Ten days later, Nan Yan stood atop Dragon City’s walls, watching three flood dragons escort the wedding procession into the distance. She still remembered Meng Ying’s ambitious face.
— What does it matter if I come from mundane origins? I’ll be like resilient grass, catching a ray of sunrise. Despite wind and rain, I’ll one day break through this sky.
She was never a seductress toying with worldly affairs, but a true hero of the mortal realm.
Nan Yan looked back at the bustling crowd below. They all walked the path of immortal cultivation, while at the end of that road, the guide was… someone she had to face with a demon’s visage.
With this unremarkable alliance, undercurrents began to surge across the States.
In Chen State, where battles had briefly subsided, the ambitious Dragon Lord turned his gaze towards Zi State after a winter’s respite. Come spring, under the guise of academic exchange, he sent core disciples for intensive training with Wei State. Simultaneously, he began weakening Shen and Hai States, longtime allies of Zi State.
Daosheng Tian, seemingly passive, had already set their world-dominating claws in motion.
Nan Yan stayed in Dragon City until April of the following year. Finally, Baoqi Rulai sent word that Mao State’s Crown Prince had been chosen, instructing her to return to Chou Mountain Academy for the Nine Tribulations Pagoda’s Buddhist rites and to prepare for the Mountain and Sea Forbidden Technique.
The Dragon Lord was reluctant to let her go, privately cursing Baoqi Rulai as an old baldy always trying to trick children into monkhood. Unable to stop her, he had Mu Zhanting take Nan Yan to the Imperial Treasury to retrieve the wedding dress originally prepared for Nan Fangzhu, insisting she take it with her.
Dragon City had three great treasuries; the Imperial Treasury was one of them. Nan Yan sensed she could take anything, but having been a guest for so long, she hesitated. Then, she felt a familiar, comforting aura.
Inside a glass case floated a wedding gown that looked like a burst of flowers, with a phoenix-embroidered collar and tail-like sashes, all shimmering with a faint glow.
“This is the Vermilion Bird Sky-Crying Dress,” the elderly treasury keeper explained. “It’s not entirely from our Chen State. Before Nan Fangzhu’s wedding, she took feathers from the Phoenix Lord, spun them into golden thread, and tossed them before the Dragon Lord, saying she’d come with wine to marry when the dress was complete.” His eyes held regret. “The dress was finished, but she never returned. The Dragon Lord visits it for a day and night each year. By taking it, you’ll resolve one of his long-standing regrets.”
Nan Yan sighed softly. As her fingertips touched the phoenix feather threads, a warm, familiar feeling flowed through her meridians.
“You feel it too, don’t you, miss? This dress, steeped in the treasury’s aura for years, has become a rare spiritual treasure. Wearing it wards off all evil, keeping ghosts at bay. I hear it’ll be useful in the Mountain and Sea Forbidden Technique.”
After expressing her gratitude, Nan Yan carefully packed the dress. Outside, she found Mu Zhanting waiting.
“You’re leaving?” he asked.
“I’m a Buddhist cultivator after all. I must return to Chou Mountain Academy to report.”
Mu Zhanting sighed dramatically. “Ah Yan…”
Thinking he was emotional, Nan Yan said, “Brother, if you have something to say, just say it.”
Mu Zhanting’s eyes reddened slightly. “Last night, I passed by where the Confucian cultivators were holding a literary gathering. The Dragon Lord’s men wouldn’t let me in, so I stood outside in the snow until midnight. I composed a poem. After you leave, I’ll hardly find anyone in Dragon City to appreciate it. Could you critique it for me?”
Nan Yan firmly replied, “Brother, it’s late. I need to catch the airship back to Mao State. Let’s part ways here.”
Mu Zhanting said wistfully, “Some people call me brother but don’t treat me like one. For such people, I’ll write a poem about my sister every year on her birthday and post it on Dragon City’s gates for all literary friends to critique—”
Nan Yan sat down obediently. “I’m sorry, Brother. Please, go ahead.”
Delighted, Mu Zhanting said, “In the Mountain and Sea Forbidden Technique, I must show off among the world’s heroes. I think this poem is quite good.”
Nan Yan eagerly awaited his recitation. He stood proudly, facing the wind, and declaimed loudly:
“Deep in the night, not sleeping a wink,
A nest of poets, all in a stink.
If I become a literary star someday,
Confucian scholars will no longer hold sway.”
The air around them froze. Passing Chen State cultivators, unprepared for the Crown Prince’s terrifying literary prowess, scattered. Only Nan Yan remained, her taste buds long numbed by years of such torment, still able to praise insincerely, “Wonderful poem, Brother. Farewell.”
Nan Yan thought Daosheng Tian should recruit her brother if they wanted to keep the world in check. With him alone, they could topple half the Confucian realm.
As she fled, Nan Yan heard Mu Zhanting call her name again. She turned to see him waving.
“In the Mountain and Sea Forbidden Technique, we’ll bring them back together, for sure.”
Nan Yan’s eyes welled up as she nodded. “Definitely.”
……
Two years later, on the southern coast of Zi State.
Three floating palaces hung in mid-air, where thousands of disciples gathered to welcome the most illustrious young geniuses of the Core Formation realm from across the world.
Streaks of light flashed through the sky as Daosheng Tian disciples, led by Xuanzai’s direct disciple Mo Xingzhen, efficiently arranged the guests from various States into their respective camps.
“Brother Mo, we must find time to continue our discussion on the Dao since last year’s parting.” “Certainly, please, come in.”
“Senior Brother Mo, any news on that eighth-grade Appearance Fixing Pill you owe me? My sister was pestering me about it before I left.” “I just finished a batch recently. I’ll send it as promised.”
“Ha~ Senior Brother Mo, you’ve lost weight! Is Xuanzai not feeding you?” “Indeed, Master only knows how to seclude himself in cultivation. We juniors are starving. Friend Lu, did you bring the white jade chicken from You State? I’ve been craving it.”
The Crown Princes from various States, both righteous and evil, had to stay at Daosheng Tian for a few days before the Mountain and Sea Forbidden Technique began. Many harbored blood feuds, especially those from Chen and Si States who arrived almost simultaneously. They had fought at sea before arriving, and Mu Zhanting had to be restrained by his fellow cultivators to prevent a brawl with Li Chi in front of everyone, testing the host’s peacekeeping abilities.
“Just you siblings? Where’s my brother?” Li Chi, who had arrived from Si State with his sister Li Mian and a few outstanding demonic cultivators, was still fuming from Mu Zhanting’s provocation.
“Mu Zhanting, don’t be so arrogant! If you’ve got the guts, let’s settle this with a death match in the Mountain and Sea Forbidden Technique!”
“Bring it on! Only a coward would back down!”
Mo Xingzhen, observing the situation, maintained his smile and said, “Seeing you both so energetic, perhaps we should skip the welcome tea. Why don’t we move to a more suitable location for your deathmatch now? It would save the rest of us from awkwardly damaging inter-provincial relations during the Technique.”
Neither was foolish enough to fight before the Technique and give others an advantage. As the tension eased, Mo Xingzhen skillfully separated the two feuding States, engaging one with poetry and offering the other medicinal pills to try.
A young Daosheng Tian disciple assisting with the reception watched Mo Xingzhen admiringly. “Senior Brother Mo is truly impressive. These Crown Princes, usually so haughty, are all smiling and cordial now.”
“In my opinion, Senior Brother Mo should be the next Emperor. If that joke from Chen State becomes Emperor, won’t the world fall into chaos?”
“Especially the Confucian cultivators from Yun State. They might face extermination…”
“Stop the idle chatter and stay alert. We can return to our sect once the last two provincial Crown Princes arrive.”
Among the major States, besides Zi State, there were Yin, Chen, Si, and Wei States. Suddenly, the drifting clouds in the sky were torn apart by an invisible sword intent. In an instant, dozens of sword lights flashed from a hundred miles away, approaching rapidly.
Mo Xingzhen saw Song Zhu arriving from afar. Before he could speak, Song Zhu tossed him a stone-like object that landed at his feet.
“Mo Xingzhen, here’s the sword embryo you wanted.”
“Brother Song, you’re too cold. Someone, bring some hot tea to warm Brother Song’s stomach.” Mo Xingzhen complained, but it was clear he and Song Zhu were on good terms. After receiving the sword embryo, he noticed Song Zhu sitting cross-legged by the railing, as if on guard. Puzzled, he asked, “Brother Song, have you made enemies with someone from another State?”
Song Zhu, looking serious, had heard that Master Zhengyuan would accompany the Crown Prince Zhenheng from Mao State to the Mountain and Sea Forbidden Technique. Already tense, he misheard and replied, “I’ve come to form a bond with someone. This time… it’s do or die.”
Mo Xingzhen: “…You sword cultivators are terrifying.”
Hours later, as everyone waited expectantly, the delegation from Mao State finally arrived.
While other Crown Princes had flown in swiftly, the Mao State group leisurely sailed in on a reed boat. As the host, Mo Xingzhen had to maintain a smile from the moment the boat appeared until it finally docked, his face nearly frozen in place.
The first to disembark was a monk who, despite being only in his twenties, bore the weathered look of a middle-aged man. With his bamboo staff and straw sandals, he was an ascetic among ascetics.
“Friend Zhenheng—” Mo Xingzhen began, but the ascetic monk turned to instruct his junior disciples as they disembarked:
“You’ve learned the Buddhist teachings on the journey. Tonight, copy them a hundred times each to engrave them in your hearts.”
This Crown Prince Zhenheng was the most renowned ascetic monk under Mao State’s Law Seat, known for not only his austerity but for dragging his junior disciples along. Mo Xingzhen noticed the accompanying monks looked sallow, some even pale as ghosts.
“…Mao State isn’t that far. Why do Friend Zhenheng’s companions look so travel-worn?” Mo Xingzhen asked.
Zhenheng chanted “Amitabha” and replied, “Friend Mo, you jest. This poor monk and his juniors left Mao State four months ago, but we spent time aiding the poor and vanquishing demons along the way.”
“F-four months?” Mo Xingzhen’s eye twitched. “That must have been hard on your junior disciples.”
The other Buddhist cultivators looked resentful, except for one clear female voice that answered, “Every sip and peck is cultivation. Senior Brother Zhenheng leads by example, and we juniors have benefited greatly.”
Zhenheng smiled, “Sister Zhengyuan’s Buddhist heart is steadfast, truly worthy of being our master’s top disciple.”
While everyone’s attention had been on Crown Prince Zhenheng, Mo Xingzhen, hearing this voice, suddenly realized there was a female Buddhist cultivator among the monks.
“Zhengyuan?” His memory was good, and he recalled the nun Zhengyuan he had met at the Yin State gathering. Looking closer, he found that while her demeanor remained serene, her face was now stunningly beautiful, enough to daze even immortals.
After a long pause, Mo Xingzhen said, “Sister Zhengyuan, it’s unfair of you not to show your true face.”
Nan Yan fingered her prayer beads, scanning the crowd but not seeing the face she hoped for. She smiled at Mo Xingzhen, “It was expedient at the time. I’m sure a magnanimous person like Friend Mo wouldn’t hold it against me.”
Mo Xingzhen was more concerned about something else: “I understand now. With a face like that, you’d have been devoured in Yin State. Now that you’re no longer concealing it, have you reached the level of returning to simplicity?”
Returning to simplicity was a unique mental state. As far as Mo Xingzhen knew, apart from Buddhist cultivators who specialized in mental cultivation, only Nascent Soul cultivators on the verge of Transcendence could achieve this state.
To others, those who had achieved this state appeared ordinary. One might remember their appearance while talking face-to-face, but forget it as soon as they turned away—a truly mysterious phenomenon.
Crown Prince Zhenheng praised Nan Yan highly: “Sister Zhengyuan has the highest aptitude among our generation and endures the most hardship in cultivation. Her attainment of Buddhahood is imminent.”
“Alas…” Mo Xingzhen sighed deliberately, “Friend Zhenheng, you’re too cruel. Wouldn’t it be a shame if Sister attained Buddhahood? How many men’s hearts would break?”
“Friend Mo jests. Sister Zhengyuan’s Buddhist heart is resolute, untouched by worldly affairs. Your jokes are fine, but don’t hinder my junior sister’s cultivation.”
“It’s alright, it’s just a joke. Who knows, I might become a monk in a few years myself?”
Nan Yan was smiling, but suddenly felt an intense gaze on her back. Her smile froze as she turned to see Song Zhu standing behind her. Startled, she said, “Friend Song, it’s been a long time.”
Song Zhu had wanted to greet her but hesitated. Hearing Nan Yan joke about becoming a monk in a few years was like a bolt from the blue. His heart ached, and a thousand emotions condensed into one sentence: “Master, on the day you attain Buddhahood, I’ll send you off.”
Mo Xingzhen: …What kind of grudge is this??