Chapter 510: The Opening

Immortal Palace, everywhere star lanterns hung high, pearl curtains adorned with brocade, beneath their feet mist and radiant light swirled and billowed.

Standing here, one felt as if treading upon a sea of clouds, ethereal, forgetting the mundane world.

These forty-nine Lu-Shou Palaces were a treasured possession of the Northern Pole Immortal, their origins so ancient they could be traced back to the Pre-Ancient Era.

At that time, the Northern Pole Garden and the Great Sui Temple, for their merits in the campaign against White Water, were specially granted one palace and one pot by Guangqi, then the Crown Prince of the Dao Court.

The Northern Pole Garden received the palace; the Great Sui Temple received the pot.

This palace was the Forty-Nine Lu-Shou Palace; it was said that any mortal, even one untrained in cultivation, who dwelled within it long enough, would retain radiant complexion, jet-black hair, perpetual health without illness, live exactly three hundred years, and die peacefully without suffering.

As for cultivators, there was no need to elaborate further.

To them, this palace could even enhance their cultivation and nourish their root nature!

If fully revealed, this palace could rival a small continent.

Even now, with only the main hall and several pavilions and gardens open, it was vast beyond measure, leaving one speechless.

At this moment, beneath a white peak built of precious jade, a young man resembling the Fifth Prince Ji Yang was surrounded like the moon by stars.

Beside him were several Heavenly Officials of the Zhengxu Dao Court and palace eunuchs; those accompanying him were several direct disciples of the Northern Pole Immortal.

“This one is named Ji Xiu, the Ninth Prince of the current Ji Dao Court. Judging by his usual conduct, he is no outstanding figure, seemingly lacking ambition, merely wandering forests and streams, indulging in mystic brushwork.

Yet he is close friends with the fiercely temperamental Fifth Prince Ji Yang; the two are inseparable—this is rather intriguing…”

At this moment, Master Fu Can glanced at Ji Xiu and explained to Chen Hang, then added with puzzlement:

“Though the Zhengxu Dao Court today is merely an empty shell, long past its Pre-Ancient glory, it still bears the title ‘Dao Court.’

A Dao Court prince has come in person—why didn’t the Northern Pole Immortal come to greet him? And why haven’t even the senior figures of the Northern Pole Garden appeared to accompany him?

Thinking of this, could Ji Xiu have already met these people before today?

And the Northern Pole Garden—no, it should be the Eight Sects and Six Clans…

What matter is Ji Xiu’s Zhengxu Dao Court planning to discuss with the Eight Sects and Six Clans?”

Since the collapse of the Pre-Ancient Era, relations between the Eight Sects and Six Clans and the Zhengxu Dao Court had not always been hostile; indeed, they had even engaged in acts that outsiders viewed as intimate, such as the Yougan Campaign and the Yangdu Palace Incident.

In fact, their bond was even stronger than some major celestial powers that publicly upheld the orthodox lineage and observed vassal rites.

Back then, the Eight Sects and Six Clans clearly appeared as loyal ministers of the Dao Court, and were praised by the Zhengxu Dao Court as guardians of the tripod and bulwarks of the realm.

But after Yang Yin, the Great Immortal of the Nine Truth Sect, angrily smashed through the Southern Heavenly Gate, the Eight Sects and Six Clans inexplicably ceased offering tribute and no longer recognized the orthodox lineage.

Their relationship took a sharp downturn from this event.

And under such circumstances, the Zhengxu Dao Court sent a prince personally to Xudu Tian?

Even when relations were good, the Dao Court had only ever sent a Grand Heavenly Official to observe the Dan Yuan Assembly—never a prince. This was truly unprecedented…

“It’s strange. What could they possibly be discussing? Why wasn’t I informed? Could it be such a major matter they’re hiding it from me?”

At this moment, Master Fu Can muttered inwardly.

As if finally sensing Master Fu Can’s gaze, Ji Xiu, amidst the crowd, turned his body slightly and looked over.

He met Master Fu Can’s gaze for a moment, slightly surprised, then turned to Chen Hang and nodded amiably.

Ji Xiu had intended to approach and speak, but his attendant suddenly whispered something in his ear; after a moment’s thought, he stayed put, merely bowing from afar as a gesture of greeting.

“It’s also interesting: though the current Emperor of Xuan Yan, Ji Huan, has many sons, none have won the Heavenly Emperor’s favor, leaving the succession still undecided.

In earlier years, rumors claimed Ji Huan wished to establish a benevolent and virtuous ruler for posterity, secretly favoring Ji Xiu—but after seeing him in person today, I suspect those rumors were mere fantasy.”

After Ji Xiu walked away, Master Fu Can silently shook his head and spoke to Chen Hang.

“Please, Master, enlighten me,” Chen Hang smiled.

“Among Ji Huan’s sons, Ji Jing lacks virtue, Ji Can lacks courage, Ji Hao is violent, Ji Yin lacks decisiveness.

The Fifth Prince Ji Yang is indeed talented and ambitious, yet rigidity invites breakage; the Seventh Prince Ji Xia is a great vessel for cultivation, yet lacks the will to govern.

The rest, like Ji Xiu and Ji Hui, are merely mediocre—unable to pursue the path of immortality, lacking the cunning to maneuver among factions—thus the succession remains vacant…” Master Fu Can slowly shook his head in reply.

Chen Hang pondered a moment, then asked: “Who is the current Heavenly Emperor?”

“He is a man of mediocre talent, harboring ambition but lacking the strength to act—like placing a giant crocodile upon the dragon throne, he exceeds his capacity…”

After long contemplation, Master Fu Can sighed strangely:

“By now, I suspect not just I, but most cultivators across the heavens and universes, can no longer tell whether this one is still lying low, or whether, exhausted and out of ideas, he has simply surrendered to fate and let things drift.”

Outside the Zhengxu Heaven, countless immortals, buddhas, and deities had long since made their own plans and ignored the Dao Court’s golden edicts.

Even within the Dao Court, major factions were locked in mutual scheming, with hidden currents surging.

Under such circumstances…

“When governance of the world has decayed, only a truly destined hero can reclaim it.”

After a moment of silence, Chen Hang spoke softly.

“Hero? Who is a hero?”

Master Fu Can shook his head: “At this point, no matter who emerges, it will be impossible to turn the tide—even Crown Prince Changming and the Tribulation Immortal Elder cannot resist the tide of fate.

But the emperor is far away; such matters are still too distant for us. For now… let us enjoy ourselves, and worry about the future later!”

With that, Master Fu Can walked forward again with Chen Hang.

Today, by the Northern Pole Immortal’s specific instruction, all guests were being welcomed with a cleansing ceremony.

Though the formal music and banquet had not yet begun, all manner of fine wines, rare fruits, and exquisite dishes were abundant; female attendants and celestial maidens flitted like butterflies among flowers, leaving one dazzled.

Not long after, when the Northern Pole Immortal and the judges and elders of the Dan Yuan Competition arrived and entered the main hall,

Master Fu Can was already half-drunk, slumped against Chen Hang’s shoulder, barely able to stand.

“Master, don’t drink yourself to death—I still haven’t learned the second half of your Dragon Wheel Hooked Talisman…”

Nearby, Yu Tan winced and whispered a warning.

“You’ll die before my Cane Leaf Avatar does, boy—stop meddling in things that don’t concern you!”

Master Fu Can shrugged. He had been about to lament how the Northern Pole Immortal had truly spared no expense today—such rare brews, he’d never tasted so much before.

But as the words reached his lips, he suddenly sensed something odd.

Chen Hang had clearly reached the main hall, where attendants lining both sides of the gate bowed to greet him in the center—yet his steps paused for a moment before continuing, unhindered.

Though brief, this moment escaped Master Fu Can’s perception.

But when he rubbed his eyes and saw Chen Hang’s seat within the hall, he instantly understood—and was left speechless.

In the main hall of the Lu-Shou Palace, over thirty of the forty-two Dan Yuan True Persons had arrived, leaving only a few empty seats.

Chen Hang’s seat was precisely between Wei Lingjiang and Gu Yi.

Upon his entry, both looked up at once, expressions differing.

Gu Yi wore a gold-embroidered pomegranate skirt, draped with a dark-sandalwood-beaded shawl.

Her hair was coiled high, adorned with a golden-inlaid butterfly-flower hairpin, its colors vivid and radiant like clouds at dawn, enhancing her already dazzling beauty to an almost unbearable degree.

Beside her, Wei Lingjiang wore white robes with a golden sash, crowned with a silver lotus cap, a sheer veil like mist trailing from behind, and nothing but green jade earrings—pure as piled silver and snow, elegant and refined.

Yet in her extreme simplicity lay striking beauty; her luminous, celestial-goddess-like radiance was so intense it made one feel ashamed to look…

“This Chen True Person truly has exquisite fortune.”

Nearby, Ning Fengqi of the Yin Jing Sect chuckled to Zuo Pengzong of the Chi Ming Sect:

“I hear, Master Zuo, good fortune is near for you? Allow me to offer my congratulations in advance—congratulations!”

“When did I ever have good fortune near?” Zuo Pengzong frowned deeply.

“The Shen Yu Sect’s Sima Xiu?” Ning Fengqi teased: “Isn’t she been spending a lot of time with you lately?”

Shen Xingcui, who had been eavesdropping, turned his gaze to the beautiful woman with a single spiral bun and layers of misty aura surrounding her.

Sima Xiu, though also glancing toward Chen Hang and the others, had unmistakable wariness and gravity in her eyes; her spine tensed slightly, and faint starlike glimmers flickered and vanished in her pupils.

“Master Ning, you’re too fond of jesting—I’ve merely exchanged Dao-discussions and martial trials with Sima True Person. Don’t make light of it.”

Zuo Pengzong merely shook his head at Ning Fengqi’s teasing, then glanced at Sima Xiu again, his gaze sharpening slightly—he said nothing further.

Others might not know, but as Sima Xiu’s defeated opponent, Zuo Pengzong considered himself better acquainted with her abilities than most here.

“This year’s Dan Yuan Competition is truly full of hidden dragons and tigers—only someone formidable could make Sima Xiu show such wariness.

Chen Hang, Wei Lingjiang, Gu Yi… just these three may claim three of the top ten spots.”

Zuo Pengzong sighed inwardly, somewhat resigned:

“Past Dan Yuan Assemblies were never this brutal, were they?

I don’t yet know the rules of this year’s competition—only when the matches begin will we learn. But hopefully, collusion is forbidden—if Chen Hang and his two allies join forces, I might as well not even compete.”

Still, judging by the situation, Wei True Person and Gu Yi probably won’t join forces either—this is…”

Zuo Pengzong fell silent, then suddenly found it amusing, shook his head, and stopped thinking further.

At this moment, as Chen Hang approached his seat under the attendant’s guidance, his gaze remained calm, ordinary.

Gu Yi glanced at Wei Lingjiang’s expression.

Suddenly, her eyes twinkled; she smiled warmly and beckoned Chen Hang to sit beside her, her voice soft and tender as flowing water:

“That old bastard, relying on his seniority, is becoming more and more unbearable—no one dares to control him anymore…”

Meanwhile, the Northern Pole Immortal, who had been conversing with Ji Xiu, cast a sidelong glance, unwilling to miss this spectacle.

Master Fu Can, seeing this, muttered inwardly.

…

…

Phoenix-script incense thick, glowing treasure candles.

The main hall’s banquet had now begun; as the Northern Pole Immortal raised his cup with a loud laugh, all guests and the Dan Yuan True Persons below returned the toast. The air rang with the melodious flute and the harmonious pipes and flutes—a scene of lively festivity.

Not long after, Chen Hang’s gaze met that of a young man.

They exchanged a brief appraisal, then looked away immediately, saying nothing.

“That’s Chen Bai. You want to kill him?”

At that moment, Gu Yi’s voice suddenly sounded from beside him.

Before Chen Hang could speak, she went on as if to herself:

“Then again, Chen Bai betrayed Yu Yuchen and defected to Chen Yushu. You owe your life to Xiang Junyao, and you’re sworn enemies with Chen Yushu—emotionally and rationally, you ought to harbor ill will toward him.”

“Looks like you know quite a bit.”

“I’ve gone to great lengths to learn about you. But killing someone at the Dan Yuan Assembly isn’t easy—even if your abilities are extraordinary, you’ll still need some means to help, like Liang Wen did when he captured Du Ao back then...”

Here, Gu Yi deliberately paused her voice:

“Do you want me to help you?”

Seeing Chen Hang merely gaze at her without speaking,

Gu Yi sighed toward Wei Lingjiang, then turned her gaze back to Chen Hang, propping her chin in her hand, suddenly smiling like a blooming flower:

“Hey, if you call me ‘Senior Sister,’ I’ll give you my full support to kill Chen Bai.”

“...” Fu Can, the Ancestral Master, merely watched from the side, finding the scene thoroughly exasperating.

In past times, he would have been clapping and laughing heartily—but given his current relationship with Chen Hang, he couldn’t sit back and enjoy the spectacle, so he feigned drunkenness and shut his old eyes tight.

“Younger brother,” Wei Lingjiang’s voice rang out just then.

Gu Yi raised an eyebrow, watching with keen interest.

But she saw Wei Lingjiang rise solemnly, his gaze carrying an unusual gravity and sincerity, bowing with formal reverence.

“Ever since I heard of your kindness upon returning from Xi Ping Land, I’ve kept it in my heart. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”

Chen Hang knew Wei Lingjiang was referring to the Wind-Fire Cushion.

He stood up, shook his head, and smiled silently:

“The Dao can be sought, but immortals are not born—Senior Sister, since we are fellow Daoists, this is only natural.”

Wei Lingjiang looked up at him, seeing the clarity in his eyes, faintly tinged with a smile, like a sliver of moon hanging on a tree branch—faint and hazy.

Wei Lingjiang fell silent for a moment, then smiled too, nodding slightly, inexplicably.

Neither spoke. For a while, only green branches gently brushed their wings; the music and flutes still filled the air, yet suddenly it seemed distant, as if veiled by a layer of gauze.

Watching this, Gu Yi couldn’t quite grasp the subtext between them. She frowned and silently sneered inwardly.

“Old Immortal... really has quite the spirit.”

Seeing the Northern Pole Old Immortal’s enthusiastic demeanor, Pei Shuyang, the Sect Master of Yu Yuchen, didn’t know what to say.

At this Dan Yuan Assembly, he had been elected by the True Persons of the Nine Provinces as the Arbiter, tasked with overseeing every detail of the grand contest.

Originally, the Dao Lords of the various sects had planned to hold the Assembly in the Western Sea—until the Northern Pole Old Immortal said his own Daoist grounds had been too quiet for too long and needed some liveliness to enliven Ying Ji Chuan, and since this place was indeed a blessed land, the location was ultimately settled here.

This alone reveals the Northern Pole Old Immortal’s capricious nature.

“I’m not merely indulging in amusement—I’m acting out of pure goodwill. But then again, Tong Xuan, you’ve truly taken on an excellent disciple—such abilities, such methods...”

The Northern Pole Old Immortal praised him, his gaze lingering on Chen Hang for a moment, then suddenly turning to Pei Shuyang:

“Come, come, drink this cup. Judging by your cultivation, you’re bound to merge with the Dao one day. When you eventually cross your Tribulation, don’t forget to invite me for a cup of wine in Xiao Ming Marsh!”

“I don’t have much entertainment to offer you, Old Immortal,” Pei Shuyang smiled as he raised his cup.

“Who knows?” The Northern Pole Old Immortal chuckled, stroking his beard.

Time flew swiftly, and before they knew it, the Dan Yuan Assembly had begun.

On this day, before the eyes of all cultivators, Pei Shuyang drifted gracefully from his ceremonial carriage, raised a finger, and a bright light slowly rose into the sky.