Chapter 66 Invitation

Jiang Chen arrived outside the city gate, where the twelve-zhang-high green brick walls had already turned slightly yellow, stretching east and west like the spine of a giant Dragon, showcasing the depth of history.

Outside the city walls, although it was early morning, a long queue had already formed outside Chang'an City.

Most of them were merchants.

The Tang Dynasty valued agriculture over commerce; merchants prioritized profit over the people's livelihood and did not engage in production, so they were required to pay extremely high taxes.

However, in this golden bowl that was the Great Tang, even with such high taxes, it still attracted countless people like a swarm of ducks.

At this moment, soldiers at the city gate were inspecting the value of the goods these merchants carried and collecting taxes based on that value.

This was also an extremely flexible aspect of Tang Dynasty law, which had similarities to modern taxation.

Jiang Chen stood calmly at the end of the queue; some people in front, seeing Jiang Chen dressed as a Daoist, wanted to let him go ahead, but were all politely refused by Jiang Chen.

There was no help for it; after all, he had received nine years of compulsory education.

After a long while, it was Jiang Chen's turn, and the two soldiers responsible for registration and tax collection took a few extra looks at the Daoist robe and dharma sword on Jiang Chen.

"A Daoist? Do you have a Daoist certificate?"

In this day and age, because Daoists and monks could be exempted from many taxes, countless people racked their brains trying to become Daoists or monks.

However, both groups did not engage in production. The Daoist School was fine, but the Buddhist School in particular not only did not engage in production themselves but also wantonly amassed wealth, annexed land, and guided others to convert to Buddhism.

Therefore, the imperial court stipulated that major temples and Daoist temples could not privately ordain commoners; they had to obtain the approval of the imperial court.

They even specifically established an agency to supervise and manage this behavior.

Of course, Jiang Chen's act of Dao Entry, strictly speaking, could be considered private ordination and registration, which was not permitted by the imperial court.

If he were from another School, he would be considered a rogue Daoist or rogue monk.

But who asked for the one who performed the ordination and registration for Jiang Chen to be the Maoshan Sect?

The number one School in the world, referred to as the State Religion by the current Emperor.

And Grand Master Sima Chengzhen was hailed as the unspoken State Preceptor.

He had invited Grand Master Sima Chengzhen to the imperial palace many times for a chat; though he called it a chat, it was actually to seek advice from Grand Master Sima Chengzhen on cultivation matters with the etiquette of a Disciple.

Why did Princess Yuzhen insist on taking Grand Master Sima Chengzhen as her master, no matter how shameless she had to be? Even if Grand Master Sima Chengzhen did not acknowledge it, Princess Yuzhen still loudly proclaimed herself to be a Disciple of Grand Master Sima Chengzhen.

Did Emperor Xuanzong of Tang not want to?

It wasn't that he didn't want to; it was because he valued his reputation. After all, as the current Emperor and ruler of the nation, he couldn't act like Princess Yuzhen, who shamelessly refused to leave Wangwu Mountain.

In the end, Grand Master Sima Chengzhen had no choice. "You won't leave, right? Fine, then I will leave!"

He forcibly drove Grand Master Sima Chengzhen from Wangwu Mountain back to the Maoshan Sect.

Jiang Chen was registered at the Maoshan Sect, and the imperial court knew about it. So, what did Emperor Xuanzong of Tang do?

He directly sent people to the Maoshan Sect to offer congratulations and then invited Jiang Chen to the imperial palace to attend the Mid-Autumn Grand Banquet.

This was the status of the Maoshan Sect in the Tang Dynasty.

Even the Celestial Master of Mount Longhu had to respectfully call Grand Master Sima Chengzhen "Celestial Master" upon meeting him.

Jiang Chen naturally had a Daoist certificate, which he took out and handed to the soldier.

Then he wrote his name, Jiang Chen, in the registration book.

The soldier looked at the Daoist certificate, his eyelids twitched, and he hurriedly returned it to Jiang Chen.

"I did not know a high expert from the Maoshan Sect was here. I have offended you; please enter."

Jiang Chen nodded and strode into Chang'an City.

The inside and outside of Chang'an seemed like two different worlds; he truly felt the description of a line of poetry.

"Hundreds of thousands of houses like a chessboard, twelve streets like vegetable plots!"

The Vermilion Bird Avenue, over a hundred paces wide, extended straight like a golden thread, running through from north to south.

The rows of houses were neat and orderly, reflecting the beauty of symmetry.

From time to time, the carriages of nobles drove past, and occasionally a noble would lift a corner of the gold-threaded curtain to peer outside.

The prosperity outside Chang'an City was already the greatest Jiang Chen had seen since coming to the Tang Dynasty.

However, inside Chang'an City, it was even more so.

Even from over ten miles away, Jiang Chen could faintly hear the noisy shouting coming from the East and West Markets.

And in Chang'an, it was rare to see poor people, unless they were beggars.

Because apart from beggars, other poor people found it very difficult to survive in Chang'an; living in Chang'an was not easy.

Moreover, inside Chang'an City, it seemed that even the spiritual energy was a bit denser than outside.

Jiang Chen walked into Vermilion Bird Avenue, attracting the attention of some people, but it was different from outside.

These people just glanced at him slightly and immediately looked away.

There were too many Daoist and Buddhist temples in Chang'an, and the people here were more knowledgeable, knowing which ones were worth believing in and which were just swindlers.

Jiang Chen had intended to walk to the side, to go to the East Market to see if there were any brokers to rent a room.

He wasn't sure how long he would stay in Chang'an, so renting a room directly would be more cost-effective.

But just then, a group of people dressed in the standard uniform of the palace walked over quickly.

Jiang Chen originally wanted to avoid them, but this group also changed direction and finally stopped in front of Jiang Chen.

"Might I ask if you are the direct Disciple of the Maoshan Sect, young Immortal Master Jiang?" The leader stepped forward and asked; his face was pale and hairless, his voice was feminine, and he carried a strong scent of powder, the typical appearance of a eunuch.

"I dare not accept the title of young Immortal Master; it is indeed me. May I ask, Your Excellency, what is the matter?"

"Oh my, that's good, that's good. It's like this, young Immortal Master: my master would like to invite you to her residence for a chat, and she specifically sent me to guide you, young Immortal Master."

"Who is your master?" For a eunuch to call someone master without revealing their identity, it could not be Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, but rather a member of the royal family.

"Please, young Immortal Master, follow this old servant. Once we arrive, you will know."

That person had given instructions that the identity must not be revealed, otherwise the person in front might not be willing to go.

Jiang Chen thought for a moment and then agreed.

He had already arrived in Chang'an, and no one would want to harm him in this place.

The Imperial Agents of the Great Tang and other secret surveillance forces were not for show; the moment he stepped into Chang'an City, or even when he was outside the city, the report of his arrival in Chang'an should have already been delivered to the desk of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

"Since that is the case, please lead the way."

"Very well, young Immortal Master, please this way."

The eunuch led Jiang Chen toward the western street, and only after walking past two streets did they officially turn inward.

The street was crowded with people coming and going.

This street was adjacent to the West Market, so besides the residents living there, there were also many merchants coming and going.

It seemed that quite a few people knew this eunuch, and on the way, a gentle female voice came from a sedan chair.

"Eunuch Zhao, are you out running errands for that person again?"

Eunuch Zhao also smiled slightly, "The noble one is correct. This old servant is following my master's orders to invite a distinguished guest to visit."

"A distinguished guest?" The voice sounded slightly surprised.

"I haven't visited that person in a long time. Please, Eunuch Zhao, convey a message to her, saying that I will come to visit her another day."

"Very well, this old servant will certainly pass on your words."

Jiang Chen remained silent, waiting for the two to finish speaking before continuing to follow Eunuch Zhao forward.

Before long, Eunuch Zhao led Jiang Chen to the outside of a magnificent Daoist temple.

The outermost part was the Ziqing Gate; the gatehouse was nine zhang high, the pillars were straight, and the glazed tiles shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

On the plaque of the gatehouse were written three large characters — Yuzhen Taoist Temple!