Yaoshan Academy was established by the Sage of the Confucian Path, Xie Qian, upon Mount Yao at the founding of Great Wei thirteen hundred years ago.
It was divided into four branches: the Institute of Discipline, the Institute of Letters, the Institute of Crafts, and the Institute of Governance.
Mount Yao lay in Jiangnan, far from the Central Plains. Its founding purpose had been to distance itself from imperial power and the political center, seeking a place of pure study, devoted solely to the words of the sages.
In its early days, the students' hearts were pure. Reading was for the sake of learning itself. Should one become too entangled in worldly power, the mind would no longer be able to absorb what was written in the books. Once one's head was filled only with thoughts of wealth and fame, how could one still perceive truth within the text?
To master both the literary and martial arts and then sell them to the imperial house, that had never been their aspiration.
Yet, as the "Holy Land" of scholars across the realm, its renown grew day by day, and with fame came prestige, rising like towers upon flat ground, unstoppable.
Thirteen hundred years ago, the mountains and waters around Mount Yao had been serene and elegant. But now, countless so-called "historic landmarks" had sprung up: towers, pavilions, steles, one every few steps, dazzling to the eye.
Pilgrims and admirers came in endless streams, trampling paths before its gates beyond counting.
Only within the hundred li surrounding the central academy did there remain a faint trace of its former purity.
Even so, before the academy's grand gates stood rows upon rows of tall archways, imperially bestowed, engraved with the names of every first-ranked scholar produced over thirteen centuries, densely packed, numbering more than a hundred.
The sight was magnificent, the air thick with scholarly aura, but from that alone one could tell the academy no longer retained its former simplicity. The purity once sought by human hearts was gone forever.
Among those countless names was also that of Gu Yuandao.
However, when he had attained the title of top scholar, he had still been known as Zhang Yuandao. Thus, the archway bore the name "Zhang Yuandao."
Before the matter of the true and false heirs was clarified, and with no imperial decree issued, the academy could not alter the Emperor Yong'an's personally inscribed words on that imperial structure.
Now that Gu Fangchen had once again assumed the position of Heir Apparent, and with court affairs unpredictable, no one dared make the change.
Thus, that lone name "Zhang Yuandao" hung there in awkward display, faintly ironic.
The changes within the academy were tied to two causes.
First, for the past thousand years, the noble families of Jiangnan had regarded entry into Yaoshan Academy as a mark of glory.
Over time, the interests of these great clans and the academy became intertwined, inseparable.
Indeed, the current head of the Institute of Governance bore the surname Dugu.
Second, the court's deliberate closeness and favor. Once the noble families intervened, apart from a few proud scholars within the Institute of Letters, the academy no longer resisted "selling their learning to the imperial house."
Since the court valued them so highly, they naturally worked even harder to please.
Now, more than half the officials in the imperial court were academy alumni, a product of both causes working in tandem.
Still, the academy knew to avoid suspicion.
Its disciples serving as officials rarely exceeded Fourth Grade in cultivation; Fifth Grade was already the limit.
Should one's cultivation grow higher without essential state duties, they would voluntarily resign and return to teach at the academy.
Emperor Yong'an would only give a token attempt to retain them.
Just like now, on the stone platform where several great scholars sat.
This stone platform was located behind the mountain, at the center of a cold waterfall pool. Upon its surface were carved the words "Illuminate the Mind and Wisdom, Share One Heart and Virtue," written by "The Book Immortal" Bu Cangtai.
Bu Cangtai was famed alongside Li Wangji, and with the "Painting Immortal" Zhen Mingshi, they were known as the academy's "Three Wonders of Poetry, Calligraphy, and Painting."
It was the usual meeting place for the academy's great scholars.
There were eight men within the academy who could be called "Great Scholars," all at the Third Grade level of cultivation.
At this moment, three of them were present:
The Head of the Institute of Discipline, Meng Shouzheng.
The Head of the Institute of Letters, Liu Wenqing.
The Head of the Institute of Governance, Dugu Yu.
In addition, there was the acting dean during the seclusion of the "Sage of the Confucian Path" himself, "The Sage of the Heart," Lu Mingyuan, whose cultivation was at the Second Grade.
A single Mount Yao, guarded by two Sages, among all immortal sects, this was a unique occurrence.
Above them lay only the imperial court of Great Wei itself.
Ordinarily, this platform should have had one more seat reserved for the Head of the Institute of Crafts.
But that man had recently been executed by Xie Qian himself, his skull shattered with a single flick to the brow, for colluding with the demonic sect and aiding in the construction of the "Dragon-Serpent Rising" grand formation. His soul alone remained, sealed within the Mountain and River Diagram, sharing a table with Gu Yuandao.
Meng Shouzheng spoke first.
"I have followed the trail and uncovered the collusion between the Institute of Crafts and the demonic sect..."
He wore a helpless expression.
"It seems those of the Path of Crafts infiltrated the Institute, merely providing the concept and partial diagram of the 'Dragon-Serpent Rising' formation. Those fools then helped them perfect it entirely."
When Meng Shouzheng's investigation revealed this, he had been stunned. The "Craft Path" had done almost nothing, they had even entered the academy through proper examinations, fair and square.
Then, under the Institute's own assistance, they completed the "collaboration" right under everyone's noses.
It was a perfect case of "darkness beneath the lamp."
The only failing had been the Head's negligence, unable to perceive the formation's true purpose or the infiltrators' identities.
Yet, the Institute of Crafts was composed of men obsessed with the Dao of Craftsmanship, formations, and mathematics, utterly inept in worldly affairs. Expecting them to discern character was unreasonable.
That was likely why Xie Qian had only meted out a light punishment.
At their divine realm of cultivation, the flesh mattered little; even death of the body meant nothing, a new vessel could be taken at will. The body was but a vehicle, dispensable.
A long-enduring soul rarely dissipated. With faith to sustain it, even if scattered, it could reform anew.
Thus, Xie Qian's imprisonment of the Crafts Head within the Mountain and River Diagram was merely a command for him to reflect.
The true collusion with the demonic sect lay within the Institute of Letters.
They had allied with the Path of Righteousness, seeking to seize a dragon vein beneath the Sword Pavilion, heedless of abandoning the four southwestern prefectures and nearly provoking rebellion.
Those responsible had now all been executed, serving as the court's explanation to the public.
Liu Wenqing sat silent, eyes closed, fingers rolling a string of sandalwood beads.
Lu Mingyuan sighed.
"Have the Institute of Governance send some people to oversee the Institute of Crafts. This matter was handled poorly, too rashly."
But the Head of Letters opened his eyes and said calmly,
"I think, had it succeeded, it would not have been rash at all."
Meng Shouzheng turned, expression darkening.
"Brother Liu, have you too been deluded by the demonic sect? If Dragon Hollow Lake were unleashed, how many thousands in the southwest would be displaced or killed? You call that not rash?"
Dugu Yu narrowed his eyes.
"If a true world of Great Harmony were achieved and the cycle of reincarnation ceased, those people would no longer die."
"If the Letters Institute's plan had succeeded, the collection of dragon veins would be greatly advanced. We might even enter the Great Harmony before those people perished."
"Brother Liu's words are not false."
Meng Shouzheng's heart trembled, pupils constricting.
"And if it fails?"
Dugu Yu snorted coldly.
"The Sage's seclusion exists precisely to ensure success. 'Heaven's Equal Through Eternity' allows no failure."
"It is only a matter of time. If there is a way to shorten that time, why not pursue it? Were it not for Gu Fangchen's interference, we would now hold two dragon veins!"
He waved his hand.
Instantly, a vast illusion of mountains and rivers unfolded over the platform, suffused with spiritual energy akin to that of the Sky-Piercing Sword of the Seventy-Two Peaks.
It was another, abandoned dragon vein of the former dynasty.
Meng Shouzheng's voice grew heavy.
"Even if it means allying with the demonic sect? Are you not afraid of seeking skin from a tiger?"
As the Head of the Institute of Discipline, famed for his rigid adherence to rites and law, he saw such reasoning as self-deceit, methods that ignored human life were heretical.
Even if the goal were noble, such means would corrupt the soul.
In time, they would fall to the sect's influence and be turned to its use.
Liu Wenqing replied evenly,
"The so-called demonic sect is merely a pack of petty schemers still vying for thrones. How could they comprehend our grand vision of a Great Harmony that spans eternity?"
"When one stands at a different height, what 'tiger' is there to fear? They are but pieces on the board. Wherever they are placed, that is where they serve."
Meng Shouzheng's face darkened further. Hearing these mad words, he felt the absurdity choke him.
But then, glancing at the calm Liu Wenqing and the cold-eyed Dugu Yu, a sudden realization struck.
He shot to his feet, face changing.
"You, "
Before he could finish, he leapt skyward, rushing from the platform.
But an immense pressure fell upon him. The illusory landscape of veins and mountains solidified into a colossal cage, slamming him down.
"Bang!"
Blood sprayed from his mouth as he struck the stone. The glowing sigils on the platform revealed themselves, clearly, an array long prepared to imprison him through resonance with the earth veins.
Raising his head, he looked toward Lu Mingyuan, the "Sage of the Heart," disbelief written on his face.
"You knew of this from the beginning?"
"To obtain the dragon vein, you joined hands with the demonic sect? Are you insane? If the Sage learns of this, how will you answer?"
Lu Mingyuan stood floating, hands behind his back, his expression unchanged. With a faint smile, he said lightly,
"Meng Shouzheng, the Sage has already come."
Meng Shouzheng froze as if struck by lightning.
Yes, the Sage had already come.
And his judgment had been to kill the faction within the Institute of Letters, and to seal the "bewitched" Head of Crafts and Gu Yuandao within the Mountain and River Diagram for reflection.
Within months, they would be released.
These men before him were pillars of the academy, how could the Sage not know their thoughts and actions?
And yet, clearly, he had chosen not to punish them.
He had provided the court its "answer," nothing more, whether that answer was made public was the only difference.
In other words, the Sage knew, and had tacitly approved their methods.
Liu Wenqing shook his head.
"Meng, we are brothers, not enemies. We do not wish to fight you. Just consider carefully what you will do next."
Dugu Yu said coldly,
"What's the use of talking? He's too rigid, how many times have we tested him, to no avail? If not for that, we wouldn't have reached this point."
"If he refuses to see reason, what then? Keep him imprisoned by the dragon veins forever?"
In his view, killing Meng outright and promoting one of his own would be preferable.
After all, once 'Heaven's Equal Through Eternity' was realized, they could meet again in the Great Harmony.
Lu Mingyuan shook his head, rebuking,
"Huai Jin, that's extreme."
Meng Shouzheng stared at them in shock, feeling as though they'd all gone mad, their words inhuman.
Then Lu Mingyuan raised his hand, and the formation's barrier silenced the chamber completely.
Liu Wenqing frowned.
"The sword in Gu Fangchen's hand was forged through the sacrifice of a dragon vein. Now that vein has been fully absorbed into the sword itself. If we don't reclaim it, our five veins will lack the most vital link."
"But he is now Emperor Yong'an's favored rising star. In Huangtian City, how can we act?"
Dugu Yu said coolly,
"Do not worry. Gu Yuye will help us."
"He has already learned from that stable hand that Gu Fangchen is not the man's son, and that the one who switched Gu Fangchen and Gu Yuandao was the demonic sect itself."
"In other words, if Gu Fangchen cannot prove his parentage, he can only be considered of demonic origin. With a bit of public pressure, suspicion will arise regardless, making him unfit for trust."
"Moreover, since Ning Caiyong gave birth on Gushu Road, and that stable hand was also from Gushu, if he wishes to uncover his origin, he will have to go there."
Liu Wenqing's brows eased.
"He only subdued the Seven Sects of the Southwest by relying on that divine sword. His own strength is nothing impressive."
"When the time comes, we seize his sword. The vein will be ours, and his life as well."
Lu Mingyuan nodded.
"When he reaches Gushu, take the sword. Kill the man."
...
Gu Fangchen's calm reaction took Xiao Yinghao by surprise. She narrowed her eyes.
"You seem unsurprised."
Gu Fangchen blinked and said solemnly,
"I heard that stable hand was ugly and crude. I've long suspected I couldn't possibly be his son."
Xiao Yinghao snorted, tilting her head to study his face under the lamp.
"True enough..."
Gu Fangchen took it as a compliment.
Were it not for his looks, the Princess would never have gone along with his imposture as consort, she'd have chopped him down at once.
After sweating once more, the Princess bathed again, dressed, and emerged from behind the screen, only to find Gu Fangchen writing on a sheet of paper.
She frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Gu Fangchen blew on the ink and smiled.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for warning me. As a token of gratitude... I offer you a gift."
Xiao Yinghao took the paper. Her pupils contracted.
"The Blue Barbarian Army's deployment map?"