The Tianluo Star, hidden for more than half a year, had finally lit up.
Inside the mirror, the spirit cheered, "It's stayed bright all night without flickering once!"
Unlike the fleeting glimmers of the previous two occasions, its radiance remained rock-steady this time, exactly like the other nine stars.
"The Tianluo Star's period of enduring brilliance has finally arrived." He Lingchuan let out a long breath. "Excellent. Our operation has a real chance now."
Only when the Tianluo Star shone steadily would the nexus of the Spirit Gathering Grand Formation emerge from the void.
Every plan they had made to infiltrate Mount Xu was built on that premise.
In truth, He Lingchuan harbored another suspicion:
The Tianluo Star always shone steadily through autumn and winter. Chronologically, did that coincide with the wild sand season in the Panlong Desert?
According to Mitian, the Dafang Pot had originally been part of the Tianluo Star. The two were bound by mutual resonance. Whenever the Dafang Pot stirred, it caused the hidden star to flash.
Every year's wild sand season in the Panlong Desert was triggered by the Dafang Pot—an immense release of energy.
Sensing this, the Tianluo Star would enter its period of enduring brilliance.
Meanwhile, in the Panlong world within the Dafang Pot, there was no such thing as enduring brilliance for the Tianluo Star, because Panlong City had not yet fallen back then, and the Panlong Wasteland had no wild sand season at all.
Before long, Fu Shanyue returned from outside and said excitedly to He Lingchuan, "Bai Ziqi has made his move."
"Did he go in person?"
"Right after yesterday's opening ceremony for the Grass Sea festival, someone saw him lead a squad out through the South Gate. But no one knows where he went." When Bai Ziqi wanted to keep a secret, virtually no one could track his whereabouts. "He truly couldn't wait. He didn't even delay by a single night."
"National Preceptor Qingyang handles affairs meticulously. No matter how capable Bai Ziqi is, investigating this case has been like a rat trying to bite a turtle—nowhere to get its teeth in." He Lingchuan could sympathize with Bai Ziqi's frustration; his opponent was National Preceptor Qingyang, after all. "He rushed off to make the arrest in person precisely out of fear that delays might invite trouble."
Fu Shanyue chuckled. "If you ask me, he's also afraid the Demon Emperor will soften his heart."
From that point on, time seemed to accelerate.
Life on He Lingchuan's side remained tranquil. Aside from exchanging social visits with prominent clans, he spent his days wandering Lingxu City, visiting the Lingxu Imperial Academy and the most celebrated scholarly academies.
The Imperial Academy was Beijia's highest institution of learning, run by the state and boasting over thirty thousand students. However, the routine consisted purely of masters lecturing and students listening; voicing dissent was forbidden.
The six major academies, by contrast, occupied their own distinct domains, drew scholars from across the world, and encouraged spirited debate, where clashes of intellect were a common sight.
Overall, the atmosphere there was intellectually free and open to diverse ideas, seeming like another world entirely compared to the rest of Lingxu City.
Stealing a few days of leisure amidst his bustling schedule, He Lingchuan couldn't help but sigh with feeling: this was the kind of life ordinary folk ought to enjoy in Lingxu City.
Of course, skimming the surface like a casual sightseer held little interest.
Jiang Tao and Gao Jilin, whom he had met during his outing to Mount Xu, had repeatedly reached out through Old Ge, the long-armed ape guide, hoping to pay their respects to "He Yun."
He Lingchuan gave it some thought. Though his own secret tasks were advancing at a relentless pace, one still had to eat. So he readily accepted the invitation.
Those two state-sponsored students from the Zhi Kingdom happened to study at the Imperial Academy. Delighted to hear of He Lingchuan's arrival, they brought several classmates along.
Compared to Jiang Tao, He Lingchuan felt Gao Jilin had keener judgment, and he wanted to see what sort of people Gao Jilin associated with.
To his surprise, of the eleven or twelve newcomers who arrived, eight had been invited by Jiang Tao. They booked two tables at Xiangman Restaurant diagonally across from the Imperial Academy, making for an exceptionally lively gathering.
It seemed Jiang Tao was far more gregarious and hospitable than Gao Jilin—a useful strength in its own right.
Jiang Tao introduced one of the guests to He Lingchuan: "This is Zheng Zewu, grandson of the Grand Preceptor of Nie Kingdom. He took first place in this year's Inner Hall spring examinations at the Imperial Academy. Following a direct recommendation from the Minister of Agriculture, he will take up an official post at the Directorate of Waterways next spring."
The number of foreign students studying at the Imperial Academy was enormous, yet those who truly managed to secure an official post in Lingxu City were exceedingly rare, even if it was merely a minor or sinecure position. Most had to return to their home countries or, like Fang Canran, enter the service of high nobles or official subsidiary institutions.
In He Lingchuan's view, all the positions were packed to the brim, with too many monks chasing too little porridge—the competition was cutthroat. Everyone had to work their way up from petty roles, so Zheng Zewu's career prospects were already the envy of his peers.
"And this is Wang Mao, from the Jinzhen Kingdom. He will also enter the court as an official next year. Brother He, you've heard of the Wang clan of Jinzhen, haven't you?"
He Lingchuan nodded. "I have. The preeminent clan of Jinzhen." Overflowing with wealth.
Jiang Tao proceeded to introduce the rest of the scholars. Almost all hailed from distinguished backgrounds in various states, and surprisingly, two of them were from the east.
Seeing that He Lingchuan was handsome, tall, and carried an extraordinary bearing, these scholars were eager to make his acquaintance.
Only Zheng Zewu from Nie Kingdom wore a faint smile, tinged with haughtiness and aloof detachment.
Restaurants in Beijia were not cheap, and Xiangman Restaurant across from the Imperial Academy was pricier still, drawing bustling crowds as a result. Yet the festive season had not arrived, so the establishment had plenty of private dining rooms. Why hadn't this man named He arranged a quiet room for them, instead seating them in the bustling main hall among the coming and going patrons?
The noise here was deafening, idle chatter flew in every direction, and one practically had to shout to be heard.
This was simply lacking in proper hospitality.
Irritated, he gave cold and indifferent responses to He Lingchuan and Jiang Tao, answering only one out of every three remarks.
With his shift in demeanor, four or five other scholars followed suit, cooling their initial warmth toward the host.
He Lingchuan saw at a glance that they took their cues from Zheng Zewu, but he did not care in the slightest, smoothly attending to everyone and urging them to enjoy the wine and dishes.
When foreign scholars like Jiang Tao and Zheng Zewu traveled to Lingxu City for study, their goals were to absorb advanced knowledge, broaden their horizons, and embellish their credentials, but also to build expansive networks, make like-minded acquaintances, and widen their social circles.
If local noble families took a liking to their talents, they might hold open positions or even come knocking to recruit them.
In fact, when Zhong Shengguang had been sent from Xiluo Kingdom on a state-sponsored study trip to Lingxu City all those years ago, he was no different from these scholars. Lingxu City was simply vast, filled with every manner of extraordinary talent. Hadn't Zhong Shengguang met the like-minded Shao Jian right here?
As the saying went, there was no knot that couldn't be unraveled over drinks; if there was, it only meant you hadn't drunk enough.
After several exquisite dishes were served and a dozen cups of fine wine went down, the thin frost on Zheng Zewu's face began to thaw. Moreover, He Lingchuan was generous with his coin and spoke with substance, making it easy to win everyone's goodwill.
It was midday, and Xiangman Restaurant was packed with distinguished guests. He Lingchuan kept his ears open and picked up countless passionate debates. Situated right across from the Imperial Academy, the restaurant's patrons were mostly students from within its gates.
Young people fueled by wine naturally brimmed with soaring ambition, fond of critiquing current affairs and pontificating on the realm.
There was nothing they dared not say.
The elixir of immortality case, the war in the east, Crown Prince Huan of Lingxu attacking Crown Prince Yue of Chiyan—every topic had people analyzing it with plausible eloquence. And six out of ten topics were connected to He Lingchuan.
Only then did he realize with a start just how deeply entangled he had become in Lingxu City.
These scholars were even debating the merits and flaws of god-venerating kingdoms versus sovereign-venerating kingdoms.
A god-venerating kingdom was one where the entire realm revered deities and obeyed divine edicts, such as Beijia.
A sovereign-venerating kingdom was one like the Yuan Kingdom, where the monarch held autocratic sway.
Listening to a few remarks, He Lingchuan learned that quite a few god-venerating kingdoms existed across the world. In particular, after Beijia was founded, it set an example for the mortal realm, proving the immense success of a god-venerating state through hundreds of years of peace and prosperity.
Under its influence, the number of such nations had steadily risen, especially after divine miracles manifested across various lands.
Yet because they worshipped different deities, disputes often erupted among them as a consequence.
Among the scholars in the restaurant, there were proponents of every faction. As the debate dragged on, it escalated into shouting matches, with flushed faces and bulging neck veins.
He Lingchuan wondered aloud, "Topics like these can be discussed so openly?"
To debate the drawbacks of venerating gods and the superiority of imperial autocracy right here in Lingxu City, beneath the very eyes of celestial gods?
And the authorities simply let them be?
He Lingchuan found it utterly incredible. In the Yuan Kingdom, offering blood sacrifices to deities was a capital crime, and merely debating the subject too much could earn a person slaps across the face.
To hold forth so publicly, spitting saliva in heated debate—heh, one's tongue would have to be sliced off to serve as a warning to the public.
The common folk jokingly called it the Great Silencing Art.
"What is there to fear in speaking a few words? Truth only shines brighter through debate," Zheng Zewu said with a faint smile. "Beijia is mighty beyond measure; why should it fear talk or critique? This is what it means for the strong to know no taboos! Only weak nations are fragile, paranoid, and hysterical, regarding the people's chatter as thorns and wishing to blindfold and gag their populace."
Beijia's very existence was the best answer and counterargument to any doubt.
If one claimed it was flawed, how had it remained so formidable to this day? Sovereign-venerating kingdoms collapsed in all manner of undignified postures, cycling through countless monarchs. Why had Beijia stood proud for six hundred years, remaining a supreme power in the world?
Several people at the adjacent table overheard him and applauded. "Well said! That is precisely the truth!"
He Lingchuan smiled. An overwhelmingly powerful existence was in itself the most potent brainwashing for the weak.
Wang Mao chimed in, "These are old platitudes. We hear them three or five times every month, and no conclusion ever comes of it."
Another scholar named Situ He suddenly interjected, "Actually, Beijia doesn't permit just any topic to be discussed."
"Oh?" He Lingchuan's curiosity was piqued. "For example?"
"For example, the vassal demon kingdom of Yuan that rebelled nearly two hundred years ago!" Situ He lowered his voice. If He Lingchuan hadn't possessed exceptional hearing, he might have missed it entirely. "I heard an old man who wasn't afraid of trouble wrote a book trying to rehabilitate the old Yuan Kingdom, and as a result, he was..."
He Lingchuan seemed to have heard about that somewhere as well.
"That matter was sealed in the coffin long ago. It isn't worth discussing." Jiang Tao immediately raised his cup. "Come, let me propose another toast to everyone!"
Situ He started to say more, but Wang Mao shot him a warning glance, and he swallowed the rest of his words.
He Lingchuan smoothly shifted to a safer topic:
"Consider Beijia's neighbor, the Yuan Kingdom. In the north, formidable enemies watch like tigers stalking their prey; in the west, rebels capture cities and seize strongholds, while government forces are powerless to resist. Domestically, successive disasters have struck, leaving grief across the land, and uprisings have erupted one after another. If all of you were in charge of statecraft, what good strategies would you propose?"
The scholars gripped their wine cups, deep in thought. This was precisely the kind of political problem they loved to discuss.
What was the point of cramming a belly full of scholarship if not to solve real-world problems in the end?
Wang Mao spoke first. "With natural disasters and civil uprisings, the people can no longer survive. The primary step must be lightening corvée labor and reducing taxes, allowing the populace to rest and recover."
Another scholar shook his head. "Isn't the war still raging in the west? Once taxes are cut, where will the state treasury get money? Didn't you hear that government troops are already struggling to resist? If their rations and uniforms are cut back further, wouldn't they mutiny and join the rebels?"
"Indeed, forcing the common people to endure a bit more is the only viable path," Situ He agreed. "From what I've seen, countries mired in continuous civil war always raise taxes year after year to cover the treasury's deficits."
Chapter 638