Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1468 Xuanji
The celestial palace is adorned with jade trees, covered in pristine white snow.

A golden bridge, like a swimming dragon, lay across the lake, radiating a brilliant light. A man in a crimson-gold robe stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the world, a slight tremor running through his heart.

Lin Hengjiang watched silently.

'What kind of place is this...?'

Lin Hengjiang was no fool. As the last Daoist disciple of Wanling Heaven, even though the cave heaven was outwardly strong but inwardly weak and no longer as prosperous as it once was, it was still a first-class lineage.

But the cave before him still exceeded his expectations, not only because of its magnificent architecture and boundless divine light, but also because of a doubt that shook his very soul:

'There is not a single place where ordinary people live... there is not a single cave where supernatural powers can be cultivated... are they hidden in places I cannot see, or... are they simply not there at all...'

To put it bluntly, every celestial pavilion Lin Hengjiang saw and every celestial official he encountered on the road, though seemingly ordinary, possessed an otherworldly aura that left him bewildered.
'Gods… they don’t quite resemble gods, nor are they even close to true lords. Yet each one of them possesses a restrained aura. It’s impossible that the entire sky is filled with divine pills and extra merits, is it?'

Beneath this confusion lay a deeper horror:
'Without warning, out of nowhere... I suddenly appeared here. Who could possibly bypass the detection range of Chuyi Heaven and Xuanxiang Pool, and so easily capture me from this grotto!'

All his doubts were finally suppressed, leaving only a chilling sense of unease:

'He possesses the abilities of a celestial being…'

But at this moment, the Taoist priest standing in front of him stopped, leading him to a high platform at the end of the long bridge. He then flicked his sleeves and casually said:
"Go inside."

Lin Hengjiang had no more hesitation at this moment. He returned the greeting to the Taoist beside him, stepped forward calmly, crossed the ice-like and jade-like Xuan Steps, and ascended to the front. He saw that the main hall was spacious, and a person was standing in the main seat.

This man was dashing and elegant, with icy brows, like a transcendent immortal, yet he possessed a chilling and unrestrained air, as if wielding a sword. He lowered his eyes to read the scroll, yet all the brilliance of the entire hall was focused on him.

Even though Lin Hengjiang was used to seeing important figures, he couldn't help but secretly marvel upon seeing this person:

'What an outstanding person!'

However, with the destruction of Wanling Heaven, Lin Hengjiang himself inherited the last lineage. The more extraordinary the person he encountered, the less he would bow and scrape, lest he dishonor Douxuan's honor. He bowed respectfully, saying:
"The Dao of Douxuan, the Dao of Tianyan, the Dao of Danluo, the Dao of Nanxiang, the Dao of Wanling, Lin Hengjiang, a disciple of the Dao lineage, greets Your Excellency."

"So you're a fellow practitioner of Douxuan."

Upon hearing this, the person above raised his head, a slight smile appearing on his face, and stepped down from his seat, saying:

"I am the Immortal General Taiyin Suming, Zhen Gao, ordered to guard this prefecture."

Times have changed, and the situation is now very different. Even if it were a former Daoist or a Lesser Yin Great Master, Lu Jiangxian would not need to intimidate him. Instead, he was fully confident and still had no intention of revealing his true form.

He was not Xuan An after all.

Lin Hengjiang's expression darkened slightly.

He had assumed that the Taoist had brought him here to meet the master of this world, but he hadn't expected the person before him to be so extraordinary. Although his power was not as great as the Taoist's, his profound wisdom was even greater. Yet he was just a celestial general!

Before Lin Hengjiang could speak, the immortal general had already raised his head and said:
“I heard from Fellow Daoist Chunyang that you have gained a junior in Chuyi. So you have indeed come here. There’s no need to be so polite.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Hengjiang realized that the Pure Yang Daoist mentioned was the same Daoist in question. He raised his head and said solemnly:

"I have already met that sage... but I do not know his title or rank. Thanks to your divine power, I have just entered this sacred land and do not even have a proper title..."

Eager for knowledge, he didn't delay for even a moment. He raised his head, and although his eyes remained respectful, they held a dignified and imposing air, revealing the aura of a sword immortal.

'What a magnificent posture!'

The person above secretly praised him, but calmly shook his head and smiled:

"You don't recognize Him? Your life-and-death sword is a replica of His true form, a supreme treasure of the Jade True Path. Now that you see Him face to face, you still can't recognize him?"

"Treasure?"

There are very few sword-shaped magical treasures in the Jade True Path, and Lin Hengjiang, with his background, knows even fewer. Shocked, his pupils dilated suddenly, and he blurted out in astonishment:
"【Life-Born White Jade Sword】!"

The First Jade True Dao Sword!
A thunderclap seemed to explode in his mind, and he finally realized what was happening. The Taoist's face and cold expression reappeared before his eyes, making his breathing quicken.

That's why He dared to use that one's appearance...

'That's why He looked at my sword and said... imitate the divine essence of the true self...'

Lin Hengjiang's chaotic thoughts suddenly came together, his expression turned sour, and he said softly:

"Yes…"

"【Dao Yang Zhenjun】?"

But his mind was quick; just a moment later, he shook his head, a mixture of understanding and doubt in his eyes, and murmured:

"No...not only...the White Jade Sword...it mentioned its past life. Its past, when it followed Dao Yang Zhenjun, has vanished, which is why its past memories have been erased. Now...it has a new master..."

Under what circumstances would a True Lord hand over his magical treasure?
In that instant, tears welled up in the eyes of this Daoist disciple of the Wanling lineage. His gaze held a mixture of helplessness and wariness as he whispered:
"How is Dao Yang Zhenjun?"

Zhengao gazed at him, perhaps sensing the unusual familiarity he felt towards that True Lord in his words, and said softly:

"You...recognize Fellow Daoist Jiang? What's the connection between you two?"

Lin Hengjiang hesitated for a brief moment, then the great master of the Lesser Yin Dao finally exhaled and softly said:
"Xiao Xiu was originally from the Lin family of Baixiang in Jianghuai. Because he was a direct descendant and exceptionally talented, he followed his aunt, Fairy Lianji, to the Immortal Sect to cultivate... His master was True Person Shengyu of the Yiling Sect..."

"He was only fifty-four years old when he began his cultivation. He was fortunate enough to gain supernatural powers, which made him even more valued. His aunt also found a Daoist partner, a sword immortal of the Azure Profound Realm."

He paused, then said in a low voice:

"This sword immortal and my master were of the same path, both cultivating the Jade True Realm. Later, when my master's lifespan was about to end, he fought desperately to compete with him in the Dao and the sword, and finally died. Three days later, the sword immortal attained the Dao and became gold in the spiritual aura of his fall."

"This sword immortal was the later Dao Yang Zhenjun."

Zhengao's gaze sharpened, a hint of surprise in his eyes, and he said softly:
"So it was Dao Yang Zhenjun's wife's family."

Lin Hengjiang hesitated, then murmured:

"There's no need for further explanation. The [Changce Zhixuan] lineage produces many honored members, which are not normally rotated. The Qingxuan lineage began with [Daozang Xiwei]. Zhenjun was considered a prodigy of the new generation at that time... If it weren't for him, the Lin family might not have achieved such glory."

At that moment, Lu Jiangxian had something to think about.

'So that's how it is... So, it seems that Dao Yang Zhenjun's cultivation period back then wasn't very long, and there's some basis to his claim.'

This was beyond Lu Jiangxian's expectations, causing a slight shift in his mindset:

'From this perspective, it's possible that many in the world back then suspected that Dao Yang Zhenjun was using the power of the First Jade True Man, and even those at the Dao Embryo level had foreseen it...'

'But for them, this did not prevent them from diminishing Dao Yang Zhenjun's supernatural powers.'

In the eyes of the world, regardless of whether Jiang Qing was using his power, he could be seen as the reincarnation of the former venerable One Jade True. Even the Yuan Mansion was subtly conveying this message to the outside world.

'And this also explains why the powerful being in Yuanfuyuan has remained steadfast in observing the changes in the world without intervening. They all know that the First Jade True One cannot return, and what they fear is the so-called reappearance of the former venerable one, a major event that could disrupt their plans…'

'This is why… a cultivator must prove their Dao and take Yu Zhen's place. It's not just to reassure them in their final moments, but also to eliminate any variables… to prevent the possibility that Jiang Qing, whose fate is unknown, might have obtained some supernatural power and sacrifice himself to bring back the former venerable one…'

This discovery sent a chill down Lu Jiangxian's spine, making her secretly shudder:
'They're really cautious... and their disguise is impeccable. This is their usual tactic. Even though the method of testing with the Taiyin star was just a backup plan, they still hid it for so long before finally revealing it to me...'

A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, yet not a single moment had passed. The celestial general remained standing in the courtyard, hands clasped behind his back, his expression solemn, and said:
"And do you know the process of his demise?"

Lin Hengjiang, however, was a quintessential ancient man; a hint of hesitation appeared on his face as he said:
I've heard a little about it...

Zhengao sighed and said:

"In the Qingxuan Dao, there were two great masters at that time, but they passed away one after another after reaching the peak of their strength in pursuit of the Dao..."

"I understand."

Lin Hengjiang said in a low voice:

"The Lord of the Manor and Yingze..."

Zhengao nodded and continued:
"These two were once prominent figures in the Xuan Tian realm, and each had their own methods in the mortal world. However, the Sun Dao lineage rebelled and engaged in internal strife, and Xuan An and others caused trouble in the Yuan Mansion, forcing Fellow Daoist Jiang to borrow a magic weapon and the divine power of that former First Jade True Immortal..."

Lin Hengjiang, being exceptionally intelligent, suddenly raised his eyebrows and said:

"So... the magic weapon is in the shape of the First Jade True One!"

"good."

Zhengao sighed:

“But this cannot last. He has used it to fight enemies many times, to the point that his life was incompatible with His own. Dao Yang Yuwei no longer recognizes Him. There is a decree from the Xuan Tian that He cannot reveal Him until the end of a twelve-year cycle. This is a measure left by the Xuan Lord. We cannot go out and have no way to save Him…”

Upon hearing this, Lin Hengjiang was both shocked and saddened, and remained silent for a moment. Zhengao continued:
"He secretly traveled to the heavens and passed away, leaving a message for us. It was the Lord of the Underworld who went to collect His remains and brought back his magical treasures. Now... His true form is sealed above the Xuan Tian... You may have the pleasure of seeing him..."

Lin Hengjiang kept his head down, and after a long while, he knelt down with a thud and began to sob. Zhengao sat on the steps next to the main seat, saying nothing, seemingly lost in thought.

These words were not something Lu Jiangxian came up with on the spur of the moment, nor were they merely words to appease the other party. Rather, they were Lu Jiangxian's, or rather, Xuan Tian's, definitive conclusion regarding the Yuanfu Calamity.

When he confronted Xuan'an back then, he was certain that He would not be disgraced. He didn't know if those words had any effect on Him. Whether out of guilt or helplessness, Xuan'an ultimately chose to commit suicide. But since Lu Jiangxian had agreed, this dignity would ultimately be left to Him.

'You're right, they were plotting against Xuan'an, not the Lord of the Manor. I won't reveal the truth. Let that Lord of the Manor truly have existed... Depart with your dignity and guilt, leaving all the turmoil and misery to Xuan'an...'

As he lowered his head, a hint of regret and sorrow crept onto his face. Lin Hengjiang, however, quickly regained his composure, looked up, and said softly:

"Now that you have brought me into Xuan Tian and told me these secrets, there must be something useful for you."

Zhengao nodded slightly and said softly:

"It is our duty to guard Xuantian, to preserve the Three Mysteries of the Righteous Path. Now that Qingxuan is in turmoil and Douxuan is in disarray, we have summoned you here to seek the 'Lesser Yin' so that you may go out and revive the Daoist lineage..."

Lin Hengjiang stood there, stunned.

Is that all?

Lin Hengjiang, having cultivated to the level of a Great True Person, was certainly not a simple-minded person. Yet, the Supreme Mysterious Heaven summoned him into the heavens merely to support this displaced Daoist in his quest for a golden position!
He certainly knew what it meant to have such a Xuan Tian supporting him!
'My chances of attaining the Dao are already quite high, and if I were to receive guidance from a great figure…'

Lin Hengjiang was speechless, his lips moved but he didn't speak.

Zhengao laughed and said:

"What, you don't believe me?"

Lin Hengjiang nodded calmly.

The celestial general stood up, turned around on the platform, and with his back to him, said softly:
“You met that child in the cave and said you would send him to the Xuan Pool to cultivate. He didn’t believe it at first… Lin Hengjiang, our Xuan Tian has no shortage of such a True Lord, but the current Dou Xuan… is desperately lacking.”

A flash of understanding crossed the eyes of the Taoist priest in the crimson-gold robe. He stepped forward, knelt down, and whispered:
"Hengjiang... on behalf of the Wanling lineage... thanks you, sir!"

"No need to thank me."

Zhengao's eyes showed more genuine emotion as he said:

“It was True Lord Chongyuan, it was the Lingyang Unchanging Palace that preserved a bit of your true spirit, that preserved this last spark of life. The Lingyang Unchanging Palace itself originated from the Chuyi Heaven, and was once one of the magical treasures that suppressed this place. Therefore, you were able to enter this place easily… It was your True Lord who pushed you to our side.”

These words suddenly cleared the confusion of the man before him. He finally understood why he had been fortunate enough to survive and why he had been able to enter this grotto-heaven so easily. He raised his head, murmured for a long time, and then wept:

"I have been entrusted with this heavy responsibility!"

Lu Jiangxian composed herself.

He was right. According to his calculations, the Lingyang Unchanging Palace most likely originated from this place, and it might even be the place where the three portraits once lived. It was only later that the three portraits were moved to that palace after they were borrowed, which is why it looks so empty.

However, Lu Jiangxian secretly speculated that True Lord Chongyuan probably could not have foreseen this day, but had only achieved today's result, so Lu Jiangxian attributed this far-sighted and kind motive to Him.

This was merely a matter of a single sentence for him, yet it greatly comforted the person before him, dispelling all his doubts and anxieties. Lin Hengjiang knelt down, bowed deeply, and finally changed his words, weeping as he said:

"This junior will certainly live up to your expectations!"