Chapter 505
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: The Dao Court's Unique Personality
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In Lu Yang's view, the Dao Court had one aspect that set it starkly apart from the Primal Saint Sect, the Sword Pavilion, and even the Pure Land, making it seem rather maverick.
That was its "personality."
This point was quite subtle—his notion of "personality" was purely subjective. Boiled down, it was this: Jiangbei had Primal Saints, Jiangnan had Sword Seeds, Jiangxi had World Honored Ones.
What about Jiangdong?
Riffraff?
It sounded ridiculous, but there was reason to it. At least compared to the other three places, calling Dao Court cultivators purely guileless and straightforward wouldn't be amiss.
‘In the end, Dao Court cultivation comes too easily, with far less tempering. Compared to bloody battles, Dao Court cultivators devote more energy to internal squabbles under the [Immortal Nation Dao Edicts]. Small wonder their combat prowess ranks dead last among the four domains.’
Yet the Dao Court had its own strengths.
This strength lay not with the rank-and-file Dao Court officials, but at its pinnacle: those who could freely tap the [Immortal Nation Dao Edicts].
Take Empress Xiao, for instance.
‘Thoroughly reading the Four Libraries Dao Canon is trivial if it's mere recitation—any Qi Refining cultivator could manage it. The crux is fully comprehending its contents.’
Comprehension yields true Dao attainment.
Otherwise, knowing the "what" without the "why" builds castles in the air: useless for cultivation, potentially harmful, and a source of ridicule if voiced aloud.
Empress Xiao was plainly not such a person. As Empress, she too enjoyed unlimited access to invoke the [Immortal Nation Dao Edicts] for empowerment. Thus, her grasp of the Four Libraries Dao Canon ran profoundly deep. After several exchanges, her unfathomable Dao attainment left Lu Yang utterly enthralled.
“Does Your Excellency cultivate [Celestial Fire]?”
Here, Empress Xiao's expression grew peculiar, for the gold-seeking rite of [Celestial Fire] was infamous—pursuing it severed one's path to Immortality.
‘But... that's all to the good.’
A partner whose path to Immortality was severed could never clash in gold-seeking ambitions with her, rendering them all the more reliable.
Even allowing for the worst, [Celestial Fire]'s gold-seeking rite concerned ruling All Under Heaven, aligning rather than conflicting with her own fruition—and even complementing it.
This realization spurred Empress Xiao to greater initiative.
To her now, Lu Yang was her spearhead, a divine sword to cull the bureaucracy. Naturally, she must hone its edge sharper still.
“Your Excellency's prior Dao art selections were actually quite fine.”
Empress Xiao glanced at Lu Yang's picks—the [Beacon Pyre Yang Scripture] and [Sun Emperor Radiance Register]—and nodded.
“Both resonate symbolically with [Celestial Fire].”
“But Your Excellency veered a touch off the mark.”
“[Celestial Fire] is more than the midday sun, the fruition of utmost yang rigidity. It encompasses the jade-disc moon, shifts to utmost yin softness. Sun and moon alike are [Celestial Fire]!”
Empress Xiao's words jolted Lu Yang awake.
His eyes flew wide, scales falling from them: ‘Of course... [Celestial Fire] embraces yin-yang metamorphosis. The solar path is grand and orthodox.’
‘Yet the lunar path evokes the sovereign's chariot charging forth, treading abyssal depths and perilous straits—the very imagery I've craved!’
‘Which means...’
Lu Yang stood at consummate Foundation Establishment; prior blindness from fixation had yielded naught, but even sans her nudge, realization would dawn soon enough.
Her nudge brought instant clarity:
‘Pursue Geng Metal!’
Lu Yang raised his head, eyes alight, voicing it near-simultaneously with Empress Xiao.
“Supreme Yin is the moon; Geng Metal governs the moon too, presiding over arms, warfare, slaughter. Martial peril and dire combat oft bring woe upon the exalted—mirroring perfectly the [Treading Depths, Walking Peril] motif. Thus, best now to select a Geng Metal Dao art.”
Their voices halted in unison.
Empress Xiao blinked, her fine eyes gleaming with delight. She'd not anticipated such swift acuity; clearly, his Dao attainment was formidable.
“Many thanks for Your Majesty's guidance.”
Lu Yang bowed with cupped hands.
“...No need for such formality.”
Empress Xiao extended a hand to steady him upright, chuckling softly.
“It seems even had this palace held her tongue, Your Excellency would have grasped it in days.”
“Yet it troubled Your Majesty all the same.”
Lu Yang shook his head, murmuring low.
“Though this subject has his aim, he knows the Dao Canon far less intimately than Your Majesty. Pray select one befitting.”
“Mm.”
Empress Xiao pondered a moment, then beckoned. Amid the vast smoky sea of scriptures, a single Dao book flew forth into her gentle grasp.
Lu Yang peered intently:
[Erroneous Gold Arms-Commanding Talisman]
“This Geng Metal Dao art suits Your Excellency best. Examine it at leisure.”
With that, Empress Xiao delved into her bosom, producing a sweetly perfumed messenger talisman and pressing it into Lu Yang's palm.
“Keep this for the nonce, Your Excellency.”
“This...”
Lu Yang moved to demur, yet upon clasping the talisman, the once-distant [Immortal Nation Dao Edicts] grew abruptly intimate.
‘This is... invocation authority for the [Immortal Nation Dao Edicts]?’
‘Unlimited!? ’
“...Your Majesty's gift—this subject dares not refuse!”
The words barely left him when Lu Yang clenched tight, nigh trapping Empress Xiao's slender jade hand alongside.
Empress Xiao withdrew as if singed, expression serene, her light laugh unchanged.
“With this, Your Excellency should swiftly master the [Erroneous Gold Arms-Commanding Talisman]'s profundities. Pity it can't leave the palace... Why postpone? Remain here to study the Dao art.”
“Many thanks, Your Majesty!”
Cultivation paramount, Lu Yang shed all wariness in an instant. He sat cross-legged, Dao book in hand, and delved into comprehension beneath the Immortal Nation Dao Edicts' aegis.
Nor did he fear treachery from Empress Xiao.
The banner spirits within his Ten Thousand Spirits Banner were no trifles. Ancestor Tingyou might be absent, but Suo Huan sufficed as his dharma protector.
‘[Erroneous Gold Arms-Commanding Talisman]... Small wonder it meshes with [Celestial Fire].’
‘This talisman art seizes others' divine abilities and arcane wonders, fusing them into one talisman for seamless unity and amplified might—to deploy at need.’
‘Were it standalone, it'd capture mere divine power remnants, peripheral chaff, built gradually over time. But not for me—with [Celestial Fire], I can plunder entire divine abilities wholesale!’
Comprehension complete, Lu Yang's eyes snapped open:
‘More crucially, this Dao art fits my present straits perfectly. Tianwu City's civil and martial officials are ideal fodder for seizing divine abilities!’
The next instant, Empress Xiao spoke.
“Your Excellency, herein some palace deems arrayed with the bureaucrats' camp, commanding most of Tianwu City's garrisons—prime for swift excision.”
“Have a look?”
Lu Yang glanced up at the jade slip proffered by Empress Xiao:
Capital Dragon Lancers Camp, Commander Chen Changshou, innate divine ability [Heaven-Severing Sword Draw]
Capital Tiger Ben Camp, Commander He Yongdao, innate divine ability [Emotionless Severance]
Capital Divine Mechanism Camp, Commander Lin Hezhu, innate divine ability [Lawless Thoughtlessness]
Capital Flying Bear Camp, Commander Jiang Shucan, innate divine ability [Dust-Scattering Parting Severance]
Capital Assault Camp, Commander Lu Jiantai, innate divine ability [Single Thought Divine Saber]
‘Capital's Five Camps...’
These five capital camp commanders, mere third-rank at a glance and seemingly inconspicuous, were in truth Tianwu City's anchor gods.
Empress Xiao explained softly:
“The five commanders' posts are uniquely peculiar—like puzzle tiles. With the Son of Heaven's seals and scepter, they fuse into a novel office: [As If I Personally Descend], its prestige eclipsing even this palace and the Crown Prince...”
In other words:
“Command the five commanders, add my Son of Heaven's seals and scepter, and all tumult crumbles. Let the bureaucrats scheme as they will—they gain no traction.”
Unquestionably, success crowned her the paramount gainer, scepter in hand.
Yet Lu Yang could scarce refuse; these five's innate divine abilities were tailor-made fodder for [Erroneous Gold Arms-Commanding Talisman] practice.
‘All plotted out?’
Gazing at Empress Xiao so near, Lu Yang grinned of a sudden: No wonder her roots in Jiangbei, forged under Primal Saint Sect rule—she had chops!
And to pinpoint a Dao art meshing his needs with her gains.
Evidently, the Empress's Dao attainment... ran deep!
Wanted.
(End of Chapter)