Meng Jingzhou patted Lu Yang’s shoulder and said, “You’ve finally also become excellent enough for someone to come asking for your hand in marriage.”
Lu Yang looked at Meng Jingzhou, “Also?”
Meng Jingzhou proudly said, “Since I was young, royal relatives, powerful ministers, and people from reputable sects have come to my house to propose marriage, treating their daughters as if they were not their own, to become my fiancée. It’s just that my parents and the clan elders have always been extremely firm in their refusal; otherwise, I would be...”
Lu Yang cut in, “Otherwise, you’d be suffering from kidney deficiency?”
Meng Jingzhou angrily said, “I would be a charming young master!”
The two wrestled, using the Tiger Fist technique, causing howls to echo from the clouds. Yun Zhi concentrated on flying, ignoring them.
Lu Yang transformed into a tiger demon, pinning Meng Jingzhou down with one claw, making Meng Jingzhou beg for mercy.
Ultimately, Meng Jingzhou’s Tiger Fist was no match for Lu Yang’s true tiger form.
After the fight, Lu Yang still couldn’t understand, had the excellent qualities he displayed in Yanjiang County really reached the level where people would come to propose marriage?
And “proposing marriage”, “the woman’s side changing their mind”, “having a powerful soul inside”, why did these elements feel so familiar? (TL Note: Common trope seen in chinese cultivation novels such as Battle Through the Heavens or Against the Gods)
...
In the Great Xia Dynasty, the imperial city, the palace.
Above the hall, a dignified man dressed in black with golden patterns sat in a high position, serious and without smiles. The ministers below shouted long live, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and gravity.
“Let my dear ministers rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor Xia scanned the ministers and took out a newly received memorial: “I have just received a memorial from the governor of Qingzhou, saying that a place called Commoner Town in Qingzhou has seen the revival of five ancient Unity Stage beings, forming domains. The master of the Dao Seeking Sect happened to pass by and took his two disciples to kill three of the Unity Stage beings.”
As these words were spoken, the ministers sighed in relief. The revival of five Unity Stage beings was no small matter; fortunately, Daoist Non-Speaker encountered them. If it were another Unity Stage being, they would have directly fallen at Commoner Town.
Although Daoist Non-Speaker’s reputation was not very good, having tricked many when they were young, his strength was undoubtedly top-notch among Unity Stage beings.
“But there are still two Unity Stage beings who have escaped, and both are at the peak of Unity Stage,” Emperor Xia reminded the ministers, pinpointing the crux of the matter.
After the court session, Emperor Xia returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to review new memorials.
“Your Majesty, Duke Jingyan of Qin has something to report,” the chief eunuch whispered.
Emperor Xia did not look up: “Let him in.”
After Duke Jingyan of Qin entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he saw Emperor Xia busy reviewing memorials and remained silent, standing respectfully until the emperor finished with the most important ones before he spoke up.
“What does Duke Jingyan of Qin wish to discuss?” Emperor Xia’s expression was solemn as he looked at the duke, who dared not meet his eyes directly.
“Your Majesty, I believe we cannot be too cautious with the Dao Seeking Sect. Yun Zhi of the Dao Seeking Sect, once a disciple, defeated the masters of the Five Great Immortal Sects, creating an unprecedented record. Since then, she has been rarely seen in action, but every time she makes a move, it shocks everyone. In these hundreds of years, her cultivation must have reached a terrifying level.”
“I’m concerned that her presence could shake the foundation of the dynasty. After all, the Dao Seeking Sect was established during the Da Yu era, having experienced ‘the division of the realm’ and ‘the founding of the Great Xia’. It’s possible they harbor ambitions to replace us.”
“This is not just my personal opinion. On my way to court, I even heard a servant singing ‘With the Dao thriving, the world is at peace.’”
Emperor Xia frowned. Seeing this, Duke Jingyan of Qin knew the emperor had begun to doubt the Dao Seeking Sect and did not say more, taking his leave.
Emperor Xia called the chief eunuch: “Check who Duke Jingyan of Qin has met recently, especially his dealings with the Demon Realm.”
“Yes.”
Emperor Xia sneered inwardly, seeing that not everyone in the court stood with the Great Xia.
“Creating a rift between me and the Dao Seeking Sect, what a clever idea.”
After his accession to the throne, Emperor Xia visited each of the Five Great Immortal Sects. During his visit to the Dao Seeking Sect, he met Yun Zhi and was astonished by her, feeling she was unfathomable. Despite his efforts to investigate, he could not discern Yun Zhi’s background and directly went to the imperial forbidden area to ask his ancestors if they knew of a female cultivator named Yun Zhi in the Dao Seeking Sect.
The ancestor was silent for a long time before replying with only one sentence: “The strongest of the Five Great Immortal Sects.”
Not satisfied, Emperor Xia persisted, “How does she compare to you, ancestor?”
“Don’t ask anymore.”
Emperor Xia was kicked out by the ancestor, feeling a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.
(End of the chapter)