Chapter 288 - 158: My Heart Soars with Grand Ambition, I Wish to Ascend the Nine Heavens to Gaze Upon the Star River

Chapter 288: Chapter 158: My Heart Soars with Grand Ambition, I Wish to Ascend the Nine Heavens to Gaze Upon the Star River

A dignified, middle-aged Daoist with a three-stranded beard materialized from a swirl of white smoke mist outside the Ministry of Affairs Hall. The servant disciples on either side saw him and immediately bowed, calling out, "Steward Liu."

Steward Liu gave a faint nod and strode through the main gate toward the inner rooms. Before he could even cross the front hall, his eyes fell upon a cool, aloof woman emerging gracefully from the back. Her hair was styled to frame her face, adorned with a dangling golden-leaf hairpin. She wore a Dark Cloud Silk Shawl and carried an embroidered pouch in her hand.

Steward Liu’s eyes lit up. He quickly plastered a smile on his face, took two steps forward, and called out, "Lady Xue!"

His sudden change in demeanor made those nearby exchange glances, but Steward Liu paid them no mind. He continued to smile warmly. "Lady Xue, are you here to retrieve cultivation items for Junior Martial Uncle Xu?"

’How could they possibly know? The woman before me is the manager of the grotto-abode on Chongyun Peak, an attendant to Venerable Dao Miao herself. Even sect experts visiting Chongyun Peak wouldn’t dare show her any disrespect. I’m just a lowly steward in the Ministry of Affairs Hall, so how could a bit of deference be out of place?’

Xue Yuren merely gave a slight nod. "Precisely."

Ever since returning with Xuzhuang, her life had consisted of either managing the grotto-abode or cultivating. The only times she left Chongyun Peak were for her scheduled trips to the Ministry of Affairs Hall to procure cultivation items for Xuzhuang.

Due to Xuzhuang’s cultivation needs, on top of collecting the standard provisions for a True Disciple, she also had to trade for large quantities of Golden Cores and True Sand. Because the amounts were so substantial, she frequently dealt with the stewards in the hall, which is how Steward Liu had come to know her.

"Ah, Lady Xue, I’ve told you before," Steward Liu said with an unbothered chuckle, well aware of her naturally frosty demeanor. "You need only send a message, and I can have a disciple from the hall deliver the items to Chongyun Peak. There’s no need for you to make the trip yourself."

Xue Yuren’s expression remained impassive. "That would be against regulations," she demurred.

"Ah, you’re being too formal, Lady Xue," Steward Liu said. When she didn’t respond, he didn’t press the matter. Instead, he changed the subject. "Do you recall asking about Red Dust Silk a few years ago? Well, we finally have some news."

Xue Yuren’s interest was piqued. For the first time, there was a subtle shift in her tone. "Oh?" she asked. "Didn’t you say the Ministry of Affairs Hall wouldn’t have any in stock for the foreseeable future?"

The item known as Red Dust Silk was created by Daoists who wandered the mortal world, expending immense effort to gather and refine the "qi of the mundane world." Not only was the process draining and difficult, but the item itself had limited applications, making it exceedingly rare.

As for why Xue Yuren was inquiring about it at the Ministry of Affairs Hall—it was obvious without even having to guess. It was for a technique Xuzhuang was cultivating.

"That wasn’t untrue," Steward Liu said with a chuckle. "However, a friend of mine happened to refine some while traveling through the Zeji Land. He had no use for it, so he traded it to the hall."

Xue Yuren studied him for a moment before speaking. "In that case, could I trouble you to process the exchange for me?" She produced a jade token from her sleeve—Xuzhuang’s Merit Order.

Steward Liu was delighted. "But of course! Please, my lady, come to the inner hall, have some tea, and wait a moment. I’ll send a disciple to fetch it right away."

Xue Yuren declined politely. "I’ve already been waiting in the hall for quite some time, and there are still matters at the residence I must attend to..."

Hearing this, Steward Liu quickly backpedaled. "Yes, yes, of course. In that case, my lady, please just wait here." With that, he decided not to send anyone else and hurried into the inner hall himself. He returned shortly, carrying several silk scrolls. "Lady Xue, please take a look. This is the Red Dust Silk."

Xue Yuren raised a delicate hand and took one of the silk scrolls from the tray. She gently unfurled it. An incredibly vivid scene was painted upon its surface. A landscape spanning thousands of miles was captured on a canvas only feet wide, where horses were mere inches tall and people the size of peas. The brushwork was masterful. Distant mountains, winding rivers, city towers, bustling streets, rolling carts, and sailing boats, scholars and servants and porters—every detail was so lifelike it seemed an entire corner of the mortal world had been sealed within the scroll.

’The Red Dust Silk certainly lives up to its name,’ she thought. ’Though this scroll is only a few feet long, judging from the scene, its creator must have traveled tens of thousands of miles to gather enough of the mundane world’s qi to refine it.’

Steward Liu held several more such scrolls. Xue Yuren briefly examined them, finding scenes of mountains and villages, willow groves and paddy fields, and even majestic imperial cities and decadent royal courts. Each scroll was unique.

Xue Yuren pondered for a moment before speaking. "You’ve been very thoughtful, Steward. I will be sure to let the Master know of this."

Steward Liu was overjoyed. "My thanks, Lady Xue."

There are no such coincidences in the world. He had, of course, commissioned these scrolls of Red Dust Silk from several artisans. He had only traded them into the Ministry of Affairs Hall’s inventory first because he feared Lady Xue would not dare accept such a significant favor directly.

Xue Yuren nodded silently and allowed him to deduct the merit points from her Merit Order. Only then did she speak. "Then I will take my leave."

Steward Liu, of course, did not try to stop her. Xue Yuren glided out of the Ministry of Affairs Hall. Before she even had to call for it, a large immortal crane descended from the sky. It affectionately lowered its head to nuzzle her palm before dipping its body low.

Xuzhuang had adopted this very crane from the Spirit Beast Hall years ago for the convenience of the Daoist Children at his residence. After cultivating for so long in the spiritually rich environment of Chongyun Peak, it had become quite intelligent.

Xue Yuren gently stroked its red crown before settling onto its back. The crane let out a clear cry, flapped its great wings, and soared into the air. In the distance, she could see Chongyun Peak piercing the heavens, wreathed in swirling smoke and mist. It flew straight toward the peak, arriving at the summit in little more than a quarter of an hour.

Just as they landed on the summit, the crane cried out in alarm and lurched, nearly throwing Xue Yuren from its back. The sea of clouds below was roiling, as if some colossal beast were swimming through it. As the disturbance neared the summit, a single-horned flood dragon—covered in green scales, with four fingers on each of its four claws—leapt out. It threw back its head, its cavernous maw gaping, and roared, "Chongyun Peak! I have returned!"