The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 786 - 567: Above the Court

Chapter 786: Chapter 567: Above the Court

Li Yi rode the carriage straight into the Imperial Palace, and upon entering, he clearly felt the Emperor’s Aura weighing heavily. The Dragon and Tiger Energy that surged skyward descended, making cultivators feel very oppressed. If it were him in the past, he probably wouldn’t even be able to use spells.

But now, having attained the position of State Preceptor, conferred by the court, and having gathered the incense of ten thousand people, the Emperor’s Aura’s influence on him has diminished significantly.

"No wonder my father wanted to confer me first, then let me enter the Imperial Palace. He knows that the Emperor’s Aura suppresses cultivators. If it weren’t for this, with my previous strength, I would probably find it difficult to handle some dangers," Li Yi thought to himself at this moment. They had discussed this during a conversation with his father.

Being suddenly conferred as State Preceptor, he would surely be attacked by the ministers and might even encounter some danger.

However, now, understanding the mysterious use of incense power, he is confident in dealing with any danger.

As the carriage stopped.

"Master Taiyi, we’ve arrived. Please disembark here," said a Golden Eyes Guard.

At this moment, Li Yi got off the carriage, only to find himself before a palace. This palace was resplendent and majestic, facing the great sun, with limitless brilliance. Moreover, in the eyes of cultivators, the entire palace emitted rays of energy. Due to the gathering of incense power, every brick and tile here seemed alive, as if they had their own consciousness.

If this continued to nurture, in a thousand years, this palace might also become an Incense Fire God.

"Such heavy incense power, fortunately, the palace is a mundane object. If it were a Dao Artifact, with an Artifact Spirit, having absorbed so much incense belief power, it would likely become an Enlightened Being. Indeed, the Heavenly Dao is fair. In this world of incense fire gods, there is no path of cultivation or method of artifact refining, wasting an unknown amount of incense power,"

suddenly, Xiang Xiangzi atop the Primordial Spirit Flower awoke again. She spoke, her tone deeply regretful.

"Immortal, so incense power can also enhance the might of Dao Artifacts?" Li Yi asked.

"More than that, a low-grade Dao Artifact, if it absorbed this level of incense, its Artifact Spirit would connect with divinity and could battle with experts of the Tri-Floral Realm. If the Spirit of a top-grade Dao Artifact became an Incense Fire God, it could definitely fight an Enlightened Being. Tsk, tsk, such peculiar things are truly unseen in ancient or modern times. I have also broadened my horizons. Not only Dao Artifacts, earlier I used incense power to practice daoist skills, Taiyi, guess what? I quickly comprehended and mastered the Big and Small Ruyi Skill of the Tianyi Sect, as if countless people were helping you break down, ponder, and infuse the understanding of daoist skill into your Primordial Spirit."

Xiang Xiangzi was gradually understanding the mysteries of incense power.

But the more she understood, the more incredible it seemed.

"Taiyi, your path of borrowing external cultivation is correct, aligning with my ideas. Using incense belief for cultivation, gathering energy, comprehending dao, learning techniques... Even if incense power depletes in the future, what you have learned remains yours and won’t disappear due to the loss of incense power," Xiang Xiangzi praised.

"Of course, one’s realm and strength must be their own to be dependable. Dependent on the incense belief of the masses, one is always restrained by others, which isn’t the proper way,"

Li Yi said. At this moment, under the guidance of the Golden Eyes Guard, he walked toward the Bright Hall.

Upon arriving outside the hall, someone went inside to report.

Li Yi stood, waiting just a moment, when a voice came from within the Bright Hall.

"Summon, Master Taiyi."

"Summon, Master Taiyi..."

The Announcement Officers, one after another, projected their loud voices, gradually echoing until it reached outside the Bright Hall.

"Master Taiyi, you should follow us into the hall to see the Emperor," a Golden Eyes Guard quietly said.

Li Yi nodded.

Soon, under the guidance of two Golden Eyes Guards, he entered the Bright Hall, a place symbolizing imperial power, gathering incense from across the world.

Just stepping inside, he felt countless gazes converging on him.

Some were scrutinizing, some were frowning, some were surprised, and many gazes conveyed strong goodwill and hostility.

"Though most of these people are not cultivators, they all hold official positions with high status and weight. Their bodies are suffused with the incense of the masses. At this moment, gathered together, the power of incense is unimaginably vast," Li Yi narrowed his eyes slightly as he noticed the incense energy on these people had already formed manifestations.

Some were wrapped with great pythons, some bore the semblance of bears, some had cranes hovering above their heads, and some stood atop wolves and leopards.

The civil and military officials were each distinct.

Among them were a few whose incense power was particularly special. One stood at the head of all officials, approximately in his fifties, bearing extraordinary disposition, with gathered belief incense several times more vast than others, transforming into a golden eagle, capable of fighting fierce tigers and jiao, magnificently divine, as if already spiritually manifest.

Another young man was equally remarkable. His incense power was similarly grand, forming a young dragon coiling around him. Although Li Yi didn’t know him, someone who bore dragon energy, apart from the Emperor, could only be the current Crown Prince.

Even Prince Xin only bore Jiao Dragon Energy.

"This person is Taoyi Daoist? Truly young, looks barely over twenty. I wonder if it’s because he’s mastered beauty retention, achieving success in cultivation."

"Indeed extraordinary. Though clad in a Daoist robe, he is surrounded by Dragon and Tiger Energy, and it’s a Silver Tiger and a strange dragon, never seen in history." In the court, there were not few who could observe and sense a person’s aura. They also noticed Li Yi’s Dragon and Tiger Energy, but they saw at a glance that the dragon was not a True Dragon, and the tiger was a Divine Tiger.

This showed he indeed possessed the appearance of a prince, but with a heavier aura of slaughter.

"What a fine physique, what a handsome appearance," some generals secretly marveled. A Daoist, yet possessing a body more stunning than martial artists, this person must have the strength of a thousand pounds, quite extraordinary.

Observe its aura, see its form.

Many in their hearts had doubts that have now been mostly dispelled; with such profoundness, though not a veritable True Immortal, he is definitely not some charlatan, but a person with true skills and unique talents.

Yet, with such profoundness, instead of getting involved in the court, why not enjoy the carefree life of the mountains and forests?

However, Emperor Shenwu, Li Jiye, sitting on the dragon throne, could not help but let out a slight smile upon seeing the appearance of Li Yi.

This son of his is indeed outstanding.

His demeanor and bearing are truly like an immortal descending to the mortal world, a divine being born into the era, unmatched by common folk. If this plan to crush the mountains and temples succeeds, this son of his might truly achieve enlightenment and immortality, achieving eternal life. If so, even if he himself were to die one day, he could rest in peace.

"This humble Daoist, Taiyi, pays respects to the Emperor Shenwu." Li Yi walked to the center of the grand hall, halted his steps, and bowed. His voice was clear and resonant, as though imbued with some mysterious power, piercing straight to the heart, making him unignorable.

"Master Taiyi, at ease." Emperor Shenwu, Li Jiye, gestured.

"I have long heard of the name Taiyi Immortal. Today, upon meeting, Master Taiyi indeed possesses the demeanor of an immortal, the appearance of a divine being."

Li Yi said: "Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty."

"Gentlemen ministers, do you think Master Taiyi is worthy of the position of State Preceptor?" Subsequently, Emperor Shenwu glanced at the others and slowly spoke.

He knew some were dissatisfied with Yi, so he seized this opportunity for Yi to establish his might.

"The position of State Preceptor involves the country’s foundation. May I ask what skills Master Taiyi possesses to assume such a high status?" An official stood forward and immediately inquired.

Li Yi glanced slightly, "I do not know what skills are required to become a State Preceptor?"

"Observing the heavens, calculating national fortune, discerning loyalty and treachery, surveying earth veins, mastering divination—these are only foundational. The most important is whether it benefits the nation, aids the monarch in governing the country and benefits the people," the official continued. "If such abilities are absent, Daoist, it is better you return whence you came. Your own demise is trivial, but bringing calamity to the court is significant."

"Indeed, a mountain hermit who knows a bit of minor spells can amuse the populace, but aspiring to enter the court and become State Preceptor is sheer foolishness," another official agreed.

"If the Daoist is cowardly today, you may resign from the position of State Preceptor, and we will not pursue difficulties against you. But should you persist in ignorance, you will undoubtedly face reckoning in the future," another threatened.

However, the leading Grandmaster, Crown Prince, and several Hidden Officials of the Yin Emperor remained silent.

They watched coldly, also wanting to understand what true power and ability this Master Taiyi possessed.

At this moment, Li Yi laughed: "Ha ha."

His voice seemed to carry the Dragon Tiger Divine Power, with merely the spread of his laughter causing the ground to tremble slightly, as if the entire grand hall was about to collapse.

The laughter seemed capable of penetrating gold and splitting stone; merely hearing it caused the officials to feel dizzy and experience head pains, with noses bleeding. If it continued, they had no doubt their heads would explode, turning into a mist of blood.

Seeing this commotion, many people’s faces changed drastically.

This was the Bright Hall, the place where the Dragon and Tiger Energy was strongest, yet this Master Taiyi could also use spells?

Someone looked toward the current Emperor Shenwu.

No mistake, the Emperor’s Dragon Tiger Energy was still present, in the prime of his spring and autumn. How could it fail to suppress a Daoist?

Sitting on the dragon throne, Li Jiye, however, narrowed his eyes without speaking, for he knew that this was not a spell, but pure power, unaffected by Emperor’s Aura. In terms those people didn’t understand, Li Yi’s voice carried a sonic attack, and those with weak physique could be vibrated to death alive.

It was just a moment.

All the civil and military officials were ashen-faced, many fainted on the spot, with bloodshot eyes, noses and ears bleeding, and the older ministers, overwhelmed, spurted a mouthful of blood, collapsing to the ground.

Instantly, they were in a sorry state.

The incense fire belief power they had long relied on seemed to vanish at this moment, unable to protect them at all.

At this moment, Li Yi’s laughter ceased, and the force shaking the Bright Hall disappeared instantly: "The abilities of this humble Daoist are vast, how could you mere common folks understand? This humble Daoist is proficient in countless spells, capable of calling the wind and summoning the rain, altering the weather of a five hundred mile region, flipping rivers and mountains, flattening a hundred-mile mountain range, subduing Dragons and Tigers, eradicating wicked demons, and even carving out rivers and forming lands;

with but a pointed finger I can split a river flowing from north to south. For ten thousand miles of mountains and rivers, this humble Daoist alone can ensure smooth weather and bountiful harvests year after year."

"Chanting the name of Master Taiyi can save millions of people and alleviate the hardships of sentient beings. How could this humble Daoist not bear the position of State Preceptor?"

Having said this, he formed a fist mark with his hand, releasing the fist intent.

In a trance, everyone saw that Master Taiyi, standing in the grand hall, was riding a dragon and treading a tiger, resembling a Buddha Vajra, possessing compassion with a flower in hand, yet also wielding divine power to destroy all beings, compelling everyone to kneel uncontrollably, not daring to meet his gaze.

With just one move, the civil and military officials had their spirits overwhelmed by the fist intent.

In the future, whenever they see Li Yi, the mere manifestation of the fist intent will spontaneously evoke fear, making them unable to lift their heads.