My low-key cultivation of immortality was discovered by the emperor in my diary.

The first day of the Lunar New Year has arrived in the blink of an eye.

The Great Xia Dynasty was a prosperous and flourishing era, with peace reigning throughout the land and all nations revering it.

The imperial city stands majestically, resplendent in gold and jade, and today it welcomes a grand celebration with congratulations from all directions.

Under a clear blue sky and a gentle breeze, the dragon flag fluttered above the magnificent palace, displaying the emperor's power.

Outside the palace, the Imperial Guards, clad in bright armor and wielding spears, stood solemnly on either side of the palace gates.

As dawn broke and the sky turned a pale white, officials lined up in solemn procession, awaiting the arrival of envoys from various countries.

As the morning bells rang, envoys from various countries arrived one after another.

They came from all over the world, with different skin colors and languages. They were dressed in their own country's finest attire, colorful and varied in style. Some wore golden crowns, some wore embroidered robes, some had short swords at their waists, and some carried monk's staffs.

They all came with reverence for the Great Xia, carrying precious tributes from their respective countries, including goldware inlaid with jewels, exquisite embroidery, rare and exotic animals, and exotic spices... and so on.

Guided by officials, the envoys entered the palace in an orderly manner according to etiquette, and were immediately deeply impressed by its magnificent grandeur.

They walked along the long red carpet, through the magnificent palace gates, past the ornately decorated halls, and finally arrived in front of the Golden Palace, where they stood in order of nationality and etiquette.

The bells and drums sounded in unison, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

The emperor, dressed in a dragon robe and wearing an imperial crown, sat regally on his throne, exuding an imposing aura without anger. Civil and military officials lined up on both sides, dressed in court attire, holding tablets, their expressions solemn.

The envoys would kneel in order before the palace, expressing their respect and blessings to the Emperor of Great Xia, either in their native language or through an interpreter.

The envoy from the south, dressed in exotic finery and with a humble expression, stepped forward to the front of the palace.

He held a delicate brocade box in both hands, the lid of which was inlaid with gemstones unique to Nanli, shimmering with colorful luster.

He lowered his head and bowed deeply, saying, "Our small country of Nanli has obtained this rare treasure, and we offer it to the Emperor of Great Xia, hoping that our two countries will forever be on good terms and share peace."

After speaking, he slowly opened the brocade box, and inside was a milky white jade disc, as if moonlight had fallen upon it, its clear radiance inspiring admiration.

Envoys from many smaller countries followed closely behind, displaying their gifts one by one.

"This small Eastern Yi nation offers this sword in the hope that the Great Xia Dynasty will be as sharp as the sword, invincible and awe-inspiring in all directions."

"The Western Desert, though desolate and barren, also holds treasures. These are treasures passed down through generations of our people, which we wish to share with the Great Xia."

"We wish to express our country's deep respect for the Great Xia Dynasty with this gift."

These gifts were presented to the emperor by palace servants. The atmosphere in the hall was relaxed, and occasional exclamations of praise could be heard.

The emperor accepted the tribute with a smile, expressed his gratitude to the envoys from various countries, and bestowed upon them even more generous return gifts to demonstrate the generosity and wealth of Great Xia.

Many envoys from small countries insisted on coming precisely because of this return gift.

Then, Master Huikong of Dafan Kingdom stepped into the front of the hall.

He was wearing a kasaya and holding a staff. He slowly stepped forward and presented a yellowed Buddhist scripture with both hands.

This sutra is the most precious treasure of the ancient temple in the Great Brahma Kingdom. It records the supreme Dharma and is a sacred object that countless Buddhist disciples dream of. Despite enduring a hundred years of wind and rain, it is still well preserved and seems to exude a faint fragrance of Zen.

Seeing this, the chief eunuch Hong Fu stepped forward and carefully took the Buddhist scripture.

Master Huikong clasped his hands in prayer and said, “On behalf of my king, I present this Buddhist scripture. This scripture is a treasure of our Buddhist community, containing supreme wisdom. May this scripture bring blessings to the world and deliver all sentient beings, so that all living beings may be liberated from suffering and attain happiness.”

The Emperor of Great Xia naturally accepted the gift with polite formalities and then ordered it to be kept safe.

He wouldn't be so foolish as to think that a mere Buddhist scripture could truly bring blessings to the world as Master Huikong claimed.

Regarding the mission of spreading the faith, Dafan had already encountered many setbacks in Bactria over the past few centuries. Master Huikong, seeing that he had completed his mission, did not say much, but retreated to the side while chanting Buddhist mantras.

Finally, when Yue Mu, the envoy of the Great Qian Kingdom, entered the main hall, the atmosphere suddenly became solemn. Whether it was envoys from other countries or officials of the Great Xia Kingdom, everyone had to perk up.

Yue Mu was dressed in light armor and carried no swords. His steps were steady, and he exuded an aura of extraordinary heroism, which was completely different from the previous envoys who were dressed in fine clothes and carrying treasures.

Reaching the center of the main hall, Yue Mu stopped and bowed deeply. His voice, like a bell, resounded throughout the hall: "Yue Mu, envoy of the Great Qian, pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Xia. Today, we have come with state gifts to express our friendship. However, in addition to these state gifts, there is something else that we must present to His Majesty."

After saying this, he clasped his hands together, signaling his attendants to step forward.

Several attendants worked together to lift an ancient bronze cauldron and carefully placed it in the center of the hall.

The moment the ancient cauldron appeared, it immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Its totems are intricate and finely carved, and the mottled marks on the surface are clearly visible, exuding a sense of vicissitudes of time.

However, its three black iron legs were obviously broken and then melted back together, and their color and material were completely out of place with the body of the tripod.

When the emperor and his ministers of the Great Xia Dynasty looked closely, they were all taken aback.

At first, there were a few low gasps of surprise, followed by whispers. Those courtiers who were knowledgeable about historical artifacts stared wide-eyed at the ancient cauldron, some even showing signs of ecstasy.

Judging from its patterns and shape, this ancient bronze cauldron is actually a national treasure that the Great Xia Dynasty lost for many years!

It was unfortunately lost during the wars of the early years, becoming a permanent pain in the hearts of the Great Xia royal family. Unexpectedly, today, it was returned here by the envoy of the Great Qian Kingdom.

The hall gradually fell silent, and everyone looked on with surprise and doubt, holding their breath in anticipation.

The emperor was particularly displeased with the repaired three legs of the tripod, his eyes narrowed as he stared directly at Yue Mu.

He spoke slowly, his words carrying a hint of questioning: "How did this cauldron end up in the hands of the Great Qian Dynasty?"

Yue Mu remained calm and composed, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said:

"This cauldron was discovered by chance in the home of a farmer within the territory of our Great Qian Dynasty. However, all the legs of the cauldron were missing when it was discovered."

"Upon learning that it was a lost item from the Great Xia, my king immediately ordered craftsmen to repair the three legs and instructed me to return it as soon as possible to show my sincerity."

"My king knows that the nation's most important assets must not be lost lightly."

The preceding words were spoken in a gentle and persuasive manner, but only this last sentence revealed the hostile nature of the visitor.

Inside the main hall, all was silent for a moment, with only the sound of the wind blowing gently through the window, bringing a slight chill.

The envoys from various countries remained silent, awaiting the response from the Great Xia.

The emperor's gaze shifted back and forth between the ancient tripod and Yue Mu, his eyes flickering as if he were weighing his options.

After a moment of silence, he finally nodded slowly, his tone softening slightly: "I will always remember the friendship between our two countries. The return of this cauldron to its rightful place is also a blessing for Great Xia. Men, take good care of this cauldron."

With the emperor's command, the atmosphere in the hall relaxed.

Immediately, palace servants stepped forward to prepare to move the ancient cauldron away.

As everyone watched, Yue Mu smiled slightly, a hint of smugness in his smile.

He spoke again, his voice not loud, but loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear clearly: "I've heard that the Great Xia is going to cast another tripod, and nine tripods at that?"

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of Yue Mu's meaning, but all could sense that there was more to his words than met the eye.

Seeing this, Yue Mu continued, "The cauldron is a national treasure. Although our Great Qian has returned it, we hope Your Majesty will be more careful to avoid repeating the same mistake."

At this point, Yue Mu's gaze slowly swept across the hall, seemingly waiting for the reaction of the Great Xia emperor and his ministers.

The emperor's face darkened slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

Yue Mu's words were clearly provocative, and the Prime Minister of Great Xia stepped forward at the right moment, his voice steady: "Envoy, what you said about the Nine Tripods is indeed a grand event of our Great Xia. This recasting is precisely to pray for peace throughout the world and for the people to live and work in peace and contentment."

The other officials followed suit.

Yue Mu added, "I've also heard that this time, instead of using metal or stone as the base for casting the tripod, they've collected mountain rocks, forest trees, and even mineral sand and sea pearls. That's truly amazing."

The Prime Minister calmly replied, "If the envoy is curious, he may stay in the capital for the time being. Everything will become clear on the day of the Shangsi Festival."