Cyber ​​Daming

Chapter 656: Rancid and Dirty Scholar
Longhu Mountain, Guangxin Prefecture, Jiangxi Province.

The incense was so strong that it was like a huge white fog lingering around the entire mountain. When ordinary people walked in it, they could not see the rocks and vegetation more than three feet away.

The sound of chanting is heard throughout the climb, and it seems to have a magical power that can calm the mood of climbers.

Yan Dongqing raised his eyes and stared for a long time at the strange scene that appeared in his sight.

It was a section of the peak suspended in the smoke of incense, and the bottom was as smooth as a mirror, as if a celestial being with supreme power wielded a sword and cut it down from Mount Longhu.

The top of the peak is covered with lush vegetation, Taoist palace corridors and eaves, and red walls. A mechanical lotus with a complex structure and green Taoist patterns all over its body blooms in the middle.

This Taoist magic weapon, which Yan Dongqing had never heard of before, was of astonishing size and over a mile long. The nine lotus petals were covered with a diagram of the celestial stars. Even under the clear sky and in broad daylight, one could see the twinkling stars in it.

But such a huge monster was actually held in someone's palm at this moment.

The owner of the figure had pale hair and beard, but a childish face and eyes like mountains, and he was looking down at himself.

The moment their eyes met, Yan Dongqing felt as if there was a loud thunder explosion in his ears. His heart was trembling with fear, and his five internal organs were shaking. It was as if a god in the sky ordered him to kneel down immediately and abandon Confucianism and follow Taoism.

Invisible pressure filled the world, and Yan Dongqing felt like he was in a small boat in the midst of a violent storm, which could be overturned by the waves at any time.

Just as he was struggling to resist, a drop of sweat slid down his forehead into his eyes. The sudden sourness and stinging pain made Yan Dongqing unable to help but blink.

The sight dimmed for only a moment, and the terrifying figure disappeared.

Only the peak remained, still floating in the thick incense.

"Second in the Dao order, the position of Heavenly Sovereign."

Yan Dongqing muttered to himself in his heart, the back of his robe was soaked with sweat, and waves of bone-chilling coldness surged through his limbs.

"Liang Gongming of the Heavenly Master's Mansion of Mount Longhu, on the orders of Heavenly Master Zhang, is here to respectfully welcome Yan Huishou."

A gentle voice woke Yan Dongqing from the intimidation that went straight to his heart. He withdrew his gaze and looked closer.

I saw Liang Gongming bowing to me, with a smile on his round face and a friendly look.

"I didn't expect that Master Liang would come to greet me personally. I am truly flattered."

"Don't be so polite, Mr.

Liang Gongming smiled and narrowed his eyes, "There is only one Heavenly Master on this Longhu Mountain. All the others are just disciples who follow Heavenly Master Zhang. They are definitely not worthy of the title of 'Heavenly Master'. If the leader does not mind, you can just call me by my real name."

"I'm being rude."

Yan Dongqing bowed in return: "I am Yan Dongqing from the Spring and Autumn Association. I am honored to meet Taoist Liang."

"Don't blame those who don't know. Yan Huishou, please."

Liang Gongming turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation, then walked side by side with Yan Dongqing.

"After many years since Emperor Jiaqi ascended the throne, Yan Huishou is the first high-ranking Confucian scholar to ascend Mount Longhu. This is of great significance and brings glory to Mount Longhu!"

"Master, you are joking. I am not a high-ranking Confucian. At best, I am just a scholar who does not want to go along with the crowd."

"Hey, leader, there is no need to be modest. Being able to establish a new party outside the all-powerful New Donglin Party is not something that ordinary people can do. Although I am not a Confucian, every time I think of Leader Yan's feat, I will admire him with all my heart."

"I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it. But the fact that the Taoist priest led his disciples to break out of Shu, went through a bloody battle, and killed three Dharma masters in a row really makes me admire him very much."

Just as the two were talking about some meaningless nonsense, the voices coming from the thick fog of incense became more and more lively.

"Today's incense is a little extra strong."

Liang Gongming muttered to himself and waved his sleeves forward.

The incense mist broke through, revealing a huge square over a hundred feet long and wide.

In the square stands a huge cauldron that is more than ten feet high. Thick smoke is billowing out of the mouth of the cauldron, but surprisingly it is not choking at all. Instead, a strange fragrance enters the nose, making people feel relaxed.

Thousands of cushions are placed around the giant tripod, and many believers sit cross-legged on them. Through the tripod feet, wires extend out to connect them to the Huangliang Cave.

He fell into a deep sleep, with an expression as intoxicated as if he were in a trance.

Liang Gongming didn't seem to have any intention of taking a detour, and he took Yan Dongqing and walked straight through the group of people who were practicing.

After getting closer, Yan Dongqing immediately felt that the space around him became stagnant, as if he was walking in a swamp, and countless dreams around him were ending and beginning at the same time.

In addition, there were also sounds of breaking, like a silver bottle suddenly breaking, one after another.

The Taoist temples surrounding the square were also crowded with people.

However, compared with the Taoist order in the square, those who are qualified to enter the temple to practice are obviously stronger and more qualified, and their ranks are almost all above six.

Although no trace of talismans or Taoist weapons were seen along the way, the powerful strength of the new Taoist order can be seen from this small corner.

"The magnificent scenery of Mount Longhu is truly fascinating."

Yan Dongqing did not hide the envy in his eyes and exclaimed: "The Taoist country on earth deserves the title!"

"They are all Daoist boys who have only learned a few superficial aspects of the Dao. They are able to reach their current level thanks to the grace of Master Zhang Tianshi. They only look good on the surface. If they encounter those followers who have fought hard, their true colors will be revealed immediately. In time, perhaps a few successful juniors will emerge, but they are not worth mentioning now."

"You are too modest, Taoist priest."

Liang Gongming stroked his beard and smiled, and asked, "Let's not talk about them. I heard that Yan Huishou personally drew a blueprint of the Confucian country in Huangliang. I wonder if I can have the opportunity to enter it to observe and appreciate the local customs and people?"

"It's too late, Taoist priest. My country of Confucianism has been sunk into the depths of the sea by Li Jun's men and is now in pieces."

Yan Dongqing's expression was unusually calm, as if he was just talking about some trivial matters that had nothing to do with him.

"This group of lawless lunatics really deserve to die!"

Liang Gongming scolded angrily, and then comforted him: "But you don't have to take it to heart, it's just a dream. With your ability, you can create a real Confucian country in reality."

"Having said that, it's not easy to turn dreams into reality." Yan Dongqing suddenly sighed.

"Everything is difficult at the beginning. Now the leader has taken the most difficult step and has drawn a clear line between himself and the narrow-minded Emperor Jiaqi. As long as he successfully overcomes the current hurdle, the Spring and Autumn Society will be able to break free of its shackles and become completely independent, becoming a veritable new party. By then, with the leader's current reputation, it will be easy for him to take down the second leader of the Confucian Order!"

Liang Gongming said: "Confucianism ranks the six arts in order, and etiquette is the most respected. If the head of the association can be promoted to the second place with etiquette, I am afraid that even Zhang Fengyue will have to retreat and bow down to him."

Yan Dongqing smiled bitterly and said, "Master, please stop making fun of me. I am now a person at the end of my rope. If it weren't for the mercy of the Heavenly Master, I would have been beheaded long ago."

"If good and evil are not rewarded, the universe must be partial. It is because you are seeking justice that you have offended the rampant evil demon Li Jun. Although Taoism emphasizes tranquility and inaction, it will never sit idly by and watch the evil demons wreak havoc and persecute the loyal and good!"

Liang Gongming said in a resounding voice: "Now that Master Zhang has allowed you to go up the mountain, that has already shown his attitude. Longhu Mountain will definitely be responsible for your safety. Even if Li Jun is so arrogant, does he dare to attack Longhu Mountain?"

"Master Tian is so righteous, Yan Dongqing is grateful to him."

"It is Longhushan's duty to uphold justice."

One is filled with tears of gratitude.

A righteous man.

At this moment, the two of them seemed to have forgotten what happened in Guangxin Prefecture not long ago. "But, although the Heavenly Master is so gracious, I cannot be shameless. Sooner or later, I will have to go down the mountain."

Yan Dongqing said solemnly: "As long as Li Jun is alive, I will not be at peace!"

"I naturally understand this principle."

Liang Gongming shook his head and said, "But Wuxu itself is an extremely difficult sequence. In addition, Li Jun is the source of the present and has the luck of Wuxu. It is difficult to kill him."

"I'm sorry that I can't agree with what you said. It's not difficult to kill Li Jun at this moment."

"What does this mean, Headmaster?"

"Do you know, Taoist priest, that Li Jun has now entered Northern Zhili?"

"I have heard about this matter."

"After the battle at Zhenlu Court, I formed an irreconcilable feud with Li Jun. The news that I went to Mount Longhu this time could not be hidden from anyone who was interested. Li Jun must have known about it, but he did not come to chase me. Why?"

Yan Dongqing answered his own question: "The reason is very simple. Just as the Taoist priest said, he didn't dare to go to Longhu Mountain, so he could only kill some innocent members of the Spring and Autumn Society to fulfill his reputation of loyalty. But if he did this, the Zhu family would naturally not agree."

Liang Gongming said nothing, just listened quietly and nodded slightly to show his agreement.

"The Spring and Autumn Meeting is extremely important to Emperor Jiaqi. It is an important tool for him to satisfy his desire to build a stable and orderly system. He will never let it go unless it is absolutely necessary. Once he and Li Jun completely fall out over the Spring and Autumn Meeting, Zhang Fengyue will no longer be qualified to continue watching the show."

After these words were spoken, Liang Gongming, who had been smiling but not smiling, finally showed some strangeness in his eyes.

"On one side are the numerous favors owed over the long years, and on the other side are the powerful helpers that are indispensable to fulfilling one's ambitions. Zhang Fengyue is caught in the middle, and it's not easy for him to choose."

Liang Gongming suddenly interjected: "No matter how much favor you have done, there will always be a day to repay it."

"It doesn't matter if you pay it back. Even rabbits will bite when they are angry. Moreover, the Zhu family is not a weak rabbit that can be bullied. They are people who are determined to seek revenge. They have been sharpening their knives day and night for hundreds of years just to kill all of us thieves who stole their property one by one one day."

Yan Dongqing smiled and said, "So no matter which side Zhang Fengyue chooses, the Confucian Order will suffer a serious loss this time. Without the royal family, the Confucian Order will only have two parties left. Without Zhang Fengyue, we can all rest assured."

Liang Gongming suddenly sighed, "Sir Yan, eight out of ten things in this world are not as you wish."

"It all depends on man!"

Yan Dongqing said in a deep voice: "Now that Li Jun and the Zhu family have reached the point of confronting each other head-on, at this time, as long as we give them a slight push from behind, a life-and-death fight will immediately ignite."

"How to push?"

"Whatever Li Jun cares about, he will naturally lose. Taoist priest, don't worry. I will become famous this time, and you just need to do your work."

Yan Dongqing said: "If I lose, I will pay for all the hatred with my life. If I win, I will kill Zhang Fengyue with my own hands, and Master Zhang will not have to worry about it at all."

"Sir Yan, when will the cycle of revenge end?"

"Master, your words suddenly enlightened me. I remember that not long ago, a remnant of an old Taoist sect came to this Longhu Mountain."

Yan Dongqing stopped talking and Liang Gongming smiled without saying anything.

"It's such a big matter, I'm not qualified to make the decision."

Liang Gongming laughed and suddenly asked, "I'd like to ask you something. What about the people under your command?"

Yan Dongqing remained calm and said in a clear voice: "As long as I am here, the Spring and Autumn Association will be here. The dry bones can be used as firewood, and a fire will burn out a bright and clear world."

Liang Gongming remained silent and paused.

"I will not be able to accompany you on the rest of the journey. Please go on your own."

The Taoist raised his hand and pointed to a ladder in front of him. The straight track went straight into the sky and led to the suspended golden roof.

"It is said in the Taoist scriptures that those who help others achieve enlightenment can also become immortals. If they do not become immortals, they will always be trapped in the ups and downs of the human world. The Taoist priest is from Shu, so I'm afraid he is not very accustomed to the weather in Jiangxi, right?"

Yan Dongqing looked at the other person deeply, said no more, strode into the sedan chair and headed towards the lofty Longhushan Ancestral Hall.

Northern Zhili, Zhending Prefecture.

Zhao family building.

"Yang Bai Ze has already cleaned up eight clans, almost eliminating all our influence in Nanzhili. Now there are complaints in the association, and more and more people are accusing us of sitting there and waiting for death. If we continue like this, it won't be long before the people in the Spring and Autumn Association lose their confidence!"

"Zhou Changji, you came here just to tell me this?"

Zhao Ke sat in a royal chair, looking coldly at the projection of Zhou Changji in front of him.

"Zhao Ke, now is not the time to engage in a dispute of pride." Zhou Changji frowned.

"We are all comrades, but we have different paths. I am not interested in arguing with you."

Zhao Ke said calmly: "The Spring and Autumn Society has expanded rapidly in recent years and has accepted too many unqualified people. It's better for some of them to die. Otherwise, how can there be so many places for them to establish a Confucian country in the future?"

"Future? What future are you still thinking about now?"

Zhou Changji couldn't help but widen his eyes when he heard these ridiculous words: "Wei Sheng is already dead, don't you know?"

"Of course I know, so what? Do you think I'm afraid of that warrior?"

Zhao Ke sneered: "Zhou Changji, I am different from you poor people."

Zhou Changji was silent for a moment, and suddenly a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Yan Dongqing promised you in private that he would ensure the safety of your Zhao family, which is why you are so fearless now? Do you think he will come to protect you now? Do you think he still has the ability to protect you?"

Zhao Ke's face suddenly darkened: "Zhou Changji, you are not qualified to call the leader by his name!"

"Then what should I call him? A beast in human form who sells out his friends for fame, or a treacherous and shameless person?"

Zhao Ke stood up suddenly: "How dare you!"

"Stop acting. You've been playing dumb for months and years, pretending to be noble and incompatible with us, allowing Yan Dongqing to mediate and use his balancing act to his heart's content. Don't you feel annoyed at all?"

Zhou Changji said calmly: "Zhao Ke, you are not a fool. You should know that we are all abandoned pawns now. If we want to survive, we can't rely on him, we can only rely on ourselves."

Zhao Ke's eyes flashed coldly: "Zhou Changji, do you want to betray the association?"

"Let me be frank. Although I don't like you, you have a high reputation in the Spring and Autumn Association, so you are still worth keeping alive."

Zhou Changji had no interest in beating around the bush and came straight to the point: "Accept my Confucian Seal and I can save your life."

"I have long suspected that there is a traitor among the core members of the Spring and Autumn Society. I have suspected many people, even Xu Haichao, who is my best friend. But I have never suspected you. Do you know why?"

"Because your filthy life was saved by the leader himself. Your path to succession was also opened by the leader himself. But you turned out to be the traitor who hid the most!"

Zhao Ke said with contempt: "Are you Zhang Fengyue, or Jiaqi's man? Are you worthy of me accepting your Confucian Seal?"

(End of this chapter)