The Emperor Terrace's Past

Chapter Forty-Two: The Emperor's Past

The night wind rustles through the woods, swaying the withered leaves; the moon is dim, but the stars are numerous, casting their light upon the traveler.

After shouting his innocence for a while, Ding Songyan, carrying a bamboo basket, asked without hiding his curiosity:

"Besides the 'Names' and 'Reality' chapters, what other chapters are included in the * Nine Canons *?"

Little is known about the Emperor. Ding Songyan only knew that they were descended from the Celestial Emperor and possessed the "Emperor's Book," also known as the "Nine Canons." The guardian of the canon was named Tang Yi, one of the three great Perfected Person of the Gan Kingdom. However, like Xiong Mo, the guardian of the Emperor's Mausoleum, he rarely interfered in worldly affairs.

Twelfth Madam Luo walked forward along the babbling stream, sometimes walking with grace, sometimes nimbly leaping over stones and tree roots that blocked her way.

She nodded almost imperceptibly and said:

"There are also the chapters on the Dao, Virtue, Existence, Non-existence, Profound, Law, and Supreme Being."

Upon hearing the names of the first four chapters, Ding Songyan became even more certain that Emperor Xuanyuan's cultivation method originated from "Hun Dun" (Hundun), and that the other chapters must have been written after He merged with the Dao, blossoming on a different branch and creating a new path.

Twelfth Madam Luo continued:

"In the early years, the Emperor also split due to ideological disputes. One faction advocated that the Celestial Emperor governs all living beings and cannot completely ignore worldly affairs. When necessary, he should send his successors to travel the world or select people with affinity to teach him the Dharma. The other faction believed that Severance of Heaven and Earth is the continuation of the Celestial Emperor's will. Since humans and gods are separated, they should govern by non-interference. Unless someone wants to destroy heaven and earth, they should not interfere in worldly affairs."

"The faction that practices the Way of Non-Action took the chapters 'Tao,' 'Wu,' 'Xuan,' and ' Supreme ' with them and left, establishing their Dao and Virtue Abbey. They lived in seclusion, secretly passing on their knowledge, and are one of the Nine Reclusive Sects. They will not act unless the world is in chaos."

Rumors circulate that any Martial Arts can be adapted to inherit the Celestial Emperor's legacy, and those who possess the Celestial Emperor's legacy can also cultivate other martial arts techniques.

Choosing a destined person to impart the Dharma is for the purpose of influencing worldly affairs? So, it seems that Daoist Di Mingyu also harbors this expectation towards Twelfth Madam... I wonder if I can become that destined person... The influence of the Severance of Heaven and Earth is truly multifaceted; even the internal strife between the Emperor and the Shennong Hall is related to it... Ding Songyan chatted casually in a relaxed manner:

What are the Nine Reclusive Sects?

He knew what the Nine Reclusive Sects were. They were all forces with Great Grandmaster, but with a strong tendency to avoid the world, choosing to create their own paradise. They didn't have many disciples, and only occasionally would one or two successors travel the world. Outsiders didn't know much about them, and the Xiaoming Sect hadn't recorded who they were.

Twelfth Madam Luo glanced at Ding Songyan, then slightly raised her chin and said:

I'm too lazy to explain.

Ding Songyan was not discouraged at all, nor did his emotions change. He pondered and asked:

Is the Emperor Garment Sect considered one of the Nine Reclusive Sects?

Sun Yiguang, listed in "Rivers and Lakes Beauty Register), is a descendant of the Emperor Garment Sect.

"Yes," Twelfth Madam Luo replied casually. "Of the Nine Reclusive Sects south of the Great River, only the Emperor Garment Sect and the Auspicious Omen Sect stand out. The Auspicious Omen Sect inherits its lineage from the Heavenly Gods Changcheng, and even disciples who only reach the Perfected Dayan Realm can live to be three hundred years old."

Changcheng, resembling a human with a leopard's tail, governs auspicious omens, cultivates the nine virtues, Calamity Ward, protects against all malevolent forces, and grants immortality.

Immortality... I really want to learn that... Controlling auspicious omens, Calamity Ward and preventing all evil from invading, isn't that the ultimate in Calamity Ward Evil Ward from "Three Thousand Years of Great Dreaming"? Who knows, one could walk leisurely through ten thousand armies without getting hurt... Ding Songyan listened with longing.

However, he also knew that with these characteristics, meeting a successor of the Auspicious Omen Sect could only depend on fate and accumulating good fortune.

As the "continuation" of the most ancient Celestial Emperor, could it also attract the Quail Bird Disciple of the "Emperor Garment Attendants" and the Changcheng of the Nine Virtues of Heaven without them realizing it? Ding Songyan pondered this, then asked with a smile:

"Twelfth Madam, have you encountered anyone from the Auspicious Omen Sect?"

"I've met him," Twelfth Madam Luo recalled. "He was indeed virtuous, and looked to be only in his early twenties, but claimed to be seven hundred years old and would pass away in another hundred years."

After the Severance of Heaven and Earth, even if one achieves immortality, the maximum lifespan is only eight hundred years, a fact verified by many powerful beings.

During their casual conversation, Ding Songyan remembered something and, while enjoying the cool night breeze of the mountain forest, casually asked:

Why is there no trace of the White Emperor among the Five Great Sacred Grounds?

The Five Great Sacred Grounds are the Emperor's Mausoleum of Emperor Zhuanxu (a descendant of the Celestial Emperor), the Shennong Hall of Flame Emperor, Changqing Island of Azure Emperor, and Empress Wa Mountain of Nuwa, all located on the side of Jianmu.

Twelfth Madam Luo chuckled softly:

"Youqiong Dynasty, we originally intended to establish six holy lands, but the Everlasting Sect said that we only knew how to kill, and there was no need to list us as holy lands, so there were only Five Great Sacred Grounds."

"The Everlasting Sect almost became a holy land." Ding Songyan had a deep impression of this sect, after all, it was one of the first sects he knew.

The Everlasting Sect is descended from the White Emperor Sha Hao, and cultivates the "Seven Slaughters Book" and the "Golden Heaven Record". The Supreme Elder Zhu Beidou is one of the three Perfected Person of the Gan Kingdom.

Their current generation's true Jin Shaochong, had wanted to test his sword skills against the world, but he was defeated by Su Yunzhang of the Celestial Maiden Sect not long after he set out. This was the first martial arts story Ding Songyan had heard.

"No wonder Su Yunzhang commented that Jin Shaochong's 'killing intent was not firm.' For a true disciple of the Everlasting Sect, this is the greatest humiliation," Ding Songyan remarked with amusement.

Twelfth Madam Luo hummed in agreement.

"For Jin Shaochong, this is not a bad thing. A fine sword is forged through tempering. How can a martial artist who cultivates the virtues of Metal Virtue, the seven killings, and the Nine Weapons become incomparably sharp without setbacks? If Jin Shaochong can overcome his Heart Demon and see through the illusions, then his achievements will be limitless."

I haven't heard much about this person. I guess he's still at the Perfected Dayan Realm. Su Yunzhang is already Martial Grandmaster of the Law Realm... Ding Songyan chatted casually with Twelfth Madam Luo about matters of the martial world, occasionally mentioning their respective experiences, before rushing back to Flame Capital before the city gates closed.

Upon arriving at Tiger Tail Alley, Ding Songyan immediately spotted Chef Shi sitting on the ground in the darkness outside the Cheap Wine Shop.

Shi Wuyan glanced at Twelfth Madam Luo and Ding Songyan, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded as a greeting.

Then, he turned and headed towards his residence in the direction of South-Pacifying Street.

"You're often away, traveling around, and this Wine Shop relies entirely on the staff to keep it afloat. No wonder you hire so many people and give them enough Silver Coins," Ding Songyan couldn't help but remark.

He even suspected that Twelfth Madam didn't really check the accounts, letting the employees do whatever they wanted. Anyway, whatever they earned, it was all theirs. The Manager was just trying to make a living, experience the ups and downs of life, and learn about the affairs of the martial arts world.

"What do you mean by 'wandering around'? That's a really awful way to put it." Twelfth Madam Luo rolled her eyes at Ding Songyan. "It's called 'refining one's heart in the mortal world'!"

"Yes, yes, yes." Ding Songyan readily agreed.

He didn't linger any longer, waved goodbye to Twelfth Madam Luo, and returned to the Prince's Residence.

After today's events and the casual conversations on the way back to the city, he felt that he and Twelfth Madam Luo had finally developed a real friendship.

Previously, it seemed more like a perceptive and thick-skinned young martial artist who took advantage of the master's casual behavior and kind heart, relying on the past connection of discovering the master's abnormality and helping to cover it up, and tried to get on his good side in a measured way, coming every day to get acquainted, and using asking for help to get closer to him, without any real friendship.

Returning to the villa, Ding Songyan saw Wu Mo, Fan Chunlin, and Li Baima sitting around the stone table.

"Still not asleep?" Ding Songyan chuckled.

"Brother Ding, where have you been?" Fan Chunlin couldn't help but ask.

Ding Songyan casually said:

"I went to visit Purple Cloud Mountain with Twelfth Madam Luo. If you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way."

"Why doesn't Twelfth Madam ask me to act in her plays?" Wu Mo muttered.

Ding Songyan pointed to himself and said:

"You're all just smooth talkers, trying to take advantage of others. How could Twelfth Madam trust you? But the disciples of our Xiaoming Sect have an impeccable reputation and are all clean and honest."

Fan Chunlin and the others already knew about the Xiaoming Sect's reputation, so they believed it as soon as they heard it. After asking a few questions about the trip, they went back to their rooms to sleep.

Ding Songyan first checked the room, then sat cross-legged on the bed and closed his eyes to begin cultivating.

Daily homework is essential.

He recalled the scene of watching Twelfth Madam Luo brew tea on the Purple Cloud Mountain, and his thoughts slowly settled down, just like that Great Sun, after the brilliant light came the magnificent afterglow, and after the magnificent afterglow came the stillness of heaven and earth, and the deep blue sky that was almost black.

After an unknown amount of time, Ding Songyan's scattered spiritual senses detected another External Acupoints.

He quickly completed the condensation, slowly opened his eyes, and appeared calm and joyful.

"Only three places left..." Ding Songyan then remembered that there were "Returning Ruins" apertures in these three places, which could very likely be harmonized by Demoness Ji forcibly stuffing her True Qi into them, and he immediately became troubled again.

His earlier composure dissipated somewhat.

He sighed helplessly to himself:

My little sister is truly my destined nemesis...

She was her when she first transmigrated, and she is still her now...

The following morning, Ding Songyan and the other three men resumed their posts at the southeast corner gate.

After midnight, they sensed that there was some commotion coming from the direction of the main gate.

"What happened?" Li Baima asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

Ding Songyan and the other two shook their heads simultaneously.

"I'll go find out," Fan Chunlin said with great interest.

Normally, only two people are needed to guard the side gate. The other two are relatively flexible and are responsible for passing messages inside, handling miscellaneous tasks, preventing accidents, etc. They can leave the gate for a while.

After a moment, Fan Chunlin emerged from the shadows, smiling as he addressed Ding Songyan and the others:

"It is Yu Chongyuan has come to visit."

"Have you come to see the Princess Consort?" Ding Songyan asked, puzzled.

The Princess Consort is Five Saints Sect Disciple.

"No, the Five Saints Sect is very proper, and Yu Chongyuan is a famous figure on the ' Jade Tree Martial Arts Rankings,' and he's quite strong. How could he possibly go to the inner quarters to see the Princess Consort?" Fan Chunlin lowered his voice and said, "He's here to see the Prince."

"Oh." Li Baima showed an expression that said, "I understand why."

Seeing Ding Songyan and the others looking at him, he whispered:

"I heard Eunuch Zhang mention a few years ago that Yu Chongyuan was a close friend of His Majesty and the Prince, and they had traveled together through the martial world, venturing deep into the Gan and Yu Kingdoms and fighting across thousands of miles. It was during that trip back to Great Zhao that Yu Chongyuan entered the Law Realm and became Martial Grandmaster, and His Majesty returned to the capital to ascend the throne not long after."

"Because these matters involve His Majesty's past, the Martial Prohibition Bureau forbids their dissemination; Storyteller dares to speak of them, and only a few people know the truth."

"A bond forged in life and death... No wonder Yu Chongyuan wanted to come to the capital to help... "Ding Songyan nodded thoughtfully.

He asked with some concern:

"Besides Yu Chongyuan, are there any other Five Saints Sect Disciple who have come?"

They shouldn't impulsively try to use the southeast corner gate; I can't afford to offend "the All the World's Colors Gather."

"It seems Miss Zhang came along too," Fan Chunlin said, beaming.

Ouch... Ding Songyan suddenly had a toothache.