https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-459-The-Grand-Trend-of-the-World/13027880/
Chapter 458: The Heavenly Visit to the Mountain
Chapter 458: The Heavenly Visit to the Mountain
Donglin Dao.
Chuwang Palace.
The Chu King, Ji Xuanming, sat upright in a quiet and elegant study, dressed in a light blue dragon robe. On the table before him were numerous memorials, all concerning various affairs from the eleven states under Donglin Dao.
Dividing the land and becoming a king was not just talk; it required actual governance over a region. Otherwise, the so-called division of territories would be empty words, and the areas would still be administered by the various sects and the court.
Since he had gathered the governing power of the eleven states within Donglin Dao, it was only natural to establish corresponding Daoist offices and arrange various government departments. Countless affairs were submitted to him daily, making this period the busiest time in his life.
"Your Highness, urgent news!"
As the Chu King was reviewing the memorials, a subordinate in a black robe appeared before him, kneeling on one knee and speaking in a low voice.
Without lifting his head, the Chu King continued reading the memorial in his hand and said, "Speak."
The black-robed subordinate quickly narrated the news about Chen Mu's return.
Hearing about Chen Mu's unrestrained actions in the outer seas and his grand return to Great Xuan in the Cold North, the Chu King sighed lightly after a moment and said, "Such is the will of Heaven, and man cannot defy it."
"Seeking longevity by going against the natural order has ultimately defied the will of Heaven, leading to this calamity of upheaval and the difficulty of changing the divine artifact."
By now, the intelligence regarding Chen Mu had been repeatedly analyzed by various forces countless times. Even though Chen Mu rose from a remote area in the Cold North, his life, from birth to the present, had been thoroughly investigated.
Unlike the other princes, the Chu King was born with the name 'Xuanming', given by his mother, who hoped he would possess heavenly destiny. He had always believed in fate and the cause-and-effect cycle of the world, and now it seemed to prove his thoughts.
It was Ji Yong Zhao's pursuit of longevity that led to the chaos in the world, which, in turn, led to Chen Mu's birth in the Cold North, his rise from humble beginnings, and his soaring like a dragon in the nine heavens.
If Great Xuan had remained a stable and prosperous era, with the Eight Directions under its rule, even with Chen Mu's astonishing talent, his rise would still have been dependent on the court. His path to power would have been through the ranks of officials, eventually leading to a position in the central government.
In such a situation, Chen Mu would have had numerous causes and effects with the royal Ji family, and a figure with Martial Dao as his heart's desire often wouldn't care about power. Even with the court's favor and cultivation, he wouldn't have dared to disrupt the Ji family's rule.
But Ji Yong Zhao, sitting on the throne, sought personal gain instead of governing the people, causing chaos in the world. Now, with the empire divided into nine parts, even though Chen Mu was still alone, with only the Seven Mysteries Sect by his side, if Chen Mu intended to pacify the chaos and reunify the empire, his unmatched personal martial might would naturally allow him to gather forces quickly and eventually challenge the Ji family for control of the world.
All of this stemmed from his father, Ji Yong Zhao.
Not valuing the empire and its people, the will of Heaven intervened, bringing calamity. Now, whether the thousand-year-old dynasty would still belong to the Ji family was no longer solely up to them; it also depended on Chen Mu's intentions.
With matters having come to this point, compared to the other princes, he felt somewhat indifferent. After decades of rivalry with the Jin Prince and the recent governance of the eleven states of Donglin Dao, he had grown weary of handling numerous affairs personally. He was no longer as attached to the supreme position, for it was the will of Heaven that man could not defy. Man proposes, Heaven disposes.
At this moment, as his thoughts shifted, Ji Xuanming suddenly felt a sense of clarity, as if a ray of spiritual light had passed through his mind.
He had been stuck at the Bone Marrow Washing Realm for many years due to the power struggle for the throne, and there was a flaw in his mindset, making him feel unable to pass through the Life and Death Boundary and ascend to the Blood Transformation Realm.
But at this very moment, with Prince Hanzhao inheriting the throne, the empire divided into nine parts, and Chen Mu's return causing upheaval, his temporary fatigue led to a calm state of mind. Without the persistent pursuit, his heart suddenly became serene.
In this brief moment, Ji Xuanming realized he could now cross the Life and Death Boundary and step into the Blood Transformation Realm of the Tempering Martial Art.
"Haha!"
After a brief moment of astonishment, Ji Xuanming burst into laughter.
If, before all this, his heart had been serene, without flaws, and he had stepped into the Blood Transformation Realm, he would have stood out among the eight princes. Even the Jin Prince wouldn't have been able to compete with him, and the throne would have undoubtedly been his.
But at that time, with his mind solely focused on the power struggle, his thoughts weren't clear enough, leaving him stuck at the Life and Death Boundary. Now, as he let go of his desire for the throne, the flaw in his will quietly disappeared.
It was indeed the will of Heaven playing with man.
At this moment, Ji Xuanming's thoughts stirred, and the world seemed to expand.
"Pass on my orders, I'm going into seclusion. The Eastern Provinces' affairs will be temporarily managed by the Circuit Intendant."
Ji Xuanming gently tapped the table.
A subordinate in a black robe appeared, bowed at his words, and quickly retreated.
Immediately after, Ji Xuanming tapped the table again, and another black-robed subordinate emerged, taking out a token from his hand and tossing it lightly. "Deliver this token to Yongning. During my seclusion, the armies under the Eastern Province will be temporarily under her command. Aside from the various military and political matters of the eleven Eastern Provinces, she is to disregard all other affairs of the Six Paths Alliance and the Central Region."
Finally, he added, "If Chen Mu comes to the East, ask Yan Hong to receive her on my behalf."
The black-robed man accepted the order and quickly withdrew.
Looking at the now tranquil study, Ji Xuanming shook his head slightly, feeling a bit sentimental. Although Yan Hong and he were not born of the same mother, Yan Hong's mother and his own were sisters, so Yan Hong had been close to him since childhood, like a sibling. When he and Ji Hanzhao parted ways, he traveled to the East, dividing and ruling the land. Yan Hong accompanied him on this journey.
Yan Hong had met Chen Mu in the Outer Sea, and he was fully aware of their encounter. Although they couldn't claim a deep friendship, they had established a connection. If Chen Mu were to visit the East later, it would be fitting for Yan Hong to receive her.
Speaking of it, he felt a bit of regret.
When he saw Yan Hong narrate the events in the Outer Sea, he admired Chen Mu greatly. If only Yan Hong were stronger and their friendship deeper, perhaps he could have tried to bring them together. After all, his sister had always been inclined towards the Martial Dao, and Chen Mu, with her unparalleled martial arts in the world, was exactly the person Yan Hong admired.
...
The news of Chen Mu's return to Great Xuan elicited varied reactions from the princes, but it once again stirred the world, which had been relatively calm for half a year after the division of the Nine Provinces. Dark undercurrents surged.
It was during this time of activity from all sides that a middle-aged man, dressed in commoner's clothing, with a calm gait and a hint of weariness and serenity in his eyes, appeared at the mountain gate of the Seven Mysteries Sect.
"Who?!"
Yu Cheng, the guardian of the mountain gate, had a slight change in expression, and his eyes grew serious as he asked.
There was no hint of interrogation in his tone, but rather a sense of solemnity. Although he could barely sense any aura from the middle-aged man, the man had seemingly appeared out of thin air before the mountain path, and Yu Cheng had no prior awareness of his arrival. This indicated that the man's cultivation realm was far beyond his own, at least that of a Bone Marrow Washing Grandmaster, and possibly even a Blood Transformation existence!
Facing such a figure, even without knowing his background, Yu Cheng held a deep respect. As he quietly sent a message to the inner sect, he responded to the man's inquiry.
The middle-aged man, dressed simply, appeared like an ordinary farmer. At this moment, facing Yu Cheng's question, he calmly replied, "Please inform your superiors that Yuan Changbo has come to visit."
Yu Cheng was momentarily stunned, then immediately reacted as he realized something. His entire body trembled, and his pupils dilated, revealing a look of shock.
The name Yuan Changbo might be unfamiliar to ordinary people, but as the guardian of the Seven Mysteries Sect, Yu Cheng was well-informed about the affairs of the Cold North. This included the title 'Changbo', which was a courtesy name, with Yuan being the surname. Nowadays, few in the Cold North would address the man before him by this name, instead using his royal title—the Northern Defense King.
Yuan Hong, the Northern Defense King,
Courtesy name Changbo!
In his early years, before inheriting the royal title, he was referred to by his courtesy name. After ascending the throne, no one dared to address him by his courtesy name, and Yu Cheng had learned this when gathering intelligence about Yuan Hong.
The middle-aged man before him, dressed simply like a commoner, was none other than the Northern Defense King who ruled over the eleven provinces of the Cold North, unifying all the counties and prefectures under his governance, and dividing the Nine Provinces.
Despite his shock and disbelief, Yu Cheng was clear that it was impossible for someone with such a high cultivation realm to have the same name and dare to impersonate the esteemed Northern Defense King, who had arrived in commoner's clothing.
"Your Highness."
In the original text, there was a typo in the number sequence, but the meaning is clear.
Yu Cheng dared not be impolite and quickly bowed respectfully to Yuan Hong, saying, "I'll inform the superiors immediately."
Without mentioning the Northern Defense King's identity, just Yuan Hong's martial arts were enough to make Yu Cheng cautious. Even more concerning for Yu Cheng was that in the past, he would have immediately invited Yuan Hong into the mountain gate, but now, with the Seven Mysteries Sect closed off and strictly prohibiting entry, and with Yuan Hong arriving in commoner's clothing, entering would risk triggering the Heavenly Quake Array.
Letting Yuan Hong wait at the mountain gate was out of the question. To have a distinguished figure like the Northern Defense King, a Heaven and Man Master, wait at the gate would be an unimaginable breach of etiquette. In the entire world, which sect could have such audacity?
However,
Yu Cheng could only stiffly bow, intending to adhere to the sect’s laws and report the matter first. Just then, a slightly aged voice echoed, “Your Highness’s visit is an honor. I apologize for not greeting you sooner. This is my fault.”
Yu Cheng turned his head abruptly and saw a figure standing on the mountain path at the entrance of the Seven Mysteries Sect. Clad in a long robe, his face aged, it was none other than the Seven Mysteries Sect’s Supreme Elder, Yin Heng!
At this moment,
Yin Heng was somewhat surprised by the Northern Defense King’s arrival, but after a moment’s thought, he wasn’t overly taken aback.
He had been away for some time, leaving sect affairs in Qin Mengjun’s hands. Two days ago, he heard that Chen Mu had returned from the Outer Sea and immediately set off for the sect, arriving just in time to witness Yuan Hong’s visit in commoner’s clothing.
"Years have passed, but Elder Yin’s demeanor remains as it was."
Yuan Hong looked at Yin Heng with a touch of nostalgia.
Yin Heng was much older than him and had achieved fame before him. When Yin Heng first reached the Grandmaster Level, Yuan Hong was still a young novice. Later, when Yin Heng advanced to the Blood Transformation Realm, Yuan Hong had just entered the Marrow Washing Realm, making him a junior to Yin Heng.
Over the years, they had encountered each other multiple times in the martial world. However, they had never clashed, and no grudges were formed, which was one of the reasons why the Seven Mysteries Sect and the Northern Defense Kingdom had maintained peace before Chen Mu’s rise to prominence.
After Yuan Hong entered the Blood Transformation Realm and inherited the title of Northern Defense King, he had never met Yin Heng again.
Hearing this, Yin Heng sighed, “Back in my wandering days, I noticed your extraordinary talent. Indeed, you rose swiftly, advancing through the Marrow Washing and Blood Transformation Realms without any obstacles, reaching the Heaven and Man Level. I am ashamed, for my own talents are dull, and I have been stuck in the martial arts for many years. This Life and Death Boundary may be a lifelong obstacle for me.”
Yuan Hong shook his head with a smile, “Speaking of martial talent, I am not among the top in the world. Among my descendants, none have achieved much. It is Elder Yin who has a fine disciple, cultivating a world-renowned hero.”
Yin Heng smiled, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
At his current level, apart from martial realms, what mattered most to him was the sect’s legacy. Qin Mengjun, his disciple, had not disappointed him, reaching the Blood Transformation Realm and continuing the lineage. Chen Mu, with his extraordinary talent, had risen from obscurity, soaring like a dragon through the heavens, and was now likely the closest to invincibility in the world. Thinking of this, he felt genuinely gratified.
"The future belongs to the next generation, not something we can decide."
Yin Heng smiled and invited Yuan Hong with a bow, “Your Highness, please.”
With that,
he gently stepped, touching the earth veins of the Heaven-Earth Locking Dragon Array, and invited Yuan Hong into the sect.
Yuan Hong remained composed, stepping forward and ascending the mountain path alongside Yin Heng. After a few steps, they disappeared from view on the mountain path of the Seven Mysteries Sect.
Only the protector Yu Cheng and a few overseers were left behind, their foreheads glistening with cold sweat. They exchanged glances and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although the Seven Mysteries Sect was no longer what it used to be, with Chen Mu’s return and his entry into the Blood Transformation Realm, his name was renowned across the world. However, Chen Mu, the unparalleled one, was not them, mere sect protectors and overseers.
Facing a Heaven and Man Master in person, even with their extensive experience, they could not help but feel nervous and uneasy.
……
Just as Yin Heng led Yuan Hong into the mountain,
in the Seven Mysteries Sect’s forbidden area and the Purple Bamboo Grove on Spirit Mystic Peak, Chen Mu, who was teaching Chen Yue martial arts, and Qin Mengjun both lifted their heads, their gazes directed toward the mountain path outside the sect. A hint of surprise flashed in their eyes.
“Yuan Hong?”
Qin Mengjun was somewhat taken aback.
She had sensed Yuan Hong’s aura before, and now, as he entered the mountain with Yin Heng, she, who controlled the sect’s grand formation, immediately perceived and identified him through the Heaven-Earth Locking Dragon Array.
“A Heaven and Man Master, who could it be? It’s not that Sky Blade, so it must be...”
Although Chen Mu had never met Yuan Hong or sensed his aura, he was completely unfamiliar with Yuan Hong. However, holding Chen Yao in his arms, his eyes flickered, and he vaguely guessed the identity of the visitor.
If the visitor was indeed the Northern Defense King, then this visit could only be for him.
I was too sleepy and fell asleep, so the update is a bit late. Here’s four thousand words. Please continue to support with votes.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
