Embers of Sword

Chapter 308 Golden Box
"A rare guest, a rare guest...please sit down now that you are here."

Deep in the imperial city, in a small pavilion with its back to a carp pond, a chessboard was spread out. An old man covered in a felt blanket sat sideways at the window of the pavilion, placing chess pieces with one hand and gently grabbing a handful of fishing bait and scattering it with the other hand.

"Crash!"

Thousands of scales shone brightly, and the entire carp pond seemed to come alive. Countless fish fry jumped out of the water, making waves.

"Mr. Yan, Qi Lie is here to visit you on the orders of my master."

Qi Lie stood in front of the door of the small pavilion and bowed respectfully.

This time he was ordered to leave Dasui Sword Palace and come to the imperial city to visit an old friend of his master... This old friend was the current Dachu State Master Yan Xin.

"How is the lawyer these days?"

Yan Xin leaned against the window railing, looking at the golden light leaping in the carp pond, his face full of smiles and his voice gentle.

"Master is in very good condition and has gained some insights recently. This retreat may allow him to make further progress."

Qi Lie stood straight, and he took out a long golden box from the cave between his eyebrows, and said in a deep voice: "Because of this, this year's golden box will be delivered by me to you... You may want to check if the golden box is damaged, and if the 'object' inside is missing."

With a snap, the long golden box fell on the table.

"Oh?" Yan Xin said in a gentle voice: "Since Zhao Tongtian is confident in letting you deliver the box, it means that he regards you as the most trustworthy person. I am confident in you doing the job."

During the period when Dasui Sword Palace was closed to the outside world, it was cut off from the outside world and cut off from worldly ties...

The Sword Palace hardly contacts anyone.

Yan Xin, the Grand Master of Da Chu, is a very rare exception.

However, there was not much communication between Dasui Sword Palace and the old national teacher, except that Zhao Tongtian would present him with a golden box every year.

Inside this golden box, there is no treasure, no talisman, and no secret book of Lotus Peak.

But luck.

Yan Xin waved his hand gently, and the long box that had fallen on the table slid towards him.

"Click."

The old national teacher did not move, but just raised his palm and placed it on the golden box. The long box opened automatically, and a ball of dazzling golden light was suspended in the box.

"..."

Qi Lie narrowed his eyes and stared at the dazzling golden light.

It was also the first time he saw the so-called luck.

This ball of golden light was so sharp that one could feel its sharpness even from several feet away.

Can the illusory luck be condensed into something real?

However, the aura emitted by this group of luck is basically consistent with Qi Lie's impression of Jinao Peak.

The law enforcers of Dashui Sword Palace almost all have this kind of temperament.

Sacrosanct.

Too dazzling to look directly at.

Qi Lie knew that Dasui Sword Palace had always attached great importance to the sect's luck. The headmaster had used the art of observing the qi to break the mountain and move the veins, creating a unique paradise like Lotus Peak. However, he only learned about the existence of this "luck gold box" recently. After the Lotus Competition, Qi Lie was sent to guard Yuping Peak and temporarily take the position of mountain master for Junior Sister Miaoyin. According to the rules, he was not allowed to leave Yuping Peak, let alone leave Dasui Mountain Gate... But the master summoned him to the back mountain and entrusted him with the task of delivering the box to the capital.

Zhao Tongtian did not explain in detail the origin of these fortunes, but just asked Qi Lie to take the box to the imperial city, and if he didn't understand anything, he could ask Yan Xin.

"I heard from Master..."

Qi Lie thought for a moment and asked curiously, "Will all this luck be sent into the Hunyuan Instrument?"

"good."

Yan Xin nodded slightly and said, "Every time the Hun Yuan Yi is activated, a large amount of luck is needed... All the major families and holy places in Da Chu actually need to provide luck for the Hun Yuan Yi."

"Offering?"

"You can understand that."

Yan Xin paused and said, "During the war of drinking poison many years ago, a demon strategist who could peek into the sky and secretly transport money appeared in the demon country. He used the sky-monitoring technique at all costs. With his assistance, the Great Master Mozhen conquered cities and won every battle. In the early stage of this war, the Da Chu Dynasty was defeated step by step, and it was only later that it struggled to win back a city. It was because the demons took the lead in divination that Da Chu paid a heavy and tragic price... In the end, although we won, the demon strategist's sky-monitoring method taught everyone a profound lesson."

"Regardless of the cost, use the Sky Monitoring Technique?"

Qi Lie knew that the lineage of Sky Monitors exchanged their lifespans for the will of heaven. If they wanted to predict the future, they would need to pay a corresponding price, so the cultivators of this lineage almost all had short lives.

"If you want to use the Sky Monitoring Technique... you actually need two things."

The old national teacher stretched out two fingers, shook them slowly, and said with a smile: "Flesh and blood. Or destiny."

This is actually the same principle as being promoted to Yang God.

Very similar.

Qi Lie suddenly realized. He suddenly understood why the various holy places wanted to transport their own Qi into the Hunyuan Yi... This national instrument, which was responsible for ensuring the peace of the Great Chu Dynasty, would need to devour flesh and blood if it did not have enough Qi to support it.

King Youhai wants to be promoted to Yangshen, and one tidal sacrifice may cause the death of 100,000 lives.

The Hunyuanyi will need more "feedstock".

Qi Lie's expression became complicated.

"You must be wondering, the Hun Yuan Yi that guards the Da Chu Imperial City is actually an evil weapon?"

“There is no black or white, no right or wrong in everything.”

"If you want to drive the armillary sphere, you need to pay a price. This is fair."

Yan Xin seemed to see through the young man's thoughts and said meaningfully: "The Way is above all else, and the Way of Heaven is ruthless."

"The 'Way of Destiny' contained in the Hun Yuan Yi has no distinction between good and evil. In the hands of the right person, it can be turned into a sharp sword to open up a bright and clear world. But if it falls into the hands of the wrong person, this important weapon will set off an unstoppable bloody storm."

Qi Lie was silent for a long time and sighed softly.

He couldn't refute anything.

Because what the old national teacher said is very right.

After entering Jin'ao Peak and becoming a law enforcer, Qi Lie realized one thing...

The weight of the same life is actually different for ordinary people and cultivators. The higher the realm, the more ordinary people are seen as ants. And when you really reach the "highest", you will be more ruthless and indifferent. If you want to become a sky monitor like Yan Xin, you need to stand high enough and see far enough.

If you want to control the Hunyuanyi and guard the destiny of the country, you need to make enough sacrifices.

Flesh, blood, and luck are just a tiny price to pay.

The small pavilion was silent for a moment.

"I have another question. If it is just to pay tribute... why do we have to do this?"

Qi Lie thought about it and spoke again.

This time, he brought the box with him and carefully set out from Jin'ao Peak, arrived at the imperial city, and came to see the old imperial teacher.

There was a "sneaky" feeling along the way.

Yan Xin smiled when he heard this, and held the box with one hand to close it: "Because this box from Jin Ao Peak is not used for offering sacrifices."

Qi Lie was even more confused. "Think carefully, what did Zhao Tongtian say before you set out?"

Yan Xin smiled and asked, "He asked you to bring the box to the Imperial City to see me... Was it my name or my title that he read?"

Qi Lie was stunned for a moment.

Before leaving, the master said that he would take the box and go see his old friend Yan Xin.

old friends.

"In this meeting, you are not representing the Dasui Sword Palace, but Zhao Tongtian."

Yan Xin sighed softly: "Putting aside the identity of the chief lawyer of Dasui Sword Palace... Zhao Tongtian has things he wants to do and things he needs to do."

Qi Lie understood that this meeting was truly a "visit to an old friend."

With a relationship like that between Zhao Tongtian and Yan Xin, there are some things that they can understand even if they have never met.

"He lets you stand in front of me, which means he wants you to know this."

Yan Xin accepted the golden box and said softly, "These fortunes are used by him to find the whereabouts of 'Lotus Venerable'."

……

……

Qi Lie's mind went blank.

Venerable Lotus.

Although this word has not been heard for a long time, this title has a very important weight in the Dasui Sword Palace, so much so that Qi Lie was a little dazed for a moment.

Every disciple who joins Lotus Peak knows the story of Venerable Lotus.

This is the little sister that Chunyang Sect Master and Tongtian Sect Master love the most. She has excellent qualifications and unparalleled talent. Sect Master Master once told Qi Lie that if there had not been the accident of the battle of drinking poison, Venerable Lian would have been promoted to Yang God long ago, and even had a chance to catch up with the Sect Master.

But... there are no ifs.

Venerable Lian is dead, he died on the battlefield in the north.

What else is there to investigate about the whereabouts of the dead?
"..."

Qi Lie looked at the golden box with a complicated expression, not knowing what to say.

The old national teacher said slowly: "Some people 'died', but the traces left behind were too heavy, so there are always people who are unwilling to believe the news of death... Your senior brother Xie Xuanyi is a good example."

Yan Xin suddenly mentioned a name that Qi Lie was very familiar with.

"Back when Xie Xuanyi fell into the North Sea, although the Dasui Sword Palace closed the mountain, they sent people to search the North Sea for a long time. Even though there was no result for a full ten years, it did not prevent some people from firmly believing that Xie Xuanyi was not dead."

Hearing the name of senior brother.

Qi Lie couldn't help but say, "This is different... Senior Brother Xuanyi took the initiative to jump into the North Sea. Moreover, his body has not been found yet."

"What's the difference?"

Yan Xin smiled and said, "When Venerable Lian was besieged by the demon country, she also took the initiative to 'die'. Her body has not been found to this day."

Qi Lie still shook his head: "If Master Lian is alive, why doesn't he come to see Master?"

"Do we have to meet each other while we're still alive?"

Yan Xin said meaningfully: "By the same token, if your Senior Brother Xuan Yi is still alive... would he come to see you? I haven't seen him in the past ten years. Doesn't this also prove that he is dead?"

Qi Lie was speechless, and for the first time, his firm and resolute eyes showed confusion.

"Don't think too much... I mean, reincarnation and rebirth."

Yan Xin coughed twice, then smiled and said, "Master Junshan and Monk Miaozhen can both reincarnate, so why can't Venerable Lian reincarnate? The battle of drinking poison was so chaotic that no one saw the death of Venerable Lian. We only know that she was besieged by the Yin God of the Demon Country and finally chose to die with all the enemies. Maybe the outcome of this battle is different from what we imagined? Maybe Venerable Lian took the initiative to end her life in order to perform the 'Extermination of Yuan Chapter' of Lotus Peak?"

The three words "Destroy Yuan" made Qi Lie unable to remain calm.

This is actually not a secret. Many people know such a rumor... It is said that in the Sutra Library of Lotus Peak, there is a secret book called "Mie Yuan Pian". This secret book records the secret technique of living towards death. If one can comprehend it, one can live a second life.

However, this rumor is often treated as a joke.

Qi Lie searched through the Lotus Peak Sutra Library but could not find the chapter on destroying the Yuan Dynasty.

All practitioners need to cultivate their vital energy.

To destroy the Yuan Dynasty is to go against its principles - to put it to death and then be reborn!

How is this possible?

Qi Lie remembered that when he was young and practicing at Lotus Peak, Senior Brother Xuanyi once asked in front of everyone whether this question existed in the Destroying Yuan Chapter.

The head of Chunyang Sect just smiled calmly and shook his head without responding.

But not responding does not mean rejection.

There were many "maybes" and many guesses in what the old national teacher had just said, but they caused a thousand waves in Qi Lie's heart. After a long time, these waves slowly calmed down.

Qi Lie asked word by word: "So what you mean is that Venerable Lian may not be dead. My senior brother may not be dead either."

"No no no..."

Yan Xin smiled and waved his hand: "A Sky Monitor would never say such a thing. I can only say, maybe?"

"And this golden box?"

"It takes a lot of luck to activate the Hunyuan Instrument." Yan Xin said frankly, "Every year, the luck sent by the Dasui Sword Palace is always a little more. This luck was given to me by Zhao Tongtian in a private capacity. I promised him that when I have enough luck, I will help him once. The only thing I can do is to help him find out whether the soul of Master Lian is still alive in the world."

The relationship between Master and Master Lian is extraordinary. This is something that everyone in Jinao Peak knows.

Qi Lie finally knew.

Why did the master send him here alone to deliver the box this time?

The headmaster said that the master's swordsmanship can be further improved, but unfortunately the luck and fate have stopped here. Perhaps this step will take a very, very long time...

All this is because of Venerable Lian.

The death of Master Lian in those days made Master never forget it and feel guilty. Although he has been stationed in the Sword Palace all his life, he is always facing the "regrets" of that year. If he could rush to the battlefield earlier, then Master Lian's tragedy would not have happened... These regrets gathered together, and then there were golden boxes delivered to Yan Xin one by one.

What Yan Xin just said, that series of “maybes”, was not just a guess about the dead end of that year.

It is also the only hope that Master has been able to hold on to over the years.

"So... how much luck is needed to activate the Hunyuan Instrument?"

After figuring this out, Qi Lie's voice became a little hoarse.

"If we just want to explore birth and death, we don't need much."

Yan Xin sighed deeply and said, "If you want to find out the whereabouts of the soul, you will need a lot of luck, but Venerable Lian has been dead for a long time, and the golden box sent by Zhao Tongtian is enough. He always just sends boxes here and never asks how much is needed."

"Xiao Qi..."

The old national teacher looked at Qi Lie, thought for a moment, and asked seriously: "How about this time, you can check the result of the Hunyuanyi hexagram for Tongtian?"

(End of this chapter)