Chapter 153: Rich Rewards
Chapter 153: Rich Rewards
The next morning, Mu Yuan and Yun Xi walked out of their room as if nothing had happened and had breakfast with the other four cultivators.
After a night of meditation, they had finally recovered their injured divine sense. Fortunately, the talismanic scripts engraved on the city wall only acted in self-defense and did not chase after them. Otherwise, they might have needed a long time to recuperate!
As for the unknown person’s light snort at the end, it was mostly just a warning and did not cause much harm, allowing the two to get off easy!
However, because of this, Yun Xi’s temperament became slightly more restrained.
The prince’s mansion’s breakfast was also very simple: four types of pastries and four types of soups and porridges, all made from light and elegant medicinal vegetables that were refreshing and delicious. It was much more comfortable than cultivating in the mountains!
Even though they were all cultivators, they could not help but eat until their bellies were round and full!
Tian Zhong, the big man from the Tianyin Sect, patted his belly contentedly, let out a satisfied burp, and said with a laugh, “The life of a prince is indeed much more prosperous than ours. When I was cultivating in my sect, I never had such treatment!”
Mu Yuan felt the same way but did not show it.
Mortals have short lives, and those in high positions naturally seek enjoyment and comfort, which was not strange!
But if cultivators lived like this every day, it would likely become a hindrance to their hearts!
The five flavors can spoil the palate!
Cultivators embrace simplicity and reduce selfish desires. They pursue satisfaction but exercise restraint, and do not overindulge in sensory pleasures!
Only in this way could they glimpse the true beauty of the vast world, without things going contrary to their wishes and becoming burdens that harm their body and mind, or obstacles!
Everyone present understood this principle. Even the rough and straightforward-looking Tian Zhong was only grumbling!
“Honored immortals, if you have finished breakfast, please follow me into the palace.”
Prince Zheng Tai appeared at just the right moment, wearing a warm smile as he asked the group.
Everyone nodded, and Prince Zheng Tai quickly called for servants to prepare the carriages and horses. They clip-clopped their way into the palace!
Passing under the imperial city wall, Mu Yuan and Yun Xi lifted the carriage curtains and looked up and down. They saw that the wall was made of blue bricks and green tiles, but could not see anything unusual. Both shook their heads.
“Honored immortals seem very interested in this city wall?”
A fast green-maned horse trotted up beside the carriage. On it was a guard captain wearing golden iron armor. Seeing the two stick their heads out, he came over to strike up a conversation.
“Oh?”
Mu Yuan found this interesting and simply rolled up the carriage curtain, asking, “Does the captain know when this city wall was built and who built it?”
The captain nodded, his body swaying slightly on the horse, and pointed at the continuous wall, saying, “The Imperial City was built by the founding emperor of the Tianyu Kingdom when he established the capital at Fanming City. According to ancient legend, when the Tianyu Kingdom was founded, it received help from various immortal masters and great Buddhist sages. Because the battle at Fanming was so fierce, blood flowed like a river, and the souls of the dead and vengeful ghosts haunted the battlefield, wailing day and night. In the end, they were all suppressed beneath the city wall by the immortals and sages. This wall has stood for a thousand years without decay, making it the oldest structure in our Fanming City!”
“So that’s how it is!”
Mu Yuan and Yun Xi both nodded. When they looked at the wall again, their eyes were different!
The carriage swiftly passed through the palace gates. On both sides stood armored guards, their bodies straight as statues, their eyes cold, and their swords and halberds gleaming!
“The Tianyu Kingdom is indeed stricter and more majestic than the Tiandu Kingdom!”
Among the various kingdoms, the Tiandu Kingdom was relatively weaker in terms of power and national strength, while Tianyu was the top hegemonic kingdom. Otherwise, the alliance of kingdoms would not have been held in the Tianyu Kingdom!
Once inside the palace gates, they finally saw the capital of the Tianyu Kingdom. It was truly magnificent and majestic, filled with gleaming tall buildings and halls, winding corridors and pavilions, ponds and gardens, with fragrant aromas and the faint sound of zither music.
“The imperial grandeur is quite similar to the ethereal beauty of the immortal realm!”
Mu Yuan’s heart stirred. Ordinary mortals naturally could not detect the zither music coming from within, smell the fragrant flowers, or see the grand halls and majestic imperial gardens!
In the eyes of mortals, they only saw Emperor Jianming leading his officials, striding out from the Qiankun Hall after the morning court!
Along with Prince Zheng Tai’s carriage, the other nine princes also entered the palace, each bringing their own cultivators, forming a grand procession!
Mu Yuan and the other cultivators got down from their carriages and gave a slight bow to the current emperor of the Tianyu Kingdom.
“Honored immortals…”
What followed was a long, speech-like encouragement from Emperor Jianming to boost morale. Mu Yuan did not pay much attention, occasionally glancing around. He discovered there were over fifty people, brought only by the ten princes. The civil and military officials must have recruited some as well, but they were not present here!
“What did I say? It’s impossible for all of them to be true cultivators. Look at those two sneaky Taoists, putting on an act. You can tell at a glance they are swindlers who roam around. They might know a few tricks, but if they really faced the rampaging demon beasts, they would surely die quickly!”
Following Yun Xi’s gaze, they saw two Taoists wearing dark blue robes. Although they had humble appearances, they gave off a sleazy vibe. Their faces were pale and beardless, and their hair was half-black and half-white. They were whispering to each other.
Mu Yuan chuckled. “People have to make a living. Since they can come here, they must have some skills. Why bother too much about it, Yun Xi?”
“The world is vast, evil runs rampant, harming living beings and bringing chaos to the land…”
Emperor Jianming was still speaking loudly, his voice full of energy and clear, which surprised Mu Yuan a little.
He had thought that an emperor, living in luxury and indulgence, would have a weak aura and a thin, gaunt face. He never expected this emperor to have practiced health preservation, and possibly even martial arts or Taoist techniques!
“The alliance of kingdoms gathers to discuss plans to subdue the demons. As the saying goes, a thousand soldiers are easy to find, but a good general is hard to come by. You honored immortals possess unfathomable arts and the power to influence heaven and earth. How could you not contribute your strength to eliminate the evil demons and restore purity to the world…”
After a long and tedious speech, it was announced that the immortals would demonstrate their arts to reassure the people. In reality, it was to gain an advantage for the upcoming alliance meeting.
Finally, everyone was asked to step forward and draw lots to determine their order and opponents, which made the cultivators present change their expressions!
Among the cultivators present, seven out of ten were Buddhist cultivators. However, not all were bald monks; some had hair and practiced cultivation. But the faint Buddha light around them, unmoving like a mountain, revealed their origins.
Whether they were monks or Taoists, they all felt a surge of anger at Emperor Jianming’s suggestion of drawing lots.
“He’s just a mortal emperor, seeking to satisfy his own selfish desires by making us perform and risk our lives!”
This was the thought in the minds of most cultivators, and they remained motionless.
A few Taoists and monks took a step forward, seemingly intending to choose numbers. But seeing that no one else moved, they were stuck in an awkward position, unable to advance or retreat!
On Emperor Jianming’s face, which combined dignity and compassion, a faint smile flashed. He clapped his hands, and two young eunuchs came forward, each holding a square tray covered with an embroidered cloth depicting mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas.
“Since the honored immortals are not moving, this emperor will set a prize!”
Emperor Jianming spoke while looking around.
“Here are two items passed down from our royal family in earlier times. It is said they are also objects of the immortal realm. If any immortal master is interested, why not compete? The last two remaining will receive these two items!”
“What immortal objects? What do mere mortals know? They probably treat pearls and agates as rare treasures. What are they worth?”
Whispering sounds arose from various places.
Emperor Jianming personally lifted the brocade cover. Two beams of golden light instantly shot out a zhang away, dazzlingly bright. Even the various cultivators were blinded by the strong light!
The two treasures, suddenly uncovered, were like a fierce tiger descending a mountain or a flood dragon emerging from water, revealing brilliant radiance before retracting it in an instant.
The cultivators were all in an uproar and looked over. On the left tray was a flawless, pearl-like bone pellet, while on the right was a golden hexagonal wheel, silent and unmoving.
“This is…”
Neither Mu Yuan nor Yun Xi recognized the bone pellet, but the hexagonal golden wheel resembled the light wheel manifested by the talismanic scripts on the city wall the previous night. Both were shaken.
“It’s actually a Buddha relic!”
A soft exclamation came from the mouths of several monks, drawing everyone’s gaze back to the bone pellet.
Exquisite as a pearl, its light flowing like water.
“I never expected the royal family to have such treasures!”
Yun Xi transmitted a thread of divine sense leisurely. Mu Yuan nodded.
As the saying goes, rich rewards make brave men. This was indeed true. Whether coveting the treasures or curious about the royal family’s strength, a group of cultivators went up on stage to draw lots.
Just then, a figure stepped out from the Qiankun Hall behind. His beard and hair flowed, his spirit clear and bones elegant. He wore a blue Confucian robe, his face fair and exuding a scholarly air. He walked directly to Emperor Jianming’s side.
Emperor Jianming clapped his hands and said with a smile, “With so many immortal masters gathered, to avoid trouble, this emperor will first conduct a small screening.”
As he spoke, the blue-robed scholar waved his hand, and a faint light screen appeared on the dragon-coiled stone steps in front of Emperor Jianming.
“Only those immortal masters who pass through this light screen are qualified to compete!”
“What a move! This person is probably close to cultivating his Primordial Spirit. But since there is such a strong person here, why do we need to compete? How strange!”
After a slight perception, Mu Yuan discovered that this light screen would block anyone who had not opened their spiritual sense or possessed earthly evil or heavenly righteous energy. He could not help but sigh.
Many people had already stepped forward. On Prince Zheng Tai’s side, Tian Zhong leaped vigorously to the front and laughed, “Let me give it a try first!”
Saying this, he charged forward and was the first to collide with the light screen.
The light layer, like a curtain, sparkled with flowing points. A faint, crisp sound seemed to come from Tian Zhong’s body. Without stopping, he directly crossed the light screen and landed on the platform at the end of the stone steps.