Side Story Chapter 16: Strange Movements from Ü-Tsang!

Edited by: Michyrr

“!!!”

The elder was also stunned and alarmed by what was happening.

Normally, Yuan Tiangang’s compass had the effect of an energy-gathering formation, but when the elder had tried it, he had not been able to trigger as vast an effect as Li Taiyi had.

The elder shot Li Taiyi a subtle glance.

He had been sleeping within the Western Mausoleum, but strangely, when Li Taiyi entered, he had awoken even though it should have been ten-some years until his next awakening.

This had immediately made him curious, so he had come out to see who this newcomer was.

Seeing that Li Taiyi had shaken off his shock and focused his attention, closing his eyes to cultivate, the elder grew even more satisfied with Li Taiyi.

“Truly peerless talent!”

The elder nodded and softly sighed. He then quietly restrained his energy and stood sentinel over Li Taiyi.

Time slowly passed. Suddenly, Li Taiyi frowned and immediately stopped sending Stellar Energy into the golden-red compass. The tunnel soon fell quiet once more.

“Why did you stop?”

The elder looked at Li Taiyi and frowned.

“Although I’m smoothly getting stronger, this junior knows that a greedy and insatiable heart is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Moreover, my cultivation is too low, so I must solidify it step by step. Sure and steady progress is more suitable,” Li Taiyi respectfully said.

A breakthrough in cultivation was not something done in a single day, so after getting enough Stellar Energy to reach the limit of the Imperial Martial realm, Li Taiyi stopped. For the rest, he would have to hammer it out bit by bit.

“Not bad.”

The elder smirked at Li Taiyi’s answer.

“You know when to go and when to stop. Your understanding of this principle means that you understand the essence of martial arts. In truth, if you had continued to absorb energy, it would have only hurt you, not helped you, and you would have found it very difficult to reach a high level of cultivation.

“Enough. In the future, you may come here to cultivate every night.”

Hearing this, Li Taiyi trembled, and his eyes erupted with light as his heart rejoiced.

“Many thanks, Senior!”

Li Taiyi deeply bowed, knowing that he had received a rare opportunity.

“Right, there’s no need to keep calling me ‘Senior’. Just call me by name: Master Guangcheng,” the elder said.

“Yes, Senior,” Li Taiyi automatically said, but a moment later, he realized what had been said.

Master Guangcheng?!!

Boom!

Li Taiyi’s mind was instantly thrown into turmoil.

The Yellow Emperor’s teacher, Master Guangcheng?!

…………

Afterwards, Li Taiyi would travel to the Western Mausoleum every night under the cover of darkness. Already having experienced the process once, Li Taiyi was much more proficient now.

Under the guidance of the elder, Li Taiyi’s cultivation soared.

Through their interaction, Li Taiyi also came to know the old man’s name: Master Guangcheng!

After his initial shock, Li Taiyi became more relaxed and was able to focus on cultivation.

……

Li Taiyi sat cross-legged in front of the statue of Supreme Sage Confucius, his eyes half-closed and sweat caking his forehead. His expression was somewhat pained, though it quickly turned to relief.

Bzzz! Some sort of seal seemed to break, and Li Taiyi opened his eyes. Light erupted from them, and a formidable pressure swept out like a gale.

Master Guangcheng watched Li Taiyi finish his cultivation, and gave a satisfied smile.

“Not bad, not bad! In less than fifteen minutes, you managed to pass the Supreme Sage’s mental trial, and as for your martial cultivation… in less than a month, you’ve already reached the peak Great General level. A true genius!”

At this moment, Li Taiyi’s body radiated solid and heavy pulses of energy. He appeared to have been washed free of impurities, and gleamed with a sharpness that was all his own.

“Many thanks, Master!”

Li Taiyi sensed the change in his body and was filled with gratitude.

If not for Master Guangcheng teaching him everything he knew, Li Taiyi would have never progressed so quickly. Li Taiyi had also changed the way he addressed Master Guangcheng, and Master Guangcheng had tacitly agreed to it. His eyes looked warmly upon Li Taiyi, tinged with some… nostalgia.

“…Little Yi, you were able to reach this stage through your own tireless effort. You are the most talented person I have ever seen. On your body, I sensed an outstanding resolve and an astonishing talent and perception.”

Master Guangcheng looked appreciatively at Li Taiyi as he spoke.

“I have taught you all I know, and you have digested everything very well. Now, your teacher will pass on to you the Son of Heaven’s Sword.”

The Son of Heaven’s Sword?

A questioning look appeared in Li Taiyi’s eyes.

Master Guangcheng saw this, and without another word, he brought his index and middle fingers together and touched Li Taiyi’s forehead.

Although Li Taiyi had already reached the peak of the Great General level, Master Guangcheng moved so quickly that Li Taiyi couldn’t even see how he did it. This was a sign of his unfathomable strength.

Buzz!

As Master Guangcheng’s fingers touched the center of his brow, the scene before him shifted.

As if a brush had been forcefully dragged across it, the stone wall in front of him became messy and distorted. Suddenly, a golden light emerged and engulfed Li Taiyi.

Li Taiyi instinctively blinked, and when he opened his eyes, he was in an empty and spacious area.

Dark clouds churned overhead, flashing with lightning. On the ground, a giant human-shaped statue stood, a sword in its hands. He appeared like the ruler of this world, exuding an aura that engulfed the heavens and forbade Li Taiyi to act recklessly.

As he took a closer look, Li Taiyi saw that the statue had a serene and solemn expression. He felt like he had seen it somewhere before, but he couldn’t remember where.

Clang!

Suddenly, that giant statue began to move.

Its eyes opened, revealing two cold golden lights. At the same time, the stone statue pulled out the giant stone sword, and golden light immediately soared toward the heavens, thrusting into the firmament like a sword.

The winds howled as spiritual energy was pulled toward the heaven-piercing golden light, strengthening it and expanding it.

Buzz!

A moment later, the stone statue swung his sword, and that beam of heaven-shaking Sword Qi cleaved through the clouds, exposing the sky!

“So powerful! This is the Son of Heaven’s Sword?!”

Li Taiyi was shaken by this sight.

This sword had exceeded the bounds of human imagination, of martial artists. Even the gods were but ants before this sword!

Moreover, this attack harnessed the endless spiritual energy of the surrounding world!

As Li Taiyi stared in shock, the scene shifted back, and Li Taiyi returned to the stone tunnel.

“How was it?”

Li Taiyi was still entranced by that sword as Master Guangcheng spoke.

Li Taiyi came to his senses and turned his head to see Master Guangcheng smiling, apparently having predicted Li Taiyi’s reaction.

After some serious thought, Li Taiyi said, “I have understood a little.”

The look of gratification in Master Guangcheng’s eyes thickened. Normally, it would be difficult for someone to understand anything on their first try. Li Taiyi was the first.

“Haha, worthy of having caught this old man’s eyes! Such impressive perception! Use that sensation to comprehend even more!”

“Yes!”

Time slowly passed as Li Taiyi continued to cultivate. After some time, Li Taiyi once more emerged from the Western Mausoleum. The east was beginning to brighten, orange rays of light illuminating his face.

At that moment, Li Taiyi appeared much steadier and more mature.

As Li Taiyi was stealthily returning to Jade Dragon Palace, he heard a familiar voice.

“Eunuch Li, is this true? Ü-Tsang has started raiding the border?! Why has the palace not heard anything about such a major development?”

Ü-Tsang was raiding the border?

What was going on?

Li Taiyi instantly stopped, his brow creasing as he turned to look.

He was in the middle of a lush bamboo grove pervaded by a faint and serene fragrance. This was a small path leading to the imperial physician’s courtyard. No one traversed this path except officials seeking an examination from the imperial physician, or maids and eunuchs who came to fetch medicine.

On this small path was a young eunuch of fifteen or sixteen years old, currently conversing with an extremely old eunuch. In fact, this was none other than Gao Lishi and the Tang Emperor’s attendant, Eunuch Li.

Gao Lishi? When did this kid get on good terms with Eunuch Li?

Li Taiyi was flabbergasted.

Gao Lishi had been recommended by his mother’s servant, Eunuch Fu, and had very little status in the court. But Eunuch Li, who was the Eunuch Director of the Inner Court, was the head of all eunuchs.

Li Taiyi had never imagined that he would be able to form a relationship with Eunuch Li.

And it appeared that Eunuch Li greatly favored him.

But a moment later, Li Taiyi understood what was going on.

It’s connected to Mother!

His mother, Empress Dou, was highly favored by his father, and if not for his mother, that disaster relief incident alone would have stripped him of his status as Prince.

Eunuch Li was his father’s trusted confidant and had to have known Eunuch Fu. Gao Lishi was a quick-witted person and had been recommended by Eunuch Fu, so it was no surprise that he was favored.

“…Last night, the battle report was delivered to Taiji Palace. It is normal for minor eunuchs like you to not know.”

There was an area paved with cobblestones to the side of the path, and stone stools and a table had been set up there. Eunuch Li placed the medicine cup on the stone table, slowly seated himself, and began to speak.

He was sending this cup back to the imperial physician, so he had some free time to chat.

In this palace, eunuchs had a lonely existence, especially since the Imperial Palace was so large. At least this quick-witted eunuch would occasionally come to chat with him to relieve his boredom.

“And after that?” Gao Lishi said, his eyes bright. He squatted down next to Eunuch Li, balling his hands into fists and lightly massaging Eunuch Li’s kneecaps.

“Nice!”

Eunuch Li happily squinted, satisfaction in his eyes.

Diligent!

He liked this kid and would often teach him a thing or two.

“His Majesty was naturally furious, so angry that he had to take his medicine.”

Eunuch Li pointed at the medicine cup.

Gao Lishi pursed his lips and said, “Eunuch Li… what do you think His Majesty will do about this situation?”

This time, Eunuch Li did not immediately answer, silently smiling.

Gao Lishi immediately understood. A fawning smile on his face, he went around to Eunuch Li’s back and began to massage his shoulders.

“Sir Eunuch, don’t keep me in suspense.”

“You’re quite the clever one.”

Eunuch Li took the small pouch of money, weighing it in his hands as he smiled. Looking around to make sure that no one else was watching, Eunuch Li put away the pouch.

“You haven’t been in the palace for long, so it’s only natural that you’re curious about military affairs. However, on some matters, it’s fine to listen, but you had better not go blabbing. As they say, trouble issues from the mouth.”

Eunuch Li didn’t find this curiosity strange. In his youth, when he first entered the palace, he had also been like a child, and he had been particularly interested when it came to military discussions that took place in Taihe Palace.

As time passed, the strange became normal.

“There’s no harm in telling you. The discussion has already begun in the court. This isn’t the first time Ü-Tsang has invaded the western border, but in the past, Ü-Tsang would only move during the autumn harvest. It is only the start of summer, still some time until the harvest, yet Ü-Tsang is already starting its raids. This one has heard that Ü-Tsang has even sent a force into the interior of Longxi!

“Ah! His Majesty must have a major headache!”

Eunuch Li deeply sighed.

Longxi’s interior?!

Ü-Tsang?!

Concealed by the bamboo, Li Taiyi trembled in shock upon hearing this news, his face paling.