Chapter 436: Suffer, Yan Zhenzong

At the moment he became a Yang Spirit, all things turned pure yang, and the entire cosmos sensed the transformation of heaven and earth.

Gu Qing was not yet a Yang Spirit in this world; the robe he bestowed upon Hong Yi was in fact the Buddha’s Kasaya, stolen from the Great Chan Temple—an ancient artifact of Yuan Huang. In cultivation, Yuan Huang may have been weaker than Pan Huang, but in the comparison of artifacts, the two were evenly matched.

Upon hearing the origin of the robe, Hong Yi was overwhelmed with gratitude toward Gu Qing, and when he met Yang An, he carried himself with great presence.

“How is this just a Sinew-Training cultivator?”

Yang An raised an eyebrow, showing disdain; his blood qi surged violently—he was, in fact, a Beginner Saint.

This level of power left Hong Yi speechless, though inside he roared: he must grow stronger, swiftly.

“My father is Hong Xuanji…”

Hong Yi walked beside Yang An, searching for common ground, saying: “The Emperor sent me to follow Hong Xuanji precisely to monitor him.”

So it’s a son…

Yang An glanced sidelong at Hong Yi, thinking of the father of this body.

Yang An was an outsider from beyond the heavens, a native of Pan Star; he had never respected his parents in this life. When his soul transmigrated, he saw that his physical mother was quite lovely, but his father, Yang Pan, had sealed off many of Yang An’s unique abilities and named him “An,” telling him: Since you’re here now, just behave yourself.

This infuriated Yang An, especially since he carried the ancient method of Pan Huang, who had taken three thousand women to attain the Dao—this method was sealed, and for Yang An, its suppression was worse than death.

So Yang An would act against Yang Pan.

“The Emperor’s use of people is truly peculiar.”

Yang An snorted.

Yang An also wished to become Emperor; secretly, he recruited soldiers and gathered wealth, took three wives and four concubines, waiting for the right moment to usurp the throne, just as Gu Qing had done. As for the gold spent, it all came from Yang An’s various little inventions.

Hong Yi sensed Yang An’s reluctance to speak, squeezed the robe on his body, and at that moment, the eunuch brought forth porridge and rice—the porridge and rice were pale green, each grain glistening like crystal: it was “Jade Splendor Crystal Rice,” reserved exclusively for imperial relatives and nobles. Eating this rice greatly aided martial cultivation.

Hong Yi’s martial cultivation had already been enhanced by the “Breathing Method,” so his progress was already notable; now, with the Jade Splendor Crystal Rice inside him, the benefits multiplied, consolidating his blood qi and filling his spiritual essence. Under these conditions, he opened the Dao Jing he had received from Gu Qing and began practicing the Amitabha Sutra.

In Chang’an City.

This year’s annual night banquet had been disrupted by Grand Ancestor Zhou Hong Xuanji, yet every detail of the chaos spread far and wide.

The news that Hong Xuanji had stolen his closest friend’s wife disgusted the capital’s elite; his many friends began reassessing their ties to him, and even within Hong Xuanji’s own household, the servants and concubines erupted in outrage.

Meanwhile, in the Southern Dalaopai Sect.

Upon receiving the news, Yan Zhenzong’s face turned ashen. He had always been deeply close to Hong Xuanji—their bond was unshakable, whether one served in court and the other in the folk world; their intimacy had been so profound they never avoided each other’s wives. Now, with Zhao Feier and Hong Xuanji entangled, and Zhao Feirong revealed not to be his own daughter, it struck Yan Zhenzong like a crushing blow.

“Feier, how cruel you both are.”

Yan Zhenzong’s face was dark with rage.

Zhao Feier, veiled, appeared ethereal and exquisitely beautiful, and said in a low voice: “Zhenzong, you must endure this.”

Of course it was a hardship.

Yan Zhenzong’s gaze went vacant, his limbs numb. His best friend and his wife had become lovers. He wanted to resist, to vent his fury—but both Zhao Feier and Hong Xuanji were stronger than he was. So, even though it was unbearable, Yan Zhenzong could only swallow the bitter fruit.