On the Path to the Great Dao

Xijing, Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

A Golden Core spirit platform officer from the bureau, Fu Qingfeng, rushed in panic to see Left Supervisor Tang Shenhe. Tang Shenhe was of Western Yi descent, a European bloodline. Seeing them arrive in the dead of night, all flustered, he quickly asked:

"What happened?"

Spirit platform officer Fu Qingfeng said, "My lord, last night while patrolling the mountains and observing the heavens, we spotted more than a dozen hanging corpses in the sky, floating sixty li high, drifting from east to west.

According to their trajectory, they will reach Xijing tomorrow at noon!"

Tang Shenhe was utterly shocked and hurried personally to the observatory platform.

On the observatory platform floated countless bright mirrors—bronze mirrors of all sizes. The large ones spanned over ten feet across, the small ones barely an inch, all hovering in midair.

The backs of the bronze mirrors bore star charts depicting the Big Dipper, Southern Dipper, and the four divine beasts' planetary palaces. Their fronts were either convex or concave, polished to flawless smoothness without a speck of dust.

By combining different mirror faces in the air, one could gaze thousands of li into the distance or scrutinize the finest dust motes up close.

When Left Supervisor Tang Shenhe arrived at the platform, the bureau's officials had already aligned the various bronze mirrors. The mirrors of all sizes shifted slowly in the air, indicating the target was moving just as gradually. Tang Shenhe peered into the lowermost flat mirror and saw more than ten corpses reflected on its surface—face-up, limbs dangling, drifting through the sky.

An official below presented a sheet of paper listing their calculated altitude and the flying corpses' speed.

"Twenty years ago, a similar celestial phenomenon occurred. Report it to the cabinet at once and hand it to the grand secretary!"

Soon after, Grand Secretary Yan Xizhi threw on his robes. A maidservant held a lamp, illuminating the memorial from the Astronomical Bureau.

Yan Xizhi read it carefully, his expression subtly shifting.

"Twenty years ago, the Jinshan hanging corpses... I heard many wandering cultivators died, even four Golden Cores among the Heavenly Listeners.

Yan Xizhi's face flickered with uncertainty. The cabinet records showed that incident had been quelled because wandering cultivator Chen Yindu, leading twelve god-like existences, had suppressed it.

Chen Yindu, also known as the Xijing Butcher!

Chen Yindu had once massacred Xijing, so the cabinet had naturally collected every scrap of information on him—everything he had ever done, all meticulously documented.

Yan Xizhi urgently ordered his aides to fetch all files on the Xijing Butcher. Soon, documents piled up like mountains.

Numerous clerks below flipped through the files at top speed. Yan Xizhi sat above as maids massaged his shoulders and pounded his back, while beautiful maidens served tea and stood attendance.

Yan Xizhi was fully alert now. He heard a clerk below report, "My lord, we've found a record from ten years ago! Ten years ago, Chen Yindu led thirty-two Talisman Gods Heavenly Mechanism in a great battle at Qianyang Mountain! The opponent in that battle was suspected to be the lord of the Jinshan hanging corpses!"

Another clerk said, "My lord, thirty years ago, Chen Yindu led four Talisman Gods Heavenly Mechanism in battle against the Jinshan hanging corpses' lord!"

"My lord, there's also a record from forty years ago! Chen Yindu led two Talisman Gods Heavenly Mechanism in battle against the Jinshan hanging corpses' lord!"

As various reports came in, Yan Xizhi formed a rough outline in his mind of what the Jinshan hanging corpses' lord truly was.

This being bore a blood-deep grudge against Chen Yindu. After lying dormant for a decade, it had come most likely seeking vengeance.

Perhaps it could be exploited.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, another clerk reported, "My lord, we've traced the origin of the Jinshan hanging corpses' lord! The hanging corpses' lord is Chen Yindu's eldest son, Chen Wu, childhood name Little Five.

"Wandering cultivator informants claim Chen Wu was a creation of Chen Yindu that later lost control and became an evil god."

The teacup in Yan Xizhi's hand shattered. Tea nearly splashed onto him.

"You may all withdraw."

He waved them off, then called back one. "Wen Shan, you stay."

The clerk named Wen Shan halted and bowed in attendance. Yan Xizhi dismissed the maids and said, "Wen Shan, draft a letter of resignation for me. Tomorrow, I resign as grand secretary. This cabinet chief position—whoever wants it can have it.

"The Xia family, Zhang family, Yang family—these noble houses have fought over the cabinet chief seat for so long, stirring trouble for me everywhere, hunting for any slip in my words or deeds. It's time I stepped down and gave the young ones their chance."

Wen Shan was startled. "Grand Secretary, you are still in your prime, shouldering the fifty provinces. So many upright officials look up to you. How can you abandon your burden?"

Yan Xizhi smiled. "I'm advanced in years; I must give the young ones a chance. With the cabinet chief seat always in my hands, the other twelve great houses harbor grudges—not to mention dissatisfaction within my own Yan family, all swept under while I'm in power.

"Now that I step down, let them fight over the seat. It'll spare their backbiting."

Wen Shan said:

"Grand Secretary, once you step down, returning will be difficult.

"Please think thrice!"

Yan Xizhi smiled leisurely. "Leaving is far easier than one might think."

Wen Shan didn't understand but could only bow his head and draft the resignation as ordered.

The next day, before the early court assembly at the fifth watch, the cabinet held its own morning meeting. The cabinet's chief grand secretary and the other twelve ministers gathered to review and approve memorials from across the land. The thirteen cabinet ministers exchanged views, then announced their decisions at court.

Yan Xizhi's resignation caused quite a stir, leaving the other twelve ministers exchanging glances—equal parts joy and shock.

Joy that the old fox Yan Xizhi had finally yielded the chief grand secretary seat.

Shock that the old fox Yan Xizhi must have been frightened into hastily yielding the chief grand secretary seat!

This matter was no small thing.

Still, with Grand Secretary Yan yielding his seat, it was naturally good news. The twelve ministers all eyed further advancement and began their overt and covert struggles.

But at court that day, the East Factory Director also submitted a memorial: "Advanced in age, old leg ailments have recurred. I beg to resign and return to private life."

The court erupted in uproar once more. Ten years ago, the East Factory Director had risen to fame battling the Xijing Butcher, though his legs were crippled. His power still overshadowed his former days, and he was in his prime—why resign now?

"We eunuchs all carry hidden ailments. If we don't retire soon, it'll be too late."

The Director sat calmly in his wheelchair.

Yan Xizhi eyed the Director, thinking: *His information network is sharp as ever.*

That day's court saw high officials from the Censorate and the Five Armies Governorate also citing advanced age and yielding to the young, submitting resignations.

The court and country buzzed with shock.

At noon, Left Supervisor Tang Shenhe watched the flat mirror in the Astronomical Bureau. Another corpse had appeared on its surface.

By evening, yet another.

Xijing remained calm on the surface, with no news spreading. The people carried on their lives quietly.

"A great evil invades, silent and unseen."

Tang Shenhe murmured.

When the airborne hanging corpses numbered twenty, unrest finally stirred within Xijing.

"The Ministry of Justice reports missing Golden Core officials."

Someone reported to Yan Xizhi. "All of them handled cases."

Yan Xizhi asked, "Were these missing Golden Core officials involved in the number one child prodigy scholar case across the fifty provinces back then?"

"My lord sees all!"

Yan Xizhi looked to the sky and laughed. "Indeed, settling old scores from back then."

A dragon can be vast or tiny, rise or hide—grand, it whips up clouds and spews mist; small, it conceals itself like an earthworm.

Now was the time for him to conceal himself like an earthworm and silently watch his creation Little Five stir up storms.

After some time, the missing mounted, and the sky's hanging corpses reached a hundred. Tang Shenhe reported to the cabinet, shaking its foundations.

That day, sword lights surged skyward like tides, but most could not reach sixty li high—thirty li at most—before halting.

In the sky, the hanging corpses continued to multiply slowly. People kept vanishing, their corpses appearing sixty li overhead.

Panic spread like plague, gripping the hearts of Xijing's people from top to bottom.

It was fear of the unknown foe lurking in shadows—who knew if they were the next target? Who knew how this enemy would slay them and hang their corpse high for all to see!

But gradually, the sharp-eyed realized the dead were all tied to that public case from years ago.

"This killer seeks, through this chance, to force out the true culprit of that old case."

Yan Xizhi said to the visiting Director. "Director Feng, this creation Little Five is even smarter than his father."

"The more hanging corpses, the greater the pressure. Under self-doubt, internal strife will erupt, forcing out who took the child prodigy's innate Dao embryo."

The Director, Feng Tianhuan—also called Eunuch Feng or Director Feng—had also resigned and come calling in his wheelchair. He laughed at the words. "I'm no longer Director; don't call me that, old friend—just Tianhuan will do.

He paused, then said, "Back when the Xijing Butcher descended, blood ran like rivers and Xijing's hearts quailed—yet it didn't force out the culprit. Even if Little Five's methods are superior, he may not succeed."

"May not, perhaps."

Yan Xizhi smiled. "That one obtained the innate Dao embryo soon after the incident, but ten years have passed since.

"Ten years—with a peerless innate Dao embryo—is enough for an ordinary person to cultivate from the Divine Embryo Realm to lofty heights.

"If it were me, I'd have plans."

Eunuch Feng leaned in. "May I ask, old friend—who is this person, exactly?"

Yan Xizhi sipped his tea and smiled. "Like you, Director, I know nothing."

Eunuch Feng laughed heartily. "Slippery as ever! Oh, right—trouble at Qianyang Mountain. Heard the thirteen great clans sent experts to probe the Great Ming treasure ship, but it shook off petrification, sailed out the De River, and into the Dark Sea.

"Any news from you, old friend?"

Yan Xizhi sighed, set down his cup, and shook his head. "None.

"My Yan family disciples, along with my son-in-law the newxiang provincial governor, have vanished.

"Still no word if they're dead or alive."

Though Eunuch Feng had informants everywhere, he had no further intelligence. After a moment's thought, he said, "The newduo governor's seat is vacant. Interested in nominating from Yan family? As the ancients said, recommend the worthy without avoiding kin. Why not send a Golden Core Yan expert to hold the post?"

Yan Xizhi sighed again. "In just half a year, two newxiang governors have died.

"Newduo is a land of great peril. How could I let Yan family scions risk it?"

He shook his head. "With great chaos looming over Xijing, the newxiang governorship is a minor matter.

"Preparing for the coming turmoil is what counts."

Eunuch Feng said:

"Minor though it is, the autumn provincial exams are near. Without a newxiang governor, newduo province's scholars can't sit them.

"Won't that waste a whole year for nothing?"

Yan Xizhi pondered, then said:

"This year is exceptional. The cabinet will issue orders for newduo's county scholars to take exams in neighboring provinces.

"Pity those scholars."

Though he had resigned as chief grand secretary, his influence lingered. Once he conveyed his intent to the cabinet, an edict soon reached newduo.

A few days later, notices posted in every county drew crowds.

"Our newduo county scholars must go to Gongzhou for the exams."

Li Tianqing hurried back from the county seat straight to Chen Shi's home and told him, "The road to Gongzhou is far, riddled with evils and spirits en route. Just the journey will kill plenty of scholars! This rule must be some harebrained scheme from Xijing!"

"Slandering the capital's sage intent, Tianqing? You'll end up carted to the execution grounds one day."

Chen Shi had recovered from the Little Five affair and was washing clothes at home. He had won his bet with Li Tianqing, who washed for five days—but that time was up, so he washed his own now.

Chen Shi fished a letter from the sleeve pocket of his soiled clothes. It was from Madam Hua Li, an invitation to a wandering cultivators' gathering.

He had been busy with the Great Ming treasure ship and then Little Five impersonating his father Chen Tang, so he had forgotten it and not yet opened it.

Li Tianqing dashed to the guest room, stripping off his clothes as he said, "Heads will roll? Yours first.

"Oh, right, Little Ten—I've hit Golden Core third revolution!"

Bare-chested, he burst out, shoved his dirty clothes at Chen Shi, then donned fresh ones. "Golden Core third revolution—exams are in the bag!"

"I hit Golden Core third revolution yesterday too."

Chen Shi said as he soaked the dirty clothes in water.

Li Tianqing sat, fetched a washbasin to help, and boomed, "Blackie! Blackie! Fetch two more buckets of water!"

Blackie rose, went to the well, lowered the bucket, filled it, hauled it up by the rope, carried it over, and poured it into the basin beside Li Tianqing.

As Li Tianqing scrubbed, he glanced slyly at Chen Shi and probed, "Still thinking about Little Five?"

Chen Shi shook his head while opening the envelope. "Not anymore.

"He's an evil.

"No—evil god!"

Li Tianqing scrubbed harder. "Impersonating your dad with ill intent. If Granny Sha hadn't spotted it early, we'd have been toyed with and eaten."

Chen Shi shook his head. "I actually felt he once saw me as his own son, with no intent to harm.

"If Chen Tang treated me even half that well, I'd be content."

He tilted the envelope, and a palm-sized spirit tablet slid out.

The tablet's grain was fine, its material unclear, coated in tung oil with a jade-like sheen.

Its front bore a strange pattern: two human-headed, serpentine gods—one male left, female right—their snake bodies entwined in a spiral, faces opposite, hands raised and clasped.

In their raised hands, one held a compass, the other a straightedge.

Chen Shi flipped it. The back showed a compass and straightedge.

The compass legs spread wide, the straightedge piercing its center.

This was the wandering cultivators' token.

The straightedge through compass was their emblem.

Chen Shi set the token aside and drew out a paper from the envelope. It read "Gongzhou, Henggong Mountain, Mist Ridge," with an attached map.