The Oath
As the governor of Nanzhao, Yang Xuanye was in charge of the people's livelihood in Nanzhao. Over the years, he had frequent official dealings with the priests of Nanzhao and the Mountain God of Cang Mountain. These two men always kept to their duties and, even if they had some private friendship, never behaved improperly in public.
However, ever since the various branches of the Mysterious Gate entered Nanzhao one after another, and the Proclaiming Earth incident began, things in Nanzhao have become increasingly strange day by day.
Meng Shixi Xue Min are like this, then what about those local Purple Mansion who are either dead, have betrayed, or are in hiding? Even among those people in the Great Void, observing the movements of Qingnuo Mountain from the shadows, how many still harbor the same thoughts of serving Nanzhao and the imperial court to the death?
He withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at Xue Min and Meng Shixi, and instead turned his attention back to the direction of Qingnuo Mountain.
Just then, the vast Profound Qi suddenly surged violently.
The next moment, a figure stepped out from the gray-purple turbulence.
The newcomer was dressed in gold robes, with a golden bell hanging from his waist. A Profound Qi gray-purple mark between his brows flowed endlessly like a living thing. He was none other than Yang Xiu, the Golden Court Daoist.
He looked around at the figures, some bright and some dark, in the Great Void, a strange expression flashing across his face.
Before he could ponder further, Meng Shixi suppressed her thoughts, stepped forward, and said loudly:
"Congratulations to the Golden Court Daoist on achieving the Purple Mansion. I am Meng Shixi, a priest of the Nanzhao Kingdom, here on behalf of the King to offer my congratulations at Qingnuo Mountain."
Before Yang Xiu could respond, Yang Xuanye glanced at Meng Shixi and chuckled inwardly.
These words sound so familiar.
More than a year ago, when Su Yao emerged from seclusion, he said the same thing, but was rejected on the spot. Thinking about it now, it seems that the same thing will happen again. Moreover, he will probably have to say this several more times in the future, after all, there are still four people from the Jade Pure One lineage who are in seclusion in the Nanzhao territory to break through to the Purple Mansion realm.
Yang Xiu was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and was about to refuse.
But just then, a mysterious voice rang out in his Rising Yang Mansion:
"I can accept it. I will then protect the people around Green Nuo in the future."
He knew that voice all too well.
The strange look on Yang Xiu's face gradually disappeared.
Then he slowly raised his hand, clasped his hands in a salute to Meng Shixi, and said loudly:
"Since it is a gift from a descendant of Orthodox God and True Lord, it would be disrespectful to refuse it. In the future, I will certainly go to the royal city in person to express my gratitude to the True Lord."
Before Meng Shixi could react, he continued:
"The Golden Court Dao, though it cultivates calamities, does not use calamities to harm people. Today, Yang Xiu attains enlightenment here, so let this mountain be the boundary. From now on, no outsider shall trespass without cause within three hundred li of Qingnuo Mountain, nor shall they harm the local people. If anyone violates this oath, they shall bear the calamities and punishments of our Dao."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the figures, some bright and some dim, in the Great Void:
"You can all testify to this."
Meng Shixi was taken aback upon hearing this.
Although she was somewhat dissatisfied with Yang Xiu not addressing her as "King" but instead as "Descendant of the Orthodox God" and "True Lord," he not only accepted her congratulatory gift but also publicly swore an oath to protect the people, which far exceeded her expectations.
Her expression relaxed slightly, and she bowed respectfully to Yang Xiu:
"Daozi's noble character will surely be remembered with gratitude by the people of Nanzhao."
Seeing this, Yang Xiu returned the greeting and said no more.
Yang Xuanye, standing behind Meng Shixi, was completely stunned upon hearing this, thinking to himself: How could she have agreed? Shouldn't she have refused like Su Yao?
But the thought only lasted a moment.
He straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and bowed, saying:
"Prefect Yang Xuanye of Nanzhao congratulates the Daoist on breaking through ignorance and transcending illusion. May he soon master the Five Laws and ascend the throne!"
He paused, and before Yang Xiu could answer, he continued:
"This breakthrough of Daoist is truly a blessing for our Nanzhao. In the future, we hope that you will provide much protection for this vast territory and its countless people."
Yang Xiu was taken aback upon hearing this, and couldn't help but think to himself, "Why does this prefect speak like this? He sounds like a lowly Purple Mansion being controlled by the Purple Mansion's Fate Divine Ability, devoid of any emotion."
But he quickly composed himself, cupped his hands in greeting to Yang Xuanye, and said:
"I dare not refuse the governor's kindness. However, I fear that I am but a junior official, newly appointed to the Purple Mansion, with shallow knowledge and limited experience, and unworthy of such a great responsibility as 'protecting millions of people across vast lands'."
His gaze lingered on Yang Xuanye for a moment, a half-smile playing on his lips, before he said:
"The Prefect is the imperial envoy dispatched by the dynasty to Nanzhao, and his position is perfectly legitimate. All matters concerning Nanzhao are handled by the Prefect; the safety of the people is ensured by the Prefect. I am but a disciple of the Mysterious Gate, who has been fortunate enough to break through to a higher realm. What virtue or ability do I possess to presume to speak of the word 'protection' before the Prefect?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Xuanye was not annoyed.
He had no hope left, so he simply went through the motions of official business. Without another word, he vanished in a flash.
Seeing this, Meng Shixi couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that everyone has their own difficulties.
At this moment, all the Purple Mansion that had been in the light or in the shadows around Yang Xiu appeared one by one to congratulate him.
Yang Xiu returned the greetings one by one.
At that moment, starlight appeared in the distance, but it was swept away by a surge of Profound Qi and then dissipated.
Seeing this, apart from Xue Min and Meng Shixi, the rest of the Purple Mansion quickly left, clearly not wanting to get involved in the conflict.
Yang Xiu gazed at the spot where the starlight had dissipated, and merely sneered. The next moment, as if sensing something, he turned to Meng Shixi and Xue Min and said:
"I have important matters to attend to today, so I will not be able to entertain you both further. I will certainly invite you to the Purple Mansion Dharma Banquet tomorrow."
Before the two could respond, he transformed into a wisp of Profound Qi and descended into Qingnuo Mountain.
After Yang Xiu disappeared, a crane's cry faintly echoed from the depths of the Great Void, clear and melodious, but fleeting.
Xue Min stepped forward and gently patted Meng Shixi's shoulder. The latter turned around and saw Xue Min smiling slightly.
"Let's go. What happens next is no longer our concern."
Meng Shixi nodded. The two figures faded away simultaneously, speeding towards the royal city.
In Qingnuo Mountain.
As Yang Xiu stepped into the protective mountain formation, he saw a figure standing quietly inside.
It was a boy dressed in white feather robes, holding a scroll of imperial edict. His face was blurry, as if shrouded in a thin mist. No matter how hard Yang Xiu tried to concentrate, he could not remember the boy's appearance.
Yang Xiu felt a slight chill.
Someone whose face even he, a Loose Immortal in the Purple Mansion, couldn't remember must at least be a Loose Immortal or a Supreme True Person.
Moreover, the fact that the other party could move freely in and out of Qingnuo Mountain, which was guarded by two Golden Court True Immortals, and that he had the Jade Void Treasure "Taiji Talisman" hanging at his waist, made his background obvious.
He dared not be negligent and bowed respectfully.
"Yang Xiu, disciple of the Mysterious Gate Jade Pure One Daodao, Golden Court Dao Lineage, Wangwu Dao Tradition, Wangwu Temple, greets the Supreme True Person."
As soon as he finished speaking, the boy opened his mouth, his voice melodious and enchanting:
"The Jade Void has issued an edict."
Yang Xiu's body trembled slightly, but he did not raise his head, maintaining his bowed posture, and said respectfully:
"The decree from the Jade Void Emperor is of great importance, and this disciple dares not accept it hastily. I Supreme True Person request that Your Excellency move to the mountain so that I may set up an incense table to respectfully welcome you."
The boy shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of a half-smile:
"Whether it's you or Qingyan, you're both capable of causing a huge uproar in private, but when it comes to receiving imperial decrees, you're both more well-behaved than anyone else. No wonder you two get along so well at Golden Ao Mountain."
When Yang Xiu heard the name Qingyan, he already had a guess in his heart. But when he heard about Golden Ao Mountain, he was certain that Su Yao had broken through to the Purple Mansion before him. Although he was Qi Ingestion, he was still sincerely happy for Su Yao.
He was lost in thought when the boy finished speaking:
"But I wonder, is this a Jade Void or a curse for Jade Void?"