Chapter 46: Return to the Capital
“I’m finally back; that damn map nearly drove me to my grave.” Chen Xiyi felt utterly defeated; the journey back was far more troublesome than traversing the barren deserts of the Western Regions.
Not to mention the abundance of trees and cities along the route, there were countless other complications.
Under these circumstances, Chen Xiyi had become quite skilled at maneuvering the cart into tight spots.
“Still, there are benefits to this outfit; it doesn’t get dirty at all. It makes sense; who wants their game costume to be filthy?”
Looking at his scholar’s attire, Chen Xiyi noted how pristine and unblemished it was, not subject to any changes at all.
He was getting used to wearing costumes in advance, realizing that if he didn’t don the outfit and simply wore alloy armor, he would attract even more attention.
Of course, sporting the outfit of the sect leader of the Qingxu Sect was far more eye-catching than the full set of alloy armor, likely contributing a charm bonus of +10.
To this day, Chen Xiyi still couldn’t decipher the numerical values in this home game.
Upon returning to the capital, there was no need for the costume anymore—after all, maintaining his persona was essential.
After stowing away the alloy cart, he had the Jianghu folks assist him in flying in; passing through the city gate would invite scrutiny, not that he was unwilling. Entering in scholar attire without a travel permit could lead to unnecessary trouble.
If he entered without the outfit and in alloy armor, he probably wouldn’t need a travel permit, but it would certainly cause a commotion, potentially blocking the city gate.
It would be better to take this opportunity to strengthen his persona, making himself appear tougher.
In recent days, quite a few had been undermining him, both openly and covertly obstructing his resources.
[Minister Wang Qian slandered you during the morning court session; Emperor Wang Sheng disagreed, believing the accusations to be nonsense.]
These notifications had been popping up for days; there were some who agreed with Emperor Li, while others did not. Few seemed to affect the levels of hatred and favorability, leaving him puzzled as to why.
Chen Xiyi speculated that perhaps these bureaucrats weren’t being genuine; they merely sought to pressure Emperor Li into allocating some resources to them.
With such a substantial amount of resources at stake, many were likely envious.
As for Chen Xiyi’s identity, some had pieced together quite a bit, especially following his grand departure, leading many to believe it. Yet, the issue remained; belief was one thing, possession was another; they likely saw no conflict in this.
Walking on the water’s surface, Chen Xiyi swiftly entered the city and returned to his room in Prince Zhuang’s residence.
He barely had time to drink a sip of water when Wang Li came bustling over.
Although Chen Xiyi’s trip hadn’t been long in reality, to Wang Li and the others, it felt considerable.
“Immortal, you’re back! I wonder where you traveled this time and what magnificent sights you encountered; I, little Wang, am almost bursting with curiosity.” Wang Li expressed his polite inquiry as he entered.
Chen Xiyi shook his head and said with a hint of regret, “I journeyed to the site of the former sect’s inheritance, but alas, while the mountains and rivers remain, the Mountain River Sect has long since been buried in them.”
“Please accept my heartfelt condolences, Immortal.” A gleam flashed in Wang Li’s eyes as he secretly contemplated the name ‘Mountain River Sect.’
“I’ve seen my fair share of such matters; the sects I’ve preserved in this myriad of worlds are countless—some have perished, others have been reborn, like the cycle of reincarnation that continues.” Chen Xiyi spoke, weaving a tale at random.
If you have the capability, go ahead and investigate; how many years has it been since the Mountain River Sect has met its end? Even the three grandmasters probably no longer have any bones left.
Just go check, the Mountain River Sect has been gone for many years now; even those three ancestral masters probably don’t even have their bones left.
In the End of Magic Era, even the place of inheritance has turned into a pile of stones, let alone those cultivators.
Wang Li doesn’t know what the Mountain River Sect is all about; after all, it became a thing of the past long ago. Even the magic treasures of the three great ancestral masters have been scattered among the common folk, not to mention the fragmented Mountain River Sect.
However, he does know one thing: that the seal of the jade book belonging to his family definitely has some connection to this Mountain River Sect. In that case, he might still be able to establish a certain relationship with it.
“I wonder if the immortal has thoughts on re-establishing the doctrine of the Mountain River Sect? If the immortal is interested, we can prepare immediately.”
“No need for that, the past is already the past; everything should follow fate.” Chen Xiyi immediately interrupted what the other was about to say. Establish a doctrine?
Establish a doctrine? It would be better to use that time to gather more resources instead of wasting time on such matters! Besides, he knows Wang Li’s intentions too well; he merely wants to use this title to obtain his own inheritance.
If he really had capability, this matter wouldn’t be much of a problem. But the issue is, he himself relies on the Jianghu to intimidate others. If he really accepts, the ensuing troubles would probably be endless.
If you’re going to establish a sect, you need to take in disciples, and to take in disciples, you need to impart teachings. Then, there’s a whole bunch of miscellaneous matters afterward. So why create trouble for himself? Just playing around with appearances and acting aloof has already made Chen Xiyi feel somewhat tired. If this matter were real, he’d have to be careful every day.
Hearing this, Wang Li was unsure of what he was calculating in his mind.
Since Chen Xiyi rejected, he didn’t dare to insist further. After all, in his eyes, the other is a big shot, and whatever they say is law.
“I didn’t expect the immortal to have such a broad mind. If it were me, I’d probably be saddened for a while.” Wang Li continued in line with Chen Xiyi’s words.
“Let’s not discuss this anymore; have the items for refining the Divine Earth Essence arrived during my absence?” Chen Xiyi didn’t really want to talk about these matters; after all, it was all made up. He could come up with a hundred segments in an hour.
It’s better to ask about the resource materials he cares about. That is the real matter.
“They are currently being inventoried and should be able to be delivered to the residence by tomorrow.” Wang Li had been keeping track of this matter. The last batch of resources had already arrived in the capital and was placed in the southern storeroom, where it is still being counted.
Chen Xiyi is quite satisfied with this; both the efficiency and quantity have greatly increased his stock of resources.
“How has His Majesty been raising the spirit lately? Has he cultivated any sharpness yet?” Chen Xiyi asked in return.
Wang Li shook his head: “Not yet. Even though he has been taking in spiritual nourishment at every meal, there’s still no sword energy. However, his body has improved a lot. The imperial physician has stated that he’s stronger than an ox.”
“It seems he’s made considerable progress; one must know that raising spirits to enter the Dao involves nurturing not only spirits but also people,” Chen Xiyi sighed as he spoke.
To be fair, he really does come off convincingly when making things up, and Chen Xiyi even suspected where this acting skill came from. He has clearly spent ten years in the homestead without ever engaging in acting-related activities and hasn’t experienced anything relevant. Yet, when pushed into a corner, he managed to pull it off.
In the end, Chen Xiyi could only attribute it to how people’s potential is often revealed under pressure; how else would one know how much ability they have?
(End of Chapter)
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