Chapter 88

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau, observing the celestial phenomena above and measuring the terrain below, can deduce the fate of the nation, making it the most mysterious of all.

But since Qin Xianyu began his Daoist cultivation, he learned the true purpose of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, which is to maintain the order of the Great Virtuous Holy Dynasty, ensuring that Daoists do not display their powers in the secular world and do not act recklessly, thus providing ordinary people with a peaceful world.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau maintains order with fairness.

The rules of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau are fair and impartial, but those who enforce the rules may not be.

People have thoughts, and with thoughts come desires; with desires come selfishness.

Qin Xianyu sighed, put the token in his pocket, and thought to himself, "No wonder there is no guardian from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau here."

The location of this geomantic site was once reported to a high-ranking official of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau by the Chancellor.

That official returned to the capital, presumably to invite a skilled healer to treat the Chancellor and to investigate the location of this geomantic site.

But the Chancellor has been ill for many days, and no one has come to his aid. Moreover, this geomantic site is unguarded by anyone from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, indicating that the news likely did not reach the bureau.

The loss of the token here suggests that the official from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau did not return to the capital but came directly to the geomantic site, possibly meeting his end here. Qin Xianyu made some speculations and had some vague ideas about this matter.

The geomantic site is a place where malevolent energy converges, providing an opportunity for breaking through the barriers of malevolent energy.

It is said that the official from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had greater abilities than Ye Qing, meaning he had cultivated true qi. Although he was likely not at the peak of qi cultivation and could not project his true qi externally, his goal was probably the same as Qin Xianyu's: to cultivate true qi to the point of external projection and then to condense the malevolent energy.

"If this place were reported to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, someone would be assigned to guard it. In the future, if one were to cultivate true qi to the point of external projection and wanted to condense malevolent energy, one would need the approval of a high-ranking official from the bureau. So, did he keep it a secret to condense the malevolent energy first?"

"Or perhaps he was ambushed?"

Qin Xianyu's expression turned serious. He originally thought that the place of malevolent energy was quiet and still, and the danger lay only in the process of condensing the malevolent energy. But now it seems that the outside world is not necessarily safe either.

An official from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau who had cultivated true qi has already lost his token here and is likely dead. Qin Xianyu cannot afford to be careless.

"The gray ape has already been killed by my sword, but there is no sign of the child here?" Qin Xianyu thought to himself, "If I gain nothing, should I return? Or has something happened?"

As he was thinking, his eyes suddenly focused.

Outside the cave, many sounds could be heard, indicating that some fierce creatures had been attracted by the gray ape's blood.

The young Daoist raised his head and saw a vine leading upward, and above it, some dim trees, which were likely where the gray ape had hidden.

"Apes should be in the mountains and forests. The inside of this cave is clearly not their natural habitat. So, there are trees above?"

Qin Xianyu did not want to face those fierce creatures and climbed up the vine, discovering another passage. It was dark and filled with a gray mist, and the trees growing here were quite peculiar. But Qin Xianyu thought carefully, and since there was no sunlight, it was not surprising that the plants could grow so lush.

He carefully examined the passage and found that the other end was a grove of trees, likely where the gray ape lived.

On the other side was a cave.

Qin Xianyu raised his long sword and walked toward the cave.

After taking two steps, he heard a thud, and the ground beneath his feet suddenly collapsed, causing him to fall with the rocks.

Fortunately, the height above was not great, and he only fell a short distance without getting injured.

But when Qin Xianyu stood up, his eyes immediately focused.

Before him was a winding passage.

A wind blew from within, causing pain on his face.

The wind carried malevolent energy.

Qin Xianyu activated his true qi and looked inside, feeling that the wind became purer the further in he went. He could not help but move forward, and after turning a corner, he found that the wind carried even purer malevolent energy.

The pure gray wind became darker the further in he went.

"Does this path lead directly to the source of the malevolent energy from the geomantic site?"

Qin Xianyu's mind was focused. He walked another two to three hundred steps and felt as if he were in a mist, surrounded by dark energy.

This malevolent energy was highly characteristic. If an ordinary person were here, they would surely die from the malevolent energy. But Qin Xianyu, with his cultivation, could easily resist it.

"It's a pity I haven't reached the stage of external projection of true qi. Otherwise, I could practice here and condense my true qi through the malevolent energy." Qin Xianyu sighed, feeling regretful.

Moreover, he noticed that the passage was winding and sloping downward. After walking several hundred steps, the ground beneath his feet was about half a丈 (zhang, a traditional Chinese unit of length) lower than when he started. This meant that the passage was sloping downward.

"Since this is a geomantic site with malevolent energy, and according to the classics, malevolent energy comes from deep within the earth, at the source of the geomantic site," Qin Xianyu thought, "If this passage continues downward, does it lead to the depths of the earth?"

This place should be devoid of life, but Qin Xianyu remembered the official from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau who died here and felt a sense of danger.

Moreover, condensing malevolent energy is dangerous. Since he had not reached the stage of external projection of true qi, he could not condense malevolent energy. Therefore, going deeper would be futile.

"Since I have discovered the source of the malevolent energy, I should retreat."

Just as Qin Xianyu was about to retreat, he noticed a rolling mist ahead, and amidst the dark energy, he saw a figure.

A figure sitting in meditation.

"A Daoist cultivator?"

"Is he condensing malevolent energy?"

Qin Xianyu paused, thought for a moment, and then walked toward him.

After walking a hundred steps, he found that the area was relatively spacious, forming a chamber. There were also several passages leading to deeper areas of malevolent energy.

The figure was wearing a green Daoist robe and sitting in meditation at the entrance of one of the passages.

Qin Xianyu hesitated for a long time, then approached and bowed, saying, "Senior?"

The figure did not respond.

Qin Xianyu was slightly taken aback and called out again, "Senior."

The figure still did not respond.

Qin Xianyu was startled and looked at the figure.

The man was about forty years old, rather thin, with a duster lying across his knees and a cloth bag beside him. His face was expressionless, and his skin was extremely stiff. Upon closer inspection, Qin Xianyu noticed that the man's face was covered in dust.

It was like a statue that had not been cleaned for years, covered in dust.

But he was clearly a living being.

Qin Xianyu closed his eyes and sensed, then sighed.

The Daoist had no signs of life and had been dead for a long time.

Qin Xianyu bowed to him and then picked up the cloth bag, thinking, "This person is a Daoist cultivator and was condensing malevolent energy here. He must have at least nine inches of true qi. I wonder what treasures he might have? Although it may be disrespectful, it is better to take them than to let them gather dust."

He opened the cloth bag.

Suddenly, a buzzing sound was heard.

A golden light burst from the Daoist's chest.

The golden light illuminated the dark chamber and shot directly at Qin Xianyu.

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