A Pawn's Passage

Back then, Elder Xu created the Xiaoyao Six Void Tribulations Technique because he had drawn inspiration from the Eclipse Method.

The Eclipse Method benefited oneself at the expense of others, absorbing another person’s cultivation to strengthen one’s own. Every gain for oneself meant an equal loss for the other. However, it also had a flaw. Once the practitioner reached the limit of what their body could contain, they could not absorb any more energy and could no longer drain the opponent’s cultivation.

Thus, the Earthly Preceptor created the Xiaoyao Six Void Tribulation, a method that harmed others without benefiting oneself. Instead of absorbing an opponent’s cultivation, it simply destroyed it. Thus, it had no such limitation and could continue endlessly. There were even six variations of this technique. The one Zhang Yuelu used now was merely the most basic form. Beyond it were even more vicious techniques, such as turning the person’s qi into fuel and igniting it.

Zhou Hegang felt the six strands of foreign qi within his body advancing along his meridians toward his Dantians. Alarmed, he only wanted to break free from Zhang Yuelu’s grip. He immediately raised the ancient sword in his hand and decisively severed his own arm. For a Heavenly Being, reconnecting a severed limb was trivial, since it could simply be reattached later.

But to Zhou Hegang’s surprise, cutting off his limb did not sever the invading foreign qi. Instead, the six streams of foreign qi that had already entered his body fused with his own innate qi and vanished without a trace. He had no way to force them out.

As a member of the Daoist Order, Zhou Hegang naturally knew how formidable the Xiaoyao Six Void Tribulation was. Yet this was the first time he had experienced it firsthand. For a moment, he did not know how to counter it.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Yuelu leaped forward and struck Zhou Hegang’s chest with her palm. Just as Zhou Hegang raised his hand to block, the previously vanished foreign qi suddenly reappeared, disrupting the normal flow of his innate qi.

This made him freeze for a brief instant, allowing Zhang Yuelu’s palm to strike his heart. The force of the Thunder Palm penetrated his body, injuring all five of his internal organs.

Even so, Zhou Hegang had still not lost his ability to fight. Black mist swirled around his entire body, giving him a bizarre and ominous appearance.

At that moment, Zhou Hegang suddenly felt a chill run through him. Someone was striking at him from behind. Feeling the overwhelming force pressing down upon him, he hurriedly turned and swung his sword to block the palm strike. Just then, the six strands of foreign qi surged up again within his body. They shifted unpredictably and moved erratically, mingling with his own innate qi while destroying it simultaneously. Whenever he attempted to counterattack, they vanished again, hiding once more within his own qi.

Zhou Hegang was already no match for this newcomer, especially with the Six Void Tribulations disrupting him. Thus, the newcomer managed to knock away the ancient sword from his hand and struck him on the crown of his head.

Zhou Hegang’s entire body convulsed violently, and blood spurted from his orifices.

The newcomer was Lin Yuanmiao, who was not to be underestimated with his Zaohua-stage cultivation. Combined with Zhang Yuelu’s Xiaoyao Six Void Tribulation, Zhou Hegang’s defeat was hardly unjustified.

Zhang Yuelu circulated the Xiaoyao Six Void Tribulation once more. The remaining qi within Zhou Hegang’s body transformed into blazing yin fire, burning through his five organs and Dantians. No matter what technique Zhou Hegang had cultivated, he could no longer resist at this time.

Zhou Hegang had never imagined that Zhang Yuelu possessed such formidable cultivation that he could not subdue her.

This was the gap between a peerless genius and ordinary people. Some spent their entire lives cultivating yet could not match another’s couple of years of progress. Take Qi Xuansu, for example. Even with the Longevity Stone Heart, an artifact comparable to an immortal object, he was only slightly stronger than Zhang Yuelu.

If someone were both a genius and possessed the Longevity Stone, that person would have become unmatched in this world, with few opponents.

Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu each possessed only one of those advantages, which was why neither of them had yet to become Immortals. Yao Pei and Li Changge were in roughly the same situation.

With Lin Yuanmiao’s help, Zhang Yuelu defeated Zhou Hegang but did not kill him. She declared, “Daoist Zhou, you’re hereby charged with attempting to attack the Chief Deputy of the Poluo Daoist Mansion. Guards, imprison Sage Zhou in the Nether Prison and watch him carefully. Don’t let him die.”

The fight between the two had already alerted the large contingent of Spirit Guards stationed nearby. Hearing Zhang Yuelu’s command, they immediately stepped forward and subdued Zhou Hegang.

After all, Spirit Guards were not like Daoist priests. Their fate depended entirely on Zhang Yuelu’s will, so they dared not disobey her orders.

Without needing Zhang Yuelu to say anything, Lin Yuanmiao also took the initiative to keep watch over Zhou Hegang in case he caused any more trouble.

Zhang Yuelu then instructed Ke Qingqing, “Qingqing, write a report immediately. I will report this incident to Great Sage Lan.”

“Yes,” Ke Qingqing replied.

With a resolute expression, Zhang Yuelu returned to her office to continue handling some administrative affairs.

This matter was certainly far from over. As Zhou Hegang had said, it was not just him who was dissatisfied with Zhang Yuelu; it was a whole group of them.

The next day, news that Zhou Hegang had been taken down by Zhang Yuelu spread quickly, causing a huge uproar. Those opposing her split into two groups. One group went to the Sheji Palace of Thanglong Prefecture, complaining to Great Sage Lan and Yao Shu. The other group went to Lion City, blocking the gates of Tianfu Palace and demanding an explanation from Zhang Yuelu.

Seeing this, Xie Jiaofeng was not particularly afraid. It was not because he had suddenly become courageous but because he knew that Chief Deputy Zhang would never push the matter onto others. She was the type who would face such storms by herself.

Sure enough, after hearing about the situation, Zhang Yuelu agreed to meet the people causing the disturbance.

Zhang Yuelu knew that this matter could not be smoothed over with a few polite words or sidestepped through clever maneuvering unless greater interests were involved. But if there were greater interests, that would be the approach advocated by Qi Xuansu and Li Changge. Therefore, the only option was to confront the issue head-on and force it through. At this point, there was no second path.

If this matter were easy, then the many people in the past who attempted to carry out reforms would not have ended up with such tragic fates.

Zhang Yuelu arrived at the tightly shut gates of Tianfu Palace and instructed those beside her, “Open the gates.”

The Spirit Guards on both sides acknowledged the order.

The double doors slowly opened. A thin line of daylight shone through, first striking a narrow line across the center of Zhang Yuelu’s face. The line widened gradually until the daylight flooded in, enveloping her entire figure.

In her heart, Zhang Yuelu silently recited, “Things cannot always go as one wishes. I only seek to have a clear conscience.”

When the gates were fully opened, Zhang Yuelu looked up and saw that the square outside was already filled with people.

Accompanied by Lin Yuanmiao, Ke Qingqing, and others, Zhang Yuelu stepped across the threshold and walked out of the gates of Tianfu Palace.

Back when Lion City had fallen into chaos, the people had also surrounded Tianfu Palace. At that time, Qi Xuansu had stood in this very place to calm the crowd. Now, it was Zhang Yuelu standing here instead.

After Zhang Yuelu steadied herself and swept her gaze across the crowd. The noisy clamor gradually fell silent wherever her eyes passed. When one’s conduct was upright, others would follow without the need for commands.

Zhang Yuelu said, “You demanded an explanation from me, so here I am to answer your queries.”

Lin Yuanmiao remained expressionless as he surveyed the crowd.

With enough Soul-Returning Incense, Lin Yuanmiao could control this mortal shell of Lin Lingsu and recover his cultivation at the Zaohua stage. Once he fully mastered the body, he could recover to the Pseudo-Immortal stage, the same realm that Lin Lingsu had possessed after being suppressed by Sage Changchun. But whether he could ultimately attain immortality depended on his own fate and potential.

Over the past two years, Zhang Yuelu was not the only one who had advanced rapidly. With the Zhang family providing resources, Lin Yuanmiao’s recovery had been swift, and he was now only a step away from the Pseudo-Immortal stage.

Naturally, the Daoist Order had no shortage of experts of this caliber, but most of them held high-ranking positions. They would not remain in a minor post like Lin Yuanmiao—a nominal Deputy Palace Master with no real authority.

This made Lin Yuanmiao all the more frightening. Those in high office might wield great prestige, but they were bound by many restrictions and could not act on a whim. By contrast, someone like Lin Yuanmiao had no such constraints. Since his post was merely symbolic, losing it would not matter much to him. This meant he could do as he pleased.

Everyone knew that the Heavenly Preceptor had sent Lin Yuanmiao to support Zhang Yuelu.

Looking across the entire Poluo Daoist Mansion, probably no one—aside from Great Sage Lan, Yao Shu, and the two first-rank Spirit Guards—could defeat Lin Yuanmiao in a one-on-one fight.

Zhou Hegang had also been defeated by this very man.

After a moment, a white-bearded Daoist stepped forward and asked loudly, “Chief Deputy Zhang, why has Elder Zhou been imprisoned? What crimes has he committed?”

Zhang Yuelu replied expressionlessly, “He has two charges: contempt of the Daoist Mansion and assault on the Chief Deputy Mansion Master, with witnesses and material evidence present. You may examine the case files if you wish. I can authorize the Fengxian Hall to provide them.”

The old Daoist asked again, “Why would Sage Zhou attack you, Chief Deputy Zhang?”

Zhang Yuelu refused to fall into his trap and instead countered, “Why did Wang Jiaohe, Sun Heyu, and Chen Shuhua rebel against the Daoist Order? Why did Zhou Hegang show contempt for the Daoist Mansion and attack the Chief Deputy? I’m afraid that question shouldn’t be directed at me.”

The old Daoist was immediately stunned.

Zhang Yuelu was too cunning. If she had offered an explanation, they would have gained an opening to shift the topic to the new policies she implemented. That way, they could accuse Zhang Yuelu of framing Zhou Hegang because he voiced dissent for the reforms. Then they could continue pressing the issue from there.

But Zhang Yuelu simply refused to take the bait.

She asked again, “Is there anything else you wish to ask?”

For a moment, the crowd fell silent.

Since they would not ask, Zhang Yuelu pressed the advantage. “Touching someone’s interests is even harder than touching their soul—I find that saying to be quite true. I know why you’ve come. Let me offer you all a piece of advice. I am not some flowerbed Daoist raised in comfort. I have been through my fair share of life-and-death trials. To me, reforming the Daoist Order has never been mere talk. Don’t think that you all can scare me into retreat just by putting pressure on me.

“Back then, during the first major Jiangnan case, I was only a fifth-rank deacon acting alone. I nearly got murdered, yet that isn’t enough to silence me. Now that I am a second-rank Taiyi Daoist holding the position of Chief Deputy, do you really think I would fear someone trying to set fire to Tianfu Palace, repeating the Zhenwu Temple incident?”