Chapter 055: Wei Dongting Steps on the Spirit Stone Tiles

Qingjin was delighted, but for the Lord of Meishan and the courier boy, things were not so pleasant.

“What? You’re saying there was a disturbance beneath the lake, and a pillar of golden light shot into the night sky? It lasted the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before fading?” The courier boy’s face darkened upon hearing the report from the junior Dao military leader.

“Yes, Lord Wei.” The Dao army addressed all official Dao officers of the Dao Court as “Lord.” For the idle ones, they used “Daoist.”

“Dongting, what do you think?” the Lord of Meishan hurriedly asked.

“We have no choice but to pay a visit,” Wei Dongting—the courier boy—replied helplessly. “I’d hoped to wait for my senior brother. But since this is the territory of the human race, that Dao Master shouldn’t do anything to me.”

“This…” The Lord of Meishan frowned.

“This region of Dongli Mountain is under my jurisdiction. With a new Dao Master established, I can hardly avoid my responsibilities. I must pay my respects at least. Besides, I’m not without safeguards.” His master had given him items to ensure his safety and escape.

The Lord of Meishan could only nod in agreement.

Wei Dongting, accompanied by Dao soldiers, arrived swiftly. Qingjin and his companions had just finished discussing the underwater Dao site when Wei Dongting and his troops arrived. Yet, they did not directly enter the territory of the Serpent Lord. After all, this land now belonged to a certain Dao Master.

One must notify the owner before entering.

Though it felt restrictive, Wei Dongting understood—humans were weak, and such incidents were commonplace.

Upon receiving word, Qingjin proactively used his token to communicate with Jin Yuanzi, then stepped forward to greet them.

Meeting face to face, Qingjin and his brother, as well as Ning Qi and Zhao Bo, were all surprised. They had never imagined that the courier boy from before was actually a significant figure in the Dao Court.

“I am Wei Dongting, guardian of Dongli Mountain, an official of the eighth rank,” he introduced himself.

The Dao Court’s administration mirrored the secular system of counties, prefectures, and provinces, with a five-tier central management. However, on the frontier, to facilitate military and governmental affairs, the prefectural level became the guardian—the local military and administrative head.

“To think the courier brother is the Dao Court’s eighth-ranked guardian. If Qingjin and the others have offended, please forgive us,” Qingjin responded with distant politeness. After the incident with Zhou Xiaocheng, his attitude toward the new generation of Daoists was hardly warm.

Wei Dongting felt a surge of emotion. This young man before him, barely in his twenties, was the very one Qi Dongxuan mentioned in his letters—the terrifying figure from his prophetic nightmares whom he was urged to find a way to kill.

Ever since Qi Dongxuan began cultivating the Heavenly Star Art, he had frequent nightmares.

Events in the Dao Court repeatedly confirmed the accuracy of his dreams, which soon became secretly known as prophetic dreams within the Dao Court.

This had greatly elevated Qi Dongxuan’s status in the Dao Court. Initially, he ranked lower than many of the new generation Daoists, including Wei Dongting. Now, he was over two hundred places ahead, leaving Wei Dongting with the unsettling feeling he might never catch up in this lifetime.

“There’s no offense. The foreign races outside the Dongli Mountain defenses haven’t stirred lately, so I’m picking up extra work on the side,” Wei Dongting admitted openly to his courier job.

Whether his courier work was truly a side job or served another purpose—who cared?

“Lord Wei, what brings you to the territory of the Serpent Lord today?” Qingjin asked.

“Last night, I heard rumors of disturbances beneath the lake, with golden light bursting forth and lingering in the sky. What happened?” Wei Dongting inquired.

“I heard a disciple accidentally triggered a restriction within the Dao site,” Qingjin replied.

“Is that really so?” Wei Dongting looked at Qingjin.

“It is as I said.”

“Could you tell me the name of your Dao site? Who is the Dao Master?” Wei Dongting pressed. “I don’t ask on my own behalf, but on behalf of the Dao Court. Dao Masters are free to establish Dao sites, but there must be some account for the outside world.”

“Our Dao site is called the Hall of Longevity. The Dao Master is in seclusion, so I don’t know his honorific. The site is managed by Senior Jin Yuanzi under the Dao Master’s command,” Qingjin replied. Though Jin Yuanzi claimed to be merely the spirit of a magical artifact and steward of the site, being the Dao Master’s spirit, he deserved the title of “Senior.”

“Jin Yuanzi?” Wei Dongting exclaimed in surprise.

Senior? Within the underwater Dao site, Jin Yuanzi projected the scene from Qingjin’s side directly before him. “Very well, then Senior it is,” Jin Yuanzi mused. Recalling the beautiful youths who once entered his Dao site, he blended their beauty and crafted for himself a handsome human form.

A splendidly dressed, elegant youth crowned with gold!

Ethereal and pure, extraordinarily handsome.

Indeed, could a spirit of an artifact not be ethereal and pure?

Diyuanzi and Qingyan watched with envy. They resolved to cultivate diligently, inhaling and exhaling the dense spiritual energy gathered within the Dao site.

Like white mist, the spiritual energy constantly shifted forms with each breath, enveloping the whole Dao site in white smoke, making it appear like a celestial palace.

“These two really know how to set the mood,” Jin Yuanzi remarked, satisfied as the two accelerated their inhalation and exhalation, causing the spiritual mist to surge and swirl into various shapes.

Jin Yuanzi was pleased, but Wei Dongting was less so. “May I enter the Dao site to pay my respects to Daoist Jin Yuanzi?”

Qingjin hesitated.

“Let him come,” Jin Yuanzi sent a message.

“Senior Jin invites you,” Qingjin’s expression shifted as he addressed Wei Dongting.

“Very well, let’s go,” Wei Dongting stood, ready to leave the house and head to the lake.

“No need to go far. I’ll bring you there, Lord. Zhao Bo, please keep an eye on things here for me,” Qingjin instructed before reaching for Wei Dongting’s hand.

Wei Dongting tensed at first, then offered his hand willingly.

Qingjin gently pulled him, instantly teleporting him into the Dao site.

The Dao soldiers accompanying them drew their weapons, confronting Zhao Bo and the others. “Where is our Lord?”

“He’s been transported to the Dao site. Young Master Qingjin is a direct disciple and can bring anyone into the Dao site within ten miles at will,” Zhao Bo replied with a smile. “Please sit comfortably. I’ll have tea and refreshments brought out. When they return, they will surely come back here.”

The Dao soldiers exchanged bewildered glances; such a situation was unprecedented.

Teleportation within ten miles at will—did they think it cost nothing to teleport?

This new Dao Master and Dao site were truly peculiar.

Wei Dongting followed Qingjin onto the grand spiritual stone plaza before the main hall of the Dao site. The ground was smooth as a mirror, reflecting their beautiful images. Yet, it was all spiritual stone, carved from pure spiritual stone. Truly…

He was speechless.

“Our Dao Court possesses five or six medium-grade spiritual veins, yet never have we excavated such large, pure earth-type spiritual stones.”