Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 468: First Visit to the Imperial Capital

In the imperial palace, the Xia Emperor and the four immortal sect leaders fidgeted uncomfortably—neither sitting nor standing felt appropriate. Despite all their meetings, they had never encountered such a situation.

Lu Yang occupied the seat designated for the Dao-Seeking Sect Leader, while Yun Zhi stood behind him like a subordinate.

With Yun Zhi standing, who dared sit?

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy dared.

After all, the invitation is for me, the acting sect leader. As the leader of the Five Ancient Immortals, what’s wrong with me sitting here? Even sitting on the imperial throne would be perfectly normal.

Staying in his mental space, Lu Yang wasn’t as nonchalant as the Everlasting Immortal Fairy.

The imperial capital was the largest, most prosperous city and nexus of power on the Central Continent, constantly drawing countless cultivators to flock to its gates.

Lu Yang was no exception. He yearned to visit, eager to experience its unique cultivation sights and scenery. However, he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

I’d imagined myself arriving discreetly, accidentally stumbling into some conspiracy. After solving it, I’d find myself caught in a whirlpool of political machinations, navigating power struggles and the fight for the throne. I would survive through wit and by maneuvering between various factions, my actions eventually drawing the attention of the Xia Emperor.

While I stand before the emperor during the court assembly, foes would spew endless accusations of treason, only for the Xia Emperor to dismissively wave his hand at them with a meaningful look and declare, “He’s the Taciturn Daoist Priest’s disciple. It’s impossible that he’d rebel.”

My enemies would be shocked.

The officials would be shocked.

Cultivators in the imperial capital would be shocked.

And just like that, my name will spread across the world.

This is standard procedure.

But I didn’t expect myself to skip through all that process and end up straight at the finale, meeting the Xia Emperor in the palace now.

“Fellow Daoist Yun, why don’t you take a seat?” the Xia Emperor suggested with an ingratiating smile.

Yun Zhi shook her head. “I am but an ordinary disciple of the Dao-Seeking Sect now. How am I qualified to sit? This Sect Leader Lu is our acting sect leader.”

The Xia Emperor, “...”

What an ordinary disciple of the Dao-Seeking Sect indeed.

“Is this Sect Leader Lu the same Lu Yang mentioned in our meeting half a month ago?” Xia Emperor asked despite knowing the answer. They had just brought up how the Heavenly Court Creed was established by Lu Yang—an outstanding young talent.

I didn’t expect that in just half a month, this young talent would rise to sit as my equal.

From his mental space, Lu Yang secretly observed the Xia Emperor. This monarch of the mortal realm and foremost figure of the righteous path isn’t as austere and decisive as in the legends, and neither does he carry the genteel of a scholar. His temples are streaked with white, and his cheeks hollow—signs of deficiency in qi and blood and waning vitality.

If not for knowing his identity, no one would have guessed that this man was hailed as a legendary emperor of the ages. Perhaps the Xia Emperor once possessed an imposing yet scholarly aura. But now, drained of his lifespan, his former glory had dimmed.

“You know the Xia Emperor and Sect Leader Qiu,” Yun Zhi briefed Lu Yang—and by extension, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy—before the meeting. “This is Fellow Daoist Luo Hongxia, the palace leader of the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace and Lan Ting’s shifu. She even brought Lan Ting to our sect to propose marriage.”

Luo Hongxia’s eyes twitched. I really wasn’t there to propose marriage. She swept her gaze over Lu Yang’s clean and unadorned features. So this is the boy Lan Ting couldn’t stop thinking about? He isn't as good-looking as Lan Ting described.

The moment she recalled starry-eyed Lan Ting gushing about Lu Yang’s brilliance after returning from the Qing Province Grand Ceremony, she felt her blood boil. With a cold snort, she pointedly showed Lu Yang a sour face.

“She doesn’t look well. Did she eat something wrong?”

“This is Yang Ding, sect leader of the Prison Suppression Sect.”

“Greetings.” Yang Ding held no hostility toward Lu Yang. Although Lu Yang was the Taciturn Daoist Priest’s disciple, he was also Yun Zhi’s little junior brother. The positives and negatives canceled out, leaving no reason for animosity.

Yun Zhi introduced the only Transcendent Tribulation cultivator present. “This is Master Jiesha of the Hanging Monastery. He’s currently cultivating the Mouth-Shut Chan Meditation.”

Due to Master Jiesha’s shriveled frame, the kasaya passed down through generations of the Hanging Monastery hung loosely on him. His eyelids drooped as he fingered his prayer beads, offering only a silent nod.

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy was slightly stunned. This was her first time meeting an enlightened Buddhist monk. She didn’t expect the Buddhist sects she and her fellow immortals had fabricated to be cultivated in earnest by later generations and even expanded upon.

The wisdom of later generations is truly not to be underestimated, no less inferior than mine.

Her brow scrunched up slightly.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Yang asked.

“Someone’s spying on this place—likely the master of the national fortune.” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s senses were sharp when it came to countersurveillance; after all, she was someone who could track the ancient immortals.

Lu Yang understood what was going on. An immortal affiliated with the imperial court is likely keeping tabs on this place. That’s perfectly normal.

The Xia Emperor opened his mouth, but Yun Zhi beat him to it. “After returning to the sect, I consulted many elders. One erudite senior proposed a method that can break through lifespan limits and extend one’s life.”

“What method is it?” The others couldn’t find a solution for the Xia Emperor’s predicament despite scouring their own sects.

“In the ancient era, there was a natural spiritual peach tree. Consuming its fruits could extend one’s lifespan, but the tree can run. Its current whereabouts are unknown.”

“Such a thing exists?!” Everyone was visibly moved. None had heard of the natural spiritual tree. The Dao-Seeking Sect’s foundation is truly terrifying.

The Xia Emperor was the first to regain composure. “I’ll dispatch people to search for it.” There's no use rushing; whether I can find it depends on fate.

He pivoted to another important matter. “Great Yu’s plans in Ji Province have been exposed; your esteemed sect’s Taciturn Daoist Priest uncovered the conspiracy first. To save the civilians, he used himself as bait and threw himself into the fray, using Sword Opens Heaven’s Gate to shatter the Great Yu Transcendent Tribulation cultivator’s Rules. He engaged in a battle of strength and wits and sent out a signal, holding out until Palace Leader Chen Tao and reinforcements from the immortal sects arrived. Finally, they captured this Great Yu cultivator together.

“His deeds drew widespread acclaim. Palace Leader Chen Tao and the elders from the immortal sects showered praises on the Taciturn Daoist Priest and were extremely impressed with him, wishing to honor him formally. However, the Taciturn Daoist Priest forsook fame and recognition, choosing to withdraw after his meritorious contributions. Everyone tried to search for him multiple times, but to no avail.”

Everyone present wore odd expressions. They had already heard the reports on Dingxin City from the elders of their respective sects. This version seems to diverge quite significantly...

“Who wrote this report?” Qiu Jin’an was perplexed. Did a spy from the Dao-Seeking Sect infiltrate the imperial court? This is practically praising the Taciturn Daoist Priest to the high heavens.

The Xia Emperor’s face darkened. “The folk pingshu story Saga of the Dao-Seeking Sect.”

Qiu Jin’an, “...”

All eyes locked onto Lu Yang and Yun Zhi, the message clear: The Taciturn Daoist Priest is from your sect, and he’s always starting rumors and creating trouble—what are you going to do about it?

With her shrewd mind, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy borrowed Yun Zhi’s words. “I was appointed acting sect leader by the sect leader—I have no authority over him.”

“So?”

“So, I can write a letter, suggesting the sect leader abdicate in my favor. Once I become sect leader, I’ll have authority over him.”