The Decree

The gray figure was filled with frustration. After reaching the Purple Mansion, his lifespan had become so much longer than a human's.

Moreover, his whole body was a treasure, so he lived in seclusion on Qixia Mountain year-round. Apart from the first few centuries after he reached the Purple Mansion, he had spent over a thousand years on the mountain, knowing nothing of the outside world.

Across from him, stormy waves were also raging in the True Person's heart. Where had this great demon come from? He actually had a Purple Mansion spirit treasure of the Greater Yin path concealing him, and the True Person could not even see his true nature.

Since reaching the Purple Mansion, he had feared no one of equal cultivation, apart from disciples of the great teachings under the Three Pure Ones.

How was it that, on this rare visit to Guanzhong, he kept running into such ruthless people?

He had already used three Spirit Artifacts and one spirit treasure, yet his opponent had nothing but the Great Yin Feather Robe he wore and a Spirit Artifact spear.

The two exchanged a few more moves, then suddenly sensed someone approaching. They hurriedly retreated, putting distance between themselves.

Both looked over and saw a streak of yellow light flying toward them from afar.

A moment later, the yellow light arrived a short distance from them.

It revealed the figure of a middle-aged man dressed in princely robes.

Both were startled.

The Qing imperial house placed the greatest importance on rules. Since this man wore princely robes, he had to be a member of the Qing Dynasty's imperial clan. The nearest one was probably the Prince of Qin.

Both looked toward the prince, and the gray figure spoke first:

"I am Nuoli, an attendant to the True Lord of Mount Zhongnan. Might I be addressing the Prince of Qin?"

As his words fell, both the newly arrived prince and the azure figure frowned.

The prince who had just arrived thought to himself:

That True Lord of Mount Zhongnan has ignored the affairs below the mountain for years. Why has he suddenly involved himself in the mortal world today?

Could this be a deception?

He swept his divine sense over the present world, and his heart jolted. Zhengji... No wonder, no wonder!

He had heard decades ago that Qixia Temple had established a Daozi on Qixia Mountain. He had never expected him to come here today.

But why had there been no news at all over a journey of several hundred thousand li?

He looked at Nuoli and said softly:

"My personal name is Liang, and my fief is in the Land of Qin. This is my first time meeting a True Person of Qixia Temple."

Nuoli merely nodded and said no more.

Seeing that Nuoli was silent, the Prince of Qin turned to the azure figure, having already made up his mind:

"True Person Changlu, why have you suddenly come to Guanzhong instead of cultivating in the East Sea?"

When the True Person called Changlu saw the Prince of Qin arrive, he had wanted to slip away. But with a True Person who was his equal already present, he had not dared to act rashly.

And after the other party personally confirmed that the gray figure was an attendant to Qixia Temple's True Lord, boundless fear welled up in his heart.

Could that Foundation Establishment cultivator down below really be Qixia Daozi?

Not only had he attacked their Daozi, he had even mocked their Dao lineage.

According to the Prince of Qin, there was a True Lord on Mount Zhongnan. One look from that True Lord would probably turn him into a skyful of azure rain the next instant.

But the Prince of Qin was watching him, so he could only brace himself and speak:

"Some days ago, a friend invited me to meet in Guanzhong. I had meant to leave today, but happened to see the secret realm below open wide. I wanted to investigate, but never expected to offend an immortal Daozi..."

As he spoke, he looked toward Nuoli, his voice full of smiles.

The Prince of Qin's headache grew worse. Having True Person Changlu take the Cultivation Method from the Cang Water Sect's secret realm below had been an order from above.

But how had a Qixia Daozi appeared out of nowhere?

Strictly speaking, the Cang Water Sect to which this secret realm belonged had been a subordinate of Qixia Temple for eight thousand years. Only after Qixia Temple moved south eight thousand years ago did the Cang Water Sect break away. It had built this secret realm with rewards bestowed by Qixia Temple, but later declined day by day, leading to its present state.

And he had heard that quite a few important figures had plans involving True Person Changlu...

His family's... first Prince of Qin had entered the immortal abode after Chengzu seized the throne and had never left the mountain again. Now the family dared offend no one.

Besides, Mount Zhongnan had even tried to persuade his family to raise an army back then.

So he looked at Nuoli:

"Why not come to my residence and share a few cups with me, envoy?"

Nuoli shook his head, direct and decisive:

"Thank you for your kind offer, Your Highness."

He paused, and after listening to the True Lord's voice transmission, glanced at Changlu:

"A decree from the True Lord."

As the words fell, the Prince of Qin merely nodded, while Changlu bowed.

Nuoli continued:

"For True Lord Luyuan's sake, the Gui Water Heaven-Overturning Old-Remaking Scripture and the portion of Heaven-Tilting Profound Dew Marrow shall be yours, but you may not enter without permission."

Hearing this, Changlu breathed a sigh of relief. He could finally achieve his goal; his risk in entering Guanzhong had not been in vain.

As for True Lord Luyuan, he had never heard of him and did not know what connection he had to him, so he put the matter aside for now.

He cupped his hands to Nuoli, then turned and bowed toward Mount Zhongnan.

But Nuoli's voice rang out again:

"Those things aren't so easily obtained."

Changlu's heart sank, but he held himself back and forced a smile:

"What instructions does the True Lord have?"

Seeing his awkward predicament, Nuoli sneered:

"Originally, you couldn't have opened this secret realm even if you slaughtered the entire Cang Water Sect. Today, the True Lord used a contingency he left in the secret realm back then, drawing it open with the fate borne by the Daozi, so the Daozi could use it as a passage to Nanzhao..."

He paused:

"Once the Daozi enters, the secret realm will close of its own accord. After retrieving the treasures, he will go straight to Nanzhao and will not emerge from this exit. So you shall go to Nanzhao and wait. Once you have done something for the True Lord, you may take the Cultivation Method and the rest."

When he finished, he smiled at Changlu. His face, concealed by the Great Yin Dharma Robe, was full of smiles, but his eyes were full of regret.

After all, he too was a variant creature of the Water Virtue path, so he naturally paid attention to and knew about the True Lord who had attained the Dao through Water Virtue. He thought to himself:

What a formidable figure True Lord Luyuan was back then, yet now his descendant doesn't even know his title.

After listening, Changlu was about to refuse on the spot.

He was willing to discard his pride in pursuit of the Dao, but he dared not become entangled in the Dao lineages under the Three Pure Ones. That would truly be courting death.

Never mind him-even among True Lords and immortals, had there been any shortage who had lost their lives after becoming caught in the struggles under the Three Pure Ones since the Shang?

But just as he was about to refuse, he sensed countless eyes watching him. If he dared refuse, he feared he would not leave this place today.

At the side, the Prince of Qin was also filled with frustration. Though today's affair had little to do with him, the memorial to Jiankang would be difficult to write. He could not stop himself from sighing.

Suddenly, he froze. No, something's wrong!

The opening of the secret realm had caused no small commotion. Why, after so long, was he the only one to have come, apart from the two who had been here from the start?

Alarm bells instantly clanged in his heart.

Could Jiankang be plotting against the Prince of Qin's line again?

Now that the Prince of Yan's line has gained the realm, does it intend to wipe out every branch of the old Zhu Household that isn't descended from the Prince of Yan?

Seeing his anxiety, Nuoli received another voice transmission from the True Lord and reassured him:

"What does the Prince of Qin have to fear? Your Highness merely happened to be here this time. There is no need to worry."

He paid no further attention to the Prince of Qin, whose expression had calmed somewhat, and looked back at Changlu:

"What have you decided, fellow Daoist?"