Chapter 559: Before the Multitude, the Peak Stands Alone
Cold Mountain referred to this mountain range, and specifically to the tallest solitary peak.
Chen Changsheng lifted the carriage curtain, gazing at that solitary peak in silence, comparing it to the solitary peak behind Xining Town, yet unable to determine which was taller.
The solitary peak he knew was in the Cloud Tomb, its base vast beyond measure, but its height forever unknown, shrouded by clouds.
Suddenly, he felt a pang of longing for the old temple outside Xining Town, for his teacher and his senior brother.
Before entering Cold Mountain, there was a small town, said to be the last place ordinary people could settle permanently.
Perhaps because the Heavenly Pool was constantly frequented by cultivators throughout the year, the town was not desolate but rather lively, home to over two thousand people.
Unlike ordinary folk elsewhere, the townspeople were well-informed about the Stone Boiling Assembly. Seeing the carriage procession from the Divine Palace and the national religion cavalry, they respectfully made way. They were under the care and jurisdiction of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, but they were also followers of the national religion, so they dared not show the slightest disrespect.
Unexpectedly, the procession stopped outside the town.
After a moment, Chen Changsheng heard Mao Qiuyu's voice transmission: "The townspeople heard you were in the procession and wish to see you."
Chen Changsheng was momentarily startled, not thinking much of it. Since they wanted to see him, he would oblige. He rose to step out of the carriage but was stopped by Tang Thirty-Six.
"You're going out like that?" Tang Thirty-Six asked, looking at him.
Zhe Xiu looked at Chen Changsheng and also shook his head.
"What's wrong with how I am?" Chen Changsheng glanced down at himself. Because of the long journey, he wore his most comfortable cotton academy uniform. Sitting for so long had inevitably wrinkled it a bit, but it was still clean. He didn't see anything improper about his attire.
Tang Thirty-Six took out a brand-new garment and tossed it over, saying, "Be more serious at a time like this, because they are serious."
Chen Changsheng caught the garment and saw it was a Daoist robe sent from the Divine Palace last spring.
The robe was made of the finest materials, tailored with the utmost care, and most importantly, adorned with intricate brocade patterns representing his status and position.
He was not yet the Pope, so he could not wear the sacred vestments. This was a special robe, signifying his future identity as Pope.
Linghai Zhiwang had refused to meet him face-to-face throughout the journey, probably because he didn't want to see Chen Changsheng wearing this robe.
Who would have thought Chen Changsheng had never worn it even once?
Putting on the new Daoist robe, with Tang Thirty-Six's help to adjust every detail, Chen Changsheng's expression grew increasingly solemn.
Tang Thirty-Six was right. The people waiting to pay their respects were earnest and serious, so he should indeed be earnest and serious as well.
"Is this acceptable?"
After donning the robe, he looked at Tang Thirty-Six and Zhe Xiu and asked.
Zhe Xiu nodded. Tang Thirty-Six said, "You've forgotten the most important thing."
Chen Changsheng's hand rested on his sword hilt, then slowly withdrew.
A wooden staff, radiating a faint sacred aura, appeared in his hand.
"I'm going," he said to Tang Thirty-Six and Zhe Xiu.
Then, holding the divine staff, he stepped steadily out of the carriage.
The world outside the town fell silent. From the snowy ridges of distant Cold Mountain came the cry of a young eagle.
Countless faithful townspeople knelt like a tide, a sea of black.
Several hundred national religion cavalry also knelt.
Chen Changsheng, clad in the Daoist robe and gripping the divine staff, stood before the tide. His young face showed some nervousness.
He didn't know how to handle such a scene.
He tried hard to recall the great figures he had seen: His Holiness the Pope, Su Li, and the Saintess.
Finally, he thought of Xu Yourong. His nervousness gradually faded, replaced by calm and sincere gratitude.
Looking at the ordinary people bowing devoutly to him, he said in as steady a voice as he could, "May the holy light be with you."
...
...
"Damn, where did he learn that line? Really... now I can't laugh at him anymore."
Tang Thirty-Six lifted a corner of the curtain with his finger, watching the scene outside, quite surprised.
Zhe Xiu hadn't gotten off the carriage because he wasn't interested in such spectacles.
Tang Thirty-Six hadn't gotten off for a different reason.
In a situation like this, he would never step out, because once he appeared, he would have to kneel and bow to Chen Changsheng.
After His Holiness confirmed Chen Changsheng's status last year, Tang Thirty-Six had urgently called a meeting at the National Education Academy. At that meeting, he clearly stated that if he really had to kneel to Chen Changsheng in public, then Chen Changsheng would have to kneel back to him once they returned to the academy.
Zhe Xiu knew exactly why Tang Thirty-Six hadn't gotten off, but he was puzzled why he hadn't mocked Chen Changsheng as usual today.
Tang Thirty-Six watched the scene outside the carriage window, his expression calm and satisfied, lost in thought.
He was thinking of that conversation with Chen Changsheng under the banyan tree at the National Education Academy.
Perhaps before long, he would have to return to Wenshui, to inherit his family estate and shoulder his responsibilities—wealthy beyond measure, yet confined to a single city. But before that, he had been reckless, had striven, had fought, alongside his companions, and had fulfilled the promises he once made.
...
...
Leaving the town, not far ahead was the mountain gate of Cold Mountain.
Chen Changsheng was curious and asked, "Past this point, is it the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion?"
The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was the most famous place in the world, but interestingly, few knew exactly where it was.
With Chen Changsheng's current status, if he wanted to find out, he naturally could. But just as when he first entered the capital and often showed ignorance of common knowledge in the cultivation world, he wasn't very interested in such matters. Compared to that, knowledge from books was far more important.
"You idiot, if the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion were here, how slow would it be to update the rankings each time?"
Needless to say, the only one who still dared to speak to Chen Changsheng like this, and enjoyed doing so, was Tang Thirty-Six.
Chen Changsheng pointed at the mountain gate and said, "But it says 'Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion' right there."
Tang Thirty-Six was fed up with his ignorance on this matter and said, "Wherever the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion conducts its affairs, that place is the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. For example, now that the Stone Boiling Assembly is being held here, this is the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. If the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion were to hold an auction in Dongchuan, then Dongchuan would be the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion."
Chen Changsheng thought it over carefully but still couldn't figure it out.
Zhe Xiu remarked from the side, "Deliberately mystifying."
At the mountain gate, the national religion cavalry halted.
Linghai Zhiwang looked at Chen Changsheng expressionlessly and said, "Don't disgrace the Divine Palace."
With that, he turned and walked down the mountain path.
Chen Changsheng was confused.
Mao Qiuyu said to him, "We'll escort you this far. The road ahead, you must walk on your own."
"Huh?" Tang Thirty-Six clearly didn't know this rule either and asked, "Why?"
Mao Qiuyu replied, "From here, Cold Mountain stretches five hundred li. No entry without invitation—that's the rule of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion."
Chen Changsheng asked, "Does that mean no one except those on the list can enter?"
Tang Thirty-Six said, "Of course not. When my father attended the Stone Boiling Assembly back then, our family's retainers followed him all the way."
"Without invitation, the Heavenly Mechanism Old Man hasn't invited us into Cold Mountain, so naturally, we cannot enter."
Mao Qiuyu's tone was complicated when he said this.
Chen Changsheng was even more puzzled. He thought, the national religion is the world's foremost Daoist sect; no matter how powerful the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was, how could it treat the national religion so lightly?
Tang Thirty-Six casually remarked, "There must have been some issue between His Holiness the Pope and the Heavenly Mechanism Old Man back in the day."
Mao Qiuyu glanced at him, smiled, and shook his head, then turned and walked down the mountain with the national religion cavalry.
...
...
Entering Cold Mountain meant entering the control of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, and safety was naturally their responsibility.
Tang Thirty-Six had guessed correctly. There must have been some undisclosed grievance between His Holiness and the Heavenly Mechanism Old Man, which was why the Heavenly Mechanism Old Man was so discourteous to the national religion, forbidding Mao Qiuyu and Linghai Zhiwang from entering Cold Mountain. However, he had not failed in courtesy toward the future Pope.
A steward of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was already waiting on the mountain path, his demeanor very respectful.
Chen Changsheng recognized this man—he was the Star Gathering Realm painter who had recorded the martial exhibition in front of the National Education Academy last year.
Today, Cold Mountain opened its gates, and cultivators from all over the continent were making their way up the mountain.
Under the guidance of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion steward, Chen Changsheng and his two companions hadn't gone far before encountering several groups of cultivators.
Indeed, the rule of "no entry without invitation" was aimed at the national religion. Among these cultivators, some were clearly powerful seniors here to support their younger disciples.
But whether they were seasoned experts or proud young talents, upon seeing Chen Changsheng and his party approaching, they all quickly made way.
No one who entered Cold Mountain was ordinary; their eyesight was naturally sharp. All the cultivators walked along the mountain path without a guide, except for Chen Changsheng and his two companions, who were personally escorted by a high-ranking steward of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion—clearly no ordinary people.
As Chen Changsheng and his party passed by, someone recognized him. Gasps and suppressed exclamations rippled through the mountain path. Making way was no longer enough; people hurriedly bowed. One devout wandering cultivator even knelt directly on the path and performed a grand salute to Chen Changsheng.
Just as Chen Changsheng was about to respond, he saw someone ahead.
That person had a handsome, clear face with a hint of coldness between his brows, wearing a yellow robe. It was Zhong Hui of Huaiyuan.
The young scholar from last year's Grand Examination had now become much more composed, and the aura he exuded had grown significantly stronger.
The mountain path suddenly fell silent.
The story of Chen Changsheng and the National Education Academy's conflict with the Huaiyuan students during last year's Grand Examination, and even the subsequent events at the Mausoleum of Books, was already widely known.
The atmosphere grew tense. No one knew what Zhong Hui would do next, or what Chen Changsheng would do.
After an unknown length of time, Zhong Hui slowly bent at the waist, bowing deeply to the ground.
His posture was exceptionally precise, his etiquette impeccable.