Outside the Chamber of Comrce’s gate, several elderly n dressed sumptuously with neatly trimd beards were smiling jovially at an ongoing ceremony.
Upon seeing this, Tian Wei hurriedly whispered in a low voice, "That one there is Vice Chairman Zhao, a well-known figure from Ezhou and always aiming for the chairman’s position."
"Hmm."
Li Yan nodded slightly, unconcerned.
Wherever there are people, rivalry is inevitable.
Back in the village, trivial tasks for minor profits would cause fights and sabotage; it was even more so in the Chamber of Comrce where massive interests were involved.
Of course, no matter how fierce the disputes were, it was none of his concern, and he wouldn’t spare a glance.
However, just as they were about to enter, Vice Chairman Zhao caught sight of them, blocking their way, and smilingly said, "Tian nephew, how co you didn’t greet your uncle upon seeing him?"
Tian Wei was sowhat embarrassed and quickly clasped his hands in greeting, "I see Uncle Zhao is busy; I didn’t dare to disturb you."
Vice Chairman Zhao nodded and then his expression turned stern as he scoffed, "Hmph, Brother Tian is also a mber of our Chamber. Those demons daring to harm us like this show no regard for our Ezhou Chamber of Comrce!"
"Without our own people’s support, what will beco of the Chamber’s morale? Rest easy, nephew, with here, I will certainly avenge the Tian Family!"
Tian Wei hurriedly nodded and thanked him.
Such matters, he dared not interfere.
While ostensibly scolding the demons, he was actually criticizing indirectly, insinuating that Wu Honglin did not support the Chamber mbers.
Should Tian Wei impulsively agree with him, this cunning old fox would definitely use his family’s misfortune to stir up more trouble.
Whether he could really take revenge was another matter.
Caught between these two sides was truly vexing!
Seeing that Tian Wei did not press further, Vice Chairman Zhao didn’t force the issue but turned instead to Li Yan, saying with a smile, "And this must be Young Hero Li from Guanzhong, truly a talented youth."
Li Yan helplessly said, clasping his hands, "I am rely a nobody."
Vice Chairman Zhao, unconcerned, stroked his beard and chuckled, "Young yet not arrogant, excellent!"
"This martial arts competition has been fully organised by . I hear Young Hero Li will also participate; you will surely make a na for yourself."
Li Yan was startled, "Is the date set?"
Vice Chairman Zhao nodded, "This year’s Dragon Boat Festival starts from the fifth of May, continuing until the fifteenth, with all the martial arts escort agencies sending participants. Therefore, the competition needs to end before the fifth of May."
"During this period, dragon boat races during the day on the Yangtze River, and at night Buddhist temples will hold grand rituals for liberating souls. On the thirteenth of May, we will honor Emperor Guan, on the fifteenth lift the Bodhisattva and ’jump the dock,’ and on the seventeenth send off the ’plague ship.’ It’ll be busy."
Tian Wei was surprised, "Is it such a big event this year?"
Vice Chairman Zhao slightly nodded, his tone aningful, "This is an order from the Prince Mansion just this morning, the Ezhou Chamber of Comrce is fully mobilized. I heard you visited the Academy; you ought to know about this."
The three of them guessed at once.
Such elaborate preparations could also be related to breaking the Fengshui formation.
Of course, such secret matters could not be discussed carelessly. So, Tian Wei pretended to be oblivious, "Ah, that, I only heard the teacher had arrived, so I went to visit the Academy, I’m not quite clear about the other matters."
Vice Chairman Zhao smiled lightly, not pursuing further questions, but said to Li Yan, "Anyway, the schedule is pretty tight, just three days away. Each family has sent their best; the Prince himself will be there to watch."
"If Young Hero Li wins the championship, you might even enter the Prince Mansion!"
Li Yan clasped his hands, "Thank you for the heads-up, senior."
He was joining the competition to test and hone the martial arts he had just mastered, and also to fight for a spot.
As long as he won four matches, he would achieve his goal.
As for entering the Prince Mansion... he was not interested in serving anyone.
Of course, with Vice Chairman Zhao suddenly being so enthusiastic, who knows what sche he had in mind, Li Yan would not speak carelessly.
Returning to the small courtyard, Sha Lifei and Wang Daoxuan hurried to greet him.
Hearing noise from several rooms, Li Yan frowned, "Why are there outsiders here?"
Sha Lifei cheerfully explained, "The third Tian brother also arrived from Han Port this morning; they had a fight earlier, and now the three brothers are crying and hugging each other, throwing a wild drunken tantrum."
"Oh, that’s fine then."
Upon hearing this, Li Yan led the group back inside and recounted what had happened at the Academy.
"Xuanwu is missing, Vermilion Bird is obstructed, White Tiger is rising?"
Wang Daoxuan first was startled, then his expression shifted as he casually dipped his finger in so tea and sketched a line on the table, vaguely outlining the nearby mountains and rivers of the three cities.
After a long silence, he shook his head, "This Yu Lanshan is indeed no simple matter. If not for the Form and Energy Schools both being adept, this arrangent would not be clear."
Sha Lifei disdainfully said, "The other party rely relies on their Qi Observation Divine Skills and deep understanding of this place, but the Daoist is not inferior to him."
Wang Daoxuan chuckled helplessly, "My foundation is still far inferior."
"As of now, the White Tiger’s malevolent Sha has taken form; the White Tiger belongs to tal, and tal generates water. Gui Mountain corresponds to Xuanwu. If it’s not handled properly, the next problem will be at Gui Mountain..."
As he spoke, he slightly furrowed his brows and continued, "Brother Yan must be careful, the opponent is likely to target Gui Mountain. This competition has also started ahead of schedule; it might be their arrangent."
Li Yan was sowhat surprised, "Can competing in a tournant also influence Fengshui?"
Wang Daoxuan nodded and said, "In ancient tis, duels, plays, and Nuo dances were all perford to entertain the gods, perhaps it is related."
"But with so many forces participating, Prince Mansion should not resort to foul play. I’ll follow them when the ti cos and understand their arrangents."
Li Yan nodded and said, "No matter what arrangents Prince Mansion has, we must secure that spot. The tournant starts in three days, and the crafting of the Magic Artifact must be finalized first."
"I just asked those monks, and Cheng Jue has returned to Baotong Zen Temple. I’m heading there right now, aiming to settle things today."
Having said that, he turned and left. He borrowed a horse from the Chamber of Comrce, exited the city gates, and headed straight for Baotong Zen Temple.
It was still dayti; the official road was busy with passersby, so naturally, there wasn’t an ambush like before.
In less than half an hour, he had arrived at Baotong Zen Temple.
Baotong Zen Temple was currently temporarily closed, no longer receiving outside pilgrims, and guarded by Martial Monks at the mountain gate.
Li Yan was a familiar face. The monk gatekeeper didn’t trouble him; a quick notification was all it took for soone to lead him into the quiet room of the Zen chambers.
Soon, Cheng Jue hastened over, wearing a clearly fatigued expression, still as direct as ever, asking upon eting, "Young Hero Li, do you have any urgent matter for coming here?"
Li Yan sensed sothing was amiss, "Is there trouble at the Barbarian King’s tomb?"
Cheng Jue was taken aback for a mont, "You’re well-inford; the Barbarian King’s tomb has turned into a Land of Great Evil; a formidable demonic entity has been awakened."
"The person behind the scenes is very likely hiding there, taking advantage of the geographical benefits to stir up trouble."
Li Yan frowned, "If we know the person is above, why not just send troops with cannons to bomb the mountain? Wouldn’t that be straightforward?"
Cheng Jue shook his head with a grave tone, "That person behind the scenes is deeply cunning; would he lack precautions?"
"My senior brother used the Heavenly Ear Technique and discovered that within the Barbarian King’s tomb, sothing could’ve transford into a Corpse Immortal or Drought Demon. Once unleashed, it would poison thousands of miles, plaguing the entire Wuchang City with epidemic."
"To break this situation, we must first dispel the White Tiger’s Sha..."
Speaking up to this point, he didn’t continue further but instead asked, "Did you co just to inquire about this?"
Li Yan shook his head and said, "Your temple is busy at the mont, and I shouldn’t have disturbed you, but there was no other way, so I had to seek your help."
He then explained the matters of brokering a deal and borrowing a location for Artifact Refining on behalf of Jade Emperor Temple.
"This is not a big issue."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Jue straightforwardly said, "Whatever claid treasures of immortals, it’s all misinformation; that item is just a rare Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure crystal."
"The reason Prince doesn’t agree is due to a past grudge with Taixuan Orthodox Sect during his youth; if the abbot speaks up, he will sell this face."
"The matter of Yuquan Temple is even easier; its abbot is my Uncle Master. I’ll just send a disciple to speak to him."
"Thank you, Master."
Li Yan was delighted upon hearing this, not expecting it to be so straightforward.
Cheng Jue slightly shook his head, sighed, and said, "These are trivial matters; the true calamity at hand is the difficult problem."
"The person orchestrating everything from behind continuously plans without showing himself; without capturing this person, I can’t rest peacefully..."
Li Yan was taken aback.
This major monk of the Law Enforcent Hall was as decisive as a Dharma Protector Vajra in action; this was the first ti he had seen him in such a state...
...
Returning to the Chamber of Comrce, Li Yan inford them of the results of his trip.
Naturally, Sha Lifei was the happiest. He imdiately went out to summon people, packed all sorts of spiritual materials into boxes, preparing to find Master Lu.
He already had plans and would stay by his side under the pretense of guarding the goods, aiming to learn so techniques.
Li Yan didn’t want to delay and promptly led the team out.
anwhile, as they left, Wang Daoxuan, having nothing else to do in the room, placed three Kui flourishing coins into a tortoiseshell, pinched a spell, and shook it several tis.
Clattering...
The Copper Coins fell to the ground six tis, forming a complete Six Divination hexagram.
Wang Daoxuan’s expression turned solemn, and he muttered to himself, "The first six, walking on frost, hard ice is coming... the arrival portends no good."
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