Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Beneath the foot of the Cool Mountain of Grandeur Nation was Niu Village. It kept this name even though it was now a heavily guarded Ancestral Dragon Land of the Qin Clan’s empire.

It was hard to tell the time in the deep mountains. In the blink of an eye, six years had already passed in the outside world, but in the mysterious land where time flashed by, two thousand years had passed.

Cloud Mist Taoist obtained his Great Dao and his cultivation speed was shocking. He was now the most powerful person in the Grandeur and Millet Nations. He lived a carefree life and it was rumored that he obtained an immortal fruit that allowed him to be one with the world.

The Qin Family was protected by him and their power developed accordingly, growing stronger and stronger over the years. Two hundred years ago, they finally build their own nation and they became the third great nation, Great Qin, outside of the Grandeur and Millet Nations.

It was rumored that after Great Qin was built, the founding king of the nation moved the tombs of the two Old Ancestors of the family into the royal tomb. This was done to suppress the fate of the Qin Nation.

Cloud Mist Taoist appeared in the Qin Palace and he had a conversation with the Qin king. From then, the Qin Nation turned from an area that was eight hundred meters wide into the Ancestral Dragon Land. The imperial palace arranged for men to guard the area heavily, and no one was allowed to touch a grass or tree in that place.

Two hundred years passed. The Qin Nation strengthened and it was prosperous. They could not ignore the protection their ancestors had given them.

As such, the Qin king was going on a month-long excursion and would leave the capital to head to the ancestral lands the next day. He would fast and cleanse himself for three days to pay respect to the ancestors of the Qin Clan. Cool Mountain was originally guarded very heavily, but because of the king’s visit, the security grew even tighter and many eyes were watching it each day.

It had been two hundred years since the nation was built and the current Qin king was the fourth king. His royal name was Qin Xuanzong and he was a stern-looking middle-aged man who was about fifty years old. At this moment, he was wearing a white dragon robe in an ordinary-looking horse carriage. There was a lady from the palace with him together with a child. Additionally, there were two old eunuchs present, and they were slowly making their way to the Taoist temple at the foot of Cool Mountain.

Its name was Cool Temple, but it was no longer a famous temple after all these years. Only those who looked through the secret history of the royal family would know that there was a close connection between this Taoist temple and the Great Qin Empire.

Until each king crowned their crown prince, they would return to the ancestral lands every three to five years. This was the case for today’s secret expedition.

The two eunuchs were old men from the palace and they could definitely be trusted. One of them was driving the horse carriage while the other was resting with his eyes closed. The noble lady in the horse carriage knew that something was going on and she was nervous. She grabbed onto her son’s hand and gave him a reminder. However, she was also scared that she would reveal too much, and she lost the graceful demeanor that she had in the past.

Qin Xuanzong smiled and ignored her actions. Back then, when he went to Cool Temple with his father, his mother was much more nervous than the noble lady here.

The naming of the heir could not be decided by the Qin king alone. What seemed like scandalous rumors in the palace were actually a willingly accepted secret by the Qin Clan.

Although there were records of how the ancestors resolved immortal karma, nothing in this world could pass the test of time. The small Qin Family from Niu Village in the countryside had built a nation two hundred years ago. It was a stark difference from their origins.

Regardless of how much good will a person had, there was a time when it would be depleted. Without the immortal on the mountain supporting them, the Qin Clan empire would not have this fate. What they could do now was ensure that they maintained good karma with the top immortal on the mountain.

The crown prince who would inherit the throne naturally had to abide by customs without a word, as this was an important karma to accumulate.

As such, it was essential that the old immortal on the mountain in Cool Temple was consulted before the crown prince was named.

Anyone with a discerning eye in the Qin Clan could not help but admire the founding king for coming up with this wonderful custom.

The horse carriage stopped and the two eunuchs jumped off it. They waited respectfully by the side.

Qin Xuanzong pushed open the door and walked out of the carriage. He calmly said, “Wait here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He grabbed his son’s hand and looked at the noble lady beside him and smiled, “Let’s go.”

The king personally knocked the door and the Cool Temple doors opened. A young daoist bowed respectfully, “Your Majesty, Master invites you in.”

Qin Xuanzong smiled and bowed, “Thank you young immortal.”

The young daoist’s expression was stiff but he still had a discerning eye. It probably had not been long since he joined the temple.

The fourth prince was a young teen who was roughly twelve or thirteen years old. Looking at the soft and tender face of the young daoist, he chuckled and commented, “You have a charming face and you will definitely be good-looking when you are older.”

The noble lady from the palace gasped and her face fell. She was just about to say something but the king gave her a look and stopped her.

The young daoist’s face grew bright red but he was not angry. He softly spoke, “You are also good-looking.”

Qin Xuanzong burst into laughter.

They entered the temple where the daoists had all been instructed to stay in their own rooms.

The young daoist led the way and brought the royal family to a room in the backyard where his master was cultivating in seclusion.

“Master, the king is here.”

“Mm, come in.”

The young daoist pushed the door open and walked to a side. He gently lifted the curtains and revealed the man inside who looked like he was sleeping.

The fourth prince’s interest was piqued. He smiled as he carefully surveyed the room. He did not know the significance of today’s events and he simply thought that his father was bringing him here to greet an immortal in the mountains.

Qin Xuanzong stared at Cloud Mist Taoist, who had not changed in appearance since a few decades ago. He suppressed the complicated emotions in his heart and cupped his hands together to bow, “I, Qin Cheng, have brought my royal concubine and my fourth son, Qin Cong, to greet old immortal.”

His father was being so respectful and his tone was extremely courteous as well. It shocked the fourth prince and he quickly bowed like his father. He had seen a number of immortals in the past and some were very famous in the three nations too. However, he had never seen his father been so respectful to anyone.

Cloud Mist Taoist smiled and raised his hand, “Your Majesty, you don’t have to be so polite. Please sit.”

He turned and instructed, “Young Daoist, serve His Majesty, the lady, and the prince some tea.”

Qin Xuanzong said, “We don’t have to trouble the young immortal. Qin Cong, you serve tea to the old immortal.”

His eyes as he turned towards the fourth prince were deep and mysterious.

If he did not favor the fourth prince, he would not have stood his ground against all the opposing opinions and chose to bring the fourth prince with him to Cool Mountain.

Qin Cong sighed deeply and answered “Yes Father!”

He stepped forward and bowed respectfully, “Old immortal, I am not familiar with the customs on the mountain. Please forgive me if I offend you.”

He poured the tea till the cup was eighty percent full. Then, he covered the cup and returned back to his spot.

It was a simple task. However, the young royal teen started to sweat profusely.

Cloud Mist Taoist glanced at Qin Cong and smiled as he raised the cup.

Qin Xuanzong immediately started to smile.

Beside him, the lady’s eyes welled up with tears and she almost cried on the spot.

Qin Xuanzong bowed, “Old immortal, please give him a name.”

At this moment, there was a character that was stuck in Cloud Mist Taoist’s head. He smiled, “Mu.”

Fifteen years later, Qin Xuanzong abdicated the throne and the fifth emperor of Great Qin, Qin Muzong, inherited the throne.

On the day that he took the throne, at the ancestral lands of the Qin Clan outside Niu Village of the Ancestral Dragon Land, a young man appeared. He stared at a tombstone that had sustained wind and rain for a thousand years. There was a complicated look in his eyes.

Six years ago, Li Mu came here and hesitated on whether to take action or now. He opened the coffin and confirmed his thoughts.

However, he did not take action in the end.

Ever year since then, Li Mu came here. He did not do anything but stay here for a day silently.

No one discovered him, even Cloud Mist Taoist who had a mysterious cultivation on Cool Mountain did not sense him.

Today, as he looked at the tombstone, Li Mu’s eyes grew more and more dark. It felt like the bottom of the sea.

He frowned and slowly spoke, “This is the Qin Nation. Is this a coincidence…or is there something deeper?”

Li Mu was filled with respect and fear of the lady that he had not met in person before.

When she was missing, he did not make a hasty move. Now that she had returned, Li Mu also did not take action.

He looked at it and looked at it again.

He never lacked patience. If he could not get a closer look this time, he would wait for the next round.

……

In the mine at the border of the West Desolate.

The location of Marquis Chongwu Ning Qin was unknown. Although the capital announced that the marquis had to attend to another important matter, as time passed, small news spread through the land and there were the first signs of bad news.

Under the light from the lamp, Hundred Saint frowned as he tidied up military affairs. However, as time passed, white hair started to grow. Evidently, the past few years had not been easy for him.

In fact, if he didn’t have the side bloodline of the imperial family in his veins and if it weren’t for his uncle, Lord Chengtian, Hundred Saint would be in a much worse position.

“Who is it!”

With a low shout, Hundred Saint whipped around and his eyes flashed brightly.

A figure walked out from the darkness. Looking closer, it was a familiar yet foreign face. Hundred Saint seemed to have met this man before.

The man did not take action but he voluntarily showed himself. Hundred Saint sighed and asked in a cold tone, “Who are you? You dared to enter military grounds. Don’t you know that the military rules are unforgiving?”

Qin Yu thought about it before slowly saying, “Southwest fragmented area, East Sea, Ten Thousand…”

Opposite him, Hundred Saint’s eyes bulged wide open, “It is you!” Excitement poured out from him but he quickly held himself back. In a deep voice, he asked, “Back then, what did I say?”

A strange look crossed Qin Yu’s face, “You…called me Brother Ten Thousand…you wanted to be brothers in arms and fight the enemy…you…your senses are not bad.”

Hundred Saint jumped for joy, “It really is you. I knew that after we parted back then, we would meet again in the future.”

He walked over briskly and patted Qin Yu’s shoulder. “I returned to the West Desolate and I tried to find you but I didn’t get any news…you…mm. If it isn’t convenient, forget about it. Between us, our identities don’t matter.”

Qin Yu was rather dumbfounded and he looked at the overly excited Hundred Saint in front of him. Is your white hair fake? Why is it that you did not improve after suffering for all these years?

Unless, did I really subdue you so well? Is your head spoilt after one meeting?

Sucking in a breath of air, Qin Yu massaged his head. His voice changed and he said, “Hundred Saint, look carefully at who I am.”

Shoosh –

The face of the man in front of him changed and there was the sounds of bones breaking. The person in front of him was Marquis Chongwu Ning Qin who had been missing for the past six years!

Hundred Saint sucked in a breath of cold air and his eyes widened in shock. He was at a loss for words as he pointed a finger at Qin Yu. Qin Yu started to worry that Hundred Saint would faint.

“You…you…you you you…”

Qin Yu coughed lightly, “I can explain this.”

Half an hour later, Hundred Saint sat on the chair, staring blankly into space. He looked like he was dreaming. He wanted to slap himself.

Slap –

Ouch!

His eyes widened.

Real, it was real!

Hahaha, no wonder I was always fond of the marquis. He was so close to me.

So he is my Ten Thousand Saint brother. I, Hundred Saint, really have a good eye for discerning people!