Chapter 427

The Alliance of Orthodox Sects came this time under a formal agreement.

Just as the Alliance of Orthodox Sects invites Xian Sects to observe their Martial Exhibition Grand Ceremony, since Shenghuang Yuan founded the Alliance of Orthodox Sects, whenever the Xian Sects hold their Great Competition, the Xian Sects also invite the Alliance of Orthodox Sects to observe.

But in the past, the Great Competition usually saw only three Reversal Void cultivators and one Union Dao cultivator arrive; it had never happened before that the current Councilor-in-Chief personally led a delegation of three Union Dao cultivators to observe.

As for the reason…

This year's competition involves the Tai Xuan Immortal Network, and this matter is still inconvenient to disclose to the outside world.

In fact, according to Ba Zun's proposal, this year they should simply not invite the Alliance of Orthodox Sects at all, and only inform them after all functions of the Tai Xuan Immortal Network have been tested and stabilized.

But Xu Xing still wished to show consideration for the force left behind by his fellow townsman, so he negotiated again with them.

Eventually, they reached an agreement.

They may come, but no more than five people, and they must not disclose anything that occurs during this Xian Sect Great Competition to the outside world.

These terms sound quite "tyrannical."

Thus, some uninformed Union Dao cultivators of the Alliance of Orthodox Sects were dissatisfied upon receiving this news, even saying that since the founding Councilor-in-Chief, Shenghuang Yuan, had returned, they might as well not go at all.

They could wait until Shenghuang Yuan ascended to Immortal status and gained sufficient standing to command the attention of all Gedaxian Sects before engaging in "equal" dialogue with them…

"Sigh~"

As the Alliance of Orthodox Sects' 【Xuanqiong Sky Vessel】 slowly descended and docked beside the flying vessels of the various Gedaxian Sects.

The current Councilor-in-Chief of the Alliance of Orthodox Sects, standing on the deck, sighed inwardly.

If only it were true, as they hoped, that my lord Shenghuang Yuan had truly returned and was about to ascend to Immortal status.

But he knew full well in his heart that it was all a lie!

Not only had the return of my lord Shenghuang Yuan been fabricated, but even Master Friend Meng Xuan's attempt to break through to Immortal status had long since failed!

Previously, he had thought to use their collective spirit as nourishment to produce a True Immortal…

And nearly caused a catastrophe of cosmic proportions!

Had it not been for Master Gu Mo's decisive action, and had Master Jianzu and Xiang Yuanjun not noticed the anomaly and come to their aid…

The consequences were beyond what he dared to imagine!

Although Shenghuang Yuan's final instructions mentioned that the reason the senior members of the Alliance had been stirred to act and unhesitatingly concealed this matter from the Xian Sects was entirely due to the influence of the Cang Clan…

"Councilor-in-Chief."

Seeing the flying vessel docked, a Union Dao cultivator behind him spoke up.

Previously, high-grade flying vessel artifacts mostly incorporated the "Jiezi Na Xumi" technique, so from the outside they appeared small, yet contained an entire world within.

Thus, a starship docking area of modest size was more than sufficient to accommodate the flying vessels of the various Gedaxian Sects and the Alliance of Orthodox Sects.

"Let's go."

Regardless of the reasons, the fact remains that the former Councilor-in-Chief, himself, and some senior members of the Alliance nearly committed a grave error.

The Alliance is currently busy restoring its starry sky patrol rotations and reorganizing resource domains, and cannot afford further turmoil.

Otherwise, he would have resigned long ago.

Thinking this, he descended the vessel with his three companions.

Two Jianzong cultivators at the Reversal Void level came forward to greet them.

After exchanging greetings, one of them spoke solemnly: "Senior Chen Shang, our Ancestor requests your presence."

Chen Shang was the name of the current Councilor-in-Chief of the Alliance of Orthodox Sects.

Upon hearing this, Chen Shang and the three Union Dao cultivators behind him grew solemn.

The Ancestor wishes to see me?

"Which senior is it?" Chen Shang asked.

He already had an answer in his heart, but still wished to confirm.

"It is Master Jianzu."

As expected!

It must be Master Jianzu—Master Jianzun is famously detached from worldly affairs and lives in seclusion.

"Don't keep the senior waiting—please, young friend, lead the way."

"Senior, you are too kind."

Before leaving, Chen Shang turned back and gave instructions: "You three go with another young friend first; I'll join you after meeting Master Jianzu."

"Yes."

The three replied crisply.

Master Jianzu's character is impeccable, and the Councilor-in-Chief is no irredeemable demonic cultivator.

Seeing Chen Shang finish his instructions: "Senior, please follow me."

Saying this, the man turned and led the way; Chen Shang followed.

…

…

The distance from the starship docking zone to Master Jianzu's Hall was not short, but for a Reversal Void cultivator, it was negligible.

Soon, Chen Shang was brought before Master Jianzu's Hall.

The mountaintop had been cleanly sheared off, and a magnificent hall stood upon it; looking up, the eaves' shadow precisely cut through the sunlight, swallowing the hall's main entrance into a dark curtain.

Chen Shang felt uneasy.

He had seen grander, more magnificent structures before, but never had any building exerted such overwhelming pressure upon him as this hall.

Come to think of it… isn't flying up here directly inappropriate?

Wouldn't it be more respectful to climb the steps one step at a time?

"I shall not enter—Senior, please go ahead."

Chen Shang drew in a deep breath: "Many thanks, young friend."

With a heart both somewhat anxious and a little excited, he stepped one pace at a time into the Sword Ancestor's great hall.

His figure was gradually swallowed by the dark curtains, and the light before his eyes dimmed considerably.

Although it was his first time in the Sword Ancestor's great hall, he knew clearly where he ought to go.

Was it the guidance of Senior Sword Ancestor?

Understanding in his heart, he looked around — the various displays within the hall were simpler than he had imagined, almost without any superfluous ornamentation…

Tap! Tap!

His footsteps echoed through the empty great hall, and Chen Shang's thoughts flew about, and he could not help recalling all sorts of things from his childhood.

Back then he had not yet come into contact with cultivation, had not joined the Ten Thousand Dao Sect, let alone had Lord Sage Emperor Yuan leading the era, with the Spirit Net spread across the Central Continent.

He could only glimpse a corner of the vast world through the tales told by the storyteller at the village entrance… and among the legends of the Xian Sect's ancestors, Senior Sword Ancestor's was the most legendary of all.

At that time he had thought to himself, one day he too would become a person like Senior Sword Ancestor!

Just as Lord Sage Emperor Yuan said, who wouldn't want to become someone who 'holds back the raging wave about to fall, props up the great hall about to collapse'?

All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind, but in the end they settled back to calm before he reached his destination.

Chen Shang drew in a deep breath and stepped forward inside.

Before he could even make out what the person sitting at the center of the dao arena looked like, he bowed in salute.

"This junior, Chen Shang, pays respects to Senior Sword Ancestor."

"…"

After a stretch of silence, a faintly familiar voice sounded in his ear.

"No need for such ceremony."

"Many thanks, Senior Sword Ancestor."

With a feeling close to pilgrimage, he slowly straightened up, but upon clearly seeing the appearance of the person at the center of the dao arena, he was so startled that he froze on the spot.

!

A shadow that had been blurred and unclear in his memory became incomparably clear at this moment.

This…!

Isn't this the young friend of the Sword Sect who, at the Martial Display Grand Ceremony, split his sword intent into a spirit-body to give pointers to Chen Yuanlin?!

That's not right!

That was clearly the Sword Ancestor himself!

His mind went blank.

Only after a long while did he come back to himself.

Holy shit!

He had actually addressed Senior Sword Ancestor as 'young friend' that day?!

Suddenly realizing this point, Chen Shang's legs went a little weak, and he only felt a buzzing in his ears.

Probably across the entire Grand Xuan Realm, he was the only one who had ever addressed Senior Sword Ancestor that way…

"Young friend?" Xu Xing looked at him with a half-smile.

Chen Shang gave a start and finally came back to himself.

Looking at Xu Xing, he could not help but smile bitterly: "This junior was greatly discourteous before; I beg Senior Sword Ancestor…"

"That's enough, that's enough." Xu Xing directly cut him off, "That day I concealed my own identity to watch the fun — it can't be blamed on you."

"I…"

"Besides, I think I'm still quite young, don't you think?"

Hearing Xu Xing still cracking jokes, the tension in Chen Shang's heart finally eased considerably.

As Speaker of the Righteous Alliance, of course he knew what Senior Sword Ancestor looked like.

The reason he failed to recognize him at the Martial Display Grand Ceremony was naturally because Senior Sword Ancestor had intentionally concealed his identity…

But knowing it was one thing.

He still could not help feeling a little awkward inside.

He drew in another deep breath: "May I ask what instructions Senior Sword Ancestor has for this junior in summoning me?"

Xu Xing composed his expression: "All that has happened before, Yuan should have already told you."

"Mm, the First Speaker has already explained everything to this junior." Chen Shang bowed once more, "Many thanks to Senior Sword Ancestor for stepping in to help, preventing us from making a grave mistake."

"It was only to be expected." Xu Xing looked at him, "This matter involves things too high up; it can't be blamed on you all."

"In the end it was greed that gave the opportunity to be exploited…"

Having done wrong is having done wrong.

If he were still to find excuses for himself, he would have lived all these years in vain.

"People walk through the world — who can be free of greed? Even I cannot escape the common lot; there is no need for too much self-reproach, lest it affect your cultivation."

Senior Sword Ancestor also has greed?

Where?

Chen Shang was extremely curious in his heart, but he still forcibly held back the impulse to ask.

"Many thanks for Senior's teaching."

"Let's sit and chat."

The moment the words fell, a cattail hassock appeared before Chen Shang.

After he sat down, Xu Xing asked: "The calamity of the 'Heart-Severing Qi' has been resolved — are there any disturbances within the Alliance now?"

"None. The First Speaker arranged everything before leaving; all affairs within the Alliance are stable, and the rotation of the star domains is also being gradually arranged."

These aren't things that can't be spoken of.

"In another two years, the star domain's defenses should be complete."

"That's good."

Xu Xing waved his hand, and a streak of light fell into Chen Shang's palm, transforming into a pure white, crystal-clear sword-shaped jade token—

Ancestral Sword Token!

"If you encounter something you cannot resolve, use this token to inform me."

Staring at the jade token in his hand, Chen Shang was still dazed.

"When to use it is entirely up to you."

"... Thank you, Ancestral Sword Elder."

This was already countless times his thanks.

Chen Shang didn't believe Xu Xing intended to interfere in the Righteous Alliance through this token…

After all, with the Ancestral Sword Elder's cultivation, there was no need for such complications.

But he still felt puzzled: "This humble disciple dares to ask: Why… are you doing this?"

If it was merely to help the Righteous Alliance, this was too generous.

"Though I've never met Yuan himself, I count him as a friend. Since he's absent now, I must look after him."

Never met…

Count him as a friend?

How do these words form a sentence? (End of Chapter)