Strictly speaking, the Imperial Observatory was not a heavily guarded place, and after Ji Yuan arrived, there was usually no special guard outside the archives and documents library, so when Yan Chang arrived outside, the yard was basically empty, and without Ji Yuan, there was no one to ask if they had seen Ji Yuan.
Ji Yuan felt that this was not really leaving without saying goodbye. He just told Yan Chang that he was going to Tingqiu Mountain, but he had no intention of leaving immediately. After leaving the Sitianjian, he strolled around the capital city casually, intending to see what the great and capable people who were starting to appear and come to the capital city were like.
The great victory in Qizhou took place nearly a month ago. Although we just got to know about it in the capital of Dazhen, it took only a few days for the news to spread throughout Dazhen and even the surrounding areas in the cultivation world. Obviously, a lot more talented people have gathered in the capital of Dazhen recently.
Sure enough, the good news of the great victory on the front line had spread throughout the capital city. In the streets and alleys, wherever there were two or more people, they were basically celebrating in their own way. This was not just a matter of gaining a foothold, but a well-deserved victory. The names of Yin Zhong and Mei She were also known to everyone.
What's interesting is that the most lively place is the location of the great altar in the capital, which was relatively deserted before the war. Many people are moving there, and there are also imperial guards maintaining it and royal carriages. It should be that a newly appointed Heavenly Master is going to show up on the altar.
Ji Yuan followed the crowd and went over to join in the fun. Everyone around him was jogging, but he was the only one walking slowly.
"Hey, sir, if you don't run over there quickly, you won't be able to take up a good spot. Then you can only see the back of other people's heads!"
"That's right, let's go quickly. I wonder if we'll see a wizard making a fool of himself today."
The two of them walked quickly past Ji Yuan, and a half-grown child also ran over carrying a stool, which made Ji Yuan laugh.
There were a few scholars with swords on the side, who were also walking slowly. They should be from other places who came to Beijing. They saw the commotion and came to join in the fun. They also heard people around them talking about the Taoist priest making a fool of himself, and couldn't help but feel curious.
"Why are many of them saying that the Heavenly Master might make a fool of himself?"
"That's not clear, why don't you ask someone?"
"Well, let me ask."
After one of the scholars finished speaking, he looked for someone to ask, but unfortunately everyone was running very fast. By the time they got closer to the altar, people had already surrounded it in three layers. Looking at the height and size of the altar, the people below should not be able to see the top even if they surrounded it, unless they were on the upper floors of the building next to it where they could see it.
"Excuse me, brother, why do you all say that this wizard might make a fool of himself on the altar?"
"Hey, you are a scholar from another place, right? People in the capital and even officials have been saying that it is difficult for people with bad intentions to stand on this stage. Just watch."
The two scholars looked at each other.
"Is there something special about this platform?"
"Oh, how would I know? I only know that I've seen many capable Heavenly Masters, but after they got on the altar, they walked slower and slower along the steps, just like they were carrying a few large sacks of grain. It's boring to say more, you'll know when you see them, there will always be one or two like that."
"Is there such a thing?"
The two of them were so curious that they couldn't help but stand on tiptoe to take a look. Ji Yuan, who was not far away from them, opened his Dharma Eyes a little wider and scanned the altar. He could vaguely see the traces left by his sword dance in the moonlight. The radiance within was still there, but had become one with the altar over the years. He naturally knew this a long time ago, but he didn't expect that the altar would spontaneously undergo such a change.
"Here they come, a dozen new Heavenly Masters, it's going to be something to watch!"
"Yes, yes, it's worth seeing!"
There was a burst of excitement in the crowd. Many of the Heavenly Masters who had come with the officials from the Ministry of Rites looked at the crowd, and felt that the people of the capital were so enthusiastic.
The surrounding imperial guards also looked at these mages who were mostly unaware of the situation. Even though some people vaguely heard voices from the surrounding people saying that they were enjoying the show, they did not think much about it.
The official from the Ministry of Rites walked to the edge of the altar, stopped, and bowed to the sixteen Heavenly Masters behind him.
"You are all newly appointed Heavenly Masters by the Emperor, but my Great Zhen has already established a written rule that all Heavenly Masters must go to this altar to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth. The offerings have been placed on the altar, so just follow me."
The official from the Ministry of Rites paused, then continued.
"Oh, right, let me first tell you, the immortal masters, this platform was built during the Yuande period. The imperial master and the Grand Master of Rites all said that after the platform was completed, a true immortal cast a spell to bless it, and it can read people's hearts and distinguish between good and evil. Ordinary people can go up and down naturally, but if they are practitioners, this platform will change. Please walk slowly. If you can't keep up, remind me that no matter what happens in the middle, as long as I can get on the platform, it will be fine."
The immortal masters below were all listening to this as a joke, thinking that a small official from the Ministry of Rites had no idea what he was talking about. Apart from anything else, the word "true immortal" should not be used casually.
"Don't worry, Lord Lu. Just take us up." "Yes, Lord Lu, just go ahead. Even if you run up, we can keep up."
"Yes, we only need one step to get on this platform!"
The official from the Ministry of Rites did not dare to say much. He just bowed again and said, "Masters, please follow me." Then, he took the lead to go up to the platform. No matter if these masters would get into trouble or not, at least they were not ordinary people.
Seeing the officials from the Ministry of Rites go up easily, the immortal masters behind them also immediately followed. Most of them walked up with a relaxed look, but the first few were as light as a swallow. Some of them remained like this all the time, while some of them felt their steps getting heavier and heavier as they followed, as if their bodies were also becoming heavier and heavier.
About half of the immortal masters had no feeling at all, and among the remaining half, some walked with heavy steps, while others had already begun to gasp for breath.
"Lord Lu, wait a minute!"
An elderly immortal master felt heavy pressure coming from all directions and could hardly walk. The platform, which was not low to begin with, now looked like a mountain with no top to be seen. Not only was it difficult to lift his legs, but even his hands were difficult to wave.
The crowd outside watching the excitement suddenly became excited.
"Look, look, he's sweating!" "I saw it too, the face of the immortal master over there has turned pale."
"That one over there, that one over there is not moving, his body is frozen, only the third one!"
"I saw that, too."
"Hey, that person rolled down, rolled down." "Ouch, it looks so painful!"
Compared to the excitement of the common people, the immortal masters who were affected felt terrible, and the immortal masters who were not affected were also surprised, but they didn't say anything. They followed the officials of the Ministry of Rites together with those who could still hold on.
After walking up to the platform and looking down, some people were still walking up, panting and sweating, while a few could hardly move. In the end, thirteen out of sixteen people walked up to the platform, two of them stood still on the middle step of the platform, unable to move. It seemed that just standing there took a huge amount of energy. The last one was the most embarrassing, as he could not stand steadily and rolled down the steps.
“The Mountain-Suppressing Method! This is the Mountain-Suppressing Method!”
Finally, an immortal master revealed the secret. This altar actually had a hidden secret. Before that, no one had noticed it. Even at this moment, no one had noticed it. They just guessed it based on the performance of a few people. After all, it was unlikely that someone would pretend in such a situation.
The officials from the Ministry of Rites on one side waved their hands directly to the imperial guards on both sides, and immediately armored soldiers stepped forward and carried the two immortal masters who had difficulty leaving the platform by themselves away.
"Masters, please, after offering sacrifices to heaven and earth and listing as the previous emperor, you will all be my Dazhen court officials."
No one took the words of the Ministry of Rites officials lightly at this moment. At the altar over there, the ceremony was presided over by officials from the Imperial Observatory. The whole process was solemn and dignified, and even Ji Yuan felt that it was very real. However, except for the first part where one went up the stairs, the rest were only symbolic.
After watching the entire ceremony, Ji Yuan felt more confident. Even those immortal masters who made a fool of themselves had real skills, otherwise they would be unaware of anything if they were just liars. And those who did not make a fool of themselves could not be liars either, because after this they would not be enjoying themselves in the capital, but would go directly to the battlefield. If they were liars, they would be courting death and would definitely be killed in the battle.
One day later in the morning, Ji Yuan descended from the clouds at one of the peaks of Tingqiu Mountain and stood on the top overlooking the mountains and rivers in the distance. Not long after, a mud and stone shoot rose little by little from the ground not far behind him. It became thicker and taller. When it was as tall as a person, the mud and stone changed shape and color and finally became a person in a gray stone robe.
Ji Yuan turned around and saw the visitor bowing to him.
"Hong Shengting, the mountain god of Tingqiu Mountain, greets Mr. Ji!"
"Meet the God of Hongshan!"
After Ji Yuan returned the gift, he asked with a smile.
"Hongshan God has deep Taoist practices and never gets involved in human affairs. Even if someone built a mountain temple for you, you rarely offered incense. Why are you now directly attacking Zuyue for Dazhen?"
Hong Shengting walked closer to Ji Yuan and looked at the scenery of Tingqiu Mountain from afar.
"Hong killed the evildoer who was rampant in my Ting Qiushan. It can't be considered that I am on any side. Besides, let's not beat around the bush. Although Hong doesn't like to be involved in the changes of humanity, everything has a limit."
"The demons and evil spirits have all pledged loyalty to the Emperor Song and joined forces to attack Dazhen. This does not seem to be a sign that great order will follow great chaos. Hong also hates this kind of chaos, so it is worth it to curry favor with Mr. Ji."
Hong Shengting had made his words very clear, so there was no need for Ji Yuan to pretend to be confused and he just admitted it directly.
"Yes, Ji will not allow Dazhen to lose power, and I will not hide it from the mountain god. The fate of the people of Yunzhou depends on the battle of Nanchui, and Dazhen cannot afford to lose."
"oh?"
Hong Shengting was a little surprised. The situation seemed to be more complicated than he thought. Ji Yuan looked at him and said.
"Although it is not convenient for Ji to interfere in human affairs, he can take action outside of humanity. There are more and more powerful demons in Zuyue who are helping the Song family. This is crossing the line too far."
"What should I do, sir?"
Ji Yuan raised his head and looked towards the northeast.
"Those who have been sealed cannot be controlled, but those who are ready to make a move can always be dealt with. Heaven is merciful and does not ask about the origins of those who seek the truth. If they find a place to cultivate hard, they can be let go, but if there are demons and monsters that jump out, they must be eliminated and the evil spirits must be eliminated. We must do what the righteous path should do."