Chapter 79: Longmen

February the second, the dragon raises its head; ancestral spirits are worshipped and dragon boat races held.

Time flies, and before we know it, it’s already the day of the Longmen Conference.

In the city, every household decorates with lanterns and colorful streamers, releases river lanterns, and on the waterways, dragon boats race fiercely, chasing each other. On both banks, drums and gongs beat loudly, creating an exceptionally lively scene.

However, at this time, the influential families in the city sensed something ominous and shut their gates tightly.

In secret, they dispatched attendants to investigate news regarding the Prefect’s Mansion and the Wang family, especially any information about the Longmen Conference.

“The rise or fall of our Wang family hinges on this moment!”

Inside the Wang residence, Wang Su wore armor underneath his long cloak and summoned his clansmen in the ancestral hall. A sea of solemn faces gathered in the dimly lit hall as they conducted a respectful ceremony honoring their ancestor, Wang Zhong.

Meanwhile, a completely different scene unfolded within the Prefect’s Mansion.

Crack! Crack!

Bamboo rods struck down mercilessly, instantly killing several scribes. Black blood spilled across the floor, sending chills through the onlookers.

“The Wang family has secretly planted spies here and plotted rebellion. Previously, I had no evidence and could only endure silently. But today, the evidence is conclusive. They openly rebel, and none shall be spared!”

Li Zhen, his face brimming with murderous intent, spoke while Li Yu stood beside him, unflinching as the servants were beaten to death.

“The key to the city lies in the city troops! Li Yu!”

“At your command!”

Li Yu stepped forward solemnly and performed a formal bow.

Even with a father-son relationship, personal feelings must be set aside in the face of official duties.

“You must rush to the barracks immediately, command the general to mobilize troops to suppress the rebellion and annihilate the Wang family! As for the remaining officials and the three divisions of the yamen, patrol the government offices and crack down on all unlawful elements!”

“Understood!”

Everyone responded in unison, their morale reaching its peak.

“I wonder how the Longmen Conference is proceeding? But even if the Wang family succeeds in their plot, with the city troops under my command, I can still fight and eliminate this tumor!”

Li Zhen stared toward Longmen Gorge, his face filled with determination.

Almost simultaneously, inside the Wang residence, after Wang Su completed the ancestral rites, he also cast his gaze toward Longmen Gorge, filled with hope.

…

Atop Longmen Gorge, on a large flat bluestone surface,

Several Daoists gathered, bowing politely to one another. Wu Qing was among them, occupying a quiet corner, aloof like an orchid blooming in a secluded valley.

Looking down from here, one could see that the previously cleared ground Wu Ming had passed before was now set up with a grand altar where a solemn Daoist ritual was underway, complete with sacrifices to the ancestral shrine of Wang Zhong.

“Surprised? Each Longmen Conference has both a public and secret aspect. The public ceremony is grand and elaborate, while secretly, only several Daoist academies and a few elder cultivators take action!”

The head of Yunping Academy, with a youthful face and white hair, approached Wu Qing gently.

“Master Miaoching, I have high hopes for you. This Longmen Conference…”

“I will give it my all!”

Wu Qing responded solemnly, though her gaze instinctively shifted. Her naturally noble demeanor had drawn many gazes, but one in particular felt like a sharp thorn.

“Oh? Do you know Wang Yu, or do you have a grudge?”

The academy head’s eyes flickered, not waiting for Wu Qing to respond before continuing, “Wang Yu is the beloved disciple of Shuangyang Daoist from the city, carefully nurtured. Despite his youth, he has already reached the rank of Master Daoist. We old folks can only feel ashamed…”

Due to the timely intervention and great contributions of the national preceptor from the Yuting sect who slew Huang Jie, the Great Zhou dynasty holds Daoism in high esteem.

In every county and city, Daoist academies are built, and once registered as a Daoist, one is exempt from taxes and labor duties.

Daoists in this world generally cultivate the Human Immortal path, with ranks including ordained Daoist, Alchemist, Master Daoist, Perfected, and Celestial Master.

Perfected are those who have achieved minor success, and there are not many of them to meet the needs of counties and cities. Therefore, most academy heads are only at the Master Daoist level.

Master Daoists can create laws with a wave of their hands, spontaneously generate talismanic characters in their consciousness, and forge magical artifacts, thus qualifying them to teach disciples.

However, now, the younger generation, including prodigies like Wu Qing and Wang Yu, are catching up.

“Thank you for your concern, Headmaster. This is a personal matter, and Miaoching will handle it herself!”

Wu Qing’s eyes remained steady, but within her consciousness, a small red sword hummed with a faint killing intent.

“What a fiery young lady!”

On the other side, Wang Yu, surrounded by several Daoists who fawned over him, also sensed the hostility.

“I originally planned to make her my concubine, slowly drawing on her phoenix-like fortune over several years… but now, her younger brother has offended my father, and no one can save him. Naturally, I cannot leave such a threat by my side. After this, I will take everything from this girl to benefit me, capture her brother, and present him to my father!”

Wang Yu pulled his sleeves tighter, a flash of cruelty crossing his face.

“My father will certainly be very pleased…”

Inside his sleeve was a golden talisman. Its characters glowed with radiant light, yet were wrapped in a layer of white luminescence that concealed all traces of its energy.

This talisman was bestowed upon him through a dream by his ancestor, the City God Wang Zhong. It contained boundless power and was the key to this Longmen Conference.

“As long as I secure the championship, lead the ritual, and then reveal this talisman, success will be mine!”

Wang Yu’s cheeks flushed with excitement.

If this plan succeeded, not only would the Wang family soar to new heights, but as the one who earned the greatest credit, his status as heir would be unshakable.

“Chirp chirp!”

As he indulged in his fantasies, a piercing cry broke through the clouds.

“The Perfected in charge has arrived. Let us go to greet him!”

Upon hearing the crane’s cry, the head of Yunping Academy was momentarily startled. Soon after, he and several other academy heads from nearby counties stepped forward, followed closely by outstanding disciples like Wu Qing and Wang Yu, arriving at the cliff’s edge.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

A white speck appeared on the horizon, followed by a gust of wind.

As it drew closer, everyone could see it was a giant red-crowned crane, carrying a single rider on its back.

With a graceful landing, the crane firmly planted its iron-like talons into the bluestone, calmly preening its snow-white feathers with its long beak.

“I am Tianhe. Greetings to you all, fellow Daoists! I have been dispatched by the central sect to preside over this grand occasion!”

The figure atop the crane was only four chi tall, with rosy lips and white teeth, a face as smooth as jade, and two topknots resembling those of an innocent child.

“Greetings, Master!”

However, the heads of the academies dared not be disrespectful and bowed respectfully.

“Enough!”

The childlike Tianhe waved his hand dismissively, appearing surprisingly aged beyond his years. “I have never been fond of such formalities; let us forgo all these elaborate rituals… According to tradition, the Longmen Conference begins with an evaluation of Daoists from each academy, followed by the selection of the one to preside over the ritual. Is this still the case this year?”

“As you command!”

The academy heads exchanged glances and smiled.

Daoists, by nature, pursue simplicity and detachment. The Perfected’s manner only further demonstrated his innocent and childlike heart, inspiring envy.

“Very well… We shall begin by interpreting Daoist scriptures to assess each Daoist’s foundation, followed by displays of martial prowess…”

As Tianhe spoke, his eyebrows suddenly lifted, and a trace of a killing aura appeared on his delicate face.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Winds and thunder surged, swirling around him. The red-crowned crane beside him also spread its wings and cried out, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.

The Daoists on the platform instinctively took several steps back. The head of Yunping Academy asked in alarm, “Master, what has happened?”

“No worries… an old friend is coming!”

Tianhe sneered coldly, forming a mystical hand seal and pointing at the crane with a shout of “Command!”

“Chirp!”

The red-crowned crane’s eyes flashed gold and darted like a bolt of lightning into the dense forest below.

“Oh no… damn Tianhe, toying with this old man like this…”

Below, in the dark forest, a red glow flickered, revealing the old man and his granddaughter whom Wu Ming had previously encountered.

The old man was now running frantically, his appearance disheveled and pitiful. Even the little girl, Ba’er, clung tightly to her grandfather’s clothes, her big eyes filled with fear.

It was as if the pursuing creature was their natural predator.

The crane flew with incredible speed, its sharp eyes scanning. It occasionally swooped down, its iron-like talons slicing through the air with deadly precision.

“Ahh… don’t peck my face! Again! Tianhe, old ghost, I’m not done with you!”

The old man cried out in alarm, forming a mystic hand seal. A flash of light enveloped him and the little girl, and they vanished instantly.

The crane lost its target and circled high above, letting out a long, piercing cry.

“Wow! What a magnificent crane!”

The commotion caught the attention of two hunters on another hillside.

One of the younger hunters grew excited and reached for the longbow on his back.

Though dressed plainly like an ordinary hunter, the bow on his back exuded a hidden brilliance, appearing forged from steel and iron, with a fierce aura, clearly no ordinary weapon.

Moreover, the youth, though seemingly not yet an adult with downy hair still on his lips, had muscles as solid and defined as a young leopard.

“Cheng’er, don’t act rashly!”

At this moment, the middle-aged man beside the youth spoke.

His hands and feet were rough, his face etched with years of hardship and wind-worn fatigue, giving him a perpetually weary and impoverished look, indistinguishable from any other common hunter.

“That’s a celestial breed raised for years by the Jade Clarity sect. If you kill it, you’ll provoke one of the most powerful sects in the land. Besides… cough, cough…”

The middle-aged man seemed to have poor health, breaking into a violent cough after speaking just a few words.

Yet his words seemed to express great trust in his nephew, as if implying that as long as his nephew acted, he could surely slay the crane.

“Yes, Uncle!”

The young man obediently put away his bow but added, “As the military treatise says, a general must endure what others cannot. I understand this principle. Our goal this time is to obtain the blood of the dragon to cure your illness, and also to collect the dragon scales and horns to perfect our family’s heirloom weapon—the Dragon Scale Spear…”

“Dragons are divine creatures. I only brought you here hoping for luck…”

The middle-aged man waved his hand dismissively. “What I truly value is these two prefectures! Our family of strategists doesn’t possess the abilities of Daoist diviners to perceive fortune and fate, but we can discern the big picture from small details. Look at the Nanfeng and Chufeng prefectures—they have had bountiful harvests without major disasters, yet grain prices have risen by ten percent, and the prices of iron and medicinal herbs have similarly increased. War is imminent! This is the opportunity for our family’s younger generation to rise!”