Chapter 276: Chapter 271: The Fifth Layer of the Divine Capital
In Tianshu Palace.
Clad in the simplest of hemp garments, the three-zhang-tall giant was none other than a person of Mo Sect’s typical attire. He bowed with a fist to the assembled elders and said, "I bid you farewell."
"Please go ahead."
All the elders returned the gesture, then watched as the great craftsman of Mo Sect departed.
Thereafter, a moment of silence pervaded Tianshu Palace, while every elder harbored their own thoughts.
Clearly, the departure of Mo Sect’s representative aroused suspicion among these sagacious elders.
However, due to the absence of evidence, they couldn’t rightly detain anyone from Mo Sect and thus were unable to further investigate their suspicions.
After a short while, Elder Kaiyang spoke up, "With Mo Sect gone, those from the Retro Party should also be leaving, and we can send away the bunch from Kunxu Immortal Palace."
At this point in his speech, irritations entered Elder Kaiyang’s voice, "Those women, seeing that they couldn’t deceive Jiang Li, now intend to target my foolish disciple. Truly shameless."
Not pursuing Jiang Li was one thing. Not targeting Yun Jiuye and Feng Ziyang was another, but they specifically showed favor towards his disciple. Elder Kaiyang didn’t believe his disciple could surpass the top two, feeling they were only after the low-hanging fruit.
"I actually think this is Su Nu’s way of getting back at you for your previous discourtesy, Kaiyang," Elder Tianquan said with a light laugh. "After all, your disciple hardly possesses your vigorous vitality. That aura of killing True Qi on her is utterly unsuitable for dual cultivation."
"Indeed, back then, when you were defeated and thrown to Su Nu by that person from Kunxu Immortal Palace, had we not chased overnight and retrieved you from Su Nu’s grasp, you would have ended up as Kunxu Immortal Palace’s distinguished son-in-law," Yuheng also teased.
Faced with consecutive jests, Elder Kaiyang felt a rush of blood and retorted, "At least I’m better than you two. I stay unmarried out of choice; you stay unmarried because you have no choice. Hmph hmph hmph."
With a succession of snorts of laughter, Elder Kaiyang shifted the humor onto Elders Tianquan and Yuheng, whose expressions stiffened.
"What do you know?"
"A crude martial artist, understanding nothing of affection."
······
The two elders rebuked in chorus, raising such a clamor that Elder Tianxuan couldn’t help but flash a cold glint in his eyes.
And then, abruptly, there was silence.
The pair had ceased their bickering at the mere hint of coldness from Tianxuan, showing considerable understanding.
Tianxuan cast a cursory glance at the trio and then said, "Back to the matter at hand, I must personally visit Divine Capital this time. Kaiyang, you shall accompany me as a protector; Tian Ji, you’re in charge of the sect’s trade, and keep an eye on matters in Divine Capital as well; you will join us."
"Yaoguang, given the inconvenience of your identity, you, along with Tianquan and Yuheng, shall stay and guard the sect."
Six elders, an equal split between those traveling and those remaining, a fair division indeed.
"Three people, is that enough?" Elder Tian Ji furrowed his brows.
With the Sect Leader away, only three fourth-rank elders would remain in the sect. In the past, this would certainly have been adequate, but with storms on the horizon, it seemed probable that some unforeseen events might occur. Three fourth-rank elders might not suffice.
"After we leave, if any incident occurs, I can return within ten breaths’ time using my escape skill. Moreover, the Divine Domain that envelops our sect is anchored by the Xuanyuan Sword. When fully activated, it can borrow a portion of the Xuanyuan Sword’s powers," Elder Tianxuan explained.
Divine Capital was not too distant from Dinghu Sect, at least not for Elder Tianxuan, who could easily traverse thousands of li.
Reassured by these words, Elder Tian Ji finally nodded in agreement.
He didn’t ask why Tianxuan, currently in charge, needed to visit Divine Capital, for he understood Tianxuan had his own considerations.
However, Elder Tian Ji had additional arrangements in mind.
"During this period, Yun Jiuye shall be responsible for some of the sect’s affairs," Elder Tian Ji stated indifferently. "As the Sect Leader’s Disciple, it’s time he took up his responsibilities."
The influence of Yun Jiuye’s recent promotion had become apparent, with Elder Tian Ji expressing a clear preference.
Elder Tianxuan looked deeply at Elder Tianji and, without much thought, nodded and said, "If he’s not afraid of delaying his cultivation, he may. It just so happens that Qing Yue is going into seclusion, Jiang Li is preparing for promotion, Feng Ziyang still has the duties of a Law Enforcement Disciple, and Yun Qiuchi does not wish to meddle in many affairs. Among the younger generation in our Sect, only Yun Jiuye is available."
Delaying his cultivation, huh... It seems Elder Tianxuan has great confidence in her two disciples.
The same thought flashed through the minds of the other elders.
Then, Elder Kaiyang could not hide his dissatisfaction as he said, "What do you mean by that, Elder Tianxuan? Are you saying my disciple is incapable of handling affairs?"
There are six True Disciples in total, and Elder Tianxuan mentioned five. Guess who the remaining one is?
No need to say it; everyone had the answer in their hearts.
Elder Kaiyang’s question did not receive any answer. Everyone merely expressed their agreement with their looks.
That’s right, your disciple is not fit to handle affairs.
Passing through three layers of city walls, walking past the common streets, moving through bustling scenes, the Doctor holding a Nine-Section Staff saw streets like white jade, buildings glittering with gold, breathing air as fresh as the wilderness.
"Truly, each layer is a different world," he murmured.
The Divine Capital City District is divided into five layers, both inner and outer.
The first layer is the Outer City, inhabited by porters and common folk.
The second layer is the Inner City, where merchants and the wealthy reside.
The third layer is the Upper City, home to court officials and millennia-old families.
The fourth layer is the Imperial City, where Princes and Princesses live alongside countless Attendants. The Princes and Princesses of Great Zhou need not move out of the Imperial City upon reaching adulthood, for until a new Emperor emerges among their peers, they will not receive their enfeoffment, and can’t establish their own household.
The fifth layer is the palace, the core of the Divine Capital and the most important place under the heavens, the dwelling of the Emperor.
Layer upon layer, each is a world of its own. Like the first layer, the Outer City, with streets bustling with crowds, buildings lined up neatly, workshops intermingled, lively indeed, but no different from other cities.
The second layer, the Inner City, has many phoenix trees and cypresses planted within. The streets are filled more with carriages than pedestrians.
Then, as the Doctor in the Yellow Robe now witnessed in the Upper City, streets as flawless as white jade, immaculate and spotless, buildings shining in gold, not of this mortal realm, and so different again from the Inner and the Outer City. On its streets, there are no carriages, only pedestrians of extraordinary bearing, where nobles can be seen conversing with ease, with none of the commoners in sight.
Such sights, unique in all the cities under heaven, can only be found in the Divine Capital.
As for the even more interior layers of the Imperial City and the palace, those are beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
"Layer upon layer of city walls, dividing people into five classes. In all the cities under the heavens, only the Divine Capital stands alone, but the view of the Divine Capital is not the only one," the Doctor in the Yellow Robe said in a somber voice, "The five-class system is found everywhere across the world."
"You of the Taiping Sect are also beneficiaries of this class system," a distinguished and majestic aura spread forth from ahead, as a person dressed in purple finery approached with a measured stride.
Stately as if embracing the blue sky and the sun and moon, solemn as if carrying the weight of a thousand mountains.
A youthful face, yet with an ancient, experienced gaze reflecting the passage of time.
"’Heavenly Monarch’..." the Doctor’s voice was slightly hoarse and then suddenly deepened, as though muffled thunder was rumbling.
He looked at the young man, his voice thunderous. A colossal phantom slowly emerged amidst a tangle of thunder, a vast and commanding aura of the power to govern life and death, withering and flourishing, asserting itself against that sky-reaching presence, "... Gongsun Qi."
"It’s been a long time, Zhang Zhixuan."
The young man, unlike the solemn Doctor, approached with an air of ease, as though strolling leisurely through a courtyard, saying, "You certainly made me wait for a while."