Shang Zhang sighed. It was his mistake, after all. He could not blame anyone for it. Finally, he said, “You’re right.”
Lu Zhou looked at Shang Zhang and asked, “I’m very curious. As the Hall Master of Shang Zhang Hall, you control the life and death of others. Why did you abandon your daughter? How could you do that?”
A contrite and embarrassed expression appeared on Shang Zhang’s face. He sighed heavily and said, “It’s a long story. When Conch was born, there was indeed a strange phenomenon. The Pillars of Destruction shook, and the land split. Wu Zu announced to the world that the calamitous star had appeared. If it were just Wu Zu alone, I wouldn’t have believed it. However, there was also a mysterious organization in the Great Void called the Nihilist Congregation.”
“Nihilist Congregation?” Lu Zhou frowned.
“The world is vast. Over the past 100,000 years, the number of humans has continued to increase, giving birth to various forces. Although the Sacred Temple and the ten halls are powerful enough to rule over the Great Void, they’re not enough to completely quash all the rebellious or heretical forces. The Nihilist Congregation doesn’t believe in the heavens, the Sacred Temple, and the ten halls. It’s rumored that they have the means to mobilize the power of the earth. At that time, they spread rumors about the calamitous star and used it as an excuse to try and destroy the Pillars of Destruction.”
Shang Zhang paused for a moment before he continued to say, “This is what I learned later. Previously, I only knew the congregation was fearless, and they were like a rat on the street that everyone wants to beat up. I didn’t take them seriously. Even with the congregation, I didn’t believe the rumors about the calamitous star. However, there was precedent…” His voice darkened as he continued to say, “In the past, the Scarlet Emperor’s clan was almost destroyed by the divine fire.”
Lu Zhou frowned. “Even the Scarlet Emperor couldn’t block the divine fire?”
Shang Zhang said, “It’s not that he couldn’t block it. When the divine fire descended, the Scarlet Emperor and his most capable subordinates were absent. Later, I heard that they were out on an important mission. When they returned, the divine fire had almost burned out, and countless lives had been lost and injured. The Scarlet Emperor’s daughter, Princess Mulberry, was unharmed. It was said that when she was around the fire would burn brighter, but when she was not around, the divine fire would burn out. Left with no choice, the Scarlet Emperor had to imprison her under a mulberry tree near Ji Ming’s Pillar of Destruction.”
“…”
“I didn’t think it had anything to do with Shang Zhang Hall until about 500 years ago. When Conch was born, the ten celestial stars lined up. Then, the divine fire fell, reaping countless lives in Shang Zhang Hall’s territory. Similar to the case with the Scarlet Emperor, the Nihilist Congregation began to spread rumors. What was strange was that when Junhua brought Conch away, the divine fire disappeared. Three years later, when they returned, the divine fire appeared again. With that, Conch was brought away again. This repeated three times until she was ten years old.”
Lu Zhou said, puzzled, “Then, you can let people bring Conch away. There’s no need for her to stay in Shang Zhang Hall. You can always raise her in another place.”
Shang Zhang said, “That’s what I thought as well. However, the divine fire that came during the last time she returned was particularly fierce. It was the main reason Dunzang’s Pillar of Destruction almost collapsed that year. That disaster took away the lives of nearly 50,000 people. The earth was riddled with holes. It took 100 years before trees and plants began to grow again. Junhua left with Conch using a secret tunnel, but the tunnel collapsed halfway. At that time, Junhua sacrificed half her cultivation to protect Conch by trying to open up a path in the tunnel. However, Conch accidentally fell into the Unknown Land at that time. Since then, Conch disappeared from our lives. I thought she… died so I built an empty mausoleum for her on Mount Nanhua.”
Shang Zhang sighed. That one sigh contained countless words.
Lu Zhou sighed as well. Life was truly unpredictable. If Shang Zhang was telling the truth, then Shang Zhang was indeed forced; he did not voluntarily abandon Conch. After a moment, he asked, “Did the divine fire descend again after that?”
“No. Since then, the Great Void has been peaceful, and there were no major disasters,” Shang Zhang said as he shook his head.
It was truly difficult to explain. Could there be such a strange coincidence in this world?
Shang Zhang said, “Brother Ji, everything I said is true. I don’t expect her to understand, but I hope you’ll try to understand me. With your protection, I’ll feel at ease,” Shang Zhang said.
“She’s my disciple so I’ll naturally protect her,” Lu Zhou said.
“Thank you,” Shang Zhang said as he rose to his feet and bowed. After he straightened his back, he said, “The Sacred Temple has released news that Qi Sheng, the Commander of Tu Wei Hall, is speeding up the commanders’ competition. I have no choice but to return to Shang Zhang Hall for now. We will meet again.”
“Wait,” Lu Zhou raised his hand and said, “I don’t usually trust people. As for you, I can barely trust you.”
Shang Zhang: “…”
Lu Zhou said, “I think Little Yuan’er is very suitable to be the commander of your hall.”
Shang Zhang’s eyes lit up briefly before they dimmed down. “It would be even better if it were Conch.”
“That’s just wishful thinking,” Lu Zhou said, “Little Yuan’er understands and is familiar with Shang Zhang Hall. It’d be best if she can enter the core of the pillar to comprehend the Great Dao.”
“Very well,” Shang Zhang said, “When I first brought her back, that was my intention as well. However, I became quite cautious when I heard the competition this time is particularly intense.”
“Don’t worry. Little Yuan’er can handle it,” Lu Zhou said.
In fact, Shang Zhang was not as confident as Lu Zhou. However, seeing how certain Lu Zhou was, he said, “Okay.”
With that, Lu Zhou summoned Little Yuan’er over and informed her about this matter. Then, she left Xuanyi Palace with Shang Zhang.
When Shang Zhang and Little Yuan’er left, Conch did not show up.
…
After Lu Zhou stabilized his cultivation, he went to Xuanyi Hall to ask about the Nihilist Congregation.
Xuanyi asked, surprised, “Teacher, why are you asking about this? After you, the Nihilist Congregation is the second biggest taboo in the Great Void. It’s an abominable organization!”
“I’m just curious. I wonder if they have the ability to control the divine fire,” Lu Zhou said.
Xuanyi replied, “The congregation has been around since ancient times. It’ll come out every once in a while to cause trouble. We don’t know where and when they’ll show up. Sometimes, they’d send death warriors into the ten halls to self-destruct. Sometimes, they’d attack innocent civilians. If we knew where their stronghold was, the Sacred Temple would’ve long killed all of them.”
“Even the temple couldn’t do anything to them?”
Xuanyi chuckled and said, “Everyone says the congregation is very powerful, but I don’t think so. The Sacred Temple is so powerful. Is there anything they can’t do?”
Lu Zhou nodded. “You’re saying the temple deliberately lets them run rampant?”
“Teacher, you said it, not me,” Xuanyi quickly said.
“You’re the Master of Xuanyi Palace, after all. Why are you so scared in your own territory?”
Xuanyi said sheepishly, “The walls have ears…”
Lu Zhou thought about it for a moment before he said, “Check for traces of the Nihilist Congregation. If you find anything, inform me immediately.”
“Alright. Leave it to me,” Xuanyi replied with a nod.
“There’s another thing. The competition is coming to an end soon. Do you have any candidates for the position of Commander of Xuanyi Palace?” Lu Zhou asked.
“There are too many candidates… Why don’t you give me a suggestion?” Xuanyi said. At the same time, he thought to himself, ‘Your disciples are all talents! Any one of them is fine!”
Lu Zhou thought about it for a moment before he said, “Zhu Honggong, who’s with the temple, is a good candidate.”
Xuanyi: “???”
The scene of Zhu Honggong appearing in Xuanyi Palace for the first time flashed in Xuanyi’s mind.
‘Isn’t he a… sycophant?’
Xuanyi suddenly felt as though there was a fishbone stuck in his throat. He wanted to object, but the words would not come out. Finally, he took a deep breath and said with great difficulty, “That’s… That’s, that’s a good idea.”
Alas, Xuanyi’s words were not what he meant to say.
“Alright, then let him do it,” Lu Zhou said.
“…”
Xuanyi looked as though he had eaten a pound of flies at this moment.
Lu Zhou asked, puzzled, “Are you not feeling well?”
Xuanyi said in a small voice, “No, no, no. I, I have something to say from the bottom of my heart, but I don’t know if I should say it…”
“Say it.” Lu Zhou frowned. ‘He’s too timid and hesitant!’
“The human heart is hard to fathom. Teacher, you must learn from history,” Xuanyi said in a low voice. At the same time, he thought to himself, ‘That Zhu Honggong clearly looks like someone who betrayed his master. There’s also that sinister and cunning person at Southern Split Mountain. That person clearly knows nothing about loyalty…’
“Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing,” Lu Zhou said before he left with his hands on his back.
…
At the same time, in the Sacred Temple.
Achoo!
Zhu Hongggong sneezed loudly before he said, “I wonder who’s missing me?”
He stretched his limbs as he walked out of the hall.
At this moment, a cultivator hurried over from a nearby hall and said, “Mr. Zhu, the competition will be held in the Cloud Domain that’s relatively close to the ten halls.”
Zhu Honggong straightened his back and said, “Alright.” Then, he asked, “Cloud Domain? Why haven’t I heard of it before?”
The cultivator said with a smile, “Below the Cloud Domain is the Great Abyss Land. It’s the central region of the Great Void and the Unknown Land. That place corresponds with and is supported by the Pillar of Destruction in the Great Abyss Land. Hence, there’s a huge opening there that allows the sun to shine down on the Great Abyss Land.”
“Alright. Don’t worry. I’m determined to obtain the position of commander,” Zhu Honggong said.
The cultivator continued to say, “At that time, the masters and envoys of the ten halls and the competitors will all be present. The Sacred Temple will be making an exception so the White Emperor, the Azure Emperor, and the Scarlet Emperor will be present as well.”
Zhu Honggong was stunned. “Uh… Can I not go?”
The cultivator looked at Zhu Honggong strangely as he said, “I’m afraid that won’t do. If you become a commander, you can enter the core of the pillar to comprehend the Great Dao. The Great Void will also reward you with a top-grade life heart. There are only advantages and no disadvantages for you!”
Zhu Honggong looked around before he returned to his hall and brought out a piece of paper and a brush. He scribbled a few names before he handed it to the cultivator and said, “Help me find out which halls these people have chosen…”
The cultivator took the piece of paper and read the first two names out loud, “Yu Zhenghai, Yu Shangrong…” Then, he looked at Zhu Honggong and asked, “Mr. Zhu, are you trying to avoid these people?”
Zhu Honggong was taken aback. ‘Are you the worm in my stomach? Why do you know me so well?’
When Zhu Honggong regained his senses, he said confidently, “Of course not! I’m going to beat them up.”
Upon hearing this, the cultivator said, “Understood. I’ll investigate this immediately!”
