Chapter 475: Chapter 112: The Bane of Heaven Chapter 475: Chapter 112: The Bane of Heaven Li Yan weighed the jade piece in his hand, crushed it to powder with a grasp, and turned toward the Great Illusionary Cave.
The Great Illusionary Cave, referred to by the jade, was a rocky cave situated among the local mountains. Its interior was densely packed with stalagmites, and its depths were hidden from sight. The surroundings were desolate, rarely marked by human presence.
Flap, flap~
The frantic bats flapped their wings and fled in all directions, while in the darkness, Li Yan’s eyes glowed like two fiery red lanterns, sweeping across the cave’s various branches.
He had ventured nearly a kiloter into the Great Illusionary Cave, where paths twisted and turned, and visibility did not extend beyond an outstretched hand.
Suddenly, Li Yan turned a corner and ahead of him a yellow halo abruptly shone forth; he quickened his pace and was imdiately greeted by an expanse of space.
The rock walls around him began to sport an unknown glowing mineral; there were added conveniences such as stone beds, stone tables, and stone chairs, along with soft cotton cushions and hemp blankets. Sitting on the stone bed was a man, enveloped in a haze of smoke.
Li Yan had been scowling, but upon seeing this person, his expression slightly eased.
It was naturally Cha Xiaodao.
“Golden Mountain Old Ancestor asked to lead you inside,” he said.
Li Yan asked back, “Who’s inside?”
“Plenty, everyone you saw on Fulong Mountain is basically there.”
Li Cha walked side by side into the cave with him. Li Yan’s gaze flickered for a while, “Heavenly Guest? Or is it Luan’er?”
“It’s Luan’er’s magic. All the corpses on the mountain were fake.”
“She’s got so ability, huh.”
“There must be a flaw; when she cast the spell, I never saw her.”
Li Yan nodded, “It’s good that you’re unhard, otherwise I wouldn’t know how to explain to Liu Jingting.”
Cha Xiaodao was startled, “Liu what thing?” He blinked then said, “Yongchang? He has been by my side all along.”
Only then did Li Yan smile, “I know, I was afraid you were also a creation of Luan’er’s magic.”
Cha Xiaodao rolled his eyes but acknowledged Li Yan’s caution.
At the sa ti, Cha Xiaodao tried to initiate a conversation. This ti, face to face, Earth Endurance finally didn’t strike.
“Let’s save extra talk for later. Golden Mountain wants your banner. I don’t know how much he’s aware of our affairs; he hasn’t tested either. Plus, he can block Earth Endurance’s conversation.”
“Nothing surprising there, I’ve always said it, if Earth Endurance really could do anything, they wouldn’t need us,” Li Yan replied.
As they spoke, Cha Xiaodao had already led Li Yan to the front of the cave where Golden Mountain Old Ancestor was located.
“I’ll handle the rest from here,” Li Yan finally said to Cha Xiaodao before entering.
Golden Mountain put down his scroll and lifted his head when he heard soone approaching, looking toward Li Yan.
Li Yan casually glanced at the book on the table, only catching one sentence: “When Confucius passed away, subtle discourses ceased; when his seventy disciples were gone, the great doctrines diverged, leading to the rise of various contending schools and rendering them beyond exhaustive study. ncius employed his bold rhetoric but couldn’t extinguish the disputes; Zhuang Zhou preached harmony with the music of nature yet couldn’t bring them into unison. Later generations are unfortunate, as they don’t witness the consummate ways of the ancients, hence descend into a cluttered ss up to this day, alas!”
Seeing Li Yan’s gaze, Golden Mountain thought he was interested in the contents of the book and offered an explanation:
“This was written when I was young, after reading Mr. Yangming’s Experiences and Instructions, and it circulated throughout the governnt offices at that ti. Looking at it now, it venerates Confucius and suppresses other schools of thought, especially ng Zhuang. It is nothing but the old tune of scholarly lackeys currying favor with the emperor. Instead, it has lost my true self.”
Li Yan casually complinted, “I have long heard of your deeds. If not for Emperor Shizong’s decree, with your talent and learning, you might have beco a senior official in one of the Six Ministries, or even entered the cabinet.”
Upon a closer look at Golden Mountain Old Ancestor, Li Yan realized that at first glance, he appeared to be in his early forties, a stably mature age. Yet, the longer Li Yan looked, the older and more venerable the Old Ancestor seed, as if he were seventy or eighty, in the pri of his life. But after even longer, those bright and sharp eyes of his looked no older than soone in their twenties, full of vigor and vitality.
Golden Mountain Old Ancestor waved a hand, “Please, have a seat.”
Li Yan sat cross-legged in front of Golden Mountain Old Ancestor, “Old Ancestor, please speak, and I, Li, will listen respectfully.”
Golden Mountain nodded, “During the day on Fulong Mountain, I’ve seen your elegance from afar, and now, at a closer distance, your imposing deanor is even more apparent.”
Li Yan felt it was rely courtesy, yet Golden Mountain Old Ancestor’s gaze was exceptionally bright, sweeping around Li Yan several tis. It was as if an ordinary person had seen so rare animal until he noticed a tinge of irritation in Li Yan’s eyes, at which he retracted his gaze a bit and showed an apologetic smile.
“Governor Li, Li Wuqu, I want to ask you first, where is Yang Sanjing at this ti?”
“Mr. Yang has already passed away.”
Li Yan replied without hesitation.
“Oh.”
The fact that Yang Sanjing was recomnded by Cha Xiaodao to seek out Li Yan was sothing Ao Ang had witnessed with his own eyes. It wasn’t a surprise to Golden Mountain Old Ancestor.
Golden Mountain Old Ancestor, who had a clever mind, could tell sothing was off just from Li Yan’s reference to Yang Sanjing. He sighed, “Mr. Yang’s swordsmanship was unparalleled in history. I was passionate in my youth and found several disciples for him, all to no avail. But since it’s Governor Li…”
“Old Ancestor, whatever your business is with , please be straightforward.”
Li Yan bluntly interrupted Golden Mountain Old Ancestor’s reminiscence.
“…All right then!”
Golden Mountain Old Ancestor looked up, “I’d like to ask Li Wuqu to join in executing Zhang Yichu.”
Li Yan’s heart was a tumult, but he laughed heartily, “This is too absurd. Why should I kill Zhang Yichu? I receive the emperor’s stipend and bear his worries! Zhang Yichu is the current Heavenly Master, if I killed him, wouldn’t I be seen as greedy and disloyal, a treacherous cur? Moreover… heh, not everyone can be as open-minded as the Old Ancestor, who casts aside the good reputation of loyalty and patriotism for the epithet ‘great demon among n,’ and takes pleasure in it.”
Golden Mountain Old Ancestor’s eyes flickered, “Although scholars may be frail, they govern the realm with the emperor. As long as their virtue is intact and they maintain their integrity, even after retiring or being dismissed, they can still take pleasure in the Dragon Tiger National Instrunt. Heavenly Master Tao may seem to enjoy limitless favor, but glory and disgrace all hang on the emperor alone. When his sacred decree cos, there is no room for resistance. Even Zhang Yichu is but a dosticated creature.”
After a pause, Golden Mountain continued leisurely, “As for being loyal and patriotic… heh, it is commonly said that Governor Li is the reincarnation of the God of the Martial Arts Star. Such dogma might confine ordinary mortals, but can it really confine… a heavenly being?”
In his last statent, his gaze toward Li Yan abruptly turned cold.
Li Yan t his gaze unflinchingly, “I don’t understand what the Old Ancestor is implying.”
Golden Mountain Old Ancestor stood up, leaning on the desk with both hands, “What I an is, you are, no, you are all…”
He raised his sleeve, pointing at Li Yan, “Moths to the divine.”
Those words broke the silent shock.
Li Yan took a deep breath. With Golden Mountain Old Ancestor tearing through this facade, it confird so of his suspicions.
He rembered that day, Qin Chenghuang wept bitterly in front of him, “People urge respect for the heavens, yet the heavens have no regard for people!”
So, that’s why Qin Chenghuang said those things to …
He had long known about Yan Fu walking the earth and stealing the Dragon Tiger Qi!
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