's lapdog in the mortal world—Immortal Cultivators still had to observe the proper courtesies on the surface.
At the very least, they had to maintain appearances.
"Chen Yan, disciple of the Empty Mountain Sect, pays his respects to Your Highness."
"Zheng Fei, disciple of the Empty Mountain Sect, pays his respects to Your Highness."
"Li Xiuxiu, disciple of the Empty Mountain Sect, pays her respects to Your Highness."
"Qian Xun, Inner Sect Disciple of Yuanhua Mountain of the Empty Mountain Sect, pays his respects to Your Highness!"
Only Qian Xun stood at the back, suddenly raising his voice.
"Manager Yang,"
Qin Ming said with a smile.
"Here."
The steward who had just escorted Lu Li's group into the hall answered.
"Where's Yue'er?"
"Your Highness, I've already sent someone to the courtyard's side rooms to invite the County Princess here."
Manager Yang replied.
"Mm."
The Cloud King, Qin Ming, nodded.
As soon as he finished speaking, soft footsteps sounded outside the hall. A petite young woman in a pale blue dress slowly entered. She seemed somewhat uneasy as she came to stand beside the Cloud King.
"Yue'er."
The Cloud King called her name, his tone a little more emphatic.
"I am Qin Yue. I pay my respects to the immortal masters."
Qin Yue bowed.
She lifted her eyes and stole a glance at Lu Li and the others standing in the hall.
At last, her gaze settled on the gilded Cloud Crane pattern on Chen Yan's sleeve. She seemed curious about why this young immortal master's clothes were different from the others'.
Of course, as a disciple of Yuanhua Mountain, Qian Xun's Daoist robe also differed slightly from those of the Outer Court Disciples, though the difference was not very noticeable.
The collars of Yuanhua Mountain's Daoist robes bore several fine, pale blue wave patterns, which extended all the way to the front opening.
Compared with the gilded Cloud Cranes of Kongyuan Mountain, they were indeed much less conspicuous.
Qin Yue then raised her head. Her gaze briefly met Chen Yan's, but she quickly looked away.
"Yue'er, what is it?"
The Cloud King asked.
"Nothing. I was just curious why that immortal master's Daoist robe looks a little different from the others'."
Qin Yue replied.
"Oh?"
Hearing this, the Cloud King looked toward Chen Yan and noticed the gilded Cloud Crane pattern on his sleeve. His brows lifted slightly.
"Is this immortal master a disciple of Kongyuan Mountain?"
"That's right."
Chen Yan bowed toward the Cloud King and replied.
"May I ask, immortal master, do you know another immortal master from Kongyuan Mountain named Zhao Bin?"
The Cloud King asked.
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