With the departure of the Crown Prince of Beiliang, the city of Yangchun finally regained its former peace and tranquility. No matter how the scholars of Huting County denied it, as long as the Crown Prince remained in Yangchun, the people could never feel at ease. Many had hoped that the Empress in the palace would pressure the widow residing in the grand mansion of the Linlang Lu family, but the matter fizzled out like thunder without rain. Later, Master Chengzhai was brutally slain. It was said that the entire Imperial Academy in the capital rose in protest, with thousands of students jointly submitting petitions. Unfortunately, even this failed to earn an imperial decree to come to the south. The most powerful scion of generals in the empire simply enjoyed himself, finished his business, and left Yangchun without a care.
The caravan departed from the Lu estate, not lingering in Yang Province, and headed straight for the sacred Daoist mountain Longhushan. Two carriages were led by Qingniao, who had recovered from her injuries at an astonishing speed, and Laojianshen, the old sword immortal, who was bored out of his mind. Xu Fengnian allowed Yu Youwei and Princess Jing’an to ride in the same carriage. These two women, both of ill fate, seemed to share a mutual sense of sympathy. Though their words were few, there was a hint of camaraderie in their shared grievances. Yu Youwei remained aloof, while Pei Nanwei was more eager and warm. Xu Fengnian ignored the small tricks of the Princess, treating them as harmless amusement. He was confident Yu Youwei wouldn’t be swayed by a few sweet words and switch sides.
Xu Fengnian sat inside the carriage, calculating his assets by counting on his fingers. He muttered to himself, “I’ve acquired most of the Red Armor of the Fu Generals, though it’s badly damaged. I wonder if it can be restored to its former glory. It seems the strength of the Fu Generals is directly linked to the power of the puppet in life. Longhushan is the ancestral home of this art of commanding spirits, so I mustn’t leave empty-handed. I’ve gathered techniques into my blade: from the Zijin Villa’s *Sword of Slaughtering Whales*, I took the most vicious stab, *Whale Piercing*. From the *Green Water Pavilion’s Sword Manual of Sixty Years*, I took *Layered Thunder*. From the old swordswoman Zhao’s sword manual, I took *Overlapping Armor*. I also stole the old sword immortal’s *Sword of the Immortal Kneeling*. Recently, I’ve studied the *Arm Record*, learned *Reverse Meridian Unarmoring* from Qingniao, learned the *Sword Drawing* from the royal family of Dongyue, and imitated the *Storm Stilling* technique from the nunnery of Nanhai. Adding all these to Lao Huang’s Nine Sword techniques, I’ve got about twenty moves. With the foundation of the Great Huangting, I may not yet have the deep roots of a sturdy tree, but at least I’ve got a rough framework. Once the structure is in place, the rest will follow more easily.”
He reached out to stroke Wumeiniang’s head and chuckled, “Gu Jiantang is the greatest swordsman of this age. I wonder how many of his strikes I could withstand?”
Yu Youwei, as expected, replied indifferently, “I don’t know.”
Xu Fengnian didn’t expect an answer from her. Her sword dance, though dazzling, was never meant for killing. He flicked the white cat’s head and continued musing, “Cao Changqing once mentioned that besides the unmatched *Two Sleeves of Green Serpents*, Li Lao also had the even more formidable *Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate*. It sounds mighty impressive, but why have I never heard of it before? There’s no trace of it in the martial world. Something’s off here. The old sword immortal’s *Two Sleeves of Green Serpents* is a technique where the sword form and intent are equally profound. Each time it changes, complex and simple interweaving. What seems like one move is actually infinitely variable. I barely have time to dodge and escape, let alone try to steal the technique. The old sword immortal pretends to teach me his secrets, but he’s just bored and taking it out on me.”
Princess Jing’an sneered mockingly, “Greed knows no bounds.”
Xu Fengnian mimicked her tone, retorting with biting sarcasm, “Swallowing? I know how clever your little mouth is, but don’t show off in front of this Crown Prince. Be careful not to lose more than you gain. I might just execute Princess Pei on the spot.”
Pei Nanwei, repeatedly teased and humiliated by the Crown Prince over her private matters, had always reacted with fury in the past. But today, surprisingly, she showed no change in expression. Instead, she shot back coldly, “I once thought you, the Crown Prince, unafraid even of a feudal lord, impressed me in the reed marsh. But now that you’ve left Qingzhou and entered Yangzhou, you’ve already shown your weakness. You’re just a paper dragon crossing the river, easily cowed by a mere swordsman like Cao Guan. You even handed over your servant girl without a fight. So, when you reach Longhushan, guarded by several Grand Daoist Masters, you’ll surely come away with nothing but humiliation.”
Xu Fengnian’s face darkened, but he smiled coldly, “Princess Pei, your tongue grows sharper by the day. Congratulations.”
The Crown Prince lifted the curtain with the hilt of his Xiudong sword and called out, “Shuxiu, stop riding. Take our Princess Pei to the back carriage and break her spirit a bit.”
Before Pei Nanwei could speak, Xu Fengnian kicked her out of the carriage, and Shuxiu swiftly grabbed her. Yu Youwei shook her head, her thin face showing no emotion. Xu Fengnian glanced at her and moved to sit near the door, hooking the curtain aside to watch Qingniao’s slender back. He called out gently, “How’s it going?”
Qingniao, who had been whipping the horse, slowed its gallop and turned her head, her expression one of quiet frustration. She lowered her eyes and said softly, “Two Golden Elixirs worth a fortune.”
Xu Fengnian’s mood, soured by Pei Nanwei’s words, instantly improved. He laughed heartily, “Qingniao, you look just like a thrifty housewife who bought fish too expensive at the market. So frugal, so good at managing the household!”
Qingniao smiled gently, a slight blush on her face. Her expressions were always subtle. Even in the life-threatening reed marsh, she had remained the same. On her face, one never saw great sorrow or the usual feminine melancholy of spring or autumn. Xu Fengnian and Qingniao had always spoken freely, and now he said directly, “Putting Shuxiu and Princess Pei together in the same room, with Shuxiu’s secret Southern technique of disguise, I wonder how much she can imitate in form and spirit. If it’s only superficial, it’ll likely be a waste of effort. Before we reach Longhushan, let’s see what results Shuxiu achieves. Can she truly pass as the real thing?”
Qingniao asked in confusion, “Is Shuxiu making a human skin mask?”
Xu Fengnian chuckled and shook his head, “Even more refined. That’s why they say, ‘Painting a tiger’s skin is easy, but capturing its bones is hard.’ This art of disguise has two stages—Yin and Yang. The latter is especially difficult, almost to the point of bone reshaping. Shuxiu briefly explained the steps to me. It’s extremely complex, similar to the alchemical techniques of the Daoist Dan Ding school. It’s the highest form of internal and external cultivation combined. For Shuxiu to succeed, she’ll have to endure great hardship. But as the saying goes, ‘Only through suffering can one become superior.’ That fits Shuxiu perfectly. If she succeeds, she’ll become one of the rarest and most powerful Princesses in the empire. With such an opportunity, Shuxiu, with her nature, would fight to the death to seize it.”
Qingniao asked cautiously, “But the old fox, the Prince of Jing’an, is known for his cunning and ruthlessness. Won’t he see through it?”
Xu Fengnian nodded, “The lustful Prince Zhao Xun might not detect it, but his father, Zhao Heng, will see through it in an instant. That’s why I plan to write a letter first to test their reaction. I’ll even hint at the truth. If the Jing’an Prince’s Mansion is willing to accept the fake princess as a symbolic figure, preserving their dignity, then all will be well. If they refuse, it’s understandable. Then I’ll just let Shuxiu ‘train’ Princess Pei. It won’t be a total loss. It’s not worth the risk to keep a useless princess who keeps provoking me. No one should suffer such humiliation.”
Qingniao still couldn’t believe the Jing’an Prince’s Mansion would accept such an absurd arrangement, allowing a fake princess to take over. The Prince of Jing’an, Zhao Heng, had always been mocked by Xu Fengnian as petty and jealous like a shrewish wife. Would he really endure it? Xu Fengnian, seeing Qingniao’s disbelief, smiled and said, “Let’s treat it as a gamble.”
Hearing the cry of the white and black phoenixes, Xu Fengnian lifted the curtain. The divine bird flew in instantly. The Crown Prince held out his arm to stop the bird and took a jade tube from its leg, retrieving a secret letter. After reading it, he handed it to Yu Youwei. She carefully read it and looked up, saying, “The court plans to change the administrative system from provinces and counties to routes and prefectures, dividing the empire into sixteen routes.”
Xu Fengnian asked with a smile, “What do you think?”
Yu Youwei thought for a moment and replied softly, “After subduing the eight kingdoms, the empire’s territory has expanded several times. Now there are over 1,800 counties. The large provinces established to accommodate the old eight kingdoms have become self-governing fiefdoms, making it difficult for the central government to control them. According to the letter, the entire system will be reorganized into sixteen routes and seventy-six provinces. Large provinces will be split into smaller ones, and major prefectures will be elevated to provinces. The county system will remain relatively unchanged. They’ll appoint military governors and administrative commissioners, along with inspectors to monitor each route. The Prince of Beiliang and the six other royal feudal lords will each oversee one route.”
Xu Fengnian said calmly, “Father said that Chancellor Zhang Julu has been waiting for this day for nearly twenty years.”
Yu Youwei frowned, “But changing the three-tier system of provinces, counties, and districts into a four-tier system—won’t the empire fear administrative inefficiency? If this is done to weaken the feudal lords, isn’t the cost too high?”
Xu Fengnian shook his head, “It’s not that simple. Except for Xu Xiao and the other seven feudal lords, all other military governors, administrative commissioners, and inspectors will be rotated every four or six years. But this hasn’t been officially announced yet. Probably in three or four years, when the situation stabilizes, Zhang Julu will make his move.”
Xu Fengnian pointed at the letter and sneered, “Don’t forget, besides the route system, the court is also targeting Buddhism and Daoism. Previously, the management of Buddhism was lax, with only the Chongxuan Bureau under the Honglu Temple of the Ministry of Rites overseeing monk records and appointing the three senior monks. Now, there will be a *Sengzheng* position. I wonder who will be the first head of all the monks in the empire. I guess Yang Taishui might not want to step forward. As for Daoism, the court’s reach will be even longer. All Daoist temples and disciples will be evaluated and ranked into eleven levels. Except for the Celestial Master’s Mansion, all Daoists must advance within this framework. Considering the recent reforms in the imperial examination system targeting the Huangmen Lang, do you think the three teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—will all fall under the court’s control?”
Yu Youwei murmured, “The heavenly net is vast, yet it lets nothing through.”
Xu Fengnian lifted the curtain, let the phoenix fly out, and clapped his hands, laughing, “You said it well. With this heavenly net cast, no one can remain free. Zhang Julu, the weaver of this net, has methods so powerful they seem to defy law and order.”
Yu Youwei’s eyes were dreamy, “Is the dynasty at its peak?”
Xu Fengnian lay down, resting his head on Yu Youwei’s elastic thighs, closing his eyes, “That’s why I advise Xu Xiao not to think of rebellion, no matter what happens.”
Yu Youwei leaned down softly, “Even if you were killed by the court, he wouldn’t rebel?”
Xu Fengnian curled his lips, reached out to stroke her chin, and smiled without speaking.
After a while, Yu Youwei angrily said, “Where are you touching!”
Xu Fengnian opened his eyes in surprise and sheepishly withdrew his hand. It turned out he had touched a tall peak.
Yu Youwei’s face flushed red, her breath quickened.
Xu Fengnian, having taken advantage, looked up and teased, “Viewed from the front, it’s a ridge; from the side, a peak. From near or far, high or low, each is different. Truly magnificent. I can’t even see your face anymore. Come on, give me a *Mount Tai Crush*, crush me to death, and save me from these troubles.”
Yu Youwei reached out and twisted the Crown Prince’s ear, giving it a hard pinch.
Xu Fengnian didn’t cry out. In retaliation, he stretched both hands to support the twin peaks, regretting that his palms were too small. He slowly pushed and rubbed, then gently pulled back, repeating the motion. At first, Yu Youwei still had some strength in twisting his ear, but within a third of an incense stick’s time, her hands weakened, and only soft breaths remained. Perhaps the soft, warm peaks blocked her view, giving her the courage to endure without scolding the Crown Prince’s misdeeds. Xu Fengnian, not yet satisfied, tried to sneak his hands further, wanting to free the plump treasures and feast his eyes. Just as he sat up, Yu Youwei kicked him hard, hitting the Crown Prince’s sword between his legs. Xu Fengnian sucked in a cold breath, his rising desire instantly doused like a winter bath. Yu Youwei first looked guilty, unable to meet the young prince’s eyes, then hid in the corner of the carriage, covering her chest and smiling seductively. Xu Fengnian had intended to give up, but seeing her show no sign of yielding, he laughed angrily, dragged her into his arms, held her still, and placed her delicate hand on his crotch. He expected her to struggle again, but this time, she was unusually obedient. Her slender fingers remained well-behaved, but her palm secretly brushed, reigniting the Crown Prince’s desire.
Xu Fengnian, one hand slipping into her collar, sighed contentedly, “Yu Youwei, this is truly a golden age.”
Yu Youwei, her eyes dreamy, arched her neck and exhaled sweetly, “Still thinking about Princess Jing’an?”
Xu Fengnian hesitated, then laughed, “No wonder.”
Yu Youwei remained silent, then moved away from his embrace.
Xu Fengnian pointed at Yu Youwei’s chest and teased, “Can Pei Nanwei compare to you here? A steamed bun challenging a pancake—overestimating herself.”
Yu Youwei glared at him with a seductive gaze.
Xu Fengnian whispered slyly, “I want to see your sword dance. You can wear only a thin veil.”
Yu Youwei, her ears blushing red, turned her head and cursed, “Drop dead!”
Xu Fengnian pouted and leaned against the carriage wall, muttering, “No sense of romance.”
Standing up, he sighed, “I need some fresh air.”
Yu Youwei’s eyes sparkled with laughter.
Xu Fengnian sat beside Qingniao and asked, “How much longer until we reach Jianzhou?”
Qingniao thought for a moment and replied, “At most ten days, maybe twenty.”
Xu Fengnian nodded, looked up at the tallest mountain in the province, Kuanlu Mountain, and smiled, “We’ll rest on the summit tonight. On the cliff’s backside, there’s a thousand-foot waterfall. If we’re lucky, at sunrise, the waterfall will turn golden. By the time we reach Longhushan, it’ll be the beginning of autumn.”
During the climb up the mountain, Xu Fengnian never ceased his playful banter with the young man.
As night fell and they reached the summit, a campfire was lit and a hearty dinner of wild game was enjoyed. Xu Fengnian then walked near the Cliff of Swords, where the wind blew fiercely against his face. He sat cross-legged upon the ground.
The old man with the lamb-skin coat approached from behind. Xu asked, “Shall we begin?”
The old swordsman shook his head. “Not today. Enjoying the view is fine enough.”
Xu felt a tinge of disappointment. Every extra time he could endure the Two Green Snakes technique meant another blessing.
Old Master Li, hunched and bent with age, stood at the cliff’s edge, gazing at the magnificent landscape winding like a great serpent below. Softly, he asked, “Why didn’t you keep Jiang Ni with you?”
Xu replied calmly, “This time, I couldn’t.”
Li Chungan nodded, not pressing the prince further on the matter. It was already difficult enough for young Xu to face Cao Changqing, that old Confucian scholar.
Xu hesitated, then stopped himself from speaking further.
The old man chuckled. “Eager to hear of that one sword technique I’ve never told you about—Opening the Gates of Heaven?”
Xu grinned sheepishly.
The old swordsman spoke calmly, “I had intended to speak of it when we returned to Beiliang and parted ways. But since the time, place, and circumstances are all aligned, I shan’t withhold this old tale any longer.”
Xu instinctively straightened his posture, ears perked up in anticipation.
Li Chun Gang gave a wry smile and slowly continued, “Do you know why I lost my cultivation after stepping down from the Demon-Slaying Platform all those years ago?”
Xu shook his head. “I do not.”
Li paused for a long while before continuing, finally sighing, “My sword techniques, at their peak, surpassed even the Two Green Snakes. I could strike the celestial bell and open the Gates of Heaven to slay celestial beings. An elder once mocked me, saying that since there are no dragons in this world, my sword was but a dragon-slaying technique—a joke.”
As Xu pondered this, the old swordsman waved his hand and instead asked, “What, then, is a celestial being?”
Xu smiled bitterly. “My knowledge is shallow; I do not understand.”
Old Master Li let out a low chuckle. “The three great teachings differ in doctrine, but share the same foundation. Ancient sages said that the Book of Changes mirrors the heavens and earth, thus encompassing the principles of the universe. This is the threshold of celestial beings. Confucian sages, Taoist immortals, and Buddhist living Buddhas all reach this level. Hence comes the term ‘land-bound immortals.’ The four stages of the First Rank are no mere fabrications—‘Diamond’ comes from Buddhist prostration, ‘Mystic’ from Taoist praise, and ‘Heavenly Phenomenon’ flatters Confucian ideals. Only the land-bound immortals transcend the three teachings. Reaching that state means becoming a celestial being, a true immortal.”
Xu Fengnian felt as if a veil had been lifted from his eyes.
Li Chun Gang continued solemnly, “I trained my sword with the single goal of slaying celestial beings with one strike. That technique—its form, its movements, even its sword intent and sword qi—was not the most refined. But by accident, every time I used it, I poured my entire being into a single, decisive strike. Imagine, by the age of twenty, I had nearly reached the pinnacle of sword cultivation. For the next twenty years, I roamed freely across the heavens and earth. Each time I unleashed that technique, I charged forward without hesitation, and no one who faced it ever survived. My sword grew sharper and fiercer with each strike, truly becoming invincible. Back then, I lost to Wang Xianzhi, and my sword Muma Niu was broken. But that was not because I couldn’t defeat him at the time. I held back out of admiration for his talent, choosing not to unleash that final strike. Otherwise, the world would have no ‘Second Under Heaven’ in Wudi City today.”
Xu Fengnian felt as if struck by lightning.
The old man sighed deeply. “Until the day I went to Longhu Mountain seeking an elixir. Qi Xuanzhen was about to ascend. We argued—me and that old Qi, like a chicken and a duck, neither convincing the other. Finally, he said he would test that one sword of mine. If I won, he would give me the pill. If I lost, all discussion would end.”
Xu murmured, “Did the old master lose?”
Li Chun Gang narrowed his eyes and whispered, “I lost. From that day on, I lost my sword path, and my cultivation plummeted.”
He sneered bitterly, “If in the end I could not slay celestial beings, then that sword was but a castle in the sky.”
Xu’s heart raced with curiosity. “Then what exactly is a celestial immortal?”
Li hesitated slightly before replying, “Of the three great teachings, I have only ever seen one celestial being—Qi Xuanzhen. I know that when a Taoist immortal reaches the land-bound immortal stage, their spirit, energy, and essence fuse into an immortal infant within the furnace of their body. This infant can leave the body and travel thousands of miles. Five hundred years ago, Master Lü’s flying sword severed a head from a thousand miles away—that is the principle.”
Xu murmured softly, “Then in this world, is there anyone who can rival such a being?”
Li laughed coldly. “At that level, who would concern themselves with worldly disputes? If you, as the heir of Beiliang, would you squabble with beggars over a few copper coins? And those who reach such a state—do you think their hearts are not as firm as stone, in harmony with the great Dao of heaven and earth? Those with twisted minds fall into heretical paths and cannot attain the Dao. Take Huang Longjia, who calls himself Huang Sanjia. His martial prowess and intellect are unparalleled in his time, but has he truly comprehended the Dao? Not that he did not wish to, but it is like trying to lift Mount Tai and leap over the Northern Sea—he simply could not.”
Xu hummed in understanding, gazing with Li Chun Gang into the distant horizon.
His heart soared, his inner energy surging like thunder and writhing like a serpent.
The old swordsman took the dagger from his bun and tossed it to the young prince, grumbling, “Before she left, that girl said to give you this divine talisman. I didn’t want to part with it, but I had no choice.”
Xu Fengnian held the talisman, lost in thought.
Li turned and walked away, muttering, “One gives a divine talisman, the other gives the Great Liang Dragon and Phoenix blade. Both are damn spendthrifts.”
Xu removed the twin blades, Spring Thunder and Embroidered Winter, and plunged them into the earth. He closed his eyes to meditate, resting his cheek in his right hand while his left spun the dagger-talisman between his fingers.
Neither asleep nor fully awake.
Whether it was a brief quarter-hour or countless centuries, Xu Fengnian suddenly opened his eyes and gripped the talisman tightly.
A deafening explosion shattered the air—the thousand-foot waterfall hanging from the Cliff of Swords erupted with thunderous force.
Thick clouds and mist swirled beyond the cliff, and a massive head emerged from the purple mist. Its appearance bore a striking resemblance to the coiled dragon embroidered upon Xu Xiao’s imperial robe—its eyes blazed with fury, its mustache bristling!
It exhaled purple mist, fixing its gaze upon Xu Fengnian with terrifying ferocity.
A figure streaked across the sky like a comet, as though flying from a thousand miles away, landing atop the beast—whether it was a dragon or a great serpent none could say. Before the figure even arrived, his voice rang out:
“Three hundred years I’ve walked the path of cultivation,
Never once have I drawn my sword for mortal heads.
No celestial decree has come from Heaven’s Hall,
So I listen to spring water in the mountains of Dragon and Tiger.”
Xu Fengnian gazed in awe. The figure shone like translucent jade, his eyes glowing with radiant light. Yet all he wore was a simple Taoist robe, indistinguishable from mundane garments.
Xu Fengnian suddenly realized the truth.
A celestial being had emerged from the heavens, riding a dragon to descend upon the mortal world!
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