The man who arrived was tall and thin, with an aged countenance, and a goat's beard hanging down from his chin. His face was taut, presenting a stern demeanor.
"Is this... Lu Ding?"
Yu Ci recognized this man. Just like Lu Yang, Lu Ding was also a steward in the mansion, known for his strict and harsh manner. However, while Lu Yang was in charge of regular affairs, Lu Ding managed various tasks and was the least regarded among the stewards. Yu Ci had a deep impression of him because it was him who was responsible for the external procurement of Shrimp Whisker Grass. It was he who made the decision yesterday, instructing the shop to send people to track and investigate Yu Ci's background. Of course, all of this was included in the Divine Map and was known to Yu Ci.
Lu Ding was a man who flattered those above him and oppressed those below. He was always putting on airs. Once he was away from the council hall, he beckoned a servant standing by, instructing him to summon someone. He then slowed his pace, leisurely walking with his hands behind his back, oblivious to an invisible demonic eye in the void watching his every move.
In no time, the mansion's warrior leader and the stewards arrived to take orders. Lu Ding sat on a rock by the roadside, speaking slowly and deliberately, allowing Yu Ci to see everything clearly. However, his first sentence made Yu Ci laugh.
What Lu Ding said was, "The Mansion Master has ordered to put the whole city under surveillance, seal off the city gates, and keep the person who switched four handles of the Three Yang Talisman Sword under confinement in the city. Find his traces, invite him if possible, and if not, still invite him. We must 'invite' him to the mansion as a guest!"
The warrior leader left to carry out the orders. The steward, who was accustomed to Lu Ding's ways and familiar with the situation, couldn't help but wonder, "Why such a sudden mobilization? Four thousand stalks of Shrimp Whisker Grass is indeed a lot, but if one is determined to do this risky business, it's not too difficult to gather that much."
Lu Ding glanced at his subordinate, stroking his beard and laughing, "If it were ordinary, it wouldn't be a big deal even if it were forty thousand stalks. But what kind of vision does the Mansion Master have? He said that out of four thousand stalks, only three are mature, which means that the herbs this person picks not only have excellent appearance but also ample vitality. Their medicinal power is much more abundant than usual, which is why they can achieve such results. Such medicinal grass, if there are dozens of stalks in ordinary days, it's already good. But unexpectedly, thousands of stalks appeared all at once...hehe, if you say this person doesn't have a special place or method for picking herbs, who would believe it?"
What a thoughtful observation!
Yu Ci, in the inn, almost applauded. The steward also had a look of sudden realization, which made Lu Ding very satisfied. He continued to enlighten, "Nowadays, both inside and outside the city, there are many ambitious wolves eyeing the mansion's 'exclusive' rights with envy and greed, which is very annoying. You must be more careful and diligent in your work, to share the worries of the Mansion Master..."
The steward nodded repeatedly, and Lu Ding was quite satisfied. He then ordered, "Whether it's tonight or tomorrow, the Mansion Master will go out again. You, as usual, prepare the food and water for ten people, and there must be no mistakes."
The steward understood and turned to carry out the task. As Lu Ding said, this was a routine, and there was no need for further explanation.
However, Yu Ci in the inn was curious. Jin Huan had just returned, where was he going again?
He rose to his feet, pocketing the Divine Bronze Mirror. Despite his disdain for the ways of the White Sun Mansion, he could not ignore the danger within its walls. Sheer Cliff City, the only large settlement for miles around, was home to hundreds of thousands, yet strangers were few and far between. For a local strongman like the White Sun Mansion, it wouldn't take much effort to identify newcomers within the city in a short amount of time. Their previous reluctance to do so was likely just to maintain a facade.
But now, at Jin Huan's command, that facade was ripped away.
Clearly, it was no longer feasible to stay in the city. Yu Ci slowly emerged from the inn, his pace leisurely yet his direction unwavering, heading towards the nearest East Gate. As he went, he gradually picked up speed.
Sheer Cliff City had city walls and gates, but no soldiers were stationed at them. This was because the city-state had no external enemies, and even if it did, they would not be deterred by the city walls. The walls were built primarily to guard against the ferocious beasts in the mountains. The White Sun Mansion had even organized some civilians into an armed force, forming a garrison responsible for maintaining the city's peace and occasionally assisting the Mansion in various tasks, such as enforcing a city-wide curfew or closing the city gates...
However, when Yu Ci passed by the East Gate garrison, there was no sign of any movement. Yu Ci gave a faint smile, casually stepping out of the city gate and leaving Sheer Cliff City behind him.
A few miles out of the city gate, Yu Ci was somewhat surprised to find the area surprisingly bustling. Travelers were everywhere, many of them wealthy city dwellers out for a family outing. The cries of small vendors rose and fell along the roadside, a sight unseen in the past few days.
He randomly pulled aside a passerby to ask what was going on. The man, good-natured, didn't mind being stopped. He looked Yu Ci up and down before finally smiling and saying, "Today is the Enlightenment Day of Xuan Yin Immortal. You, a Taoist, should go to worship the Three Pure Ones. Are you also going to pay respects to Xuan Yin Immortal?"
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Yu Ci suddenly understood. It was the Xuan Yin Sect. Twenty miles outside the west city gate was the "You Qiu Palace", where the golden body of Xuan Yin Immortal was enshrined. He knew about it.
The Xuan Yin Sect had only recently established a foothold in Sheer Cliff City in the past decade, but its growth was rapid, quickly becoming a force that could not be ignored in the surrounding area. Its swift expansion was largely due to the White Sun Mansion's generous purchase of Shrimp Whisker Grass. The sect was rumored to be a branch of the ancient Witch Sect, possessing methods of exorcising beasts and banishing ghosts. If one could join the sect and receive a talisman blessed by the sect's immortal teacher, they could avoid danger, and the talismans were said to be very effective.
Most of the city's residents who went to Sky Rift Valley to gather herbs had come to believe in the Xuan Yin Sect. Moreover, the sect favored female believers, and most of the sect's immortal teachers were women, which attracted many women from the city to join. After receiving effective blessings, they would share them with their families, making the incense offerings to the Xuan Yin Immortal even more prosperous.
In the eyes of a cultivator like Yu Ci, however, he saw something different.
Over the course of a decade, the Xuan Yin Sect had become one of the major forces in Sheer Cliff City, spreading its teachings without restraint. This was largely due to the laissez-faire attitude of the White Sun Mansion. Yu Ci had heard rumors within the mansion that the sect had deep roots, reputedly a branch of a major religious faction in the far east. Even from a vast distance, the White Sun Mansion afforded it a certain level of respect. Additionally, the Xuan Yin Sect was willing to cultivate common believers, never gathering powerful cultivators, posing no threat to the White Sun Mansion. This was another crucial factor.
Truth be told, Yu Ci was quite interested in visiting the You Qiu Palace. Unfortunately, at this moment, there was some commotion near the western city gate. Presumably, the order from White Sun Mansion had finally arrived, but it was already too late and meaningless, only serving to disturb the peace. Yu Ci sneered inwardly, blending into the crowd of worshippers offering incense, moving slowly yet swiftly, soon distancing himself from the turmoil.
By the time Yu Ci unfolded the Divine Map again, night had fallen.
The location Yu Ci chose was thirty miles west of the city. While he couldn't see the entire view of Sheer Cliff City, he had a perfect view of the whole Cinnabar Cliff. The search operation within the city was bound to be fruitless, and the initiation ceremony of the Xuan Yin Immortal was destined to end in disappointment. Such an outcome would likely cause friction between the two parties. While the Divine Map couldn't predict this, Yu Ci had a good guess. He couldn't help but laugh at the situation.
In line with the attitude of the White Sun Mansion, Yu Ci consciously positioned himself accordingly. The cultivators in the White Sun Mansion were oblivious to this outcome. Even if they were aware, they would only laugh it off as overconfidence, without any further concern. They continued their orderly preparations for departure and cleanup of the city. Of course, such tasks were left to subordinates. For stewards like Lu Yang, all they had to do was wait in the courtyard for departure.
When Yu Ci turned his attention back to the small courtyard where Lu Yang resided, the scene surprised him.
In the small open space of the solitary courtyard, two people were engaged in a bout. It wasn't exactly a fight, as they were standing a good ten feet apart, just waving their sleeves and lifting their legs, occasionally shifting positions. Although the Gang wind was howling between them, their movements were rhythmic, suggesting they were either sparring or cultivating.
One of the two was Lu Yang, and the other, of similar build but with a round face, was always smiling and appeared amiable even when making his moves. This was Kuang Zheng, another steward in the mansion and the uncle of Lu Yang's apprentice. These two stewards had formed an alliance through this young man, securing a significant power base within the mansion.
Kuang Yan Qi, the apprentice of Lu Yang, not only served as the bond between two stewards, but also had his own merits that were worthy of attention. Half a year ago, at the tender age of twenty, he had already stepped into the Nature-Connecting Realm, surpassing his peers at an astonishing pace and demonstrating remarkable potential.
Lu Yang cherished this disciple greatly, seeing him as the greatest hope for inheriting his mantle. He took advantage of the momentum, teaching him all kinds of knowledge related to the Nature-Connecting Realm. The bits and pieces of wisdom he shared also benefited Yu Ci, who was always "on the sidelines", hence Yu Ci enjoyed coming here. His skills in lip-reading had improved greatly, with a large part of that improvement molded within these walls.
Standing under the eaves of the courtyard was Kuang Yan Qi, who was currently standing amidst the aftereffects of the Gang wind, squinting as though experiencing something.
"Having a mentor's guidance really makes a difference..."
Yu Ci didn't hide his jealousy, but when he turned to look at Lu Yang and Kuang Zheng, he found his "vision" somewhat blurry. He initially thought it was due to fatigue, but upon comparing the light and color in the courtyard with those under the eaves, he realized it wasn't his issue. Instead, the image reflected by the Divine Map here wasn't as clear as the surroundings.
Yu Ci steadied his mind, gathered his energy and looked again. Strangely, as he exerted himself and his gaze touched the changing scene, his vision became momentarily hazy, as if a light veil had been lifted and then laid down. Following this change, the world in his eyes was different.
In the Divine Map, the two were still battling. But in his eyes, Lu Yang's head had become transparent!
Of course, it wasn't truly transparent, but rather a radiance was emanating from within his skull. It was an orange-red color, the flesh and bones unable to block its penetration. Through this light, he could vaguely see a blurry source of light residing within his brain, a sight eerily peculiar.
Glancing again, Kuang Zheng was in the same situation, except the light emitted from his skull was a ring of light purple radiance. This light was less penetrating than the former, and Yu Ci couldn't make out what was inside his skull.
Yu Ci, who had been loitering around the White Sun Mansion these past few days, had some understanding of the two stewards. He knew that both of them had reached the Great Achievement of the Yin Spirit and were capable of Astral Travel. So, the glowing object was the Yin Spirit?
It turned out that it could be seen through the flesh body.
Yu Ci suddenly realized that his previous understanding seemed a bit off.
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e