Chapter 5: The Emperor’s Former Residence, Hidden Turmoil!
Yan Changkong walked ahead, being extremely cautious.
Behind him followed hundreds of people, all selected by various forces to closely experience the Emperor’s cultivation path.
No one displayed any magical techniques or flew through the air.
They walked step by step up the mountain.
Not long after, they passed through an ancient gatehouse, and the Grand Elder stood with a group of disciples on either side.
“Welcome all esteemed experts to guide our work!”
Yan Changkong let out a sigh of relief, thinking that this old fellow finally did something worthwhile.
The living quarters for the outer sect disciples were not far from the entrance.
Soon, they arrived at a small valley where simple wooden houses were scattered.
The scenery in the valley was average, but it was peaceful.
Near the river, there was a wooden house that was cordoned off, with a stone tablet standing in front of it.
The words “Emperor’s Former Residence” on the stone tablet were very prominent.
This immediately caught everyone’s attention.
Yan Changkong turned his head and cheerfully introduced, “Please look, this wooden house is the Emperor’s Former Residence.”
“The Emperor lived in this simple wooden house.”
As he spoke, he said with great emotion, “Standing here, I can still feel that indomitable will!”
Liu Piaopiao raised her eyebrows but didn’t speak, thinking to herself that thousands of years had passed, and there was no longer any will left.
However, in such a situation, she certainly couldn’t contradict.
Next, representatives from each force took turns entering the Emperor’s Former Residence as if on an outing.
They experienced the traces of the Emperor’s life up close.
Then, under Yan Changkong’s lead, everyone toured the Emperor’s bathhouse, the Emperor’s latrine, and the Emperor’s meditation stone…
They even touched the ancient tree that the Emperor had climbed.
Yan Changkong generously showed everyone the cultivation methods and techniques that the Emperor had used, which were now valueless.
These cultivation methods and techniques were naturally insignificant to those present.
If seen elsewhere, they wouldn’t even be glanced at.
But today, they practiced them with extra seriousness, until they memorized all of them.
Surely, there must have been some unique aspects to the cultivation methods that the Emperor had used?
This continued until evening.
Liu Piaopiao looked at the sky and said to Yan Changkong with a bow,
“It’s getting late, let’s descend the mountain!”
“Thank you for today’s hospitality, Yan Sect Leader. Getting close to the Emperor’s cultivation path has been immensely beneficial to us!”
Others, although not agreeing with this statement, also bowed repeatedly in thanks.
Jiang Youlong snorted lightly and turned to leave down the mountain.
Soon, the disciples from the sacred lands, ancient clans, and celestial dynasties dispersed.
Xuanqing Sect returned to its peaceful state.
“At last, we’ve gotten rid of these troublemakers!”
Grand Elder Chen Xiu sighed heavily, saying, “I guess we’ve made it past this hurdle?”
Yan Changkong shook his head with a grim face, saying, “It’s not that simple. Wait and see, tonight will be the most exciting part.”
The Grand Elder’s tone was serious, “So you’re saying that since they didn’t cause trouble today, they will tonight?”
“Indeed!”
Yan Changkong’s face was dark, and his eyes flickered with light. After a moment, he sternly ordered,
“Tonight, the entire sect is under lockdown!”
“All disciples, including you, are confined indoors. No matter what you see or hear, you are not allowed to leave!”
Chen Xiu’s expression turned solemn, “Sect Leader, then what about you…?”
Yan Changkong took a deep breath, “This is a crisis for our sect, but also an opportunity for rise.”
“As the Sect Leader, I must take on this responsibility!”
He looked deeply at Chen Xiu, “If I d*e tonight, you will temporarily take over as Sect Leader, then disperse the disciples and dissolve the sect.”
“Don’t let everyone sacrifice themselves.”
Chen Xiu’s expression changed, opening his mouth to speak, but was interrupted.
“Enough said!”
Yan Changkong’s tone was firm, “Go spread the word. Tonight, I will seclude myself in the Meditation Hall, waiting for their arrival!”
With that,
Yan Changkong’s figure flashed, flying into the air, arriving at a towering pavilion over a thousand feet high.
He entered the pavilion, closing all windows and doors!
Then, he sat cross-legged with closed eyes, quietly waiting.
“Bang! Bang-bang!”
After a while, a peculiar rhythm of bell sounds echoed within the sect, signaling the lockdown.
Time slowly passed…
Night fell.
A crescent moon hung in the sky.
A hundred miles away from Xuanqing Sect, a huge ship floated in the air, banners fluttering.
Jiang Youlong gazed at the night sky, a smile forming on his lips, “The show is about to begin!”
“It’s been a long time since I felt this exhilarated!”
Beside him, a woman in a red dress stepped forward, feigning anger, “This could be fatal!”
At that moment, a burly man’s voice sounded, “Hua Hongyi, isn’t this exactly what you like?”
“Hate it! I don’t like killing, I just like… corpses.”
Jiang Youlong withdrew his gaze and snorted, “Today, Old Yan didn’t say a single true word! Everyone played along with him all day!”
“Surely many want to capture him and search his soul now?”
“Hehe, searching souls is also fun!”
A patch of colorful clouds drifted by.
In the clouds, palaces and pavilions appeared, like a fairy palace.
The Jade Pool Sacred Land’s group was currently inside the palace, reviewing the Emperor’s information for the day.
Liu Piaopiao stood outside the palace, lost in thought, with the night wind tousling her skirt.
“Headmaster Liu!”
An elder with high cheekbones approached, hesitating before saying, “Are we really going to act tonight?”
Liu Piaopiao came back to her senses and nodded slightly, “The Holy Sovereign’s personal decree!”
The elder’s body stiffened, “I understand!”
In another part of the night sky,
huge fireballs floated in the sky, like miniature suns.
This illuminated the land as brightly as day!
These were actually flying mythical beasts, Xuan Birds, burning with true flames, extremely terrifying.
On top of the leading Xuan Bird, a middle-aged man in Xuan Bird patterned clothes stood proudly.
This person was none other than Zhao Shanhe, the commander of the Xuan Bird Guard of the Liyue Celestial Dynasty.
Zhao Shanhe’s sharp eyes swept around, slowly raising the jade slip in his hand:
“His Majesty orders, defend Xuanqing Sect tonight!”
“No mistakes!”
The other Xuan Bird Guards revealed looks of surprise, then hurriedly responded,
“Yes!”
It wasn’t surprising.
Even Commander Zhao Shanhe found it somewhat unbelievable and couldn’t comprehend.
There was no relationship between the Liyue Celestial Dynasty and Xuanqing Sect.
Why would the Empress order them to protect Xuanqing Sect?
Before seeing the decree…
Zhao Shanhe even thought that the Empress would order them to capture Yan Changkong.
Night!
Gradually deepened.
Yan Changkong sat in the Meditation Hall, all doors and windows shut.
Suddenly, cold winds blew through the hall, the temperature dropped instantly, and frost formed on the floor…
Yan Changkong felt something, “They’re here!”
Pata—
Suddenly, the windows around the hall were opened, and a gust of wind rushed in.
He opened his eyes and looked out.
Above the sky, dark clouds surged, and a massive shape rolled within.
On the other side, snowflakes drifted.
Yan Changkong shifted his gaze; on the other side of the sky, flames shot up, dozens of fireballs like blazing suns.
At the same time, countless powerful auras crazily converged.
During the day, it was just a minor test.
The real storm was coming now.
Yan Changkong took a deep breath, his plump body trembling, yet remaining steadfast.
He closed his eyes again, swallowing the remaining Tranquilizing Spirit Pill, and said in a low voice,
“This time, I, Yan Changkong, am taking a gamble!”
