Wet viviparity

Chapter 901 The Unsettled World
The night sky was as black as ink, and the stars were cold and sharp.

Shangguan Yun, a member of the Cabinet, stood alone by the jade railing of the Star Gazing Platform, gazing at the hundreds of lights above the sea of ​​clouds below—the temporary lodgings of various sects and delegations, scattered like stars around the main halls and pavilions of the Divine Palace.

He held a warm jade slip in his hand, which contained the latest report—the Heavenly Mighty Mother of Mount Tianteng had agreed to use her twenty-three fire jade mines under her jurisdiction as collateral in exchange for a special loan of the first batch of Taiping Treasure Coins after the Great Council.

This should have been a cause for celebration, as it meant that the last few stubborn major powers had largely submitted, and the foundation of the Grand Council was now solid.

However, Shangguan Yun showed no joy. Intelligence from his spies within Tianteng Mountain told him that the three birds and five monsters in Tianteng Mountain were at odds with each other due to their differences over the winter council in the year 60.

Originally, Taiping Mountain had prepared a plan to contact Xiaozhu Jinting, who was also in the Southern Wilderness and had a long-standing feud with Tianteng Mountain, and approved the other party to pass a special clause in order to force Tianteng Mountain. However, this unexpectedly provoked the opposite effect.

Now, due to the Xiaozhu Jinting incident, the internal conflicts within Tianteng Mountain have been temporarily suppressed, and they have begun to direct their anger towards Taiping Mountain Shengang Palace. Even the faction of Danluan Goddess, who has always been on friendly terms with He Guan in Hezhou, has begun to sever ties with He Guan and no longer associate with them.

I heard that Wen Daoyu's Daoist partner, Huang Ling, a disciple of Tianteng Mountain, has been expelled from the sect by Tianteng Mountain. As a result, many Tianteng Mountain disciples who were on good terms with Wen Daoyu have been severely punished to varying degrees and are gradually being marginalized.

At this moment, even if Mother Weide had subdued all the factions of Tianteng Mountain, it was merely like putting a lid on a ball of thunder and fire.

Shangguan Yun raised his head and looked up at the "Dexuan Cave," hidden in the clear light, its outline barely visible, his heart churning with emotions.

"Shangguan Cantong, it's late at night and the dew is heavy."

Wen Daoyu's voice came from behind him, holding a dossier, and said, "Nanlao Divine Mountain finally submitted a 'Memorial to the Throne,' although the words were arrogant, the list of collateral was very detailed. It seems that they have accepted it."

Shangguan Yun looked at Wen Daoyu and thought that if anyone was to say who the most outstanding person in Taiping Mountain was, it would be this man.

As Lingxu Xiaosheng went into seclusion in Dexuan Cave, Zhang Xiaoyuan, who lived around the same time, retired from the world and resided in Fudi Zhenjun Cave, serving Lu Zhenjun. Luo Ji traveled around the world, while You Rongzi returned to Xiaolang Mountain. They almost never set foot in the mortal world.

The only one left is Li Zhu Gaozhen, who is still in the Shangfu Baoge Pavilion cooperating with the Shen Gang Palace in handling Taoist affairs.

During this period, Wen Daoyu, as a junior sage, was one of the seven members of the cabinet, assisting the junior sage in managing yin and yang, following the four seasons, and nurturing all things. His prominence was only comparable to that of Lin Shuijun.

However, Lin Shuijun's ambitions lay elsewhere, and having spent so much time in the South China Sea, he neglected his duties and found it even more difficult to grasp the subtleties of human nature as clearly as Wen Daoyu. Therefore, his influence both inside and outside Taiping Mountain was slightly less than that of Wen Daoyu.

Of course, Shangguan Yun believes there is one more point.

That is, Lingxu Xiaosheng has always used Shande Gong Shu Si to restrain Wen Daoyu. Now that Shande Gong has died in battle at Tianteng Mountain Juyang Gorge, Wen Daoyu can advance further under Lingxu Xiaosheng's command.

Shangguan Yun also greatly admired Wen Daoyu. Even though Lingxu Xiaosheng was no longer concerned with implementing the balance principle for his subordinates, Wen Daoyu remained cautious and prudent for ten years without showing the slightest arrogance or complacency.

Even when his Daoist partner Huang Ling was expelled from Tianteng Mountain, he swallowed his anger and remained silent, and even forbade the cabinet to discuss the matter, so as not to ruin the excellent situation he had created before the convening of the Grand Council.

Because of his great magnanimity, although the two major positions of Grand Secretary and Assistant Grand Secretary in the Cabinet were still vacant, everyone believed that the first Grand Secretary would most likely be Wen Daoyu, who came from He Guan.

"Is Master Zhelong truly so optimistic?" Shangguan Yun asked.

Before Wen Daoyu could reply, he said worriedly, "To submit now is only a temporary measure. Once the Grand Council convenes, that will be the time when things really start to get turbulent."

Wen Daoyu walked to Shangguan Yun's side and placed the dossier on the jade table on the railing. "What can they do if they are unwilling? The net of precious money circulation has already been woven, and the power to allocate spiritual funds is entirely in their hands. They are like fish swimming in a net; the more they struggle, the tighter the restraints become."

"The young sage's scheme is already well-laid, and the overall situation is set." Shangguan Yun's gaze was sharp. "Zhelongzi, the overall situation that you and I see may not be the same."

The nun Yuanren of the White Tiger Hall in Huangting Palace, who stays in the guest house every day, is she merely indulging in quiet cultivation? What is the relationship between her disciple Ding Minjun and Ding Ruyi? Can this still be kept secret now?

Furthermore, the additional talisman coins issued by the True Spirit Sect in Baoguang Prefecture have already flooded into the markets of Tiannan like an undercurrent, causing fluctuations in the prices of various resources. And those clans... did they really think they had already given up?

Shangguan Yun pointed to a spot on Taiping Mountain, "That's the ancestral peak of the Mi family. On the peak stands a 'Listening to the Wind Cottage.' Do you know who lives there? It's Mi Gu's great-uncle, Mi Posuo, who claims to have returned from his travels. This man cultivated himself into an infant hundreds of years ago and is famous for the Mi family's unique skill, the 'Jiangtong Ritual.' His appearance now is no coincidence."

Wen Daoyu's expression hardened, and he nodded, saying, "The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. This Mi Posuo once refined a lure in the South China Sea to hunt down and kill all the pythons near Yushan Island, leaving not a single survivor, all in order to refine a treasure to counter the Great Demonic Light of the Old Man of the House Platform."

These actions were exposed by the higher authorities, and he was punished by being sent to Yushan Island to reflect on his mistakes. Unexpectedly, he has only just been released from his punishment and confinement, yet he is already so eager to jump out again.

Seeing that Wen Daoyu was sharp-witted and had a detailed understanding of the situation both inside and outside the palace, Shangguan Yun said no more, only saying, "The young saint has closed his gates in the Dexuan Cave and entrusted all matters to the cabinet. The challenges involved are considerable."

These final months before the Grand Council may seem calm on the surface, but in reality, they are a time for various parties to make their final arrangements and launch covert attacks. If we are not careful, we will fall into an abyss. I wonder if the Hidden Dragon Prince is willing to ask the Little Sage for permission to add more cabinet members.

Wen Daoyu did not express his opinion, only saying that Xiao Sheng should have his own arrangements.

At this moment, a sharp whooshing sound came from the air. A Taoist priest, pale-faced and holding a jade talisman, rushed over. His voice was urgent. "My lords, I have just received an urgent report—the first batch of reconstruction funds secretly sent to Xiaozhu Jinting has disappeared along with the entire cloud camel boat while passing through Pingdingshan!"

"What?!" Wen Daoyu and Shangguan Yun both changed color at the same time.

Xiaozhu Jinting was a key force that Taipingshan had been actively courting to counterbalance Tiantengshan. Their loan agreement had only recently been signed, and this early assistance before the Grand Council meeting was a prime example of their credibility. That this incident occurred at such a sensitive time is nothing short of a blow.

Wen Daoyu snatched the jade talisman, his primordial spirit sinking into it, his face growing increasingly gloomy.

"There were no traces of a battle or any remnants of magic or sorcery at the scene; it was as if it had vanished into thin air."

"What a shrewd tactic! Is this a show of force before the Grand Council, or a swift end to Xiaozhu Jinting's ambitions? How audacious, how arrogant!"

Shangguan Yun said urgently, "We must report to the Little Sage immediately!"

"The young saint is currently in a critical period of seclusion; he should not be disturbed lightly."

Wen Daoyu flatly refused. He had just received Xiao Sheng's evaluation of his decisiveness and competence a few years ago. Now that something had happened, he was disturbing Xiao Sheng's quiet cultivation. Did he want Xiao Sheng to take back his evaluation of him?

"Pass on the order!"
First, immediately block the news and claim to the public that the Cloud Camel Boat was delayed due to celestial phenomena.

Secondly, order the Daoist Bureau—no, request that the Bureau Chief, Leng Cuishan, personally lead his elite troops to secretly investigate Pingdingshan.

Third, activate the second contingency plan: urgently allocate equivalent spiritual materials from the Upper Palace's reserves and ensure their delivery to the Heavenly Candle Golden Court before the agreed deadline.

Wen Daoyu looked towards the direction of Dexuan Cave and murmured, "It seems that someone doesn't want this spring of the Jiazi year to come too smoothly. The final leg of this journey before the Great Council is destined to be anything but peaceful."

(End of this chapter)