Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Shi Qingfeng, holding the Mountain God's Gold Seal in his hand, pondered for a long time before saying, "I am willing to try, and if one day I forget my original intention, I hope you can kill me!"

After speaking, he began to refine the Gold Seal. The Gold Seal was originally ownerless, and Shi Qingfeng had been worshipped as the Mountain God for many years, so the refining process went very smoothly. In no time, Shi Qingfeng's originally fragmented ghostly voice flickered with golden light, and soon a majestic man in a war robe appeared before Lu Yu.

"It seems that your reputation as the Mountain God of Izumo Mountain is well-established, otherwise you wouldn't have refined the Mountain God's Gold Seal so quickly. First, stabilize your divine position, as I will need your help with something soon!"

Shi Qingfeng merely grunted in response and did not ask what Lu Yu needed help with. Although they had not known each other for long, deep in his heart, he was very willing to trust Lu Yu.

It is strange how people work; some people, despite many years of acquaintance, never quite fit together, while others can become close friends in just a brief span of time.

Once Shi Qingfeng successfully stabilized his divine position, Lu Yu finally laid out the matter concerning the City God.

"Establishing the City God brings order between heaven and earth, and a rightful way between life and death. This is beneficial for heaven, earth, and all beings. Though I, Stone Someone, am not talented, I am willing to lend you a helping hand."

With Shi Qingfeng's promise, Lu Yu began to build an altar on the summit of Izumo Mountain. The altar was 365 meters in circumference and three meters high, divided into three levels.

The first level depicted scenes from the Eighteen Levels of Hell, the second displayed Great Chen's Mountains and Rivers, and the third depicted various deities, representing the three talents of heaven, earth, and humanity.

Once the altar was complete, Lu Yu spread out the Gold plaque in his hand, and it flew above the altar, emitting a faint light. A black vortex appeared in the middle of the plaque, which was the space prepared for the deification of individuals, capable of protecting their souls and spirits.

In the Imperial Palace of Fengjing, Great Chen, the palace, with its orderly layout and red bricks and golden tiles, was a magnificent sight. Inside the palace, everything shone with gold and splendor, the epitome of luxury, with countless eunuchs and palace maids divided to the left and right.

At this moment, each of them was trembling with fear, hardly daring to breathe when outside the palace, a commanding voice rang out, "You servants, hurry up and let me in to see the Emperor!"

There stood an old man in red official robes, holding a Jade Plaque, his face bearing the marks of time, being stopped by several eunuchs outside the palace.

This was Wang Guan, the Grand Preceptor of the current dynasty. As a veteran of three reigns and the Emperor's mentor, his words carried immense weight in the Imperial Court. He was known for his integrity and willingness to directly criticize, which made the Emperor rather fearful of him.

"Grand Preceptor, please don't make it difficult for us, the Emperor has said he does not wish to see you," one of the leading eunuchs said tremulously.

"What does the Emperor mean by this, not attending court for days and neglecting government affairs, and being bewitched day and night by that woman Su Wenji? With such behavior, how can he face the ancestors of Great Chen!" the Old Grand Preceptor shouted, his voice penetrating the doors of the palace and reaching the ears of the Emperor resting inside.

At this moment, the King of Great Chen lay on a bed, luxuriously enjoying the services of several beautiful women; a beautiful woman in palace attire was gently massaging his temples.

The woman was stunningly beautiful, with a graceful figure and an exquisite face—especially her eyes, which captivated souls and seized spirits, exuding an astonishing charm.

While gently massaging, she softly said in a voice that resembled the chirping of a hundred birds, "Perhaps His Majesty should still meet with the Grand Preceptor. It would be a shame to damage the Grand Preceptor's dignity on my account, after all, he holds great sway as a veteran of three reigns."

Her words, though spoken tenderly, caused the Emperor to furrow his brow. He considered the so-called veteran, who, flaunting his role as his former teacher and guardian minister, held excessive prestige in the Imperial Court. Should he harbor rebellious thoughts, the Emperor's throne would be anything but secure.

"Hmph! Announce my decree: say that Master Wang, due to his old age and frailty, should not exert himself further. As a special favor, I will allow him to retire home to recuperate. As for court affairs, he should not concern himself."

When these words reached Wang Guan's ears, he widened his eyes in disbelief and asked the eunuch beside him who delivered the message, "Did His Majesty really say that?"

Upon seeing the eunuch nod, Wang Guan slowly removed his official hat, took off his robe, and then stood outside the grand hall shouting, "Since His Majesty wishes me to resign from my post, then I shall resign. Yet as a guardian minister, I cannot keep my peace unless I speak."

"His Majesty, being the Emperor, should prioritize the matters of the state over indulgence in pleasures. Neglecting merit and ignoring the officials while disregarding the people of the world are absurd acts. I urge His Majesty, from this day forward, to revive his spirits and execute the enchantress Su Wenji to restore the court's discipline!"

Far from appreciating Wang Guan's earnest advice, it only sparked the Emperor's defiance. Grinding his teeth, he raged, "This old fool, always so self-righteous, acting like a constant mentor despite being just a subject. It's infuriating!"

Su Wenji, kneeling on the ground, tearfully pleaded, "I am but a mere woman, how could I possibly disrupt state affairs? I don't know how I have offended the Old Grand Preceptor to deserve such repeated threats on my life." She then buried her face in the Emperor's lap and cried bitterly.

Furious already, the Emperor's anger further flared at these words: "Wang Guan isn't even my father yet he dares to meddle with my women!" He immediately issued another decree.

The gist was that ever since his novice accession to the throne, he had relied entirely on the teacher for guidance—that in essence, Wang Guan controlled the Imperial Court, taking credit for good deeds while shifting blame for bad onto the Emperor and argued that matters of the harem were personal to the Imperial Family, which foreign ministers like Wang should not comment upon.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

This decree undeniably stripped Wang Guan of his dignity, trampling it beneath contempt. How could such a proud old man endure such humiliation?

Furiously, Wang Guan bellowed, "Former Emperor! I have failed in your trust—now that signs of Great Chen's downfall are manifest, and I can't inspire the Emperor to diligence, how can I face you in the Nether Springs? Besides, having lived a life transparent, how can I endure such an insult? If His Majesty refuses to see me today, I shall throw myself against the pillars outside this grand hall!"

Wang Guan's outburst frightened the surrounding eunuchs and palace maids, yet the Emperor inside the palace seemed deaf to it all, not uttering a single word.

An eerie silence enveloped the surroundings of the grand hall. Seeing no reaction to his words, Wang Guan, heartbroken, violently threw himself against a pillar outside the hall, blood flowing from the pillar to the ground in front of the hall, staining his thrown-down official hat and robe a vivid red.

On the first mountain outside Fengjing City, two Taoists stood at the peak, silently watching the scene. The older one sighed and said, "A lamentable end for a renowned minister of the era, now merely a wronged ghost lingering through the dynastic changes."