Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 101 Divine Sense Surges, Bamboo Magpie Soars in the Sky

In front of Xuanji Pavilion.

Yuan Qingshuang looked at Lu Chenyuan with some surprise.

He stood quietly in the courtyard, and the air within a three-zhang radius around him was slightly distorted.

Countless tiny iron objects floated around him, forming a metal storm—broken sword fragments, loose copper nails, and even iron sand forcibly extracted from the ground, all slowly rotating in the air, each blade pointing outwards, like loyal soldiers guarding their king!
What's most unsettling is that invisible pressure.

The sword at Yuan Qingshuang's waist trembled wildly in its sheath, the friction between the sheath and the blade producing a piercing sound.

She had to reach out and press down on the sword hilt, but felt a burning pain in her palm—the metal was resisting her touch, trying to break free and throw itself at Lu Chenyuan.

"Lord Lu, you..."

Her voice choked in her throat.

"Feel sorry……"

Lu Chenyuan slowly raised his hand, a simple action that caused the metal storm to accelerate suddenly. The sound of fragments colliding with each other was like the clash of swords on a battlefield, echoing in the courtyard.

Yuan Qingshuang then noticed that Lu Chenyuan's pupils had completely turned into a golden color, and wherever his gaze fell, even the trace amounts of iron sand mixed in with the bluestone floor were seeping out onto the surface, forming a dense layer of metallic fuzz.

"I've just broken through, and I can't yet control it freely..."

Lu Chenyuan took a deep breath, his aura gradually receding. The suspended metal objects fell like rain. The gold in his eyes slowly faded, and he breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "I won't go in. As for the reward, I'll choose the Lotus Bright Zen Staff. Thank you for your help, Manager."

The Lotus Bright Zen Staff was once the personal magic weapon of Master Tanzong of Shaolin Temple. It is a third-grade upper-level staff, weighing 180 catties. It is forged entirely from fourth-grade Soul-Suppressing Iron and mixed with seven relics of living Buddhas. The staff is engraved with three secret mantras, making it extremely powerful!

This is the heaviest of the three-rank divine weapons in the Xuanji Pavilion, and also the one you can "eat" without feeling the pinch.

Lu Chenyuan has just broken through and doesn't plan to absorb it for the time being. He will seal it in the painting first and use it when he stabilizes at the third level and breaks through to the fourth level.

"it is good……"

Yuan Qingshuang breathed a sigh of relief and immediately went up to the sixth floor of Xuanji Pavilion, carrying the Zen staff with her powerful true energy as she descended.

A third-grade divine artifact, possessing astonishing spiritual power.

It seemed to sense the terrifying aura emanating from Lu Chenyuan that could melt metal, and struggled frantically in Yuan Qingshuang's hand, but to no avail. Lu Chenyuan grabbed it firmly, and the entire staff immediately stiffened and stopped moving, like a snake being gripped at its vital point.

Yuan Qingshuang clearly remembered the struggle of the Kanglong Mace when he took it last time, but now it was becoming easier and easier, and he could grasp it casually.

Lu Chenyuan said, "I'll take Lingxi to Suiming Pavilion for duty. Call me if you need anything."

Yuan Qingshuang nodded.

Lu Chenyuan sent the weapon into the painting in Nuanxiang Pavilion, and then, along with the Empress and all the materials for making the bamboo magpie, went to the Suiming Pavilion in the Iris Terrace to take his post.

When the two arrived, Wang Yizhi was cultivating, and he seemed to be in a good mood.

Lu Chenyuan sat down in the main seat of the inner hall and began to inscribe a talisman array for Zhu Que.

With this breakthrough in his cultivation level and a surge in spiritual awareness, he was finally no longer in the awkward situation of being unable to cook without ingredients. He could now perfectly depict some sixth-grade talisman arrays, and making the Xuanji Wooden Ox would no longer be as stumbling as before.

The same goes for bamboo magpies.

The [Wind Control Talisman], [Light Body Talisman], and [Solid Form Talisman] required to make it each require about fifteen strokes, which is no longer a difficult task.

Lu Chenyuan was busy making bamboo magpies to earn rewards; the Empress secretly searched for information about 'dual cultivation' in the library; Wang Yizhi was busy cultivating, and the hall became quiet for a while.

Lu Chenyuan, holding a carving knife, continued carving: "You've broken through to a higher realm? You seem to be in a good mood."

"No."

Wang Yizhi shook his head and said, "I saw my sister yesterday."

Lu Chenyuan paused, then looked up: "How is she? Is she alright?"

Wang Yizhi said, "No. Lai Junchen didn't dare to mistreat her in terms of food and clothing. She looks alright. I was worried that she might do something rash, but now I'm relieved. However..." He sighed, "Waiting for Lai Junchen to fall from power seems like a long way off. While I'm relieved, I also feel a bit resentful of my own incompetence."

Lu Chenyuan put down his carving knife and asked curiously, "Why did you suddenly think of this? This isn't like you."

Wang Yizhi turned to look at him and said seriously, "Your Excellency should know about the scheme orchestrated by the Prince of Wei, who used the Immortal Master's allegiance to orchestrate the succession change. Empress Wu's attitude at the time was quite intriguing. If he truly becomes the Crown Prince, his reliance on Lai Junchen will only be greater than Empress Wu's! I'm worried that Lai Junchen's position is becoming increasingly secure..."

Wu Zetian at least had some way to deal with dirty gloves, for example, the scholars from the North Gate who used to advise her were all dead.

But Wu Chengsi is clearly not that kind of person. If he were to take power, it would only be a new reign of cruel officials and terror.

He will not only not kill Lai Junchen, but will probably have to rely on him to intimidate the court.

This is indeed a problem.

If Lu Chenyuan were unaware of the general trend, he would probably hesitate as well.

"And there's also the 'Department for Exorcising Evil'..."

Wang Yizhi clenched his fists secretly and turned to look in the direction of the Military Supervisory Office: "Ever since Emperor Wu issued the proclamation, offering generous rewards for those who report and expose traitors and severely punishing those who collude with the Netherworld Sect, the Yuanwei and Que Lao prisons have been receiving 'traitors' from all over the country every day. Many of them are sent to the Military Supervisory Office to test weapons... To be honest, now that Lai Junchen's Judicial Office has another Bureau for Exterminating Evil, his position is higher and his power is greater than before! I'm really afraid that one day the Wang family of Taiyuan will also be accused of collusion with the cult..."

"will not."

Lu Chenyuan said bluntly, "Don't worry too much. The reason he forced her into marriage was to integrate into the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families and form an alliance with the Wang family. Now that he has gone to great lengths and finally succeeded in his evil scheme, why would he possibly target the Wang family? What good would it do except push the Wang family to the brink and have him torn to pieces? Don't worry, even if he is extremely audacious, he will still do something that is 'selfish' and harmful to others and himself... At least Lai Junchen will not do it."

Wang Yizhi's heart gradually calmed down. He understood the reasoning, but hearing these words from Lu Chenyuan's mouth made them particularly convincing.

He deliberately changed the subject and said with a smile, "I haven't yet congratulated you on your promotion to the position of Censor of the Imperial Library and Director of the Translation Bureau."

"There's nothing to congratulate."

Lu Chenyuan casually said, "They're just two empty titles to fool people... I understand what you're anxious about. There will be plenty of opportunities for promotion and advancement, no need to rush. It's the same with training and doing things, you have to proceed step by step... If you're too eager for quick success and something happens because of it, wouldn't your sister be even less of a hope?"

Wang Yizhi fell silent.

Lu Chenyuan laughed and said, "Look at me, so what if I have merits? My cultivation level is not high enough. If I want to be promoted, I will only be given a nominal position. This lousy Censor can neither be transferred to the Imperial Guard nor has a proper way to make merits. Although I am nominally a fifth-rank official, I am worse than a fifth-rank Pavilion Commander! Not to mention my achievements in the Translation Center. I am too lazy to even go to listen to a bunch of monks chanting scriptures!"

Wang Yizhi couldn't help but laugh.

Lu Chenyuan picked up the carving knife again: "Right now, the four barbarian tribes are in turmoil. The Turks are frequently invading the borders, and the Tibetans are fighting openly and covertly over the Western Regions tribute route. The Miao and Six Zhao regions are also very lively. I heard that the imperial army is not doing well in suppressing them. Sooner or later, there will be a time when we need people. There will be plenty of opportunities. What is most important for you and me now is to practice martial arts. If our cultivation is not high enough, how can we talk about making achievements?"

Wang Yizhi rose, bowed respectfully, and indicated that he had received instruction.

Lu Chenyuan waved his hand and focused on carving the [Light Body Talisman] on the Wind Spirit Bamboo. The delicate lines flowed smoothly under the tip of his knife. Soon, in the palm-sized blank space in the center of the bamboo magpie mount, the lines continued to increase, and a complex and mysterious pattern took shape. The entire pattern suddenly brightened, then quickly dimmed and returned to normal.

All in one go!
Lu Chenyuan nodded in satisfaction.

Wang Yizhi's expression softened considerably, and he pondered, "Speaking of which, the frequent incursions of the Turks in the north and the unrest in the Shiwei in the northeast are secondary. What is most embarrassing for the court right now is Bashu."

"Oh?"

Lu Chenyuan casually asked, "Qiu Shenji's suppression of the rebellion is not going well?"

Wang Yizhi couldn't help but sigh, "Your Excellency's quick thinking is truly admirable! Three days ago, Minister Zhai of the Ministry of War conveyed His Majesty's decree, ordering the Suiming Pavilion to rush to produce five hundred Po Gang Crossbows, Nine Sons Soul-Chasing Locks, and Heavenly Nets to be sent to Bashu. This morning, a friend from there wrote that the Buqi Sect did not give up, but instead laid many traps at Jian Ge, causing considerable losses to the army."

"That's obvious."

Lu Chenyuan was not surprised and said without raising his head, "There are experts in the Netherworld Palace. They disguised themselves as the deputy sect leader of the Unskilled Sect to steal the 'Heavenly Craft Scroll' that day, just to provoke the Unskilled Sect. They turned on the Martial Emperor twice, making him eager to establish his authority. They did fall into his trap and wanted to vent his anger on the Unskilled Sect. The Netherworld Palace naturally has a backup plan. I'm afraid Qiu Shenji is in grave danger."

Wang Yi was taken aback: "That serious?"

Lu Chenyuan nodded: "Judging from the past few events, the Netherworld Palace is very methodical in its actions. Whether it was the assassination attempt on the emperor in early October or the looting of the Heavenly Works, their plans were feasible. The Martial Emperor was forced to punish the martial world with cruel methods, offering generous rewards for whistleblowers and then launching a large-scale crackdown, which will inevitably cause turmoil in the martial world! To some extent, the Netherworld Palace has already achieved its goal. If this continues, the martial world will be unable to bear the disturbance. What will be the result?"

Wang Yizhi's expression changed slightly.

The clash between the imperial court and the martial arts world is not only between officials and the people, but also between soldiers and bandits. The struggle between the two is bound to escalate.

Then, the world descended into chaos!
Lu Chenyuan recalled the tricks he had given Li Lingyue for dealing with people from the martial arts world.

Now that Li Lingyue has ambition, she has also begun to understand the principle of selling water when someone is thirsty—only by making the other party feel thirsty can she sell her water for a good price. The idea of ​​taking precautions is not suitable for seeking credit or rewards.

She probably won't be in a hurry to make a move.

Let the bullets fly for a while. Wang Yizhi pondered, "In that case, I'm afraid..."

"Don't worry about it."

Lu Chenyuan stood up lazily and began organizing the materials: "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. Let's go out for a walk and find a place to try out the 'Bamboo Magpie.' This thing has to fly in the sky, so I should test it myself before presenting it to you."

"Uh, sir..."

Wang Yizhi's expression changed, and he quickly reminded him, "You want to try it yourself? This bamboo magpie thing can be deadly if you're not careful!"

Bamboo magpies can only glide from high places. Although they can fly, if they are not careful, they will fall from a great height and be smashed to pieces!

Lu Chenyuan clenched his fist, and his entire arm turned pale gold.

"rest assured."

Lu Chenyuan put all the parts into his bundle and chuckled, "With my current physical strength, even if I smashed my head down onto the iron plate, it would only leave a dent. Don't worry. You be my witness, and I'll teach you how to operate it. You might find it useful in the future."

Wang Yizhi understood. He didn't need to express his gratitude verbally. He silently picked up the bundle and carried it on his back: "I'll tell Kang Jun to keep an eye on things."

Lu Chenyuan had no objections.

We're building military equipment, not sacrificial vessels, so if something goes wrong, it's not a big deal.

To put it bluntly, even if all the craftsmen in the Suiming Pavilion were to have problems, with his current skill level, making these lowest-grade weapons wouldn't be too difficult for him.

The goddess searched for a long time but still couldn't find the information she wanted. Hearing that her brother was going out, she had no choice but to put it aside for the time being.

Since the incident of Wei Yang snatching people, she has been carrying the [Heavenly Punishment] with her at all times. Now, she grips the hilt of the sword and follows Lu Chenyuan.

The three rode out of the capital and headed towards Yuquan Mountain, thirty miles away.

Yuquan Mountain is over 300 zhang high, connecting Songyue in the east and Yique in the west, together forming a barrier to the south of Luoyang. It is the most suitable test flight site in the vicinity. There are hot springs on the mountain, and it is also a place for nobles of the capital to visit and enjoy the scenery.

Today is the first day of the eleventh lunar month.

When the three arrived, it was exactly 9:00 AM, and the area was sparsely populated.

Lu Chenyuan stood on the reclining ox stone at the edge of the cliff, with the sea of ​​clouds churning below and the outline of Mount Yique in the distance appearing and disappearing in the mist.

He reached out and untied his bag, and the bamboo frame of the [Bamboo Magpie] emitted a clear, ringing sound.

"The full name of the bamboo magpie is Qingxiao Bamboo Magpie. It is made of century-old Fengling bamboo. The bamboo joints are hollow but stronger than steel. The bamboo skin has natural spiral patterns that can attract airflow."

As Lu Chenyuan spoke, he assembled the device with lightning speed: "The wingspan is a full two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), covered with [Mermaid Silk Gauze]—this thin gauze woven by mermaids is as light as a feather, yet impervious to swords and blades. The belly is level, allowing a person to lie prone. By gripping the handle and channeling true energy, one can activate the rune array to aid flight. The key is that the tail feathers can be adjusted in angle, composed of seven [Mysterious Iron Feathers]. Activating the mechanism changes the flight posture..."

He explained it in great detail, and Wang Yizhi and Shen Hou studied it very diligently.

After finishing his explanation, the bamboo magpie was also assembled, and Lu Chenyuan was a little impatient.

Now that I've finally developed a body that's not afraid of falling, why don't I play to my heart's content?

He quickly put on his clothes, bent down to fasten all the straps, pressed his chest against the bamboo crossbar, and gripped the black iron handle with both hands: "Watch carefully."

He raised both arms—

With its wingspan reaching two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), it spread out fully, flapping like a giant bird in the gale.

The most ingenious part was the seven black iron tail feathers, which adjusted their angle on their own with a slight flick of his wrist, turning turbulence into lift.

"I'll try first!"

Amidst the goddess's exclamation, he rushed three steps towards the cliff and leaped into the sea of ​​clouds—

"Shh!"

Instead of falling, the bamboo magpie suddenly rose with the help of the north wind.

Lu Chenyuan hovered beneath the wing membrane, like a real swift skimming through the clouds. He suddenly tilted to the right, and all seven tail feathers turned at the same time, drawing a sharp arc in the air.

……

at the same time.

On the mountain path of Yuquan Mountain, a red-lacquered and gold-painted sedan chair slowly ascends the bluestone path. Four strong sedan chair bearers walk steadily, and the curtain of the sedan chair sways gently in the wind. Inside, one can vaguely see a young man in brocade robes sitting, with a Western Region woman on each side serving him.

Four guards stood before the sedan chair and four guards stood behind it, all dressed in indigo-blue uniforms with wooden plaques from the Cen family hanging from their waists. They vigilantly surveyed the surroundings, their steps were neat and orderly, clearly indicating that they were well-trained soldiers of the Cen family.

Among this group of people, two stood out—

Following to the left of the sedan chair was an old man in a blue robe, carrying an ebony fishing rod on his shoulder, the silver hook at the tip gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

His footsteps were silent, and where his straw sandals trod, faint frost appeared on the bluestone steps. He was none other than Cui Jingzhou, the renowned master of the four realms, known as "Cold River Fisherman".

To the right of the sedan chair was a middle-aged scholar, dressed in a plain white robe, whose iron flute occasionally reflected a cold metallic glint.

His every step was perfectly timed with the rhythm of the sedan chair carriers shifting their shoulders, and a faint, cold light gleamed from the holes of the iron flute. It was Mo Huaiyuan, the chief guest of the Cen family, known as "Mr. Iron Flute".

A mountain breeze swept by, and the young man in brocade robes lifted the sedan curtain, saying lazily, "Do we need to be so careful? It makes me feel like I've done something wrong."

Cui Jingzhou shook his head helplessly: "Young Master, these are turbulent times, and the Prime Minister specifically instructed..."

"What instructions did you give me? Instructed me to study the classics at home?"

The young man in brocade chuckled, took the glass from the woman's hand, and sipped some wine. "What books are Hou Sizhi, Lai Junchen, and Xue Huaiyi reading? Why don't you find some for me to read and learn from!"

"..."

Cui Jingzhou and Mo Huaiyuan exchanged a glance and both gave a bitter smile.

This young man in brocade robes was none other than Cen Lingyuan, the eldest son of Cen Changqian, the Right Chancellor of the current dynasty.

Inside the sedan chair, Cen Lingyuan reached out and lifted the chin of a Hu woman, laughing, "I heard that even the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial has to send an invitation three days in advance for the 'Azure Pool' at Yuquan Manor. But... I'm going to soak in it today, and I'll bring a beauty with me!"

The guards were used to it and focused on protecting their surroundings.

Cui Jingzhou and Mo Huaiyuan wanted to offer a few more words of advice, but suddenly, as if sensing something, they both looked up.
"Be careful, son!"

Holding a fishing rod, Cui Jingzhou stared intently at the sky with his cloudy eyes: "Someone is flying in the sky!"

Mo Huaiyuan gripped the iron flute tightly and said in a deep voice, "He's a master!"

Cen Lingyuan followed their gaze and saw a green figure above the sea of ​​clouds, like a roc spreading its wings, circling and swooping down at an astonishing speed. The person was riding some kind of strange mechanical wing, sometimes skimming along the peaks, sometimes soaring straight into the sky, its movements so agile that it seemed no different from a bird in flight.

"Wonderful!"

Cen Lingyuan sat up abruptly, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and exclaimed, "Where did this mechanism come from? I must buy it!"

Cui Jingzhou's expression turned grave: "Young Master, this person's origins are unknown. We should—"

"What are you afraid of?"

Cen Lingyuan waved his hand dismissively, "Does anyone dare to touch the Cen family—"

"Whoosh!"

Three crossbow bolts suddenly pierced the air!

Cui Jingzhou flicked his fishing rod, and the fishing line wove a silver net in the air, causing crossbow bolts to fall to the ground.

Mo Huaiyuan played his iron flute horizontally, the piercing sound waves causing fallen leaves to fly, and a muffled groan came from the shadows.

Twelve masked men leaped out of the forest, each with a black iron chain around their left wrist.

The leader sneered, "Young Master Cen, my master invites you to be his guest."

Ok?
High in the sky, Lu Chenyuan noticed the commotion below and wondered, "Is the world really that bad now? We're only thirty miles from the city, and there are already people killing and robbing..."

(End of this chapter)