Chapter 884: The Arrival of the Imperial Envoy
Huai Ren failed to persuade Chen Changsheng.
Likewise, Chen Changsheng failed to persuade this grandmaster of Nanxi Zhai.
Huai Ren said, "You should be well aware that the Holy Maiden, having entered seclusion, cannot emerge in a short time—perhaps ten years, perhaps twenty, or even longer."
Chen Changsheng indeed knew this well. In the letter Xu Yourong had written him, she had explained everything clearly.
Holy Maiden Peak needed a true Holy Maiden to maintain its sacred status within the State Church and the Southern Lands.
Similarly, the State Church needed a true Holy Maiden to wield stronger authority in its confrontation with the Imperial Court.
The South also needed a true Holy Maiden to reverse the disadvantage against Northern sacred domain experts after Su Li and the previous Holy Maiden had departed.
If Chen Changsheng could enter the sacred domain, many problems could be solved.
But he was the Pope, tasked with leading the State Church and its billions of believers.
Holy Maiden Peak, far away in the Southern Lands, had relatively fewer affairs, granting her more time and energy than Chen Changsheng.
Thus, Xu Yourong decided to enter seclusion, to charge at that high threshold, striving to enter the sacred domain in the shortest possible time.
Since recorded history, most cultivators who entered the sacred domain had required at least several centuries of cultivation, such as the Heavenly Mechanism Elder.
Even those truly gifted geniuses needed at least a hundred years of arduous practice, like Bie Yanghong.
Setting aside more ancient records, the fastest to enter the sacred domain in the past millennium were likely Zhou Dufu, Chen Xuanba, Emperor Taizong, Su Li, and Wang Po. But even Su Li, Zhou Dufu, or Wang Po could only glimpse that heavenly mechanism after the age of forty.
Even Chen Xuanba, whose legendary talent was said to shake the Starry Sea, had to wait until he was thirty to have a chance to cross that threshold.
Xu Yourong possessed the Heavenly Phoenix Bloodline, undoubtedly one of the most gifted cultivators in history, but she was no stronger than these legendary predecessors.
By this reasoning, her current seclusion and cultivation to strike at the sacred domain, even if she were like Chen Xuanba, would require nearly ten years before she could emerge.
"You say this matter requires the Holy Maiden's decision, but she cannot leave seclusion—what then? Nanxi Zhai must ultimately face this choice."
Huai Ren said, "I lack the wisdom to choose, so I will have Nanxi Zhai seal itself for ten years, awaiting the Holy Maiden's emergence before making a final decision."
Chen Changsheng said, "You should know what choice she would make if she were not in seclusion now."
Huai Ren replied, "Even if the Holy Maiden agreed, I would still find a way to prevent Holy Maiden Peak from becoming the vanguard of the State Church's war against the Imperial Court."
Chen Changsheng said, "Have you not noticed that not a single one of the several hundred disciples of Nanxi Zhai supports your decision?"
Huai Ren was silent for a moment, then said, "That is because they are young and do not know the terror of war."
Chen Changsheng said, "The difference between warmongering and cowardice is clearly written in the Daoist Canon. I do not wish to repeat it."
Huai Ren said, "Nanxi Zhai's stance has also been made very clear. I do not wish to repeat it either."
Night fell suddenly, and the dozen peaks turned into ink-wash hues.
At the most critical and tense moment of this negotiation, the flowering trees were suddenly illuminated by lanterns. Ping Xuan hurried over with several female disciples.
Ping Xuan bowed to Chen Changsheng, then said to Huai Ren, "Master, a message from the mountain foot says the imperial envoy has arrived."
Chen Changsheng's expression tightened slightly; he hadn't expected the Imperial Court's people to come so quickly.
Huai Ren asked, "Who leads the envoy?"
Ping Xuan said, "It is Prince Xiang."
Hearing the name Prince Xiang, Huai Ren's expression seemed unchanged, but inwardly she felt much more at ease.
She had taken great pressure upon herself by forcefully pushing for the sealing of the academy, risking provoking the Li Palace. This conversation with Chen Changsheng had left her exhausted. Now that the imperial envoy had arrived, and it was Prince Xiang, who had just entered the sacred domain, it would likely help share Nanxi Zhai's burden.
Chen Changsheng found it strange that he hadn't heard Wu Qiongbi's name mentioned.
Huai Ren had asked who led the envoy, but if Wu Qiongbi were part of the envoy, Ping Xuan, a disciple well-versed in worldly affairs, would surely have mentioned her prominently.
No matter how detestable Wu Qiongbi's temperament was, she was still one of the few sacred domain experts on the continent. If she wasn't mentioned, it could only mean she wasn't with the envoy.
Outside Wenshui City, and when Xiao Zhang had seen them, Wu Qiongbi had been with Prince Xiang. Where had she gone now?
Then more news came from the front mountain gate.
Changsheng Sect had sent people, the Mu Zhe family and the Wu family had also sent representatives, the vice dean of Huai Academy had come, and various major sects from the Southern Lands had all sent delegates.
"Your Holiness, please forgive me. I must go to the front mountain to greet them."
Huai Ren said apologetically to Chen Changsheng, then left this cliffside.
Nanxi Zhai naturally arranged accommodations for Chen Changsheng and his party, led by the purple-robed Daoist nun Huai Shu.
Just by looking at her face, one could guess her temperament was extremely fierce, but as she led Chen Changsheng and the others, she remained completely silent.
Given Chen Changsheng's status, Nanxi Zhai naturally had to offer the best and most honored dwelling, the Mingzhu Studio.
Ye Xiaolian and the other disciples busied themselves arranging the studio's furnishings, while Tang Thirty-Six remarked on how improper this was but refused to lend a hand.
"This studio has not been opened for many years, so there is inevitably some dust. Please wait patiently for a moment, Your Holiness."
Huai Shu said, "It has been many years since a Pope last visited Holy Maiden Peak."
Chen Changsheng said, "Please enlighten me."
"The State Church is the Daoist sect, but the Daoist sect is not the State Church. At least, Holy Maiden Peak has never enjoyed the treatment of the State Church. So no matter how the fellow disciples in the capital view this matter, no matter how the canon describes the schism of those years, the Li Palace has never truly respected us."
Huai Shu looked at him and said, "Now that the Li Palace is in danger and needs us, you have come, and you want to use us. Do you think that is appropriate?"
...
...
Night deepened. After dinner, Chen Changsheng stood in the studio courtyard, gazing toward the Tong River, watching the faintly visible silver ribbon. After a moment of silence, he said, "The investigation can wait. The priority now is to stop the sealing of the academy. If those three remain so resolute, we can promise not to bring up the matter of return."
It had been a long time since leaving Wenshui City and arriving at Holy Maiden Peak. The three grandmasters of Nanxi Zhai had returned, and such a major event as the sealing of the academy had occurred, yet the Li Palace had received no news—this was a very alarming sign. It seemed that Bai Shi Daoren's sudden death could not fully resolve all problems.
Hu Sanshi'er accepted the order and left. He had his own methods to transmit Chen Changsheng's decree back to the capital and nearby Daoist halls as quickly as possible. When he returned from the studio, he had already obtained the latest news: half an hour ago, the Li Palace's people had finally arrived at the foot of Holy Maiden Peak, reportedly sent urgently by Mao Qiuyu.
This news slightly eased Chen Changsheng's mind, but there was still one question he couldn't figure out: where had Wu Qiongbi gone?
Tang Thirty-Six also found it strange, saying, "That old Daoist nun loves to meddle in such commotions. There's no reason for her to leave halfway."
Chen Changsheng thought of the unease he had felt before the stone wall at the peak's summit, and his mood grew heavier. Unable to sit still, he left the studio and walked outside.