Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage
Chapter 85: Emperor Gaozong Sent Xue Li According to His Promise

Chapter 85: 85: Emperor Gaozong Sent Xue Li According to His Promise

The temple satisfied the Heaven-Defying Taoist greatly, and the incense was certainly thriving; anyone on duty in the palace was expected to offer incense.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist looked on contentedly and said, "Not bad, not bad! His Majesty has gone to great lengths."

But Li Zhi replied with cupped hands, "Taoist Master is too kind, and in the future, your assistance will still be indispensable."

Li Zhi was indeed astute, but the Heaven-Defying Taoist didn’t call him out on it. Instead, he chuckled, "Hehe! This poor Taoist will now absorb the Incense Willpower. Your Majesty, please return for now. After I have refined the Incense Willpower, I will seek an audience with Your Majesty."

Li Zhi nodded and left by carriage to return to the palace.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist indicated to Wukong to go back and find Yuan Hong first. He himself would stay and absorb the Incense Willpower. Wukong had no objection, left the Great Revolution Seal and the World-Cleansing Dust Whisk to the Heaven-Defying Taoist, and departed with a flip on the Somersault Cloud. Seeing Wukong gone, the Heaven-Defying Taoist cast an Invisibility Technique and entered the temple.

Inside the temple, there was a towering statue holding a horsetail whisk and slung with a long spear, one hand forming a spell.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist chuckled softly, turning into a golden light and entering the statue, immediately feeling an infinite surge of Incense Willpower coming towards him. But along with it came the thoughts of thousands upon thousands of common people... These thoughts were quite mixed, with prayers for blessings, making vows, complaints, and even resentment.

"It seems I must demonstrate some powers to ensure the sincerity of their offerings. These mixed thoughts are difficult to refine," the Heaven-Defying Taoist thought to himself.

At that moment, a palace maid came to pray and lit incense, closing her eyes, and silently prayed, "The young master has been ill for a month and still has not recovered. I implore the Taoist Master to show great mercy and ensure the young master returns to health soon."

The Heaven-Defying Taoist heard her clearly, seized that strand of incense, noticing that the thoughts within this strand were much purer.

"Hmm... Stretch out your hand, and I shall help cure your young master’s illness," the Heaven-Defying Taoist transmitted his voice.

When the palace maid heard this, she was startled, but then quickly bowed repeatedly, "Taoist Master is compassionate! Thank you, Taoist Master!"

The palace maid then stretched out her hand. The Heaven-Defying Taoist cast a spell, drew a talisman in the air with the Dust Whisk, and imprinted into her palm, saying, "Take a small pinch of the incense ash here, place it on your young master’s head for a moment when you return, and then drink the tea mixed with the ash from this place. He shall be cured within half an hour."

The palace maid was overjoyed, took the incense ash, and hurried out, shouting as she ran, "The Taoist Master has manifested! Thank you, Taoist Master!"

Back in the palace, she treated the Princess as the Heaven-Defying Taoist had instructed, and indeed, the Princess was cured within half an hour.

Thus, the news of the Heaven-Defying Taoist’s divine intervention spread throughout the Imperial Palace, and some said that the Emperor had faced threats from the Buddhist Sect that day but that the Heaven-Defying Taoist arrived in time and beat the monk to death at the Meridian Gate. As a result, some people deliberately passed by the Meridian Gate to take a look, only to see many craftsmen repairing the paving stones on the square.

"Taoist Master, my daughter was born mute, please bestow your grace," a head guard kowtowed in front of the statue.

"Take some incense ash from the censer, and I will draw another talisman for you, use it to brew medicine, and you will see the effect within a day."

"Taoist Master, of the three unfilial acts, having no descendants is the greatest! Please grant me grace so I can fulfill both loyalty and filial piety..." Another guard came to kowtow.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist then drew another talisman, had him take the incense ash, and told him and his wife to each drink a bowl of medicine brewed with the ash, assuring them they would conceive a child within a few days.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist, while refining the mixed thoughts within the Incense Willpower, also performed miracles. But he would not do anything that went against the Heavenly Dao, such as bringing the dead back to life or enabling eunuchs to regenerate... He would only help cure some diseases or congenital defects, like muteness or deafness. Amusingly, some eunuchs sought help without success, and would sneak back at night to take some incense ash for themselves.

As a result, after several days of manifesting miracles, those who came to offer incense did so with greater sincerity, and their thoughts were naturally not as mixed and difficult to refine as before. Just by inhaling into his stomach and circulating his Profound Skills slightly, he could refine them. The Heaven-Defying Taoist only felt his Primordial Spirit and Mana grow stronger, though his Cultivation remained unchanged.

After absorbing Incense Willpower for three days and nights, he felt his Primordial Spirit was full, his mind was clear and spirited, with energy to spare.

Having cast an Invisibility Spell to exit the statue, he struck a talisman into the incense burner for people to take as needed and did not linger any longer. He proceeded to the Imperial Secretariat to find Li Zhi.

Li Zhi was pacing in the Imperial Secretariat, head bowed in deep thought.

He was a young Emperor, only eighteen years old, but he could be considered quite cunning and sly. Which emperor wasn’t astute? Perhaps only the foolish King Zhou was an exception.

"Your Majesty, the Heaven-Defying Taoist is here to see you," a servant reported from his side.

"Oh! I will personally receive the Taoist," he said and left the room, welcoming the Heaven-Defying Taoist in.

Li Zhi welcomed the Heaven-Defying Taoist inside, invited him to take a seat, and instructed the attendants to serve tea and fruit.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist said with a smile, "Your Majesty need not be so polite."

Li Zhi replied with a smile and cupped hands, "The Taoist Master relieved me from crisis and granted me fifty more years of life. How could such a great favor go unthanked?"

The Heaven-Defying Taoist flicked his finger lightly and said, "It was a trifle, Your Majesty need not be so formal."

Li Zhi sighed deeply and, massaging his eyebrows, sat back down at his desk.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist asked, "Why does Your Majesty sigh?"

Li Zhi chuckled to himself and said, "Oh! A battle report has come from the front. General Li Ji’s deployment hasn’t gone smoothly, with a million-strong army hindered outside the Twin Realms Pass. That pass is easy to defend but difficult to attack, with thirty-zhang-high walls, plentiful provisions, and the city’s citizens united in their devotion to Buddha. To take down this gateway is fraught with difficulties. Despite your loss of over ten thousand soldiers, Lord Li, you’ve yet to yield any significant gains. You’ve employed all manner of stratagems, yet the people of the Tianzhu Country simply hunker down like turtles, unwilling to leave their stronghold."

The Heaven-Defying Taoist knew that Li Zhi was asking for his help; he leisurely sipped his tea and said, "Oh! So that’s the matter."

Li Zhi rubbed his hands together, smiling as he asked, "Taoist Master, do you have a way to resolve this difficulty for Great Tang?"

The Heaven-Defying Taoist’s brow slightly furrowed as he began to contemplate; after a moment, he said, "Very well, I will lend a Magical Treasure to Your Majesty, which can break through the Twin Realms Pass."

Li Zhi asked with surprise, "Oh! What kind of Magical Treasure?"

The Heaven-Defying Taoist said, "Your Majesty, do you have a general named Xue Li, styled Rengui?"

Li Zhi nodded and murmured twice, "Xue Li, Xue Rengui?" "I do not recognize this person."

Caressing his beard, the Heaven-Defying Taoist said with a smile, "Your Majesty, you may send someone to find this Xue Rengui! I have already calculated that Xue Rengui is the reincarnation of a Martial Star, bearing tremendous destiny. If I lend him the Magical Treasure, he will be able to break through the Twin Realms Pass."

Li Zhi was elated and had the serving eunuchs take the imperial command to find Xue Rengui.

When the Emperor gave an order, how could his officials dare to delay? They all rushed out to search for Xue Li.

Meanwhile, the Heaven-Defying Taoist and Li Zhi sat in the Imperial Secretariat, drinking tea and eating melon seeds, idly chatting about trivial matters from all corners of the world—but seldom speaking of the conflict between Buddhists and Taoists. The Heaven-Defying Taoist did not wish to discuss it, and Li Zhi naturally avoided the topic as well, so as not to offend or spoil the mood.

As the sun set in the Western Heaven, three hours had passed before they finally found Xue Li, Xue Rengui.

This time, Xue Rengui was merely a minor fire officer, truly making him difficult to locate!

"This humble servant Xue Li greets Your Majesty!" Xue Rengui, brought into the Imperial Secretariat, immediately kowtowed to the ground.

Li Zhi looked to the Heaven-Defying Taoist, seeking his opinion.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist then said, "Let Xue Rengui stand and speak first."

Xue Rengui didn’t understand why he, a minor fire officer, had alarmed the current Emperor—whose search for him had spread throughout the city. At that time, he was still guarding the city gates, thinking it was a joke when his subordinates came looking for him.

Li Zhi said, "Xue Rengui, stand and speak."

Xue Rengui quickly got to his feet, yet he didn’t dare to raise his head.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist said with a smile, "Xue Rengui, I have divined the past and present and found that you are a fortunate general for Great Tang, the reincarnation of a star of war from the heavens. You possess extraordinary ability and martial skills, but your time has not yet come, which is why you remain a minor fire officer. This summons to appear before His Holiness is because there is a grand mission for you to undertake."

Li Zhi nodded and introduced the Heaven-Defying Taoist to Xue Rengui, "This is the Heaven-Defying Taoist Master! His Mana is limitless, and his Cultivation profound."

Xue Rengui, realizing that the Heaven-Defying Taoist was the noble person destined in his life, hastily bowed and saluted, "Xue Li pays his respects to the Heaven-Defying Taoist Master!"

"There’s no need for excessive formalities—just listen to what I have to say!" said the Heaven-Defying Taoist.

Xue Rengui quickly clasped his hands together and listened attentively.

The Heaven-Defying Taoist nodded and said, "You have some skill. I will give you two Magical Treasures. Take them to the Twin Realms Pass to assist General Li Ji in breaking through."

Xue Rengui exclaimed in surprise, "Taoist Master has overpraised me! What skill does Xue Li possess to break through the Twin Realms Pass?"

Li Ji was a famous general of Great Tang, held in the same regard as Li Jing and Li Daozong, known together as the three great generals. And now, Xue Rengui, who could only look up to Li Ji, had naturally no confidence in breaking a pass that even Li Ji couldn’t breach.

"I haven’t asked you to break through empty-handed, or didn’t you hear? I told you to take two Magical Treasures with you," the Heaven-Defying Taoist said with a frown.

Xue Rengui didn’t dare speak again, fearing to displease the Taoist Master, and simply listened attentively.

"I have two Magical Treasures here, one called the Great Revolution Seal, and the other the Sun-Shooting Bow and Arrows! Take them to the Twin Realms Pass, and I will teach you how to use them. When the time comes, you will raise the Great Seal toward the city’s walls and command them to crumble. With the Sun-Shooting Bow and Arrows, you will shoot down the commanding generals of the Twin Realms Pass," instructed the Heaven-Defying Taoist.

Xue Rengui hurriedly accepted the Magical Treasures handed to him: nine Golden Arrows and a Golden Divine Bow, along with a cubical Great Seal, carved with images of sickles and axes. Holding it in his hands, it was incredibly heavy.

Xue Rengui was born in accordance with the Heavenly Dao and bore the destiny of Great Tang. Otherwise, there indeed would have been no one who could lift the Great Revolution Seal!

The Heaven-Defying Taoist then imparted the Mantra and Heart Sutra, placed a hand on Xue Rengui’s shoulder, and performed an empowerment, infusing him with a considerable amount of True Essence Power, causing Xue Rengui’s face to become flushed. Had he infused any more, Xue Rengui likely would have burst on the spot.

Li Zhi then issued an imperial edict, promoting Xue Rengui to the rank of Skirmishing General. If he managed to break through the Twin Realms Pass, he would further be appointed as the Defender of Yunquan Prefecture, as well as the Commanding General of the Right Imperial Army. Such irregular methods of promotion and reward might defy conventional norms, but these were extraordinary times, calling for extraordinary measures, were they not?

Having received the imperial edict, Xue Rengui employed the Escape Technique taught by the Heaven-Defying Taoist and headed toward the Twin Realms Pass.