Ascension Day

When Xu Ying was a few miles from the Divine Capital, he saw a dozen or so chariots approaching to welcome him. They jostled for position, completely blocking the post road. He heard someone call out, "Is that Young Master Xu of Lingling? I come on behalf of the Liu Family’s Old Ancestor to welcome you!"

"I am the steward of the Guo Family’s Inner Mansion, here on the Old Master’s orders to welcome Young Master Xu of Lingling!"

"Young Master Xu of Lingling, take the Cui Family’s carriage!"

"The Pei Family’s carriage is both fast and smooth!"

...

A eunuch also approached, driving a prisoner’s cart. When he saw that everyone else had Treasure Palanquins and Divine Spirit mounts, while he only had a prisoner’s cart, he was too embarrassed to say anything.

Xu Ying declined to board any of the Noble Families’ carriages and simply started walking toward the Divine Capital. He cupped his hands and said, "I prefer to walk!"

The stewards from the various Noble Families all scrambled down from their carriages to accompany him on foot.

Behind them, the carriages and horses formed a long, winding procession.

And so, Xu Ying walked all the way into the Divine Capital City without being stopped or questioned. The stewards from each family fervently invited him to be a guest at their estates, but Xu Ying politely declined them all. "I have an old acquaintance in the Divine Capital," he said. "I know Young Master Yuan Weiyang of the Yuan Family, so I will impose upon him and stay with the Yuan Family. By the way, does anyone know which family this Gourd belongs to?"

He took out the large, vermilion Gourd.

The Wang Family steward stepped forward to inspect it and shook his head. "This Gourd bears no distinguishing marks, so it’s hard to identify which estate it’s from. Young Master Xu, is it possible you ran into people using a Gourd to hunt for souls outside the city?"

Xu Ying nodded. "I encountered a few strange people by the river, hunting for souls."

The Wang Family steward chuckled. "Most likely they were performing Alchemy for an elder in one of the great households. Some people like to take unorthodox paths, collecting the souls of the recently deceased to concoct Spirit Pills. When consumed, these pills can extend one’s life. Young Master Xu, this way, please."

Xu Ying frowned and handed the vermilion Gourd to Yuan Qi. The head of the little snake on his shoulder suddenly swelled to several times its normal size. It opened its mouth, swallowed the large vermilion Gourd, and then its head shrank back down.

With the stewards from the Noble Families leading the way, Xu Ying looked around. The Divine Capital’s atmosphere was indeed extraordinary, and its people were prosperous. The three great Divine Statues in the city depicted the Three Saints: Emperor Wenwu the Great Saint, Emperor Zhetian the Great Saint, and the Emperor of Ultimate Dao.

Although these three Emperors had long since passed away, the Incense and Candlelight offered to them was still as thick as clouds, a sign of their flourishing worship.

The Three Saint Emperors anchored the fate of the Divine Capital. After their deaths, they became Divine Spirits, and the Incense and Candlelight offered to them became an integral part of the city’s transportation network.

The Divine Capital had incense chariot paths—official roads formed from the Incense Smoke Qi of the Three Saint Emperors. These paths floated high in the sky, leading directly to the Imperial City. Ornate carriages pulled by fine steeds could often be seen traveling along them.

There were also Rainbow Bridges formed from Incense Smoke Qi, arching over the Luo River. Walking across them felt like treading on clouds.

Xu Ying gazed at the statues of the Three Saints, paused, and asked, "Everyone, are the souls of the three Emperors enjoying peace in the Underworld, or do they reside within these Divine Statues?"

Everyone shook their heads. The Pei Family steward chuckled. "That’s hardly a matter for us to inquire about. However, the Three Saint Emperors do reveal their divinity around the New Year, and the Divine Statues come to life. During times of disaster and chaos, the Three Saint Emperors have also been known to awaken and suppress rebels."

The Incense Smoke Qi emanating from these three Divine Statues was incredibly powerful. For Emperor Wenwu the Great Saint and Emperor Zhetian the Great Saint, this Qi had formed a flame-shaped Shen Kan behind them, reaching a height of a thousand feet. Yet, compared to the sheer size of their statues, even a thousand-foot-tall Shen Kan looked minuscule.

As for the Emperor of Ultimate Dao, the Shen Kan formed from his incense was much smaller.

"Young Master Xu, over there is Lingyan Pavilion!"

The Pei Family steward pointed into the distance. Xu Ying followed his gaze and saw plumes of azure qi spiraling up from a certain spot, piercing the heavens. It was an awesome display of power. Beneath the qi stood a tall tower, exuding an air of grandeur.

"The most powerful figures of the Divine Dynasty throughout its history are enshrined there," the Cui Family steward, a beautiful woman, explained to Xu Ying.

Xu Ying pointed in another direction, asking doubtfully, "Then what is that place over there?"

Everyone followed his finger. He was pointing at a massive willow tree that towered into the clouds. There were no other buildings around it. Billowing, sinister black qi coiled around the great tree. Faintly, one could even see countless wandering ghosts and lost souls living within the willow, each one carrying its own head.

"That’s the Solitary Willow. It’s where they carry out beheadings," the Chai Family steward said.

They had to pass that spot to reach the Yuan Family estate. Xu Ying glanced over from a distance and saw that executions were underway beneath the Solitary Willow. A hundred or so people were kneeling in a line. The Jinwu Guard supervised the beheadings, using Command Banners to secure the four cardinal directions, the Qianyuan Banner to lock down the sky, and the Kunyuan Cauldron to seal the earth, leaving no chance for escape.

"Young Master Xu, those are members of the Zhou Family being executed."

The beautiful steward from the Cui Family said with a smile, "They’ve been at it for more than ten days, executing a hundred or so of them every day. See that man over there holding the White Banner? He’s a soul collector. They’re going to use the souls of the Zhou Family to refine Spirit Pills. For longevity, you know!"

Xu Ying glanced over and, sure enough, saw a Jinwu Guard leaning on a White Banner.

He had seen this type of White Banner before. When the Emperor had ordered the Jinwu Guard to slaughter the disciples of the Cangwu Sect, some of them had also been leaning on White Banners.

"Why are all the ones being executed here men?" Xu Ying asked.

"The women were sold to the brothels to serve as Official Courtesans. The Zhou Family committed treason—they dared to plot against the Holy Emperor on Jiuyi Mountain. It is a sign of His Majesty’s mercy that their entire clan wasn’t exterminated."

...

Xu Ying arrived at the Yuan Family estate. It was a grand compound with high gates and a large courtyard, an impressive sight. However, the ancient Noble Family had fallen into decline, and their household staff was sparse. In this generation, the entire family, from the eldest to the youngest, numbered less than ten.

Seeing such a large retinue arrive, the gatekeeper hurried inside to announce them.

After a moment, someone could be heard approaching from the Inner Mansion to receive the guests. The gate opened to reveal an old servant in blue robes, Uncle Xiao. Behind him stood a young master—humble, polite, and with a distinguished air. It was Yuan Weiyang himself.

"Brother Yuan, I’ve come to impose upon you," Xu Ying said with a smile.