"Changsheng Taoist Priest, receive the Imperial Decree."
Eunuch Li smiled as he handed the Imperial Decree to Jiang Changsheng. Though Jiang Changsheng was somewhat puzzled, he still accepted it.
Eunuch Li then turned and left, while the disciples of Dragon Arising Temple crowded around.
"Second Senior Brother, how did you become the abbot?"
"Where is Master?"
"What exactly happened?"
"Congratulations to Second Senior Brother on becoming a Taoist Priest!"
The disciples chattered all at once. Some were confused, some worried, some excited, and some envious.
Jiang Changsheng felt helpless. He had not expected the change of abbot at Dragon Arising Temple to require such a grand spectacle.
Jiang Changsheng noticed Eldest Sister Meng Qiushuang in the distance. Meng Qiushuang was equally dumbfounded, standing there utterly stunned.
He immediately walked over and said, "Eldest Sister, may I speak with you privately?"
Meng Qiushuang took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.
The other disciples did not dare follow them. They all worried that the two senior siblings might come into conflict. After all, Eldest Sister had handled every matter large and small within the temple all these years, yet Changsheng, who had never done any work, had suddenly become the Taoist Priest.
Jiang Changsheng and Meng Qiushuang came to an empty courtyard. Jiang Changsheng spoke first. "Eldest Sister, I never expected Master to suddenly yield his position to me either. You watched me grow up and know that I have no experience managing things. From now on, you will still take charge of all matters, great and small, at Dragon Arising Temple. How does that sound?"
Meng Qiushuang frowned and asked, "Where did Master go?"
Jiang Changsheng shook his head. "I do not know either."
Meng Qiushuang stared at him for a while before finally sighing. "Fine."
Jiang Changsheng smiled. "Then thank you, Eldest Sister. If you run into trouble in the future, you can also come to me. Your junior brother's martial skills are passable, and I know a little medicine as well. Of course, it is best if it concerns temple matters. My mind is entirely on cultivation."
Meng Qiushuang could not help laughing and said irritably, "All right, I understand."
The two spoke for a while longer before going their separate ways.
Thus, Dragon Arising Temple changed hands, with Changsheng Taoist Priest as its abbot.
Back in the courtyard, Hua Jian Xin, who was cultivating the Jade Purity Severing Meridian Needle, leaned closer and curiously asked, "Taoist Priest, why did that eunuch dog Li not make you kneel?"
By imperial decree, receiving an edict without kneeling was a capital crime.
Jiang Changsheng smiled. "Perhaps because of Dragon Arising Temple. My master did not kneel before His Majesty either."
Hua Jian Xin found that reasonable and asked no further questions.
That year, Jiang Changsheng's greatest change was becoming a Taoist Priest. Fortunately, Meng Qiushuang was there, so his life did not change much. Every day, aside from cultivating, he taught Wan Li and Ming Yue. As for Hua Jian Xin and the Devil Master, both were already adults. Once they had learned the cultivation method, he no longer interfered much.
Since Wan Li and Ming Yue, the two young Taoist priests, were still children, they had never discovered the presence of Hua Jian Xin and the Devil Master.
Half a year later.
Jiang Changsheng sent the Devil Master down the mountain. He needed the Devil Master to control the Devil Sect.
Hua Jian Xin stood beside Jiang Changsheng and asked, "Do you truly trust him?"
Jiang Changsheng said, "There is no need to trust him. He understands in his heart how he should choose."
After the capital's affairs were settled, more than two hundred civil and military officials were beheaded, and the Great Jing Dynasty launched a frenzied manhunt for the Devil Sect. The Devil Sect was faring even worse than before. Clearly, the powerful and noble had abandoned them. Under such circumstances, the Devil Master could not possibly seek refuge with them again. He would only hate them.
Jiang Changsheng turned and walked to the center of the courtyard. A small pear tree grew there, and coiled around it was a white snake—White Dragon.
He began playing with White Dragon. White Dragon thoroughly enjoyed being kneaded and tossed about by him, offering no resistance whatsoever.
Hua Jian Xin got goosebumps at the sight and immediately walked away.
In the twentieth year of Kaiyuan, the Great Jing Dynasty was peaceful and prosperous, with no disturbances. Construction of the Grand Canal was also more than halfway complete.
In spring, the flowers, grass, and trees of Dragon Arising Mountain brimmed with vigorous life, yet no visitors came up the mountain today.
Within the courtyard, Jiang Changsheng opened his eyes and gave Hua Jian Xin a look. Hua Jian Xin immediately hid inside the house.
After a year of cultivation, his spiritual power had doubled. He was getting closer and closer to the fifth level.
If he faced the Devil Master again, he would not need to act personally. The Sword Control Art alone would be enough to kill him.
Jiang Changsheng had only faced one Heaven-Reaching expert. Taking the Devil Master as the weakest kind of Heaven-Reaching expert, someone a hundred times stronger than the Devil Master should be roughly as strong as the Punishment Head and the Heaven-Reaching expert in the imperial palace.
Mm.
He would compare them that way. It was safer.
Though someone a hundred times stronger than the Devil Master still did not warrant his attention, he nevertheless wanted to first break through to the fifth level of the Dao Follows Nature Skill.
After a while, footsteps sounded. It was Qing Ku.
Qing Ku said excitedly, "Senior Brother Changsheng, His Majesty the Emperor has arrived and wishes to see you. Hurry over—he is almost at the Hall of Bright Mind. Eldest Sister is receiving him."
The Emperor?
This day had finally come.
Jiang Changsheng did not hesitate and immediately headed over.
He and Qing Ku arrived before the Hall of Bright Mind first. Qing Ku stood to one side, and there were no other disciples in the courtyard before the hall.
Soon, Jiang Yuan arrived under Meng Qiushuang's escort. The Imperial Guards behind him swiftly surrounded the courtyard and stood watch with strict vigilance.
Jiang Yuan raised a hand, and Meng Qiushuang immediately stopped without entering the courtyard. She shot Qing Ku a look. Qing Ku instantly understood and immediately left, even kneeling and kowtowing as he passed Jiang Yuan.
Jiang Yuan ignored Qing Ku, his gaze falling upon Jiang Changsheng.
The young Taoist wore a spotless Taoist robe, a famous sword at his waist and a horsetail whisk in his hand, carrying the bearing of a lofty master who had attained the Dao.
Jiang Yuan smiled in satisfaction at the sight and walked up to Jiang Changsheng.
Jiang Changsheng bent at the waist in salute. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Jiang Yuan chuckled. "If you are greeting Us, why do you not kneel?"
Jiang Changsheng hesitated, wondering how to answer, but Jiang Yuan grabbed his hand and smiled. "Never mind. No need to kneel. Come into the hall and chat with Us."
He pulled Jiang Changsheng into the Hall of Bright Mind just like that, leaving Jiang Changsheng somewhat dazed.
This was his biological father in this life.
Jiang Yuan surely knew that he was his son, but he did not know that Jiang Changsheng was aware of it.
After entering the hall, Jiang Yuan burned incense before the Daoist statue, wearing an expression of devotion as he muttered something under his breath.
Once Jiang Yuan finished reciting, the two sat on prayer mats. Jiang Yuan began recounting old stories about himself and Taoist Priest Qingxu.
Jiang Changsheng listened attentively, though he felt bored inside.
When people got old, they simply loved reminiscing. He hoped he would not become like that in the future.
After chatting for a long while, Jiang Yuan finally looked at Jiang Changsheng again and examined him carefully. He praised, "Changsheng, before Taoist Priest Qingxu departed, he specifically entrusted Us to take good care of you. It is rare for Us to come here. Is there anything you want? We will do our best to satisfy you."
Jiang Yuan's gaze was fervent, making Jiang Changsheng rather uncomfortable.
However, Jiang Yuan had wronged him to begin with. Since there were benefits to claim, it would be foolish not to take them. Even if he refused, no matter how guilty Jiang Yuan felt, he would not return the Crown Prince position to him.
Jiang Changsheng said, "I have studied pill refining somewhat. I hope to obtain all kinds of medicinal herbs, preferably seeds. I can plant them on the mountain. The more, the better."
Pill refining?
Jiang Yuan's eyes lit up. "May We see your pills?"
This emperor was obsessed with the immortal Dao and had searched the world for immortal pills. Hearing the word pills, he was naturally tempted.
Jiang Changsheng took out a Youth Preservation Pill and said, "This is a Youth Preservation Pill. It can keep one's youth from fading."
Jiang Yuan accepted it and examined it carefully. The more he looked, the more delighted he became. He smiled. "We agree. We will accept this pill and give it to Our Empress."
Jiang Changsheng could not refuse. In any case, it was for his mother.
Jiang Yuan played with the Youth Preservation Pill and restrained his excitement as he said, "This pill contains a faint trace of True Qi. No—it is far more profound than ordinary True Qi. It is certainly no common item, more exceptional than every pill We have ever seen. Who taught you?"
Jiang Changsheng smiled. "An immortal in a dream taught me."
Jiang Yuan's eyes widened. "Could it be that your martial arts were also taught by an immortal in a dream?"
Since ancient times, how many renowned figures throughout the ages had carried a mythical aura? Tales of dream visitations were countless.
Jiang Changsheng nodded. Jiang Yuan was completely ignited, pulling him close and continuously asking about the immortal. Jiang Changsheng spoke vaguely, saying that he could not clearly remember the immortal from his dreams, only what the immortal had taught him. This instead made Jiang Yuan believe him even more.
Jiang Changsheng deliberately hesitated before saying, "Your Majesty, I feel the same instant familiarity with you, which is why I revealed this matter. Not even my master knows of it. Master believed that some great expert had been secretly guiding me, but that was not the case. I hope Your Majesty will keep this secret for me."
Jiang Yuan's expression turned gratified. "Good, good, good. We will never mention this matter to anyone else. But We..."
Jiang Changsheng immediately understood and said, "I have heard of Your Majesty's pursuit. I have not yet obtained the art of immortality and dare not deceive Your Majesty, but I can refine some pills that increase one's lifespan. Once the medicinal ingredients are complete, I will certainly refine them for Your Majesty."
"Good, good, good..."
Jiang Yuan grinned from ear to ear, repeatedly patting Jiang Changsheng's hand. The two grew increasingly close.
Next, Jiang Yuan asked after Jiang Changsheng's life from childhood to adulthood. Only after talking for half an hour did he leave.
Before the mountain gate, Jiang Changsheng watched Jiang Yuan turn back every three steps to wave. A smile appeared on his face, though his heart was full of complicated emotions.
An emperor's thoughts were impossible to fathom!
He even doubted whether his earlier speculation was true. Perhaps Jiang Yuan had reasons he could not help.
Thoughts were thoughts, but Jiang Changsheng did not waver. His goal would not stop!
He would take revenge on everyone who had harmed him. The assassination attempts of these years had not been an act!
And that throne—it could only be his to decide!
The Emperor's attitude also reassured the disciples of Dragon Arising Temple. Even Meng Qiushuang wore a face full of smiles. After Taoist Priest Qingxu left, they had always feared that His Majesty would neglect Dragon Arising Temple. Now it seemed they had worried for nothing.
As long as His Majesty's favor remained, Dragon Arising Temple would not fall!
At noon the next day, a squad of Imperial Guards carried several large chests up the mountain. Inside were not only mature medicinal herbs but many seeds as well. Jiang Changsheng had Meng Qiushuang lead the disciples in planting them. He especially emphasized the herbs' preciousness, making Meng Qiushuang quite nervous. She personally oversaw the planting.
He had requested these medicinal herbs not merely to help Jiang Yuan refine longevity pills. He also wanted to refine pills that enhanced cultivation.
When cultivating immortality, how could one rely solely on grinding? External stimulation was important too.
Besides practicing martial arts each day, Jiang Changsheng began studying the art of pill refining. Pill refining was merely a technique and did not come with pill formulas, while the Spring and Autumn Medical Canon contained no prescriptions for immortal cultivation. Still, he could explore on his own.
White Dragon became his test subject. If anything went wrong, he could use the Spring Return Spell to treat it.
In the first month, White Dragon took three kinds of pills. On the third attempt, its snake body swelled up, and it nearly exploded to death. Fortunately, Jiang Changsheng used spiritual power in time to release the pressure from its body.
In the second month, White Dragon took two kinds of pills. Though nothing abnormal happened, its body grew even thicker, and it was about to become a python.
Over the following two months, White Dragon took four kinds of pills. The fourth pill finally increased the thread of spiritual power within its body.
Success!
Please send rewards, Moon Tickets, and recommendation tickets~~
Before you continue