Chapter 54: Before the Multitude, the Lone Peak Stands Alone
The Cold Mountain range encompassed these peaks, specifically referring to the tallest solitary peak.
Chen Changsheng pulled aside the curtain, gazing at the lone peak in silence, comparing it to the solitary peak behind Xining Town, yet unable to determine which was higher.
The solitary peak he knew existed within 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, the town was not desolate but rather lively, home to over two thousand people.
Unlike ordinary folk elsewhere, the townspeople were well aware of the Stone Boiling Assembly. Seeing the convoy from the Li Palace and the national religion's cavalry, they respectfully made way with reverent expressions. Under the care and jurisdiction of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, they were also devotees of the national religion, daring not the slightest disrespect.
Unexpectedly, the convoy stopped outside the town.
After a moment, Chen Changsheng heard Mao Qiuyu's voice transmission: "The townsfolk heard you were in the convoy 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. Due to the long journey, he wore his most comfortable cotton academy uniform. Sitting for so long had wrinkled it slightly, but it was still clean. He saw nothing improper about his attire.
Tang Thirty-Six took out a brand-new garment and tossed it over. "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 by the Li Palace last spring.
The robe was made of the finest materials, tailored with utmost care, and most importantly, adorned with intricate brocade patterns signifying status and rank.
He was not yet the Pope, so he could not wear the divine robe. This was a special one, representing his future identity as Pope.
Linghai Zhiwang had refused to meet him face-to-face throughout the journey, likely to avoid seeing him in 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 in return.
"Is this acceptable?"
After donning the robe, he looked at Tang Thirty-Six and Zhe Xiu.
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 devotees and townsfolk knelt like a surging tide, a dark, dense sea.
Hundreds of 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 devoutly bowing to him, he said in as steady a voice as he could manage, "May the holy light be with you."
...
...
"Damn, where did he learn that line? ... Well, now I can't laugh at him anymore."
Tang Thirty-Six lifted the curtain with a finger, peeking at the scene outside, quite surprised.
Zhe Xiu hadn't gotten off the carriage, uninterested in such spectacles.
Tang Thirty-Six hadn't gotten off for a different reason.
In a situation like this, he would never go 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 Academy. At that meeting, he made it clear that if he truly had to perform the great kneeling salute 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 was puzzled why he hadn't mocked Chen Changsheng as usual today.
Tang Thirty-Six looked at the scene outside the 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 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, striven, fought, journeyed with his companions, and fulfilled his promises.
...
...
Leaving the town, not far ahead was the mountain gate of Cold Mountain.
Chen Changsheng was curious and asked, "Once we pass here, is this the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion?"
The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was the most famous place in the world, but interestingly, few knew where it was actually located.
Given Chen Changsheng's current status, he could easily find out if he wished, but just as when he first arrived in the capital and often showed ignorance of common cultivation knowledge, he wasn't particularly interested in such matters. Compared to that, the knowledge in books was far more important.
"You idiot, if the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion were here, how slow would it be every time they updated the rankings?"
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 pavilion were to hold an auction in Dongchuan, then Dongchuan would be the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion."
Chen Changsheng thought it over seriously but still couldn't grasp the concept.
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 Li Palace."
With that, he turned and walked down the mountain path.
Chen Changsheng was confused.
Mao Qiuyu said to him, "We'll escort you no further. From here, you must go on alone."
"Huh?" Tang Thirty-Six was clearly hearing this rule for the first time. "Why?"
Mao Qiuyu replied, "Cold Mountain extends five hundred li from here. 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 in."
"No entry without invitation. The Heavenly Mechanism Old Man didn't invite us into Cold Mountain, so naturally, we can't enter."
Mao Qiuyu's tone was complicated when he spoke of this.
Chen Changsheng was even more puzzled. The national religion was the world's foremost Daoist institution. Even if the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was powerful, what right did it have to treat the national religion so lightly?
Tang Thirty-Six said casually, "His Holiness the Pope and the Heavenly Mechanism Old Man must have had some falling out."
Mao Qiuyu glanced at him, smiled, and shook his head, then turned and headed down the mountain with the national religion cavalry.
...
...
Entering Cold Mountain meant entering the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion's jurisdiction, so security naturally fell to them.
Tang Thirty-Six had guessed correctly. There must have been some undisclosed grievance between His Holiness the Pope and the Heavenly Mechanism Old Man, which was why the old man was so discourteous to the national religion, barring Mao Qiuyu and Linghai Zhiwang from entering Cold Mountain. However, he still observed proper etiquette 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 at the National Academy's gate last year.
Today, Cold Mountain opened its gates, and cultivators from across the continent were making their way up the mountain.
Under the steward's guidance, 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 elders here to support their younger disciples.
But whether they were senior experts of profound cultivation or proud young prodigies, they all quickly made way upon seeing Chen Changsheng and his party.
No one entering Cold Mountain was ordinary; their eyesight was naturally sharp. All the cultivators walked along the mountain path without guides, but Chen Changsheng's group had a high-ranking steward personally escorting them—clearly not ordinary people.
As Chen Changsheng's group passed by, someone recognized him. The mountain path was filled with sharp intakes of breath and suppressed exclamations. Mere avoidance was no longer enough; people hurriedly bowed. A 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 spotted someone ahead.
That person had a handsome, clear face with a hint of coldness between his brows, wearing a yellow long robe. It was Zhong Hui of the Huaiyuan Academy.
The young scholar from last year's Grand Examination had grown much more composed, and the aura he exuded had grown much stronger.
The mountain path suddenly fell silent.
The story of Chen Changsheng and the National Academy's group clashing with the Huaiyuan Academy students during last year's Grand Examination, and even the subsequent events at the Heavenly Book Mausoleum, were already well 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, performing a deep bow that reached the ground.
His posture was exceptionally precise, his etiquette impeccable.