Chapter 15: The Five Cultivators of the World (2)

In an instant, both Huo Guang and Liu Jin cast envious glances his way. The old emperor was a figure like an immortal—how could his cultivation techniques be anything but extraordinary?

“My lord, the hot water is ready. Please bathe and change,” Liu Jin spoke again.

Yan Chuan nodded in agreement.

After his practice, Yan Chuan took a thorough bath, feeling utterly refreshed. Unfortunately, he remained at the third stage of the Strength Realm; cultivation was not something that could be broken through simply with a meal and a set of exercises.

Stepping out of the bamboo lodge, Yan Chuan saw that Huo Guang had been waiting for quite some time, twenty Silver Armored Guards standing behind him.

“My lord!” they all greeted respectfully.

“Very well, let’s ascend the mountain,” Yan Chuan replied coolly.

“Yes!” came the united response.

Beside the bamboo lodge rose a lofty mountain. The Silver Armored Guards cleared away the underbrush as Huo Guang and Liu Jin followed Yan Chuan up the slope with deference.

The mountain stood two hundred zhang high, but to these skilled individuals it was nothing. Before long, they reached the summit, all gathering on a massive stone behind Yan Chuan.

Standing atop the peak, Yan Chuan’s gaze swept far and wide.

“My lord, that is Green Cloud Mountain. The offerings of Great Zheng are kept atop that mountain,” Huo Guang pointed to a distant peak.

Though the mountain appeared small from afar, Yan Chuan understood it was in fact much larger than the one beneath his feet—much, much larger.

He nodded, but his attention did not linger on Green Cloud Mountain for long; instead, his brow furrowed as he surveyed the surroundings.

“Hm?” Yan Chuan paused in surprise.

To the south, dozens of li away, an endless fog enveloped the forests, hiding everything within; above, dark clouds churned, casting a shadow over a vast region, shrouding it in gloom.

“What is that?” Yan Chuan narrowed his eyes.

“My lord, that is the Sealed Forest—a place of death. Many have ventured in to explore, but none have ever returned. It existed long before our dynasty was founded. Even when our armies entered, they vanished without a trace. That’s why so few dare to enter,” Liu Jin answered with reverence.

“A geomantic array? That is a geomantic array!” Yan Chuan declared, eyes narrowed.

“Geomantic array? My lord, what is a geomantic array?” Huo Guang asked, curiosity piqued.

Yan Chuan glanced at the others. He intended to cultivate them anyway, so he did not conceal the truth.

“In your minds, do you think all those immortal sects are the same?” Yan Chuan asked with a smile.

“I do not know, my lord. I suppose they are more or less alike?” Huo Guang replied, puzzled.

Shaking his head, Yan Chuan took a deep breath. “Immortal sects? That’s merely a worldly term. Immortality? It is not so easily attained. The so-called immortal sects you speak of are mostly just mortal cultivation clans. In truth, there are five paths of cultivation in this world.”

“Oh?” Huo Guang’s interest was roused.

“First is fate, second is fortune, third is geomancy, fourth is the accumulation of hidden virtue, and fifth is scholarly study,” Yan Chuan intoned solemnly.

“My lord, the path of study? What use is there in reading many books?” Huo Guang asked, perplexed.

“Cultivation through study? Do not underestimate it. Great scholars are filled with righteous energy; their words alone can dispel legions of demons. Some who have perfected the art of writing can use pen and paper to conjure armies from their ink, sending forth battalions from their calligraphy to destroy all in their path,” Yan Chuan explained.

“What? To conjure armies with pen and ink? That’s even more powerful than turning beans into soldiers from the old legends!” Huo Guang exclaimed in shock.

“Turning beans into soldiers? That is a mere parlor trick,” Yan Chuan replied with disdain.

“Yes,” Huo Guang answered, his face twitching. That’s a mere trick?

“Then, what is the path of accumulating hidden virtue?” Huo Guang pressed on.

“The cultivation of hidden virtue is akin to the teachings of the Buddhist and Daoist sects, who focus on gathering immeasurable merit. In time, you will encounter these methods,” Yan Chuan said blandly.

“Yes,” Huo Guang nodded reverently.

“As for those who cultivate geomancy, they roam the earth in search of dragon veins, practicing their arts. The arrays they arrange are mysterious, blending the real and the illusory, quite unlike ordinary formations. Powerful geomancers can even use the dragon veins to bridge the worlds of yin and yang,” Yan Chuan elaborated.

“To bridge the worlds of yin and yang? Geomancers?” Huo Guang gasped in awe.

“Those who cultivate fortune are mainly the usurpers of fate. They divine the secrets of heaven, read the stars, and predict fortune and misfortune. Some, defiant of the heavens, can rearrange the stars themselves, disrupting the cosmic order and sending the world into upheaval,” Yan Chuan continued.

Huo Guang’s heart raced wildly.

Usurpers of fate? Rearranging the stars and disrupting the cosmic order? The very thought sent chills down Huo Guang’s spine.

“And the path of fate?” Huo Guang managed to ask, suppressing his shock.

“The cultivation of fate? That is not something you need concern yourself with,” Yan Chuan replied coolly, glancing at Huo Guang.

“Yes,” Huo Guang answered at once, a sense of awe settling over him.

Beside him, Liu Jin and the twenty Silver Armored Guards were equally shaken.

All the while, the group swallowed nervously, their hearts filled with longing.

“The path of cultivation is extraordinarily arduous. One must tread carefully, step by step, and possess a resilient heart, diligently clearing the mind of distractions,” Yan Chuan said calmly.

Upon hearing this, everyone’s expression shifted.

“Yes, thank you, my lord!” they replied with utmost reverence.

Was Yan Chuan implying he would lead them on the path of cultivation? Such a chance was rare—how could they let it slip by?

Seeing their eager faces, Yan Chuan nodded. He was certain they were now even more loyal than before. Relying solely on loyalty and righteousness to win over his subordinates was far from enough; he needed to weave dreams that would inspire them.

Turning his gaze once more to the distant geomantic array, Yan Chuan, though not a practitioner of geomancy, was no stranger to it from his past life as an emperor. At the very least, he could recognize the basics.

“Earth dragon veins? Just how many have converged here? There’s even a minor dragon vein being squeezed out!” Yan Chuan exclaimed in surprise.

“My lord, what did you say?” Huo Guang asked.

“Over there, due west, on the nineteenth mountain in that chain—is there a small lake atop it?” Yan Chuan inquired.

“Ah? How did you know, my lord? A few years ago, I led some men on patrol and happened to see it. The lake is small, but the water is incredibly sweet,” Huo Guang replied in astonishment.

“A mountain lake? That’s the dragon’s mouth of a vein. Over the years, it must have gathered considerable energy,” Yan Chuan said excitedly.

“My lord, that’s a dragon vein?” Huo Guang exclaimed.

“Huo Guang, once we descend, assemble the troops. We’ll head to that mountain’s dragon mouth as soon as possible, then proceed to Green Cloud Mountain and wipe out all the offerings of Great Zheng. We’ll hunt the demon serpent!” Yan Chuan ordered in a low voice.

“Yes!” Huo Guang answered at once.

“My lord, what about the captured Black Armored Guards? Shall we keep them guarded?” Huo Guang asked again.

Yan Chuan’s eyes narrowed. “Why let them waste our provisions? What use are they?”

“Yes!” Huo Guang straightened at once.

With those words, Yan Chuan had pronounced the death sentence on the Black Armored Guards who had tried to assassinate him.