Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
If there were one or two individuals that were exceptional, it could be coincidental. Over time, if there were countless talents appearing across different generations, it had something to do with lineage. But for a talented bunch to appear within decades, it was something not explainable by coincidence.
“One generation above them, it would be Lin Feng’s eight Immediate Disciples. All of them are outstanding, including Xiao Yan, who is even more exceptional and shocking.” Gu Cheng’s voice rang, “Even the Great Void Sect has never experienced such a prosperous era ever since they were founded.”
“After the man with polycoria was killed by Shi Tianhao, the rising talents of the Great Void Sect seem to only be Chen Xingyu and Guo Chaoyang. Our understanding of the Great Void Sect is limited. I believe that they do have talented individuals, but probably not till the extent of the Celestial Sect of Wonders. Even right before us, it’s not the entire bunch of talents from the Celestial Sect of Wonders.”
“In our sect, besides Zhener, there’s only Liancheng left.”
“Ninth Uncle, while the powers of both parties are debatable, it is a fact that the potential of the Celestial Sect of Wonders is beyond the Great Void Sect.”
Gu Yuankai remained calm. For someone like him, he would not be shaken by others’ words so easily. He said calmly, “It’s better to see with one’s own eyes. I have to admit that I tried to overestimate the Celestial Sect of Wonders previously. But eventually, I still underestimated them. They are even stronger than what we predicted.”
“As for your theory, I do agree with it too. If no major changes occur, the Celestial Sect of Wonders can overtake the Great Void Sect in 1000 years’ time. Of course, Lin Feng must be able to deal with the Supreme Heavenly Mirror in its peak condition. I heard that he re-cultivated his sword, which is probably for this reason.”
“If he continues on with this momentum, in 300-500 years later, he may be able to change the world.”
Gu Yuankai turned to look at Gu Cheng, “However, who can guarantee that nothing changes? While we are very isolated, we are very clear of the situation in the Divine Lands.”
“Before the Celestial Sect of Wonders rose, the powers of the Great Zhou rose quickly. If given sufficient time, they might have dominated the Divine Lands. But look at what the situation is now?”
Gu Yuankai sighed, “At least, the Great Void Sect has gone through a lot of turmoil and experienced many things without falling apart. As compared to the Celestial Sect of Wonders, they are more stable.”
Gu Cheng was also someone who was not easily wavered. He remained calm as he heard Gu Yuankai’s words, “Ninth Uncle, your words are indeed logical, but I still rate the Celestial Sect of Wonders more. And towards the Great Void Sect, I still maintain my opinion that they are not a good ally to have. At least, if we have other options, I won’t choose them.”
Gu Cheng said slowly, “Just like when Grandmaster Longevity was still in position, besides Emperor Xia, Grandmaster Longevity shared a closer relationship with the Great Void Sect. While they were close, they could only share weal but not woe.”
“Indeed, I recognize that many allies act in this way. But after Grandmaster Longevity overthrew the Emperor of the Dead, he took on the heavy burden of protecting the Divine Lands. This allowed the Great Void Sect to hide behind the scenes to recuperate, leaving the Gu Family elders to be subjected to injuries and death. Even Grandmaster Longevity did not even fully recover when the War of the Two Worlds came and he even added fresh injuries to himself during the war.”
“This involved a major strategy. The entire Divine Lands benefited greatly because the Supreme Heavenly Mirror was restored. To everyone, this was only the reaping of mutual benefits. Strictly speaking, no one owe anyone anything.
“However, the Grandmaster Longevity and our family could share woe, but the Great Void Sect couldn’t. This isn’t their fault, but a matter of choice. If we have more than one choice apart from the Great Void Sect, I don’t think that we should trip over the same obstacle twice.”
Gu Yuankai opened his mouth and said, “As you said, most allies act in this way. When the same situation arises, I don’t think that the Celestial Sect of Wonders will act any differently from the Great Void Sect.”
“They may even be worse!”
As Gu Cheng heard his words, he said, “Ninth Uncle, the logic that you used previously is also useful in this instance. One has already been tried and tested, and we know that it’s unreliable. Whereas the other one has not been tried and tested.”
He looked at Gu Yuankai, “It’s not easy to tell what the Great Void Sect is like now. But looking at their working style, they need pawns that are valuable or willing to listen. Of course, it will be best for them if both criterias are met.”
Gu Yuankai sighed, “It’s still too early to say. Let’s wait until the entire War of the Two Worlds is over first.”
“That’s right, we shall wait and see.” After Gu Cheng heard this, he nodded his head and did not say anything else.
After the two parties met each other, Gu Jun said, “Master Lin, please take a rest along with your disciples. We shall discuss further tomorrow.”
Lin Feng smiled, “I shall follow what you say.”
Gu Jun turned to Gu Cheng, “Please guide Master Lin and his disciples to their temporary residences. For those who want to tour our place, please arrange a guide for them. But if they wish to move around themselves, it’s fine too.”
Gu Cheng nodded his head, “Yes, Senior.”
Gu Jun looked at Xiao Zhener and sighed slightly, “Follow your Uncle Cheng.” Their wedding date was not set. Even if an engagement was agreed, it wasn’t the real wedding yet.
Xiao Zhener blushed but she still nodded her head, “Yes, Father.”
Lin Feng and the rest followed Gu Cheng and Xiao Zhener as they moved in the palace. Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhener walked together behind Lin Feng and Gu Cheng.
“Zhener, from the looks of it, your cultivation has been completed?” Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Zhener and she smiled, “Yes, it’s finally completed.”
Xiao Yan looked at her and Xiao Zhener smiled, “What’s wrong, Xiao Yan?”
“When I left with my father from Wuzhou County, I have been waiting for this day.” Xiao Yan said softly, “Right now, this day has finally come.”
As his age and experience both grew, the current Xiao Yan was still as courageous and steady as ever. When he was younger, he was already very mature. But Xiao Yan was always going to be Xiao Yan. Right now, he spoke with a peaceful and low voice, but his emotions were still very passionate.
Xiao Zhener smiled and held Xiao Yan’s hands readily. As the ten fingers of the both of them were locked together, she said, “This day would have come someday. And right now, today is that someday.”
The both of them laughed as they looked at each other. There was nothing left to say. Everything was explained in the silence.
After walking quietly for a while, Xiao Zhener was suddenly jolted and she turned to look at Xiao Yan, “Xiao Yan, do you still remember that I was being adopted in your family when I was young.”
As Xiao Yan heard her, he did not rush to reply. Rather, he turned to glance at Gu Cheng. Although the two of them communicated with their supernatural awareness and Gu Cheng wouldn’t eavesdrop on them, Xiao Yan was still trying to not make it difficult for Xiao Zhener.
Xiao Zhener nodded her head, “Not only Uncle Cheng, my Father and Mother both know about it too.”
“My grandfather only said that someone of stature left you there. He was so powerful that he could crush the entire Xiao Family with his finger. He wanted us to take care of you and we did not dare to find out your background too.” Xiao Yan did not say anything much more and only looked at Xiao Zhener quietly.
Now, thinking about it, it was a rather unimaginable thing to visualize Xiao Zhener growing up in the Xiao Family when she was younger. That’s because the difference in both families were too big, like the Heaven and the Earth.
“When I was born then, I had some congenital disease. That disease was very special, which left even Father, uncle Cheng, Ninth Grandmaster and the rest perplexed.” Xiao Zhener said gently, “The main problem was that I was too young. If I was an adult, Father could have healed me. But I was just a newborn then. If they were not cautious enough, I might have lost my life.”
Xiao Yan did not speak. He knew that Xiao Zhener’s words were not done yet. With Gu Jun’s, Gu Yuankai’s and Gu Cheng’s cultivation, even if she was an infant, as long as it wasn’t an incurable disease, they should be able to deal with it easily. After all, the Emperor Gu lineage was very talented in the cultivation of pills.
What Xiao Zhener was about to say next was probably the main point.
Indeed, Xiao Zhener’s expression turned a little serious and she continued saying, “My congenital disease is rooted from a broken rock that is kept by my family.”
She looked at Xiao Yan, “That broken rock was obtained after Grandmaster Longevity overthrew and killed the Emperor of the Dead. It is also the thing that the Emperor of the Dead wants to obtain from the Ancient Longevity World after he revived.”
The Grandmaster Longevity that Xiao Zhener mentioned was Emperor Gu of the Antiquity Age, whose real name was Gu Changsheng (Changsheng is Longevity when translated to English). Before he became the human emperor, he was also known as the Longevity Holy Man. There were even those who called him the Lord of Longevity.
“At the start, there did not seem to be anything weird. Only when Grandmaster Longevity analyzed the broken rock did he know that he had something to do with the Netherworld Sea.” Xiao Zhener continued saying, “After that, the Grandmaster Longevity was killed and the Gu Family was also massacred, causing a huge loss of lives. This even crushed the Longevity City that the Grandmaster Longevity built on his own, but this also allowed many of the ancestors to escape into the Void Battleground.”
“Over time, we came to the Ancient Longevity World and started out new. We built the Longevity City again, but the broken rock remained all this time.”
“This broken rock did not catch any attention and there was nothing special about it. Only during the Middle Ages did it develop changes. The ferocious aura of it filled the skies and seemed to connect to the Netherworld Sea. But it was not a true connection, as only the aura of the Netherworld Sea could be felt. This continued until this day.”
Xiao Zhener creased her brows, “After I form the Immortal Soul, Father allowed me to take a peek at close distance. The aura of it was very ferocious, as if it contained the catastrophes of the Heavens and Earth.”
“Mother came into contact with that rock when she was pregnant with me, but she felt nothing. Only when I was born did she know that it had an effect on me.”
Xiao Yan’s pupils shrank, “Zhener, did you just say Middle Ages?”
