Volume One: Youths Meet in Humble Times Chapter Seventy-Five: When Will the Gates of Heaven Open (Part 3)

Since arriving, Zhou Yu had kept mostly to himself, listening to their conversation quietly. His talent was not extraordinary; after many years of cultivation, he had only entered the Dao a decade prior. His main purpose here was not the opening of Heaven’s Gate. The event itself was not of utmost importance to his imperial clan.

Each of the five continents possessed its own tradition of the Way. The Unified Realm transmitted the Way through books and rites, establishing Dao through virtue and discourse; the Azure Realm preserved the Dao through classic scriptures, founding Dao through ascension in broad daylight; the Silent Lotus Realm passed the Buddhist canon, setting Dao through the salvation of mortals; the Wildlands Realm inherited the Way through bloodlines, forging Dao through ancestral return; and finally, the Imperial Realm, where Zhou Yu’s royal sovereignty resided, sustained its legacy solely through imperial power, without relying on any particular Dao.

The other four continents each followed a single tradition of the Way, while the Imperial Realm blossomed with myriad sects and schools, a dazzling constellation of cultivators. Ascension was the most coveted pursuit for those who practiced the immortal arts, but for Zhou Yu and his kin, they were even eager for the cultivators to ascend quickly—since once they left, they could no longer wield influence in the mortal world.

To a sect, an ascended cultivator was a mark of prestige, yet if they never returned, their significance dwindled to little more than a mascot or a symbol. In the Imperial Realm, this carried little weight. Zhou Yu and his family could cultivate, but their truest desire was for their bloodline to rule the mortal world eternally.

Ascension, then, was a matter judged differently by each person; as the saying goes, only the one who drinks knows if the water is cold or warm.

Within the Imperial Realm, Zhou Yu believed only two forces posed a threat to the imperial power: the Palace of Supreme Sovereignty and the Confucian school. Seeing that everyone was fixated on their wariness of the Daoist, forgetting the presence of Confucians among them, Zhou Yu reminded them, “Have you all forgotten about the Confucians?”

His words dropped into the room like a stone into a lake, stirring ripples. Someone immediately spoke up, “Yes, how could we forget the Confucians? They’ve been developing in Heaven’s Gate Town for years now.”

The five great clans only knew there was an academy in Heaven’s Gate Town, and that two scholars resided there, but they had no idea of their true power. The only sources of information were their own younger members, yet if the Confucians merely taught, there was no way to gauge their strength.

Zhang Helun assumed the task would fall to him again, but unexpectedly, Dean Cao of the People’s Courtyard stepped forward, saying, “If you trust me, I can negotiate with them.”

This caused doubts among the group—when had the Palace of Supreme Sovereignty become involved with the Confucians? Or was the palace plotting something?

For Zhang Helun, however, this was excellent news, and he promptly handed the matter to Dean Cao.

The Confucian school held a unique status in the Imperial Realm. Rather than seizing power through force, they established academies everywhere, returning the learning once reserved for nobles to the common people, so all could study the principles within books.

If they found promising students, they would teach them how to enter the Way through Confucianism, making true scholar-cultivators. Thus, the Confucians won the hearts of the people. The founding emperor, seeing this, knew the change was irreversible and decreed that Confucian tradition would be the national learning, using the school’s influence to instruct the populace. Those educated would then serve the court.

Later, the founding emperor decided that the Confucians should not be allowed to dominate alone. He publicly acknowledged the Palace of Supreme Sovereignty as the imperial religion, making its tradition official.

From then on, the two powers formed a balance, each checking the other.

With these matters settled, the discussion finally turned to the most critical issue. Though they had avoided it, it inevitably stood in the way of opening Heaven’s Gate.

Elder Huang of the Yin Mountain Sect was the first to speak, “We must discuss how to select the sacrificial offerings.”

The offerings required for Heaven’s Gate were human lives. Though all present walked the path of cultivation, such an act was dark and harmful. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, their deeds would sow deep karmic consequences, impossible to erase.

Elder Huang continued, “Our ancestor said we cannot choose people at random. The central stone stele in Heaven’s Gate Town must approve.”

Zhang Helun did not wish to take the lead or become a target, and others shared this sentiment.

After a long silence, someone suggested, “Why not organize a talent selection? First, it would allow us to gather everyone at the stone stele in Heaven’s Gate Town under the guise of recruiting talent, letting the stele choose. Second, if there are suitable candidates among those remaining, we could take them as disciples or servants, so even if they learn later why they were chosen, it won’t matter.”

When Elder Luo of the Divine Artisan Sect proposed this, Zhang Helun watched him with a half-smile. Though reclusive, Zhang was not ignorant of Heaven’s Gate Town’s affairs, and he knew well that they had long held secret meetings. This suggestion was likely prearranged.

Thus, the so-called talent selection would pick sacrificial offerings, and also safe, reassuring outer disciples or servants.

These so-called righteous cultivators, claiming noble lineage, acted in ways most disgraceful. Zhang Helun felt a sorrowful melancholy at the coming depopulation of Heaven’s Gate Town; after centuries here, even a cold heart would grow attached.

The proposal was tacitly agreed upon.

Elder Huang then added, “The offerings are decided, but we still require two people with contrasting fates, one Yin, one Yang, to serve as principal sacrificers.”

Elder Yuan of Fallen Peak retorted, “Couldn’t you say it all at once?”

But this time, Elder Huang did not argue, and instead addressed the five great clans, “May I ask, will your sacrificial array reference Yin-Yang transformations, seeking to harness the creative force of heaven and earth?”

At this point, Elder Wang, the patriarch, no longer concealed anything. He produced the ritual array for everyone to examine, “According to the array, it is indeed as Elder Huang says.”

Huang continued, “Exactly. The lawless land of Heaven’s Gate Town cannot use pure Yin-Yang energy directly for the ritual, so we need two people, one Yin, one Yang, as the hearts of the array, to draw forth the local cosmic forces.”

Everyone studied the array and found it true.

A question crept into their minds—how did they know that opening Heaven’s Gate required both the array and offerings?

Some wanted to ask, but reconsidered; asking would likely get no answer and sow suspicion.

In fact, both the five clans and the six sects wondered how the others had obtained such key information.

Next came the matter of how to forcefully open Heaven’s Gate once it appeared.

The Great Sword of Azure Mountain played a crucial role here.

Elder Xie Tong produced his sword seal, saying, “This is the Sword Seal of Azure Mountain. When the time comes, as long as we channel our power into it, it will summon the sword Dao within. The stronger our input, the greater its force.”

Upon hearing this, Elder Luo of the Divine Artisan Sect asked, “Senior, can your sword seal withstand our full strength?”

Xie Tong replied coolly, “It can.”

His indifference was not lost on anyone, but the sword cultivators held the strongest offensive power in the world. Breaking through with sword force was the most convenient and efficient method.

Such was the pride of Azure Mountain—the stronger your power, the straighter your back.

With this, the council drew to a close. They discussed the talent selection and how to secure the lives of the children’s parents, setting the event seven days hence, to be announced by the city lord and stir the atmosphere of Heaven’s Gate Town. With all decided, everyone departed, each to their own duties.

Before leaving, Zhang Helun saw everyone off. Dean Cao of the People’s Courtyard suddenly approached Lu Ming. Lu Ming, unsure of his intent, greeted him with the courtesy due an elder. Dean Cao looked him over carefully, saying, “That you have gained his favor is your fortune. I don’t know your relationship, but I have a message I’d like you to convey.”

Lu Ming realized he meant the Daoist Lin, and replied, “Elder, I may not meet Senior Lin, but if I do, I will deliver your message.”

Dean Cao nodded, “Four words: Act within your means.”

With that, he departed.

Zhang Helun witnessed this, tempted to ask, but seeing Dean Cao’s demeanor, knew he would not answer. He turned to Lu Ming, “Young Sword Immortal, do you know what those four words mean?”

Lu Ming shook his head.

Seeing no deceit, Zhang Helun let his curiosity lapse.

Then he scrutinized Lu Ming, his gaze making Lu Ming uncomfortable, but out of respect for Zhang’s strength and seniority, he endured it. He asked, “Elder, what are you looking for?”

Zhang Helun’s eyes glinted with a fox’s cunning, “Naturally, I’m curious about what’s so unusual about you. With that Daoist’s lofty standards, why would he personally protect a junior and guide him into the Dao?”

Lu Ming, careful not to implicate Li Yu, replied boldly, “Perhaps he saw my extraordinary talent.”

Zhang Helun’s expression turned strange, “Truly a disciple of Sword Nine Heavens. Even your thick skin is his true legacy.”

Chapter Seventy-Six: The Restorative Pill