Knife splashing

Chapter 738 The Torrent Is About to Rise
The heavy sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached.

Supervisor Yuanfeng and Yan Jiuling hurriedly straightened their robes and, almost leading all the students of the Gewu and Xuangong departments, swarmed to the academy's vermilion gate, whose new paint was still wet and symbolized "investigating things to acquire knowledge."

Sunlight shone through the clouds and fell perfectly on the newly laid red carpet in front of the door.

Yuan Feng wore a brand-new fifth-rank blue round-collar crane-embroidered court robe, while Yan Jiuling, unusually, changed into a dark blue silk embroidered scholar's casual robe.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes focused on the approaching carriage in the distance.

It was not the bright yellow bestowed by the emperor, but a plain but exquisitely crafted rosewood sedan chair carried by four men, surrounded by a dozen or so close servants dressed in brown robes, exuding a calm and capable air.

The sedan chair came to a steady stop in front of the academy's main gate.

Before Yuan Feng and the others could greet each other, a close attendant had already deftly lifted the sedan curtain.

A pair of bright red palace boots embroidered with gold and pythons stepped out, followed by a figure wearing a scarlet robe embroidered with gold and pythons and a three-peaked hat.

It was Zhao Wujiu, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

He remained the same, with a gaunt face, withered white hair covered in age spots, looking like he was about to die, completely lacking the burly and menacing aura of the legendary eunuch.

When his slender eyes swept over the crowd, they were so sharp they seemed to see right through them.

"Greetings, Eunuch Zhao!"

Led by Yuanfeng, everyone bowed respectfully.

Zhao Wujiu stepped out of the sedan chair, his gaze slowly sweeping over the impressive welcoming scene—from the students standing in neat rows, holding their breath, to the main figures bowing and scraping, and then to the newly laid red carpet on the ground.

His calm face showed no change in expression; he simply raised his hand slowly, a casual movement that carried undeniable weight.

"My lords, what is this all about?"

Zhao Wujiu's voice was not loud, but hoarse and weathered, yet it pierced the silent air with exceptional clarity: "I am but an old servant of the Emperor, on official business, passing by the academy and just stopping by to take a look. Such a scene is truly too much for this old servant to bear."

"This old servant cannot bear this responsibility."

His last few words carried a barely perceptible hint of sarcasm as his gaze fell upon the sweat-drenched foreheads of Yuan Feng and the forced composure of Yan Jiuling.

The smiles on Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling's faces froze instantly, and the flattering words they had prepared got stuck in their throats.

To be honest, they were also frustrated.

The academy had been working hard since its inception and was already extremely busy. They originally thought that after the opening ceremony and enrollment, they could focus on getting the academy running smoothly.

To everyone's surprise, Zhao Wujiu arrived in less than two days.

Everyone in the court knew of his fearsome reputation, so how could they dare to be negligent?

Seeing that they were silent and trembling, Zhao Wujiu shook his head slightly and said, "Both of you are honest people. You don't need to pay attention to these dirty affairs in the court. You are all serving the Emperor. I will not allow anyone else to cause you trouble."

Supervisor Yuan Feng breathed a sigh of relief, stepped aside, and raised his hand, saying, "Please, Eunuch Zhao."

The group arrived at the central square, which was laid out in a "round heaven and square earth" pattern. Zhao Wujiu took a few steps forward, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding halls before settling on the towering statue of the deity. A satisfied smile curved his lips.
"'True Lord of Fire and Water'... What a wonderful thing! His Majesty has been frequently mentioning this 'new god' worshipped by the newly established academy to this old servant lately."

"Director Yuan, Lord Yan, may I ask for a quiet place to have a cup of tea? This old servant has a few small questions I would like to ask you."

His words were polite, but the implied pressure and the word "Your Majesty" behind them made Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling tense up even more instantly.

"Father-in-law, please."

The group sat down in the side hall.

After the waiter served tea, Yuanfeng cautiously cupped his hands and asked, "Eunuch Zhao, has His Majesty given you any instructions?"

"Not urgent."

Zhao Wujiu calmly took a sip of tea. "I heard that Young Hero Li of the Twelve Zodiacs is also at the academy. Why don't we invite him over as well, and then we can talk together?"

Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling looked at each other, wondering what they wanted to do with Li Yan, but since Zhao Wujiu had already spoken, they had no choice but to comply.

When Li Yan stepped into the side hall, he suddenly stopped.

He could sense some kind of threat.

There was no hint of murderous intent, yet it felt like stepping into a tiger's territory, sending chills down my spine.

Looking up, one can see sunlight filtering through the carved window frames, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the smooth, golden brick floor.

Supervisor Yuanfeng and Yan Jiuling sat on either side, their expressions respectful yet subtly tense.

Meanwhile, Zhao Wujiu, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, dressed in a scarlet robe with gold-embroidered python patterns, stood with his back to the door, hands behind his back, quietly gazing at a painting of "Laozi Leaving Hangu Pass" hanging on the wall.

Hearing footsteps, Zhao Wujiu slowly turned around.

On that withered face, like old tree bark covered with dark brown age spots, a pair of eyes, sharp as obsidian blades tempered by ice, were fixed precisely on Li Yan.

It didn't exude an intimidating aura, yet it still made Li Yan suddenly feel a chill.

This old eunuch... is unfathomable!
Li Yan's alarm bells went off instantly.

As a living Yin messenger, he was more sensitive to auras than ordinary cultivators.

The Zhao Wujiu before him gave him an extremely strange feeling.

He appears to be an old man on the verge of death, his life force waning, but the "spirit" within his withered body is as steadfast as a towering mountain, carrying a cold will forged through countless bloody battles and treading on piles of bones.

Even more bizarrely, beyond that restrained "god," there was also a kind of... inhuman, extremely thin yet incredibly profound "emptiness" and "coldness."

It was as if he was just a projection standing there.

The true entity is connected to some dark and unpredictable place.

A celestial being? Doesn't seem like it…

A sinister plot? The warrant looks normal...

What kind of old monster is this?

"Young Master Li has arrived, please have a seat."

Zhao Wujiu's voice was hoarse and low as he pointed to the empty seat below Yuan Feng.

Li Yan bowed calmly and said, "Greetings, Eunuch Zhao."

He sat down as instructed, his gaze fixed straight ahead, but his mind was highly focused as he secretly pondered the other party's depth and intentions.

Zhao Wujiu was the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, wielding immense power and serving as the emperor's trusted henchman. His personal visit indicated that his intentions were far from trivial.

And that inhuman feeling I sensed just now…

Could it be related to palace secrets?
“Director Yuan,” Zhao Wujiu said without any pleasantries, looking directly at Yuan Feng and getting straight to the point, as if time was of the essence, “I see that the golden body of the True Lord Suilun is beginning to take shape, and its majestic appearance is truly an auspicious sign for our nation.”

"But I wonder when my merits will be complete, and when my tablet will be moved to the Altar of the God of Earth and Grain to receive the incense offerings of the people?"

Yuan Feng quickly bowed and said, "Your Excellency, the main body of the statue is complete. There are still several mysterious techniques to be added, such as 'opening the face and dotting the eyes,' 'commanding the gods and sealing the treasure,' and 'connecting the spirit with the Qi.'"

"This was jointly deduced by several elders from the Mo Sect and the Xuan Sect. They wanted to take advantage of the opportunity for the artifact to develop spirituality, following the right timing, location, and people, and proceeding with caution. It is estimated that it will take another month to complete."

"A month?"

Zhao Wujiu's white eyebrows seemed to lift slightly, and the withered wrinkles on his face remained unchanged, but the air in the side hall seemed to freeze for a moment, as if it were being gripped by an invisible giant hand.

This wasn't a surge of Qi, but rather a suffocating feeling caused by mental pressure, fleeting in an instant. "It's been too long."

Zhao Wujiu slowly rose, his voice still calm, yet carrying a cold, resolute tone: "It must be completed within two days. Before midnight the day after tomorrow, the statue must be placed in the main hall of the Altar of the God of Soil and Grain, and His Majesty must personally preside over the first sacrificial ceremony and bestowal of the imperial edict."

"Two...two days?!" Yuan Feng's expression changed drastically.

Yan Jiuling also exclaimed, "Father-in-law, this is absolutely forbidden! The attainment of spiritual connection through Qi is not something that can be achieved overnight. Forcing it might tarnish the divine artifact or even damage the foundation..."

Zhao Wujiu's gaze slowly swept over the anxious Yuan Feng and the shocked Yan Jiuling, finally landing on Li Yan's face, whose eyelids were lowered and who appeared calm but was inwardly trembling.

Both Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling were furious, their faces turning red.

They didn't expect that Zhao Wujiu would attack Suilun Zhenjun as soon as he arrived.

This is the foundation upon which the academy will stand in the future.

The two men had already made up their minds that once the old charlatan left, they would go to the palace to lodge a complaint with the emperor, determined not to let him act recklessly.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Li Yan paused for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "His Majesty knows the time of the statue's relocation. May I ask, Eunuch Zhao, is there a reason for this last-minute change of plans?"

Zhao Wujiu calmly picked up the blue-and-white porcelain covered teacup on the table, gently skimmed off the foam with the lid, took a sip of tea, and said in a flat tone, "Supervisor Yuan, Lord Yan..."

"We understand your concerns. But time waits for no one!"

"In the past few days, Zhang Tianshi of Longhu Mountain, Yu Chanzi Zhenren of Wudang Mountain, Qiu Changchun Daoist of Zhongnan Quanzhen Sect... as well as the leaders of Qingcheng and Emei sects, have all left the mountains and are traveling day and night, heading straight for the capital..."

As he spoke, he looked up and asked, "Do you know what they're here for?"

Upon hearing this, the three of them exchanged bewildered glances.

For a moment, the side hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Li Yan seemed to be deep in thought, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "The leaders of all the sects of the Xuanmen have mobilized! Is it for True Monarch Suilun?"

He knew many things. It had only been two or three days since the appearance of the True Lord of the Flint Wheel, but all the sects of the Xuanmen under heaven had already moved upon hearing the news, and their leaders had all gone to the capital.

No matter how fast the news travels, it's impossible for it to spread throughout China instantly.

Such a spectacle would only occur during the founding of a nation or when the world was in chaos.

Unless... there are further orders from above!
It must come from the Great Luo Dharma Realm!

No wonder they only entrusted him with short-term protection; they had a backup plan...

"That's right!"

Zhao Wujiu gently placed the teacup back on the tray, making a soft "click" sound that was particularly clear in the silence.

"They're doing this under the guise of protecting the True Lord and stabilizing the Divine Court..."

Zhao Wujiu lowered his voice even further, yet it carried a chilling aura, and his eyes turned icy. "You all know the truth in your hearts."

"The time for a change in humanity has arrived. It is crucial that the court and the Xuanmen (Taoist sects) wield the power of the new gods. Your Majesty's wisdom is boundless; how can you allow the Xuanmen sects to use the divine artifacts to control the imperial court?"

Zhao Wujiu's speech suddenly quickened, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.

"This is a national treasure! A sacred artifact of the state! It must belong to the imperial court and be enshrined at the Altar of the State! No outsider may touch even a fraction of it!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three of them again. That gaze, like a tangible pressure, caused cold sweat to bead on Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling's foreheads, and also made Li Yan's heart skip a beat.

"Therefore, the construction period must be brought forward!"

"at all costs!"

"The imperial court's supplies, the royal treasury, and the capital's garrison can all be mobilized. If there is a shortage of manpower, the best craftsmen will be immediately drawn from the inner court workshops and the Five Military Commands!"

"If spiritual materials are scarce, go to the Imperial Warehouse immediately to withdraw them!"

"No matter what secret methods, unorthodox techniques, or even forbidden arts that shorten one's lifespan are used... we only care about the result!"

He looked at Yuan Feng with a sharp gaze and said, word by word, "Before midnight of the day after tomorrow, the golden body of the True Lord Suilun must be consecrated and placed in the altar within the Hall of the God of Earth and Grain."

"This matter concerns the rise and fall of the nation, and even more so the order of human change throughout the world!"

"Have you all thought about your choices...?"

The hall was deathly silent, with only Zhao Wujiu's hoarse and cold words echoing in the air.

So that's why...

Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling exchanged a glance, then stepped forward in unison, cupping their hands in greeting, and said, "This matter concerns the fate of the court and the nation. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, we will certainly live up to your expectations!"

This time, the opponent is the entire Xuanmen (mystical sect).

No wonder Zhao Wujiu came in person instead of informing Luo Mingzi.

Although they had a close relationship with the Xuanmen, both the Momen and the Kaihai faction behind Yan Jiuling had their interests deeply intertwined with the imperial court. They were bound together by the same fate, and would naturally try their best to avoid this matter.

Zhao Wujiu nodded, then looked at Li Yan, "Young Master Li, what about you?"

Li Yan was taken aback. "What does such a major event have to do with me?"

Zhao Wujiu's eyes were icy cold. "We won't beat around the bush. The Twelve Yuan Chen have a deep relationship with the Xuanmen, so we have to be careful. To be honest, the defense of Qiankun Academy is now fully under the control of the Duwei Division, with the Jingji Guard guarding the area, led by Grandmaster Huo Yin."

"In my opinion, we should ask Young Hero Li to leave, but His Majesty said that although you come from the martial world, you are a person who cares about the world, so he asked me to inquire about it."

Li Yan paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "You are overthinking this, Father-in-law. This matter concerns the fate of the Central Plains. If the Xuanmen controls the instrument of reform, it could easily lead to disaster. I can distinguish right from wrong."

To be honest, he doesn't want to leave even if you ask him to.

This matter not only concerns the Central Plains, but is also his mission as a celestial official.

In any case, as long as the Heavenly Court's orders guarantee the safety of True Lord Suilun, it's not up to him who ultimately receives them.

"That's good!"

Zhao Wujiu gave him a deep look. "If this matter succeeds, the imperial court will not treat Young Hero Li unfairly."

Having said that, he stood up and strode out.

Meanwhile, outside the main hall, in the square, countless troops from the Duwei Division had already poured in, with the Divine Fire Spear Team alone numbering over a thousand.

Huo Yin also appeared on the steps of the main hall in the distance.

Inside the academy, the people from the Enforcement Hall were all asked to leave, their faces full of resentment. Even the alchemy master Wang Jingxiu was cursing and swearing as he walked out with his bundle.

Upon seeing this, Yuanfeng and Yan Jiuling quickly left the side hall.

One of them went to offer kind words of advice, while the other went to make arrangements.

Although there was an imperial order, the morale of the academy should not be dampened.

Looking at the chaos before him, Li Yan shook his head and gazed at the towering statue in the distance.

He seemed to see a brand new era, centered around him, stirring up an irresistible vortex of storms.

This is just the beginning.

His identity as a living underworld official and one of the Twelve Celestial Immortals will most likely place him caught between these two colliding forces...

(End of this chapter)