Loyal Advice

Among the martial world's sects, only the Four Great Sects had been qualified to establish formal branch residences in Yujing City. Now, the Flying Flower Sword Sect had joined them.

This was a momentous occasion.

Sending people to attend the ceremony required little effort and earned goodwill.

Yet the Four Great Sects had not sent anyone.

Were they really so devoid of worldly tact, so bluntly direct?

Did they look down on the Flying Flower Sword Sect, or was there another reason?

Martial sects did not conduct themselves like Imperial Court officials; their ways of thinking differed. As an Assistant Director of the Department of Martial Affairs, he needed to ponder this carefully.

After speaking for a while, Chu Zhiyuan looked up at the sky and smiled. "The time has come. Lord Zhou, begin."

"Ding..."

"Dong..."

The clear chimes of bells and stone chimes rang out, lingering in the air.

"Young Master." A middle-aged official from the Imperial Household Department approached with a fawning smile, both hands supporting a two-meter-long, one-meter-wide rosewood tray.

The Imperial Household Department official was thin and small, appearing even more diminutive beside the rosewood tray. Three towering animal offerings sat atop it, as though they could crush him at any moment.

Yet he held it with ease, clearly possessing martial arts.

Chu Zhiyuan waved a hand.

Guo Chi and the Prince's Manor guards stepped aside, allowing Zhou Qingfeng, the Imperial Household Department's overseer, to approach.

Chu Zhiyuan gave him a slight nod without smiling.

He had seen through the Imperial Household Department's officials.

There was no need to be polite with them.

No matter how courteous one was, if one lacked power, they would still treat one with neglect. If one held power, then even without courtesy, they would remain thoroughly respectful.

He inspected the square rosewood tray and found nothing amiss.

The three animal offerings on the tray were for worshipping Heaven and Earth. Before breaking ground, offerings had to be presented to seek Heaven and Earth's protection.

Chu Zhiyuan looked toward Lu Wan. "Elder Lu, let us do this together."

"Alright." Lu Wan stepped forward. Together with Chu Zhiyuan, she carried the square rosewood tray to the prepared altar table.

Red cloth covered the altar table and extended two zhang before it.

A gleaming golden incense burner stood atop the altar table. Before it were six large bowls containing fresh flowers, fine wine, and spring water.

Two Ministry of Rites clerks had already lit six sticks of incense and stood waiting at either side.

"Ding..."

"Dong..."

Amid the clear chimes of bells and stone chimes, beneath everyone's watchful gaze, Chu Zhiyuan and Lu Wan solemnly set down the square rosewood tray. They each accepted three tall incense sticks and placed them into the golden incense burner.

Then they accepted two golden bowls filled with wine.

The fragrance of wine spread through the air as the golden bowls glimmered.

They first poured a little to the east, then a little to the west, followed by the south, then the north, and finally splashed the rest into the very center.

After handing the bowls to someone nearby, they pressed their palms together solemnly and stood motionless.

An old man in a brown robe approached. Tall and lean, with white hair and the complexion of a child, he brandished a golden wooden sword as he strode swiftly around the altar table. His lips moved in a murmur as he chanted scriptures.

The chanting rose and fell, seeming at times distant and at times near, as though it drifted leisurely down from the horizon.

This was the High Ritual Elder of the Thick Earth Sect relaying the sacrificial text to Heaven and Earth.

The High Ritual Elder's footwork was wondrous. As he moved, he seemed to glide over water, drifting like an immortal—yet every step also seemed to shake the earth, creating a strange sense of contrast.

Chu Zhiyuan closed his eyes and saw every change in the High Ritual Elder with perfect clarity. He discovered a strange force drilling up from the ground and entering the old man's body.

Because of the Earthly Yuan Art, he was particularly sensitive to the power of the earth.

The High Ritual Elder mobilized that force, making his chanting increasingly strange. As the chanting continued, more and more power from the earth entered his body.

By the time he had circled the altar table and the two of them nine times, the power within him had increased tenfold, so dense it seemed almost tangible.

Under Super Sensation, Chu Zhiyuan realized that this force closely resembled the Primal Qi absorbed by the Earthly Yuan Art.

The Thick Earth Sect was not merely putting on a bluff; it possessed genuine skill. No wonder its followers were growing ever more numerous and it was steadily expanding.

The High Ritual Elder suddenly shouted, "August Heaven above, Sovereign Earth below, peace throughout the four seas, rest for all people, incense and worship everlasting, unchanged through ten thousand generations—Boundless Earth Venerable! ...Boundless Earth Venerable! ...BOUNDLESS! EARTH! VENERABLE!"

His shout grew louder and louder, like great bells and massive chimes, shaking the surroundings.

The surging power around him suddenly exploded.

At once, wild winds howled and dust filled the air.

Yet within ten zhang around him, not a speck of dust remained.

"Boundless Earth Venerable..." The High Ritual Elder's voice sank low. With palms pressed together, he bowed once toward each direction, then withdrew the golden wooden sword.

Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes and performed a Daoist salute. "Boundless Earth Venerable."

"Boundless Earth Venerable." The elders and disciples of the Flying Flower Sword Sect all pressed their palms together.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward. "Elder Zhu, you have worked hard."

The High Ritual Elder, Zhu Yishan, returned the salute. "Assistant Director, this old man's task is complete. I shall take my leave."

His expression was cold, keeping others a thousand miles away.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded. "Many thanks."

Zhu Yishan drifted away in great strides, followed closely by two Thick Earth Sect disciples. In the blink of an eye, the three disappeared into the alley ahead.

Gao Lingfeng was furious and glared coldly at their retreating backs.

Those Thick Earth Sect people were far too arrogant, treating an Imperial Court official of Subordinate Fifth Rank in such a manner.

They had no regard for the Imperial Court, nor any regard for the royal nobility.

Chu Zhiyuan remained calm, though inwardly he was also angered. He marked it down in his ledger.

With the Thick Earth Sect's High Ritual Elder gone, this ceremony was considered complete.

Chu Zhiyuan wanted to leave, but Lu Wan and the other three elders warmly urged him to stay. It was already noon, they said, and he could leave after eating.

They had already reserved a private room at Flowing Cloud Tower.

After a brief consideration, Chu Zhiyuan agreed.

He also wanted to probe the Flying Flower Sword Sect's foundations.

As an Assistant Director of the Department of Martial Affairs, he would constantly deal with martial sects. It was extremely important to understand their foundations, attitudes, and shifts in thinking.

If anything went wrong, he, the Assistant Director, could not escape responsibility. He would lose any chance at merit and have labored for a year in vain.

The group reached the third floor of Flowing Cloud Tower and entered an elegant room.

Inside stood a round table, around which sat Chu Zhiyuan, Gao Lingfeng, and officials from the Imperial Household Department and elsewhere.

On the Flying Flower Sword Sect's side were Lu Wan and the other three elders. The remaining disciples were not qualified to sit at the table and ate outside.

Once both sides were seated, they exchanged pleasantries, then ate and drank. The other three elders, initially reserved, gradually began talking freely.

They could not help airing their grievances.

They had originally believed that after arriving in Yujing, the Flying Flower Sword Sect would be met with flattery, currying favor, and eager welcome. Instead, they had encountered cold indifference.

It was like having a basin of icy water dumped over their heads, chilling them to the marrow.

They truly could not understand why they had received such a cold reception. Did people not know that the Flying Flower Sword Sect was destined to soar?

If they did not draw close and curry favor now, then when would they?

Their complaints embarrassed Lu Wan considerably. She could only remind the three to say less, then add a few conciliatory words to ease the awkwardness.

Chu Zhiyuan neither approved nor disapproved, his expression reserved and cool.

The dignity of his status as Heir Apparent still needed to be maintained. There were limits to being approachable; he could not truly lower himself to their level.

He had been observing these people all along.

Among the three middle-aged men, two had genuinely become emotional and were voicing sincere complaints. The other merely pretended to be agitated. He was actually very calm and was putting on an act.

"Assistant Director, please forgive them. Senior Brother Cheng and Senior Brother Huang have been holding it in for too long," Lu Wan said apologetically.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "There are too many experts in Yujing. The people of Yujing have developed the illusion that entering the Xiantian Realm is as easy as turning one's hand over, and becoming a grandmaster is not that difficult either."

Lu Wan and the other three nodded with deep feeling.

Until one reached Yujing, one never knew how many grandmasters there were beneath Heaven.

Within the Flying Flower Sword Sect, those in the Xiantian Realm were already experts, while grandmasters were figures who upheld the sect.

Only after arriving in Yujing City did they learn that Xiantian Masters were not worth much, grandmasters were as numerous as clouds, and only great grandmasters were truly rare.

Chu Zhiyuan said blandly, "Yujing is impetuous and driven by profit. The Flying Flower Sword Sect has produced Grandmaster Song, but Grandmaster Song cannot possibly step forward in every matter. In the end, everything must rely on the Flying Flower Sword Sect itself... Tell me, if the Flying Flower Sword Sect cannot help them, why should they bend their backs and lower their brows?"

His gaze swept across Lu Wan and the other three. "Elder Lu, I am speaking deeply despite our shallow acquaintance. I have some unpleasant words to say."

"Please speak, Assistant Director." Lu Wan fixed her bright eyes upon him.

The other three elders also widened their eyes.

Gao Lingfeng and the others looked toward him as well, wanting to hear what unpleasant words this Heir Apparent intended to say.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Disciples of the Four Great Sects have always worked for the Imperial Court honestly and diligently, never daring to slack off. Yet look at your Flying Flower Sword Sect disciples—they hold themselves in even higher regard than the Four Great Sects' disciples!"

With Super Sensation, he had heard the Flying Flower Sword Sect disciples' complaints and discerned their inflated mentality.

Long impoverished and suddenly wealthy, their mentality had swelled; that was unavoidable. It was human nature that could not be suppressed.

"..." Lu Wan and the other three fell silent.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Those suppressed by the Town Martial Division are all villains of the martial world who commit evil deeds. Not one is weak. Can your sect's disciples truly gain a foothold in the Town Martial Division?"

Lu Wan frowned. "We..."

Chu Zhiyuan waved a hand. "Let me advise you elders: do not send disciples below the Xiantian Realm into the Town Martial Division. Otherwise, they will only perish for nothing... I should not have said these things. But seeing Elder Lu's warm hospitality and the elders' sincerity, I have spoken from the bottom of my heart. Take it as you will."

"...Thank you, Lord Chu!" Lu Wan rose gracefully and clasped her fists solemnly. "I will convey your words to the Sect Leader and the other elders."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head. "Your sect's circumstances are temporarily difficult, but its future is bright and vast. There is no need to place too much importance on momentary honor or disgrace. Let us speak of happier things."

"Yes, yes, let us speak of happier things..." Gao Lingfeng hurriedly said with a smile. "There are still many interesting things in Yujing City..."

"Yes, yes..." The officials all chimed in.

After the banquet ended and they left Flowing Cloud Tower, Gao Lingfeng could not help saying on the road back to the Ministry of Rites, "My lord truly has a benevolent heart."

Had it been him, he would never have offered such advice. A good heart would more often earn resentment than gratitude.

"I only seek a clear conscience," Chu Zhiyuan said. "We are the Department of Martial Affairs. We cannot simply watch them make mistakes and bring trouble to the Imperial Court."

Adding flowers to brocade was not as good as offering charcoal in snowy weather. Helping the Flying Flower Sword Sect would at least leave a good impression with Grandmaster Song.