Wei Yuan slowly rose to his feet. Though he exerted every ounce of control, his fingertips still trembled slightly after he stepped out of the side hall. Sitting across from Qingtong, he had occasionally felt as if what crouched before him was an indescribable primordial beast whose sheer size exceeded the entire royal capital.
Even now, Wei Yuan could not say for certain whether that had been an illusion.
Returning to the posthouse, Wei Yuan neither read nor meditated. Instead, he collapsed onto his bed and slept straight through until dawn.
Once the morning imperial court session concluded, Wei Yuan went to the royal palace to request an audience with the King of Jin. The king had been on his way to the Hall of Political Affairs, but upon hearing of Wei Yuan's arrival, he pulled Wei Yuan along with him directly to the hall.
Seeing Wei Yuan arrive, the spokesmen of both the Lu and Xu clans maintained an unperturbed demeanor. The rest of the grand secretaries were all wily old foxes as well; not a single one showed any outward reaction.
Once the King of Jin took his seat, he said to Wei Yuan, "My beloved minister, you have traveled from afar. What important matter brings you here?"
Wei Yuan submitted, "Recently, the state of Zhao established the Bishui domain in the Western Regions and deployed heavy forces. Not long ago, they even marched their army to attack Hanyang Pass. Fortunately, Heaven did not cooperate with them, plaguing their march with relentless natural disasters, and Zhao withdrew on its own. At present, Qingming's defenses are hollow, making it one of Zhao's primary targets of attack. The Imperial Guards are the realm's finest elite. This minister requests that Your Majesty dispatch three divisions of the Imperial Guards to march to Qingming and garrison there."
The moment these words left his mouth, the expressions of numerous ministers shifted drastically. Having the Imperial Guards defend Qingming for Wei Yuan? He actually had the nerve to ask for that!
Everyone waited for the King of Jin to sternly reprimand Wei Yuan for his wild fantasy. To their utter surprise, the King of Jin burst into laughter. "You have the gall to ask for such a thing? In total, We possess only four divisions of the Imperial Guards. If We give you three, what will We use to guard the capital? Absolutely not! Two divisions at most!"
The ministers were appalled. The Minister of War stepped forward from the ranks and said hurriedly, "Sage King, this must never be! Transferring the Imperial Guards will inevitably leave the capital undefended. If any mishap befalls the royal capital, none of us could ever bear the responsibility!"
The other ministers voiced their remonstrations as well, but the King of Jin remained unmoved. "We shall grant you the Second and Third Divisions, placing them under your full command. The military expenditures will be charged to the Ministry of War's accounts."
The Minister of War's face fell completely. "This must never be! The moment the Imperial Guards mobilize, their expenditures are tenfold that of ordinary troops. Where could the Ministry of War find such silver now?"
The King of Jin frowned. "That is true enough. Then reduce it by another division. Between the First and Second Divisions, Minister Wei, choose one yourself."
"This minister chooses the First Division."
"Granted!"
The two spoke in rapid succession, and the King of Jin immediately instructed Liu Quangong to draft the edict. Only then did the ministers snap back to their senses. The Right Prime Minister no longer maintained his silence, speaking up, "The movement of the Imperial Guards is a grave affair of state. It must not be treated as child's play!"
The King of Jin's countenance darkened. "What? We cannot even mobilize a single division of troops? If We deploy troops, that constitutes child's play? Does it require Your Excellency the Right Prime Minister's approval?"
A chill ran through the Right Prime Minister's heart, and he hastily bowed. "This subject would not dare!"
"Draft the decree: the First Division of the Imperial Guards shall march within three days. Every person on the roster must report to camp; any absentee shall be executed!"
Liu Quangong's brush flew across the paper like dragons and snakes, drafting the imperial decree on the spot.
Wei Yuan cupped his hands toward the Minister of War and said, "I can advance some of the traveling expenses myself, but as for the future rations and grain, I ask that Your Excellency the Minister does not forget to disburse them on time. Otherwise, if they arrive late and the soldiers of the Imperial Guards end up with empty bellies, things will become difficult to handle."
The Minister of War's face grew as dark as the bottom of a wok, yet he knew Wei Yuan was a man of his word. If he dared to embezzle or withhold military rations, Wei Yuan truly had the audacity to let those aristocratic sons in the Imperial Guards starve.
Wei Yuan's choice of the First Division had been deliberate; he had targeted it precisely because it was packed with the largest number of spoiled playboys from prominent clans.
With this matter settled, Wei Yuan took his leave. The King of Jin did not detain him, continuing to deliberate other vital affairs with his ministers.
Leaving the royal palace, Wei Yuan headed straight for the Jingang Zen Monastery. Tucked in his robes now was an extra formation plate capable of suppressing anomalous local feng shui and karmic luck. It was a magical treasure crafted by Immortal Monarch Yanshi himself, containing a wisp of immortal qi. So long as it was activated, Immortal Monarch Yanshi could manifest and strike a blow.
After leaving Qingtong the previous night, Wei Yuan had immediately sought out Immortal Monarch Yanshi. The immortal monarch had not even needed to hear the full story; he had bestowed the formation plate across the void right then and there, sealing a strike within it in advance.
Consequently, as Wei Yuan entered the Jingang Zen Monastery once more, his spine was far stiffer.
The Jingang Zen Monastery was just as before. From a distance, one could see its unique greenish-yellow lanterns carving out a warm haven within this desolate, dark world.
Stepping into the monastery grounds, Wei Yuan inexplicably relaxed, yet vigilance surged from deep within his body, constantly warning him that this was in truth a den of tigers and wolves.
Passing by the merit pool, Wei Yuan suddenly paused. Amidst the pool of withered leaves, a tiny lotus bud had actually sprouted anew.
The meeting place remained that same side hall, where the only lamplight shone through. Wei Yuan glanced toward the main hall; majestic and towering, it held an aura of solemn grandeur, yet there were no lights burning within. Moreover, Wei Yuan could not shake the feeling that the main hall carried an aura of ruin, as though it had already been destroyed.
Calming his mind, he walked into the side hall and beheld the Silver Moon Great Khan, who was rising like the morning sun over the vast northern grasslands—a youth who appeared only sixteen or seventeen years old.
The youth possessed a tall, straight posture, and the long hair flanking his face was woven into a dozen small braids adorned with agate beads and jade. These were no mere decorations; every single bead harbored a terrifying art.
An extra couch had been added to the hall, placed right beside Qingtong's. Since it was the only vacant one, Wei Yuan walked over and sat down.
The Silver Moon Great Khan looked at Wei Yuan with clear curiosity, then remarked, "Fate is truly marvelous; this is our second meeting. The first was merely passing by each other, but what outcome will this time bring? The human race is truly a fascinating species—nearly everyone I meet is different from the rest."
Wei Yuan nodded in greeting but did not speak.
The Silver Moon Great Khan continued, "To be able to cultivate to such a level at so young an age is truly rare under Heaven. You seem to be practicing the cultivation method of the ancient human Qi Refiners, yes? It is quite different from the current system, which was revised by drawing upon the methods of the Liao Clan."
Wei Yuan replied, "The Great Khan flatters me. You are even younger, yet you already stand before the Immortal Gate, far beyond what I can match."
Silver Moon chuckled heartily. "I am actually an old fellow who has lived for who knows how many years. My cultivation, techniques, dragon qi, factions, and armies were all left behind by my predecessor; I merely went over and inherited them. Thus, I do not count."
Wei Yuan smiled faintly. "I am over two hundred years old as well, so I am not truly young either."
"No, that is entirely different! Those two hundred years of lifespan were the key to breaking the deadlock. Had it been me, I might not have possessed such resolve. Looking back in hindsight, that lifespan not only broke the deadlock, but also allowed you to evade the killing intent of the Heavenly Dao. It was truly an inspired stroke."
"What is the killing intent of the Heavenly Dao?" Wei Yuan had always possessed thick skin, never hesitating to ask about things he did not understand.
Silver Moon said, "You humans have a saying: 'The tree that towers above the forest is bound to be ravaged by the wind.' At that time, you were too young and your cultivation progressed too swiftly. You were that towering tree, and Heaven and Earth were bound to target you in various ways. Such targeting comes from every angle, impossible to guard against; even an immortal might suddenly develop killing intent toward you out of nowhere. But by expending two hundred years of lifespan, the Heavenly Dao's killing intent lost its target and naturally dissipated on its own. For General Wei to make such a decisive choice is truly extraordinary!"
Wei Yuan was stunned. Back then, he had only been thinking of how to deal with Hongye; how could he have considered all that? Interpreted by Silver Moon this way, it made Wei Yuan seem remarkably farsighted, as if he had executed a brilliant maneuver. In truth, Wei Yuan knew full well in his own heart that he had only been looking at what lay directly before him, short-sighted to the extreme.
Wei Yuan said, "I do not deserve such praise from the Great Khan. Might I ask what instructions the Great Khan has for calling this meeting?"
Silver Moon laughed heartily. "Surveying the heroes of this world, there are only you and I. Most of those so-called immortals are nothing more than mediocre, narrow-minded fools. I came today wishing to forge an alliance of sworn brotherhood with General Wei. Let us join hands to first crush the Wise King of the Left and the Little State Preceptor, split their pasturelands and clansmen between us, and unite our armies at the foot of Mount Heavenly Wolf.
"Then, we shall march west together, annihilate the Shaman Clan, advance to the foot of the City of Heaven, and leave a small plot of land for the Ancestral Shaman to spend his retirement. Likewise, you and I will divide the Shaman Clan's territories between us. By that time, roughly two or three centuries will have passed, and both of us will have nearly ascended to immortality. Once all the heroes under Heaven are eradicated and there is no more land left to divide, you and I shall fight a battle to the death!
"As for right now, vast as the world is, it can still accommodate the two of us. Why not divide it between ourselves?"
Though Wei Yuan knew how absurd this sounded, his blood still surged as he listened, and he nearly blurted out an agreement.
In reality, however, he offered a wry smile. "The Great Khan overestimates me. I merely occupy a small corner of the realm, and a barren hinterland at that. How could I possess the qualifications to divide the world with the Great Khan?"
"Rising to power is merely the matter of a snap of the fingers. Very well, what needed to be said has all been spoken, and it is time for me to return to the grasslands. However, worldly affairs carry countless variables. Those disgusting fellows up above are constantly scheming to manipulate us; no one can claim everything will remain fully within their grasp. If General Wei encounters any misfortune in the future, you might as well come to the vast grasslands to find me. When that day comes, we can be brothers for eternity!"
Upon parting, the Silver Moon Great Khan walked over, gave Wei Yuan a forceful embrace, and then stepped out of the hall. Outside, dozens of Liao Clan braves suddenly appeared, surrounding him before vanishing into the night.
Once the Silver Moon Great Khan had departed, Wei Yuan finally asked, "Why did he say all this to me?"
Qingtong said, "Back then, by taking on the Western Jin state fortune, you indirectly saved his life, allowing him to return to the grasslands like a dragon returning to the open sea. That is the karmic bond between you.
"Secondly, he deeply approves of your actions in Qingming, viewing you as a kindred spirit. He often says he wishes for the millions upon millions of Liao Clan commoners on the plains to live lives comparable to the immortal realm. In this regard, he is quite like you. Thus, his talk of an alliance was no mere empty words; you would do well to consider it carefully. If you agree, steady streams of support will arrive from the Silver Moon Royal Tent."
Wei Yuan nodded, indicating he would consider it seriously.
***
Chapter 742: Preparing for the World Fragment
The moment he returned to the Northern Mountain Gate, Wei Yuan went to pay a visit to Immortal Monarch Yanshi. Their meeting place remained that unchanging small courtyard. After paying his respects, Wei Yuan recounted the encounter with the Silver Moon Great Khan and the details of their conversation in full.
Yanshi held his teacup, unmoving. Only after a long while did he appear to snap out of a reverie, asking, "What were you just saying?"
Wei Yuan felt a bit bemused, so he repeated himself once more.
Only this time did Yanshi take it in. "Just now, I forcefully obliterated one of the Wise King of the Left's minor worlds and was subjected to a fierce counterattack from him, suffering a slight loss. I couldn't spare my attention over here for a moment."
Wei Yuan was startled. "You suffered a slight loss?"
Yanshi sighed. "A spell struck one of my grotto-heavens, destroying several hundred li of land and devastating the living beings there! My opponent truly lacked all honor, launching a sneak attack the moment my attention was divided. But I have committed that spell to memory and marked the fellow who cast it. I will see to it that he suffers misfortune for a century before my hatred can be appeased!
"This battle also showed that the people within my grotto-heaven have grown comfortable for too long. For them to slacken even at such a time, it is no wonder they suffered a loss. They must be severely disciplined..."
This round of self-reflection from Immortal Monarch Yanshi lasted for an entire quarter of an hour. He summarized over a dozen lessons, identified eight areas needing improvement, and, drawing inferences from one instance to the next, pointed out several potential hidden dangers—
Wei Yuan stood quietly until Yanshi finished speaking, only then asking cautiously, "And that was all?"
"That was all."
"In other words, you destroyed one of their Scenery Command minor worlds, and they struck back with a single spell that ruined several hundred li of ground?"
"Correct."
Wei Yuan was at a loss for words. Immortal Monarch Yanshi did not say a word about taking the lion's share of the spoils, yet when he suffered the slightest loss, he droned on and on with exhaustive analyses and reflections. Such a personality—
Wei Yuan thought it was quite fine, actually, and resolved to learn from it.
Having vented his thoughts to his satisfaction, Yanshi asked once more, "What were you saying just now?"
Wei Yuan could only recount the meeting with the Silver Moon Great Khan yet again. Immortal Monarch Yanshi offered no definitive judgment, simply asking, "What do you plan to do?"
Wei Yuan said, "This disciple feels it best to feign compliance for now, determining the true nature of his relationship with the Wise King of the Left and the reason for their feud. Then, I will find out how many blood feuds and mortal enemies he has within Northern Liao. When the time is right, we might as well give things a push to ensure Silver Moon is eliminated first. If the Patriarch deems it feasible, perhaps we could make peace with the Wise King of the Left, allowing him to preserve his strength and return to deal with Silver Moon."
Yanshi remarked, "Silver Moon has yet to ascend to immortality, yet from your tone, you already regard him as your primary nemesis. Why is that?"
Wei Yuan hesitated for a moment, then replied, "This disciple is merely catching at shadows. Qingtong said the Silver Moon Great Khan vowed to let the mortal Liao Clan live as well as those in the immortal realm. This disciple felt that such a person is my lifelong enemy; if given the opportunity, it would be best to eliminate him in advance.
"If the Wise King of the Left truly shares an irreconcilable feud with him, then he should not be weakened excessively; we must release him back to fight with Silver Moon. If you need to vent your anger, you can vent it on the Little State Preceptor."
Yanshi glared at Wei Yuan. "If I only strike the Little State Preceptor, wouldn't people say I'm merely picking on the soft persimmon?"
Wei Yuan thickened his skin. "Soft persimmons are sweeter to eat!"
Yanshi finally nodded. "It seems you have gained some insight. This is a natural vigilance toward an opponent who likewise amasses human fortune. Though you cannot see it, you should have already sensed the immense karmic luck of the Liao Clan commoners upon Silver Moon's person."
Before an immortal, Wei Yuan did not dare to boast, admitting honestly, "This disciple did not sense anything at all. I simply felt that Silver Moon possesses extraordinary vision and judges people remarkably well. Thus, I felt somewhat uneasy."
Yanshi looked at Wei Yuan and said indifferently, "His judgment of people is indeed remarkably sharp! Among the heroes under Heaven, there are only you and him. We immortals are merely mediocre, narrow-minded fools."
"You know about that already?" Wei Yuan was greatly astonished.
"You carried my immortal treasure, and he included me in his curses. Now that the treasure has returned to my side, I naturally became aware." Yanshi cast another glare at Wei Yuan before continuing:
"Silver Moon already stands outside the Immortal Gate; he has certainly seen the vast human fortune you bear, which is why he sought an alliance with you. Well, entering an alliance or declining one both have their merits. It all depends on how you choose to proceed. At this stage, schemes and maneuvers are mere auxiliary means; everything must still center upon your own strength."
Wei Yuan's mind settled slightly, and he asked further, "Does the Patriarch know Qingtong's origins? Why is she aiding the King of Jin in his cultivation?"
Yanshi uncharacteristically furrowed his brows slightly. After performing silent calculations for a moment, he said, "Her origins are exceedingly peculiar; even I cannot fully deduce them. There is a slight chance she hails from an ancient sect known as Xianmeng Yuntian. That sect appeared suddenly and remains unfathomably mysterious; its practitioners behave in bizarre ways, making it impossible to discern their motives. Alternatively, she might be an esoteric cultivator emerging from the Buddha-Fall Ground. Well, as for that sect—"
As he reached this point, Yanshi frowned in silence. After pondering a while, he said, "No matter. You bear immense human karmic luck; these reclusive sects cannot harm you. At most, they will try every means to guide you into doing a few things. For now, Qingtong harbors no malice toward you, so there is no need for immediate concern.
"Go back and amass more karmic luck. In a short while, there is a major task for you to undertake."
Wei Yuan felt a jolt in his heart and hastily asked, "What manner of major task?"
"Heeding your advice just now, I took a closer look at the Little State Preceptor's holdings and took a fancy to a deep blue world of his. However, the Little State Preceptor does not possess many assets, guarding each of them stringently. At this juncture, we need him to misjudge the situation so that I may strike amidst the chaos.
"What you must do is disguise your Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World as one of my grotto-heavens. When the opponent moves to besiege it, I will suddenly cast out the genuine grotto-heaven and launch a full-scale ambush. We will surely reap significant gains!"
Wei Yuan was shocked. Was he being asked to act as live bait to go fishing? Immortal Monarch Yanshi's grotto-heavens were universally golden tinged with red; the appearance of just one would draw golden grotto-heavens leading swarms of minor worlds to besiege it.
The Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World was at most a white minor world, and even after devouring the Astral Pivot Stone, it was barely a pale green. What right did it have to endure a siege by golden grotto-heavens?
Wei Yuan felt that even if the fish took the bait, if Immortal Monarch Yanshi were even a fraction too slow, his little piece of bait would be completely obliterated.
Sensing his anxiety, Yanshi consoled, "No need to worry. A mishap is not inevitable."
Hearing that, Wei Yuan became even more worried.
Yanshi said, "Your current accumulation is still insufficient, so it is indeed not yet time for you to take the field. Return for now, gather some karmic luck first, and then digest that world fragment inside your mindscape world. That should about suffice.
"However, I noticed that while the entrance you constructed into the world fragment is exceptionally ingenious, your methods of conquest remain inadequate. I shall transmit to you a Heavenly Secret Fortune Transformation Art specifically meant for conquering mindscape worlds. Once you master it, go ahead and digest that world fragment on your own."
With that, True Monarch Yanshi chanted true incantations, sending countless Dao talismans pouring into Wei Yuan's sea of consciousness. This transmission lasted a full seven days.
The Heavenly Secret Fortune Transformation Art allowed karmic luck to be bestowed upon Dao soldiers, puppets, and living beings within a grotto-heaven; those blessed by this luck would see their strength multiply drastically. Wei Yuan possessed vast quantities of human azure qi, making it ideal for conquest.
Under normal circumstances, Wei Yuan could bestow karmic luck on his own, which lasted for extended durations. The Heavenly Secret Fortune Transformation Art, however, actively ignited that luck; while the consumption increased enormously, its efficacy surged proportionally. Blessed by the art, one's power could directly double, far outstripping what was possible in the past.
His battle with Silver Blade had already consumed a massive amount of karmic luck, and with this new method, Wei Yuan immediately felt his azure qi running short. Certain tasks he had already planned to carry out needed to be brought to the agenda as soon as possible.
Taking his leave from Immortal Monarch Yanshi, Wei Yuan returned to the garrison city. After routinely inspecting the defense lines, he retreated to his quarters to carefully review and tally his karmic luck.
At present, he did not possess a single wisp of purple luck, and his azure luck amounted to merely some three hundred thousand wisps. This small amount was enough to fight at most three major battles. As for otherworldly luck, after the wild upheaval caused by the Yin-Yang transformation last time, Wei Yuan did not even know how much debt he owed, let alone when he would be able to repay it.
All he could plan for right now was the azure qi of human fortune. Examining the sources of his azure qi, Wei Yuan discovered that the three northern garrison cities had contributed a total of one hundred and twenty thousand wisps. With the reserve Dao soldiers guarding the three garrisons totaling three hundred thousand, contributing one hundred and twenty thousand wisps of karmic luck was already quite remarkable.
Among the reserve Dao soldiers who had yet to achieve great accomplishment in Body Casting, at most sixty percent could contribute karmic luck. Wei Yuan had only taken over the Left and Right Garrisons recently, so their luck was not substantial. The Seventh Garrison, meanwhile, had already yielded everything it could, possessing no further latent potential.
Qingming currently held seven million people. Along with the rapid expansion of the population, phenomena such as struggles for power and profit, extortion, lax governance, and creeping corruption had inevitably surfaced. Consequently, the acquisition of karmic luck was far inferior to when the realm was first founded.
Though commoners enjoyed systems of military merit, channels for cultivation, and the inherited honors of major achievements, none of this changed the reality that the vast majority possessed neither talent nor broad vision.
Seeing no hope of advancement, these people took all the more delight in comparing themselves to one another. Yet what they competed in was not valiant progress, but the petty cunning and craftiness of market folk. For instance, when working in the same field, a person would adamantly refuse to do even a fraction more work than another. And whenever one succeeded in slacking off, they felt as delighted as if they had tasted sweet honey.
Qingming was now on the verge of entering its seventh year, yet this year's per-mu crop yield had actually dropped rather than increased across many fields—something completely defying common sense. In truth, as Qingming's nurturing deepened, the earth qi grew year after year, and spiritual qi became increasingly abundant.
Many fertile fields from Qingming's founding had now become spiritual fields, and many who originally lacked Dao Foundation talent now had a fighting chance to break through to a template Dao Foundation.
With nothing else changed, the yield per mu should have risen by thirty percent; how could it possibly decline?
Previously, Wei Yuan had not noticed such fine details. Moreover, the drop was merely a dozen or so jin; elsewhere, a slight variation in per-mu yield would have been normal. But in Qingming, taking into account what should have been gained, it meant the yield per mu was several dozen jin short—a full thirty percent of the harvest!
Wei Yuan's first thought was that someone was stealing grain; his second thought was that an issue had arisen underground.
He immediately sent a message to Perfected Chuhe via an incarnation. Old Daoist Chuhe had always overseen the spiritual fields; if any problem occurred with the earth qi, he would naturally detect it.
A moment later, Old Daoist Chuhe replied: no one had stolen grain, and the earth qi was entirely normal. The decline in harvest was simply because far too many people were slacking off.
Chapter 741