Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 168 Qingyao (Part 2)

In the Henan region, the only sacred mountains that can rival Qingyao Mountain are Yao Mountain and Wangwu Mountain. Other sacred mountains such as Manqu, Gui Mountain, and Shi Mountain, although they are sacred mountains and seas, are of inferior quality.

Among them, Yaoshan is said to be the mortal transformation of Emperor Yao of the Tao Tang clan. The clothing and hat of Emperor Yao are enshrined on it, and although thousands of years have passed, the remnants of the sage king's spirit still remain in the world.

Wangwu Mountain is said to be the site where the Yellow Emperor set up an altar to worship Heaven, thus inheriting the virtues of the Yellow Emperor.

The so-called Wangwu Mountain resembles the canopy of a king's chariot. The mountain has three layers, and its shape is like a house, hence the name. Since the Yellow Emperor set up an altar on Wangwu Mountain to worship Taiyi, Wangwu Mountain has truly become the 'house of kings'.

The fact that Qingyao Mountain is comparable to Yaoshan and Wangwu Mountain demonstrates its illustrious status.

Lü Shang's gaze swept over the assembled officials in the hall, finally pausing on Baili Ming, and he said, "Since we have received the mountain god's kind offer, my Xu Kingdom should reciprocate with courtesy. I accept this divine covenant!"

"Baili Qing, you are versed in the changes of Yin and Yang and skilled in the rituals of humans and gods. This time, I will have to trouble you to make a trip to Qingyao Mountain."

Upon hearing this, Baili Ming's lips twitched slightly, and he bowed respectfully, saying, "This old minister will certainly not fail Your Majesty's command."

Lü Shang nodded and said, "I will reward you for your merits when you return after your mission is accomplished."

Baili Ming lowered his eyes and tucked in his sleeves, his voice deep and resonant, and said, "Since Your Majesty has entrusted me with such a weighty responsibility, I will naturally do my utmost to repay Your Majesty."

In fact, according to the system of the Great Wilderness of Mountains and Seas, whether it is a god or a human, or a large country or a small state, it is not something that can be accomplished overnight if one wants to form an alliance.

Before forming an alliance, each side would send envoys to communicate and express their intention to form an alliance. Only then would they gradually discuss the details of the alliance and determine the distribution of benefits among themselves.

After reaching an agreement, an auspicious day is chosen for the sacrificial ceremony. Offerings are made to Heaven and Earth, to the ancestors, and to pray for the protection of the Supreme One. Only after swearing an oath to the Supreme One can the covenant be considered truly established.

After forming an alliance, in order to ensure the fulfillment of the treaty, the two sides would exchange hostages and send envoys to visit each other regularly to consolidate their relationship.

This is the correct procedure for forming an alliance, and with Taiyi as witness and the gods as protectors, it has extremely strong credibility.

Seeing that Lü Shang was indeed willing to form an alliance, Luo Su lightly flicked the hem of her feathered robe, and the golden bell on her wrist rang out with each movement, producing a series of delicate, clear sounds. She said, "My Lord of the Mountain should sweep the cloud steps to await your esteemed envoy."

Lu Shang said softly, "Miss, you must be tired from your long journey. You may rest at the inn first. When Minister Baili goes on his mission, you can accompany him back to Qingyao together."

"Your humble servant thanks Lord Xu for his consideration,"

After bowing deeply once more, Luo Su slowly withdrew from the hall. At the same time, the gazes of the assembled officials followed his figure until the hall doors slowly closed.

"Qing wants the goddess,"

After Luo Su withdrew, Lü Shang stroked the armrest of the incense bed and sighed to himself, "Even the earth gods are preparing for the future upheaval. I wonder how wonderful the world will be when the heavens collapse."

"Emperor Zhu Xia, the mandate of heaven for the Xia dynasty is teetering on the brink of collapse. How will you, the emperor of the Xia dynasty, save the dynasty from its peril and turn the tide?"

Thinking of the Xia emperor who possessed the great supernatural power to move stars and change constellations, Lü Shang also felt immense pressure.

He had a strong premonition that the closer Emperor Zhuxia got to the end of his life, the more erratic he would become. Perhaps at the last moment before his death, this arrogant emperor would burn himself at all costs to take away anyone who posed a threat to Emperor Zihuai's throne.

With the scorching sun and the falling stars, the cruelty of bathing in the North Sea, there is nothing he is incapable of doing.

If Lü Shang were in Emperor Zhuxia's position, he too would, in his final moments, strike down those most threatening gods or men. What would it matter if he destroyed an entire province to protect his own empire?

"This Xu Boshang is truly a young hero, not to be underestimated!"

Luo Su left the main hall, her feathered robes carrying the heavy scent of sandalwood from within. Her plain shoes touched the stone steps as she thought of the undisguised sharpness in Lü Shang's eyes in the hall just now, and she sighed softly.

"The mandate of heaven is changing, a time of great turmoil, the world is in turmoil, and heroes are rising up. Perhaps this Xu Boshang will be one of the heroes of the Nine Provinces in the future."

"There are so many talented people in the world. In Henan alone, there are many outstanding individuals, not to mention the whole of Yuzhou and even the world at large."

Thinking of the countries he had passed through and the things he had seen and heard along the way, Luo Su smiled and shook his head.

Luo Su was one of the most trusted female servants of the Qingyao Mountain God. To be entrusted with such an important mission by the Qingyao Mountain Lord and to be sent as an envoy to the various states of Henan, she was naturally no ordinary person.

She served the God of Qingyao Mountain for many years, and through being around him, her knowledge and experience far surpassed that of ordinary minor gods.

The person who can be called an outstanding individual is someone who is extraordinary and unconventional, even if one looks across the entire country.

Such figures, fifty years ago, would have been considered the best in the entire state, yet now they are emerging in droves. In Luo Su's view, this is surely a harbinger of turmoil and upheaval throughout the land.

"Humans have their struggles, and gods have their conflicts. In times of change and upheaval, no human or god can remain uninvolved."

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While Luo Su was lost in thought, Wu Wenhe's caravan had already left the territory of Xu Kingdom and was heading west.

It was early summer, and the wheat fields in the Central Plains were rolling with waves of green. On both sides of the mountain road, mulberry groves were lush and green. Wu Wenhe sat on the oxcart, closing his eyes to rest.

The drivers of the caravan lightly cracked their bamboo whips, the muffled thud of the oxen's hooves mingling with the clear, melodious sound of the copper bells, echoing through the silent mountain forest.

Xu State is located east of Henan, while Jiao State is west of Henan. The two countries are separated by dozens of states, including Rui State, An State, Ning State, Jing State, and Yun State, as well as the Waifang Mountain, which lies between them. The journey also involves passing through dangerous passes such as the Xiaohan Ancient Road.

If it weren't for the fact that Wu Wenhe and his group were all strong, brave, and powerful, and that the oxen pulling the carts were no ordinary oxen—though their bloodline was thin, they were still descendants of ferocious beasts, sturdy and robust, far surpassing ordinary people—it would be difficult for ordinary Chinese people to travel from Xu to Jiao even if they walked for twenty or thirty years.

And this is only a corner of Henan. The vast wilderness of mountains and seas has no boundaries, and the Nine Provinces of the human world are only a part of the vast wilderness of mountains and seas.

You should know that the nine provinces of the human world correspond to the nine realms of the heavens!

It is said that there are nine fields in the sky and nine provinces on earth. The nine provinces on earth correspond to the nine fields in the sky, each occupying a certain position.

The heavens are divided into nine realms: the central realm is called Juntian, the eastern realm is called Cangtian, the northeastern realm is called Biantian, the northern realm is called Xuantian, the northwestern realm is called Youtian, the western realm is called Haotian, the southwestern realm is called Zhutian, the southern realm is called Yantian, and the southeastern realm is called Yangtian.

The nine provinces of the human world are: Yangzhou in the southeast, Jingzhou in the south, Yuzhou in the south, Qingzhou in the east, Yanzhou in the east, Yongzhou in the west, Xuzhou in the north, Jizhou in the south, and Liangzhou in the north. Of these nine provinces, Jizhou is the largest and is where the emperor resides.

Yuzhou is Henan, but it is not only Henan. The area between Henan and Xiangshui is called Yu. The Ji clan lords occupied Henan and had fifty-nine states, while the Yao clan lords occupied Xiangshui and had sixty-four states.

In other words, Yuzhou was divided into two parts: Henan and Xiangshui. Among the states in Henan, the Ji clan was the most powerful, while among the states in Xiangshui, the Yao clan was the most powerful.

(End of this chapter)