Governor's Residence

At dusk, Shi Xuan arrived at the Governor's Residence on time and waited outside its gates. The sounds of sutra chanting, Buddha names being invoked, and spells being recited rang without end. Only when the gates of the Governor's Residence creaked open and the steward who had registered everyone in the square during the day stepped out did everyone cease what they were doing and look toward the entrance.

"Esteemed masters, the Governor has prepared a banquet in the main hall to entertain you all. Please follow this humble one." The steward spoke loudly and gave a courteous bow before turning to lead the way inside.

Beyond the gates lay the provincial government's main hall, an imposing and solemn sight. Those Jianghu folk and swindlers could not help slowing their steps, walking with great care. Shi Xuan, meanwhile, looked around as he walked with the mindset of viewing historical artifacts. Several highly respected figures beside him looked at him as though he were some shallow and ignorant fellow.

They passed through a moon gate beside the main hall, guarded by Yamen Runners, then followed the covered corridor through several courtyards to reach the rear compound of the Prefectural Office—the place where the Governor and his family now lived.

The main hall had been built exceptionally spacious. Rows of bamboo mats were laid within, while outside stood a pool of jade-green, crystal-clear water. Perhaps the snow had stopped these past few days, the sun had shone brightly, and the servants had cleaned it up, for no ice covered the water. The pond was roughly four or five times the size of the main hall. Several artificial rockeries stood in its center, surrounded by withered lotus leaves covering the pond. One could imagine that in summer, it must have been a splendid scene: lotus leaves stretching to the sky in endless green, sunlit lotus blossoms glowing a different red. The Governors throughout the years had surely entertained no few guests here.

The bamboo mats faced one another along the central axis, with seven or eight rows on each side. Shi Xuan walked to a secluded mat near a window, knelt upon its brocade cushion, and looked to either side. There were nearly two hundred mats in all. Each held between two and three people seated on their knees, though some, like Shi Xuan, occupied a mat alone.

Shi Xuan also spotted Zen Master Zhiguang of the Great Buddha Temple seated at the place of highest honor in the first row on this side. He seemed to possess genuine renown. His disciples and grand-disciples sat in the second row behind him, and when they saw Shi Xuan looking their way, every one of them wore an arrogant, disdainful expression.

The dishes arrived quickly, apparently having been prepared long ago. Shi Xuan did not stand on ceremony and bent over the table to eat heartily, making those who prized their status or put on airs despise him even more. Mocking, contemptuous glances came his way from time to time, but Shi Xuan did not care in the least. The Governor's Residence truly had excellent cooks. If he filled his stomach now, then should he encounter some Great Divine Envoy or Divine Lord later, his fighting power would last longer.

Shi Xuan had only just eaten his fill halfway when he heard a deliberate cough from the host's seat. Looking up, he saw an elderly man with a grizzled beard and refined features, dressed in a house steward's robes, standing at the seat of honor. Once everyone present had turned their eyes toward him, he cleared his throat and said, "This humble one is the second steward of the Governor's Residence. By my master's order, I have come to receive you all. As you already know, my master is unwell and has specially summoned all you reclusive masters to treat him. Yet yesterday, many cheats and swindlers mixed in as well. Therefore, we ask that you first display a little of your skill here today, lest my master's treatment be delayed."

Upon hearing that he was the second steward of the Governor's Residence, Shi Xuan immediately used the Qi Gazing Technique to examine him. Threads of crimson divine radiance twined around his thin, aged white qi, making him appear vigorous and full of vital essence. Yet there was no trace of personal cultivation. At most, he could use a divine statue to cast spells and command talismans.

Hearing that they needed to demonstrate their abilities, most of the people in the hall began clamoring. Someone said in a strange, sarcastic tone, "Could it be that the Governor plans to find some patients for us to test our methods on? After all, curing illness is like drawing silk from a cocoon."

The second steward immediately replied, "If you are merely ordinary physicians, then please leave." He was not polite in the slightest. At that moment, several burly men stepped out and stood behind him with their arms folded.

More than a dozen people immediately looked unhappy. After weighing matters for a while, they rose and took their leave. The surrounding servants politely escorted them out.

Seeing the second steward's firm attitude, the remaining several hundred people discussed matters among themselves for a time before reluctantly raising no objections. Shi Xuan had neither kin nor acquaintances here, so he simply played with his teacup and watched them with amusement. Judging by the Qi Gazing Technique, few possessed any real skill in magic—though he could not rule out the possibility that some knew the Qi Concealment Technique.

The first to walk to the center was Zen Master Zhiguang of the Great Buddha Temple. He invoked a Buddha name, flicked the prayer beads in his hand, and one bead flew out the window. It exploded above the pond, scattering specks of firelight.

After doing this, Zen Master Zhiguang proudly gave a Buddhist salute in every direction before looking toward the second steward in the hall. The second steward frowned as he looked out the window, then at Zen Master Zhiguang. Finally, he cupped his hands respectfully. "Please return to your seat and rest first, Master. Once everyone has finished, you will all go meet my master together."

Shi Xuan laughed inwardly. This second steward might be broadly knowledgeable in ordinary matters, but he clearly knew little of magic. This monk could only manage something at the level of the Ignition Technique. He had obviously used the Ignition Technique to light the gunpowder inside the prayer bead, creating that effect. Shi Xuan, seated beside the window, could even smell the faint scent of sulfur.

When Zen Master Zhiguang returned to his seat, he was immediately surrounded by praise. Though he tried his utmost to assume the bearing of a lofty recluse beyond the mortal world, the expression on his face, nearly glowing with delight, had already betrayed him.

Afterward, the others walked to the center one by one according to their seating order and displayed their skills. Unfortunately, most were only at the level of street performers and were seen through by the second steward at a glance. A small number possessed martial arts and Internal Energy, but the second steward did not invite any of them to enter later. There were also some wandering doctors who displayed a few prescriptions, but they likewise failed to satisfy him.

Over the course of that hour, only one Daoist and one layman each displayed a spell. One gathered faint lightning in his palm, while the other froze the tea in a cup into ice. Only then did the second steward nod in satisfaction and ask them to wait in their seats.

Perhaps because three masters had already been selected, the second steward was in a fairly good mood. Thus, he did not drive everyone else out, merely telling them to leave on their own after the proceedings were over.

Because Shi Xuan's seat was near the window, by the time it was his turn, only two or three people who had not yet gone remained. Judging by their expressions, they likely did not intend to demonstrate anything and merely planned to leave on their own later.

Shi Xuan rose, stretched his body, and slowly walked to the center of the main hall. He felt the gazes from both sides—some eager to watch a show, some disdainful, some indifferent, and some openly mocking from the Great Buddha Temple crowd. He could even hear private whispers: "Coming here at such a young age—could he just be here to mooch a meal?"

"When I was his age, I was still doing hard labor for my master."

"Tsk, tsk. No hair on his mouth, no steadiness in his work."

"I wonder what sort of trick this young Daoist priest will perform. Hahaha."

Shi Xuan had already decided to put on a fierce display and strive to meet the Governor at once. Thus, while the first few people were demonstrating, he had been making preparations. He secretly placed a spell upon the window, hastening the outdoor air into the hall.

Amid the laughter and scorn around him, Shi Xuan stood as casually as if he were in his own room. With an easy expression, he said to the second steward, "Watch this humble Taoist's methods." Ignoring everyone else, he formed a hand seal, murmured an incantation, then pointed into the air and activated the large-scale spell he had long prepared: Drip Water into Ice.

"Haha, I never thought this kid could put on such a convincing act. He must have performed on the streets plenty of times."

"Amitabha. This young benefactor has indeed put in considerable effort, but he has the form without the spirit."

"Of course, of course. How could he compare to you, Master? That one move of yours could take his little life."

"Uh, why does it feel a little cold?"

"Could it be that your trick was exposed just now, and now your heart has turned cold? Ah, it really is a little cold."

"Ah, ah! What is that?"

The crowd looked around in astonishment. Beautiful hexagonal snowflakes fluttered through the air. Some landed atop their heads, some fell into teacups, and some touched their hands, bringing a chill with them.

More snowflakes continued to condense in midair, then drifted freely along the wind blowing into the main hall. The snow fell ever harder. Everyone stared dumbfounded at the sight before them, at this misty, beautiful spectacle of flying snow.

Someone rose in shock and knocked over the teacup before him. Someone else suddenly looked out the window and shouted, "It isn't snowing outside!" Following his voice, everyone discovered that the night beyond was clear and bright. Though it was the depths of Cold Winter, it truly was not snowing outside.

They were utterly shaken. Even the well-traveled second steward, even Zen Master Zhiguang of the Great Buddha Temple, who held his head high above the clouds—inside a room filled with falling snow, separated from the spotless outdoors by goose-feather snow, they remained speechless for a long while.

Shi Xuan was very satisfied with the effect he had created. Drip Water into Ice was not ordinarily so powerful, but it was deep winter. Though the sun had appeared for several days, the nights remained cold. Thus, he had first drawn the cold air from outside into the hall, then, after nearly an hour of preparation, created this splendid scene of snow filling the sky in one stroke.

Only when the snowfall in the hall gradually ceased did everyone come back to their senses. Yet none dared speak. They carefully controlled even their breathing, afraid that the slightest loud sound might anger the plainly dressed young Daoist priest standing in the center of the hall.

The second steward had, after all, seen Divine Lord Crimson Cloud before. After recovering his senses, he stepped forward and bowed with utmost respect. "Immortal Master, please return to your seat and wait. Once this lowly one has dismissed the remaining people, I will immediately lead you to see my master."

Having witnessed such miraculous Daoist magic, the remaining two or three people naturally did not dare display anything further. They immediately rose to take their leave and hurried after most of the crowd toward the residence gates. Even the three cultivators who possessed magic revealed their desire to leave.

Yet Shi Xuan stepped forward and stopped them. "Everyone, this humble Taoist has some matters I would like to ask about in private. Would that be convenient?" His tone was courteous, but his attitude was firm.

Zen Master Zhiguang, who remembered having offended the young Daoist priest before him, went pale with fright. The little novice monks behind him had legs that trembled. Zen Master Zhiguang barely managed to suppress his fear before answering, "This little monk will naturally speak all he knows, withholding nothing." The other two also agreed with ashen faces. PS: Still updating on Christmas Eve—please vote with recommendation tickets~