Langhuan Blessed Land

Great Xia, Yangzhou.

Since ancient times, Yangzhou had been famed throughout the realm for its beautiful scenery. Its territory held countless renowned mountains and rivers, Daoist temples and Buddhist monasteries overflowing with incense offerings, and had won the favor of emperors throughout the dynasties.

Even after Great Xia entered an industrial society, Yangzhou had still restrained its industrial development as much as possible, preserving vast stretches of green mountains, clear waters, and earthly wonders. This had only made Yangzhou's tourism industry flourish all the more.

However, over the past few months, Yangzhou's authorities had repeatedly announced the temporary closure of scenic areas around certain famous mountains and rivers. They had even erected protective barriers around them to prevent anyone from forcing their way in, stirring up no small amount of online controversy.

Langhuan Mountain was one of the famous mountains deeply affected by the public outcry.

Langhuan Mountain was a peak of exquisite scenery, its interior riddled with intricate caverns. Legend had it that ten thousand years ago, Langhuan Pavilion, where the Heavenly Emperor stored his books, had shattered in the Ninth Heavens and fallen to the mortal world. Part of it had become Langhuan Mountain.

The closure of Langhuan Mountain's scenic area had happened months ago. During that time, troops guarded it closely, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving. For months, the entire mountain had been utterly devoid of human traces.

Yet today, a refined middle-aged man in a white long robe rode a White Deer to Langhuan Mountain.

With a single written order, he passed through layer upon layer of military lockdown and entered the bounds of Langhuan Mountain.

The White Deer's body was snow-white, its enormous antlers seemingly cast from gold. It moved lightly through the mountain forest as though walking on level ground. With every step it took, green grass sprouted and flowers bloomed around it, like an auspicious omen made manifest in the mortal world.

As the White Deer entered Langhuan Mountain's main peak, the refined middle-aged man gently stroked its antlers, and the auspicious beast halted.

Stepping down from its back, the middle-aged man flicked his sleeve. A crystal-clear jade token slowly drifted forward.

Then, the middle-aged man bowed toward Langhuan Mountain's main peak and said:

"Zhong Bu Wen of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau seeks entry into Langhuan Blessed Land to meet the Book Immortal. I ask that the Mountain God grant permission!"

The token transformed into a streak of light and flew into the mountain. Then the mountain shook, sending countless fragments of stone flying, and an enormous human face that seemed carved by the handiwork of ghosts and gods appeared before Zhong Bu Wen.

"Someone from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau? Are you the current Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau?"

An ancient, majestic voice slowly rang out, its deep resonance accompanied by the trembling earth.

"Zhong Bu Wen, twenty-fifth Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, greets the Langhuan Mountain God."

A meaningful smile appeared on the Langhuan Mountain God's enormous face.

"Before spiritual energy was completely exhausted three thousand years ago, I made an agreement with the Great Xia emperor of that time and the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Great Xia would protect Langhuan Mountain during the three thousand years of my slumber. In return, I gave you three decree tokens and promised that, upon awakening, I would fulfill three requests for you.

"Now, the Spirit Tide has only just returned, yet you've rashly used the first decree token. It seems the current situation is slipping beyond Great Xia's control!"

Zhong Bu Wen's heart sank, but his expression remained unchanged as he said:

"Langhuan Mountain God, you jest. The Spirit Tide is a mighty tide of the age. The Great Xia Court can only follow the current—how could we presume to control the great momentum of Heaven and Earth?

"As for this visit to see the Book Immortal of Langhuan Blessed Land, I merely wish to seek guidance on a few matters."

Flames flickered in the eyes formed from the Langhuan Mountain God's caverns, as though he were judging Zhong Bu Wen's words.

After a long while, the Langhuan Mountain God suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

"Ha ha ha! I was merely testing you. Since I made an agreement with the Great Xia Court three thousand years ago, how could I fail to honor it?"

As he spoke, the Langhuan Mountain God's great mouth opened. Its pitch-black maw transformed into a spatial passageway.

The first thing that rushed forth was dense spiritual energy. Even after three thousand years of consumption, the spiritual energy within the Blessed Land was still far denser than that of the outside world.

As Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Zhong Bu Wen had cultivated since childhood in a Blessed Land controlled by the Bureau, so he paid little attention to the spiritual energy.

Looking past the passageway, Zhong Bu Wen could clearly see that within the Langhuan Mountain God's mouth was a world seemingly formed entirely from books.

Massive bookshelves crisscrossed one another, lined with countless precious books. Book Demons born from those books moved ceaselessly among them, making the place seem like a city.

Even a glimpse through the passageway was enough to reveal the vastness of this Blessed Land.

Langhuan Blessed Land had once been part of the Heavenly Emperor's Langhuan Pavilion. After falling into the Profound Yellow Realm ten thousand years ago, it had evolved into a Blessed Land.

Unlike Grotto-Heavens, which could retreat into the void, Blessed Lands could only remain fixed in a certain location in the mortal world. Their internal laws were mostly incomplete as well, making them far inferior to Grotto-Heavens.

Even so, Blessed Lands were still precious strategic resources, second only to Grotto-Heavens throughout the cultivation world.

And as the former library of the Heavenly Emperor, Langhuan Blessed Land ranked among the finest even among Blessed Lands. It had once birthed strange beings known as Book Immortals.

They were not true immortals, but Book Demons born from immortal scriptures. Because their essence surpassed the mundane, the world called them immortals.

These Book Immortals possessed little combat power, but their lifespans were long, and their wisdom was Vast as the Abyssal Sea. Few hidden matters in the Profound Yellow Realm could escape the Book Immortals' knowledge.

As part of the Heavenly Emperor's Library, Langhuan Blessed Land naturally drew the covetous eyes of countless outsiders. The Book Immortals were not strong enough to protect themselves.

Thus, several Book Immortals had joined forces to enlighten this mountain range, transforming it into the Langhuan Mountain God to safeguard the Blessed Land. The enormous face before him was merely a portion of the Langhuan Mountain God that had yet to fully awaken.

"Since you wish to enter Langhuan Blessed Land, then go ahead!

"However, if the Book Immortals are unwilling to answer your questions, that is beyond my control."

Hearing this, Zhong Bu Wen bowed once more to the Mountain God. "I naturally know the rules of Langhuan Blessed Land."

As he spoke, Zhong Bu Wen prepared to cross the entrance into the Blessed Land.

But just then, as if recalling something, the Langhuan Mountain God gave another reminder:

"Oh, right. Since yesterday, the Book Demons formed from the many sword scriptures and sword canons within the Blessed Land have become somewhat restless. Be careful when you enter."

Though somewhat surprised, Zhong Bu Wen nodded seriously, then stepped into the Blessed Land.

The entrance to the Blessed Land closed. The Langhuan Mountain God cast a meaningful glance in the direction of the Imperial Capital, a trace of mockery rising in his eyes.

"Yesterday, a white rainbow first pierced the sun, and the famous swords within the Sword Mound rang in unison. Then the Book Demons of the Langhuan Sword Dao stirred. A Peerless Sword Immortal must have returned to this world.

"For three thousand years, Great Xia rode the tide of exhausted spiritual energy and achieved its imperial greatness. Yet now, at the very beginning of the Spirit Tide's return, an immortal has descended into the world.

"Can Great Xia truly hold onto this mighty tide of the age?"

"Three thousand years ago, the first Director used the God-Driving Edict to make me swear three decree-token oaths, seeking to lay plans for three thousand years later and stabilize Great Xia's fortunes.

"But no matter how exhaustively you calculated, how could a mere mortal have foreseen an immortal descending into the world?"

The Langhuan Mountain God threw back his head and laughed, and the Langhuan Mountains trembled beneath his laughter.

Rocks tumbled down, and the earth writhed like a dragon turning over. The troops guarding the outside of Langhuan Mountain panicked at the sudden earthquake.

Only after a long while did the Langhuan Mountain God's smile fade.

Then his eyes closed, and the enormous human face vanished.

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