The two disciples weaved through the bustling crowd, heading toward the City Lord’s Mansion located at the heart of Peng City.
The main avenue leading to the City Lord’s Mansion was broad, paved with blue stones. Along the way, nine streets and three markets teemed with activity, the comings and goings lively and vibrant.
Ling Xiaodong looked around in wonder at the throngs of carriages and people inside Peng City, marveling, “I never expected the border cities of the Great Zhou to be so prosperous. I wonder what the capital Luoyang must be like in all its splendor?”
Beside him, Ye Yiyun shook her head and said, “What you’re seeing is only the most prosperous corner of Peng City. If you were to go east of the city, you’d see a completely different scene.”
They chatted back and forth as they walked, and before long, they arrived at the City Lord’s Mansion.
The outer courtyard of the City Lord’s Mansion was enclosed by white walls, with green willows drooping gently around. Above the grand vermilion gate hung a purple sandalwood plaque, upon which two large characters were written in a lively dragon-and-phoenix script — Cheng Mansion.
Ling Xiaodong looked up at the plaque and joked, “Well, well! This truly is the ‘Cheng’ Mansion!”
But Ye Yiyun didn’t respond to his joke at all.
Feeling awkward, Ling Xiaodong rubbed his nose, realizing his humor was far too cold, and hurriedly stepped forward to knock on the door, breaking the silence.
After explaining their purpose to the mansion’s servant, the servant immediately reported inside and soon returned to open the door with respect.
“Two Daoists, please come in.”
The servant led the way. The Cheng Mansion was vast, with winding paths and staggered courtyards. They wandered through several winding corridors before finally arriving in front of the main hall.
The servant bowed deeply. “Ahead is the main hall. Lord Cheng has been waiting for you.”
Ling Xiaodong followed Ye Yiyun inside. Seated in the place of honor was a middle-aged man with graying temples but an imposing aura — surely Lord Cheng himself.
At the guest seats beside him were two others.
One was an old man with white hair yet a youthful face, kind brows, holding a whisk, dressed in a white Daoist robe.
The other was a woman of extremely ugly appearance — a flattened nose, teeth bared, clutching a sword in her arms.
The woman stared intently at Ling Xiaodong and Ye Yiyun, her expression hostile. Ling Xiaodong felt a slight sting on his skin and sensed a surge of murderous intent toward himself and “Aunt Yun”.
For some reason, the woman radiated a strong killing aura toward the two of them!
The City Lord stood to greet them with a smile. “Ah! Daoist Qingfeng, you have finally arrived. Forgive my poor reception!”
Ye Yiyun gave a slight nod.
“Lord Cheng, you are too polite.”
The City Lord turned to the two guests.
“Allow me to introduce. This is Ye Yiyun, head of the Qingfeng Sect, Daoist Ye. Her Daoist skills are exceptional — known throughout Peng City. A few days ago, I sent word specifically to invite her to eliminate the demons in Peng City.”
He then turned to Ye Yiyun.
“Daoist Ye, these two masters are officials sent by the court to quell the chaos in Peng City. One is Dongguanzheng of the Jiantian Bureau, Wuyazi; the other is Shao Yinhua from the Six-Sector Gate’s Search Division.”
Sitting nearby, Shao Yinhua suddenly spoke coldly, “Lord Cheng, you can tell her to leave. You know this isn’t an ordinary demon problem. Against the Luo Cult, what use is this wild sect’s leader?”
Ye Yiyun frowned and looked at the City Lord. “Lord Cheng, what is the meaning of this?”
The City Lord looked embarrassed. He hadn’t expected the Six-Sector Gate’s Searcher to be so disrespectful.
He knew this so-called Shao Yinhua was just a privileged scion gilding his reputation. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been admitted to the Six-Sector Gate, which was full of experts, with such mediocre skills not even worthy of a minor grandmaster.
But he hadn’t expected this person to be so arrogant and overbearing, showing no respect at all. It seemed he had been pampered all his life and had no idea what respect meant.
However, what could a mere border city lord do? After all, the Six-Sector Gate’s leader was also surnamed Shao.
The City Lord smiled wryly and explained to Ye Yiyun:
“Recently, there have been frequent cases of people harmed by demons in Peng City. I originally thought these were ordinary demons, but these two masters arrived yesterday and said the troublemakers in the city are demons from the Luo Cult. The court specially sent them to eliminate the disorder.”
Shao Yinhua glared at Ye Yiyun with hatred, feeling inexplicably antagonistic. But Ye Yiyun was equally unyielding.
Their gazes locked, as if sparks were flying in the air. The atmosphere was tense.
Old Daoist Wuyazi quickly stepped forward to mediate.
“Daoist Qingfeng, please hear a word from this humble Daoist. The matter of the Luo Cult is far more complicated than you imagine. It is extremely dangerous. If your strength is insufficient, I advise you not to wade into these muddy waters.”
Ling Xiaodong defended, “Aunt Yun is a Five Elements Realm cultivator. Isn’t that sufficient strength?”
Wuyazi’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Ye Yiyun. “Oh? I didn’t expect Daoist Ye to be so accomplished at such a young age! However, each specialty has its own focus. When it comes to dealing with the Luo Cult, our Jiantian Bureau has the experience. Daoist, I suggest you return.”
Repeatedly being dismissed, even the most patient of people would feel some anger. Even Ye Yiyun’s usually good-natured temper could not hold back.
“Since you claim my strength is insufficient, why don’t we have a contest? Let’s see if I truly have the qualification to stay in Peng City.”
The ugly woman immediately agreed, “Fine! Wuyazi, show her what real skill looks like! Let her know the vastness of heaven and earth!”
Wuyazi hesitated slightly, bowed his head to consider, then agreed.
“Very well. Daoist Ye, though I am not accomplished in my art, I have sought the Dao all my life without slackening. I have now reached the Six Harmonies Realm. I will not deceive you because you are young. You may choose one of the Five Arts of Daoism.”
“Arts” here refers to the practical applications of the Dao.
The so-called Five Arts are “Mountain, Medicine, Fate, Physiognomy, Divination.”
These five arts accompany the study of the Yi. Fate, Divination, Medicine, and Physiognomy are often used to help people, achieving three thousand merits, while the Mountain art is truly an immortal art.
Without hesitation, Ye Yiyun decisively said, “Then we shall compare the Thunder Charms within the Mountain art.”
She was always confident in her thunder magic. The Five Thunder Charms were her specialty.
Within the City Lord’s Mansion, there happened to be a martial platform. The group moved from the main hall to beside the platform.
Ye Yiyun and Wuyazi stood on the high platform, hands behind their backs, their robes fluttering, radiating a kind of ethereal Daoist elegance.
Wuyazi cupped his hands. “The contest will end at the first decisive point. One thunder charm to decide the victor!”
Ye Yiyun spread out one hand, invitingly.
“Please!”
Wuyazi threw out a yellow talisman, which hovered before his chest. On the talisman floated a slowly rotating yin-yang symbol, surrounded by the characters for Heaven, Earth, and Man in gold. Beyond those were the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, and White Tiger — the Four Symbols — encircling them.
Outside the Four Symbols were the characters for Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth — the Five Elements.
The outermost layer bore the twelve Earthly Branches: Zi-Chou, Yin-Hai, Mao-Xu, Chen-You, Si-Shen, and Wu-Wei.
This was the mark of a cultivator who had reached the Six Harmonies Realm. Each layer of glowing characters represented the Three Powers, the Four Symbols, the Five Elements, and the Six Harmonies.
Zi and Chou combine as Earth, Yin and Hai as Wood, Mao and Xu as Fire, Chen and You as Metal, Si and Shen as Water, and Wu and Wei as Earth again, forming the twelve Earthly Branches’ Six Harmonies.
Wuyazi formed thunder seals with his hands.
His palms faced upward, fingers extended. His middle and ring fingers on both hands pointed straight up. The right hand’s index and pinky fingers overlapped the left hand’s index and pinky. The middle and ring fingers of both hands lay side by side, and both thumbs met above, forming the shape of a mountain.
He chanted the thunder incantation:
“Mother of Lightning, Lord of Thunder, swiftly descend your divine power. Follow me to banish demons! Boom boom boom boom boom! I invoke Taishang Laojun, urgent and by the sacred decree!”
The yin-yang symbol on his chest and the surrounding golden characters spun faster and faster. The yellow talisman transformed into a bolt of lightning, shooting directly toward Ye Yiyun.
Ye Yiyun remained calm. She gripped the talisman with her sword hand and chanted:
“Jade Clarity’s Origin, True Talisman’s Oath, Shifting the Two Energies, Uniting into Truth. Five Thunders, Five Thunders, swiftly converge, Huang Ning! Mist and transformation, roaring lightning, hear the call and come at once! Release the yang sound, Lang Luo Ju Bin, Du Shen Miao Lu, suppress the evil, hasten, swift as decree!”
Five streaks of thunder roared forth, colliding with the lightning bolt. The bolt dissipated instantly, but the five thunderclaps continued unrelenting, flying toward Wuyazi.
Wuyazi waved his sleeve, and the five thunderclaps vanished into thin air. He had used a Six Harmonies-exclusive Dao technique: Universe in the Sleeve!
“Excellent! Aunt Yun is mighty!”
Ling Xiaodong clapped enthusiastically from below. He had already seen that the old man had lost in thunder magic to Ye Yiyun.
On the platform, Wuyazi cupped his hands. “Daoist Ye, your thunder magic is superior. This humble Daoist admits defeat.”
He then asked, “May I ask where you studied? Such profound thunder magic is rare indeed.”
Ye Yiyun replied, “This humble Daoist is the top disciple under Master Xuanjizi of the Qingfeng Mingyue Sect. The cultivation method I follow is the ‘Taiqing Jiuxuan’.”
Wuyazi’s eyes widened. “‘Taiqing Jiuxuan’? No wonder! Your talent is unlike anything I have ever seen in my lifetime!”
Ye Yiyun bowed politely and stepped down from the platform, smiling slightly with pride as she looked at Ling Xiaodong.
At last, she had established her authority before her junior, allowing Ling Xiaodong to see her true abilities.
Ling Xiaodong smiled and was about to congratulate her when his expression suddenly changed.
He grabbed Ye Yiyun’s arm and pulled her into his embrace.
Ye Yiyun was momentarily caught off guard in Ling Xiaodong’s arms. Suddenly, Ling Xiaodong shouted angrily:
“What are you doing?”
Ye Yiyun leaned into his embrace and turned her head just in time to see a sword thrust where she had just stood.
The sword-wielder was Shao Yinhua.
Shao Yinhua glanced at Ling Xiaodong in surprise, not expecting his sword to miss, but immediately his face darkened with murderous intent again.
“What good is just winning with magic? The Luo Cult is not lacking in grandmasters. A Daoist like you, with only esoteric skills, is doomed if someone closes in. Be sensible and leave quickly!”
Shao Yinhua harbored malice toward all young, beautiful women in the world, born of his own innate ugliness.
Though the sword strike wouldn’t have taken Ye Yiyun’s life, it would have scarred her face, ruining her appearance.
Ling Xiaodong released Ye Yiyun and pointed furiously at Shao Yinhua, enraged:
“You ugly freak! How dare you lay a hand on Aunt Yun!”