In ancient times, Mount Jubaoyuan had been rich in wonders. The ancestor of the Bao family had discovered several supreme mineral veins within this mountain, obtaining his initial wealth and resources, cultivating all the way to Unity, and founding the Bao family.
As for his ascent along the immortal path, besides the resources provided by the mineral veins, others said it was because the mountain possessed exquisite feng shui, serving as an earthen ley-line node of the world's Great Fortune. Aided by the karmic luck of this place, the Bao family ancestor—whose natural talent had not been peerless—was able to break through barrier upon barrier and achieve the Grand Dao.
After entering the grand formation, the scenery before Wei Yuan shifted, and his field of vision widened in an instant.
At the foot of the mountain stood a small city, with courtyard residences and palatial halls built against the slopes, ascending tier upon tier.
This was a place designated for guests to reside. Casting his gaze across it, Wei Yuan spotted at least several dozen large inns, as well as thousands of individual courtyards of varying architectural styles. This mountain-gate city could host tens of thousands of visitors at once.
The spiritual energy within the small city was exceedingly dense, bordering on condensing into swirling mist. Just this guest-reception city alone was comparable to the core cultivation ancestral grounds of a third-rank blessed land sect, illustrating the Bao family's lavish grandeur.
A grand avenue cut through the city, heading straight up the mountain. Twenty zhang wide, this thoroughfare was paved with pale-white flagstones streaked with azure veins, exceptionally sleek and level.
The middle-aged man summoned a carriage, boarded with Wei Yuan, and sped up the mountain along the broad avenue. The carriage moved swiftly and smoothly; the rumble of its wheels was scarcely audible, and inside, not a tremor of jolting could be felt. One could comfortably sleep inside without issue.
The carriage traveled several dozen li like this, ascending beyond the mountain's halfway mark before pulling up in front of a sprawling complex of palaces and pavilions.
Up here, the atmosphere was different once more. Swirling clouds drifted between the buildings, with spirit beasts and spirit birds conjured from spiritual energy appearing now and then amid the mist, making this stretch of the mountain resemble a celestial realm.
Wei Yuan was guided into a side hall, passed through the corridors, and arrived at an open terrace. Below the terrace stretched the vast, boundless sea—a view of magnificent and wondrous splendor.
A solitary figure leaned against the railing, gazing out toward the sea in deep contemplation.
Only when Wei Yuan walked up behind him did the man slowly turn around. It was none other than Bao Manshan.
He looked Wei Yuan up and down, then smiled faintly. "Back then, although I gave you that Yin-Yang Reversal Pendant, I truly didn't expect you would actually survive the Karma Great Curse, nor did I imagine you would arrive here so quickly."
Wei Yuan said solemnly, "Had it not been for the Yin-Yang Pendant Senior delivered, my master and I would likely have fallen. This benevolence and grace, I shall never forget!"
Bao Manshan replied, "Helping you was not my idea; it was girl Yun who insisted on it. However, she paid a heavy price for it. As for what that price was, you will soon know."
"Is Bao Yun well? How has her arm recovered?" Wei Yuan asked.
"Well, she is certainly not doing well. Her arm is merely a minor matter."
Wei Yuan's heart tightened. "What can I do?"
"You won't be able to see her on this visit, but you can indeed do something for her. A few matters had originally been set in stone, yet your sudden arrival introduces a few variables. Perhaps you might just pull girl Yun back."
Wei Yuan immediately composed his expression and listened attentively.
Bao Manshan said, "Girl Yun gave you her fruit of life. Now her vital life force and recuperative abilities have both waned, so her newly regrown arm develops slowly, and tempering it demands immense effort. At this very moment, Qiongshan Immortal Island of the Eastern Sea sent an emissary with a vermilion fruit treasure tree—one fruit already ripe, three more still gestating—as a small token of regard for her. Beyond that, they purchased seven Kun boats from the Bao family to establish a joint fleet to repel the Sea Li and strike at other islands across the Eastern Sea.
"For this fleet, they supply the funds, while we deploy and command it."
Kun-class vessels were colossi upon the sea, measuring two hundred zhang in length and capable of carrying ten thousand men each. Such colossal ships were extraordinarily expensive. For Qiongshan Immortal Island of the Eastern Sea to purchase seven in one breath and hand over their use to the Bao family was generosity on an astonishing scale—their ambitions were bound to be tremendous.
Sure enough, Bao Manshan continued, "This counts as a betrothal gift, proposing marriage to girl Yun on behalf of the immortal island's young master."
Wei Yuan's long hair stirred without wind, then slowly settled back down.
Bao Manshan shot Wei Yuan a meaningful glance and said, "With talent like girl Yun's, whether it concerns her Dao companion or where she will reside in the future, all must follow the family's arrangements. Anyone who interferes opposes our Bao family. Do you understand this?"
"...I understand."
"There is another matter. For now, it might be somewhat beneficial to you, but in the long run, it is a tremendous disaster. The Akshobhya dharma idol of the Great Treasure Radiance Pure Land has been vacated, and girl Yun is the most compatible person for it. In the past, when the idols available for inheritance were only at the Bodhisattva or Arhat karmic attainments, she could refuse if she did not wish to go. But now that it is the Akshobhya Buddha, the choice is no longer hers."
Wei Yuan did not interrupt, continuing to listen.
"Do you know what inheriting the Akshobhya dharma idol entails?"
Zhu Yuanjin had mentioned some of this before. Though not in exhaustive detail, Wei Yuan already knew Bao Yun would become an incarnated vessel, severed from samsara forevermore. This was not merely death; rather, it was equivalent to being completely erased from the world. As time passed, everyone's memories of Bao Yun would vanish, until at last it would be as though she had never existed in this world at all.
Wei Yuan finally spoke up, asking, "Is the Bao family truly willing to deliver such a genius into the hands of the Great Treasure Radiance Pure Land? This fate is worse than death."
"The Great Treasure Radiance Pure Land has a special connection with our Bao family, and this concerns the Akshobhya Buddha, so many elders within the clan support the matter. Furthermore, the Great Treasure Radiance Pure Land has sent this generation's Peacock Buddha Mother to receive her, and she has already arrived."
Wei Yuan had not expected his rivals to arrive so quickly. Had he not followed an instinctual impulse and made the swift decision to rush to the Bao family, it might truly have been too late.
Wei Yuan silently awaited what was to come, his posture steadily straightening as an indomitable sharpness began to emerge.
Bao Manshan gave a slight nod and said, "What you need to do now is let the other elders see that waiting a while longer for your sake is worthwhile."
Bao Manshan tapped the air, and a detailed miniature projection of a secret realm appeared before them. He said, "This is my Bao family's Western Netherworld Secret Realm. To contest for girl Yun, Qiongshan Immortal Island and the Peacock Buddha Mother agreed to determine the victor within the Netherworld Secret Realm. Whoever captures the Shadowless Flying Marten released into the realm will gain access to girl Yun first.
"Originally, this had nothing to do with you, but since you have come, you might as well enter together with them. However, a word of caution: those entering from both factions are at the Dharma Idol realm. And they are by no means rubbish dharma idols."
Wei Yuan said, "Fine. I will go."
Bao Manshan said, "As of now, you already have my vote in the council of elders. Rest well for these two days and make ample preparations. The secret realm opens in two days."
"Why is the young master of Qionghua Immortal Island so set on marrying Bao Yun?"
"Qionghua Immortal Island possesses a secret art of yin-yang dual cultivation. If girl Yun marries over, their young master will have immense assurance of ascending to the immortal path, and girl Yun will also see no small improvement, perhaps even having hope of reaching Unity. Because this concerns a future Immortal Monarch, Qionghua Immortal Island is naturally going all out."
Before Wei Yuan left, Bao Manshan suddenly asked, "Why haven't you asked whether girl Yun herself is willing to marry?"
Wei Yuan froze on the spot. He had never even considered this possibility. Yet aside from the time they spent together in Qingming, Wei Yuan and Bao Yun had actually had little contact, and he knew nothing of her family or past. Qionghua Immortal Island and the Bao family were neighbors; perhaps the two were childhood sweethearts.
After pondering, Wei Yuan's brow smoothed, and he said, "Senior, you just said that a matter of such magnitude is not for Bao Yun to decide. In that case, I will contest for an opportunity for her to make her own choice. Once I win it for her, whatever decision she makes will be entirely up to her."
Bao Manshan chuckled and said, "This matter is not so simple. By doing this, you are obstructing the immortal paths and Dao pursuits of both Qionghua Immortal Island and the Pure Land. An enmity like that could not be greater."
Wei Yuan fell silent for a moment before saying, "Must both factions use Bao Yun as a stepping stone, treading upon her to embark on the immortal path? If that is how it must be, then obstruct them I shall!"
Bao Manshan neither agreed nor disagreed, merely waving a hand to have someone lead Wei Yuan away.
The middle-aged man led Wei Yuan to a quiet courtyard nearby and said, "This will be your residence. The Ninth Elder instructed that if you need anything over these two days, do not hesitate to ask."
"I would like a list and corresponding dossiers on the Peacock Buddha Mother and everyone from Qiongshan Immortal Island." Wei Yuan always strove to know both himself and his enemy, so whenever a situation arose, he sought information first.
The middle-aged man smiled wryly. "Sir, you are making things far too difficult for me."
Wei Yuan understood that such information was confidential, so he asked, "What about records on the Shadowless Marten and a map of the secret realm?"
"That, at least, can be arranged."
After a moment's thought, Wei Yuan drew up another list and said, "I also need these materials."
The middle-aged man took the list, glanced over it, and said, "The items are rather eclectic, but the family has them in stock. Please wait a bit; they will be gathered and delivered to you within an hour."
An hour later, several mighty warriors indeed arrived at Wei Yuan's courtyard carrying multiple crates. The materials Wei Yuan requested amounted to over a thousand jin across more than a hundred varieties, most of which were assorted medicinal herbs, along with a dozen or so spiritual materials.
Wei Yuan took the raw materials from the crates one by one and began mixing and concocting.
Meanwhile, Bao Manshan took the list handed over by the middle-aged man. Glancing at it, he incinerated it to ashes with true fire, then asked, "Has anyone else seen this list?"
"No. I handled the procurement personally; no one else touched it."
"Very good. Forget what was written on it."
"Already forgotten."
Bao Manshan waved a hand to dismiss the middle-aged man, remaining alone facing the sea, deep in thoughts unknown.
At this moment, figures crowded Wei Yuan's small courtyard, packing it full and turning it bustling with activity.
Over a dozen figures of varying heights bustled about, dividing the labor with clear coordination. They ground the raw materials into powder according to set formulas, processed them through several procedures, and finally shaped them into cylinders about an inch thick and a palm's length, stacking them neatly in rows.
These cylinders were merely one kind of product; the group of wisdom-awakened warriors had over a dozen different formulas in hand, producing varying quantities of each.
Within Ten Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains, over a thousand people were split into a dozen groups, each researching the Shadowless Marten, the secret realm, and what little information they had on Qionghua Immortal Island and the Great Treasure Radiance Pure Land, putting forward proposal after proposal. Wei Yuan reviewed them one by one, barely able to keep up with the volume.
Most of these plans were utterly bizarre and of no damn use. Yet when enough ideas were generated, a few flashes of genuine brilliance occasionally surfaced, catching Wei Yuan's eye and impressing him.
This clash in the secret realm would be an indirect showdown between the Immortal Island, the Pure Land, and these mortals within Ten Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains.
Chapter 394