Eternal Life

Infighting

The vast ‘Jade Mess Hall’ was like magnificent grand palace, so grand that it caused shock in Fang Han’s mind. As one of the Ten Immortal Schools, the Yu’hua School held a lot of power. Yet since coming here, Fang Han still wasn’t clear about what its power brought, and he had only had vague ideas.

Now, Fang Han truly felt the effects of the school’s power.

What was power?

It wasn’t the ability to move mountains and oceans, but the ability to provide the basic necessities.

“Let’s find an area to sit down,” said Princess Hong Yi Jun, waving Fang Han over. The two entered the ‘Jade Mess Hall’ and, upon finding empty seats, sat down.

The table they sat at was rectangular, very long and very wide, neither wood nor stone, and seemingly ancient, a variety of patterns were engraved upon the table. It exuded a delicate aroma.

“Seabed agarwood!” Fang Han was shocked once more, this large mess table was made of such a precious kind of wood. In the Fang mansion, only a couple direct descendants of the clan master were able to use furniture made of seabed agarwood, yet here, inside the ‘Jade Mess Hall’, all of the tables were made of this wood, as if it were worthless.

The length of these tables were as great as those used at governor banquets, their length a couple zhang.

[TL: 30 – 37m]

Especially worth noting were the large crystal pools next to the tables. Inside, spring water endlessly flowed and fish swam around. The pool was very deep, so deep that it seemed bottomless. It is impossible to discern where the water was going nor where it came from.

Atop the table, there was a cylinder made of white jade. The cylinder was covered in various seals.

“What are you eating?”

Princess Hong Yi Jun picked a seal and took it off, and looking around, put the seal into the crystal pool. Immediately, a fish took the seal and ran off.

Before long, in the crystal pool, a water lily bud about the side of a washbasin appeared. Princess Hong Yi Jun picked it up and put it on the table, tearing open the bud one petal at a time, and immediately four dishes and a soup appeared, along with a jade-looking crystal bowl filled with steaming diamond-like rice. Even though the dishes came out from the water, since they were wrapped within the petals of a water lily, they weren’t wet in the slightest, and instead became inundated with the aroma of the lilies and moisture, causing them to become fresher, and more appetizing.

“Whatever you want to eat, throw the seal with it into the crystal pool, and after a moment, a water lily will float up. Your food will be within it.”

Hong Yi clacked her chopsticks together.

These chopsticks were also made of jade, exquisitely carved and verdant, making one want to take a bite out of them to taste their flavor.

“Truly magical.” Fang Han, copying Hong Yi, also picked a ‘Magic Food Seal’ and dropped it into the crystal pool, where another fish picked it up and swam away. Before long, about the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, a water lily bud similar to Hong Yi’s floated up.

He picked it up, tore it open, and multiple very fine dishes appeared in front of him.

Taking a bite, fragrances immediately filled his mouth, and he could not help but devour the dishes, completely cleaning several plates of food. Only then did he feel satisfied.

“The menu of the Yu’hua school was bestowed upon by immortals, and is the best for nurturing one’s body. Especially after undergoing the cooking process of the xian’qi ‘Five Qi Immortal Pot’, the impurities are disintegrated while the nutrients are retained, making it easy on the stomach. Thus, entering the Yu’hua School and becoming an outer court disciple is something that many powerful pract.i.tioners dream of. Although you are a powerful pract.i.tioner, your manners are very poor.”

Watching Fang Han devour his food, Hong Yi laughed, seemingly reminiscent of a blooming flower.

“What kind of powerful pract.i.tioner am I considered as, I am but a small person who has had an opportunity,” said Fang Han, his mouth full, making his words m.u.f.fled.

“I finally found you guys.”

At this time, a person hurriedly walked over and took a seat. It was the Earl of Zhen Yuan, Liu Kang.

“Have you eaten yet?” asked Fang Han.

“I’ve eaten. I came to find you guys because I got some information. I thought we should discuss it.” Liu Kang swung his hand, looked around, and finally said in a quiet voice, “I just received the news that the Blue Moon Country located in the Han’hai Desert recently suffered from some raids by powerful bandits. With so many casualties, the queen of Blue Moon Country decided to send the Yu’hua School a request for help. There is a possibility that the school will have us go and help exterminate these desert bandits.”

“Desert bandits are that powerful?” It was clear that Hong Yi was doubtful, “Blue Moon Country is very powerful and prosperous. Although its population is not at the level of the Great Empires, there are still millions of them. Also, they produce Sky Blue Emery Steel and are in possession of many complex weapons. Their Blue Blood Horses are even more tyrannical than our treasured horses, and each of their people train in martial arts. They have a countless number of experts, and desert bandits would run away at the sight of them.”

“This time, the report is true. I overheard a couple inner court disciples discussing it and received the same information from my father. Mixed amongst those desert bandits are some underground Devils. Even worse, there seems to be Demon Sect and Devil Clan disciples secretly controlling them.” The more Liu Kang spoke, the quieter his voice became, “Rumors say that the Demon Sects and Devil Clans covet the Blue Moon Country’s beautiful women, treasured horses, minerals, wealth, and various treasures. Apparently there are also some veins of black gold in the earth. Thus, they instigated several large groups of desert bandits. They are supplying them with magic weapons as well. They want to exterminate the country in one go. Otherwise, they will disturb our Yu’hua School. Rumor has it that the Court of Elders have already ordered some true disciples to move out, and are considering selecting some outer court disciples to go out and train. If one beheads one of those high level bandit chieftains or one of the Devil Generals of the underground Devils, and bring their head back, they will qualify for partic.i.p.ation in the inner disciple a.s.sessment!”

“What, qualification for a spot in the inner court disciple a.s.sessment?” Hong Yi’s eyes lit up.

If an outer court disciple wanted to be promoted to an inner court disciple, one had to qualify for a spot in the a.s.sessment, just like how in order for an ordinary person to become an outer court disciple, it wasn’t whether or not you could defeat the G.o.dly Strength Puppet, but rather getting the recommendation for a spot to face it in the first place.

If Fang Han hadn’t received Fang Qing Xue’s signature, even if he had trained to the tenth level, G.o.dly Transformation, he wouldn’t have been able to become an outer court disciple and enjoy these kinds of days.

“Yep, qualification for the inner disciple a.s.sessment,” said Liu Kang, “I’m afraid that this time, it’s no small matter since there are a couple veins of black gold within the Blue Moon Country. This blessed material can be condensed into the best of our Yu’hua School’s Eight Divines, the ‘Unrestrained Great Black Gold Sword Qi.’ If we let the Devil Clans get this material, our Yu’hua School will take a huge hit. Thus, the Court of Elders are paying great attention to this matter, and are offering a total of three hundred sixty-five places.”

“Amid the Han’hai Desert there are a great number of desert bandits, people, and horses, over hundred thousands of them. War between two countries is no small matter. The strength of just the three of us is not enough, I’m afraid we will have to find a few partners.”

“Our strength is on the weaker side, so I already found a stronger group that we can borrow some power off of,” said Liu Kang, pointing into the distance.

Fang Han looked in the direction Liu Kang was pointing, and in the distance, only saw several handsome young men and beautiful young women leisurely sitting on chairs, as if they were sitting inside a golden throne room. They gave off a feeling of tolerance and power, showing off their great, unfathomable power.

“These people? They are the Da’de Empire’s princes and princesses,” said Hong Yi.

“Yep, they are truly the royal disciples of the Da’de Empire. If we want to get places in the inner court a.s.sessments, we can only ally with them. You must know, the royal disciples of the Da’li Empire will definitely not give us any spots,” said Liu Kang softly.

So it was like this, the struggles between royalties have trickled to this place, after listening for a while, Fang Han understood in his heart.

For example, Liu Kang was the son of the Marquis of Zhen Yuan, if he became an inner court disciple, then the Marquis would gain a lot of power, and possibly become able to restrict the Da’li Empire.

It was similar to the Fang Clan. Because of their a.s.sociation with Fang Qing Xue, even the Da’li Empire didn’t dare to give them decrees.

Ultimately, the Yu’hua School accepted disciples from the three great empires, the Da’li, Da’de, and Da’xu Empires, as well as from many smaller countries. Every year, they would give these empires some outer disciple spots. In return, the empires would return their worship, treasures, mineral veins, and incense.
For example, the ‘Jade Mess Hall’s agarwood was tribute sent by the coastal Da’xu Empire. The steel used to forge the ‘Devil Beheading Sword’ was tribute from the Da’de Empire.

Also, in Long’yuan City, Fang Han had seen many, many temples, all of which were dedicated to the Yu’hua School. During yearly celebrations, many clans and the wealthy would go to them and burn incense and pray for blessings.

Although the Yu’hua School was a school of the Immortal Path, its relations with empires and powerful clans and sects were very close.

There were no barriers between the Immortalists and regular people.

From amidst the hundred thousand outer court disciples, one could see the feuds going on outside between the various empires, clans, and n.o.bles over power; it was truly no small matter. Outside, political murders and resentments were endless.

In his heart, Fang Han gradually understood all of this.

Becoming an outer court disciple wasn’t to spend days as an Immortal pract.i.tioner, but rather to avoid the brutal fighting outside.

“Let’s go over and discuss it with them,” suggested Liu Kang.

“Okay.” Fang Han and Hong Yi got up at the same time, and they began walking over.

Sitting at the other table, there were three males and two females, each one having a certain sort of gracefulness and the manner of high status royalty used to dictating and getting everything. Seeing Fang Han, Liu Kang, and Hong Yi walking over, they didn’t ask the three to sit down. From among them, a young man asked “Liu Kang, are these the helpers you managed to recruit? I hope they aren’t useless people you just dragged over.”

“Eh?”

Hearing the guy’s words, Fang Han’s heart became uncomfortable.

“How am I a useless person?” Hong Yi wasn’t angry, but her words had suddenly become very cold.

“Princess Hong Yi Jun, your sword skills are very high level, and hold very many secrets. You managed to destroy the puppet in one hit I heard. Working with you would not be an obstruction, and you would indeed be a help. However, I am talking about the one beside you!”

A female began to speak, her eyes looking at Fang Han, “This person, which small clan does he belong to? What we want are experts. This person, what skills will he have? Could it be that he wants to rely on us to receive a spot for the inner disciple exam? Even if he received it, he wouldn’t pa.s.s the test, why waste a spot?”

“What are you saying?!”

Fang Han licked his lips.

[TL: s.h.i.t about to go down?]