Torsten Hewson
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v6c11: Interlude: The Lair of the Phoenix
🕑 Added 2025-03-19 04:44:11 +0000 UTCIn the heart of the Crimson Phoenix Palace, a man sat at a desk.
When one thought of the capital, and especially of the palace, their imagination ran wild with elegant finery and opulence or decadence. They thought of gold filigree and jade inlay. They dreamed of the staggering wealth of the Emperor.
Of the Emperor’s great many desks, there were numerous that lived up to that image. In the Grand Hall, the Emperor had a slab of solid Spirit Jade, a crystal so rare and valuable that sects warred for nuggets. In the Chamber of Seclusion there was a titanic piece of wood larger in area than most mortal houses, carved from a tree that had been sixty five thousand, four hundred, and twenty three years old—the man had counted the rings when he had been bored, once.
So if one were to come in off the street, and see the desk the man was currently sitting at, they might think it out of place.
Oh, it was a fine desk. Its timbers were solid. Its surface was polished, a dark, pleasing shade. It had a few decorative carvings on it… but that was it. It was a desk. Simple, functional, and well-suited for its task.
It was the most important desk in the Empire, for the man who sat at it was the Emperor and it occupied his private office. Three Crimson Phoenix Emperors had used this desk. None knew its age, or even where it came from. The First Emperor had started using it out of convenience, after finding it and the chair that had come with it in a storage room.
Yet neither part of the ensemble had ever needed repair. They had never needed cleaning. The simple desk had endured for thousands of years, doing its duty without fail. Each Emperor of the Crimson Phoenix Empire had found themselves at this desk, doing their work long into the night… for the chair was one of the most comfortable that they had ever sat upon.
It was at this desk that some of the most important decisions in the history of the Empire had been made.
Upon the desk were vast piles of paper, each one carefully curated and organized. There was probably a small forest upon this desk, and that was after most of the work had been delegated to scribes or other trusted men.
The Emperor of the Crimson Phoenix Empire, known as Fengyan to few, propped his chin as he read the report in his hand. The page blandly reported the culling of seven thousand and forty nine subjects in Veiled Moon Moor due to a Blood Gorging Nightworm infestation turning an entire town into monstrous beasts. The virulent plague of creatures had been poised to spread, but it had thankfully been snuffed out.
The Moonless Blade Sect had actually bothered to inform the Lord Governor of the province, and had been thorough enough to look into the sewers of the city to make sure nothing escaped. The Lord Governor had then acted swiftly—issuing warnings, evacuating his capital city, and rooting out several other dens of the creatures before they could cause any more harm.
While the loss of seven thousand of his subjects was unfortunate, the truth of the matter was it had been handled before it could get worse.
A bit of good news for today. His Sects had acted righteously, and everyone involved had followed protocol instead of hiding things or trying to cover it up.
The Emperor placed the page down and personally penned a commendation. He would bring up the matter at court as well, and emphasize the Governor’s swift action. Hopefully that would inspire similar acts… though frankly, he doubted it. Nobody wanted to be the one to tell the Emperor they had to set fire to their own capital. No matter how consistently he demonstrated otherwise, they seemed to be under the misapprehension that he would punish such action as a “failure” rather than commend them for making the best of a bad situation.
But alas, sometimes that was life.
He moved on to the next page—tax data. All seemed within his projections, so he sorted it into another pile. Next was a budgetary review of the Archives—many in court were again questioning the initiative. In all honesty, the Emperor was questioning it as well. He had implemented it to increase the number of learned men the Empire needed, but the results weren’t quite what he expected. There had been an uptick in the kind of people he needed, but had it been enough to justify the costs?
It was something he would have to meditate on.
He was about to pick up another stack of papers when there was a whisper of air. One of his trusted servants approached and bent down to whisper in his ear.
“Your Majesty, Your Voice returns,” she said, and the Emperor straightened.
“Any indication of what news he brings?”
“More good than bad, Your Majesty,” came the reply. “He said that it was for your ears only.”
“Prepare refreshments. We will receive him in the gardens,” he commanded, rising from his seat.
He wondered what news his Herald would bring.
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The gardens always evoked peace within the Emperor. The thousands of years of work that had gone into this masterpiece, from the soothing Qi to the subtle fragrances never failed in soothing him, and he had a feeling he would need it. News involving Imperial Realm Demonic Cultivators was always stressful. He was seated at the same table at which he had met his friend Shen Yu not too long ago.
And today he would soon be seeing another friend.
A man wearing a mask carved with the Imperial Seal entered the Emperor’s presence. His steps were calm as he approached the pavilion. Then the man dropped to one knee.
“This Humble Servant of His Imperial Majesty reports success upon his mission,” came the calm voice of his Herald.
“Rise and approach,” the Emperor commanded.
His servant did as he bid, approaching slowly before once more dropping to a knee.
The Emperor touched his shoulder. “We relieve you of the burden of Our Authority.”
The seals upon the Herald dissipated. The blank mask cracked, and then turned to dust. Where once was the Herald, now knelt Shi Lang, the Emperor’s most trusted aide.
“Shi Lang pays his respects to His Imperial Majesty,” the man intoned.
“Be seated, my Servant. We require your insight on what transpired. Shen Yu’s letter was… concerning.”
Shi Lang did as he was commanded, settling into the pavilion’s seat. The Emperor allowed him a moment to settle and take a drink of wine, and then Shi Lang got right into things under the pressure of the Imperial attention.
“Good tidings and bad tidings, My Lord. Firstly, Shen Yu spoke true. There was an Imperial Realm Demonic Cultivator in the Sea of Snow. Worse, his conspiracy has tendrils in all corners of the Empire. Secondly, Shen Yu’s power has been reduced. He is now in the Sky Realm.”
The report was delivered dryly, as Shi Lang always did, getting the bad news out of the way first. The Emperor grimaced. Shen Yu was truly so reduced? There was a conspiracy rotting the bones of his Empire?
“This is more good than bad?” he asked. His mind whirled, crafting a response about just what he was going to do about this situation.
“It is indeed, my Lord. Their bases in the Sea of Snow have been shattered—the Cloudy Sword Sect and Tianzhe Minyan, along with her ship, have laid waste to them all. Secondly, Yukong of the Subtle Scripture has devised a way to track more of these bases, and she has crafted enough of these artifacts that we may begin the purge. I have already taken the liberty of informing your Street Sweepers and tasking them with the hunt. I leave the rest to your discretion.”
The Emperor’s thoughts paused. The plans of attack that had been forming faded. His assassins had already been informed? The Cloudy Sword Sect and Soaring Heaven’s Isle Sect had already done most of his work for him? There was already a way to track this filth?
“… that is indeed good news.”
“We think they may have gone to ground, but we still know the method to track them even when the artifacts no longer work. They were using a tunnel network. It will be long and tedious work to root them out, but they have been dealt a devastating blow.”
Competent subordinates were alway a relief.
The Emperor raised an eyebrow and dispensed with the formalities. “I must say, I think you enjoyed that first part. How disloyal, to worry your Emperor so.”
Shi Lang’s lips twitched. “I do not know what you mean, My Lord,” the man said. “And I was not finished with my report.”
“Oh? There is more?”
“Yes. When conducting the scouring of the north, we made contact with a friendly Spirit Beast Tribe—a Spirit Beast Tribe Shen Yu and Xiao Ge have both declared as Honoured Martyrs, Heroes who have fought against the Great Enemy since before the days of the Empire. They sheltered Shen Yu, assisted him in the north, and battled the demonic forces alongside our sects. Their leader is in the Imperial Realm.”
Friendly, or at least neutral, Spirit Beasts were not entirely uncommon—but it was difficult to treat with such creatures who wanted nothing you had, or who had strange ways of looking at the world. And that was before a greedy cultivator only saw a mobile pile of resources. That normally poisoned a relationship before it could ever form.
The Empire did have at least some… if not alliances, agreements with select Spirit Beast Tribes. Kept secret for mutual protection. But they were few and far between, and it was beyond rare for one to be formed with a tribe whose leader was in the Imperial Realm.
Still, was it a chance to secure his northern flank, and open a dialogue with creatures who had been waging war in the north against Demonic Forces all this time?
And for them to have fought nobly—and successfully—enough to justify being declared by the Cloudy Sword Sect as Honoured Martyrs? That was incredibly rare. Most friendly Spirit Beast lineages had been too noble, according to his ancestors. They had mostly perished in the countless wars against the Great Enemy.
“Do you think they can be reasoned with?” the Emperor asked.
“I have met one of them. He was in the Spiritual Realm, and his name was Antlers like Frozen Mountains. He was calm. Controlled. A warrior, and not a beast. It will be delicate work, but I believe such a thing is possible.”
“I would have you treat with them, then, as Our Voice. If they have truly done our Empire this favour, then we shall return their kindness a hundredfold.”
“Your will be done, Your Majesty. I serve at your pleasure.”
“Anything else?”
Shi Lang paused. “… I met Shen Yu’s grandson,” he finally said.
The Emperor leaned forward.
“And?”
Shi Lang took another moment, and another sip of wine. His brow furrowed as he considered his words.
Finally, he spoke.
“If Shen Yu had not been so boastful of him, I wouldn’t have made the connection. He was calm, measured, and despite his unease at being in the same room as us… he was at peace with himself. His fire was no blazing torch, striding forwards to carve a path through the darkness, but instead a hearth. Gentle. A protector… but with no true burning ambition.”
The Emperor frowned at the description. “That does not sound like somebody Shen Yu would have taken in.”
“Yet in spite of that, he is a prodigy. His power is strange and subtle. He grows Spiritual Herbs which Shou of the Hidden Forest has not been able to. He defeated three Earth Realm Cultivators and a Sky Realm Cultivator when they attacked his home. His talent is beyond that of normal men… and yet he sells cabbage, rice, and eggs in the nearby mortal town, and humbles himself before the mortal magistrate, calling him teacher.”
The Emperor wanted to cry that such a thing was impossible. Yet Shi Lang never lied about these matters. Shen Yu had spoken of a boy in the Initiate Realm. It had been three years since then, and he had defeated Earth and Sky Realm cultivators, all while maintaining a low profile? What kind of monster was he?
And so the Emperor asked the question which his station demanded of him, no matter how little he wanted to.
“Do you believe he will be a threat?”
“No,” Shi Lang’s answer was immediate. “Not unless we give him reason to. I am fully certain of this. He has no desire for titles or recognition. Shen Yu informed me that the man simply wants to be left alone, that he may cultivate in peace… though there was the undercurrent that he was joking with me about some part of that sentence.”
The Emperor considered Shi Lang’s words… and made the easiest decision of the day.
“If he has no desire for recognition, then why poke two sleeping dragons?”
If Shi Lang didn’t believe they were a threat, and the man was content to rest in the Azure Hills… then why change that? A problem that could be solved by doing nothing wasn’t a problem at all.
The Emperor took a sip of his own wine. “Is there anything else? Or is that the last of the surprises?”
Shi Lang smiled. “There is one last message from Shen Yu, My Lord,” Shi Lang said… and handed over a scroll.
The Emperor opened the scroll and read the message.
Then he read it again.
And then… a smile slowly came to his face.
Shen Yu had declared the Archives to be a success. With proof. A formation that had traded hands multiple times, drifting between people who never would have met, until it produced something amazing.
It felt like a great weight had suddenly been lifted from his shoulders. His tree had finally and truly produced fruit.
“Shi Lang, I would have you rest—and then return to the north as Our Voice.”
Shi Lang, who had been looking at the Emperor with his own small smile, bowed.
“Of course, Your Majesty,” he said and began to rise.
“Though I do have one last question for, My Herald,” the Emperor said before he could fully rise.
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Did Shen Yu find out it was you?”
Shi Lang’s neutral mask cracked, and the powerful seven hundred year old man pouted.
The Emperor left his gardens laughing.
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This one fought me. Not entirely hppy with some of this, but I think it gets across what I want it to.
Editors: Aaron “Pastafarian” Sofaer, Massgamer, BargleNawdleZouss
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Comments
V01D
I could easily see the desk and/or chair having developed a minor spirit, especially after having been used by three different Emperors; even moreso given that their reigns aren’t SHORT.
Truedragon5374
Xiaoshi's palace was at the center of Pale Moon Capitol when the formation (and the palace) Exploded! Most of the city became the crater that is now Pale Moon Lake. Not everything ties back the Azure Mountains.
Duncan Morin
Interesting, but the Azure Hills were kept seperate until long after the empire was formed. I was thing that was Shennong's.
Precentor Van Zandt, Matthew King
Calling it now, that desk and chair were Xiaoshi's.
Duncan Morin
It seems as though he spent most of those years since Bu in despair and just cultivating out of habit more than a passion. Now that he's returned to form and in a better place mentally and spiritually I'm sure he will rise faster and stronger than before.
MP Maillette
I ws trying through the ios app, from thr patreon site web it worked
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter!
Gopard
there is no "Mathematically" when you're talking about the WRITTEN words of numbers in a complete sentence though... this is purely a Grammar thing if you for some reason write out calculations in text you would be correct, but for a number the countrie's grammar norms apply.
Gopard
Grandkids? I would say for 4 generations at least... Supposedly he spend "centuries in the Imperial Realm" so to go all the way back to Ascension from the Sky Realm should even if we take Jin's new cultivation support cheat network into account many many decades at least! I wouldn't be surprised if he ascends with the entire Process lmao!!!
Melanie Me
Shen Yu was lamenting about Jin not going to the Heavens with him. Now that he is in the Sky realm, does that mean he will be around for Jin's grandkids?
Old Dog
Grammatically many people do this. Mathematically it is incorrect. Look at how cheque's are written as an example.
Harish
I'd pay to see JIn REFUSING HIS MAJESTY'S KINDNESS. TO HIS FACE. It would be all kinds of hilarious. Only slightly below Shen Yu introducing Bi De to the Imperial Court.
Cranky Otter
I like that all the competent managers in this story come to that conclusion 😊
Cranky Otter
I love that you finally got the archive detail to the Emperor. I think the chapter is well crafted, especially to highlight that tidbit about the Hong demon siphon formation. Not sure what of the chapter fought you but it didn’t come through to me. It was calming. I like the detail of the desk & chair that never need maintenance. I’m glad the emperor appreciates what he has. (too often books show people inured to their highly cultivated surroundings) I wouldn’t mind a detail or two like “he always likes the X in season Y” but not specifying lets us imagine our own peaceful place. Usually the way emperors work is “the emperor is infallible therefore if something is wrong (even if it was the emperor’s obvious error), a middle manager gets the axe”. That this emperor is responsible and reasonable is nice for my sensibilities (and for that governor getting merit) but it’s very unusual for a man who hasn’t been told “no” or that he’s wrong in 500 years. How did he hang on to that? Shen Yu giving him crap? The long timelines are the thing that make things hard for me to suspend disbelief tho. So in thousands of years, only 3 emperors? But human timelines stay the same? One generation is 20-25 years so 800 years is 32-40 generations, and no one in that time wants to take over the CSS leadership? Boomers merely not retiring as early as their parents has messed up the adulthood milestones of both GenX & Millennials. All these people living hundreds of years but still having kids at age 20 creates some very odd issues with hierarchies and passing the torch. On this topic, Jin still refers to Fa Ram as “his”/“mine” not “ours”, and he needs to do some succession planning, especially if women tend to be overlooked legally in this Empire. Does the emperor have no female scribes? (The earliest known signature is that of a female scribe.)
Rake1810
This chapter wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination but I do think it was weaker then most of your chapters. That's not a bad thing, the interlude is important but considering what's going on at the Farm I can't really think of anything you could write that wouldn't be a bit of a letdown
Duncan Morin
I really enjoyed this chapter, but the ending is the best part to me. The Emperor being amused by Shen Yu knowing exactly who the faceless voice is.
Xander Lionheart
I bet he has the world's best snacks. I say that but all I can think of is a bell I would ring and someone brings me a fresh Fried mozzarella stick or a loaf of that bread from cheesecake factory.
james freeman
That varies by country. In the UK the 'and' will almost always go before the tens.
Cat rock31
He's the emperor he can snack if he damn well pleases
Idan tal
Beautifully done!
Great chapter. I love when we see powerful people just as people :)
Duke of Coffee
Man this is good interlude showing how an Emperor is smart enough to let the sleeping dragon lay instead of poking it with a stick.
RBAWintrow
It's a good chapter.
Justin
Thanks for the chapter, I enjoyed reading it, was relaxed and fun. I never do corrections but I enjoyed this one too much not to mention: Not entirely hppy with some of this, but.... Happy. ;)
Kuma
I believe the Magistrate of Pale Moon Lake City is the Provincial Governor as well, or at least adjacent. The current one is acting and TLM son.
Alex Ingraham
@Ligeia "My guess is Saturday since the 2nd chapter wasn't until Thursday night." Thursday?? B-b-but today is Wednesday for me... how do you have access to advance chapters in time!? TELLL MEEEEEEE!!!! 😭 lol
Alex Ingraham
Go to CF's patreon home page, click on membership and scroll down until you see the "Quick links" section. It'd under that.
Old Dog
As always, thank you for the chapter. Point of order about numbers in word form. Use of the conjunction "and" is for going from whole numbers to parts of the whole. E.G. one hundred forty seven and one half. So "sixty five thousand, four hundred, and twenty three years old" should be "sixty five thousand, four hundred, twenty three years old". Likewise for the seven thousand forty nine.
Old Dog
Then he wouldn't need tea either. Some things are consumed for enjoyment not benefits like caffeine stimulation.
AG
It was made by one of the first students of shennong
Old Dog
It would be interesting to see the reactions of other sect elders to Jin's calling TLM teacher.
Andrew Denton
Ah. As though they were all bishops, but one of them is the archbishop.
MP Maillette
Amazing chapter! I really loved the change of pace and of point of view! Every detail you put in that expands this universe is like pure candy to me; I love it!!! PS: i cant seem to find the link to the discord and google isnt forthcoming, could someone help me please :)
Ligeia
Better mahogany than sugar maple!
Ligeia
My guess is Saturday since the 2nd chapter wasn't until Thursday night. It's usually 2 days minimum between them, but of course only if CF is ready to put out what he wrote. His schedule is flexible because of his high standards, which I for one appreciate!
Ligeia
The magistrate in Pale Moon is the top one for the province. Remember that the criminal magistrate in Grass Sea City thought HE should be top guy, but now he's out of office anyway.
Randall Brynsvold
The author answered this in the Patreon Chapter Channel on Discord (as a hidden-text spoiler). https://discord.com/channels/799119283653312523/818517911655546900/1351781318249283605
Alan McBrayer
I don't think they have one because the province used to be a nation ruled by an emperor so all of the magistrates likely reported directly to the emperor. After the collective amnesia they just remembered that they served an emperor so the Rising Pheonix empire just took over without changing things.
Ian Burns
Fair point. SOMEONE definitely would have cut down that tree to make a desk out of it, but since the Empire is at least attempting to keep the Cultivators in check it probably wasn't them.
Miles Sumida
This is one of my favorite recent chapters and it really made my day. The temporary change of setting is very welcome and the little glimpse of an unrelated emergency being resolved was extremely fun. On top of that seeing the emperor find out that his education gamble has really paid off is increadably gratifying.
John D Jones
@ Alibhal TLM is on good terms with the most powerful cultivators in the Azure Hills (and in the Empire since he's met Ge and Minyan plus Shen Yu). If anyone is going to be stressed it'll probably be the other cultivators. Though TLM will still be a little stressed because TLM.
BeepBoop
Maybe the magistrate of the capital of the province is the governor? We know that the orders of the capital have some authority in other cities and towns from the pov of the once magistrate of the city with the slavery problem. There was also some genuine authority that magistrate thought could be acquired by his city becoming the capital instead. It would make sense if this was not just the indirect authority of being officially the most important city, but a more tangible power within certain procedural contexts.
Splutty
Memories of the horrible and fantastic writing of Robin Hobb...
Andrew Denton
Why, I believe that would be whoever the Grand Marshal appoints. 😁
Michael Larsen
I’ve now read and re-read this chapter a couple of times. Each time is better than the last. It’s a subtle chapter, and I can see why it gave CF problems. For all the literal earth-shattering power of the two characters in it, the most important part is that it shows the peace Fa Ram brings to all who could or would be allies. The shock-waves of Jin’s choice to follow the path of Shennong are only just starting to reach the greater empire, and they have already brought peace to the heart of the Phoenix Emperor. He has at long last received proof that he has fulfilled the final commandment that his father laid upon him: he has accomplished something that has made the empire greater than he found it.
Adam
“Competent subordinates were alway a relief.” “Alway” should be “always”
Duncan Morin
Until you consider it was the Empire that forced sects to become more self sustaining to avoid pillaging everything in sight
Pat Sprehe
Do the Azure Hills have a Lord Governor? I'm curious of the administrative structure above Magistrate.
EverydayCrucible
….Mahogany….
EverydayCrucible
And then Fengyan receives a plant that helps him cultivate again, the emperor tries to give him a vast fortune, but Jin refuses wishing only to be left alone.
Ian Burns
Which in turn is why it's vital to build institutions and advisors you can actually trust, and stamp out corruption at every level.
Ian Burns
This is true, they might have. They might even have planted a replacement for 65,000 years from now. But given this culture I doubt it.
NameGame
There's no indication that they cut down the tree for that purpose. Could have died for any number of reasons, many if not most of which have nothing to do with them. Nor is there any indication that there aren't other 60k+ year old trees out there. Trees die, it happens, might as well do something with the wood when it happens.
leopard eye
Or perhaps it's made of the remains of a still living grown skyship.
leopard eye
I'd say more that a few
Simon Andriessen
This looks pretty good. I was hoping for a Elder Ge and Jin discussion but I can wait a little longer. Next chapter friday?
Kt-x
Thanks for the chapter 😊
Ian Burns
Need? No. Want? ...maybe. Not that he'd admit it.
Ian Burns
It restores itself to harmony in accordance with the Dao. By fluffing up the cushions and getting rid of dust.
Ian Burns
Don't you know the genre? Only cultivators are real people!
Ian Burns
Nowhere is the tragedy of this world more exemplified than taking a sixtyfive thousand year old tree and making a desk out of it. Subtly horrifying. I love it. And they wonder why their world is getting weaker.
Ian Burns
The grand legacy revealed! Such is the genre. And yeah, you can have the desk made from the mahogany trees that are 600 miles tall and breath fire, made with blood rituals that let it warp the fabric of space and time itself... or you have have it be indestructible, always clean, and super comfy.
Harish
Does Fengyan have any queen/wives/concubines and sons/daughters?
Harish
Terrible, yes, but the report itself states that the people were infected and turning into monsters. It was a mercy to end them, even if cultivators or Spiritual doctors might have found a way to cure them sometime down the line. (Really hope Meimei runs into this in the future and actually creates a cure) The "Terrible" I am talking about is the kind where you Deal With The Devil to ensure the prosperity of your people. Perhaps the Emperor agrees to the conquest of a Province by an Unorthodox sect in return for their support for a thousand years. In return, the Unorthodox Sect gets to murder all of their rivals and the rival's allies upto the next ten generations. That's usually the kind of evil that cultivator stories are all about, right? I like the chapters with Fengyan because they are a stark contrast to life at Fa Ram, showing how truly blessed the protagonists are. Hell, I want Fengyan to visit Fa Ram (in disguise as a standard cultivator) and promptly decide this was going to be his vacation destination.
WarStrider72
I wonder if that desk was made by Shennong?
forest tate
Commending the governor for killing 7,000 people seems approving a terrible action
WarStrider72
Shen Yu: You gotta do better than that sonny to get one over me! I know everyone!
Alibhai
There must be so many cultivators in the capital which would translate to so much stress .......I can see it happening. If for nothing else but our amusement 😂😂
Randall Norman Pick
It seemed to work quite well. The most powerful person in the world can't quite have normal concerns.
Andrew Denton
Sapient pearwood.
matthew gilley
He did say that a powerful cultivator calls him teacher... That at least intriguing
matthew gilley
The magistrate gets promoted to magistrate of the capital and he is just screaming about it in his head for eternity
matthew gilley
I'm curious if the desk was the desk from the first empire of the azure mountains and no one cared enough to write it down. Like the emperor will see it when he watches the crystal and his main take away will not be all the earth shattering revelations but "so that's where my desk is from, huh, mystery solved. "
Daniel Mountain
As lonely at the top as it can be, I'm glad the Emperor has Shen Yu as a confidant. Especially for the levities.
Peter Gerganov
I think you're mixing up what Shi Ling knows vs what we as readers do. Elder Ge only learned about this last chapter, and that was because he had been briefed on Lan Lan being a person of interest before, and taking the time to talk to her in his time off. There's no reason to expect this has come up during the operation in the North.
Xander Lionheart
Yeah but we have seen cultivators even the ancestor types still enjoy food. I was using food as an example. Could have replaced it with anything personal really. A hair comb, maybe a spirit stone, just some kind of minor personal touches makes the character easier to connect with.
litalmexy
I can see why you struggled with this but I had the same feeling as others and he feels different enough from TLM to not overlap characters. Enjoyed this chapter
Ian Robert Darling Burns
The empowering fantasy of a caring, competent leader. Are any of those desks made from... Mahogany?
Mr Fox
You know i think it says a lot about how the azure hills are seen that Shi ling felt the the spontaneous and willing unification of every sect in the province wasn't even worth mentioning to the emperor.
Ormus Von Orbulon
He was only there very briefly, and Lu Ri has a habit of 'understating' his information -- so he couldn't possibly know... Yet. He's headed back now, though -- so his next report to the throne will no doubt be full of all sorts of unprecedented nonsense...
Ian Robert Darling Burns
No, it's a bit archaic but it's perfectly cromulent
Shawn Banks
Should the words “treat” in the topic of the Spirit Beast be “treaty?”
Shawn Banks
I bet it’s made of the same wood at The Luggage of Pratchett’s Discworld.
Carl Dooley
Only three Emperors? Wouldn't it make more sense to have a longer line than that? It would certainly make more sense if a previous Important Person had put the Desk into storage for a later emperor to find?
Randall Brynsvold
Shen Yu did recognize Shi Lang, and told Jin his name at the end of "v5c65: The Experts of the Empire".
Carl Dooley
Lu Ri has his maple syrup. Maybe Fengyan has his own preferred treat too...
Thomas Lawless
Careful.. we need to keep this man away from the north! There's too many excellent rulers and administrators up there. Our emperor might be inclined to raid for talent.
Daniel
But he is a cultivator. He wouldn't have need of snacks and coffee.
ChaosAndBunnies
No mention of the Lord Magistrate's excellent administration and character? It's almost as if you don't want the man to have a stroke from all the powerful eyes directed his way!
Kt-x
Thank you for the chapter! 😁
Xerxes Aaronsson
The Herald doesn't know about it. Lu Ri only barely touched on it when he reported it to Xiao Ge.
Kris Piskorski
I curious why he didn't mention all that was happening within azure hills, I believe a new centralized power would be of interest to the big boss
Just A Dude
Over on Discord it was stated it's mega-old. Made one of the original disciples of Shennong. Not self-aware, just a desk made by one of The Ancients who wanted to make a really good desk.
Just A Dude
I KNEW IT! Well, not specifically a disciple of Shennong, but I figured it would be some ancient master practicing a Dao related to carpentry who just wanted a Really Good Desk without any of the pretentious crap.
Just A Dude
Good furniture doesn't need to be ornate. It was probably carved by some highly ranked cultivator following the Dao of Carpentry trying to find the essence of what makes a perfect desk by stripping away all the unnecessary frippery.
Just A Dude
To reach the pinnacle of perfection, one must discard needless things. Form must confirm to function in all ways, not to vanity or aesthetic. A desk doesn't need to be made of treasure worth more than a palace, or be sized to extend much beyond the reach of the one sitting at it. It need only be sturdy, stable, and comfortable. By that measure, this is a deal in the Imperial Realm of deskness.
Just A Dude
He's that rarest of characters in fiction: Reasonable Authority Figure.
Truedragon5374
AND THUS two of the greatest heroes of the Empire make their debut. The Mighty Desk of Enternal Endurance and the Gracious Chair of Sublime Comfort. Long may these two pillars support the Son of Heaven!
Savannah Black
Also railroads would get the mail through faster.
Savannah Black
No rewards! Dang! Loot loot loot!
Matthew Picard
Should we start calling the Emperor’s old desk and chair “Chekov’s Wierd Desk and Chair “? Or just CWD&C?
Trevor Mergen
Thanks! Awesome chapter
Aki_Iokua18
@Tsorov Xiulan did tell Ge that a memory crystal was found and that the answer for the Azure Hills weakness is based in part on Demonic activity, while also implying that Jin has something to do with the province’s restoration. However, the Herald didn’t spend time at Fa Ram, he had VERY urgent report about the VERY important matter that had prompted the Emperor to send His Voice in the first place. He was there for the urgent, Empire threatening business in the Sea of Snow not to sit around chatting with someone only tangentially related to the actual unfolding crisis. Yes, Jin providing a clue on how to stop the degradation of the world IS a MASSIVE deal that the Emperor should be told about, it’s not actually all that urgent. As for the rest of the curiosities in Fa Ram, aside from the modern beehives, everything is ,at best, on the level of “that’s pretty good. Keep working on it and get back to me in about 500 years then we might have something useable.”
Cinnamon Toast
The Emperor’s voice didn’t see steam stuff and shen yu while he has had enough teaching on such subjects to humble any leader of a mid rank sect probably doesn’t really consider any non-qi stuff at an empire level unless a question directly questioning it is voiced around him
Ligeia
The Hongs and Uncle Bao just worked out the math; someone else created the basic concept. I seem to recall it had been kicking around for a century or two and they were the first to make it work practically.
Serpentssnare
I wonder if it's a sentient artifact like Sunny the plow.
war doggle
He doesn't know he left right after the cult hunt ended. He hasn't been to Fa Ram.
fruit dragon
The cloudy sword sect is not the empire
Ligeia
He *was* accepted into the Cloudy Sword Sect in his youth, after all, and they don't take just anyone. Plus he's still a friend of Shen Yu's.
Angel
“A problem that could be solved by doing nothing wasn’t a problem at all.” You snuck in some serious wisdom right there!
Ligeia
Didn't Elder Ge just learned part of the story of the shattering of the Azure Mountains by the demonic interference when Xiaoshi broke the province-wide formation to block the demons, though? Shen Yu is the ony one who's seen what's in the crystal, yes, but he wasn't terribly concerned (probably because he doesn't know how badly the dragon veins were damaged or that Tianlan, Chun Ke, and Jin are repairing them). So the word is spreading, slowly. But attention is turning to the Azure Hills for the first time in a very, very long time, which could prove interesting indeed! The Emperor is learning thanks to his Voice, which has great implications for the Azure Hills. I'm glad the Emperor recognizes how hard the thunderhoofs have been fighting the demons; they deserve the praise and support! And while he's surprised that Jin has a mortal teacher, I suspect that Ge and/or Shen Yu will at some point tell him what a superb person the Lord Magistrate is, thanks to Lu Ri's delight in finding him. And having the proof that the Archive system really does work was obviously very gratifying news to the Emperor! I wonder whether he will gather the people who developed the formation (who are still living) to come visit him. Can you picture how Jin would be bursting with pride at Meimei, Pops, and Uncle Bao in that circumstance? He would practically shout it from the mointaintops, I suspect! The Emperor will surely learn about them being declared Honoured Allies of the Cloudy Sword Sect and recognize how brilliant they all are. Shen Yu also has such a hugh opinion of Pops that he can certainly impress it upon the Emperor, So it's really a win/win/win all the way around!
Yanni
A table that cleans itself. That’s actually very impressive cause I have to wonder how it differentiates between waste and something that’s supposed to be on there.
Joe Silva
"Perfection is the enemy of good" or in this case great, don't second guess yourself.
Almer Reyhan
What!? A reasonable and caring emperor that actually cared for his people and land!? What is this!? I want MOAAAR
Zero Wrath
Loved the chapter! I think it did a wonderful job humanizing the emperor.
Xander Lionheart
I think you humanized the emperor well. I think my only bit of criticism would be to add a personal touch to the desk. Something being done on it that someone staying up late for office work would do. Like an old coffee cup or something. Maybe some bit of food he was snacking on because he was bored. I just feel like the chapter is about humanizing the emperor and adding some human needs would be the final touch needed.
Robert Adams
I get that it might not have made the list of big ticket items, but I think the big wigs should put more weight to the steam engine technology our boys are making. Steam locomotives and ships would definitely change how the mortals of them empire conducted trade and would bring everyone closer together. It would even make the Archive system more effective by speeding up the process of information dissemination.
Casualfarmer
It is showing how things are degrading. The First Emperor lived a very, very, very long time.
Tsorov
Didn't Xianhua tell them about the crystal in the last chapter? I don't think they know about the dragon veins restoration by Jin completly, but they know that the Qi void is because the dragon veins were destroyed
Tsorov
I think it is more of a friendly rivalry issue. The voice shouldn't be seen as the person behind the mask, but as an extension of the emperors will. Since different people can wear the mask, Shen yu has made it his mission to find out who they are and in that way "rebel against the pheonix crown".
Kat
Yup I was reading one where the OP protagonist was already helping them, and instead of just treating him like an ally they started manipulating him and messing with him because he was a commoner (and that didn’t go well for them lol)
Sebastian Osterbrink
The Voice is supposed to be anonymous and is disguised and shrouded to be so to only represent the authority of the emperor. Not the person beneath the mask. But Shen Yu makes it a game to correctly inventory the person.
Zeromaru2
I love when people in power are reasonable authority figures. It brings Joy And knowing that the Archives produced something that would benefit all must be a huge wave of relief.
Aki_Iokua18
As far as I know, the only “outsider” who knows what happened to the Azure Hills in the past and what is currently happening is Shen Yu. And his thing is: “My cock found the crystal, it’s his to do with as he wants. Now if he wants to tell the Emperor, I can help and give advice, but it’s not for me to say. Just like it’s not for me to say that my Grandson’s doing what everyone thought was impossible before he gives the okay to do so.” Jin isn’t really aware or just doesn’t want to bother with any of the potential implications of what he’s doing. He just sees it as “My friend’s been hurt. I have the means and ability to help her. It’s just what you do, ya know? The fact that it also helps other people I care about, well, that’s just the icing on the cake, really.
Kasinki
I love it. Thanks CF!!
Often Irrelephant
Shen Yu trolled the hell out of him trying to get a reaction and I think the shrug was all he managed to get. It's hilarious that it was enough and he's that salty about it.
Haley Shepard
Casualfarmer — #patreon-chapter-channel in Discord It was made by one of Shennong's first disciples Casualfarmer — #patreon-chapter-channel that desk and chair is ooooooolllllllllllddddd
SarcasticDonkey
Love the concept of the Emperor being stressed about his subjects hiding problems so he only hears about them when it escalated to a major issue.
Victor Segura
Im still kind of reeling on how this 6 thousand year old empire only had 3 emperors, one who was already fuck ancient before it was formed. Doubly so because after this chapters, we can see that the oldes and strongest of the Cultivators are only barely over 800 years old. Is this another show of evidence that Qi and cultivation has been degrading generation after generation? Or were these 2 emperors just the ultimate exception of the story?
Katharine Gould
Tftc! It was awesome!
GameJunkie999
Exactly so many times the powerful make enemies because of bad decisions or even due to badintelk given to them by their own subordinates.
Benjamin Lawton
Truly, the most ambitious undertaking of all: creating the World's Most Comfortable Chair.
Geese
Is there some significance to Shi Lang’s identity? The Emperor asked if Shen Yu recognized him. Should Shen Yu have? Or did he recognize Shi Lang and I missed it.
Often Irrelephant
I love the pragmatism of the first emperor rummaging around in a storage closet for comfortable office furniture. But so many questions! It's not even remotely normal if it doesn't need cleaning or repair for thousands of years. There's also the exceptional comfort. Where did they come from and how did end up in an imperial storage closet? My 'dear' (ala Peppa) said, "What is this? The desk of Shennong?" 🤔 Now I wonder.
Benji
I really liked this chapter/interlude.
Isaac Boyles
I liked this one
Oni
Oh my, yes. No true ambition indeed. Certainly nothing like building a Heaven upon the world. Nothing like that.
Michael Larsen
In my head, even though it’s probably not, I see the chair as some sort of celestial lazy-boy.
Onean
When all of the people Shen Yu called on first got together at Verdant Hill, Shen Yu made a comment that he likes to guess on which person the Emperor sent as His Voice, just as a fun game for himself. He figured it was Shi Lang by his shrug, and this is confirmation for us he was correct.
Cinnamon Toast
Yes the ‘simple’ desk that has not needed cleaning or fixing for what sounds like thousands of years. Some master had their priorities straight when they made that desk.
Kat
I really like this “Do you believe he will be a threat?” “No,” Shi Lang’s answer was immediate. “Not unless we give him reason to” So many people of authority in stories create their own downfall by simply poking people they should have just left alone… I’m glad the Emperor isn’t among them
The butler did it
There was a side convo where Shen Yu guessed which of the emperor's men were behind the mask--correctly. Re the crystal, Shen Yu thought it would be amusing to have such a thing presented by Bi De in his rooster form, so he's definitely going to make it happen.
Melody Haren Anderson
I think that was really, REALLY noticed after he'd already left because the cause of Azure Hills was hidden till recently. Even those who considered it never really thought about it other than "This is strange... wait, this is strange. With what we learned about the Dragon Veins being burnt... they need to be recovering, and have been since he came here."
Geoffrey Sullivan
There's an earlier Shen Yu chapter where he notes making a game of trying to figure out who's under the Voice's mask at any given time - I don't remember *which* chapter specifically, sorry.
Melody Haren Anderson
Somehow, the desk being simple as well as the chair but just... comfy, I love it. So very this story. Simple and humble comfortable power, rather than glory above all.
Mad Max
"that he may cultivate in peace…" That was a groan-worthy pun if I ever saw one.
Lelouch Lamperouge
I don't think he was present for that.
THEMIGHTYBOXHEAD
i wonder how the emperor will react when he finds out about the bee hives
Ormus Von Orbulon
I Love the inexplicably indestructible and anomalously comfortable office furniture. 👌
V01D
“One last question for YOU” - missing the last word…
Nathaniel Jacob moore
Honestly I think the chapter is fine and it was definitely what I personally needed today and a good follow up from the previous chapters.
Joanna
Very exciting to see another glimpse of the emperor! I like him, I think
Joanna
Nah, it's the healing formation that the Hongs worked out
Moonspike
Shen Yu had declared the Archives to be a success. With proof. A formation that had traded hands multiple times, drifting between people who never would have met, until it produced something amazing.
Buck
I am surprised the the Voice did not inform the Emperor of Jin’s efforts to restore the Dragon Veins beneath the Azure Hills.
this will work
I think it's a good chapter but maybe make the desk have the words azure carved on it cause we know it's from the hills only place with good furniture
Moonspike
It literally told us that it was about the formation Mei Mei's family developed from what they found in the archives.
Aki_Iokua18
Okay, there HAS to be something up with that desk and chair. While it seems doubtful the Herald would actually STAY at Fa Ram, it would be interesting to see how the Emperor would react to learning more of what Jin’s done and what his coming to the Azure Hills has brought about.
MARK MACKNET
Who is Shi Lang and why would it surprise Shen Yu? What am I missing? This chapter needs more details…… Also weren’t they going to send the full crystal to the emperor?
Daniel Jungbluth
The Emperor's Desk is made of very fine material, very expensive. It's Mahogany.
Kreylix
Loved this!
Synova Vitale
The poor herald. But yay for not trying to poke the sleeping dragons!! Good emperor!!
leopard eye
Nothing fancy just a bloody good desk. That has been soaked in the qi of three Emperor's for thousands of years. Oh boy
Mohamud Mohamed
Fengyan sounds cool tbh.
Enzo
Wew, these people are old lol. Thanks for the chap!
Null_is_Void
I did very much enjoy this chapter.
Parker Maisterra
Hooo I gotta wonder if Shen Yu’s scroll was about the memory crystal trying to find an heir
Harish
Damn. Missed again. 3rd this time. A small anecdote about Fengyan having to approve of a terrible action might have started the chapter better, because every single time the Emperor came in, there was always a small anecdote about having to do terrible things to keep the empire safe. but this is BEWARE OF CHICKEN And I'd rather have two friends enjoying a cup of tea over grimdark any day.
RUI RODRIGUES
:D
Chris Warner
Huzzah!
Maple
Thanks!
