National Division

Chapter 101 Eight Views Palace, Xuanzhen Temple

The Great Crimson Sky Cave, at the foot of Shouyang Mountain—

A towering ancient pine tree stands, its trunk so thick that it takes several people to encircle it. Its branches and leaves are lush and verdant, like an umbrella. In front of the ancient pine tree is a vast square.

To the southwest of the ancient pine tree, directly opposite the square, is a Shennong altar with a human head, ox horns, and a pale face. Stone steps paved with blue flagstones descend on both sides, with lush grass growing in the middle.

Shen Xian and Xue Zhihua, amidst the clouds and mist, approached.

As far as Shen Xian could see, dozens of miles to the east of Shouyang Mountain, thatched huts were scattered among the mountains in a neat and orderly fashion.

He must be a Taiqing cultivator who has built a hermitage in the mountains and is devoted to seclusion and cultivation.

This thought arose in Shen Xian's mind.

Xue Zhihua raised her slender hand and pointed to a delicate pagoda standing against a mountain peak in the distance, saying, "The Everlasting Pagoda is in the Xuanzhen Temple under the jurisdiction of the Eight Views Palace. You and I will first enter the Xuanzhen Temple through the Hundred Dragon Ladder by the Asking Cliff."

Shen Xian nodded and, together with Xue Zhihua, went to the west side of the Shennong Altar to prepare to climb the Hundred Dragon Ladder.

"You cannot use magic or martial arts on these stone steps. You must climb them step by step like an ordinary person. Otherwise, when the power of the array descends, it will be like carrying a mountain, making it impossible to move an inch," Xue Zhihua instructed.

Shen Xian nodded and climbed the stone steps with Xue Zhihua, much like climbing a mountain in later generations.

Fortunately, there would soon be a stone platform where she could rest. Even so, Xue Zhihua had a fine layer of sweat on her temples and forehead. Under the sunlight, her skin looked even more fair and her floral hairpins even more vibrant.

"Are these stone steps used to test one's character?" Shen Xian asked.

But along the way, there were no illusions.

"Master said that the Hundred Dragon Ladder is only to remind the immortals living nearby not to forget the hardships of mortals when they ascend to Xuanzhen Temple." Xue Zhihua chuckled lightly, her breath fluctuating slightly as she spoke: "When you and I arrive at Xuanzhen Temple, there will be a Taoist priest blocking our way."

Shen Xian nodded, thinking to himself that the Taoist sects mostly used tasks like fetching water, chopping wood, and sweeping to temper the character of their disciples.

The two were young and full of energy, and soon they reached the top of the mountain, where they saw a gatehouse with red walls, black tiles, and upturned eaves.

The stone carvings on both sides of the gate tower are decorated with lifelike patterns of dragons, phoenixes, and unicorns.

"Greetings, fellow Daoists." A Daoist priest in his thirties, with a broad face and a black beard, bowed.

Xue Zhihua returned the bow: "I am Xue Zhihua from Shangqing Sect. This is my jade pendant. Please examine it, senior brother."

Without saying a word, the Taoist priest took the jade tablet, examined it for a moment, and then returned it to Xue Zhihua.

Shen Xian said, "I am Shen Xian of the Shangqing Sect. This is a jade token. Please examine it, senior brother."

The Taoist priest, who was in charge of receiving guests, also took the jade token, examined it for a moment, and then returned it to Shen Xian:

"Fellow Daoists, you may enter now."

Shen Xian turned to look at Xue Zhihua, and then, without saying anything more, the two entered the temple together.

Upon entering, a mulberry tree peeked out from the right, while the red wall relief was engraved with the characters for "fortune" and "fate".

The main gate is on the left side of the Taoist temple, while on the right side is a black tortoise supporting a stone tablet with inscriptions on it.

On the other side is a huge rock about the height of a person, with three characters engraved on it, outlined vertically in vermilion ink: [Xuanzhen Temple].

Seeing Shen Xian looking around the Taoist temple, Xue Zhihua reminded him, "We don't need to linger here any longer. Let's head straight for the Changqing Pagoda."

Shen Xian hummed in agreement and followed Xue Zhihua across the uneven stone steps to the main gate of the temple. They then crossed several knee-high thresholds and entered the courtyard.

The four halls were quite quiet, with only the occasional chirping of birds, which further accentuated the serene and tranquil atmosphere of the Taoist temple.

"The Xuanzhen Temple is quite tranquil." Shen Xian raised an eyebrow, glanced around at the surroundings, and said in a low voice.

Xue Zhihua said, "The disciples of Xuanzhen Temple usually don't like noise, so they've probably all gone down the mountain to travel and aren't here."

"The Evergreen Pagoda is just ahead." Shen Xian pointed to the moss-covered pagoda on the blue brick wall in front of him. The pagoda has nine stories and stands majestically. It is octagonal and exquisite. A string of wind chimes hangs from the double eaves and hooked corners. When a breeze comes, they tinkle incessantly.

After passing through several courtyards with blue bricks and gray tiles, carved beams and painted rafters, the view suddenly opened up, and in the distance was a pagoda with the inscription "Eternal Green" on the front.

"We've arrived." Shen Xian's voice was filled with joy.

However, the sound of several people talking could be heard coming from the mountain path shaded by several lush and eye-catching willows.

"Brother Xiao, your Wood Element Technique is truly remarkable, endless and full of vitality." A slightly hoarse voice rang out, deep and resonant like gold and jade. The speaker was a young man who was eight feet tall, with a sallow complexion, thick eyebrows, and fierce eyes.

"Brother Qin, you flatter me. It cannot compare to the famous double maces of the Duke of Liang's mansion. Martial arts are integrated with the Dao, and the maces are like yellow dragons. When the two yellow dragons strangle each other, even ordinary fourth-realm cultivators would find it difficult to defeat them," Xiao Yun said with a smile.

Qin Shuo gave a wry smile and said, "Martial intent and Daoist methods can never truly merge. If I want to break through again, I can only focus on one path."

"Grandmaster's martial arts cultivation is already sufficient. According to my master, the path of the Martial God requires condensing divine will and transforming it into a divine domain, which is actually not conducive to advancing to the Divine Illumination stage. People like Wang Shence, who are obsessed with fame and fortune, are frustrated in the secular world and can only seek wealth and status through martial arts." Xiao Yun's tone seemed to show great disdain for Wang Shence, the Empress's favorite general.

As Xiao Yun spoke, he turned to look at the handsome young man with fair skin and eyebrows dressed in a warrior's uniform, and said with a smile, "Brother Luo's spear intent is invincible. Even on the battlefield, no one can defeat him. I'm afraid Wang Shence will have to admit defeat."

“Wang Shence is, after all, a Martial God Realm cultivator. He’s one realm below me. If we fight on foot, once he activates his Divine Domain, even though my spear technique is superior, I will still be suppressed,” Luo Xin said sincerely.

“Brother Luo is much younger than him. In another two or three years, he will definitely be able to break through to the Martial God Realm. At that time, he will be no match for him,” Xiao Yun said with a smile.

"This is a sacred place in the Daoist sect. Do not make loud noises. Disturbing a powerful being is no small matter." At this moment, a somewhat calm voice rang out, stopping Xiao Yun.

Xiao Yun looked at the young man with a commanding presence, dressed in a long robe with moon-white and purple patterns made of Shu brocade, and said with an embarrassed smile, "Brother, I was just a little carried away."

As they spoke, they moved closer.

The young man, in his early twenties, was dressed in gorgeous clothes with exquisite embroidery; the gold threads on his clothes shimmered in the sunlight.

The four were clearly friends, but the young man in the moon-white and purple patterned robe seemed to be the leader.

The young man's name was Gao Qiong, a direct descendant of the Prince of Wuwei, one of the four founding princes of the Great Jing Dynasty.

The four founding princes of the Great Jing Dynasty—the Prince of Wuwei, the Prince of Dingxiang, the Prince of Fuyang, and the Prince of Hanyang—ranked among the top meritorious officials in the Qilin Pavilion.

As for Xiao Yun, he was a descendant of the Duke of Chen of the Great Jing Dynasty.

Qin Shuo was a descendant of the Duke of Liang, while Luo Xin was a descendant of the Duke of Song.

All four were from the lineage of founding nobles.

All four were around thirty years old, but their cultivation in immortality and martial arts was profound, and they were all listed on the Qilin Ranking and the Earth Ranking, which is equivalent to the middle generation of the Great Jing Dynasty.

Gao Qiong was eight feet tall, with a handsome face and an imposing presence. He moved with a whooshing sound as he walked. After turning the corner of the mountain path, he looked up and saw Xue Zhihua and Shen Xian. His gaze froze for a moment.

"Zhihua, what are you doing here?" Gao Qiong asked in surprise.

Upon hearing the call, Xue Zhihua looked in the direction of the voice, cupped her hands, and said, "Zhihua greets Brother Gao."

Xiao Yun looked at the beautiful woman with a cold and elegant appearance, his eyes flashing with surprise, and his tone was not without teasing: "Zhihua, you have only met the Gao family elder brother, but have you never met the Xiao family elder brother? Zhihua, you have grown into a more and more graceful young lady."

Xue Zhihua didn't seem to like Xiao Yun much. She just grunted in response to his frivolous remarks, her expression cold.

Xiao Yun felt bored, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared. His gaze fell on Shen Xian's face next to Xue Zhihua, and his eyes became somewhat gloomy.

Who is this person?

Why is he standing next to Zhihua?

Qin Shuo, whose face was slightly sallow, asked, "Miss Xue, what brings you here?"

Gao Qiong also looked at Xue Zhihua with curiosity.

Xue Zhihua's attitude was noticeably better as she replied, "Brother Qin, I've come to the Eternal Green Pagoda to take care of some business."

They did not explain their purpose to the group, nor did they ask them why they came.

Qin Shuo glanced at Shen Xian beside Xue Zhihua, his gaze thoughtful, but did not ask any further questions.

Luo Xin was quite frank, explaining his purpose: "Third Sister Xue, we also need to go to the Everlasting Green Pagoda to consult the ancient texts in order to prepare for the Spirit Official's assessment."

The first, second, and third floors of the Everlasting Pagoda contain a vast space and a rich collection of books, all of which are original ancient texts, exceeding even the number of books in the Kunxu Cave of the Jade Purity Sect.

Gao Qiong asked, "Zhihua, how is Brother Xue's campaign in Tanzhou?"

“Brother, you have won one victory after another, and everything is going smoothly. You will be returning to your capital soon. The war in Tanzhou has been over for some time now.” Xue Zhihua said, and then asked, “Brother Gao, have you not been reading the official gazette lately?” Gao Qiong was silent for a moment, and then sighed, “I’m living in a cave and don’t know the passage of time. I haven’t paid much attention to it.”

Xue Zhihua nodded, knowing that Gao Qiong was not lying.

When the war broke out in Tanzhou, Gao Qiong said he was going into seclusion to break through his limitations.

Gao Qiong didn't know what to say, so she nodded slightly and said, "Zhihua, when your brother comes, I will pay him a visit and ask him to have a drink. It's been more than half a year since I last saw him."

Xue Zhihua said politely, "Brother Gao, you're too kind."

As Gao Qiong spoke, she suddenly looked at Shen Xian with curiosity and asked, "And who is this?"

Xue Zhihua said calmly, "I am an official of the imperial court, here to handle some official business in the Great Crimson Sky Grotto."

Shen Xian was still wearing the fifth-rank official robes he hadn't taken off after court, along with a black gauze hat, so he didn't arouse much suspicion.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yun's hostility lessened slightly.

Xue Zhihua cupped her hands in greeting and said, "I have official duties to attend to, so I will not continue my conversation with Brother Gao here."

"Go ahead and get busy." Gao Qiong nodded and watched Xue Zhihua leave.

Shen Xian and Xue Zhihua walked towards the Everlasting Tower. Seeing that he remained silent the whole way, they didn't ask any questions, but guesses began to rise in their hearts.

Previously, on his way to the capital, Xue Zhihua explained the current political situation in the court to him, and she did mention Gao Qiong from before.

He is a descendant of the Prince of Wuwei and is currently studying Taoist arts under the Yuqing Sect. His Taoist cultivation is unfathomable.

The people accompanying him were likely members of the founding family of nobles.

The Great Jing Dynasty had many meritorious nobles. Although there were repeated purges due to political turmoil, many of them remained active in the political arena. They were mainly divided into three groups: the founding line, the Zhenyuan line, and the Hongxi line.

The three branches of noble families held different stances, but there were still clues to be found.

The founding line mainly supported the Li Jing clan, but as they gradually faded from the core of power, they were powerless and mostly just cheered on.

The majority of the Zhenyuan lineage and the nobles of the Hongxi lineage undoubtedly supported the Empress Dowager's regency and were the core forces she used to assist the Yang princes in controlling the court's military power.

The specific reasons for supporting the diva are unclear.

"We're here." Xue Zhihua suddenly interrupted Shen Xian's thoughts, stopping in front of the Eternal Green Pagoda, and said, "Let's go in. I'll wait for you outside in a while. You go into the sixth level to cultivate, and I'll talk to you about those people later."

Seeing his slightly furrowed brow and flickering eyes, I snorted, he's probably thinking about something again.

Shen Xian hummed in agreement and said, "Then let's go in first."

Although he was curious about the founding nobles, he had important business to attend to at the moment.

As they spoke, they climbed the stone steps between the two stone pools and arrived at the main entrance of the tower.

At this moment, the golden radiance of the four characters "Eternal Green" on the plaque shines brightly in the sunlight.

Shen Xian looked at the pagoda and thought to himself, "It looks quite ordinary."

Before entering the mountain temple, a Taoist priest verified the jade token, allowing entry into the pagoda.

We walked in silence up the wooden stairs in the tower to the sixth floor.

An old Taoist priest behind the table was dozing off. Hearing footsteps, he didn't even lift his eyelids, and his voice sounded like he hadn't woken up yet: "Until you reach the sixth realm, the Eternal Green skill cannot be used."

“Immortal Master, I have a jade token.” Shen Xian said, taking out the identity jade token that Murong Yue had given him earlier.

The old Taoist priest seemed to sense a presence. His drooping eyelids suddenly lifted, and his eyes shone with Taoist charm. He took the jade token, examined it for a moment, and asked, "Fellow Daoist Shangqing, how many days have you been cultivating?"

"Half a year in the tower."

"Half a year inside the tower is equivalent to five days outside," the old Taoist priest explained the rules.

Shen Xian paused for a moment, then said, "Could we accelerate the process by half again?"

“That would require five times the amount of spirit stones to restart the Eternal Pivot Array, and then allocate more Time Stones, because the loss of the power of time would be greater.” The old Taoist said, glancing at Shen Xian, and asked, “What, fellow Daoist, do you wish to comprehend the power of time?”

If it's just about sensing the power of the void, then there's no need to accelerate it like this.

The old Taoist priest spoke, his gaze filled with surprise, "Fellow Daoist... you have absolutely no aura of immortality about you?"

Could it be that he is some reclusive master who has misjudged him?
The old man didn't know all the powerful figures of the Shangqing Sect, so even if Shen Xian took Murong Yue's jade token, it didn't mean anything.

Thinking of this, the old Taoist sat up straight, his expression undoubtedly becoming more solemn.

Shen Xian asked, "Does Xuanzhen Temple not accept cultivators without the aura of immortality?"

The secret passage revealed that, as long as the price was right, anything could be negotiated.

"No, that's not it. Immortals have countless forms." Beneath his gray eyebrows, the old Taoist's aged eyes gleamed with anticipation as he asked, "Would you like to add five times the amount of spirit stones?"

If a powerful being at the eighth realm comprehends the power of time, observing him would also be beneficial.

Shen Xian said, "I was just asking, I didn't mean anything by it."

He wasn't actually in a rush to do it right now.

The old Taoist priest's tone betrayed his disappointment: "It's getting late, let's go inside quickly."

Shen Xian nodded and took out the prepared Sumeru bag.

Xue Zhihua looked at her with concern and instructed, "The magic seal on the Sumeru Bag has been opened. You can take out the pills from it."

"Thank you for your trouble," Shen Xian said softly, then tidied up and entered the sixth floor under Xue Zhihua's lingering gaze.

Upon entering, a young-looking Taoist priest greeted him, saying, "Fellow Taoist, please follow me."

Shen Xian quickly followed. As they spoke, they walked past several wooden shelves displaying various Taoist calligraphy and paintings, and arrived at a stone chamber, where the Taoist priest who was in charge of receiving guests stopped.

Shen Xian glanced at the room and realized there were quite a few like it in the tower.

As the Taoist priest entered the stone chamber, the interior space was quite large, about a hundred square meters, but the furnishings were simple, with only a bed and a desk.

There were no bedding or cloth on the bed, only a bed board.

The young Taoist priest turned his face and said, "This Time Chamber, blessed by the power of time, can change its size and the arrangement of its scenery at will. If you want to go out, just shout 'Eternal Green' three times in the stone chamber, and the stone chamber door will open by itself. In addition, there is a jade tablet groove behind the door. Knock into the groove, and you can also go out of the tower."

Shen Xian nodded, his gaze falling behind the door. Sure enough, he found a groove that corresponded to the jade pendant. He bowed and said, "Thank you, fellow Daoist."

The Taoist priest then gave some more instructions on daily life, said no more, and then closed the stone door.

Strangely enough, although there were no windows in the room, it was quite bright.

With a thought, Shen Xian's surroundings instantly transformed into a training room, with weapons racks displaying swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks.

He thought to himself, "This is profound!"
Shen Xian stepped forward, picked up the sword and spear, and was immediately startled.

It feels quite heavy in the hand, and you can really feel the metallic texture.

Could this be the power of creation from the void?

It shouldn't be. The Taoist priest just now said "illusion," but the illusion felt so real.
Xuanzhen Temple, it's got something...

Shen Xian suppressed his surprise for the moment, went to the bed, sat cross-legged, opened his storage bag, and took out various bottles of pills.

"Take one Bigu Pill first." Shen Xian took out the pill and ate one.

Then, he picked up the bottle containing the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill, poured out the pill, and immediately the fragrance of the pill wafted and floated under his nose.

He is currently at the seventh level of the Acquired Realm in martial arts cultivation.

First, one must reach the ninth level of martial arts, then break through to the Innate Realm, and then deduce martial arts techniques to the Grandmaster Realm.

With a thought, the column for Humanitarian Merits on the data panel read: 523,800.

(End of this chapter)