Chapter 28

The Immortal Artifact forged by the Asura Tribe, the Heavenly Sin Blade. Zhuang Yan said calmly, "The weapon in your hand was custom-made for this blade."

Vanguard Hu was shocked. "An Immortal Artifact? This... how could this subordinate be worthy of wielding such a divine weapon? Please take it back, Prefecture Lord."

"Magical treasures are useless to me." As Zhuang Yan spoke, he directly tossed the blade over. "Catch."

Vanguard Hu hurriedly caught it, only to find the blade incredibly heavy. When he hefted it onto his shoulder, a fierce blade aura immediately spread in all directions. Its mere presence revealed it to be an unmatched divine weapon, and he could not bear to put it down.

Zhuang Yan instructed, "This blade is an Immortal Artifact. With your current cultivation, you cannot yet wield it fully. I grant you three days off. Go back, cultivate properly, and nurture this treasured blade."

Vanguard Hu immediately set the blade on the ground and solemnly kowtowed three times. "Thank you, Prefecture Lord, for granting me this blade. Hu Da will never forget this favor."

"Enough with the formalities. Go on." Zhuang Yan waved him off with a smile.

Vanguard Hu bowed in thanks once more, then strode away with his treasured blade on his shoulder. Sun Wukong watched from the side with envy, secretly wondering when he would obtain a weapon suited to him.

Seeing this, Zhuang Yan smiled and asked, "Wukong, what are you thinking about?"

The monkey scratched his head. "The Prefecture Lord treats his subordinates so generously. You were even willing to grant an Immortal Artifact. If it were Old Sun, I would probably be heartbroken over it."

Zhuang Yan burst into hearty laughter. "You monkey head, when did you learn to flatter people?"

Sun Wukong repeatedly waved his hands. "No, no, this is absolutely not flattery, Prefecture Lord. Every word came from Old Sun's heart."

"Good." Zhuang Yan nodded slightly, then said, "But you need not envy Vanguard Hu. In time, you will naturally receive a magical treasure greater than the Heavenly Sin Blade."

"Really?" Sun Wukong's eyes lit up as he hurriedly clasped his fists. "Please enlighten me, Prefecture Lord."

Zhuang Yan gently shook his head. "The time has not yet come, so it cannot be spoken of. When the opportunity matures, you will naturally know."

Sun Wukong scratched at his ears and cheeks, then suddenly asked, "Prefecture Lord, compared with my master, who is stronger and who is weaker?"

Zhuang Yan merely smiled without answering. After a moment, he said, "Wukong, the depth of one's cultivation is not the standard by which all things are measured. An Earth Immortal is not necessarily inferior to a Heavenly Immortal, nor is a Heavenly Immortal necessarily inferior to a Golden Immortal. Divine abilities, magical treasures, spells, and incantations each possess their own mysteries. If used properly, an Earth Immortal may defeat a Heavenly Immortal."

Sun Wukong grew even more confused. "If so, then what use are cultivation realms?"

Zhuang Yan countered, "Why did you leave the mountain to seek the Dao in the first place?"

Sun Wukong blurted out, "Naturally, to seek immortality and freedom from aging."

Zhuang Yan nodded. "Exactly. Though cultivation realms do not directly determine one's strength, they truly reveal an immortal's standing between Heaven and Earth and reflect their understanding of the Heavenly Dao. The higher one's cultivation, the more one can avoid the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations. In other words, the deeper one's cultivation, the longer one's lifespan, the greater one's fortune, and the less likely one is to perish."

Zhuang Yan continued, "Undying and indestructible has nothing to do with the strength of one's magical power; it depends entirely on one's cultivation realm. Those Great Powers have already reached the utmost limits of cultivation, comprehending the hidden mysteries of the Heavenly Dao and evolving the laws of Heaven and Earth, truly transcending life, death, and reincarnation. They even entrust themselves to the Heavenly Dao, becoming manifestations in this world. Those supreme Buddhist and Daoist attainments, through which one may gain eternal life and escape tribulations, arise from this. Do you understand?"

Sun Wukong was deeply shaken. "Master never mentioned these things."

Zhuang Yan lightly patted his shoulder and smiled. "If you never asked, why would he bring them up on his own?"

"Remember this." Zhuang Yan's expression turned serious. "Without cultivating divine abilities, you cannot protect yourself. Without cultivating the Dao, it is difficult to attain immortality."

An auspicious cloud drifted down from the Ninth Heaven and came to rest amid the peach grove outside the Mountain God Temple on Danchi Ridge.

Lu Ban descended from the cloud amid an escort of Heavenly Soldiers. Seeing the peach blossoms stretching before him, he could not help praising them. "What a fine peach grove! Give it a few more years, and the wood can be used to make peachwood utensils."

"Who dares touch my peach grove?" Before the words had faded, a streak of fire shot over from the tops of the peach trees.

The Fire Spirit True Immortal appeared, clad in a cloud-patterned robe embroidered with gold thread and jade, a white jade belt around his waist. He looked radiant and energetic.

Lu Ban clasped his hands in greeting and asked with a smile, "Does this peach grove belong to you, fellow Daoist?"

The Fire Spirit True Immortal sized up the newcomer and saw that he wore a sixth-rank qilin auspicious-aura robe, with a white jade belt and blue ribbon at his waist. His rank was even higher than Zhuang Yan's. Moreover, the Heavenly Soldiers behind him were all armored and armed, clad in thunder-patterned battle robes, imposing and majestic.

The Fire Spirit True Immortal immediately returned the salute. "I am Fire Spirit, Assistant Prefect of the Manor of Lingtai Dongming. May I ask this exalted god's honored name?"

Lu Ban smiled. "I am Lu Ban, Master Craftsman of the Heavenly Works Institute of the Heavenly Works Bureau of the Grand Mystery Division. By order, I have descended to build a divine manor for the Spirit Platform Prefecture Lord."

Upon hearing this, delight appeared on the Fire Spirit True Immortal's face. He hurriedly said, "So it is an immortal master from the Heavenly Works Institute. Please, please!"

He immediately led Lu Ban and his group to the peach grove outside the Mountain God Temple and seated them at the stone tables. Fortunately, the Fire Spirit True Immortal had previously prepared six stone tables and thirty-six stone stools in the grove for receiving guests, and they now came in handy.

Lu Ban and the Heavenly Soldiers all took their seats. The Fire Spirit True Immortal urgently ordered Sun Wukong to fetch wine vessels from the temple, then had Chi Ling prepare Spirit Fruits and fine dishes. Just as he was about to head to the Eight Immortals Pavilion to notify Zhuang Yan, a stream of immortal light flew out from the pavilion and descended directly into the peach grove.

"Prefecture Lord." The Fire Spirit True Immortal hurriedly bowed. Seeing this, Lu Ban slowly rose to his feet, while the Heavenly Soldiers immediately clasped their hands and saluted. "Greetings, Spirit Platform Prefecture Lord."

Zhuang Yan smiled and gestured. "There is no need for such ceremony. Please sit." He then stepped forward and saluted Lu Ban. "Zhuang Yan greets Immortal Master Lu Ban."

Lu Ban returned the salute with a smile and asked curiously, "Has the Spirit Platform Prefecture Lord met this old man before?"

"We have never met," Zhuang Yan replied.

Lu Ban grew even more puzzled. "Then how did you recognize me?"

Zhuang Yan smiled. "Because I already knew that an immortal master from the Heavenly Works Institute would be arriving."

"True, but how did you know that I would be the one coming?" Lu Ban pressed.

Zhuang Yan gave a vague laugh. "A colleague from the True Palace of Great Mystery told me. I could hardly say that I saw it through a cheat in Search Heavenly Secrets, could I?"

Lu Ban nodded with slight confusion. Zhuang Yan then invited everyone to take their seats. By then, Sun Wukong had brought over several jars of fine wine and set out the wine bowls, while Chi Ling had also served Spirit Fruits and delicacies, arranging them one by one.

A Heavenly Soldier looked at the busy Sun Wukong and praised him. "What a clever little monkey, and remarkably handsome too."

Sun Wukong beamed at the words. "Brother, you have a sharp eye. In the mountains, I am known as the Handsome Monkey King."

"The Handsome Monkey King? The name truly fits!" the Heavenly Soldier praised.

Sun Wukong was even more delighted. He picked up a wine jar and was about to pour them drinks when the Heavenly Soldier hurriedly declined. "That will not do. We are on official duty, so it would not be proper to drink."

Sun Wukong smiled. "You are immortals, Brother. How could this mortal wine interfere with your duties?"

Though tempted, the Heavenly Soldier still politely refused. Seeing this, Lu Ban smiled. "It is no matter. It will do nicely to ease your fatigue."

The Heavenly Soldiers' eyes lit up, though someone hesitated. "But our duty is to protect Immortal Master..."

Lu Ban waved with a smile. "Now that we are on Danchi Ridge, under the Spirit Platform Prefecture Lord's jurisdiction, what is there to worry about? Drink freely. Do you fear that I will return and report you?"

As a Master Craftsman who did not stand on ceremony, Lu Ban had never been rigid about the Heavenly Court's laws. With his approval, the Heavenly Soldiers all thanked him and eagerly opened the jars to pour themselves wine. The Heavenly Soldier from earlier pulled Sun Wukong over. "Handsome Monkey King, come drink a few cups with us."

"I cannot." Sun Wukong hurriedly declined. "I am currently cultivating under my master. Without his permission, I dare not drink."

These Heavenly Soldiers were all cultivators who had ascended from the mortal world and been selected by the Heavenly Court for office, so they naturally understood the Heavenly Rules and regulations.

Seeing Sun Wukong refuse, the Heavenly Soldiers could not press him.

Yet Zhuang Yan said with a smile, "Wukong, drink as much as you wish. If your master asks, tell him that I allowed it."

Sun Wukong's face lit up with joy. He repeatedly thanked Zhuang Yan, then began drinking merrily with the Heavenly Soldiers.

Zhuang Yan, the Fire Spirit True Immortal, Chi Ling, and Lu Ban sat together. After tasting the Spirit Fruits served by Chi Ling, Lu Ban took a stack of blueprints from his sleeve and spread them across the table.

"Please select a design for the divine manor from these," Lu Ban said.

Zhuang Yan carefully examined the blueprints, which had been drawn with immortal techniques. With only three breaths of focused attention, the buildings depicted on them appeared vividly before his eyes, and every detail could be inspected at will.

Once Zhuang Yan had made his choice, he placed one blueprint on top. "I will trouble Immortal Master with this one."

Lu Ban swallowed a pastry, studied the blueprint, and smiled. "The Prefecture Lord has a discerning eye. This Moon Reflection Jade Pavilion uses one hall and eight courtyards as its main structure, accompanied by three chambers and ten corridors, arranged in the shape of a crescent moon. It contains a moon-gazing formation that can draw in seventy percent of the moonlight to illuminate the manor, hence its name."

"It is truly exquisite!" the Fire Spirit True Immortal praised.

Zhuang Yan immediately made the decision. "Then build this Moon Reflection Jade Pavilion."

Lu Ban put away the remaining blueprints, rose with the selected design in hand, and immediately began work.

Zhuang Yan asked in surprise, "Immortal Master, why not rest for the night?"

"Today's work should be finished today." Lu Ban had already risen into the air.

Zhuang Yan pointed at the drinking Heavenly Soldiers. "But them..."

"There is no need for Heavenly Soldiers to assist in building the manor." With a wave of Lu Ban's hand, divine light flashed at his waist, and three Divine Weapons—a golden hammer, a golden axe, and a golden rope—whirled into the air.

The Divine Weapons transformed into streams of light and descended. The golden rope encircled the Mountain God Temple, while the axe and hammer flew about, raising clouds of dust. In less than the time it took to burn an incense stick, the temple had been completely cleared away, leaving only the divine statue and the cottage intact.

Lu Ban took the divine statue and cottage into the blueprint, then tossed it into the air. The blueprint unfurled in the wind and, in an instant, transformed into a radiant divine manor suspended in midair. With a light tap of Lu Ban's sword fingers, the manor settled firmly onto its foundation.

The divine manor descended from the sky and became a dazzling phantom of immortal light. Lu Ban activated the golden rope, golden hammer, and golden axe. The magical treasures flew above the phantom, and the sounds of construction rang out without cease.

Time flowed on, and the outline of the divine manor gradually took shape. Three hours later, a grand and imposing manor stood upon Danchi Ridge, replacing the old Mountain God Temple. The buildings within were arranged in the shape of a crescent moon, displaying ingenious craftsmanship.

Lu Ban retrieved the three magical treasures and smiled at Zhuang Yan. "Prefecture Lord, please come inside with me and have a look."

Zhuang Yan nodded and descended with Lu Ban. The Fire Spirit True Immortal and Chi Ling had long been waiting before the manor gates. Gazing upon the gorgeous and solemn structure before them, they could not conceal their amazement.

Vermilion gates stood beneath golden eaves and jade tiles. Above them hung an ebony plaque bearing seven gilded characters: "Imperially Constructed Manor of Lingtai Dongming." The couplets on either side read: "Lingtai Dongming, three thousand worlds pure as crystal; divine manor magnificent, ten directions of Heaven and Earth clear with all qi." The four characters "Divine Majesty Radiant" shone brilliantly.

"Wonderful!" Zhuang Yan praised without restraint, clasping his hands in thanks to Lu Ban.

Upon entering the manor, they saw the exquisite arrangement of one hall, eight courtyards, three chambers, and ten corridors. The main Mountain God Hall enshrined Zhuang Yan's divine statue. Eight cloud chambers were arranged in pleasing order, with Zhuang Yan's residence situated due north. The three chambers were for receiving visitors, entertaining guests, and viewing flowers, while ten winding corridors linked the structures together like a crescent moon.

Zhuang Yan was highly satisfied. He thanked Lu Ban again, then instructed the Fire Spirit True Immortal to prepare a banquet in their honor. Cups passed freely during the feast, and Lu Ban raised his cup to congratulate Zhuang Yan on moving into his new residence. Sun Wukong and the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals also came forward one after another to offer toasts.

The banquet lasted for three hours, ending only after they had drunk every drop of the fruit wine treasured by the Fire Spirit True Immortal. Lu Ban and his group stayed the night, then departed for Heaven the following morning.

Zhuang Yan arranged for the Fire Spirit True Immortal and Chi Ling to reside in the divine manor and set aside another courtyard for Vanguard Hu. Sun Wukong was still asleep in a drunken stupor, so he was placed in a cloud chamber to rest.

From then on, Zhuang Yan formally took charge of the Manor of Lingtai Dongming. His first task was to investigate the gods throughout Guangci Prefecture. Through the Earth God's Temples in various places, he issued orders to register the well gods, water gods, kitchen gods, and others one by one, preparing to govern them in the future.