Volume One: The Emperor’s Decree Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Stele’s Treacherous Scheme

“Elder Shiyuan, how much farther is the Banshan Sect’s town? We’ve been riding for seven days now,” Liu Xiaoyi complained, his body aching from the relentless jostling. He had barely dismounted the entire journey, while the bald, burly men of the Banshan Sect seemed unfazed, sitting tall in their saddles, urging their horses onward with laughter and lively conversation along the way.

Shiyuan slowed his horse, drawing closer to Liu Xiaoyi, and smiled. “We’re nearly there. Once we round the next mountain, the town will come into view. A feast has already been prepared. We’ll rest for half a day before we settle our affairs.”

The town built by the Banshan Sect was tucked away in a remote spot, nestled in the heart of the surrounding mountains. Passing through here allowed travelers to cross the great mountain range of Yanliang Prefecture and continue straight to the Central State. Many who had reasons to avoid notice would use this route to travel between the two regions.

Yet few knew of the bustling town hidden here. The disciples of Banshan Sect acted with caution, never making enemies lightly. Should a lost traveler stray into their midst, they would be treated kindly and sent safely on their way.

Messengers from the sect had already gone ahead to announce their arrival. Every available member of the Banshan Sect was gathered along the main road outside the town, gazing into the distance, awaiting their guests’ approach.

When Liu Xiaoyi finally caught sight of the orderly town, the disciples spotted him as well. At once, cheers erupted; people leaped and shouted with joy, warming Liu Xiaoyi’s heart.

“I thought everyone in the Banshan Sect would be these bald giants. Clearly, I was mistaken,” Liu Xiaoyi said, laughing as he noticed the crowd was full of elders, women, and children. A town made up solely of able-bodied young men would only arouse suspicion.

Shiyuan dismounted and gave instructions for the arrangements. Some disciples gathered and secured the horses, then led Liu Xiaoyi and his companion into the town. As they walked, Shiyuan introduced the town’s current affairs, making Liu Xiaoyi feel more like a guest on a pleasure trip than someone summoned for business.

“I still don’t know why you’ve invited me here, Elder Shiyuan. What is it you require of me?” Liu Xiaoyi asked once they were seated at a grand banquet in a spacious tavern, having been divided into guests and hosts.

Shiyuan replied, “We hope you’ll join us in the Heavenly Stele Discourse. Would you be willing to?”

At this, the disciples fell silent, their eyes fixed on Liu Xiaoyi, their longing almost overwhelming. Embarrassed by their eager stares, Liu Xiaoyi quickly agreed, “Since you’ve asked, of course I’ll help. Is there anything I should prepare?”

“Eat your fill, drink your fill!” came the hearty reply.

As soon as he accepted, the drums and gongs sounded with even greater vigor. Disciples performed martial displays to liven the mood, stirring Liu Xiaoyi’s spirits. In his elation, he didn’t notice a figure quietly slipping out behind Shiyuan. Soft sounds could be heard outside the tavern, but they were soon drowned out by the celebratory clamor.

At the center of the town stood a great stone monument, carved to resemble an open book. The stone was ordinary, unmarked by any words, but it was this very stele that gave rise to the Banshan Sect—a sacred relic of the school.

Today was an occasion of the century for the Banshan Sect. Shiyuan had brought in a spiritual adept from afar, one who had already grasped the “Lin” character formula and could wield its power with impressive effect. The disciples, impatient with anticipation, had already prepared themselves around the stele—thousands of meditation mats, not a single one left empty.

“Welcome, Spiritual Adept! We invite you to discourse upon the Way!”

“Welcome, Spiritual Adept! Discourse upon the Way!”

Wherever Liu Xiaoyi passed, disciples on both sides chanted in unison until he stood before the stele with Shiyuan. “Step into the recess here, silently recite the Lin formula, form the seal, and everything you comprehend will appear upon the stele,” Shiyuan instructed.

Not only Shiyuan, but all those present sat in meditation, forming hand seals and preparing to receive the voice of the Great Dao.

“I’ll do my best,” Liu Xiaoyi said, feeling a flutter of nerves at the mystical proceedings, yet he stepped forward. Forming the unique Duzuan seal with his hands, his mind sharpened in an instant, and a different world unfolded before his eyes.

Light blazed from the stele, lines of script appearing one after another—though their meaning was inscrutable to outsiders. Xiao Qingshu stood off to the side, puzzled by the sight of the burly men intoning the cryptic formula with such concentration.

She could not make out what they were reciting. Shiyuan, whose cultivation was highest, had already mastered the initial writings that appeared on the stele and stood aside, smiling.

“Fellow Daoist, who is your master? The Heavenly Stele will take two or three days. You’re free to look around; there’s no need to remain here,” he said.

“My teacher is very powerful, but you wouldn’t know of him even if I told you. I don’t want to wander these wild mountains and forests. I’ll just wait here,” Xiao Qingshu replied curtly, inching away from Shiyuan. She found the monk’s gaze unsettling and made her discomfort plain.

The big monk was no fool; as long as the girl didn’t cause trouble, he paid her no further mind, focusing instead on memorizing the stele’s inscriptions.

In less than half a day, the writings began to appear faster. The vision before Shiyuan grew dazzlingly bright; he realized the insight was unique to a spiritual adept. Even with his cultivation at the Jade Bone stage, he had never experienced anything like it and immediately entered deep meditation.

Bored with waiting alone, Xiao Qingshu slipped away under the cover of night to explore. Not everyone in the town was gathered at the stele; many elders and children remained, bustling about to prepare for the celebration that would follow the cultivation ritual.

The daily needs of the community were managed by those who had passed their prime for cultivation. From a distance, Xiao Qingshu watched them, and they greeted her with warm smiles.

By the stream, a large waterwheel slowly turned, channeling the flow into the town. Children played nearby, laughing and shouting, “I wonder if the spiritual adept will pass the trial this time and give us the answer.”

“The last adept didn’t pass, and it was only thanks to the Grandmaster that the stele was saved. If the stele explodes, what will we do?”

Something sounded off to Xiao Qingshu, so she approached and asked, “What trial are you talking about? Tell me, and I’ll give you some candy.”

Her charm worked wonders on both young and old; with a smile and a tilt of her head, the children crowded around, eager to answer. “Sister, it’s the final trial set by the stele. If you can deduce the answer, the stele will reveal a clear path to the Banshan Sect.”

“Some even say the stele itself is a sacred artifact—just that no one can subdue it, so it sits there for all to see.”

“And what does the spiritual adept have to do to pass the trial? It sounds dangerous,” Xiao Qingshu pressed.

One of the older kids replied quickly, “Of course it’s dangerous! Otherwise, why would the Grandmaster search far and wide for a spiritual adept? If they fail, the adept is sacrificed to feed the stele. It’s very risky.”

No sooner had he finished than an intense, oppressive aura burst forth from Xiao Qingshu, startling the children into a panicked flight. Those who lagged behind glanced back in terror.

“Bald old monk, I knew there was something wrong with you!” she spat.

As if expecting trouble, more than a dozen disciples in silver garb appeared, surrounding her with quarterstaffs ready.

But before they could act, they were sent flying, crashing into the nearby houses, though she seemed not to have moved.

“If Liu Xiaoyi suffers so much as a scratch, I’ll tear you all to pieces and throw you into the stele!” Xiao Qingshu threatened, clenching her fists and punching into the distance. The shockwaves rippled through the air like water.

When the vibration struck near the stele, an invisible barrier blocked it, but the force was enough to snap Shiyuan out of his meditation, still smiling faintly.

“Who dares trespass in the ancestral land of the Banshan Sect!” he bellowed, but Xiao Qingshu strode forward, raising her fist for another blow.

Her punch landed squarely on the barrier, making the entire town tremble. Shiyuan was stunned to see it was the unassuming girl, and remarked with a mocking tone, “Little girl, wait outside like a good child! Once I’ve unraveled the stele’s secrets, I’ll deal with you!”

He rapidly formed a series of hand seals—many unfamiliar, in addition to the Duzuan seal. As he concluded, the color of the inscriptions on the stele changed, and Liu Xiaoyi’s expression grew grave, as if gripped by pain. The little tiger leaped from his arms, trying to escape the stele.

“Comrade Liu, help me deduce the stele’s riddle. When it’s done, we’ll part ways and never trouble each other again. Isn’t that best?” Shiyuan’s entire body glowed with a jade hue, ready to confront Xiao Qingshu if the barrier failed.

Other disciples manifested a spectrum of auras, though most remained focused on the stele’s writings, as if placing their trust in Shiyuan.

But Xiao Qingshu’s wrath was not to be taken lightly.

Punch after punch, she shattered the barrier with her bare hands and strode through the breach. Shiyuan abandoned the stele and flew at her, palm meeting fist in a direct, unadorned clash.

“What strength!” Shiyuan exclaimed, numb down one side of his body. He had full confidence in his Jade Bone power, yet the girl’s force surpassed even that.

Only now did Shiyuan take her seriously. “How did you train to be stronger than my sect’s Jade Bone technique?”

“Enough talk! If you don’t move, I’ll kill you first and then smash that cursed stele!”

Xiao Qingshu lunged forward, a flash of blue streaking across the ground. Shiyuan could barely react before several punches hammered his abdomen, sending him flying high into the air.

She paid him no further heed, focused only on saving Liu Xiaoyi. Gathering her strength, she approached the glowing stele and struck it with all her might.

Her punch left a deep imprint, spiderweb cracks radiating outward to cover the entire stele.

As Shiyuan hit the ground, he saw the fissures and cried out in terror, “Don’t destroy it! If the stele is ruined, evil spirits will be unleashed!”

Before he could say more, a chilling, sinister energy burst from beneath the stele, setting Xiao Qingshu on edge. Fortunately, Liu Xiaoyi had regained consciousness, though utterly drained and powerless. Though he kept his eyes closed, his mind was clear, and he understood what was happening.

He quickly leapt out of the recess and fled, while the evil energy from the stele scattered the crowd. Thousands of disciples coughed blood in unison, and Shiyuan’s face was ashen with dread.