"Edict!"
The young sage of the military family stepped on the surface of the White Fish Creek, and instantly streams of fine golden sealing characters rose from the river. His pair of pale golden eyes looked at Madam Xu and said, "Effective immediately, I hereby confer upon Madam Xu the title of River God of White Fish Creek, ranking fifth in official position. With this conferment, all laws shall be obeyed!"
At once, countless golden characters surged from all directions of White Fish Creek towards Madam Xu's body, forging an even more condensed golden form for her. At this moment, Madam Xu had truly become a River God, something she had always dreamed of. The status and power of a River God were incomparable to those of a mere river crone.
As for this military family sage, a legend from the Thirteen Realms, a true sage of the military school, his words were law. Conferring a River God upon her was a trivial matter. It would not clash with his own Great Dao; on the contrary, by following the heavenly mandate, he might even receive a slight backlash of fortune.
"Here!"
The military family sage named Piaoyao took out five gold perch coins from his embrace and crushed them on the water's surface, turning them into drops of dense spiritual energy that fell into the water. Madam Xu opened her mouth and swallowed them all without a single drop spilled, her divine form becoming even more substantial, reaching a higher level.
"That's it."
Lord Piaoyao said faintly, "I will discuss with Lin Zhao and choose a day to establish a shrine for you by White Fish Creek. As for how much incense you can earn, it will depend on how much good you do for the common people. The Sword Immortal asked me to bring you a message."
"What message?"
Madam Xu remained kneeling on the ground, trembling.
Lord Piaoyao looked down at her and said faintly, "Do not resent poverty; fortune and misfortune are self-inflicted."
"Understood, little deity, I understand..."
"Go on."
Watching Madam Xu's golden form sink back into the water, Lord Piaoyao picked up his bright silver spear and strode towards the mountain peak villa.
It wasn't that he couldn't fly over, but he felt that one should treat people in a manner appropriate to them. Lin Zhao personally cooked for him, and afterwards, almost every meal, Dongcang would bring a bamboo basket of side dishes for him to enjoy with his wine. He believed it wasn't because he was from the Thirteen Realms. Lin Zhao had seen many from the Fourteen Realms and wouldn't care about a mere Thirteen Realm expert. It was simply because he was a close friend of Lin Zhao's third senior brother, so Lin Zhao also regarded him as a half-brother.
The Mountain Peak Villa.
On the mountain path, Lord Piaoyao, with his bright silver spear in hand and a cape fluttering in the wind, encountered two young girls: Tong Yu and Wang Yue. They had just returned from gathering wild vegetables from the mountainside. Tong Yu practiced sword stances and swordplay, following Lord Piaoyao up the mountain step by step, while Wang Yue carried a basket filled with wild vegetables and fruits in each hand, her fists held out, practicing punches as she ascended the mountain.
"Lord Piaoyao!"
Tong Yu smiled, "Are you looking for my Brother Lin Zhao?"
"Yes, that's right."
Lord Piaoyao smiled and nodded. He liked these two young girls at the mountain peak villa. Although deep within their hearts lay intense hatred, their eyes were filled with pure innocence. Someone had already helped them sort out their thoughts and stabilize their emotions. Clearly, the only one at this mountain peak villa with such patience and wisdom was that fellow Lin Zhao.
As the junior disciple of the Military Sage, he was naturally extraordinary!
Tong Yu led the way in front, holding her fist stance, but she didn't walk very fast. So, Lord Piaoyao, with a smile on his lips, also slowed his pace, following the two girls up the mountain.
...
Tianran Ju.
Lin Zhao had recently caught a large white fish and was personally simmering fish soup outside. Dongcang was stir-frying dishes in the kitchen. Upon seeing the young military family sage arrive, Lin Zhao immediately stood up, clapped his hands, and said with a smile, "Better late than never, Lord Piaoyao, you've come at a most opportune moment. Let's have a drink later, shall we?"
"Alright!"
Lord Piaoyao seemed to find Lin Zhao's address somewhat distant. He smiled and said, "Your third senior brother and I are close friends, so you don't need to call me Lord Piaoyao. My surname is Huo, just call me Brother Huo."
"Okay!"
Lin Zhao smiled and said, "Brother Huo, please have a seat for a while, dinner will be ready soon."
"Mm."
A short while later, three dishes and one soup were laid out on the table. Lin Zhao took out two pots of low-quality wine, each weighing 10g. It couldn't be helped; this was the standard at the Mountain Peak Villa. The peach demon Han Yurou's peach wine was very limited, and he couldn't drink it every day. As for the Thirteen Realm military family sage before him, he was a guest and should be treated as such. Since he was now Brother Huo, things could be more casual.
After dinner, the two of them came to the moonlight by the lotus pond.
"Actually, I came to find you about something."
Lord Piaoyao smiled, "I'll have to trouble you."
"No problem."
Lin Zhao looked up at the moonlight and smiled, "Brother Huo, please speak freely. If I can help, I will. Besides, it might not be me who is troubled, but perhaps just my subordinates."
Lord Piaoyao couldn't help but chuckle. This fellow's way of speaking was quite similar to his senior brother, casual and unrestrained. He then said, "Not long ago, I conferred the title of River God of White Fish Creek upon Madam Xu, elevating her to that position. A River God must have a shrine, and I am of the military school, not the Mohist school. I am not skilled in building houses or erecting shrines, so I must trouble you."
Saying this, he took out five gold perch coins and said, "These five gold perch coins can be used to build a decent shrine for her."
"Ah?!"
Lin Zhao was stunned and said, "If I may be so bold, a River God shrine would cost at most one or two gold perch coins. Five are not needed."
"But..."
Lord Piaoyao frowned, "Before I left, the Sword Immortal gave me this much and told me not to spare money, to spend it all. Can't it really be built a bit larger and more magnificent?"
"That wouldn't be appropriate..."
Lin Zhao explained, "Brother Huo, I'm not trying to be difficult. I just feel that no matter how great Madam Xu's merits are, they cannot surpass those of Lord Su Shan. The Fourteen Realm Lord Su Shan once drew his sword against the Sea of Heavens and the demon race. That was truly great merit, and he also helped my Mr. Qin. Therefore... in my heart, no mountain and river shrine in the Snow Region Heavenly Pool should surpass Lord Su Shan's shrine. That would be a transgression."
"I understand."
Lord Piaoyao smiled slightly and said, "According to your wishes, we'll use two gold perch coins."
"Alright!"
Lin Zhao gladly accepted the two gold perch coins from the military family sage and said earnestly, "I will have Xiang Ji personally supervise and dispatch the best craftsmen from our Snow Region Heavenly Pool to build her a proper River God shrine. This matter is entrusted to me."
"That would be excellent."
As Lord Piaoyao rode the wind down the mountain, he glanced towards the east. The Mohists should be arriving soon. If they didn't, the construction of the first Sword-Suppressing Tower might be delayed.
...
Several days later.
More and more people were coming and going in the Snow Region Heavenly Pool. At least over a hundred thousand players were active in the area. Although most of them had descended the mountain, hundreds of players were constantly wandering around the small town, trying their luck to see if they could pick up any quests. In addition, there were many martial artists and cultivators from the human world who had come to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool. They often descended the mountain to kill demons, causing the businesses of inns, restaurants, and spirit stone shops in the Snow Region Heavenly Pool to boom.
In the afternoon, two figures descended from the sky. One was a young woman with an exceptionally refined appearance, wearing a long dress, exuding elegance and grace. The other was an old man, dressed in a gray and white long gown, leaning on a walking stick, appearing frail and aged.
"Stop!"
The gatekeeper, Tang Guangjun, blocked their way with his arm and asked, "Who are you, and what business brings you to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool?"
The young woman smiled slightly. Her demeanor was excellent, clearly indicating she was someone of experience. She said, "An old friend from White Emperor City, seeking an audience with Lord Lin Zhao of the Mountain Peak Villa."
"Ah?"
Tang Guangjun was startled. "A friend of the junior brother? Then... please, please come in!"
He bowed extremely low, his expression obsequious.
"..."
The woman looked puzzled. She and the old man flew at a low altitude up the mountain. At the entrance of the Mountain Peak Villa, they were personally escorted by Zhu Zhi to Tianran Ju to meet Lin Zhao. After all, they were both Star River Realm cultivators. If they were there to assassinate Lin Zhao, it would be troublesome.
As it turned out, Lin Zhao, who was fishing by the lotus pond, recognized the old man at a glance. He immediately put away his fishing rod and asked with a joyous smile, "Are you... Mr. Zhu from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion in the Snow Region Heavenly Pool back then?!"
"!!!"
Old Mr. Zhu was also taken aback. The young sword cultivator before him bore no resemblance to the young Lin Zhao of the past in appearance, but his aura was incredibly similar. More importantly, without announcing his name, this person recognized him at a glance, confirming that it must be Lin Zhao!
"It really is Lin Zhao..." Old Mr. Zhu's body trembled.
"It's me!"
Lin Zhao was extremely happy. He rushed forward and supported Old Mr. Zhu's shoulder, saying, "Do you still remember me, old sir? I bought that 'Thousand Cavalry Rolling Snow' from you!"
Did he extort it?
The old man couldn't help but want to argue, but he thought of Qin Suihan and couldn't bear to play such a joke. He said with a look of delight, "You remember everything?"
Lin Zhao nodded. "How could I forget? I didn't expect Old Mr. Zhu to live so long and still be here... But Mr. Qin, he has already..."
"Let's not mention it."
Old Mr. Zhu also looked somewhat sad.
Beside him, the young woman placed one hand on her hip and smiled, "Lin Zhao, do you still remember me?"
"Ah?!"
Lin Zhao was stunned. He looked at the woman before him and felt that she was definitely a woman who would achieve great things, with confidence and composure radiating from her brows. However, he genuinely couldn't recognize her, so he apologized, "I truly cannot recognize you..."
"..."
The woman wasn't angry. Instead, she waved her hand, changing into a blue long dress, and curtsied to Lin Zhao like a young girl, smiling and saying, "Hello, my name is Qingqiu. What would this young master like to order?"
"..."
Lin Zhao was almost in tears. This was the first sentence a maid from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion had said to him when he visited the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, word for word! He remembered everything and murmured, "Some talismans?"
Qingqiu's eyes turned red. "You remember..."
Old Mr. Zhu smiled with joy and said, "Lin Zhao, she is no longer the Qingqiu of the past. She is now one of the principal managers of our Treasure Gathering Pavilion. Previously, she was the Pavilion Master Qingqiu of the Chang Le City Treasure Gathering Pavilion. Now that we have come to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, we wish to open another branch of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, and Qingqiu will serve as the Pavilion Master of this branch. We have specifically come to discuss it with you, the ruler of the Snow Region Heavenly Pool."
"I see."
Lin Zhao clasped his hands gently and said, "It is an honor for our Snow Region Heavenly Pool to have the Treasure Gathering Pavilion open a branch here. You can choose your location freely. Once you have chosen, inform Zhu Zhi or Mu Gua. Prioritize your needs in all matters. With the opening of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, I believe it will also add considerable popularity to our Snow Region Heavenly Pool."
"Mm!"
Qingqiu nodded heavily and smiled, "Don't worry, since we are opening a store in the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, we will share a portion of the tax revenue. Old Mr. Zhu and I have discussed it. We will give one-tenth of the Treasure Pavilion's annual income to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool. What do you think?"
"It's a deal."
"Good!"
...
The Deer Forest area.
An old Daoist priest, clad in a fiery red Daoist robe, emerged from his cave dwelling, clutching his backside. He looked at the moonlight, feeling somewhat lost. He had cultivated into an empress using a Blazing Maple, and now he was a twelfth-realm cultivator at the pinnacle of the demon race. However, his combat power still seemed insufficient. To advance further and touch upon the legendary Thirteen Realms, perhaps mere diligent cultivation would not suffice.
"I can only pursue the path of dual cultivation!"
His face instantly lit up with excitement. "Descend the mountain, find a woman!"
However, finding a suitable Dao companion was easier said than done.
Firstly, the other party must be a demon like himself, and preferably also a demon formed from a tree. And their appearance must be excellent, otherwise, they wouldn't be qualified to be his dual cultivation furnace for this twelfth-realm expert. Furthermore, there was appearance. He, True Monarch Bei Xuan, lived a life of freedom and ease. In the end, he couldn't possibly find an ugly Dao companion and make a fool of himself, could he?
It's fine, he would find one slowly.
He smiled slightly and descended the mountain leisurely!
As long as my cultivation realm is high, where can't I find a beautiful woman?