Chapter 1537 - 824: Immortal Grace Overhead (Double-Length) (Part 2)

Emperor Jianji came here, and if you say it has nothing to do with that Dream Sea anomaly, Chen Yi would never believe it. What is he here for? Inspection? Sacrifice? Or… strengthening the seal?

Thoughts were jumbled and yet lacked any clues.

Investigate in secret?

Chen Yi almost immediately dismissed the idea. Just a quick glance earlier, he had already perceived more than one heavy aura from those seemingly ordinary palace maids and eunuchs, even the shade of the tiled roof. These auras were either cleverly hidden in plain sight or subtly concealed, but without exception, they were all experts.

In the presence of such figures lurking about, any sneaky investigation would be tantamount to exposing oneself and alerting the enemy.

Rather than laboring to conceal, it would be better to… approach naturally and effortlessly.

Chen Yi's gaze fell upon the few cliffside Buddha niches. The statues were mottled, their compassionate expressions obscured by the winds and frosts of time, yet they still silently overlooked the Daoist temple and the figures below.

He turned, faced the Buddha niche, put his palms together earnestly, and bowed.

Having worshiped the Buddha, Chen Yi lingered no longer and called the two women along: "Let's go, it's getting late, we should head down the mountain."

The three of them returned along the overgrown path they came by, passing by the side of the Golden Immortal Temple without looking in, just walking by as usual.

The glances from those eunuchs inside the temple lightly swept over them, and seeing them walking straight down without any strangeness, eased their vigilance slightly.

Getting closer, people inside the Three Pure Ones Hall started to walk out, and the sound of footsteps and conversations could be heard.

"...Mother's spirits today were decent, so I feel a bit more at ease too." Emperor Jianji's tone was flat, revealing little emotion, "I came this time to pray for blessings, both to accompany Mother in prayer and to wish for harmony among the ungrateful sons at home."

"You, sir, moving the heavens with filial piety, naturally the mistress will have a long life filled with blessings, and the family will reunite." Another sharp voice immediately chimed in, full of flattery, "Your presence today at this Golden Immortal Temple is indeed this abandoned place's fortune, it's like the temple bathing in your glory, almost asking you for blessings in return!"

"Wang Banban, mind your words." The authoritative voice lightly rebuked, yet without much anger, rather with a subtle touch of appreciation.

The footsteps drew closer.

Emperor Jianji appeared, wearing a similarly colored square cap, at first glance looking like an ordinary genteel wealthy man, but the enduring composed demeanor upon his brow never left.

He held three freshly lit long incense sticks, the pale smoke spiraling, beside him was the previously scolding Mr. Wang, now donning a broad smile with an extremely low bow.

The two reached a clearing at the platform's center, evidently cleared temporarily. There lay an ancient three-legged bronze tripod, with a thin layer of incense ash inside, presumably temple property temporarily moved here.

Emperor Jianji paused before the tripod, looking solemn, holding the incense with both hands, about to insert them into the ash. Yet, at this moment, the mountain wind grew stronger, sweeping across the platform forcefully, causing the three long incense sticks in his hand to slip from his fingers with the sudden gust and fall onto the dusty stone slab before the tripod.

Emperor Jianji's movement halted, his brows slightly knitted, his expression inscrutable. After a moment, he slowly spoke, his tone revealing no joy or anger, causing Mr. Wang beside him to instantly pale:

"It seems… Wang Banban, you spoke incorrectly, this Golden Immortal Temple perhaps doesn't want me to offer blessings."

Mr. Wang immediately broke into a cold sweat, all usual cleverness useless now; an emperor's incense falling is an ominous sign! With a thud, he knelt to the ground, trying in vain to pick up the incense, his hands trembling excessively, while murmuring empty words like "blind as a bat," and "failing to see Taishan," unable to speak anything coherent, and any words only making matters worse.

Emperor Jianji did not look at him, merely staring at the incense, slowly bending down, seemingly intending to pick it up himself.

Just as his fingers were about to touch the incense stalk, another hand, slender and steady, reached out first, gently picking up the three incense sticks.

Emperor Jianji's movement paused, hearing beside him,

"The Immortal brushes over the top, incense falls to the ground, an auspicious omen indeed."

Emperor Jianji looked up.

There stood that young man who had asked for directions, somehow having approached close, slightly bowing, offering the incense with one hand.

Emperor Jianji did not immediately take it but instead asked blandly: "I heard this Golden Immortal Temple has been abandoned for long, where comes the Immortal?"

"I am the Immortal, here to offer longevity."

Emperor Jianji was taken aback, then clapped his hands and laughed, "Sir, you truly are a whimsical person."

Yin Weiyin subtly glanced at Chen Yi, wasn't this just plagiarism, borrowing from their first meeting? To say he's whimsical, but the whimsy originated from himself, he is the unparalleled True Man.

As the saying goes, the True Man should not reveal himself, so let his Golden Boy take the spotlight.

After Emperor Jianji finished laughing, he looked sideways at the still tremblingly kneeling Mr. Wang and said gently: "Alright, rise, the Immortal has come, Mr. Wang kindly withdraw for now."

Mr. Wang, feeling reprieved, hurriedly stood up, without minding the dust on his knees, bowing as he repeatedly answered affirmatively, retreated a few steps, then turned and quickly left.

By the great tripod, only Emperor Jianji and Chen Yi's group remained, and even the mountain wind seemed to sensibly calm down somewhat.

Only then did Emperor Jianji take the three incense sticks from Chen Yi's hand, not in a hurry to offer them, only holding them, looking at Chen Yi's face, with a still calm yet more scrutinizing tone: "Sir, your words earlier were indeed novel. However, your visit to this Golden Immortal Temple, perhaps isn't simply to worship the Buddha, right?"

He paused, stepping slowly along the edge of the platform, gesturing for Chen Yi to follow: "We can talk while we walk."

Chen Yi followed comfortably, half a step behind, Yin Weiyin and Donggong Ruoshu exchanged a glance, tactfully falling a few steps further back, neither leaving too close to cause disturbance.

"I dare not deceive you, sir," Chen Yi began, "I am somewhat versed in the art of geomancy. Earlier, while ascending the mountain, I felt an unusual aura about this mountain, especially this Golden Immortal Temple, though outwardly decrepit, within its earth veins, a purple aura hides, coming from the east and not dispersing."

"Oh? A purple aura from the east?" Emperor Jianji's steps did not stop, his eyes looking at the vast mountain scape ahead, seemingly asking casually, "And what does that mean?"

"Purple aura signifies nobility, possessing the heavenly aura of the Emperor." Chen Yi's tone remained steady, "This temple's old site, yet there lingers the Emperor's aura."

Upon hearing this, a slight curve appeared at the corner of Emperor Jianji's mouth, he'd heard enough of flattery and auspicious omens. Though this person's entrance was novel, alleviating some previous awkwardness, it was ultimately still a form of flattery. Emperor Jianji showed no reaction on his face, only said: "The Emperor's aura? Nowadays, there's an emperor in the west and one in the east. Which emperor's aura do you speak of? Which one... is the true Emperor?"

This question was asked lightly, concealing barbs within the silk.

The person unhesitatingly replied: "In my view, they are both true Emperors."

Emperor Jianji's steps suddenly halted.

At this moment, the two stood beneath a broken eave of a side hall. The building had collapsed on one side, with a fragment of broken flying eave pointing skyward, casting a shadow just enough to cover half of Emperor Jianji's face. His capslightly tilted due to the slight turn of his head, a few strands of hair slipping from beneath, swayed by the mountain breeze, appearing somewhat angular under the dim light, reminiscent of a dragon's horns.

He squinted at Chen Yi, a voice devoid of emotion: "Oh?"

Chen Yi stood in a slightly brighter spot, his expression unchanged, continuing: "Shang Zhou ruled with tyranny, while King Wen received the mandate, indicating that heaven bore two sons."

Emperor Jianji's eyes slightly narrowed.

Chen Yi slowly stated: "At that time, King Shangzhuo was still in Chaoge, the world's sovereign, heaven's mandate bestowed, naturally the true Emperor. Yet King Wen received the mandate, virtuous and harmonious with heaven and earth, winning the hearts of the people, also the true Emperor. During the rotation of the heavenly mandate, occasional dual suns shining brightly, has historical precedence."

These words were initially intended for Qin Qingluo but there hadn't been an opportunity, conveniently used now.

On the other side, Emperor Jianji was silent for a moment, casting a deep glance at Chen Yi.

He did not follow up on Chen Yi's "dual suns" thread, instead steering the topic, his tone returning to its previous calm: "Sir, being knowledgeable in geomancy and articulate, what do you think of this Golden Immortal Temple? I am truly curious, what's unique about this desolate place besides the purple aura you mentioned?"

"There certainly is something else."

"Oh? Where might that be?"

"Before setting off, I had a dream. In the dream, an old man handed me a Jade Scroll, advising me to convey this message to the current Emperor."

"And what was the message?" Emperor Jianji pressed on.

Chen Yi turned to him, speaking clearly word by word:

"Han King Yu Wen Yuan harbors treason, conspiring to usurp and harm the current Emperor."