Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 147: Current Situation

Lately, Qu Duanyun had been staying in the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence.

Either way, Shi Zhongyu already knew about his connection with the Immortal Assembly. Rather than being watched everywhere in Taiheng, it was better to spend more time in the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence to study. He left a note at the sect, so his duties weren’t neglected.

The current situation in Taiheng was quite awkward; it was better to lay low for a while.

The “villains” who plotted against the masters seemed to be related to the Immortal Assembly, but no direct evidence could be found. Not to mention other sects, disagreements arose first within Taiheng. Some believed Taiheng was also a victim, and Shi Zhongyu was only seizing the opportunity for power. Others, remembering the deceased Sect Master Qi, saw Qu Duanyun’s unclear involvement with the Immortal Assembly and criticized him.

Taiheng itself was in chaos, and its reputation plummeted. It happened to coincide with the Luojiu invasion. Facing internal and external threats, everything became muddled.

The Jianchen Temple, unlike Taiheng, was less worldly and had little influence on the frontier. It wasn’t easy for them to act against the imperial court.

From the looks of it, the Immortal Assembly’s goal to disrupt the martial world was thoroughly achieved.

Although his personal situation wasn’t ideal, Qu Duanyun showed no concern. In times of chaos, it was an opportunity to cleanse the sect’s reputation. When the war intensified, the first to rush out would surely be the naive ones.

Thinking this, Qu Duanyun scooped a spoonful of warm water, sprinkling it on the flesh idol in the temple.

Ever since he learned about the existence of the “Grandmaster”, serving the flesh idol became Qu Duanyun’s task. His master experimented with the body, merging it into the flesh idol. Unfortunately, the result wasn’t perfect—a full-fledged human couldn’t compare to the refined Shirou. To live eternally this way, the Grandmaster needed to occasionally consume the “immortal body”, or his organs would decay.

Even if he consumed the immortal body, his physique would exude some waste daily. Every day at dawn, someone needed to bathe it with warm water.

Compared to the chaos outside the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence, Qu Duanyun quite liked this task. Although the Grandmaster lived uncomfortably, his wisdom surpassed ordinary people.

Now, what Qu Duanyun wasn’t short of were questions.

“Centuries of peace and prosperity—was it truly blessed by the True Immortal?”

He watered enthusiastically, and the water mixed with a dark yellow, viscous liquid dripped down, emitting a faint fishy smell. But the scent of incense in the room was stronger, masking the stench quickly.

[No. The True Immortal merely conveyed intentions to the Hanging Tree and doesn’t have the power to turn the world upside down. The roots of the Hanging Tree reached the heavens; hence, it could disperse clouds, summon rain, solidify the earth, and protect the borders, granting our land a century of peace.]

The tone of the flesh idol Grandmaster was particularly indifferent.

[We cooperate with the Hanging Tree for mutual benefits. The Hanging Tree eliminates the weak and selects the strong for our land. We nurture good species and expand territories for it. Such collaboration establishes a glorious and invincible nation… It’s a pity that people are shortsighted and blinded by selfishness. The royal family lacks foresight. Otherwise, why would such grand plans be kept hidden?]

Reflecting on the matter of Qi Xundao, Qu Duanyun deeply agreed and couldn’t help but sigh.

Having expressed his sentiments, Qu Duanyun cleaned even more diligently. “Grandmaster, since the Hanging Tree has the power to reach the heavens, why not use it in the border wars?”

Raising a rare talent every century was good, but wasn’t the selection standard too strict? The power of the Invitation to God Formation was astonishing. With proper utilization, was there any war that couldn’t be won?

[No, there’s no such convenient solution in the world. The so-called “Invitation to God” is just using techniques to set a location, enticing the Hanging Tree to grow a new root. At that time, the True Immortal can control it with magic, indeed draining the life of nearby mortals.]

The flesh idol was silent for a while, sounding more profound.

[…However, everything adheres to the laws of nature. The Hanging Tree is now massive, and growing a new root consumes much of its vital qi. If it’s in a populated area, the lost vital qi can be replenished over time. But if too many roots are extended in barren frontiers, it’s harmful to the Hanging Tree. If it weren’t for the care of the True Immortal, the Hanging Tree wouldn’t have grown this big.]

‘Indeed,’ Qu Duanyun thought. More pests, fewer predators; that was the natural order. If such a thing was as resilient as weeds, all life would’ve been drained long ago.

[It’s a pity that mortals are, after all, just mortals. Sun Wang, although valiant, isn’t resourceful. The Hanging Tree under his protection has reached its limit.]

The monstrous old man opened his deformed fingers.

[Without destruction, there’s no establishment. I’ve clung to life for many years, waiting for this moment… a person with both wisdom and courage, with pure desire. Once that person consumes the Shirou, they can become the greatest Emperor ever, the true “Imperial Celestial”.]

A Child of Desire was arrogant and selfish by nature; he could never have a shred of pity for the weak and useless. He was the perfect material for an emperor. Now thinking of Shi Jingzhi, Qu Duanyun no longer felt any envy. He was thoroughly convinced of his defeat and was just waiting to be a loyal minister.

Qu Duanyun emptied the last spoonful of water from the bucket and respectfully bowed. “Thank you, Grandmaster, for your guidance. This time, our Hundred-Year Project is bound to succeed.”

The scene underneath the temple of the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence was completely different.

Compared to the delicate task of saving a life, causing a natural disaster was simpler. The True Immortal didn’t need to be present in person—he just needed to convey his intention to the Hanging Tree to disturb the climate.

Sun Wang was sitting in the deepest part, with countless black and red roots piercing through his clothes and connecting to him. His entire body was twisted and deformed, like a coarse bundle made of thick vines, with twisted roots protruding from the gaps of the “bundle” and spreading in all directions, gradually fading into the air.

Compared to an immortal, he looked more like a spirit formed from intertwined tree roots.

Jiang Youyue knelt in front of this massive entity; his posture as respectful as ever.

“The matter of the Root of Calamity is due to our negligence; we failed to find the loophole in the Great Prohibition,” he earnestly said. “However, the Wushu mines in Great Yun territory have been nearly destroyed by us. Even if a little remains, it won’t harm the Hanging Tree.”

“Even if that Root of Calamity tempts and ruins the Child of Desire, with previous successes as reference, our Hundred-Year Project will only be delayed by a few decades. Once this settles, we will surely deal with that Root of Calamity.”

Root of Calamity—truly a fitting name.

The Hanging Tree regarded that person as a part of itself, so even the True Immortal was powerless against him. Truly indestructible and inexhaustible, the only option was to imprison him carefully. At present, the enemy was in the dark while they were in the light, making capturing the Root of Calamity exceedingly difficult.

Jiang Youyue had heard of the Root of Calamity before—

During the founding of the country, there was a great general, Yin Zizhu, a man of both wisdom and beauty, resembling a fallen immortal. Back then, He Cheng’an, as the True Immortal, wanted to grant him the Shirou, allowing Yin Zizhu to become the new True Immortal. However, Yin Zizhu’s physique had a unique affinity with the Hanging Tree. After drinking the immortal wine, he gradually became one with the Hanging Tree’s roots.

True Immortals eventually leave to propagate in foreign lands. This was the natural way for the Hanging Tree to reproduce, allowing time for fruits to ripen and fall. But Yin Zizhu’s connection was exceptionally close; he couldn’t be used as a True Immortal.

Worse, Yin Zizhu hadn’t consumed the Shirou and had no love for the Hanging Tree. If allowed to roam the world and discover the truth, it was uncertain what chaos he might cause.

So, He Cheng’an changed his approach.

It was a rare situation, as the Hanging Tree saw him as one of its own “roots”. Its roots were invisible, beyond human interference, but Yin Zizhu was a tangible person. Similar to the roots of the Hanging Tree, he could be subjected to various experiments.

What happened next was well known to every Imperial Preceptor.

Creating idols, manufacturing “imitation roots”, using the idols to absorb the vital qi of the masses, and creating a “Child of Desire” on the ground resembling a “small Hanging Tree” marked the beginning of their Hundred-Year Project.

As for Yin Zizhu… He Cheng’an sealed him in the Northwest, using him as material for the Great Prohibition. This was a perfect design.

Next time they capture the Root of Calamity, they should cast him into molten iron. Even if he couldn’t be used as material, at least no mistakes would be made. Shi Jingzhi was a Child of Desire who would do anything to survive and was familiar with Yin Zizhu. Once he became the True Immortal, catching Yin Zizhu wouldn’t be an issue.

As they had expected, the moment Shi Jingzhi was accused of treason, he didn’t sit and wait for his fate.

Now, with wars breaking out and natural disasters imminent, chaotic times were approaching. The Emperor’s “bandit suppression order” had also been presented to that man.

Jiang Youyue had a feeling that by early summer, this matter would come to a resolution.

“…When Shi Jingzhi starts fighting with the royal family, I will send Duanyun to the front line to support the newly born True Immortal.”

“Sun Wang” didn’t respond for a long time.

That root-like entity slowly writhed, continuing its incomprehensible communication with the Hanging Tree. It completely ignored Jiang Youyue, treating him as if he were thin air.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Youyue understood this as tacit approval. Although the True Immortal could pretend to be a person with human-like characteristics, it rarely bothered to communicate directly. As long as there was no punishment, it meant everything was fine.

Perhaps this was related to its age. Maybe when Shi Jingzhi became a True Immortal, things would be livelier here.

Spring was in full bloom above the ground with the scent of peach blossoms, while the blood from the borderlands seeped into the Central Plains.

When the wall fell, everyone pushed. The Chigou Sect remained silent, the western regions were becoming increasingly restless, and storms and floods were raging in the south. In less than half a month, refugees were scattered everywhere. The martial sects hadn’t recovered and couldn’t protect the people, while bandit groups were sprouting up faster than post-rain mushrooms.

At a glance, there were disasters in the east, south, west, and north. It was as if the heavens had packed up three hundred years of accumulated calamities that Great Yun owed and solemnly repaid them all at once.

Nowhere was safe, and the center was equally unstable.

The news of the Emperor’s critical condition leaked out, and everyone knew of His Majesty’s grave illness. Bad luck was compounding; the illness was neither severe enough to warrant a regent nor mild enough to offer any hope.

Despite the dire situation, the Emperor showed no sign of being proactive. Xu Jingxing had become emaciated, no longer even glancing at official documents and only occasionally listening to war updates. The ever-present Prince of Rong was also nowhere to be seen. He was always timid and cherished his life; perhaps he had already found a place to hide.

The imperial court was in chaos, much like the situation with Taiheng in the past. Everyone was panicking, leading to utter disarray.

Amid this chaos, rumors spread by the Immortal Assembly were becoming widespread. Everywhere people talk about “the Emperor’s misdeeds, his jealous harm to his own kin, resulting in the loss of his heavenly mandate”, and “the destined virtuous Emperor was amongst the commoners, near Kushan”.

In desperation and panic, many people, along with their families, flock to the vicinity of Kushan, hoping to gain a touch of this “destiny”. Others were impersonating “Shi Jingzhi”, all wanting to claim the throne for themselves.

Consequently, where refugees gathered, bandits would follow suit. The area around Qizhou had truly become a den of thieves. Even before Luojiu approached, the past prosperity had already turned to smoke.

Yet, as the “chief culprit”, Shi Jingzhi himself never appeared.

On this day, the Yueshui Pavilion was as bustling as ever.

The border situation changed daily. Messengers rushed about so quickly that they occasionally bumped into each other, causing ink splatters.

Great Yun had been peaceful for hundreds of years, but now calamities were striking one after another.

“It’s been so long, and we still can’t contact the Mishan Sect…”

“Luojiu’s ‘Divine Saint’ is leading the army personally, and Generals Liu and Li were killed on the frontlines!”

“The Silk River has flooded again, affecting tens of thousands—”

The hall was in an uproar with not a single piece of good news could be heard. When Shen Zhu entered, she saw this chaotic scene.

As soon as she entered, the room quieted significantly. Not because people in Yidu respected their colleagues—there was history between Shen Zhu and the Kushan Sect. Maybe she knew something about the rebel, Shi Jingzhi!

People exchanged glances, and then, like hungry chickens, they swarmed around her. Amidst the barrage of questions, Shen Zhu, holding a comically oversized package, smiled and made her way to the Ministry of Heaven.

Standing before the puzzle submission platform, Shen Zhu paused for a moment, as if lost in thought. Finally, she rummaged in her chest and produced an extremely old wooden plaque.

“The puzzle is solved. I’ve come to submit it.”

The disciple guarding the platform, irritated by the noise, grunted and took the plaque. Expecting the same old, as a member of the Ministry of Heaven, he found Shen Zhu’s submissions to be mundane.

However, when he touched the plaque, something felt off. It felt smooth and cold, almost like jade. Unconsciously, he looked at the writing on it.

“Seeking Immortals?!” he blurted out in disbelief, his voice cracking.

“Yes.”

Shen Zhu’s smile blossomed. “I’ve found them.”

The room fell silent, followed by a sudden uproar.

This was a puzzle that the Ministry of Heaven had used as decoration since the foundation of the Yueshui Pavilion. It was more for decoration than research, waiting for her to give up or die so they could put it back.

No one expected this seemingly impossible puzzle to actually be solved.

“You…” The disciple behind the platform swallowed, his mind blank. “This isn’t the time for jokes! To submit such a significant puzzle, you need verifiable evidence and a coherent theory. If you’re just trying to attract attention…”

There was a snort.

With a thud, Shen Zhu placed a glass bottle filled with the Shirou pieces and a thick stack of papers on the table.

The papers were of varying ages; the newest ones seemed to be from a few days ago, while the older ones had been compiled into volumes, suggesting they were at least a decade old. The disciple quickly skimmed one, and his expression grew more rigid.

The techniques detailed were 90% unfamiliar to him. The decomposition of the formations was dizzying.

Yet, the writings were neat and comprehensive. From a glance, the arguments were clear and directions obvious. It didn’t look like a last-minute forgery. Considering the age of some papers, she had been researching this even before joining the Yueshui Pavilion.

Insane.

Why is a woman of common birth so fanatical about these nonsensical things?

“When I took this token, to be honest, I did it merely out of convenience. Even if there are gods in this world, I wouldn’t worship them in the slightest.”

Seeing the stunned expression of the disciple, Shen Zhu’s smile grew even brighter.

“Now that I’ve found the truth I sought, who knew even this question would be effortlessly answered. Take it for verification. I have only two demands.”

“…What are they?”

“First, honor the promise from the Ministry of Heaven. From today, I am the Minister of the Ministry of Heaven… unless you can prove me wrong. Don’t think about destroying or altering it; whether it’s the argument or the physical evidence, I have plenty of backups. Even if this Shirou is gone, I have other substitutes that can’t be completely destroyed.”

“This… This…”

“Don’t worry, I’ve specifically added a second requirement for you. I want this article and evidence to be spread to every corner of the Yueshui Pavilion in Great Yun. After all, the more people there are to disprove it, the better, right?”

Her voice grew louder, making no effort to hide the provocation in it. Her smile grew wider, eventually bursting into laughter.

“Come on, come and verify it. The Yueshui Pavilion’s Ministry of Heaven is full of elites. Surely they won’t be defeated by a ‘weak woman’ like me who just muddles through life, right?”

Many eyes watched intently, and those behind the stage didn’t dare to dawdle. He carefully unpacked the mountainous stack of articles, scanned each one with a tool, and immediately transmitted them using a messaging spell.

But just as he finished, another person rushed into the hall, looking flustered, heading straight for the side table. His voice was loud, and everyone could hear him clearly.

“It’s chaos, complete chaos! After all these days, there’s finally movement from the Kushan Sect!”

He gestured excitedly.

“The first to act was Su Si! He… He’s collecting gold, but only supports Shi Jingzhi at this time!”

The news was significant but not shocking. Given the more bizarre events that transpired just now, it seemed trivial. The surrounding people were still deeply engrossed in the matter of Seeking Immortals, their faces numb.

Seeing that nobody reacted, the man stomped his foot in frustration. “Su Si didn’t rob ordinary people or wealthy households; he robbed the temples of gods and immortals!”

Shen Zhu covered her mouth with a sleeve, feigning shock. Behind the sleeve, she revealed an approving smile.

“For all his chatter, his actions are quite swift,” she murmured silently.

Miles away.

“Greetings, Patriarch.”

Protector Hua, having been fitted with a prosthetic limb, knelt with some difficulty.

Chigou was in recovery and had many concerns. Because of Wu Huaixin’s malicious actions, they had to compensate the suffering villagers, spending a lot of money. Now, with the threat from the West looming, even she, a reclusive Protector, had to be dispatched, running around.

But as soon as she returned to the main branch, she heard news of “the Chigou Sect attacking temples everywhere” and almost lost her footing.

Was the Patriarch position of the Chigou Sect cursed? Why did everyone who touched it go insane? She didn’t even have time to change her clothes and rushed to the new Patriarch.

“Patriarch, Yan Zheng is willing to befriend you to help you annex the Ling Sect. We indeed didn’t suffer much… but the Ling Sect’s branches are filled with lunatics. They’re naturally defiant and crazy, and they’ve long been at odds with our sect. In my opinion, it’s best to first tame the Ling Sect members before making other plans.”

The rest of what she wanted to say was evident in her expression—The world is in chaos, and you just ascended to this position, not yet firmly seated. Such brazen actions might lead to problems.

“Hm?” Su Si sat cross-legged on the Patriarch’s seat, casually munching on mulberries. “Oh, those crazies from the Ling Sect. I’ve already disciplined them well. They’re quite obedient now.”

Other Protectors stood in the hall, holding their breath, with some trying to signal Protector Hua. But she, fearing another disaster, was too anxious to notice their intentions.

Indeed, Protector Hua continued hastily, “Forgive my frankness, but the people of the Ling Sect are used to deceit. It’s common for them to say one thing and do another. Patriarch, you are young and might easily be deceived by those scourges…”

Snap.

A blood-stained cloth bag was thrown in front of Hua Jingchun. She opened it to find a bag full of flesh cleaned of blood.

“What’s this?”

“Flesh connected to tendons,” Su Si said nonchalantly. “I picked the most troublesome ones and dealt with them, while the most arrogant ones were killed outright.”

Seeing his demeanor, it seemed he was prepared for her reaction.

“I told those people that if they don’t obey their new master, they’re free to assassinate or openly attack. But I don’t have the patience of Yan Zheng; I won’t let people die quickly and easily.”

The words caught in Hua Jingchun’s throat, choking her into silence—though the Kushan Sect had suffered many casualties along the way, they had at least not committed any atrocities. They had even saved quite a few people. Su Si was an old acquaintance of the Sect Master, and she had originally worried that he would be swayed by old sentiments and be indecisive…

How laughable! When it came to ruthlessness, not only did this man match Wu Huai, he was on par with the members of the Ling Sect. With such a bandit-like demeanor, he seemed capable of controlling those lunatics from the Ling Sect. However, the once stable reputation of the Chigou Sect would probably never return…

Hua Jingchun felt a surge of weariness.

Since the Patriarch was designated by Matron Wuxue, there was no choice but to accept him now. At the very least, Su Si wouldn’t vent his frustrations on his subordinates and would listen to reason.

So, Protector Hua took a deep breath and advised earnestly from another angle. “Sect Master Shi has shown kindness to both of us. Your willingness to help him is admirable and righteous. However, while we can rob the Immortal Assembly, disturbing the temple will anger the local people. Patriarch, we need to think this through…”

Even if she trusted Matron Wuxue’s judgment, Hua Jingchun still felt that Su Si might use the Chigou Sect and then abandon them.

“I am thinking it through.”

“Protector Hua is right.” The Protector who was in charge of this matter couldn’t sit still any longer. He bowed to Su Si. “Given the unstable situation, more people are turning to gods and Buddhas. The common people believe in these deities, and our actions will definitely be resented… Last time we seized the temple in Yongsheng, the locals formed a human wall to block us, it was…”

“A human wall? So what? The Chigou Sect is, after all, a demonic sect. Can’t we even deal with ordinary people? If there are not enough hands, tell me, and I’ll arrange more for you. Unless you can’t handle the soldiers, don’t bring this up again.”

Su Si finished his mulberries, narrowing his eyes contentedly.

“My orders won’t change. Remember, don’t speak out of turn about things you shouldn’t. The members of our Red Scorpion Feet aren’t just here for free meals. That’s how it is working under me. Now that I’m here, it won’t be easy for me to leave.”

The expressions of those present varied, each showing their own level of fatigue. Perhaps the Chigou Sect was cursed this year, with each new Patriarch being more troublesome than the last.

Still persistent, Hua Jingchun knelt down. “Patriarch!”

“Sister Hua.”

Su Si jumped off his seat and squatted in front of Hua Jingchun. He caressed the handle of his knife and touched the mountain ghost coin. The smile in his eyes was enigmatic.

“Speaking from my heart, I truly despise Matron Wuxue. But Chigou is the best tool I can grasp. I will use this tool to protect others and won’t discard it once it’s used. Don’t worry, I aim to be a world-famous Hero.”

“Some words can only be spoken at the right moment. Some things… can only be done by the right person.”

“How about trusting me this once?”

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The author has something to say:

If the fox obediently eats the Shirou, then there will be a plot where the fox and the demonic lord kill each other.

Sect Master Shi: Bah! Impossible to eat!

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