Chapter 56

After the winter snow melts away, it is another year of spring in Jiuzhou.

While the people are busy plowing the fields in the spring and looking forward to a good year, the immortal cultivation world was busy preparing for the Jiaolong Assembly. Hoping their beloved sons, nephews and disciples will stand out among their peers and shine in a spectacular way, bringing glory to their faces and their family.

The quadrennial Jiaolong Assembly is the most important event in the immortal cultivation world. As the saying goes, heroes emerge from youths, and those who are able to rule the immortal cultivation world often display remarkable talent in their youth. Various sects will show off their descendants here, as well as consider the descendants of other sects, and predict the future of each sect from the group of the young generation.

At the same time, the Jiaolong Assembly is also a gathering of those in power. Many important matters can be discussed at this time, so it is common for alliances, marriages and exchanges to take place during this time.

The Jiaolong Assembly only allows young girls and boys between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the tournament, and usually those who have yet to reach adulthood just go there to have a look. After all, when they are young, the difference in cultivation level between one and two years is very significant. If they can get first place at a very young age, they are bound to be a heavenly pride rarely seen in hundreds of years.

So when Zong Zi Xiao said that he was going to win the championship at the age of 13, the adults just listened for fun and didn't really have any expectations.

This year's Jiaolong Assembly was held as scheduled, but there were some changes.

The Jiaolong Assembly will be hosted by the main sects in turn. This year is Wuyun Sect’s turn, but the old Sect Leader of the Wuyun Sect passed away in the first month of the Lunar Year. In fact, there wasn’t enough time to choose the next Sect Leader. Actually, he has been fostering his own first disciple for many years. His attitude is very clear, but the position of the Sect Leader was not conferred personally to him, so Elder Yan Shu and the sect do not recognize him as the successor. Thus, the Wuyun Sect broke out into a fight for the position of Sect Leader.

In the end, the successor who was originally decided was expelled, and Elder Yan Shu took the position of the new Sect Leader of the Wuyun Sect.

When this news came out, the immortal cultivation world was shaken. About Wuyun Sect's internal feud, other sects can't have a say. However, all the immortal sects under the heavens are subordinates of Emperor Zong, and this leadership position needs to be appointed by the predecessor and approved by Emperor Zong. Otherwise, the title will be unverified.

During that time, the immortal cultivation world was waiting to see how the farce of the Wuyun Sect would end, but surprisingly, Yan Shu somehow managed to convince Emperor Ning Hua to be approved and take the position of Sect Leader.

The strife led Emperor Ning Hua to change this year's Jiaolong Assembly to be held in Daming, as it was inappropriate to host the Jiaolong Assembly in Wuyun Sect because of the unresolved civil unrest. Not only is it a great honor for a sect to host the Jiaolong Assembly, but it can also greatly benefit the livelihood of the local community. Most importantly, the descendants of the host sect always had some unspoken advantages over the visitors.

When he got the news of the change in command of the Wuyun Sect, Zong Zi Heng did not sleep well for several nights, and he believed that Xu Zhi Nan and Qi Meng Sheng, who were far away, were just as apprehensive.

The day Yan Shu came to Wuji Palace, Zong Zi Heng and Zong Zi Xiao quietly went to see this man. Just a glance from afar, they felt that this man had a face of ambition. The mysterious person behind Chen Xing Yong is almost certain to be him. It's just that his identity is so much heavier* than before, and as the head of a major sect, it will definitely cause a fierce storm if he unmasked his true colors. They are in the middle of a whirlpool, so how can they get out of it?

---

With a lot on their minds, the Jiaolong Assembly came as scheduled.

In a very short period of time, a large number of cultivators came to Daming City. All kinds of heroes and heroines gathered here from all directions, and all the businesses in the city were booming.

Zong Zi Heng and several of his younger siblings were arranged to receive guests from the big immortal sects, and Zong Zi Heng took the initiative to receive Chunyang Sect.

A little more than half a year had passed since they had parted from Yan city, and Xu Zhi Nan's injuries had all but healed. No longer in the disheveled and frail state he had been in when he was injured, and he had regained his former dashing and relaxed appearance.

As soon as the two of them met, Zong Zi Heng immediately suspected the news he had received some time ago.

When no one was around, Zong Zi Heng immediately asked, "Brother Xu, I heard some time ago that Cheng Zhen Ren had ..."

Xu Zhi Nan nodded, "Yan Zhi is indeed still alive."

Zong Zi Heng let out a breath, not knowing whether he should relax or become more nervous. Previously the news spread in Jianghu, saying that Cheng Yan Zhi died at the hands of Chen Xing Yong due to the inability to heal his serious injuries. At that time Yan Shu just robbed the position of the head of the sect. He was disturbed despite having some doubts, so he only sent a letter of condolence and did not ask in detail. Today once he saw Xu Zhi Nan, he became even more suspicious. He said, "So where is he now?"

"Meng ... Flying Plume Ambassador helped me bring him and the Seven Star Lamp back to Chunyang Sect." A strange look flashed in Xu Zhi Nan's eyes, and he coughed lightly to hide it. "Nowadays, Yan Zhi's condition is better than before, but he still can't leave the Seven Star Lamp. Mainly because he doesn't have his golden core anymore, and his self-healing ability is just a bit stronger than an ordinary person, so he still needs time."

"Then why did you tell the outside world that he had passed away?"

Xu Zhi Nan sighed, "I didn't know when he would be able to leave the Seven Star Lamp, and it had to be kept a secret. I also had to give an explanation to my senior brothers, junior brothers, and his family, so I had no choice but to do this. I am waiting for my master to come out of seclusion. I will accept any punishment from master, but only master may be able to save him.”

Zong Zi Heng said respectfully, "Brother Xu is really a man of love and righteousness."

Xu Zhi Nan smiled sorrowfully, "I have to be blamed for what happened to Yan Zhi. Rather than saying it’s saving Yan Zhi, it is also saving myself."

"By the way, where is Chen Xing Yong?"

"He was brought back to the Cangyu Sect."

Zong Zi Heng blinked. They had heard Qi Meng Sheng swear at the time. This woman is indeed no ordinary person.

Xu Zhi Nan looked at Zong Zi Heng's expression and knew that the two of them were thinking of one thing. He smiled, "She's, uh, someone from their Cangyu Clan who often doesn't play by the rules and is eccentric as hell. But what credit is there to be said to a brute like Chen Xing Yong? He is bound to go to his own master's grave to repent for his sins."

"That's true." Zong Zi Heng said, "Then Yan Shu ..."

Xu Zhi Nan's face instantly clouded over with hatred, "He actually became the head of the Wuyun Sect. The old Sect Leader died too suddenly. As people who cultivate immortality, as long as they don't die accidentally, they have a premonition to their end of life, but the old Sect Leader didn't even remember to appoint his successor. It's too fishy."

"That's the rumor in Jianghu too, but he's already become the Sect Leader, so there's no use doubting it anymore." Zong Zi Heng said in a heavy tone, "Now that he can dispatch such a large sect, how can we find out the truth?"

"Even if we find out the truth, there is a chance that he will feign innocence in order to conceal it, or that the evidence will be conclusive but there is nothing we can do about him." Xu Zhi Nan narrowed his eyes, "The head of the Wuyun Sect, how can it be easily shaken?"

In the current immortal world, in addition to the Daming Zong clan, Wuling’s Wuyun Sect is one of the top four immortal sects, along with Mount Shu’s Wuliang Sect, Jingzhou’s Chunyang Sect and Kunlun’s Cangyu Sect. They are the behemoths that even the Daming Zong clan have to be courteous. Last time when Yan Shu was only one of the elders, they didn't dare to act rashly. Now he had become the Sect Leader. To be his enemy is equivalent to being an enemy of the Wuyun Sect, and who would dare to be an enemy of the Wuyun Sect so easily?

"What should I do then?" Zong Zi Heng clenched his fist, "He has long since obliterated his conscience. As capable as he is, he can do as much evil as he wants. Since he became the head of the Wuyun Sect, in the future, there will only be more and more cultivators like Cheng Zhen Ren who will be victimized."

"Right, so he must be stopped at all costs." Xu Zhi Nan said, "When the Flying Plume Ambassador arrives, we will discuss it together. He will definitely come to the Jiaolong Assembly. If it was in his own territory in Wuling, the plan would not work as well. In Daming, at least it will be to our advantage."

"Mn."

As he spoke, a pink and white orchid suddenly floated in from outside the house. Zong Zi Heng stretched out his hand and the orchid flew straight into his palm, while the petals filled the air, a voice mixed with anger sounded out, "Heng Er, return to Qinghui Pavilion quickly!"

This was the sound transmission flower he used with his mother. With a spell cast, only the mother and son could hear it.

Xu Zhi Nan said, "This is your sound transmission object?"

"Yeah, mother has something and asked me to go back."

"Give my regards to Consort Shen."

"Many thanks."

"By the way Zi Heng, come out of the palace to drink with me in the evening. I've brought good wine from Luojinwu."

"Haha, no problem."

Zong Zi Heng didn't know what had happened in the palace. Since sword flying was not allowed in the inner Daming City, he ran back quickly.

Once he returned to Qinghui Pavilion, he hadn't even caught his breath, only to see Shen Shi Yao raging and scolding him head-on, "What's going on in your head? The emperor asked you to receive the distinguished guests from various sects, but you actually went to receive the Chunyang Sect?"

Zong Zi Heng doesn’t understand, "Mother, don't be angry, what happened …to Chunyang Sect?” If it wasn't for the Chunyang Sect, no one would have gotten a personal welcome from the Prince at all.

"What's wrong? Zong Zi Mo went to receive the Huaying Sect, and now I'm afraid he has already caught the worm and gotten acquainted with Hua family’s daughter!"

Zong Zi Heng had not thought of this at all. He said warmly, "Son has neglected to do so, but if second brother insists on going, son also ... cannot compete with him."

"You have to fight even if you can't compete." Shen Shi Yao glared sternly at Zong Zi Heng, "Anyway, the emperor doesn't care about you in the slightest now. This Jiaolong assembly will determine your immortal path in this life. Your task is to get close to the Hua family’s daughter by all means, make her like you and make her marry you, do you understand?"

Zong Zi Heng couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He had once had fond imaginings of Hua Yu Xin, had expected to marry her, and wanted to see if she was as intelligent and beautiful as the legends said, but this pure hope and first awakening of love had long since been worn away by his mother's persecution and the Empress' threats. Deep down, he even resisted, perhaps not so much against Hua Yu Xin, but against fighting, against stealing, against doing unscrupulous things for his future.

But he could not defy his mother. He wanted her to have what she wanted, he wanted her to be less miserable and happier. He could only nod stiffly, "Son will pay a visit to Miss Hua tomorrow."

"No, you are a step behind now, and if you go visit in such a hasty manner, you will instead appear to have bad intentions." Shen Shi Yao's willow brows furrowed lightly, "Child, your nature is too upright, and you also don't understand women at all. Mother will teach you. Do what I tell you to do. I will definitely not let you miss this opportunity again."

 

 ----

identity is so much heavier*[身份分量很重]---means this person has a very high status, good at talking

 

Edited on 27 Mar. 21 (Emzie)

 

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