A Pawn's Passage

After the inauguration ceremony came the welcoming banquet.

It was all the same old routine, so there was little worth mentioning. Take Great Sage Shi and Sun Hewu, for example. Just half a month ago, they had attended Qi Xuansu’s wedding banquet, where Qi Xuansu had even toasted them personally. They had only gone half a month without seeing each other, not half a year.

The only exception was that Qi Xuansu had brought Little Yin along.

Almost everyone present already knew the little girl, since she had been here once before.

However, Little Yin merely kept her head down and ate without saying a word. Her face was practically screaming reluctance and dejection. She had not wanted to come back at all.

After the banquet, Yao Pei prepared to leave. Representing the Wanxiang Daoist Palace, Qi Xuansu accompanied her to Xingye Lake to see her off.

Qi Xuansu ultimately decided that he should clear the air with Yao Pei. Regardless of his relationship with the Yao family, the Earthly Preceptor, or Pei Shenfu, he still hoped to be cordial with Yao Pei. After all, they were once classmates and partners in crime.

Yet when the time came to speak, Qi Xuansu found himself unsure what he could possibly say to Yao Pei in her current state. Should he say that he should not have taken away her position? That would be rather hypocritical.

Qi Xuansu recalled a conversation the two of them had once shared over drinks during their time at the Upper Palace.

Yao Pei asked him if he had to choose a Grand Master, would he choose the fifth-generation Grand Master or the sixth-generation Grand Master?

At the time, Qi Xuansu had said that he would choose the fifth-generation Grand Master. Only when the Daoist Order was stable could ordinary Daoists enjoy better lives. However, he had added that if he himself ever gained the right to nominate and elect the Grand Master, then he could not say for certain what his choice would be.

Qi Xuansu had also given his reason. Power could distort humanity. He did not know what kind of person he would become in the future, nor did he dare guarantee that his original convictions would remain unchanged.

At the time, Qi Xuansu could never have imagined that his words would come true. He had actually become an Omniscient Sage with the right to nominate and elect the Grand Master.

At this moment, Qi Xuansu could not help but search his own heart and ask himself. Had his original convictions changed?

Qi Xuansu also remembered that Yao Pei had spoken candidly from the heart. Both the fifth-generation and sixth-generation Grand Masters had their shortcomings. If she could become Grand Master herself, she would emulate the Primordial Daoist Ancestor and govern through non-action.

Back then, Qi Xuansu had still been relatively inexperienced. He replied that he could not perceive how one could govern through non-action. All he could see was the overwhelming power that allowed one to do anything and everything.

All that was in the past now.

Qi Xuansu was no longer the young man who had once considered even becoming an Omniscient Sage an extravagant hope. He was now one of the Twin Peaks of the Daoist Order, with his sights set on becoming the Grand Master.

Meanwhile, Yao Pei had grown increasingly withdrawn. When Qi Xuansu, Zhang Yuelu, and Li Changge each put forward their own ideals, Yao Pei chose silence. When Sage Donghua gave up on her, she still remained silent.

Among the Three Daoist Prodigies, her presence was becoming increasingly faint. She did not have Zhang Yuelu’s stubborn determination nor Li Changge’s sharp edge.

The woman who had once declared beneath the moonlight that she would emulate the Primordial Daoist Ancestor seemed to have disappeared.

As they were nearing Xingye Lake, Qi Xuansu finally spoke. “Su Yi, I hope we can still remain friends in the future.”

He went straight to the point.

Yao Pei stopped and looked at Qi Xuansu. “I hope so too. But oftentimes, I’m afraid such things are not for us to decide.”

Qi Xuansu said, “If we turn around now, we can still see the Wanxiang Daoist Upper Palace, where we made some wonderful memories. Even if we cannot remain friends, I hope we will never have to meet each other in battle.”

Yao Pei gazed steadily at Qi Xuansu for a moment. “Let us hope so.”

With that, she boarded the flying ship without looking back.

Qi Xuansu watched the flying ship fade into the distance and eventually let out a sigh.

In truth, there were some things Qi Xuansu had left unsaid.

If one day the Yao family crushed him beneath their feet and left him without even an intact corpse, then there would be nothing more to say. Once a man was dead, everything came to nothing, and he would hardly be in any position to pass judgment on anyone.

But if one day he was the one who had the last laugh, then as her uncle, he would not mind sparing Yao Pei, treating it as one final gesture of goodwill.

Qi Xuansu turned around and headed back.

Yan Yongzhen, Lu Yujue, and Cheng Lixue were all waiting for Qi Xuansu not far away.

These three now formed the core of Qi Xuansu’s team at the Wanxiang Daoist Palace.

Qi Xuansu said, “If I remember correctly, Gui Zhen comes from the Shangqing Palace, while Shuang Yu comes from the Qingling Palace. Neither of you is from the Wanxiang Daoist Palace. Since the two of you are newcomers here, your priority should be familiarizing yourselves with the situation. You should especially seek advice from Jing Shi, our local expert.”

Gui Zhen was Yan Yongzhen’s courtesy name, Shuang Yu was Lu Yujue’s courtesy name, and Jing Shi was Cheng Lixue’s courtesy name.

Cheng Lixue hurriedly waved his hands. “I wouldn’t dare claim such a title.”

Qi Xuansu said, “There’s nothing to be modest about. The two of them are outsiders here, after all.”

Lu Yujue said, “Sage Qi, you are absolutely right.”

Yan Yongzhen reported, “Sage Qi, Deputy Palace Master Ning mentioned that the Upper Palace will be starting its new term soon. According to the rules of the Daoist Palace, the Great Sage, Palace Master, and Chief Deputy are all required to teach classes personally. The schedule runs on a seven-day cycle. The Great Sage teaches on the seventh day, while you teach on the sixth.”

Qi Xuansu was momentarily taken aback.

It seemed like yesterday that he himself had studied at the Upper Palace. Yet in the blink of an eye, he was now going to be teaching others.

Fortunately, he would only be teaching fourth-rank Jijiu Daoists rather than second-rank Taiyi Daoists. The latter were generally taught personally by the Three Deputy Grand Masters, Virtuous Great Sages, and certain first-rank Tianzhen Daoists. Still, considering that Madam Wu and Great Sage Lan also had to teach classes, the thought left Qi Xuansu rather speechless. Surely, those two would not simply tell everyone to study on their own, right?

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Understood. There’s nothing else I need from you here, so you can head back for now. Gui Zhen, take Wan Miao to complete her enrollment procedures.”

Yan Yongzhen gave a wry smile but nevertheless accepted the order and left.

This was not an easy assignment. The little girl’s resistance was written all over her face. Fortunately, Yan Yongzhen was at least somewhat familiar to her, so it should not be too difficult.

Qi Xuansu went to his office rather than his residence. It was located on the third floor of the Ming Hall, which was also the highest point of the Wanxiang Daoist Palace, directly opposite Great Sage Shi’s office.

Since the Wanxiang Daoist Palace had not had anyone serving as Palace Master for many years, this office had remained vacant the entire time. It was only refurbished after Qi Xuansu was appointed Palace Master. It looked very neat, though somewhat empty.

The outermost area was reserved for the secretary. Beyond that was a small reception room that doubled as a meeting room, followed by Qi Xuansu’s office, which also served as his study. At the very back was a meditation chamber.

There were a few items on Qi Xuansu’s desk, including some files and documents for purview, several official seals, and a jade token.

Qi Xuansu had a particularly deep impression of this jade token. Sun Hewu had one just like it. Back then, Yao Pei had made a replica of Sun Hewu’s jade token so that they could sneak into the library.

Now, Qi Xuansu possessed such a jade token himself. With it, he could activate and access the various restrictions throughout the Daoist Palace, including the grand formation protecting the entire palace.

In terms of authority, Qi Xuansu’s access privileges now surpassed even Sun Hewu’s. After all, Sun Hewu was only the Chief Deputy Palace Master.

Although this elderly Sage had always been held back due to his low cultivation level and had never advanced far, he had still rendered long and meritorious service. Once he retired, he would likely receive the treatment afforded to an ordinary Great Sage.

Amid his reflections, Qi Xuansu also remembered the long-forgotten Tianshui Core Tower.

If he remembered correctly, a dragon lady was still imprisoned inside.

Back then, Qi Xuansu had been in no position to deal with this dragon lady. But the Qi Xuansu of today was different. He was now fully capable of handling the matter.

Thus, on a sudden impulse, Qi Xuansu decided to head to Tianshui Core Tower.

Gen Garden contained a total of 81 libraries. Every 9 buildings formed a circle, and the 9 circles were nested within one another, with larger circles enclosing smaller ones.

The farther outward the buildings were situated, the greater the distance between them. Viewed from ground level, it was impossible to tell that the buildings had been arranged in circles. Only from high above could one see their circular formation. Conversely, the closer the buildings were to the center, the smaller the gaps between them became.

Tianshui Core Tower stood at the very center, separate from the 81 libraries. A formation had been established within the tower, connecting it directly to the Daoist Hall of Archives in Jade Capital.

This tower had been sealed by order of the sixth-generation Grand Master.

Back then, Sun Hewu had made some remarks about the matter that had left a deep impression on Qi Xuansu.

Without a solid foundation or sufficient prestige, what right did the sixth-generation Grand Master have to play the good man?

He had ascended to the position of Grand Master in response to the earnest expectations of the Omniscient Sages of the Golden Tower Council and with the heartfelt support of the millions of Daoists. Yet once in office, he proved indecisive and irresolute. He could not continue implementing the various policies of the fifth-generation Grand Master nor put forward any ideas or policies of his own. He could not even maintain the existing situation, causing the conflicts among the Three Daoist Sects to intensify further. In the end, when the situation spiraled out of control, he flew into a rage and, in a fit of anger, chose to ascend ahead of time and leave the mortal world behind, abandoning his duties as Grand Master and leaving the exalted position vacant.

With the founding patriarchs before him in comparison, the sixth-generation Grand Master was destined to leave behind a name to be condemned in the annals of history.

These words had affected Qi Xuansu. That was why, if he intended to contend for the position of Grand Master, he would spare no effort in cultivating his own faction and strengthening his foundations, rather than merely fighting for the empty title of Grand Master.

The members of this faction could be humans, but they could also be demons.

As Qi Xuansu saw it, other flood dragons could not avoid the Daoist Order quickly enough, yet this dragon lady had actually sneaked into the Daoist Order. She had not killed anyone nor stolen any treasures. Her sole purpose had been to secretly learn the Daoist Order’s arts of immortality, so she was certainly an unusual dragon.

In the end, she had been caught red-handed by the sixth-generation Grand Master. Fortunately for her, the sixth-generation Grand Master was a kindhearted man who believed that her crime did not warrant death, so he merely imprisoned her temporarily. He had originally intended to deal with the matter at a later date, but who could have imagined that the Grand Master would leave and never return?

Perhaps such an unusual individual could be reasoned with and communicated with, or even recruited into Qi Xuansu’s service.

Qi Xuansu once again arrived at Gen Garden. After all, he had already been here several times and knew the place well. With the command token in hand, he did not encounter any obstacles along the way.

Probably because Yao Pei and Qi Xuansu had once secretly infiltrated Tianshui Core Tower, the Wanxiang Daoist Palace had apparently decided that relying solely on restrictive formations was not secure enough and had actually stationed additional Spirit Guards here now.

However, Qi Xuansu was now the Palace Master. No Spirit Guard would dare stand in his way. They did not even dare question him. Aside from saluting him, they made no other move.

Qi Xuansu soon arrived before Tianshui Core Tower. The doors were tightly shut, with the Daoist emblem of the Taiji and Eight Trigrams shimmering upon them.

Qi Xuansu waved the jade token in his hand to lift the restriction. Then, he pushed the doors open and walked straight inside.