The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 153 - 119 New Policies of the Court_2

Chapter 153: Chapter 119 New Policies of the Court_2

Perhaps it was because the three of them knew their manners, which made his tone much more amiable.

Li Yan clasped his hands and said, "Senior, we have come from Xianyang and are preparing to ascend the mountain."

He had already noticed that in this blacksmith shop, there was a whirling aura of hot incense, which meant it likely belonged to a craftsman of the Mystical Sect.

"Xianyang..." The blacksmith pondered for a moment, "Do you know Manager Wan from Wensheng Pavilion?"

"Very well, indeed!"

Sha Lifei was quick to chime in, trying to build rapport, "We are particularly close; I even stayed in Shangyi Village for a while, and my older brother also knows Manager Wan."

The blacksmith nodded and said, "Hmm, that’s a relationship. Not long ago, Manager Wan sent a batch of drums up the mountain and just left yesterday after coming down."

"Ah, what a pity, to have missed him..."

With the reference to Manager Wan, they quickly became familiar with each other.

The blacksmith’s surname was Hong, and his name was Hong Mushan. He was indeed a craftsman of the Mystical Sect. He had taken over the shop from his master and often worked for the Taoist Temples on the mountain, never short of business.

"Big brother Hong, something seems off here..."

Li Yan couldn’t help but express the doubts in his heart.

"You don’t know?" The blacksmith Hong looked surprised.

"We’ve been on the road, haven’t heard any news."

"No wonder..."

After listening to Li Yan’s explanation, blacksmith Hong shook his head, "Normally this time of year it is indeed not very crowded, but there was a major event recently."

"After the Cold Clothes Festival, several orthodox State Preceptors in the court reported that there was an evil practice of the Mystical Sect in Jiangnan, deceiving the locals, performing rituals to Evil Gods day and night, and even proclaiming themselves as some sort of Holy Marshals, attempting to rise up in rebellion."

"The Emperor was furious, ordered the Mystical Sect Priests to strictly supervise, and it has been announced that from now on, to borrow spiritual acupoints from the Cave Heaven Blessed Lands occupied by the orthodox Magic Veins sects, one must have a Daoist certificate issued by the Mystical Sect Priests."

"It’s said it will start after the New Year, so now many people have received the message and are hastily coming to cultivate before that deadline..."

Upon hearing this, the three of them looked at each other in dismay.

Sha Lifei said speechlessly, "This is clearly just an excuse, obviously to control the Mystical Sects around the world by using the Cave Heaven Blessed Lands."

Li Yan understood as soon as he heard it.

A pugilist offends with martial prowess, Confucians disrupt with literature, and if those in the Mystical Sect harbored ill intentions, it could spell disaster for the entire world.

The chaos of shamanic sorcery in the Han Palace, the Emperor’s dream of eternal life, ominous prophesies of troubled times, and famines leading to revolts... such matters have always been a major headache for every dynasty.

But just like the pugilistic world, the Mystical Sect could not be completely eradicated, and besides, the court needed to use them to calm the people and suppress evil spirits, so supervision is the main policy.

Thus, the Great Xuan Dynasty has a decree, that all Mystical Sect practitioners, whether monks, Daoists, shamans, or sorcerers, must register and be recorded by the Mystical Sect Priests, and be issued a Daoist certificate.

But just like gunpowder, which is continually banned yet never eradicated, many folk magicians didn’t care for this decree, let alone those heretical practitioners.

Magicians need to build towers and temples for cultivation, and it is extremely difficult to succeed in ordinary places. Borrowing Cave Heaven Blessed Lands with spiritual acupoints increases their chances significantly.

It seems the court wants to take control of this to restrain the Mystical Sect.

Li Yan was neither deceitful nor had any intention to harm anyone with spells so he naturally did not reject this, and had even asked Luo Mingzi to help with the registration. He would go to Chang’an to collect the Daoist certificate before the New Year.

But this created a problem for him.

At the Taibai Mountain Mother-Fighting Courtyard during the Winter Solstice, a great ritual would be held, and during that time the Heavenly Acupoint would be temporarily closed until the following year.

It is known that even though the Cave Heaven Mountain Range is vast, the proven Innate Astral Acupoints are few and far between.

With so many magicians, there would definitely be a competition.

Thinking of this, Li Yan’s mind stirred, and he asked, "Senior, with so many people paying high prices for accommodation, there’s something strange about the Bai Family Inn..."

He felt familiar with the situation, which seemed similar to certain schemes in tourist areas in a previous life.

"Isn’t that the case!"

The blacksmith Hong got angry as soon as he heard, "Originally, the high boss of the inn had a good relationship with us. We all made a living together guardedly in this fort, life was quite carefree."

"This Bai fellow, relying on his ties with the managers of the Taoist Academy on the mountain, snatched away the high boss’s business and forced him to leave for a distant place."

While speaking, he glanced in the direction of the inn and said in a low voice, "Upon learning about the court’s news, the landlord of the Bai Family Inn started to scheme. Staying there costs twenty silver a night."

"There’s a trick here, they are not charging for the accommodation, but after going up the mountain, you have the opportunity to rent a spiritual acupoint with that ticket through the manager!"

Indeed!

Li Yan scoffed, his guess was correct.

"What cowards, to think this Holy Land of the Mystical Sect is also shrouded in dark smoke!"

Sha Lifei cursed under his breath, but then asked, "Does buying a ticket guarantee an opportunity? If so, twenty silvers isn’t too expensive."

"Hehe!"

The blacksmith Hong sneered, "Let’s put it this way, for the past several days, that boss has been selling tickets every day. I’ve estimated in secret that at least a hundred have been sold."

"There are only so many spiritual acupoints on the mountain. I think at that time, they might even wring more out of you all, making you bid for leases or something..."

Sha Lifei exclaimed in surprise, "Over a hundred tickets, each for twenty silvers, that’s easily two thousand silvers, just for a meeting."

"Black, way too black!"

"How come we don’t get such an opportunity..."

"Indeed."

Manager Hong chimed in and, upon looking at Sha Lifei again, felt a strange sense of sympathy between them.

Wang Daoxuan felt somewhat helpless, "I did not expect such a situation. The money we’ve prepared is probably not enough, what should we do?"

They had raided bandit dens in Xianyang and also gained spoils from Chen Fagui, which made their fortunes quite considerable.

After deducting the money spent on building the Taoist Temple, there was still plenty left, so they had been spending lavishly along the way, hiring people to carry coffins, renting carriages, indulging in good wine and tea, and enjoying hot spring baths in Shangluo, with truly no small expense.

If the competition came down to bidding, they likely couldn’t outbid others.

Li Yan pondered for a moment, then asked, "Senior, since you frequently go up the mountain to help, do you know a Daoist named Yu Linzi from the Mother Fighting Palace?"

Before he had left Xianyang City, Luo Mingzi had given him a letter of introduction, instructing him to seek out this Yu Linzi on Taibai Mountain if faced with difficulties.

The Taixuan Orthodox Sect was vast, and Luo Mingzi’s temple, the Xuanzheng Sect, and the Mother Fighting Palace belonged to different factions, but they were all from the same sect and often interacted.

Since Luo Mingzi gave him the letter, it indicated a close relationship.

"Yu Linzi?"

Blacksmith Hong was surprised, nodded and said, "Of course, I know him. He’s exceptionally talented. At a young age, his Dao has already reached the three-story level. His master is also a high-achieving Mage from the Mother Fighting Palace."

"If you can get his help, this issue should be easy to deal with, but now too many people are climbing the mountain, and you’re not the only ones looking for connections to plead your case."

"Then let’s go immediately tonight!"

Sha Lifei slapped his palm fiercely, stating, "We can’t stay in an inn here anyway. Staying in the wilderness makes no difference."

"Didn’t the Daoist say it already? The roads on Taibai Mountain are not so easy to traverse. It’s blazing hot at the foot of the mountain, and snow-covered on the top. Now it’s also the winter season where the mountain is closed, and surely many are trapped on the roads."

"As long as we walk fast enough, we may be able to get there first!"

Li Yan hesitated for a moment, then looked at Wang Daoxuan.

He and Sha Lifei were naturally unaffected, practicing martial arts all year round made them have extraordinary endurance, and they didn’t mind the fatigue of the journey.

But Wang Daoxuan was different, and he feared he wouldn’t be able to endure it.

"Don’t worry about me."

Wang Daoxuan chuckled wryly, "Although my footwork isn’t up to par, I’ve also traveled far and wide. Sometimes, crossing mountains and ridges for two to three days straight is common for me."

"Very well."

Li Yan stood up, "Let’s buy some things and go!"

There was much to prepare for the mountain ascent.

Thick sheepskin jackets, fire sickles, and some food and provisions.

Not to mention the ones taking advantage of the situation, these items usually weren’t valuable, but now their prices had doubled.

Li Yan and his companions didn’t waste time on banter, they just made their purchases. They also stored their horses in the stable and left the fort overnight.

The atmosphere in the fort was noticeably off, with many people silent, yet actually paying close attention to the movements of others.

Upon seeing the three leave, some people’s faces changed slightly, and some cursed under their breath, "Going up the mountain at night, are they fools?"

"Should we... also go?"

"Why the rush, fellow Daoist? The mountain roads are perilous, a small mistake can lead to a fall off the cliff, not to mention, do you really think you can just march up there and succeed?"

"No rush, wait for my disciple to bring money tomorrow, and it’s not too late to go then..."

Setting aside these people and their thoughts, not long after Li Yan and his companions had left, the middle-aged woman with double swords on her back at Bai Family’s Inn also left the fort in silence.

Outside the fort, three lanterns slowly rose into the sky.

A weathered voice sounded:

"Observe the three officials, during the Water Official Relieve Calamity on the night of Xiao Yuan..."