A Pawn's Passage

At this moment, only two people were talking in the hall—Sage Donghua and Yao Pei.

Sage Donghua remained seated, while Yao Pei rose to greet Qi Xuansu.

“Senior Sister, when did you get back?” Qi Xuansu asked.

He knew that Yao Pei had gone to the Western Region Daoist Mansion and had accomplished quite a lot there.

In truth, some places simply made it easier to distinguish oneself, such as the Southern Continent and the Western Region. The situations there were complicated, and conflicts were frequent. As the saying went, heroes emerged in troubled times. In times of peace, one could only slowly accumulate seniority. As long as one was capable, the more chaotic the place, the easier it was to rise to prominence.

Yao Pei replied, “I’ve only just returned to the Jade Capital as well.”

After exchanging greetings with Yao Pei, Qi Xuansu said casually, “I didn’t know you were here, Senior Sister, so I didn’t prepare a gift for you. I only brought one for Master. I hope you won’t take offense.”

Yao Pei still looked as listless as ever. She shook her head slightly. “It’s fine.”

Qi Xuansu took out the ancient painting from the Qi Dynasty that he had prepared and handed it to Sage Donghua. “Master, since you appreciate calligraphy and paintings, I would like you to appraise this recently acquired painting of ‘Ten Thousand Mountains and Rivers.’”

You’re always full of these little schemes. Sage Donghua’s words sounded like a reproach, but on closer consideration, they were anything but.

As he spoke, Sage Donghua opened the wooden box and took out the scroll. Qi Xuansu held one end while Sage Donghua stood and took the other. Together, they slowly unfurled the painting.

The painting was magnificent, depicting what seemed like ten thousand towering mountains and mighty rivers surging onward. There was nothing else in the painting.

Naturally, there was symbolism behind it. Mountains and rivers were a metaphor for the realm.

The Holy Xuan once said that the realm did not belong to any one person but to everyone under the heavens.

But some people viewed the Grand Master as the lord of all under heaven, effectively making him the one who owned the entire realm.

By presenting Sage Donghua with a gift symbolizing the entire realm, Qi Xuansu was naturally conveying the most auspicious wish while also catering to Sage Donghua’s tastes.

For someone who had reached Sage Donghua’s position, ordinary treasures held little appeal. There was really only that one position left to desire.

Some Daoists had risen through the ranks purely by flattering and currying favor with others. Qi Xuansu had not risen to his position through such means but through genuine accomplishments. Still, he did not mind using such methods to add a little icing on the cake.

Sure enough, Sage Donghua was very pleased. He accepted the gift and asked, “This painting is no ordinary piece. Where did you get it? If you obtained it through trickery or coercion, I won’t let you off.”

Qi Xuansu smiled. “Master, think about it. I went to the Southern Continent. How could a place like that have such an elegant treasure? Even if I wanted to seize something through trickery or coercion, the most I could get would be some exotic artifacts. Uncle Zhang gave me this painting. I’m a brute, so leaving it in my hands would be a waste. I might as well offer you this gift instead.”

Sage Donghua nodded, accepting this explanation, though he did not forget his responsibilities as a master. “You must continue honing your cultivation, but don’t forget to improve your cultural learning as well. I don’t expect you to become some great scholar, but at the very least, don’t make a fool of yourself again.”

Qi Xuansu nodded sheepishly.

Sage Donghua then handed the painting to Gong Jiaojun and told him to put it away safely. The three of them sat down again to talk.

Although there had been some tension between Sage Donghua and the Earthly Preceptor, Yao Pei did not seem to have been affected. Or rather, given Yao Pei’s current state, no one could tell whether she had been affected at all. She probably did not care. This was also an effect of the Taishang Emotionless Scripture. It not only suppressed positive emotions but negative emotions as well.

This was the authentic Taishang Emotionless Scripture, just like Zhang Yuelu’s authentic Five Thunder Celestial Heart Method.

Zhou Mengyao’s Taishang Emotionless Scripture had been imitated using the Taiping Qingling Scripture, so naturally, it did not have the same effects. It was just like Qi Xuansu’s Taiyin 13 Swords, which possessed the form but lacked the essence.

Qi Xuansu casually broached the subject as if it were merely an idle thought. “I heard that the old Chief Deputy of Ziwei Hall is retiring?”

This old Chief Deputy had previously been the Second Deputy Ziwei Hall Master. He had endured for many years and was an old Sage, much like Li Tianlan. Unfortunately, no matter what he did, he simply could not cross the threshold to become an Omniscient Sage. He was only promoted to Chief Deputy after Yao Shu left to become the Poluo Daoist Mansion Master. However, seeing that there was little hope of ever becoming an Omniscient Sage, he had grown somewhat disheartened and planned to retire. From then on, he intended to focus on cultivation and nurturing his health, racing against the Three Corpses within him in hopes of making it past the age of 120.

This was also the helpless reality faced by many. Immortals could remain in office until the day they ascend from the mortal world. Were it not for the heavenly tribulation, many Immortals would not even mind serving for another lifetime.

But those who were not Immortals had to consider the limits of their lifespan. Immortals were constrained by the once-in-a-century heavenly tribulation, while non-Immortals were constrained by the Three Corpses. By retiring early and devoting themselves to preserving their health, extending their lifespan, and suppressing the Three Corpses, they might live for another decade or more. But if they remained preoccupied with official duties and neglected the Three Corpses, allowing them to run rampant and ravage their vitality, they might not even live to 100 years old.

Power was desirable, but it came with poison.

In the end, it was simply a matter of choosing what to gain and what to give up.

The old Chief Deputy had probably come to terms with it. If he could be promoted to Omniscient Sage and become a true member of the Daoist Order’s upper echelons, he would accept losing a few years of his life. But if he could not rise any further, then preserving his life was more important. Since he would have to retire sooner or later anyway, he might as well retire early.

Sage Donghua gave a definite answer. “It’s already been decided. He’s only staying on temporarily now. Once the new Chief Deputy takes office, he’ll retire completely.”

Qi Xuansu glanced at Yao Pei. “Senior Sister should have a very good chance, right?”

Sage Donghua replied, “Of course she has a very good chance.”

Qi Xuansu immediately understood why Yao Pei was here.

At this critical juncture, Sage Donghua had still made a partial compromise with the Yao family, allowing Yao Pei to be promoted to the position of Chief Deputy Ziwei Hall Master, putting her on the same level as Zhang Yuelu and Li Changge. This also revealed a deeper signal. Sooner or later, the position of Earthly Preceptor would still belong to the Yao family.

If Qi Xuansu lost the competition, then as Li Changge’s principal rival, he would certainly become a prime target for suppression by the Li family. If he were unlucky, he might be utterly ruined and even lose his life. Even if he were lucky, the most he could hope for would be to serve as a Great Sage of a Daoist Palace or Daoist Mansion. They might even send him to East Shakya to guard the frontier, isolating and marginalizing him.

Under such circumstances, Qi Xuansu naturally could not become the Earthly Preceptor.

In truth, Qi Xuansu had only one path before him. Either he successfully reached the summit, or he would never recover from his fall, perhaps even facing utter ruin. There was no fallback of becoming a Deputy Grand Master because he lacked a deeply rooted power base and did not come from one of the Three Great Families.

As long as Qi Xuansu was defeated, his faction would essentially collapse. On the other hand, the Three Great Families were deeply entrenched. Moving against any one of those families would mean shaking the very foundations of the Daoist Order.

To put it plainly, Sage Donghua was gambling as well. If he became the Grand Master, then everything could be arranged. But if he could not become Grand Master and Qi Xuansu could not become Grand Master either, then there was nothing more to discuss. What rightfully belonged to the Yao family would naturally remain with the Yao family.

As things currently stood, Qi Xuansu had been the first in his generation to become an Omniscient Sage and a Palace Master, putting him far ahead of the others. Next came Li Changge, who was not only the Chief Deputy of Beichen Hall but also an envoy of the Daoist Order. Meanwhile, Zhang Yuelu and Yao Pei were only Chief Deputies.

After thinking it over, Qi Xuansu ultimately decided not to congratulate Yao Pei, because doing so might make it seem like he was flaunting his own superior position. Moreover, given Yao Pei’s current state, she would not care anyway.

Qi Xuansu said, “Senior Sister, it would be ideal if you became Chief Deputy of Ziwel Hall. After all, Master can rest assured with you assisting him.”

Sage Donghua seemed to have thought of Qi Jianyuan. Surprisingly, he did not agree but said, “Tian Yuan, you did very well in the Southern Continent this time. Great Sage Jiang spoke very highly of you.”

Qi Xuansu replied, “Great Sage Jiang gives me too much credit. It was mainly thanks to our fellow Daoists of the Western Daoist Order giving their utmost support, while Great Sage Jiang directed the overall strategy...”

Sage Donghua waved his hand. “Alright. There are no outsiders here, so there’s no need for such formalities. What is rightfully yours is yours, and no one can take it away. Following Great Sage Shi’s recommendation, the Golden Tower Council has already decided to reinstate the position of Wanxiang Daoist Palace Master. Your official appointment should be finalized soon. It’s just that promotion to Omniscient Sage is a major matter, so it will still take some time.”

Qi Xuansu said, “I’m in no particular hurry. As it happens, I’m also planning to make a trip to Nanyang.”

Sage Donghua thought for a moment and nodded. “That works. Xie Jiaofeng is in trouble, and as his former superior, I bear some responsibility as well. However, I can’t get away from matters here. Since you happen to be the former Chief Deputy of the Poluo Daoist Mansion, you can make the trip. Make sure you handle this matter properly.”

Qi Xuansu replied solemnly, “Yes, Master.”

Qi Xuansu then took the opportunity to bring up Chen Jianchou’s situation, hoping that his secretary’s appointment could be finalized as soon as possible so that they could travel to Nanyang together.

Sage Donghua agreed without hesitation.

This conversation between master and disciple did not last long. With Yao Pei present, the two of them did not have any deeper discussions either.

Sage Donghua did treat them somewhat differently. Although Qi Xuansu had become his disciple later, while Yao Pei was Sage Donghua’s niece, Sage Donghua clearly trusted Qi Xuansu more and was more willing to reveal his true intentions to him.

But for Yao Pei, she would prioritize the Yao family before the Pei family. Perhaps Sage Donghua had once placed similar hopes in Qi Jianyuan, but unfortunately, his late disciple was not like Qi Xuansu.

Yao Pei remained quiet throughout and barely spoke.

After leaving Sage Donghua’s residence, Qi Xuansu came out and said to Chen Jianchou, “Chou Zheng, make some preparations. You’ll be returning to Nanyang with me.”

Chen Jianchou was taken aback. “Now?”

Qi Xuansu said, “Within the next few days. Your appointment will be issued very soon. I asked my master to arrange a temporary assignment for me from Ziwei Hall so I can escort you to your new post and deal with a few problems along the way. But I won’t stay in Nanyang for too long.”

Chen Jianchou obliged.

Not so long ago, it had been Yao Shu who escorted Qi Xuansu to take up his post at the Poluo Daoist Mansion. In the blink of an eye, Qi Xuansu was now the one escorting someone else to take up his post.

Qi Xuansu had personally promoted Chen Jianchou and was now personally escorting him to his new post. With such treatment, people might begin to wonder whether Chen Jianchou and Qi Xuansu were long-lost brothers.

It was no wonder Li Minghuang had made those snide remarks. He had endured infamy and repeatedly switched sides before finally reaching his current position, while Chen Jianchou had simply chosen the right superior and soared effortlessly through the ranks.