Chapter 259: Chapter 259: You Are Our Mount Shu’s Hope
“Hundreds of people?!”
Ye Wen, as well as the elders and disciples of the Martial Alliance, upon hearing Grandmaster Chen’s words, were all greatly shocked, dumbfounded as if turned to wooden chickens.
In Xia State, the number one major sect, Mount Shu, had records of peerless geniuses ascending to the Immortal Realm; over hundreds of thousands of years, there have been only about a dozen people.
The numbers of individuals from the Martial Alliance who ascended to the Immortal Realm were even fewer than Mount Shu, only seven or eight people.
And the recorded number of peerless geniuses who have ascended from Star Pavilion actually reached the staggering amount of several hundred!
Just how profound must the heritage of Star Pavilion be to have nurtured so many peerless geniuses?
“This is just the recorded number, who knows how many outstanding individuals have ascended to the Immortal Realm since the establishment of Star Pavilion. Star Pavilion’s foundation is unfathomable, hence it securely holds the position of this world’s number one sect. For this reason, the Zhong Zhou assembly is always hosted by Star Pavilion, and they also take it as an opportunity to establish their authority,” explained Grandmaster Chen, revealing secrets unknown to many elders and disciples of the Martial Alliance.
Ye Wen asked with puzzlement, “If the Zhong Zhou assembly is used by Star Pavilion to establish their authority, why did our Martial Alliance even accept their invitation?”
“As the number one major sect of this realm, if we Martial Alliance failed to accept the invitation from Star Pavilion, we would unavoidably offend them and leave behind hidden troubles. Moreover, attending the Zhong Zhou assembly allows us to witness the various divine skills of the strong from other provincial sects, expanding our experience; for us in the Martial Alliance, there’s not much loss. It just so happens that I have only just entered the Unity Realm at this Zhong Zhou assembly, so our Martial Alliance doesn’t hold much hope. However, that kid from Mount Shu…”
Grandmaster Chen knew that the Zhong Zhou assembly was filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with a gathering of experts, and not lacking in strong individuals who had reached Great Accomplishment in the Unity Realm.
Even among those who reached great accomplishment in the Unity Realm, due to differences in cultivation techniques and combat experience, the combat power they could exert varied.
Since Grandmaster Chen had only just entered the Unity Realm, he prepared himself for the possibility of coming in last.
After all, the sects participating in the Zhong Zhou assembly were the leading powerful sects from each provincial region; only Mount Shu, Immeasurable Temple, Martial Alliance, Hidden Dragon Temple, Inquiry Immortal Pavilion – the five major factions from Xia State – had the qualification to attend.
Grandmaster Chen was entirely resigned; after all, as long as he was prepared to come in last, there would be no burden left.
But Grandmaster Chen thought of Lu Changsheng, who had succeeded Daoist Taiyuan as the Sect Leader of Mount Shu.
Lu Changsheng single-handedly turned the tide during the great calamity of Mount Shu, and it was also thanks to him exchanging the “Hundredfold Desolate Force” for Grandmaster Chen’s “Baji Fist,” which allowed Grandmaster Chen, who had cultivated the Hundredfold Desolate Force, to smoothly pass the six-fold Heavenly Tribulation. Grandmaster Chen greatly admired this junior.
“Taiyuan, so you were eager to hand over the position of Sect Leader of Mount Shu to your disciple because you wanted him to represent Mount Shu in combat. Although you were once Mount Shu’s number one talent and given time, you would eventually become a peak Unity Realm powerhouse, unfortunately, the timing of this Zhong Zhou assembly is unfavorable for the several major sects of Xia State. Xia State’s major sects aren’t at their strongest, which is why you have pinned your hopes on a junior disciple whose cultivation has progressed by leaps and bounds.”
Grandmaster Chen slammed his palm down with a sudden realization of Daoist Taiyuan’s intentions.
Daoist Taiyuan truly lived up to his reputation as the most talented individual of the previous generation of Mount Shu, having even anticipated this move in advance.
“So does this mean, when Fairy Pavilion Master Su Qian’er handed the position of Pavilion Master over to her disciple Xia Ningxue, her purpose was the same? Both of you are too cunning, a pity I don’t have such an outstanding disciple and still have to carry the big banner myself…”
Upon understanding the rationale, Grandmaster Chen even felt a twinge of envy.
Lu Changsheng and Xia Ningxue, in the final moments, defeated the Demon Lord with the Holy Spirit Sword Art, concluding the great calamity of Xia State; they truly are peerless geniuses of Xia State.
Although Ye Wen, the leading disciple of the Martial Alliance, also had the potential to become a Unity Realm powerhouse, he ultimately fell short compared to the Innate Taoist Body of Lu Changsheng and the Lingwa Holy Body of Xia Ningxue.
Grandmaster Chen would have to enter the fray himself.
Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, the newly appointed Pavilion Master Xia Ningxue received an invitation from Star Pavilion.
The three elders of Star Pavilion looked down their noses upon seeing that Xia Ningxue’s cultivation was only at the ninth layer of the Void Refinement Realm, not even at the Unity Realm.
How could it be that the major sects in Xia State are so feeble? Is there not a single strong cultivator?
“I shall attend the Zhong Zhou assembly punctually, someone see the guests out.”
Xia Ningxue’s face was cold as ice, and upon seeing the arrogant looks on the faces of various elders of Star Pavilion, she didn’t engage in idle chatter and stuck to the matter at hand, ordering someone to see the guests off.
The lady in green, worldly and wise, faintly sensed that both Xia Ningxue’s constitution and the Immortal Sword behind her were extraordinary.
Although the presence of Unity Realm powerhouses could be felt within Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, the fact that an elder at the ninth layer of Void Refinement Realm was made Pavilion Master perhaps suggested some hidden reasons.
Nonetheless, the lady in green needed to accompany the Star Pavilion elders to inform other sects across different states, so it was inconvenient for her to linger at Misty Peak any longer.
“The talents of Xia State’s current generation truly leave much to be desired; I hope the sects in Luzhou will have great accomplished Unity Realm experts, otherwise the upcoming Zhong Zhou assembly will be dreadfully dull.”
“Yes, indeed.”
The few elders of Star Pavilion chatted as they flew away on their swords.
Inquiry Immortal Pavilion Master Su Qian’er watched the elders from Star Pavilion depart, her white garment fluttering and the corners of her mouth rising slightly, “At the Zhong Zhou assembly, my disciple will surely become renowned far and wide. By then, your Star Pavilion might just overturn.”
Mount Shu, Ten Thousand Swords Peak.
After receiving an invitation from Star Pavilion, Lu Changsheng went to consult with Taiyuan and Situ Kong.
Having lived for several thousand years, both Taiyuan and Situ Kong were knowledgeable and ought to know the ins and outs of Star Pavilion.
“Star Pavilion’s strength is formidable, with a heritage of hundreds who have ascended to the Immortal Realm. Therefore, the legacy they have left behind is incredibly profound. Our Mount Shu only has Ancestor Daoist Taiqing and the ninth Sect Leader, Immortal Green Lotus, who made a name for themselves at the Zhong Zhou assembly. Since then, we have been neither superior nor inferior.”
“Changsheng, as the Sect Leader of Mount Shu, the responsibility for the Zhong Zhou assembly falls on your shoulders,” said Taiyuan, placing his hand gravely on Lu Changsheng’s left shoulder.
Grand Elder Situ Kong also came over, placing his hand on Lu Changsheng’s right shoulder, “Even if I, your grand uncle-master, were to represent our Mount Shu at the Zhong Zhou assembly, I would not be able to achieve any ranking. Do your best, you are Mount Shu’s hope.”
“…”
Why did Lu Changsheng feel like he was tricked into becoming the twenty-eighth Sect Leader of Mount Shu?
With over a hundred years remaining until the grand Zhong Zhou convention, he would have to compete with the strongest cultivators of this world. It was uncertain to what extent he could enhance his cultivation in a little over a century.
Based on the descriptions by Taiyuan and Situ Kong, Star Pavilion surpassed Mount Shu by a vast margin. It was very likely that peak Unity Realm experts were in command there.
Lu Changsheng took a deep breath, “I’ll give it my best shot when the time comes, but I cannot make any promises.”
What a joke, to reach the peak of the Unity Realm in just a hundred years, even Lu Changsheng couldn’t be sure of it.