Chương 113: Book 2 Chapter 27: Entryway

The Imperial Palace's outer walls were pierced by four colossal gates, each one aligned perfectly with the grand avenues that divided the capital into quarters. They were impossible things, towering arches forged from silver and pale jade, every surface etched with ancient sigils that shimmered under sun and moon alike. Beyond them lay ceremonial plazas so vast that armies could have clashed upon their polished stone without ever troubling the surrounding walls.

Day and night, an unending river of cultivators flowed through those gates. The movement never ceased. Noble houses arrived in glittering processions to seek audience with the court; officials and civil servants departed beneath banners bearing imperial decrees; armored escorts guided emissaries from distant provinces; messengers raced through the crowds carrying sealed intelligence, tribute, and precious goods from every corner of the empire.

Merchants, scholars, sect envoys, spirit-beast handlers, and wandering experts all vanished into the Palace's depths, swallowed by the vast machinery of imperial power. And those were merely the four great entrances. Scattered across the first tier were dozens of lesser gates and concealed passages tucked between watchtowers, hidden behind inner courtyards, or set flush within the folds of the enormous wooden walls. Courtiers and servants moved through them in carefully ordered streams.

Soldiers marched in formation beneath silent officers. Hooded figures slipped in and out after dark; spies, informants, assassins, and others whose duties were never spoken aloud within the court. Quieter than the grand gates, these side entrances still thrummed with their own relentless rhythm, each one feeding another hidden artery of the Empire's heart. Mo Jian and Bai Ning used none of them.

Following the instructions they had been given, the two of them ascended directly toward the Palace's second tier, soaring above the endless crowds below. The roar of the lower levels faded beneath them, from the clamor of processions, and the thunder of carriage wheels, to the hum of countless cultivators, all swallowed by the vastness of the Palace as they approached a narrow side passage carved into the redwood walls. Compared to the monumental grandeur beneath it, the entrance was almost absurdly modest.

It was merely a slim opening set into the crimson wood, so unremarkable that one's eyes could slide past it without ever noticing it existed. They landed silently just inside the passage. There was not even a gate. Beyond the entrance stretched a long corridor of polished darkwood, its lacquered surface gleaming beneath rows of suspended qi-lamps that burned with steady silver-gold light at perfectly measured intervals.

Scrolls, paintings, and masterwork calligraphy adorned the walls every few steps, each piece radiating a quiet elegance. Plush circular rugs lay scattered along the floor, woven from purple and sable silk so fine they seemed to ripple like water beneath the light. Threads of golden embroidery traced their edges, catching the glow of the qi-lamps in slow amber flickers. Altogether, it resembled the inner hallway of some ancient noble estate rather than a hidden entrance to the Imperial Palace.

Which would have been reasonable, except-"There is no possible way this corridor should extend in this direction," Bai Ning muttered, staring ahead with open suspicion.

"I know the Palace is spatially harmonized inside, but still. This is ridiculous." Mo Jian said nothing. What concerned him more was the complete lack of guards or visible security measures. True, his spiritual sense could not pierce the walls, but surely the Palace was not normally left this unguarded. Had this passage been opened specifically for the two of them? And beyond that, they were supposedly meant to meet a "guide" here, according to the latest message they had received. So where was this person?

As if in answer to his thoughts, a bare stretch of wall between two paintings farther down the hallway began to ripple. Wood bent and twisted into shape, forming a new door where none had existed before. The door swung open, and a man stepped out. He was whip-thin and unnaturally tall, a combination that made him resemble a walking paintbrush at first glance. His hair did nothing to dispel the impression. Thick and lustrous, it had been coiffed into an elaborate spiral with its tip pointing skyward.

He wore flowing yellow robes beneath a single overcoat in a blinding, almost offensive shade of orange. Under any other circumstances, Mo Jian would have considered the man an affront to both taste and fashion. But the instant he sensed the man's cultivation, all such thoughts vanished. Mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm. This was the most powerful cultivator Mo Jian had ever met in person.

Beside him, Bai Ning stared with equal disbelief, as though trying to reconcile the contradiction between immense power and catastrophically poor color choices. The man smiled warmly as he approached them.

"Well met, Fellow Daoists. I am Gu Daisheng, a civil official of the outer court. You must be Fellow Daoists Mo Jian and Bai Ning?" Mo Jian returned the greeting with clasped hands.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Gu. I am indeed Mo Jian, and this is Bai Ning. We are honored to make your acquaintance." Gu Daisheng studied them both with a pleased expression, as though their arrival had genuinely brightened his day. Then he turned and gestured for them to follow him deeper into the Palace. Mo Jian and Bai Ning followed, matching his pace as he led them farther inside. Out of the corner of his eye, Mo Jian noticed movement among the paintings and scrolls lining the walls.

No, not the paintings themselves. The figures within them were moving. On one hanging scroll, a cultivator battled a dragon in a storm of ink and brushstrokes, his staff flashing as he deflected the beast's claws. Nearby, the painted woman seated beneath a flowering tree lifted her wine cup toward Mo Jian. Catching his gaze, she offered him a playful wink before taking a delicate sip.

"The Palace takes some getting used to," Gu Daisheng said as he continued forward. Though he kept walking, he had turned slightly sideways so they could see his face.

"Do not worry. I will guide you through the most important areas today, and you may acclimate at your own pace." Even as he spoke, a hanging embroidery stirred on the opposite wall. It depicted a merchant seated behind a table nearly buried under scrolls, and the embroidered man cleared his throat with purpose.

"Daisheng, just the person I was hoping to see. Have you heard the latest? The Yuan are agitating at the Wall again. The Emperor is planning to dispatch reinforcements; you had better make sure you don't get draf-" A single snap of Gu Daisheng's fingers silenced him.

"Not now, Wu. We have guests." He didn't slow his pace.

"We can speak later." The merchant frowned, clearly dissatisfied, but settled back behind his desk. The embroidered threads shifted as he unfurled a scroll and resumed his work. Mo Jian and Bai Ning exchanged a glance and kept walking.

"Be careful around the paintings," Gu Daisheng advised, as though commenting on the weather.

"They are extraordinarily chatty. Staying on their good side requires a certain investment of time and patience, but it pays dividends. Some of them know more about the workings of the court than half the spies within our territories." Mo Jian had no idea how to respond to that, and decided it was safer not to. Instead, he cleared his throat to steer the conversation elsewhere.

"Fellow Daoist, I wished to ask about the Inner Examination. Both Bai Ning and I are supposed to sit for it today. Are you leading us to the examination grounds?" Gu Daisheng snorted and turned to look at them, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Ah, yes. That." He waved a dismissive hand.

"Fret not, Fellow Daoists. You have already passed the Inner Examination. From this day onward, you may consider yourselves officials of the court." Mo Jian stopped in his tracks. Beside him, Bai Ning halted just as abruptly, both of them staring at Gu Daisheng's back in bewilderment. The man paused as well and turned to face them.

"We have not sat for any examination," Bai Ning said carefully, "and we have already passed it? Could you elaborate, Senior?" Gu Daisheng's gaze lingered on Bai Ning for a brief moment before he smiled again.

"It is exactly as I said. Or, to be more precise, there is no such thing as the Inner Examination." He resumed walking before either of them could respond.

"Tell me, Fellow Daoists, how many candidates are selected to sit it after each keju?"

"A few hundred," Mo Jian said.

"The top hundred from the Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, and Core Formation passers. A handful from the Nascent Soul examinees as well, though that process is an entirely different matter." His orange overcoat swayed dramatically as he walked.

"And among those selected, only the ones judged to have performed exceptionally during their assigned duties are ever invited into the Palace." He spread his arms slightly.

"What you experienced after the outer examination was the Inner Examination. There is no separate test or panel of judges waiting to assess you." He gestured to the corridor around them.

"This is it. You passed, and now you are here." Even as Mo Jian's mind reeled at the implications, Bai Ning spoke pressed on.

"But what of the stories? The rumors? Where do they come from? If the Inner Examination simply does not exist, surely that would be common knowledge by now." Gu Daisheng gave a polite scoff.

"Hardly, Fairy. Those stories and rumors persist because the court encourages them. They ensure that the test takers strive with all their strength and pursue excellence at every opportunity. The mystery provides motivation." He smiled faintly.

"And once you are inside the Palace, you are inside the Palace. The decision to admit someone is itself proof enough of their suitability." Seeing their still-stunned expressions, his demeanor softened slightly.

"As I said, it takes time to grow accustomed to this place. Do not trouble yourselves too much with the details for now. Instead, spend a century learning to live here." His voice carried a quiet note of pride as he gestured around them once more.

"You stand at the heart of cultivation on this continent. The resources and opportunities found within the Palace exist nowhere else in the world. I can assure you, I would never have reached the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm were it not for this place." That, at least, snapped Mo Jian out of his daze. Spend a century getting used to the Palace? Nascent Soul cultivators – among whom he himself was now counted – truly viewed time differently. But for him, such leisurely adjustment was impossible.

The world might not even survive another century if he wasted it merely "getting used" to the Palace. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. They turned into another corridor, this one lined with armored stone statues bearing halberds, standing like silent guards flanking a general's procession. The moment one of them caught sight of Mo Jian, it barked, its stone lips moving with unsettling fluidity.

"Stand up straight, boy. Are you a Nascent Soul cultivator or not?" Another statue ignored him entirely and focused instead on Bai Ning.

"This one has poise," it rumbled approvingly.

"Come closer, little girl, so I may have a better look." Bai Ning raised a single finger. A tiny green sword spun lazily atop it, humming with quiet menace. The statue immediately leaned back into its alcove.

"Ignore them," Gu Daisheng said cheerfully, not breaking his stride.

"They heckle every new face they see. Once they realize they cannot provoke a reaction, they stop wasting everyone's time." Mo Jian exchanged another glance with Bai Ning and followed. He was beginning to suspect he had agreed to something far stranger than he had anticipated when he had agreed to come to the Palace. Somehow, none of this had come across half so vividly in the book.

Experiencing the Palace firsthand made it feel less like a seat of imperial authority and more like the inside of an eccentric immortal's fever dream.

"The Palace," Gu Daisheng explained, "is a spatial treasure of impossible scale. Its interior bears no relation to how it appears from the outside. Any corridor may lead to any destination on the same level, and rooms may open into one place today and another tomorrow." His orange overcoat shifted as he gestured ahead.

"Learning how to navigate it is practically a discipline unto itself, but in time you will develop an instinct for it. The stairways connect the upper and lower levels, though even they may emerge anywhere upon the destination floor." Mo Jian frowned.

"How does anyone manage to get around if everything changes all the time?"

"With practice," Gu Daisheng replied immediately, "and luck. It also depends on whether the Palace likes you. It has a life of its own." He reached out and patted the wall beside him with surprising affection. Mo Jian only felt more uneasy. That did not sound reassuring in the slightest.

"Will we be staying on the second level, Fellow Daoist Gu?"

"Yes. Both your assignments are situated within the Outer Court." Gu Daisheng gestured ahead.

"I will lead you to your residences first, then to your posts. Afterward, a short tour of the locations you absolutely must know." He waved a hand.

"Take your time at the beginning. There is no need to rush." Then, almost casually, he added, "If it interests you, many of the Nascent Soul cultivators on this level gather once a year for a small trade meeting and cultivation discussion. It will be held next month, so you are welcome to attend, Fellow Daoist Mo Jian." Mo Jian quietly filed that information away for later. He was definitely interested.

Discussions among fellow cultivators had always been one of the best ways to deepen one's understanding of a realm and discover methods of further advancement. Still, something else had caught his attention, and judging by the look Bai Ning gave him, it had caught hers as well.

"You mentioned the Outer Court, Fellow Daoist Gu. Is there a distinction between that and the court as I understand it?" Gu Daisheng nodded, as if pleased to be asked.

"An astute question. Yes, there is." He folded his hands behind his back once more as they continued walking.

"The Palace, or more accurately, the court, is divided into three great sections."

"The lower twelve floors are collectively referred to as the Outer Court. That is where the vast majority of the Empire's daily administration takes place. The officials, ministers, clerks, soldiers, cultivators, artisans, servants, and everyone else required to sustain the Empire live and work there. It is effectively the administrative heart of the capital, and once every year the Emperor himself holds court upon the lowest level." He paused briefly before continuing.

"The twelve levels above those comprise the Inner Court. There reside the Empire's most loyal servants, the most highly rewarded officials, and those descended from powerful noble clans or great sects. That is also where much of the Empire's true power lies, though very few are ever granted the opportunity to enter those levels. Members of the imperial family dwell there as well, alongside their trusted retainers and personal servants." Even Gu Daisheng's voice carried a hint of reverence now.

"As for the nine levels above even those, or eight, I suppose, since the highest level belongs solely to the Immortal Emperor and no one else is ever invited there, they contain the Palace's grand domains. Each level is said to be an entire world unto itself, in every sense of the phrase." He shook his head lightly.

"Only the most deserving are ever granted access to such places, or so I have heard. For you and me alike, even the Inner Court remains little more than a distant dream." There was a great deal to unpack in that explanation, but one detail caught Mo Jian's attention above all others: no one else is ever invited there. That, after all, was the part most relevant to him.

"I have heard," he said carefully, keeping his tone as light and casual as possible, "that the reigning Emperor may request an audience with the Immortal Emperor at any time. The same applies to the crown heir, does it not?" Beside them, one of the paintings they were passing suddenly exploded. The painted cultivator within it had apparently failed while refining a batch of pills in a cauldron. Ink and color burst outward in a dramatic splash as the entire painted workshop went up in smoke.

Mo Jian most certainly did not jump. Bai Ning absolutely did. That was his story, and he intended to stick to it.

"Well, yes," Gu Daisheng replied, seemingly unfazed by the explosion behind them, "but disturbing an immortal is a dangerous gamble. No Emperor in living memory has exercised that privilege. Nor has any crown heir, for that matter." He paused thoughtfully.

"In fact, the Immortal Emperor has neither been seen nor heard from in nearly two centuries now. At least," he added with a faint shrug, "if one ignores that little kerfuffle from two and a half years ago." He waved the matter away as though it were insignificant, and Mo Jian wisely let the topic drop. He had already learned what he wanted to know. Still, the casual mention of the gui sent his pulse racing. Was Gu Daisheng bringing it up deliberately?

Was he one of the Palace officials aware of the truth there, subtly probing for Mo Jian's reaction and intentions? Or was it genuinely nothing more than coincidence? Mo Jian kept his expression calm regardless.

"Ah, here we are." Gu Daisheng spread his arms grandly as the corridor suddenly opened into an enormous hall. For a moment, Mo Jian simply stared. Until now, the Palace had felt almost deserted, like a vast, dreamlike labyrinth populated only by talking paintings and argumentative statues. But this place pulsed with life. The hall stretched upward farther than seemed physically possible, its distant ceiling hidden behind drifting banks of silver mist threaded with floating lanterns.

Massive jade pillars rose like the trunks of ancient trees, carved with coiling dragons and phoenixes that shifted subtly when viewed from the corner of the eye. Water flowed in narrow channels through the polished white floor, carrying glowing koi made entirely of spiritual light. Dozens, no, hundreds of corridors branched away from the intersection at impossible angles. Some sloped upward into the air. Others vanished into curtains of shimmering light.

One passage appeared to fold into itself like a piece of bent paper before straightening again. And unlike the silent corridors before, this place bustled. Cultivators hurried from one passage to another, robes fluttering behind them in every imaginable color and style. Some strode through the air inches above the floor. Others rode flying swords no longer than a handspan, weaving effortlessly through the crowds.

Servants in matching black-and-gold livery moved with disciplined precision, carrying stacks of jade slips, trays of spirit tea, sealed scroll cases, and even cages containing strange chirping creatures made of crackling lightning. The air itself thrummed with noise. Conversations overlapped from every direction. Spiritual beasts barked or hissed in passing.

Somewhere nearby, someone loudly argued about alchemical procurement quotas while another voice complained about delayed talisman shipments from the eastern provinces. A painted crane detached itself from a nearby mural and glided lazily overhead before diving back into another wall entirely. Gu Daisheng moved through the chaos with practiced ease, offering cupped-hand salutes to several passing cultivators. A few returned the greetings respectfully, though none seemed inclined to stop him for conversation.

Whatever strange fashion choices the man possessed, his status here was clearly genuine.

"That," Gu Daisheng said, pointing back toward the great hall behind them as he guided the pair into yet another corridor, "was the nearest intersection to the Incense Forest, where the two of you will be working. Memorize it carefully. You will pass through it often." Then, as though the thought had only just occurred to him, he stopped mid-step and turned back toward them.

"I should ask," he said, "are the two of you Dao companions?" Mo Jian nearly choked. He swept a sleeve through the air dismissively.

"No, no. She is my student." Beside him, Bai Ning nodded automatically, expression perfectly calm. Gu Daisheng immediately adopted an apologetic smile.

"I see. My apologies for the misunderstanding. I merely needed to determine whether I should lead you to separate residences or to a joined estate." Then he turned and resumed walking as though nothing awkward had occurred, while Mo Jian and Bai Ning hurried after him once more. The corridors gradually grew quieter as they moved farther away from the bustling intersection. The crowds thinned until only the occasional servant or passing cultivator crossed their path. Even the Palace itself seemed calmer here.

The talking paintings no longer shouted commentary at passersby, and the statues stood silent and motionless in their alcoves. Eventually, they arrived at a long corridor lined with enormous doors marked by elegant bronze numerals. The doors were spaced unusually far apart, each one broad enough for a giant to pass through comfortably. Layers of dust had settled into the carved grooves of the wood, and the bronze fittings had dulled with age.

Vines curled lazily around several archways, as though the Palace itself had allowed nature to creep in over the centuries. More than abandoned, the place felt unused.

"These," Gu Daisheng announced, spreading his sleeves slightly, "are the residences reserved for Nascent Soul cultivators stationed nearest to the Incense Forest." His voice echoed faintly through the still corridor.

"The other workers assigned there lack the cultivation necessary to reside in this section, but the two of you may choose whichever residences you prefer. The control restrictions for the formations are located inside each estate." He gestured toward the row of silent doors.

"Go on. Pick whichever ones suit your tastes. Once you have settled on them, I shall lead you to the Forest itself." Mo Jian raised an eyebrow despite himself. The sheer importance being placed upon this decision surprised him at first, but only for a moment. Upon reflection, it made perfect sense. To cultivators, a residence was far more than a place to sleep. It was where one cultivated, meditated, secluded oneself, received guests, refined pills, stored treasures, and occasionally fought for one's life.

A good residence could influence decades, even centuries, of progress. Stepping forward, he pushed open one of the doors. The moment he crossed the threshold, the Palace vanished. Blue sky stretched overhead. Mo Jian stopped instinctively, feeling soft grass beneath his boots as a cool breeze brushed against his face. Before him lay a sprawling courtyard garden, lush and vibrant with life.

Carefully trimmed trees swayed gently in the wind while spirit butterflies drifted lazily among clusters of flowers glowing faintly with spiritual energy. A narrow brook wound through the grounds, water babbling peacefully as it flowed over smooth river stones and beneath curved bamboo pipes. The air smelled faintly of rain and fresh earth. At the far end of the courtyard stood a massive residence built from dark wood and pale jade stone.

The manor rose three stories high, its tiled roofs curving elegantly upward at the corners. Lanterns swayed beneath the eaves despite the absence of wind, and broad verandas wrapped around the structure in graceful arcs. Even from here, Mo Jian could tell the estate contained dozens of rooms. Tall walls enclosed the entire property, but instead of feeling restrictive, they only enhanced the illusion that this was a secluded private manor hidden somewhere deep in the mountains, instead of a room inside a Palace.

Gu Daisheng's voice drifted in from behind them. From this angle, the doorway resembled nothing more than the front gate leading outside the estate.

"Each residence contains its own independent small domain," he explained.

"You may customize them as you wish once you gain familiarity with the control formations. If this particular estate does not suit your tastes, many others remain available." Then he glanced toward Bai Ning.

"Fairy Bai Ning, you are welcome to choose one for yourself as well. Given that Fellow Daoist Mo Jian is your teacher, I doubt anyone would object to you residing in the Nascent Soul section." Mo Jian and Bai Ning exchanged a glance – he had long since lost count of how many they'd shared today – and said nothing. The Palace, he was learning, simply refused to stop surprising them. Still, Mo Jian had to admit that this arrangement was far better than he had expected.

He had prepared himself for a room – perhaps a luxurious one if fortune favored him – but an entire estate simplified matters considerably. It afforded privacy, space, and security. All invaluable things for what he intended to do next. He took one last look at the courtyard; the brook, the swaying lanterns, the blue sky in an interior room. Then he turned back toward the corridor and Gu Daisheng's waiting orange overcoat.

He still needed to see this so-called Incense Forest and understand exactly what duties were expected of him here. Then, finally, he could begin setting his plans into motion.