Destiny in Cinders

There’s so much... An Jing was quite taken aback by the list. Wow, things are different when you have someone of high status with you. They definitely added even more things to the list.

An Jing’s True Spirit Eyes allowed him to notice that the list had been amended mere moments ago. Initially, the reward was only supposed to include 350 liang of silver and the banner. The densegold, priority city access and honors certificate were later additions. Oh, there’s even a longsword made from myriadessence iron worth twelve liang of silver.

Put in crude terms, the reward had initially been monetary in nature. But after Zheng Mo amended it, it became far more substantial. Densegold was a spirit item, and though ungraded, it was considered a type of offering that could be used in rituals or made into armor or weapons. As Grand Chen forbade using gold as currency, gold was a symbol of significance when rewarded by the empire.

The honors certificate was even better. Unlike the banner which was nothing more than an acknowledgement of services rendered, the honors certificate came with actual privileges. The reason An Jing was given trouble by Constable Wang in the first place was his lack of official documentation that showed that he crossed the border into Grand Chen legally. Had he had an honors certificate, nobody would suspect him in the slightest because it also served as permanent residency in Grand Chen. No doubt, it was only added because of his status as a sage’s disciple.

It’s just the thing I need! An Jing felt great relief at the sight of it. Finally, I have proof of identity. I can proudly be Jing Xuan in Grand Chen! Having gained the empire’s recognition as Dustdawner Jing Xuan of Voidsight Mountain, he would be able to use this identity in Dustdawn as well. There was no unified registry system in Dustdawn, after all, and people could claim to be from anywhere they wanted as long as they had the accent to match.

”This reward looks like a bit too much,” An Jing said, giving Zheng Mo an anxious smile. ”All I did was kill a few fiend scum. Surely I don’t deserve all this!”

”It’s not too much at all!” Zheng Mo was relieved that An Jing had no complaints about the reward. ”Young hero, you have traveled far from home to Grand Chen and helped resist the True Fiend Cult. You were able to put aside our national differences to help my people! How could we bear to let a hero like you go unrewarded?”

”Very well.” An Jing then took out a talisman and said, ”Since you feel the same way as Overseer Cao, forgive me for daring to ask for more. Please verify this slip that he wrote for me.”

The talisman crackled like lightning and hovered before Zheng Mo’s eyes. He gave it a read and was stunned. ”Observe the divine armament?! This... truly?!”

It’s not something I can decide on my own! The divine armament was the foundation of Keensight and a crucial component of the major terrestrial-vein formation. Every local official considered it far more important than their own lives. If they died protecting it, they would at least stand a chance to serve in the bureaucracy of the afterlife. If something went wrong with the divine armament and the formation, however, their souls would be scattered like ashes in the wind. Perhaps they would at least be used as fertilizer for the undying trees in the afterlife.

But this is an order from Overseer Cao, a sage working for the imperial court! Not to mention, I have to consider Jing Xuan’s achievements and his master’s reputation...

”Very well!” Zheng Mo had emerged a stronger man from his recent experiences. He decisively agreed and made a bright smile. ”You are a young and promising hero. I should hope for the chance to contribute to your rising legend as well. Men, bring me my official seal! I will personally take Jing Xuan to the terrestrial veins so that he may observe the divine armament!”

Even though Zheng Mo called for his ”men,” the seal appeared out of thin air before him without anyone having to bring it to him. It was covered in gold-filled engravings of dragons and phoenixes. All four sides of the cuboidal seal depicted the houses of imperial subjects, the crop of the farmers, weapons and armor, and natural landscapes. An Jing could feel the sense of importance it radiated.

It’s a grand terrestrial-vein seal! An Jing could tell that the seal was the central core of the terrestrial veins of Keensight. He had seen the Cosmic Heart before; the Cosmic Heart was the central pivot of the Heavenly Dao, while this grand terrestrial-vein seal was the physical manifestation of the core of Keensight’s terrestrial veins. Officials that bore it were able to use the terrestrial veins’ powers to defend against an enemy assault. By the same token, an elite martialist could use the Cosmic Heart to enforce the laws of the Heavenly Dao!

Zheng Mo’s nervousness faded away completely with the seal out. He looked deeply into An Jing’s eyes and said, ”Young Hero Jing, are you sure you want to observe the divine armament right away?”

”Of course.” An Jing didn’t hesitate in the slightest. ”Since I managed to comprehend dao by observing the major terrestrial-vein formation, I would no doubt gain much from seeing the divine armament in person too. Don’t worry, City Manager Zheng. Just like how your future is at stake by showing me the divine armament, mine is at stake by making sure not a single scratch comes to it!”

”Oh, you didn’t need to say all that.” Even then, Zheng Mo was happy to hear his reassurance. While he was worried about something bad happening to the divine armament, An Jing was just as worried that something like this would happen when he was allowed to view it. As long as he wanted to continue roaming Grand Chen, he couldn’t do anything that would earn him the disfavor of the administration.

The chubby official felt much more relaxed than before. He rose and said, ”Alright, better now than never! Let’s go.”

”Very well. Please lead the way,” An Jing said as he stood up.

The central pivot of the terrestrial veins was located within the administrative bureau. The manmade mountain in the bureau’s yard was no mere decoration. Instead, it was a simulacrum model of the terrestrial veins that ran through the area. Every administrative bureau had a different sand ”table” that matched their respective local landscapes.

Raising the grand seal, Zheng Mo stepped into the manmade mountain. An Jing stopped for a moment and felt like he was stepping on water ripples before swiftly catching up to Zheng Mo.

It felt like he had entered the nether realm. The world itself turned pitch black, reducing all material objects into nothing. The manmade mountain, administrative bureau, the officials nearby and even the sound of the streets in the distance vanished completely. All that was left for the senses to perceive was the network of light-gold veins that ran across the ground like blood capillaries, spreading out to cover the surrounding land.

These were terrestrial veins. The complex arrangement of them represented the beating heart that served as the hub of heaven and earth. Keensight’s administrative bureau was situated at the part of the terrestrial veins that pulsed nonstop.

There was another thing in the darkness: a massive, golden bell that served as the protective pivot of the terrestrial veins. This was the Keensight Bell!