Chapter 6

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, a majestic golden chariot sped out from a palace that had collapsed halfway.

Four black steeds of the underworld pulled the chariot, their hooves treading on golden flames, covering vast distances with each step. Within ten steps, they had reached the realm of the living.

The realm of the living was in the darkest moment before dawn. The chariot stopped in an open space before a temple. The steeds, looking eastward, pawed the ground restlessly, leaving marks of dark flames.

The black curtains of the chariot were drawn aside, and a deity descended. Wrapped in a golden glow, it patted the steeds to calm them, then with a wave of its hand, the entire chariot transformed into a golden light and was tucked into its sleeve.

Though not tall or robust, this deity exuded a heavy and solemn presence in the valley.

It pushed open the temple door and entered, not even glancing at the sleeping Ye Qing on the ground. Instead, it walked to the wall, first examining the sacrificial text tinged with red aura, then reading a line of poetry.

At this moment, the line of poetry was already faintly tinged with a green aura, truly a work that would be remembered in history.

The deity, ignoring the green aura emanating from the wall, recited aloud: "I see no ancient sages before me, nor future ones to come. Thinking of the vast universe, I am alone, grieving and tears fall."

Its voice was like iron, like ice, indistinguishable as male or female, yet it was沧桑而厚重 (aged and weighty).

A fierce wind swept through the valley, faintly carrying the sounds of clashing weapons and neighing horses. Ghostly shadows loomed, their voices mournful, all of them fallen warriors' spirits.

The deity extended its hand, and the line of poetry, which it had composed, drew a thread of green aura from the wall into its body. The deity's form wavered, and golden light radiated out, illuminating the spirits of the fallen warriors.

Bathed in the golden light, a dozen black shadows rolled on the ground, transforming into human forms, regaining their consciousness. They knelt and called out, "General!"

Though the literary aura was pure and resonant, without official rank or fame, it had reached its limit. The green aura on the wall flickered, struggling to continue.

The deity sighed, waved its hand, and the spirits that had regained consciousness, numbering over a hundred, were gathered into its sleeve. Most of the others remained dazed and confused.

Almost immediately, they dispersed instinctively.

A short while later, the first rays of sunlight shone down, quietly merging with the golden light, forming a set of ancient golden armor. A solemn bronze mask was attached to the helmet, gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

The spirits of the underworld feared sunlight and could not manifest during the day. Even ordinary spirits were bound by this, but this deity was an exception.

It looked regretfully at the wall, confirming that the green aura had been temporarily depleted and would not quickly recover without being passed down through generations. Only then did it slowly walk to Ye Qing's body, gazing at it.

In the deity's eyes, the youth before it emitted only a faint white aura, indicating a thin thread of fortune. However, within this faint aura, there was a thread of pale green spiritual energy, a sign of the youth's talent.

But without the nourishment of red and yellow auras, it was as dim as a candle in the wind!

"This youth has a noble and clear talent, but his fate is as thin as paper. After eight hundred years, I did not expect anyone to still remember. In gratitude for your immortal verse, I cannot fail to repay you."

With that, it formed a seal with its fingers and touched Ye Qing's forehead.

Instantly, a golden light flashed.

...

A breeze blew through the temple, and Ye Qing awoke. Everything before him was different.

Originally, it was late autumn, but now the climate felt mild. The surroundings were dim, but not like night, more like the dusky sky at sunset.

Taking a few steps, he saw a palace shrouded in clouds, with guards and maidservants on either side, all beautiful and handsome, and unknown flowers blooming everywhere.

Looking further, he saw layers of pavilions. At that moment, a man dressed as a general, with a long sword at his waist, approached and said, "The General invites you to the hall!"

He then led Ye Qing inside. The palace was magnificent, bright, and resplendent, and Ye Qing realized he was dreaming of a deity.

Feeling for the Chuanlin Notebook, he found it hidden in his mind, dormant like a speck, and felt reassured. He stepped forward calmly.

The curtains slid open, revealing a golden-armored deity sitting on a throne. Just sitting there, the deity exuded a killing aura that pierced Ye Qing's forehead, cold and sharp.

Ye Qing instinctively raised his head, not retreating a step. Stunned, he stared at the golden-armored deity.

"Courageous!" After a moment, the golden-armored deity, unmoving, said coldly, but the killing intent dissipated. "Few scholars can withstand my battlefield aura. Your character is strong!"

Pausing, it added, puzzled, "This youth has a clear and upright talent, his wisdom is evident, and he can understand the Dao. I thought his character would be weak, unsuitable for the Dao, but now it seems otherwise. Even if his physical constitution is lacking, it can be compensated. Why is his fortune so thin?"

"If he had any sins, they would show, but it seems as if something has been cut away?"

While pondering, Ye Qing bowed and asked, "May I ask the name of the revered deity and the reason for inviting me here?"

"It is my fault..." The golden-armored deity came to its senses, not offended, and apologized, "This temple is desolate, and you have honored it with your writing, making the walls shine. I came to express my gratitude."

Ye Qing, considering his words, thanked him, "I am grateful for the General's kindness. Staying overnight was already a favor, and writing poetry was an imposition. As an uninvited guest, I dare not accept your thanks."

"Your poetry means much to me, but it cannot remain on the wall for long. I would like you to write it on paper!" The golden-armored deity looked at him and requested.

"Of course!" Ye Qing, without hesitation, saw a maid present a fine inkstone and a blue pen.

Ye Qing composed himself, wrote calmly, and soon finished, presenting it to the golden-armored deity.

The golden-armored deity read it and praised it highly, dispelling its doubts. These two pieces were indeed written by this youth. It then said, "You are truly a talented person, bringing much glory to my small temple. I have nothing to offer in return, but my temple has three treasures. You may choose one."

Ye Qing declined, "I cannot accept!"

The golden-armored deity's tone turned impatient, "Do not refuse. Choose one."

Hearing this, Ye Qing remembered that the deity was a former general and was used to giving orders. Realizing he could not defy it, he could only nod with a bitter smile, "I will comply."

Thinking to himself, this did not match the legends. The scholar in the past must have been frightened and used literary embellishment to beautify the event, which could be dangerous!

"You understand well!" The golden-armored deity, seeing Ye Qing agree, smiled in satisfaction. "I must repay you, or my heart will not be at ease."

Three golden lights appeared, gradually taking shape.

A cup, a book, and a pill.

The three golden objects floated in the air, radiating an indescribable power and charm, clearly not ordinary items.

Ye Qing, stunned, asked, "Can you explain and suggest?"

The golden-armored deity's gaze, behind the bronze mask, was playful, "Choose as you will, based on your fortune!"

Ye Qing opened his mouth, unable to argue, but remembered the examples from the past, which he had analyzed.

"Surely they are a magical artifact, a magical technique, and a pill!"

"I am not wrong. I will have magical techniques in the future, so I do not lack them. Besides, without official rank, what use would a magical technique be? It would only bring trouble."

"The pill can enhance one's Dao, but I am still a commoner, what Dao can I enhance?"

"The cup can hold fortune, though its effect is limited, it is suitable for me now!" Thinking this, Ye Qing pointed to the golden cup, "I choose this cup."

"Hmm?" The golden deity looked at it for a moment, then smiled, "Very well, take it."

The other items dissipated, and the golden cup materialized, transforming into golden light and entering Ye Qing's embrace.

Ye Qing was somewhat dazed, was that it?

The golden curtains slid closed, and a subtle approval came from behind, "I gift you a cup of fortune. If we meet again, it will be by fate!"

"Clang—"

The sound of something falling and rolling on the ground.

Ye Qing struggled to his feet, opened his eyes, and saw the sunlight bright and the campfire extinguished.

Looking down, he saw a cup at his feet, faintly feeling a golden liquid flowing, clearly the gifted fortune, though he could not see it clearly without Dao techniques.

"This deity is straightforward... speaking of which, yang text and yin fortune, yin artifact and yang fortune, it is a form of yin-yang cooperation."

But he did not dwell on it. Such things were not uncommon in the world.

Shaking off his historical musings, Ye Qing picked up the cup, finding it to be a bronze cup, cold to the touch, but immediately feeling a surge of energy, making him feel refreshed.

"It seems genuine. This cup of fortune, though not much, solves my fundamental problem without having to beg for fortune from my clan!"

"In times of hunger and cold, a piece of bread and a cup of water are worth more than a fortune!"

"Ha, this golden cup of fortune, a small magical artifact, can be compared to a minor official's destiny. The fortune it holds is probably not much, perhaps only equivalent to the support from my clan once or twice, but for me now, I do not even have this level of fortune, so I cannot refuse this favor!"

Ye Qing carefully stored the bronze cup and bowed to the deity's statue, "A cup of water's favor, I will repay with a spring of water. When I return in glory, I will come to pay my respects and重塑金身 (rebuild your golden statue)!"

The temple was silent, with no response. Ye Qing was not surprised and turned to leave the mountain temple.

In the morning sunlight, he walked for several miles, then took out the Chuanlin Notebook. A golden text appeared on the blank page: "In the eleventh year of the Great Ji Ping era, in Ping Shou County, Nan Cang Prefecture, at the southern foot of the Northern Mang Mountains, Ye Qing visited the ancient Wei battlefield, wrote a sacrificial text and poem on the wall, and dreamed of a deity. The deity gifted him a golden cup, which holds a portion of golden fortune!"

Below were the complete sacrificial text and poem, a few words confirming the event. Seeing this, Ye Qing exhaled and smiled.

Indeed, the Chuanlin Notebook had the ability to record. Now, bound by the rules of the world, it could not reveal its contents.

As long as he gained official rank or advanced in Dao, the recorded secrets would gradually emerge, manifesting as brilliant golden text.

Turning the page, the advertisement began.

Turning the page, the advertisement ended.