Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The afternoon of August 5th, 1229 of the Ziyun era.
An old man who looked worn and weary, rode a massive beast as he entered the main gate of the Yunyang imperial city arrogantly. Many passersby stopped to look at the sight.
The beast beneath the old man looked like a leopard but seemed slightly different from a typical wild leopard. This was a demon that looked like a leopard. It was covered with dark gray fur that shone in the light. Its saucer-large eyes were bloodshot, and its mouth was filled with two rows of razor-sharp teeth. It was a fearsome creature to behold.
“It’s a Lightning Leopard, a level-seven demon of the Qi-Gathering stage!” Many people recognized the demon that the old man was riding. Although it was a common sight to see demons being ridden as a steed, having a level-seven demon as a steed was a rare occurrence. A person who was able to ride a beast like this was either somebody from the imperial family or from one of the few premier tycoon families within the imperial city. Furthermore, even those few premier tycoon families had only one or two demon steeds of such a high level. Hence, when the old man rode the Lightning Leopard along the streets of the imperial city, it drew the attention of many people throughout the city’s streets.
“I hope… that emperor does not get angry at me,” said the old man on the Lightning Leopard going towards the emperor’s palace. As he spoke to himself, a bitter smile appeared on his lips, his eyes filled with impatience.
This old man was none other than the second elder of the Chu royal household of the Western Chu ridge, Xiang Donghua. This was the second time that Xiang Donghua had come to the Yunyang country imperial city this year.
The first time, it was because a young man had appeared in the Western Chu ridge, who had managed to defeat the two Great Consummate golden-crowned eagles of the Lost Forest. That young man had ignored the orders of the imperial court and had ordered the two golden-crowned eagles to destroy the tycoon Fan family of the Western Chu ridge. The Chu royal household could do nothing about the young man and could only report the matter to the imperial court in the hopes that they would be able to take action against him.
However, that time, although he had brought one of the most powerful adepts in the Yunyang imperial court back with him to the Chu royal city, together with the Cloud Condor that the imperial court had spent much effort training. But both the adept and the demon had been killed by that young man.
As he had brought the adept and the Condor back with him, so, when they were both killed, the Chu king had ordered him to return to the imperial city to report the news to the imperial court.
He had rejected it right away. What a joke! He had been the one to bring both the man and bird to the Chu royal city, and they had never returned. What if the imperial court was furious at him?
Because he had refused to go to the imperial city, the Chu royal household had sent someone else to report the news to the Yunyang imperial court. This time, he was here because of the continuation of the same matter.
After the messenger had relayed the news of the death of both man and bird to the Yunyang imperial court, the imperial court had sent the previous emperor and the current retired emperor of Yunyang country, Jiang Yunding, who was an early Connate adept, personally to the Chu royal city of the Western Chu ridge.
After that, Jiang Yunding had personally paid a visit to the young man. However, even before he got past the front door, he had been killed by that young man, and in just one blow, just like the previous time!
Jiang Yunding was the retired emperor of Yunyang country and the only Connate adept in the whole Yunyang country, but he had died in the Chu royal city of the Western Chu ridge, and even in one of the guest inns under the Chu royal household.
This matter was extremely significant and had to be reported to the Yunyang imperial court immediately. Hence, he was sent once again by the Chu king.
“We’re here.” As they reached the main entrance to the palace of the imperial household, Xiang Donghua hesitated as he rode his Lightning Leopard. He then inched closer and identified himself before he was allowed to enter the imperial palace.
In the imperial court, the emperor of Yunyang country, Jiang Tianchen, sat at the emperor’s seat. As he looked at Xiang Donghua, his expression seemed dark.
Although Xiang Donghua had not said a single word, Jiang Tianchen still had a faint sense of evil foreboding.
“Speak,” said Jiang Tianchen in a low voice.
Xiang Donghua breathed in deeply, then smiled bitterly as he said, “Your Majesty, my… my sincere condolences.”
Crack!
Just at the instant that the words left Xiang Donghua’s mouth, Jiang Tianchen’s right hand shook as he the right armrest of the throne was broken off by him, wooden splinters flying out of the chair. He had tried to comfort himself that his father must have run into some issues either on the way there or on the journey back, so had not returned to the imperial court yet. Now, this phrase from Xiang Donghua had confirmed his greatest worry.
“Your Majesty, please calm down.” Seeing Jiang Tianchen’s fury, Xiang Donghua was taken aback like a bird that had just been faced with an arrow. He was so frightened that his expression changed drastically, his body crumbling to the ground as he kneeled down anxiously and plastered his head to the ground. He did not dare to get up at all. Of course, this was a smart move on his part, as this gave him the greatest chance of keeping his life.
“Speak.” When Jiang Tianchen opened his mouth once again, although his tone seemed flat, it was clear that he was trying extremely hard to suppress the anger that was boiling within him.
“Your Majesty.” Xiang Donghua took a deep breath as he gathered his courage to look up. He looked respectfully at the emperor and continued, “The retired emperor came to the Chu royal city and headed directly to our royal household and learnt more about that young man. Right after that, he had left for the guest inn that the young man was staying in. According to eye witnesses inside the guest inn at that point in time, the retired emperor was originally very courteous and wanted to have a peaceful talk with that young man… but the young man did not even allow him past the door. The retired emperor had then asked the young man to give up the first-grade martial art at the door.”
Xiang Donghua told Jiang Tianchen truthfully, “The young man refused, and the retired emperor then threatened him by saying that if he did not do so, the imperial court would report everything about him to the Valley of Medicine Masters. Then, the Valley of Medicine Masters would gift the imperial court the first-grade martial art technique anyway. Later, in his fury, the young man then released a spear in a single blow, killing the retired emperor right outside the door. Before he died, the retired emperor had taken out the soft waist spear to defend himself, but he was not able to block the phantom like spear that transformed from the metal ball in the young man’s hands.”
With that, the atmosphere within the imperial court seemed to appear exceptionally oppressive and dark.
After a lifetime, Jiang Tianchen still had not responded. Xiang Donghua remained kneeling on the floor, too fearful to stand up.
“How was my father’s body handled?” Finally, Jiang Tianchen spoke, his eyes staring emotionless at Xiang Donghua as he asked in a deep voice.
“Your Majesty, the body of the late retired emperor was kept in an ice casket…. at the same time, once our Chu royal household prepares enough ice blocks, we will send the body of the retired emperor on its way to the imperial city,” answered Xiang Donghua hurriedly.
“Mm,” said Jiang Tianchen as he nodded his head with satisfaction. He added, “If there are no further matters, you may leave now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” As Xiang Donghua left the imperial court, the robe on his back was entirely soaked with his cold sweat, but he seemed to not be bothered by it and even heaved a heavy sigh of relief.
After Xiang Donghua had left the imperial court, Jiang Tianchen did not leave, but the aides beside him all left hurriedly.
Soon, the top level of ministers in the imperial court of the Yunyang country had once again gathered in the court.
…
That night, the emperor of Yunyang country, Jiang Tianchen, personally rode a demon and left the palace. The beast as his steed was a massive lion covered with a body of golden fur. As it ran, its speed was not any slower than the Petty Consummate flying demon, the Cloud Condor. This was another of the Petty Consummate demons that the Yunyang imperial court had reared, the Fiery Lion.
When the Fiery Lion ran, its whole body of golden hair shook like the flames of a brilliant golden fire burning brightly. Although the speed of the Fiery Lion was not slower than that of the Cloud Condor, it was not a flying demon and had to stay on the roads… so based on its speed on the roads, it was still much slower than the Cloud Condor.
Now, Jiang Tianchen left the royal palace riding the Fiery Lion, riding straight into the distance. That was the direction where the Valley of Medicine Masters lay.
“The issue of this young man, if I report it directly to the second elder of the Valley of Medicine Masters, Chen Tianhe, whom we always communicate with, knowing the lazy nature of Chen Tianhe, even if he eventually reports it up to the chief of the Valley of Medicine Masters, he will surely claim all the credit for himself and not mention me at all.” As Jiang Tianchen sped on his way, his eyes were shining. “Thus, it is better if I make the trip there myself. If this time, our Yunyang imperial court is not able to gain some real benefit from the Valley of Medicine Masters from this matter… then my father would have sacrificed his life for nothing!”
As he thought of the death of his father, Jiang Yunding, Jiang Tianchen’s expression turned immensely dark once again.
“Zhou Donghuang is the name? I want to see how you can try to fight against the Valley of Medicine Masters!”
…
After many days, Jiang Tianchen finally rode the Fiery Lion and reached one of the mountain gates of the Valley of Medicine Masters.
“I am the emperor of Yunyang country, chief of the Yunyang imperial Jiang family, Jiang Tianchen. I am looking for the valley chief for some extremely important matters.” At the gate, Jiang Tianchen identified himself and stood outside the door into the Valley of Medicine Masters, waiting for the disciple guarding the gate to relay the message into the Valley. He appeared extremely patient the whole time.
Although he was the emperor of a whole country, but before the Valley of Medicine Masters, he did not dare to be arrogant.
After two minutes, the disciple who had relayed the message then returned, as he brought with him a message from the chief of the Valley of Medicine Masters. “Chief Jiang, the valley chief ordered me to bring you in.”
“Thank you.”
As he came in front of the mountain gate, Jiang Tianchen leapt off the back of the Fiery Lion and held on to the Fiery Lion. Now, as he entered the gate, he led the Fiery Lion alongside him.
This was one of the rules of the Valley of Medicine Masters: other than Connate adepts, within the valley, no matter if the person was from the valley or an outside, no person was allowed to ride a beast around.
“Chief.” After a minute, Jiang Tianchen came up to the chief of the Valley of Medicine Masters.
As for his Fiery Lion, it had been brought somewhere else by someone from the valley, and had not accompanied him to the residence of the Chief.
The residence of the Chief of the Valley of Medicine Masters was found in a small courtyard in front of a small waterfall in the corner of the valley. Inside the courtyard, there were many flowers and plants, and even some plants that were brightly colored and in strange shapes, which were clearly rare plant species.
“Emperor of Yunyang country, why are you looking for me?” The chief of the valley was a middle-aged man in a loose gray robe. His eyes were bright and his brows sharp. His face was princely, and it was not hard to see that he had been a handsome young man in his youth. Even now, he had a special kind of aura as a mature man.
