Chapter 396: Violet Moon Heavenly Palace
The Eight Sect Coalition’s situation was resolved successfully.
In the main courtyard of the garrison, the subsidiary sect held a welcoming banquet for Xu Qing and everyone else. The Captain looked immeasurably pleased with himself. He went around exchanging toasts with everyone, and already seemed to be friends with all the swordsages. [1]
Just about all of them had heard that, among the group of newcomers from Emperor-Receiving Prefecture, there was one who had provoked a mere one-meter light. Based on the Captain’s performance today, they could already guess the identity of that individual. But they were all worldly-wise individuals. Given the spirit stones involved, and Chen Tinghao’s enthusiastic introduction, no one embarrassingly called the Captain out. In fact, they were getting along great.
Arch-Immortal Plumdark didn’t participate in the banquet. But she did have some medicinal pills sent to Xu Qing. They were pills that personally belonged to her, which made them particularly valuable.
Xu Qing accepted the pills. He wasn’t sure what to say in response, but felt very moved. Not having a way with words, he simply sent her a voice message saying thanks.
“Since when did you start worrying so much about etiquette, child?” she replied, sounding as seductive as always. “I’m in Suite A-1. If you have any cultivation issues, you can just sneak over here and I’ll help you.”
Her closing remark caused Xu Qing’s heart to start racing. Putting the jade slip away, he took a moment to calm himself.
Though the injuries he had inflicted on himself with his shadow were serious, they healed quickly. After all, he had inflicted them with care. What was more, he had been in many deadly situations before, and compared to some of the wounds he had sustained in the past, these could be considered minor.
It was only natural that he would attend the banquet. As he watched the Captain going around toasting everyone, he turned to Chen Tinghao and asked about Yao Yunhui. Chen Tinghao was happy to provide a detailed explanation.
“In the past, human nobility would inherit their titles. But when the current emperor ascended the throne, inherited titles were done away with. That’s why the clan lord of Yao Mansion isn’t an actual heavenly marquis.
“But because his ancestor did so much for humankind, both the governor and the palace lords still refer to the clan lord as the Noble Marquis. The Noble Marquis had three children, two sons and a daughter. Yao Yunhui is the Noble Marquis’s daughter.
“She used to be a very influential figure here in the capital. Years ago, she married someone from the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society in your Emperor-Receiving Prefecture, which caused a big stir. As far as Yao Mansion was concerned, they were too far apart in status. Later, her daoist partner died, so she left her son in the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society and came back here to Yao Mansion.
“She has a huge network of connections in the capital, an extraordinary background, and incredible good looks. Furthermore, I heard that she’s close with Honor Guard Sima from the Swordsage Palace, who originated in the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society. And beyond all that, she’s now the director of Division 3 in the Justice Palace.
“That said, the Swordsage Palace doesn’t fear the Justice Palace. Also, Honor Guard Sima isn’t the kind of person who practices favoritism and engages in cronyism. So you don’t need to worry. Furthermore... nobody really likes Yao Mansion.”
Chen Tinghao was about to raise his cup to toast Xu Qing when Sun Liying cast him a meaningful glance. He suddenly looked embarrassed, as if he wanted to drink, yet didn’t dare to. Clearing his throat, he continued, “The Swordsage Palace and Yao Mansion don’t see eye to eye.
“The Swordsage Palace has always advocated for a stronger stance against the two nonhuman species in our county, plus the Holytide species as well. We’d fight them if we had to. The palace lord has suggested multiple times that we purge the county and crush the Saintfiends and Demi-Immortals.
“The Yao Clan is staunchly opposed to that. They think that using lethal force will just cause more problems, and advocate for a closer relationship with the nonhumans. So in the county as a whole, it’s the Yao Clan who have the most dealings with the Saintfiends and Demi-Immortals. In fact, they even intermarry. They also cozy up with the Holytides, like flunkies.” Chen Tinghao looked visibly disdainful. “If the old heavenly marquis knew what they were up to, he’d probably crawl out of his coffin and slap those spineless descendants of his to death.”
At this point, Chen Tinghao couldn’t hold back from raising his alcohol flagon and taking a big drink. Sun Liying helplessly shook her head, yet the warmth remained in her eyes.[2]
The banquet didn’t last for very long. By the time the moon hung high in the sky, it was over. Xu Qing and the Captain escorted the guests out of the subsidiary sect, then returned to the main courtyard. Bright moonlight lit the path in front of them, and a faint breeze blew, stirring their hair and spreading the aroma of alcohol in all directions.
“We’re finally in the county capital, little Ah Qing!” The Captain was obviously in a very good mood. Producing an apple, he took a big bite.
Xu Qing looked up into the sky at the statue of Ancient Emperor Dark Serenity. He nodded.
“Remember what I said to you back in the day?” the Captain continued. “Let’s travel the world together! The county capital isn’t our final destination. No, it’s our starting point. Next, we need to solidify our place in the Swordsage Palace. And then, little Junior Brother, after I’ve familiarized myself with this place, I’ll take you with me to accomplish some really big things! [3]
“We’re really going to shake things up in Sea-Sealing County. Because of us, maybe they’ll have to change the county’s name. It’ll be the Crazytide County!” As the Captain uncharacteristically talked about such lofty aspirations, he wolfed down the rest of the apple in a single bite and then took out a tangerine.
Xu Qing suddenly went on guard as he looked at the Captain, who was acting a bit different compared to normal.
“We’re going to make sure everyone knows that the two of us can shine brighter than 30,000 meters! We’re going to make sure everyone understands that the two of us are bros, through and through. In fact, we’re the type of steadfast bros who would give our lives for each other!” As the Captain said these things, he surreptitiously glanced at Xu Qing.
Without batting an eyelid, Xu Qing nodded.
“And that is why the moment we report for duty in half a month is so important. It relates to our post! Different posts come with different military credits, and of course, different responsibilities. If we’re going to change the Holytide Region one day, and if we’re going to make sure humankind rises to prominence, then we have to hit the ground running.”
The more the Captain talked, the more hyperbolic it got. He was making it sound like their post assignment would affect the fate of all humanity.
“Then what?” Xu Qing asked calmly.
“Then what? Well, then there are a lot of things to do, little Junior Brother. Of course, it’s going to take money. What’s more, if we want to accomplish something really big, then we need to buy intelligence reports. That also costs money. Therefore... whenever the old shrew finally doles out the compensation, ahem, we should definitely split it 50/50.”
“That’s what this is about?” Xu Qing said, surprised. He had assumed it was something more important. “No problem.”
When the Captain saw Xu Qing agree so quickly, almost as if it was the smallest of concerns, his guard went up. For some reason, it now seemed that Xu Qing was a bit higher than him on the social ladder, which was worrisome.
He waved his hand. “Little Junior Brother, how about I give you a 10% discount on the 8,000,000 spirit stones you owe me?”
Ignoring him, Xu Qing walked to his residence.
The Captain laughed happily as he bid farewell and went to his own residence. It was a unique location that he had picked with careful consideration. Thanks to the decorative rocks, a tree cover, it was a place that the sunlight didn’t reach very often. The Captain felt that only a location that the sun couldn’t peer at was fitting of his status as a swordsage.
Xu Qing didn’t care about that sort of thing. After entering his residence, he went through his normal routine of scattering poison and setting up defenses. Then he sat down cross-legged and mentally reviewed everything that had happened over the past few days.
Next he took out his bamboo slip and carved Yao Yunhui’s name right next to Zhang Siyun’s name. Then he spent some time trying to think of some ways to quietly get rid of them.
I can’t forget about Girl in Red and Ning Yan, he thought, studying the bamboo slip. I have too many names on here that aren’t crossed out.
That thought left him feeling unsettled. Looking out into the night, he mulled the matter over.
I need to improve my cultivation base right away. Then I can start getting rid of them, one by one.
Closing his eyes, he started working on his cultivation.
Time passed. Four days later, the Justice Palace sent the spirit stones, medicinal pills, three magical treasures, as well as some spell formations and magical devices. With that, the matter was officially concluded.
Xu Qing wasn’t stingy. He split everything with the Captain as well as the disciples who had come to get him at the Justice Palace. He also sent some to Master Fifth and Arch-Immortal Plumdark.
The rest he kept. The only thing he didn’t split with others were the heavenly palace pills. They were extraordinary pills; if he consumed all three, he should be able to complete his fourth heavenly palace.
Upon consuming them, rumbling sounds filled him. Then, brilliant light erupted from the fourth heavenly palace in his sea of consciousness.
Should I go with the bluegreen dragon... or the violet moon? After some thought, his eyes shone with determination. I think I’ll push the bluegreen dragon back in line again.
Having made up his mind, he focused completely on the violet moon in his sea of consciousness. Slowly but surely, he pulled it into place in the heavenly palace. When that happened, he suddenly felt immeasurably close to the violet moon, in a way he hadn’t before. Previously, he had only had a limited bit of control over it. After all, it was simply too mighty, making it as easy for him to control as it was for a child to push a massive war chariot. But now that it was fused with his fourth heavenly palace, that control came much easier. He didn’t attempt to do so immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes to gather strength.
Ten days later, when his fourth heavenly palace was completely stable, he opened his eyes. The moment he did, violet light erupted from them, creating a violet sea around him. His fourth heavenly palace now glittered with dazzling violet light. The violet moon therein flickered constantly. Xu Qing got the feeling that if he fully unleashed its power, then he would instantly erupt with the aura of a god.
In other words... mutagen!
Of course, that mutagen would instantly start invading other cultivators.
If you added in the bolstering effect of his taboo poison core, then it would make him an even more powerful source of mutagen. And its ability to invade other living things would be even more astonishing.
Right now, do I cultivate the dao, or do I cultivate godliness…? After studying his third and fourth heavenly palaces, he glanced at his life essence bluegreen dragon.
With my imperial-class technique, I currently have five-palace battle prowess. With Shadow Fusion Secret Magic, I can unleash the pure six-palace fleshly body power! If you add in the taboo poison core and the violet moon, then I can stand toe-to-toe with seven-palace power, and might even come out on top!
Right now, his battle prowess was equivalent to what was normally considered the absolute peak of Gold Core.
It doesn’t matter what you cultivate. Battle prowess is the most important thing to consider!
After calculating the date, he realized that it was the night before he needed to report for duty with the swordsages.
I wonder what post I’ll be assigned to.
Then he thought about Mount Daybreak, and what Chen Tinghao had said about how it required military credits to visit.
“Military credits!” he murmured, his eyes shining brightly. Then he settled down to wait.
The night passed quickly.
At dawn, as the sun was just climbing over the horizon, he stood and changed into his white swordsage uniform, complete with the cape. Standing in front of the door of his residence, he took a deep breath. Then he pushed the door open. The light from outside shone down, surrounding him, filtering through his hair, making it seem like he was fused with the light. From a distance, he looked like a living flame as he stood there.
Quite a few passing disciples looked over at him.
Arch-Immortal Plumdark could see him from the balcony of her second-floor residence, and was looking at him closely.
In another corner of the subsidiary sect’s main courtyard, not far from Xu Qing, in a spot that was blocked from the sun by decorative rocks and trees, the Captain opened the door of his residence. As he stretched lazily, he was about to step out into the open when he spotted Xu Qing.
“I didn’t realize you could do that!” He looked at his own residence, then at Xu Qing, and suddenly realized that he hadn’t picked a spot befitting a swordsage.
1. The practice of ‘exchanging toasts’ with people at a banquet or meal is a very important part of Chinese culture. Normally speaking, if you offer a toast to someone, they should offer a toast in return. Usually the toast will involve some kind words along the lines of “I wish you health and prosperity.” ☜
2. The interaction between Chen Tinghao and Sun Liying regarding alcohol seems to imply that she she’s forbidden him from drinking, or at least, that she discourages it. Although heavy drinking, drunkenness, and alcoholism aren’t heavily stigmatized in mainland Chinese culture, it doesn’t mean that all wives are happy with their husbands drinking a lot. In Madam Deathblade’s extended family, there are some of the men who have the reputation of being extremely heavy drinkers to the point where it disrupts their lives, and in their case, they have a bad reputation in the family. What’s more, there was one fateful event in which I drank too much and Madam Deathblade subsequently forbade me from drinking when we went back to her hometown during the Spring Festival time (Chinese New Year). Drinking and toasting is especially important during that time, so the situation was similar to what’s happening with Sun Liying and Chen Tinghao. Madam Deathblade was constantly glaring at me and reminding me I wasn’t allowed to drink. ☜
3. The Captain talked about ‘traveling the world together’ in chapter 338. ☜