A Pawn's Passage

Qingqiu Mountain was located 150 kilometers east of Mount Ji, in a place unknown to ordinary people. An Immortal lived in seclusion on Mount Ji. It was said he once blew dust into a cave with a single breath from his nostrils, sat cross-legged beneath the sun, and emitted golden radiance from the crown of his head. Those afflicted by illness would listen to his discourse, and their chronic ailments would seem to vanish. If asked about his methods, he would speak only of breathing exercises and cultivation. Though there were mantras, true enlightenment came from stillness rather than clever techniques. In the end, no one knew where he went.

Mount Ji lay within Ling County of Ande Prefecture in Qizhou, bordering Linyi County. Ande Prefecture itself bordered the various prefectures and counties of Zhili, while to the south was Beihai Prefecture. It was more than 400 kilometers from the Imperial Capital.

Even after arriving at Mount Ji, Qingqiu Mountain could not yet be seen. Like Lingshan, Qingqiu Mountain existed within a pocket realm and possessed multiple entrances and exits.

Accompanied by members of the Li family, Li Changge arrived at the snow-covered Mount Ji and began ascending along the mountain path.

Before long, white mist rose along the mountain path. After walking for about another quarter of an hour, the mist gradually thinned, and the group found themselves upon a different mountain road altogether. The surrounding scenery had changed completely—no longer snow-covered wastelands but endless greenery with a warm and gentle climate.

This was the Qingqiu Mountain Paradise.

At first glance, the Qingqiu Mountain Paradise did not appear especially remarkable. At the very least, it lacked the overwhelming grandeur of the Lingshan Paradise.

However, this was merely one of the subsidiary mountain ranges, still some distance from the main mountain.

Looking toward Qingqiu Mountain’s main peak, one could see it faintly through layers of clouds and mist. The summit protruded like the first tender tip of a lotus bud emerging from the water, and from it radiated brilliant multicolored light. That was the sacred ground of Qingqiu Mountain.

Li Changsheng raised a hand and pointed. “The last time I came here, I was about the same age as you, Yong Yan. Now, I have become an old man. Returning to this place after so many years brings an indescribable feeling to my heart.”

Li Changge gazed toward the place where the multicolored radiance blossomed and remained silent.

After Sage Qingwei officially advanced to the Immortal realm, he returned the Qinghuo Pearl to the Qingqiu Mountain Paradise.

For an Immortal, this immortal object was still useful, but its effects were no longer significant. It could not compare to immortal objects such as Skycaller, Moral Sovereign, and the Heavenly Preceptor’s Twin Swords.

Although the Qinghuo Pearl was nominally an immortal object of the Daoist Order, that was only in name. The conditions required to use it were far too demanding. In practice, decisions regarding its disposition were largely left to the fox clan of Qingqiu Mountain.

Li Changge had come here precisely to take possession of the Qinghuo Pearl in advance.

A major reason the Imperial Preceptor had chosen Li Changge as the head of the Li family was his Qingqiu Mountain bloodline. By relying on both the Longevity Stone Heart and the Qinghuo Pearl, he could establish an overwhelming lead in cultivation. With that advantage in cultivation and power, advancement in office would naturally follow.

After all, an Immortal could hardly remain a mere Chief Deputy. Li Changge was not Chen Shuhua. He was a true prodigy of the Daoist Order, born into nobility and privilege. For someone like him, the higher his cultivation, the better. There were no restrictions holding him back.

With such an advantage, he would always be one step ahead. By the time Zhang Yuelu reached forty and was still a Pseudo-Immortal, Li Changge would already be an Immortal, establishing an enormous lead and effectively dominating the competition by 20 years.

Sage Qingwei had never fully utilized this advantage because there was no need to. First, he lacked the Longevity Stone Heart and only possessed the Qinghuo Pearl, so the gap was never that significant. Second, the Three Deputy Grand Masters refused to relinquish power. Had they not been nearing ascension and running out of time in the mortal world, they would never even have considered selecting a new Grand Master. Instead, the three of them had been perfectly content taking turns enjoying the position themselves. Under such circumstances, the ceiling was fixed. Whether one advanced a little faster or slower made no difference, because no one was becoming the Grand Master anyway. It was better to proceed steadily and methodically.

Now that the position of Grand Master was to be formally restored, the situation was entirely different. Times had changed, and old circumstances could not be judged by the standards of the present.

What no one had anticipated was Qi Xuansu’s meteoric rise. Not only had he erased Li Changge’s advantage, but he had actually forced Li Changge into having to chase after him.

At this thought, Li Changge was not nearly as calm as he appeared on the surface.

There was still some time before the grand gathering officially began. Elders of the fox clan came personally to welcome the distinguished guests of the Li family and accompanied them on a tour of Qingqiu Mountain.

Under normal circumstances, members of the Li family rarely visited Qingqiu Mountain. Among the many Li family members present this time were both the elders and the younger generation. The elders had experience and had visited the Qingqiu Mountain Paradise before, while the younger ones had mostly come to broaden their horizons and familiarize themselves with the fox clan.

By dusk, with the grand gathering about to begin, the Li family delegation set out for Qingqiu Mountain’s main peak. Along the way, they could see numerous members of the fox clan making their way toward the peak from every direction. Men and women wore magnificent brocade garments and flowered crowns fragrant with incense. The entire mountain was filled with a festive atmosphere, much like the Lunar New Year.

Halfway up the main peak of Qingqiu Mountain was an enormous flat clearing capable of accommodating several thousand people without feeling crowded.

At this moment, countless fox clan members had gathered there. Bonfires blazed throughout the area. The younger members played musical instruments and danced joyfully around the flames. The elder members sat nearby, drinking wine while watching the younger generation sing and dance. Even many little foxes who had yet to assume human form joined in the festivities.

In addition, many fox-clan Daoists serving in various positions within the Daoist Order had specifically taken leave to return and participate in the celebration.

It had been this way for more than a thousand years.

Surrounding the clearing were three floating platforms.

These platforms were circular in shape and had no visible supports beneath them, defying all common sense. Their elevation matched that of the mountainside, and they were connected to the clearing by arched bridges. Their surfaces were smooth and paved with stone, while carved railings surrounded their edges, making them excellent vantage points.

In earlier times, these platforms had served as arenas where candidates competed for the position of guest elder. After Donghuang abolished this competition, the three platforms became purely scenic overlooks from which one could gaze down upon the entirety of Qingqiu Mountain.

When the appointed hour arrived, the elders of the fox clan appeared one after another. There were both men and women. Some appeared middle-aged, and regardless of gender, all of them were exceptionally beautiful. Some were gentle and refined, some carefree and unrestrained, some dignified and elegant, others enchanting and seductive. There were also elderly figures with white hair, looking like venerable and transcendent Immortals. Not a single one among them could be considered unattractive.

However, the legendary Fox Immortal—the Master of Qingqiu Mountain—did not make an appearance.

Under the guidance of the fox clan elders, the other foxes began the moon worship ceremony. The members of the Li family merely observed from the three surrounding platforms and did not take part.

A bright full moon quietly appeared in the sky, casting down its radiant light.

This moon was not a moon deity. It was simply the moon itself, unrelated to True Lord Taiyin or other moon gods.

After the ceremony concluded, a beautiful middle-aged woman approached the Li family and invited them to proceed to Qingqiu Mountain’s sacred ground.

From a distance, one could only see countless rays of colorful light emanating from the summit of Qingqiu Mountain’s main peak, making it impossible to discern the true appearance of the sacred ground.

In truth, the summit of Qingqiu Mountain was separated from the main body, as though an Immortal had severed it with a single sword strike. The summit floated independently in the air, suspended roughly 30 meters above the mountain beneath it. Surrounding the entire summit were nine illusory fox tails layered one around another. Streams of visible, multicolored radiance flowed slowly through the nine tails, causing each to display a different hue. This was the source of the brilliant lights visible from afar.

Upon closer inspection, the nine illusory fox tails were not lifeless objects. Ripples moved through them as though they possessed their own spirituality. Through the tails, one could vaguely make out pavilions and towers atop the summit, drifting clouds, exotic flowers, and rare grasses, creating a scene worthy of a paradise.

This was the sacred ground of Qingqiu Mountain.

The Li family stood upon one of the floating platforms. Then the platform detached itself from the connecting bridge and rose into the sky.

Many young people visiting for the first time gazed at the sacred ground sealed behind the nine fox tails. Their expressions varied. Some were filled with awe, while others were filled with curiosity.

As the platform passed through, the tightly closed fox tails slowly parted, like a blooming lotus flower, finally revealing the true appearance of the sacred ground hidden within.

At the center of the sacred ground lay a lotus pond. Its waters were crystal clear, allowing the bottom to be seen at a glance. A five-colored lotus flower that bloomed in the middle of the pond was surrounded by countless sparkling motes of light. Nestled within the flower’s center was the Qinghuo Pearl.

Around the lotus pond were four palaces, one in each cardinal direction.

The palace to the north was called Cangwu Hall, once the residence of Qingqiu Mountain’s guest elders, like Donghuang. At the same time, it served as a cultivation site, possessing the wondrous ability to gather elemental energy. Cultivating here for a single day was worth ten days spent cultivating in other sacred mountains and blessed rivers.

Directly opposite it to the south stood Xuanhai Hall, which was reserved for receiving guests. The sacred ground was not entirely off-limits. So long as one received an invitation from its owner, entry was permitted. When Sage Qingwei came to return the Qinghuo Pearl, the fox clan had received him here.

There was also Qingqiu Hall to the east and Zhenlong Hall to the west. The former enshrined the ancestors of Qingqiu Mountain throughout the generations. The latter served as the treasury, housing the relics of past guest elders and Qingqiu Mountain Masters, as well as rare treasures and exotic artifacts gathered by the fox clan from all over the world. It was equivalent to the Xuanwu Hall of the Dazhen Mansion.

In addition, four elevated platforms stood between the four palaces, located respectively to the northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest.

The platform in the northeast was called the Star Observation Platform. From this platform, one could see the true movements of the stars beyond the paradise, allowing for observation of celestial phenomena and divination.

The platform in the northwest was called the Tribulation Crossing Platform. Unlike humans, the fox clan had to undergo a minor heavenly tribulation upon advancing to the Longevity stage, akin to a human’s rebirth and transformation. This platform was specifically designed to help resist that minor tribulation, not the heavenly tribulations faced by Immortals.

The platform in the southeast was called the Ascension Platform, which could simplify the ritual procedures required for ascension.

The platform in the southwest was called the Falling Blossom Platform. It had the finest scenery and the most beautiful moonlight. One could play music, read, drink wine, or play chess there. More importantly, it was an ideal place for lovers to court one another and confess their deepest feelings.

To sever emotional ties, one first had to possess emotional ties.

At that moment, a woman emerged from Cangwu Hall. Her raven-black hair flowed like a waterfall, and her white robes were purer than snow. It seemed as though she embodied every conceivable charm and grace. A subtle yet soul-stirring aura drifted toward those present, refreshing the spirit while captivating the heart. Without realizing it, one would find oneself drawn in, unable to resist.

Strangely, her face could not be seen clearly. It appeared blurred and indistinct, yet it manifested as whatever the observers personally believed to be the most beautiful visage imaginable.