Chapter Fourteen: I Am the Lord of the Jade Capital
Page 1/3
The Southern Flowing Scenery stood level with the Celestial Balance, illuminating the entire White Jade Capital. It was like a grand round mirror of red and gold, dispelling the clouds and mist to reveal the universe. The palaces upon the Southern Flowing Scenery were no less magnificent; their silver halls dazzled brilliantly under the radiant crimson sunlight. Chen Zhian’s consciousness descended upon the palace, and the blinding sunlight immediately softened, revealing the enormous plaque above the palace entrance.
“Kaiyang Gate.”
Kaiyang Gate—the main hall of the Southern Flowing Scenery in the Eastern City.
Kaiyang radiates energy; the brilliant light descends; the great sun observes the world.
At dawn, Kaiyang unveils the purple aura; at daybreak, the Yellow Court descends!
As Chen Zhian’s thoughts gradually cleared, he pondered the wondrous mysteries concealed within Kaiyang Gate, unable to suppress his astonishment.
“Kaiyang, the great sun itself.”
“The Southern Flowing Scenery is originally the sun of the White Jade Capital, and this Kaiyang Gate seems to connect the celestial sun hanging beyond the Jade Capital’s map.”
“The great sun observes the world, unveiling the purple aura at dawn, bringing down the Yellow Court... but where does the Yellow Court descend to?”
After long contemplation, the celestial Jade Capital map in his mind slowly dissipated.
“Then I shall wait for tomorrow morning and see what happens when the Southern Flowing Scenery in the White Jade Capital communicates with the real sun.”
Chen Zhian resolved this, and by then it was the hour of midnight. He drank a dose of the Yellow Bell Qi-Running Decoction, poured himself a cup of Red Core Ginger Tea, then sat cross-legged on his bed, channeling the blood qi within his body according to the cultivation method recorded in the Great Snow Mountain’s Qi-Tuning Scripture, tempering his physical form.
After only a few days, the qi circulation method in the Great Snow Mountain’s Scripture already appeared straightforward to Chen Zhian; his blood qi obeyed his commands as easily as moving his limbs, without any obscure sensations.
He even realized he could circulate qi while simultaneously visualizing the Southern Flowing Scenery within the celestial Jade Capital map.
Yellow Bell Qi-Running Decoction, Red Core Ginger, Great Snow Mountain Qi-Tuning Scripture, and visualizing the Southern Flowing Scenery!
Following this regimen, Chen Zhian felt his blood qi surge vibrantly throughout his body, striking every part, tempering his internal organs, flesh, muscles, tendons, and bones.
He could even clearly perceive his blood qi growing denser and weightier.
Thus passed the entire night until dawn.
The horizon gradually brightened, as if celestial beings brushed a layer of golden light across the dark sky.
Chen Zhian closed his eyes and again immersed his consciousness into the celestial Jade Capital map, settling upon the Kaiyang Gate atop the Southern Flowing Scenery in the Eastern City.
In that instant,
Chen Zhian felt countless rays of light descend from the Southern Flowing Scenery, falling upon his consciousness.
Suddenly, his consciousness materialized into a figure glowing with golden light, standing before the Kaiyang Gate.
At this moment, Chen Zhian looked upward and finally comprehended the immense grandeur and splendor of Kaiyang Gate.
The hundred-zhang-tall silver palace reflected the myriad colors of light from the Southern Flowing Scenery, resembling a celestial palace in the heavens.
Chen Zhian lowered his gaze to his own body, which radiated brilliant light so intense even he could not see it clearly.
“Truly wondrous.”
Page 2/3
Murmuring to himself, he then took a deep breath and extended his hand to gently push the massive gate of Kaiyang Gate, which was several dozen zhang wide.
“Click…”
The grand gate of Kaiyang Gate opened!
Brilliant and dazzling radiance instantly engulfed Chen Zhian.
He felt as if he had merged with the splendid light, blooming at the horizon between two worlds.
In his vision, everything was swallowed by the brilliance, a vast white void obscuring all clarity.
Until in the distance, a patch of brownish light appeared.
Chen Zhian’s consciousness instinctively focused on that brownish glow.
“That is... a person?”
Chen Zhian whispered to himself.
——
Liu Wuming: “Tuoba, wake up quickly! Today’s your turn to saddle the horse. The squad leader is about to depart on patrol. If you delay, you’ll get whipped again.”
Tuoba Dao awoke, stretching his arms: “You disturbed my beautiful dream. I just dreamed I became king of the grasslands, riding an armored steed, leading a tidal wave of brothers to conquer vast lands.”
Liu Wuming: “Haha, what king would a dirt farmer like you be? If you could claim the throne, I’d be emperor of Daxi. Stop dawdling—the town of Black Fort, twenty li away, is holding a feast for the troops tonight. They say Official Zeng is coming; who knows what fine things he’ll bring!”
Tuoba Dao: “I heard from brothers heading to Black Fort that Official Zeng’s daughter is as beautiful as a celestial maiden. After the war, if we could marry her, that would be wonderful!”
...
“Sky King! Sky King!”
Huyan Guang’s shout pulled Tuoba Dao’s thoughts back to the grasslands of Shaji Chuan in the northern kingdom. The heavy, pungent stench of blood in Green Jade City roused the aged Tuoba Dao to full awareness.
Now was no time to dwell on the past.
“Sky King, tomorrow I will gather the troops again, cross Wusu Plain, and attack once more.” The sun in the sky cast light on Huyan Guang’s cold, handsome face.
“No need.” Tuoba Dao shook his head, closing his eyes as he lay on the grassland. “Tomorrow we retreat. Our Yuhu people’s blood has been spilled too much. I am old and frail; I cannot extend my life, nor reclaim the Green Jade my ancestors once founded.”
Huyan Guang fell silent, bowing his head, his body trembling slightly.
Tuoba Dao opened his bloodshot eyes; the sun above was scorching and blinding.
He stared at the sun, vaguely noticing a golden light spot within it.
This mighty lord of the grasslands gazed at that light spot until, at some point, he fell into a deep sleep.
“Rushing waterfall sounds…”
The sound of cascading water awakened Tuoba Dao.
He opened his eyes to behold a magnificent scene.
Amidst vast mists and clouds stood a towering silver palace.
Tuoba Dao rose, inexplicably summoning clouds and mist, flying toward the palace.
Page 3/3
The palace gates were already wide open. Tuoba Dao entered and saw the vast hall was empty except for a suspended throne at the far end.
Upon that floating throne sat a person.
The figure radiated light, but Tuoba Dao could not discern their features.
He only sensed that the person on the throne emitted an aura like a blazing sun, burning fiercely and unfathomably deep.
What delighted him further was... being born within this palace, he felt his spirit clear, thoughts lucid, and mind agile.
“If I can comprehend the ‘Great Repentance of Longevity’ within this palace, I shall make great progress.”
Tuoba Dao had fought for decades. He witnessed the collapse of Daxi, the rise of the northern kingdom, and the gradual ascent of Dayu’s Kui Star.
He led troops to unify Changsheng Plain, contended with the northern kingdom, and was but a step away from reclaiming Green Jade City, the cradle of his ancestors.
His life was extraordinary: he had seen hundreds of thousands clash in battle, witnessed debates between immortals and Buddhas, beheld the ancient dragon in the jade pool, and viewed the Nine Steles in the sky. He even drank with the mighty one who carved characters upon the Ninth Stele in Shaji Chuan!
Yet he had never seen such a person or such a palace.
To gaze upon the person on the throne was like gazing upon the sun.
Tuoba Dao could not stare long, feeling the figure on the throne was as round and solemn as the morning sun, radiant with resplendent glow, bright enough to illuminate a thousand li across the grassland.
The person on the throne rested, head supported by a hand, eyes closed.
After a few moments of silence, Tuoba Dao finally asked, “Where is this? And who... are you?”
The person on the throne opened their eyes, which shone with brilliant crimson and golden hues—eyes like beams of light—fixing on Tuoba Dao.
“This is the White Jade Capital. I am... the Lord of the White Jade Capital!”
——
The old man’s voice roused Chen Zhian.
Opening his eyes, Chen Zhian saw himself seated upon the throne of Kaiyang Gate, facing a man—an old man.
This man was the figure from the glowing spot, surrounded like a star by thousands of military tents.
At this moment, the old man’s gaze blazed as he looked steadily at Chen Zhian.
Out of the corner of his eye, Chen Zhian saw his own body radiating dazzling light. He was uncertain whether the armored old man could clearly see his face.
Yet upon seeing this old man, perhaps blessed by the intense radiance of Southern Flowing Scenery, Chen Zhian clearly perceived that within the old man’s body seemed to brew a vast ocean—profound, powerful, and ineffable.
“This armored old man must be an unparalleled mighty figure.”
Chen Zhian sat upright on the throne, looking down upon this evidently distinguished elder, realizing the light emanating from himself, aware that here upon the Southern Flowing Scenery in Kaiyang Gate, he seemed to possess some unique power.
Suddenly, a thought surfaced in his mind.
He lifted his head and fixed his gaze directly on the old man.
“This is the White Jade Capital.”
“I am... the Lord of the White Jade Capital!”