Chapter 5, the Internal Affairs Hall of the Floating Jade Divine Mountain
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Liu Gudong was immediately overjoyed and hurriedly replied, "Could Miss Yun kindly introduce me? Regardless of the outcome, I will have a token of gratitude to offer..."
Liu Gu's eyes brightened, not because he was captivated by the woman's beauty. Within the Floating Jade Sect, there were countless figures resembling celestial beings. In the mundane world, this woman could indeed be considered stunningly beautiful, but within the Floating Jade Sect, she was merely of above-average talent.
He summoned both Xiang Yang and Xiang Xian to his side, informed them about the matter of the grand ceremony, and then repeatedly urged them to stay close to him at all times
Liu Gu took a deep breath, managing to suppress his anger with great difficulty. He moved to the stern of the boat and embraced Xiang Yang and Xiang Xian in his arms
Compared to the towering Floating Jade Mountain, this hill does not even reach its waist, yet it still stands over 2,000 zhang in height. At the summit, there are several vermilion palaces, and in front of the palaces lies a vast circular platform
Upon arriving at the destination, Tong Yu completely ignored them. After stowing away the cloud boat, he left on his own. However, soon another young person approached, dressed in a white robe similar to Tong Yu's, but instead of a gold trim, it had silver threads, and she was a beautiful woman.
The realm of cultivation differs from the mundane world; the common currency is not gold, silver, or jewels, but rather talismanic money.
At noon, a single flat boat glided through the sky and landed on the open ground at the valley's entrance. A young man, dressed in a white robe with golden edges, stepped down from the boat with an expressionless face
Liu Gunei, being the leader, is naturally the most tactful among these elders. Although he feels displeased in his heart, his face is still filled with smiles. He bows and repeatedly thanks the steward, saying, "Thank you very much, steward... I shall take my leave now..." He then takes the child beside him and boards the leaf boat.
This cloud boat is indeed marvelous, as the journey that would take over a month on foot has been completed in just the time it takes to burn a few sticks of incense
These are the two children... Liu Gu led Xiang Yang and Xiang Xian to the front, accompanying them with a smile and saying: "I am the master of the Golden Body Hall, and this time I will accompany them. However, it is currently noon; shall we have lunch here before setting off? Our Golden Body Hall's Eight Treasures..."
Yunqin noticed that he did not seem to take offense, and she let out a sigh of relief. The branches she was responsible for receiving were not particularly lucrative, but after receiving a pleasant surprise from Liu Gu, she began to hold Jinshentang in higher regard, hoping to gain some additional benefits in the coming days. She then spoke candidly, saying: "Uncle Liu, if you have any matters to discuss, please feel free to speak."
Xiang Yang and the others landed on this platform, where there were many flying treasures of various appearances taking off and landing nearby, but the most numerous were still the cloud boats
However, along this journey, the melodious chirping of birds, the gentle babbling of streams, and the continuous beauty of the scenery, combined with the presence of a charming beauty with a radiant smile, made even the most delicate Xiang Xian show no signs of fatigue, as he joyfully held onto Yunqin's small hand and walked with great enthusiasm
They heard that they could go to the headquarters of the sect, and both were inexplicably excited. Speaking of which, even Xiang Yang felt a bit disappointed with the scene at the Golden Body Hall, let alone the more ambitious Xiang Xian. Now that they could truly visit a celestial gate and see the world, how could they not be delighted
Upon arriving here, the previously boisterous Tongyu, who had been striking poses all the way, became subdued, sitting back in the center of the cloud boat, maneuvering it down towards a hill beside Floating Jade Mountain
The Floating Jade Sect occupies a vast area. If one were to walk, it would take at least a month to travel from the Golden Body Hall to the sect's headquarters located on Floating Jade Mountain. Most branches practice various forms of immortal techniques, naturally possessing means to ascend and descend. However, for places like the Golden Body Hall, they can only rely on the Internal Affairs Hall to send someone to pick them up.
It seemed that she felt his gaze, and Tong Yu reined in her smile. She turned her head and shot him a cold glance, disdainfully saying: "It is truly embarrassing for the Floating Jade Sect to have branches like yours, unable to even sit steadily on a cloud boat. Hold on tight, and don't turn back to drag me down!"
The vitality stone is even more high-end; it is a wondrous object formed by heaven and earth, containing abundant vitality. A low-grade vitality stone from her sleeve can be exchanged for ten large coins. It is worth noting that Yunqin's annual salary in the Internal Affairs Office is only a few large coins. Now, she has unexpectedly come into a windfall, how could she not be delighted
This time, it is said that the harvest was quite abundant, with the number of newly accepted disciples increasing by fifty percent compared to before. Therefore, we can only ask Master Liu to temporarily stay here... I will talk to the senior brother in charge of accommodation, and if there is an available space, I will arrange for your replacement. How does that sound?
Just when I was worried about not being able to connect with the Internal Affairs Hall, I encountered this female disciple. Listening to the enthusiasm in her words, she should be easier to deal with. Although she appears to be merely at the Qi Gathering stage and seems to play a minor role in the Internal Affairs Hall, women tend to navigate the sect more easily than men. Being able to enter the Internal Affairs Hall likely indicates some background. If I can get to know a few influential figures in the Internal Affairs Hall through her, there is still hope for an early evaluation and registration.
However, upon arriving at the destination, Liu Gu still slightly furrowed his brows. This was already at the very bottom of the peak where the Ministry of Internal Affairs was located, and it was far from a welcoming place; it was merely a small room next to the dining hall of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Inside the room, there were scattered firewood pieces, and it seemed that it had previously been just a firewood storage. Even though the Golden Body Hall had now fallen into decline, it was still a respectable branch of a sect, and as a hall master, he held a certain status. Such an arrangement felt somewhat excessive.
Tong Yuhuan originally intended to express his anger upon seeing Fu Gu, but upon hearing Liu Gu elevate a trivial matter to the level of a steward, his irritation diminished somewhat. With a cold snort, he returned to the boat and said to Liu Gu and the others: "This is the latest cloud boat from the Internal Affairs Hall, so you must be careful. If you fall off, I won't bother to care about your lives..."
Before his words had finished, he fiddled with a formation platform in the center of the cloud boat, causing the cloud boat to rise from the ground and shoot straight towards the distance. In a short while, the canyon where the Golden Body Hall was located became a thin line.
Just as I was about to reach out and touch it, the cloud boat had already taken off, darting forward. The two of us rolled from the bow to the stern of the boat like tumbling gourds. Fortunately, the railing there was relatively high, allowing us to hold on and stabilize our bodies, gazing in shock at the verdant hills rushing past below.
Flying treasures, clearly more exquisite than the cloud boats they were seated in, traversed through the mist, while occasionally, enormous celestial birds would take flight, flapping their wings and leisurely soaring away, making it impossible to discern whether there were any figures atop them.
A group of elderly individuals had long been waiting there with two children. Upon his arrival, Fu Gu stepped forward with a smile and clasped his hands, saying: "Which esteemed nephew from the Ministry of Internal Affairs is this? You have truly worked hard..."
Before he could finish speaking, Tong Yu had already rolled his eyes and waved his hand: "Then let's leave, no need to delay... What lunch is there to have? What good things can you possibly have in this shabby place..."
Upon hearing the words "generous gift," Yunqin could not help but feel a stir in her heart. However, Liu Gu's request, while seemingly simple, was difficult to fulfill. The grand ceremony for the establishment of the Floating Jade Sect was a significant event for the sect, and everything was governed by rules. The evaluation and registration, being one of the most important aspects of the grand ceremony, was no exception.
Yunqin was taken aback, her delicate hand gently pinching the fabric of her sleeve, and she immediately felt a surge of joy. She was responsible for welcoming guests in the Inner Affairs Hall, but due to her low cultivation level and the average strength of her background, she was not very well regarded. As a result, she was assigned the least lucrative task. However, she did not expect that this seemingly unremarkable old man would be so generous, presenting her with a vitality stone upon their first meeting
On the second day, Liu Gu ignited a communication talisman, which served as a means to notify the sect about attending the grand ceremony for the establishment of the sect
Yunqin's smile became even more radiant, and this time it carried a hint of sincerity. She first bowed to Liu Guxian and then said: "Uncle Master Liu, the accommodation within the sect has already been arranged, but..." She smiled awkwardly and added: "Those fellows look down on others, so please do not take offense, Uncle Master Liu..."
"No, no, you just take us there! We are sorry to trouble you, Miss Yunqin..." Liu Gu awkwardly shook his head, as he naturally understood the woman's meaning. The Golden Body Hall held a low status within the sect, and every time they came for the assessment and registration, they were always assigned to the worst locations.
A person stood at the bow of the boat, with a strong wind blowing, his white robe fluttering, and a flying sword slung diagonally across his back. He raised his head towards the sky, exuding an air of a celestial being. At the stern of the boat, Xiang Yang gritted his teeth, glaring at his back, while Xiang Xian secretly peeked out from Liu Gu's embrace, his eyes filled with admiration.
Yunqin lowered her head and thought: "According to reason, it should have started tomorrow, but this time the Fire God Hall is said to have found a prodigious genius. It is rumored that many of the ancestors within the sect want to meet him first, so it has been postponed by one day"
The snow-white sacred mountain is adorned with patches of lush greenery, and buildings with intricately carved railings and jade-like structures are hidden within that greenery, surrounded by swirling clouds and mist, appearing faintly and indistinctly
Having organized his thoughts, he said again: "Miss Yun, to speak frankly, these two are one my disciple and the other my junior fellow apprentice, both disciples of the three esteemed masters of the Golden Body Hall. Our Grand Elder is advanced in age and in poor health, and before coming out, he repeatedly urged me to take the children back early."
Fu Gu's expression was the most unpleasant. In terms of seniority, this kind of person was at least of the same generation as his grandchildren. Yet now, he was being slapped in the face and had to force a smile. He was the type of person with a straightforward and fiery temperament, so he simply waved his sleeve and returned to his room
However, as you know, the sect is currently thriving with a large number of disciples, with over ten thousand entering the sect each time it opens. The process of evaluation and registration takes a considerable amount of time. Our Golden Body Hall is in such a situation that we are always placed at the end of the line, often having to wait for a month or so... If Miss Yun could find a way to help us expedite this process and allow us to be evaluated sooner, I would be immensely grateful and would certainly offer generous rewards in the future.
As the towering, snow-white divine mountain drew closer, Xiang Yang felt a surge of excitement in his heart. Even Xiang Xian shifted his gaze away from Tong Yu and directed it towards the divine mountain that should not exist in the mortal realm.
The young man disdainfully glanced around and said with his head held high: "Who is your esteemed nephew? I am from the Qingmu Hall, currently serving in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Enough with the nonsense, who is going to the grand ceremony? Let us set off quickly..."
Seeing Liu Gu's expression, Yunqin immediately understood what he was thinking and quickly explained from the side
The woman smiled, said no more, and took the initiative to walk behind Liu Gu, holding Xiang Yang and Xiang Xian by the hand, before turning around and leading them down the mountain.
There are two types of currency: large coins and small coins. One large coin can be exchanged for one hundred small coins. Small coins can be produced by ordinary practitioners at the Qi Refinement stage, but it is extremely laborious, and it may take a month to produce just one. In contrast, large coins can only be crafted by experts at the Spirit Separation stage.
Talisman coins are created by infusing the vital energy of cultivators into talisman paper through a specific formation for storage, which can then be absorbed when needed, providing a means to replenish vital energy. However, the production of talisman coins is not easy; during the infusion process, only a fraction of the vital energy can be retained, and cultivators generally place great importance on their own vital energy, making it unlikely for them to willingly use it to create talisman coins. Over time, this has led to talisman coins becoming a form of currency used for trade among cultivators
Generally speaking, the Five Deities Hall comes first, followed by several major branches that are comparable in strength, and then others are arranged according to their power. Although there are no explicit regulations, this has been a customary practice for thousands of years. Liu Gu's proposal to jump the queue is not impossible, but it is certainly unfeasible given Yunqin's status.
Liu Gu lian responded with gratitude, flicking his fingers, and another vitality stone fell into her sleeve
She was much more enthusiastic than Tong Yu, greeting from a distance: "Is this Master Liu from the Golden Body Hall? I am Yunqin from the Internal Affairs Hall... Oh, are these two the new disciples recruited by Master Liu? They truly are outstanding talents, and they will surely shine during the evaluation!"
At the summit of the sacred mountain stands a grand palace made of jade, with clouds and mist swirling on either side. A thick column of smoke rises from an unknown source, piercing the heavens and disappearing into the depths of the clouds.
Yunqin nodded: "That senior brother has just broken through to the Transformation Stage, and he happens to be in the sect these days. Tomorrow, come with me, and I will introduce you to him..."
Although the peak where the Inner Affairs Hall is located is not as towering as the main peak of Floating Jade, it still reaches about 2,000 zhang. The path is winding and convoluted, and the four individuals who emerged from the Golden Body Hall were not skilled in any celestial techniques. It took them two hours to reach the foot of the mountain.
Liu Gu pondered over his wording and first asked, "When will the evaluation and registration for this opening ceremony begin?"
With this thought in mind, Liu Gu took a few steps forward to greet the woman, his horse-like face beaming with a brilliant smile. As he approached, he flicked his finger slightly, and a crystal-clear vitality stone had already fallen into the woman's sleeve.
Is he a prodigy? Liu Gu glanced at Xiang Yang, feeling a bitter smile in his heart. If we were to truly speak of cultivation speed, this 'junior brother' of mine is the real prodigy. Unfortunately, that immortal seed is truly...
This low-grade cloud boat does not have a vitality shield; if it falls, it will truly fall. From such a great height, it is likely to turn into a pulp.
Tong Yu smiled at the two of them, as he was deliberately trying to make them look foolish. After all, who asked that old man in front to be so disrespectful
He was thinking of the instructions given by Fu Gu when he came here. Initially, he thought it would be beneficial to establish some connection with that official, hoping to find a way in. However, he did not expect that the other party wouldn't even spare him a glance. It would be unreasonable to present a warm face to someone who offers a cold shoulder.
She ultimately shook her head: "Master Liu, I am truly sorry, but this matter is beyond my capabilities..." In the face of Liu Gu's disappointed gaze, she lowered her head and pondered for a moment: "However, I do know a senior brother who holds a considerable position in our internal affairs hall. If he were to intervene, it should be feasible, but he is not very easy to communicate with, I fear..."
Liu Gu had attended the opening ceremony several times before and had encountered such a situation. As soon as he boarded the boat, he tightly grasped the railing beside him, intending to reach out and hold onto the two children. Unexpectedly, Tong Yu suddenly lifted the cloud boat and charged forward with such force that he could only watch helplessly as the two rolled to the back of the boat. Seeing that they had not actually fallen off, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, but the look in his eyes towards Tong Yu was already faintly ignited with anger.
Liu Gu sighed and cupped his hands towards Yun Qin, saying: "It is no trouble, there is no need to trouble Miss Yun. This place is quite good as well. However, I have a matter to inquire about, if it is convenient for Miss Yun"
Although he was merely muttering in the last two sentences, his voice was not small, causing the elderly people around him to have slightly solemn expressions, yet they did not dare to speak up. Otherwise, if he were to leave in a fit of anger, how would they proceed with the grand ceremony?
Only when one approaches closely can one truly feel the majestic demeanor of this sacred mountain, towering several thousand zhang high, its vastness immeasurable, with a cloud boat several zhang long appearing no more significant than a mere mosquito in its presence
Xiang Yang and Xiang Xian looked curiously at this cloud boat, a treasure of the immortals that they had never seen before. It was approximately 30 feet long, with both ends raised, and had low railings on the sides. It appeared to be carved from a single piece of wood, and aside from lacking a sail, it resembled a fishing boat from the river. How could it possibly fly in the air?