Chapter 1223: The Guizang Lantern

The hall used for business negotiations was enormous. The spot where Qi Xuansu sat resting against the wall was some distance away from the long table where the negotiations were taking place. The space itself was not huge, yet it somehow accommodated numerous samples of firearms, models of warships, and even a Kun opera troupe, which was undoubtedly Xie Jiaofeng’s doing. He had always been good at arranging such things. Only he could come up with having weapons on one side and musical instruments on the other. The effect was surprisingly good.

At that moment, Chen Shuwen and the Westerners’ representatives rose and walked toward Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu also stood up. Without needing any instruction from him, Chen Jianchou stopped his report about Zhang Yuelu.

“This time they ordered eight 4,500-tonne ironclad warships, four troop transports, and six cargo ships,” Chen Shuwen said with a smile to Qi Xuansu. “The total comes to 9.1 million Taiping coins!”

The Westerners, unlike the people of Nanyang, certainly had the technology to build ironclad warships. However, constructing such warships required time. With the ongoing war, there was no time to slowly build new vessels to fill the gaps. Even if they could be built, sailing them from their homeland to West Shakya would still take a long time.

With the pressing military situation, they had no choice but to purchase ironclad warships nearby from the Daoist Order.

The Daoist Order happened to have some secondhand ironclad warships, which they refurbished and sold to the Westerners at the price of brand-new ships. This was equivalent to the Daoist Order upgrading its fleet without spending a single coin, a truly enormous bargain.

Xie Jiaofeng also smiled, his expression filled with excitement.

With this deal secured, more than half of this year’s targets had been achieved. This practically guaranteed Qi Xuansu’s transfer to Jade Capital and Xie Jiaofeng’s own promotion to a second-rank Taiyi Daoist.

In the end, results were what mattered, and these were the results that the higher-ups wanted.

Having reached his current position, Qi Xuansu had naturally cultivated the ability to remain calm in the face of major events. Whether it was the bad news from Chen Jianchou earlier or the good news from Chen Shuwen now, there was little expression on his face. He remained calm and unfazed.

Qi Xuansu nodded slightly. “Great. Have someone draft the contract. Escort the representatives to the Taiping Inn to rest. Once the contract is ready, sign it immediately.”

Xie Jiaofeng immediately smiled at the Western representatives. “Now that the business is concluded, you might as well relax. Lion City is a wonderful place, and this troupe was specially invited from Lingnan. Gentlemen, do enjoy some music and opera while you’re here. After all, wars aren’t won in a single day. Oh, there will also be a banquet later, prepared according to your standards—a seven-course feast along with three kinds of grape wine and brandy.”

The Western representatives smiled, delighted with the arrangements.

As soon as Xie Jiaofeng clapped his hands, several Daoists immediately stepped forward and led the Western representatives out.

Qi Xuansu said, “Once the contract is ready, have Chou Zheng bring it to me. If there are no issues after I review it, we can stamp the seal.”

Chen Shuwen nodded and immediately arranged for someone to draft the contract based on the terms just agreed upon.

Qi Xuansu then said to Xie Jiaofeng, “I won’t attend the banquet tonight. You can host the guests on my behalf.”

“Yes, sir,” Xie Jiaofeng replied promptly.

Although Xie Jiaofeng was reluctant to take responsibility on bigger issues and was rather slippery by nature, he was the best at social dealings, with great hospitality skills.

Qi Xuansu walked out with Chen Jianchou and Han Yongfeng following behind him.

“Great Sage Lan has repeatedly emphasized during the council that we must distinguish and identify suspicious individuals among the refugees. In this regard, the Beichen Hall Branch bears great responsibility, so don’t be careless,” Qi Xuansu said.

Han Yongfeng responded, “Understood.”

Only then did Qi Xuansu ask, “Have you coordinated with Ke Qingqing regarding Second Deputy Zhang’s visit to Poluo?”

Chen Jianchou replied. “Yes, I have. Second Deputy Zhang’s flying ship has already departed from Lingnan.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “You and Little Yin should go and receive her on my behalf.”

Chen Jianchou accepted the order and left as well.

By evening, Zhang Yuelu arrived.

Zhang Yuelu’s visit to Poluo was, of course, not to see Qi Xuansu. Given their special status, they could not visit each other like ordinary Daoist companions, so she had a purpose for each trip.

Little Yin and Chen Jianchou went to welcome Zhang Yuelu.

Initially, Little Yin was unwilling to come. She was about to escape Lion City and return to Thanglong Prefecture, since Zhang Yuelu’s arrival meant another test on her studies. However, Qi Xuansu told her that avoiding the test would result in an automatic failure and that she could dodge today but not forever. Left with no choice, Little Yin reluctantly came along.

However, Zhang Yuelu truly had no time to check on Little Yin’s progress this time. Not long ago, she had returned to the Dazhen Mansion to seek the Heavenly Preceptor’s assistance. The Heavenly Preceptor did not disappoint them and gave Zhang Yuelu something to deliver to Qi Xuansu.

This was the true purpose of Zhang Yuelu’s visit.

Chen Jianchou arranged for Zhang Yuelu to go to Tianfu Palace, while Qi Xuansu was at the Nanting Protectorate discussing the handover of the ironclad warships. Manager Hu of the Taiping Bank’s Nanyang headquarters was also present, since the accounts had to be processed through them.

By the time Chen Shuwen finished drafting the contract, Qi Xuansu reviewed it and found no issues, so he signed and stamped it on behalf of the Poluo Daoist Mansion.

Qi Xuansu did not attend the banquet and instead returned directly to Tianfu Palace. It was already very late when he met Zhang Yuelu.

The last time the two had met was a year ago. Normally, they communicated through their Daoist license.

Zhang Yuelu looked the same as ever. She appeared relaxed in front of Qi Xuansu with her hair down after having removed her lotus crown.

Qi Xuansu dismissed everyone else, including Little Yin. When they were finally alone, he activated various privacy barriers and formations before asking, “What did the Heavenly Preceptor say?”

Zhang Yuelu replied, “The Heavenly Preceptor didn’t explicitly approve nor oppose it. But if you insist on going, he can provide assistance.”

“In that case, does this mean it’s settled?” A trace of joy finally appeared on Qi Xuansu’s face.

Zhang Yuelu nodded. “The Heavenly Preceptor asked me to deliver this to you.”

As she spoke, Zhang Yuelu took an item out of her magical receptacle and placed it before Qi Xuansu.

It was a lantern made of glazed glass, crystal-clear and translucent. A flame no larger than a bean glowed within it, yet it emitted seven colors of light that gradually shifted and cycled endlessly.

Although it was Qi Xuansu’s first time seeing this lamp, he had seen two similar ones before, so he immediately guessed its origin. “This is the Guizang Lantern?”

Zhang Yuelu nodded. “Exactly.”

There were three lanterns within the Daoist Order—the Eight Scenes Lantern, the Guizang Lantern, and the Nether-Passage Lantern. All three were immortal objects, each with its own wondrous abilities.

The Nether-Passage Lantern was held by Great Sage Lan. It was pitch-black and extremely dim, capable of briefly summoning projections of the dead from the netherworld, including fallen Immortals. The higher the wielder’s realm, the longer these projections could last. Thus, this lantern that corresponded to the earth was also known as the Earthly Lantern.

The Eight Scenes Lantern was in the hands of Great Sage Zhang of the Taiping Sect. On the surface, it looked like an ordinary palace lantern with eight faces, each corner adorned with tassels. A purple flame burned within it, capable of illuminating an entire palace. The eight faces of the lantern each bore a faint figure that moved with the light and shadows, vivid and lifelike. The Eight Scenes Lantern could record eight other Immortal’s divine abilities besides its holder, allowing one to borrow the power of many. Therefore, this lantern was called the Manly Lantern.

Great Sage Lan and Great Sage Zhang were both Virtuous Great Sages and Mansion Masters of their own region.

Only the Guizang Lantern, known as the Heavenly Lantern, was not in the hands of a Mansion Master, but belonged to the Heavenly Preceptor, one of the three Deputy Grand Masters. This was because the Guizang Lantern could not be used in battle, whereas a Virtuous Great Sage who guarded a region inevitably had to fight personally, making it unsuitable for them to hold such an immortal object.

The Guizang Lantern could illuminate the future. Since the will of heaven had always been difficult to fathom, this lantern was called the Heavenly Lantern.

Qi Xuansu first learned of the Guizang Lantern through Zhang Yuelu. It was said that the Heavenly Preceptor had glimpsed a fragment of the future through this lantern regarding events that would unfold after the end of the era. “The crown falls, the monarch’s dream shatters. Successors rise, and blood stains the realm. Heaven collapses, earth ruptures, and the world is told anew.”

Qi Xuansu could not help but ask, “Why did the Heavenly Preceptor give the Guizang Lantern to me? I only know that it can foresee the future, but what I want to investigate concerns the past. Can it also see the past? If so, the Heavenly Preceptor could just tell me the answer directly without needing to give me the lantern.”

Zhang Yuelu did not answer directly. “You should know that immortal objects are not the same. Some have only a single function, but that function is pushed to its extreme, like the Imperial Preceptor’s Skycaller. Others have multiple functions. According to the Heavenly Preceptor, the Guizang Lantern belongs to the latter category. Foreseeing the future is merely its most widely known function.”

Qi Xuansu grew interested. “Then what other wonders does it have?”

Zhang Yuelu replied, “I’ve never used it myself, so I can only repeat what the Heavenly Preceptor told me. You want to enter the Lingshan Paradise but you’re worried that you might get trapped there because it may be dangerous and unpredictable inside. To prevent being stuck there, you can use this Guizang Lantern as an anchor.”

“Anchor?” Qi Xuansu repeated softly.

Typically when a ship docked, it dropped an anchor to stabilize itself and prevent it from drifting out with the waves.

Zhang Yuelu explained, “The Heavenly Preceptor said that using this Guizang Lantern has two effects. First, it can make it seem like one day in heaven equals one year on earth, so you don’t need to worry about being gone too long and attracting suspicion. Second, once the preset time is reached, the Guizang Lantern will activate and forcibly pull you back.”

Qi Xuansu was somewhat shocked. “Isn’t that too powerful? With my current cultivation, can I really control such an immortal object?”

“Of course not,” Zhang Yuelu said. “But the Heavenly Preceptor has already activated the Guizang Lantern for you. You can use it directly, but you only have one chance.”