Chapter 400: Only Recognize Commoners and Bandits, Not Gezao Mountain

Chapter 400: Bound Only by the Law, Blind to the Sacred Mountain

Inside the garrison, a murderous intent surged like a rising tide, crashing toward the threshold, yet the cloud-patterned boot resting upon that wooden sill remained resolutely unmoving.

The crowd from Mount Gezao blockading the entrance wore expressions of sheer disdain, completely disregarding the Embordered Uniform Guards who stood inside with drawn blades. Even Luo Yun, who had been startled by Chen Qisheng into the state of a frightened bird during the previous pursuit, now stood by the door with arms crossed, a sneer plastered across his face.

Luo Tian twitched his long, narrow, blade-like brows, his eyes looking down in cold arrogance at the Guard Centurion who dared speak so insolently to his face.

"You must be Qiu Long, the Centurion of Himeji Castle? You certainly have a bit of nerve. However, what happens today is an internal matter of our own Daoist Order. I advise your Embordered Uniform Guard to stay out of it. Hand over Chen Qisheng now, and you might just spare yourselves a catastrophe!"

Qiu Long’s face was devoid of expression as he spoke: "Are you threatening me?"

"Not a threat, but a piece of advice."

Luo Tian said indifferently: "You are a mere Centurion of the Guard in a sinner’s district, a paltry sixth-rank military official commanding fewer than a hundred men. In the Yamato Sector, you might pass for someone of importance, but before Mount Gezao, you are nothing. This time, Baiyu Jing dispatched us into the Yamato Sector to hunt down the culprit who provoked the Daoist Order. Even your Regimental Commander, Su Ce, only dares to play deaf and dumb. You are but a minor Centurion—who gave you the audacity to obstruct the business of Mount Gezao?"

"What Mount Gezao is, this official does not know, nor do I have any need to know."

A chilling frost carried in Qiu Long’s voice: "This official only knows that within the Yamato Sector, there is no such thing as a Daoist Order! Today, the moment you dare take one step into my Himeji Castle Garrison, you are bandits! And against bandits, the Embordered Uniform Guard has only ever had one rule: exterminate them utterly!"

"A fine claim that there is no Daoist Order in the Yamato Sector; truly, the ignorant know no fear."

Luo Tian narrowed his long, phoenix-like eyes, a beautiful yet cold smile spreading across his flawless countenance. "It seems your mind is set on denying face to Mount Gezao, and you are determined to harbor Chen Qisheng?"

"The Embordered Uniform Guard recognizes only citizens and bandits—it recognizes no Mount Gezao!"

The harsh words forced their way through Qiu Long’s clenched teeth.

In truth, how could Qiu Long, as a Centurion of the Guard, have never heard the name of Mount Gezao?

Not only him, but every single Guard within the Himeji Castle Garrison had heard of that title.

"The Empire's Daoist Order is composed of Four Mountains and One Palace. Beneath the Three Pure Ones, above all living souls."

In the archival chambers of the Embordered Uniform Guard, the opening line regarding intelligence on the Daoist Order was precisely this sentence.

A mere sixteen characters, summarily outlining the layout of the Order's power with absolute clarity.

The Four Mountains and One Palace referred to Mount Longhu, Mount Mao, Mount Gezao, Mount Qingcheng, and the Yongle Palace.

Far back during the former Ming dynasty, these five institutions were already immortal mountains of the Daoist path renowned throughout the Empire, their lineages so profound that they outlasted the very reign of the imperial dynasty.

In modern times, when the Empire oversaw the construction of the Yellow Millet Dreamscape, these five were the factions that contributed the greatest effort within the Daoist Order.

Consequently, they naturally claimed a vast amount of the Yellow Millet authority from the Empire's hands, while simultaneously controlling the vast majority of the seats within the celestial hierarchy of Baiyu Jing.

The tree was colossal, its roots deeply entrenched.

Even the most noble and illustrious positions of Celestial Immortals within Baiyu Jing had, from the very beginning of their establishment, intentionally been restricted to only five futons. These positions were bound by genetic code to the ruling lineages of these five Daoist factions, passed down from father to son.

Having thoroughly seized control of the remaining 'sole' path to immortality after the concept of 'the grand Dao comprises fifty paths, while heaven's derivation claims forty-nine,' the other sects of the Daoist Order whose forward paths were severed could only survive by relying upon them.

Thus, a summarizing line existed within the records of the Guard: "The believers of the Daoist Order are as vast as the ocean, those who receive the talismans exceed a hundred thousand, yet wherever the eye travels, one sees only the Four Mountains and One Palace."

Among these five, Mount Qingcheng was famous for its Yellow Millet Grotto-Heavens, Mount Mao was proficient in the creation of Yellow Scarf Giants, Mount Gezao delved deeply into the art of talismans and incantations, and the Yongle Palace specialized in the forging of magical artifacts.

As for Mount Longhu, where Chen Qisheng belonged, it was hailed as the ancestral court of the Orthodox One Covenant, the most authentic Daoist inheritance in the thousand-year history of the Empire, master of all arts and perfected in every craft.

Yet despite such claims, the reality was that Mount Longhu was currently the weakest faction among the Four Mountains and One Palace.

The reason for its decline did not stem from a problem with Mount Longhu's population base or a failure to produce geniuses suited for the Daoist Order. Rather, it was because their concepts were far more conservative and rigid compared to the other four houses.

In an era where the Daoist Order universally sought to discard the defiled physical vessel, sever the seven emotions and six desires, and focus solely on pursuing the great spiritual Dao, Mount Longhu was the only one that still retained the old-school path of synchronous spiritual and physical development.

Chen Qisheng was one such cultivator.

To the Daoist Order, the spirit and the flesh were akin to the choice between bear's paw and fish.

The old-school cultivators wished to have both, and so their speed of progression through the sequences was inevitably far slower and fraught with many more hardships and obstacles than that of the new-school cultivators who took only the bear's paw.

By discarding their native physiques, the new-school cultivators could effortlessly eradicate the desires of the palate, the desires of the flesh, and the desires of slumber that arose from the physical body.

Thereby, they gained more time to concentrate their energies within the Yellow Millet Grotto-Heavens, cycling through the mortal dust to temper their spirits.

Conversely, old-school cultivators not only had to face the raging torrents of material desire, but spending prolonged periods within the Yellow Millet Dreamscape would also cause their physical bodies to decay.

Between this advance and retreat lay an immense chasm.

Although the actual combat capability of an old-school cultivator was far greater than that of a new-school cultivator of the same rank, no matter how powerful a Rank Eight Devotee might be, he was still no match for a Rank Six Scholar of Mountains and Streams.

For the thing that determined the strength of the Daoist Order was not merely one's own sequence level, but also those Ancestral Artifacts that soared through the vault of heaven day and night without pause!

The Ancestral Artifacts recognized only the authority of the Baiyu Jing celestial hierarchy, and that hierarchy in turn possessed strict rank thresholds.

Such a blindingly obvious restriction was undoubtedly the handiwork of the other four houses.

Hence, within the archives of the Embordered Uniform Guard, there were numerous conjectures suggesting that this very point was the true reason for Mount Longhu's decline.

Information regarding Mount Gezao continuous flashed through Qiu Long’s mind, bringing with it a swell of uncontrollable, stray thoughts.

Yet even so, not a trace of cowardice or hesitation appeared upon his face.

Because when Chen Qisheng entered the Himeji Castle Garrison, he had requested aid under the status of a specially invited guest elder of the Inuyama Castle Embordered Uniform Guard.

On that point alone, it was impossible for Qiu Long to sit by and do nothing!

"Very well."

Looking at the unyielding expression on his opponent's face, Luo Tian could not help but laugh from extreme anger. "Then today, this Daoist Master shall see just what a mere Guard Centurion has to use to exterminate us utterly!"

Crack.

Without any visible movement from Luo Tian, the threshold beneath his foot began to emit a continuous sound of splintering.

Even the minute sound of flying wood splinters seemed exceptionally clear in the currently high-tension environment.

Undoubtedly, this incomparably arrogant cultivator of Mount Gezao intended not only to step into the Himeji Castle Garrison today, but also to trample flat this very threshold—a boundary that, in their war of words, had already been elevated to the dignity of the Embordered Uniform Guard itself!

"You dare?!"

Qiu Long’s brows slanted sharply, his face darkening instantly as his Spring-Weaver blade cleared its scabbard with a sharp clang!

"An ant attempting to stop a chariot, a mayfly trying to shake a tree. In this Great Ming Empire, what is there that my Mount Gezao does not dare to do?"

Luo Tian’s right leg slowly pressed down. Wood splinters flew, and the bluestone ground beneath the threshold cracked inch by inch, sinking lower and lower.

"The reason I wasted so many words with you earlier was merely to give Su Ce some face, so as not to leave your Embordered Uniform Guard completely discredited. Otherwise, even if this is the Yamato Sector, there would be no room for stray dogs like you to bark!"

Qiu Long remained silent, the acupuncture points scattered across his body throbbing as if alive. His expanding physique stretched the clothing on his upper torso taut until it was bulging.

"So it turns out to be a Rank Six of the Agricultural Sequence."

Watching the enraged Qiu Long, the disdainful smile on Luo Tian’s face grew deeper and deeper. "You lot who treat the body as a field to be tilled possess neither the absolute, unyielding courage of the Martial Sequence, nor the resolute patience of the Military Sequence that finds life within death. You fondly imagine that genes can be treated as seeds, dreaming of blossoms and fruit. This sequence of yours is nothing but self-deception!"

"Second Senior Brother speaks the truth. A man is a man; how could he become a field, planting melons to reap melons, or planting beans to reap beans? The eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and the five viscera and six bowels are all predestined by genetics. If one casually adds limbs and hangs extra organs, can that still be called a man? That is clearly a demon!"

With the tall figure of Luo Tian standing in front of him, Luo Yun could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

At this moment, his round face was filled with a savage grin, and the spaces between his fingers were packed with ash-white thunder talismans. They stirred restlessly, waiting only for these arrogant Guards to strike first so that he could level this detestable place to the ground.

"Boss, if we don't tear them apart—"

Heavy Armor’s eyes were bloodshot, fury burning in his chest as his right index finger pressed tightly against the trigger of the Duoyan Guard firearm.

"Strike!"

Qiu Long’s frame bent slightly, like a fully drawn recurve bow, his trouser legs splitting open from the pressure of his bulging muscles.

The bow was drawn, the arrow notched, poised on the edge of release.

Yet just as the dragon-like figure was about to spring forth, a hand reached out from an angle, pressing heavily upon his shoulder.

“Dragon, what are you doing? Can’t you see such a brainless provocation is meant to fool you?”

Chen Qisheng ignored Luo Tian’s ashen face outside the door, sneering: “Don’t let that bastard’s loud mouth fool you; do you think he dares to charge in? Give face to Commander Qian? Bah! Ask the immortal ancestors on Gezao Mountain if they’d dare say that in front of Commander Qian!”

After cursing Luo Tian, Chen Qisheng turned to the dragon: “Don’t act rashly. That kid’s crafty—he said those words just to provoke you into striking first.”

“Don’t mind that threshold crackling and snapping; he wouldn’t dare smash it. If he did, he’d be the one to first provoke the Imperial Guards of the Japanese quarter, making it only right for you to kill him.”

“But if you lead your men out of the Hundred Household Office, this fight turns into a murky account. If his heart’s darker still, he might sacrifice a few of his own brothers, pin the blame on you—how would you then answer to the Thousand Household Office?”

With a few words, Chen Qisheng laid bare Luo Tian’s schemes.

The enraged dragon sensed something amiss—his own emotions had surged far too violently.

At that thought, the dragon shuddered, quickly turning to look at those behind him.

Every Imperial Guard in Himeji Castle was now breathing heavily, even those in heavy armor, all caught in uncontrollable fury.

“Daoist phantom sounds?!”

The dragon was no greenhorn; he realized he might have fallen under some hypnotic trick of Luo Tian’s. Frowning, he raised his hand and tossed out his cicada drone, hovering above the guards’ heads.

*Hum.*

The whir of wings began, and the anger on the guards’ faces slightly subsided.

Then, as if following orders, the cicada drones on each of them crawled out from their collars and perched on their shoulders.

The sound of whirring wings swelled into a thunderous roar.

*Crack.*

On Luo Tian’s robe, adorned with a sky full of stars, an unremarkable star suddenly shattered, falling to the ground.

The dragon stared intently, seeing that the so-called “star” was nothing more than a tiny talisman, barely larger than a grain of rice!

“Chen Qisheng, watch your tongue. Gezao Mountain isn’t like your Dragon Tiger Mountain—heartless and ruthless, abandoning even kin for cultivation, refusing to aid fellow disciples in distress.”

Luo Tian’s tone was icy: “You’re not the only Dragon Tiger celestial master in the Japanese quarter—have any reached out to help you?”

“Don’t drag personal character flaws onto the sect. No one came from Dragon Tiger Mountain because I, old Daoist, have bones hard enough; I need no help.”

Chen Qisheng pointed at Luo Tian, sneering: “Everyone in the Daoist heavens knows your nature, Luo Tian. Who hasn’t heard? If you weren’t scheming to betray your own, why was I chased in the outskirts of Himeji only by that round-faced fatso and a useless weakling?”

Round-faced fatso and useless…

The expression on Luo Tian’s face flickered like a lantern, shifting between resentment and anger, until at last he clenched his teeth, pursed his lips, and buried the glimmer of suspicion deep in his eyes.

Chen Qisheng stepped forward, shielding the dragon.

His flying sword broken, he stood empty-handed, alone facing the Gezao Mountain group.

“You lot are pitiful, sent to serve under Luo Tian, foolishly following him to the Guard office. Do you believe that if he dares to shatter that step, not one of you will leave the Japanese quarter alive?”

“To condemn without proof is easy.”

Luo Tian said coldly: “Chen Qisheng, this Hundred Household Office can’t protect you. If you’re wise, hand over the memory of Nagano Akechi now, or you won’t even have the chance to return to Dragon Tiger Mountain by martial dissolution!”

“If I feared death, I wouldn’t have set foot in the Japanese quarter! I’ll tell you plainly—I’ve scoured Nagano Akechi’s soul, and I know where Hideharu Akechi is!”

Chen Qisheng’s face twisted: “It’s all in my head; no way I’m giving it up. If you’ve got the guts, come take my head and search my soul! If not, get the hell out!”

“I’ll oblige you!”

Luo Tian stomped hard, and with a sharp *crack*, the already shaky threshold shattered completely.

His foot landed on the cracked ground, literally trampling the gate of the Himeji Castle Hundred Household Office.

“Old Ma thought you were someone of note—turns out you’re just a brainless fool. You dared to trample when told to!”

Suddenly, a low, hoarse, aged voice sounded in Luo Tian’s ear.

“Why wouldn’t I dare?”

Luo Tian’s arrogance didn’t wane; he replied proudly out of habit. But then he noticed Chen Qisheng’s lips were pressed tight, watching him with a strange, regretful expression.

It wasn’t him speaking!

Who was it?

While Luo Tian was stunned, footsteps echoed from behind.

At first slow, then like galloping horses, finally like drumbeats, they pounded heavily on the hearts of the Gezao Mountain group.

Someone’s behind!

Luo Tian’s pupils shrank sharply. He barely turned, and already his peripheral vision was filled entirely with a glinting, cold brass knuckle!