Chapter 374: and translation of chapter title

Early morning, the accumulated snow had not yet melted, and the bitter wind pierced to the bone.

High above South Cliff City, Heng Xian stood in the void, glancing down at his father, aunt, and the respectful Song family.

From now on, Father and the others should be able to handle it.

He unconsciously touched his lower lip, which still faintly ached; by now the 'little wildcat' had vanished from the city, most likely truly gone.

A disciple of Maitreya Temple? Next time I see those monks Tianming and Tiancong, I'll inquire.

His form flashed, and he headed straight toward the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Having just flown over ten li, two figures appeared ahead: one standing in the air, the other flying on a sword.

It was Xiao Yujian and Wang Ling.

Heng Xian clasped his fists and said, 'Good morning, both of you! Yesterday things were urgent, I didn't come to pay my respects; please forgive me!'

Xiao Yujian and Wang Ling exchanged a glance, evidently not expecting Heng Xian to have such a pleasant temperament; he was not the sort who relied on strength and acted arrogantly.

Wang Ling quickly said, 'It's nothing; it's our Twenty‑City Alliance that acted improperly!'

Heng Xian smiled and asked, 'Are you two waiting especially for me?'

Xiao Yujian said, 'Not exactly; I happened to be heading back today, just saw Junior Brother Heng also on the road, so I waited for you.'

'Where are you two going?' Heng Xian asked.

Xiao Yujian sighed and said, 'We have many places to go; now it's a tumultuous autumn, demons and heretics run rampant, evil sects sprout everywhere, there's too much to do, and the disciples of the Fourteen Sects are busy to the point of exhaustion.'

Heng Xian pondered, then asked, 'How is the Flower Pavilion?'

Xiao Yujian said, 'The Flower Pavilion is overseen by your Tianyuan Sect and the Donghuang Palace; in fact, it's not just the Flower Pavilion—various minor heretical cults have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, and many demons and evil spirits have appeared, gradually becoming a scourge that throws the world into chaos.'

Except for the two great Eastern Dynasties, Great Zhou and Great Qin, whose armies are strong, whose scholars contend, and whose experts abound—there we need not intervene.

Most small states are overwhelmed, so the disciples of our Fourteen Sects' immortal mountains and blessed lands naturally must take the field!

Heng Xian nodded; on his way back he had indeed found things unsettled, with many demons and wicked people causing trouble, but the spiritual energy near Donglan City is scarce, a barren place, so it remains relatively quiet.

Wang Ling suddenly asked, 'Junior Brother Heng, where are you headed?'

Heng Xian said, 'I need to make a trip to the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty!'

No sooner had he spoken than he noticed Xiao Yujian and Wang Ling wearing strange expressions.

Heng Xian exclaimed in surprise, 'What's wrong?'

Wang Ling rubbed his nose and said, 'Senior Brother Heng, have you ever heard the saying that even if a disciple of a great sect cultivates to the heavens, he still does not enter the imperial city's palaces?'

Heng Xian pondered: 'I've never heard that; what's the point?'

Wang Ling laughed, 'Junior Brother Heng, you must have always been going in and out of small cities and states, unaware of the pride of great nations; although the Fourteen Sects are seen as holy lands of immortal mountains by ordinary cultivators, in somewhat larger empires their influence wanes greatly—or even disappears.'

Especially in the eyes of the two great dynasties of the Eastern Realm, Great Zhou and Great Qin—the sole major powers in the Eastern cultivation world—they regard us as mere mountain cults that must be placed under dynastic administration.

Even the patriarchs of the Fourteen Sects have to submit petitions for imperial ennoblement just to be barely recognized!

Given the pride of the Fourteen Sects, they naturally refuse to pay heed, and the two great dynasties naturally regard us as sects that refuse to be transformed.

They hardly deal with each other! If you enter the dynasty's territory and claim to be a disciple of the Tianyuan Sect, you'll instead attract odd looks.

Heng Xian listened, astonished: 'There's actually such a rule?'

Xiao Yujian said, 'It's mainly to secure imperial authority, fearing that Fourteen Sect cultivators might violate prohibitions with their arts, so they weakened the Fourteen Sects; yet within the dynasty there are still countless experts.'

Heng Xian nodded, thinking of Ji Yaoyue, and asked, 'Then… would the dynasty's princesses and princes ever go to the Fourteen Sects to cultivate?'

Wang Ling laughed, 'Basically not! Unless they have some connection to the Fourteen Sects, or they are out of favor.'

Xiao Yujian said, 'Junior Sister Ji Yaoyue of the Da Luo Holy Sect is a princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty, but I've heard she is that way because her mother once was a true successor of the Da Luo Holy Sect; however, she is not favored in the Great Zhou court.'

Heng Xian frowned slightly, then suddenly thought to hurry to Qi Prefecture to see what Ji Yaoyue was doing.

Wang Ling said, 'If Junior Brother Heng has an unavoidable reason to go, I suggest you think carefully before acting.'

Heng Xian clasped his fists: 'Thanks for the reminder; I'll pay attention!'

After chatting a bit more, the three parted ways—Xiao Yujian headed south, Wang Ling north.

Seeing the two off, Heng Xian fixed his direction and continued racing toward the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Qi Prefecture.

South Cliff City is too far from Qi Prefecture—over eighteen thousand li—so even at Heng Xian's speed it would take more than ten days.

All along the way, Heng Xian found that things below were indeed chaotic: little demons and monsters came out at midnight to eat people, heretical cults spread their teachings everywhere, big and small states sent people to capture demons and seize persons, and from time to time they employed wicked men to manage the government, making the whole realm reek of corruption.

This is an omen that the human world is about to fall into great chaos!

Unfortunately, he lacks the ability to be in many places at once; he can manage one or two, but not many.

Moreover, the first few days were cloudless and sunny, but starting on the seventh day a blizzard erupted—winds howled, snow fell thick and fast, and the whole world became a white expanse.

Traveling through the sky, even with magical protection, is hardly a pleasant experience.

He therefore had to land and employ light‑body arts such as 'shrinking the earth to an inch' to hurry on.

On the twelfth day at dusk, he was already nearing the border of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and here things had become much calmer.

Just before nightfall, Heng Xian entered a small town to rest.

The town was not large, but thanks to its developed transport, its buildings were impressive, and the townsfolk lived in peace and prosperity.

Heng Xian brushed the snow from his body, and with nothing else to do he wandered about to look around.

'Make way! Hurry and make way!'

Just then, a sudden clatter of hooves came from behind; a troop of riders, facing the wind and snow, escorted a carriage and came rushing forward.

Heng Xian darted aside; the crowd brushed past, and he saw that the carriage held two people—a man and a woman—both wearing wide‑sleeved scholar's robes, one with a tall hat, the other with hair bound up.

To Heng Xian they felt like some sort of ancient… Imperial Academy students from a past life!

He didn't dwell on it, for a fragrant meat aroma drifted through the air.

In the town there were only two inns that offered food and lodging; one sold spirit‑beast meat and a kind of foul‑smelling noodle dish, which Heng Xian disliked, while the other sold various stews, and the aroma came from there.

He involuntarily quickened his steps and entered the inn.

The hall was not large, just seven tables, and at that moment they were all filled to capacity.

The waiter hurried over, chuckling: 'Sir, our dining hall and rooms are full; either wait, or please go elsewhere!'

Heng Xian felt great regret; with his cultivation that allowed him to completely fast, his desire for food was just a fleeting moment—after it passed, he hardly wanted to eat.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, someone behind called out, 'Young brother, you look dusty and weary from travel—you must have come from afar. Why not sit together?'

Heng Xian turned and saw a middle-aged man with the air of a steward sitting alone at a table.

The waiter smiled and said, 'Sir, what a coincidence! Steward Xu, you're impressive!'

Heng Xian chuckled, walked over, sat opposite the steward, and snapped his fingers: 'Bring three or five signature dishes!'

'Got it!' the waiter hurried to the back kitchen.

The steward across the table sized up Heng Xian, gave a faint smile, and said, 'Young man, you have outstanding talent—how could you end up doing this kind of muddy-water fishing business?'

(End of chapter)