Chapter 19: Chapter 19 — Schemes and Intrigue

Chapter 19 — Schemes and Intrigue

Such a vast Jade Dining Hall, such a magnificent palace—its sheer scale left Fang Han deeply shaken. As one of the Ten Great Immortal Sects, how powerful the Yuhua Sect truly was remained vague in his mind.

But now, he was personally feeling that power.

What was power?

Not moving mountains or filling seas—but food, clothing, shelter, and daily life.

“Let’s find a place to sit,”
Princess Hongyi said, gesturing to Fang Han as the two walked into the Jade Dining Hall and found an empty table.

The table was square, enormous in size—neither stone nor wood, ancient and elegant. Intricate patterns were carved into its surface, releasing a faint, refreshing fragrance.

“Subsea Agarwood!” Fang Han was startled.

This table was made from an extremely precious material. In the Fang household, only the core family heads could afford utensils made from subsea agarwood. Yet here, in the Jade Dining Hall, every table was made from it—as common as dirt.

The size of the table alone rivaled the banquet halls of provincial governors, spanning several zhang in length and width.

Beside the table was a large crystal pool, with flowing spring water and fish swimming leisurely within. The pool was deep and unfathomable, as though connected to some hidden subterranean waterway.

On the table stood a white jade slip-holder, filled with various talisman slips.

“What would you like to eat?”
Hongyi asked.

She drew a talisman slip, glanced at it, then tossed it into the crystal pool. Instantly, a fish swam up, grabbed the slip, and disappeared below the surface.

Moments later, a lotus bud the size of a washbasin rose from the depths. Hongyi plucked it from the water and placed it on the table. As she peeled open the petals one by one, four dishes, one soup, and a bowl of rice appeared.

The rice was crystalline, like polished jade or diamonds, steaming hot. Though it had risen from underwater, it wasn’t wet at all—wrapped safely inside the lotus, infused with its fragrance and moisture. The aroma alone made one’s appetite surge.

“If you want to eat something, toss a Food Deity Talisman into the pool. A lotus will rise, and inside will be your meal,”
Hongyi explained, lifting her chopsticks.

The chopsticks themselves were jade—translucent, emerald-green, so exquisite one almost wanted to bite into them.

“So magical…”
Fang Han followed suit, tossing a Food Deity Talisman into the pool. Sure enough, a fish took it away. About the time it took to burn half a stick of incense later, another lotus bud surfaced.

He opened it—and inside was an exquisitely prepared meal.

After one bite, Fang Han felt lingering fragrance fill his mouth. He immediately began devouring everything, finishing all the dishes in moments, only then feeling fully satisfied.

“The Yuhua Sect’s recipes are an Immortal Dao inheritance—extremely nourishing. Especially after being cooked in the Five-Qi Immortal Cauldron, a Dao Artifact. Vital essence is preserved while impurities are burned away—no harm to the stomach at all. That’s why even being an outer disciple here is something countless nobles dream of.”

Hongyi laughed brightly as she watched Fang Han eat.

“But you’re a noble yourself—no need to be so lacking in etiquette, right?”

“I’m no noble,”
Fang Han replied with his mouth still full. “Just a petty nobody who happened upon some luck.”

“Finally found you.”

At that moment, someone hurried over—it was Liu Kang, the Marquis of Zhenyuan’s son. He sat down beside them.

“Have you eaten?”
Fang Han greeted him.

“Yes. I came because I’ve received some news—we need to discuss it,”
Liu Kang said, waving his hand. He glanced around, then lowered his voice.

“I heard that the Blue Moon Kingdom in the Vast Sea Desert has recently suffered heavy attacks from powerful sand bandits. Casualties are severe. The Blue Moon Queen has already sent a distress request to Yuhua Sect. There’s a chance the sect will send us to assist in suppressing them.”

“Sand bandits—are they really that strong?”
Hongyi frowned. “The Blue Moon Kingdom is powerful. Though its population isn’t huge, it produces Azure Sandsteel, has excellent weapons, and breeds Blueblood Horses—exceptionally strong war mounts. Everyone there practices martial arts. Normally, sand bandits flee at their mere reputation.”

“The intel is reliable,”
Liu Kang said quietly. “I confirmed it through inner disciples—and my father’s channels. Among the bandits are Subterranean Demonkin, and possibly even Yao Dao and Demonic Sect disciples operating behind the scenes.”

His voice dropped further.

“It’s rumored that the Yao and Demonic factions covet the Blue Moon Kingdom’s women, warhorses, mineral veins, wealth, treasures—and several Mystic Gold Leylines. They’ve stirred up major sand bandit groups and even supplied them with artifacts. Their goal is total annihilation. Otherwise, Yuhua Sect wouldn’t be involved.”

“Some elders have already dispatched true disciples. They’ll also select outer disciples for trials. Anyone who kills powerful bandit leaders or demon generals and brings back proof can gain qualification for the Inner Disciple Examination!”

“What? Qualification for inner disciple assessment?”
Hongyi’s eyes lit up.

Outer disciples couldn’t simply take the inner disciple exam—they had to earn the right to be tested.

Just as Fang Han wouldn’t have become an outer disciple without Fang Qingxue’s recommendation—even if he reached the tenth layer of the Physical Body Realm.

“That’s right,”
Liu Kang nodded. “This is serious. The Azure Sand mines contain Mystic Gold Leylines—perfect for cultivating one of Yuhua Sect’s Eight Great Divine Abilities: Great Freedom Mystic Gold Sword Qi. If the Demonic Path seizes it, it’d be a major blow. The elders are offering 365 slots this time.”

“But the Vast Sea Desert has countless bandits—hundreds of thousands. It’s practically warfare. The three of us alone won’t be enough—we’ll need allies,”
Hongyi said.

“That’s why I’ve already found a powerful group to join forces with,”
Liu Kang said, pointing into the distance.

Fang Han followed his gaze. Several handsome young men and women sat calmly at a distant table, composed and majestic—like rulers seated upon a golden throne. Their presence radiated deep, unfathomable power.

“They’re… Imperial descendants of the Great Virtue Dynasty,”
Hongyi said.

“Exactly,”
Liu Kang replied. “If we want inner disciple slots, we must ally with them. The imperial clan of the Great Li Dynasty certainly won’t let us succeed easily.”

“So even within the Immortal Dao, the struggles of royalty and noble houses continue,”
Fang Han murmured inwardly.

If Liu Kang became an inner disciple, his father—the Marquis of Zhenyuan—would gain even greater leverage against the Great Li imperial court.

Just as the Fang family now dared ignore imperial edicts thanks to Fang Qingxue.

Yuhua Sect accepted offerings from three great dynasties—Great Li, Great Virtue, and Great Xu—along with many smaller states. In return, these dynasties received outer disciple quotas.

The agarwood tables in Jade Dining Hall came from Great Xu. The steel used to forge Demon-Slaying Swords was tribute from Great Virtue.

In Dragon Abyss City alone, countless temples belonged to Yuhua Sect. During festivals, nobles and commoners alike burned incense, seeking blessings.

Yuhua Sect was an Immortal Sect—but deeply entwined with mortal politics.

Immortals and humans were not worlds apart.

The hundreds of thousands of outer disciples represented the tangled struggles of dynasties, clans, and power—a battlefield no less brutal than the mortal world.

Fang Han finally understood.

Becoming an outer disciple didn’t mean peaceful immortal days. The true intrigue had only begun.

“Let’s go speak with them,”
Liu Kang suggested.

“Alright.”
Fang Han and Hongyi rose together and walked toward the other table.

There, three men and two women sat with regal arrogance—imperial authority evident in every gesture.

As Fang Han, Liu Kang, and Hongyi approached, none invited them to sit.

One young man spoke indifferently, “Liu Kang—are these the helpers you brought? They look more like burdens.”

Fang Han’s expression darkened.

“And why do you think we’re a burden?”
Hongyi asked calmly, though her tone chilled.

“Princess Hongyi, your swordsmanship is impressive—and you possess hidden methods. I’ve heard you even carry a superior Gale Talisman. You’re useful.”

The speaker paused, then glanced at Fang Han.

“But _him_? Which insignificant clan did he crawl out of? We need experts. Who is this nobody? Does he think he can ride our coattails into inner disciple status? Even if he gets the slot, he’ll fail the assessment and waste it.”

“What did you just say?”

Fang Han slowly licked his lips.