Chapter 284: Chapter 275: The Underestimated Sect Leader of Mount Shu (4K)
Lu Changsheng and his companions took a brief rest in the Great Martial Dynasty before continuing their journey to Zhong Zhou.
Another three months passed, and finally, Lu Changsheng and his group entered the territory of Zhong Zhou.
Located at the center of this realm and spanning a million miles, Zhong Zhou is home to countless sects and powerful cultivators.
In comparison, Xia State is just a remote corner located in the southwestern part of this realm.
“According to the records, Star Pavilion occupies the central position of this realm in all four cardinal directions, which is also the place with the richest concentration of nature’s spiritual energy. Hence, the disciples of Star Pavilion cultivate faster than those of other sects and produce the highest number of powerful cultivators. During the previous Zhong Zhou conferences, the first place has been monopolized by Star Pavilion multiple times. Other states can only hope to compete with Star Pavilion if they birth unparalleled geniuses. Mount Shu’s most glorious period was no doubt decades of thousands of years ago with Ancestor Daoist Taiqing at the helm, who at that time overwhelmed powerful cultivators from all major sects, including the Pavilion Master of Star Pavilion.”
Situ Kong thought of the times when Daoist Taiqing led Mount Shu to its peak strength and the subsequent decline of the sect, which filled him with endless emotions.
Five hundred thousand years ago, Daoist Taiqing defeated powerful cultivators from all sects. With a shocking debut, Mount Shu rose to fame in a single battle, attracting a massive number of exceptional talents and then giving birth to other strong cultivators who ascended to the Immortal Realm.
However, after five hundred thousand years, Mount Shu gradually declined, unable to gain renown in the Zhong Zhou conference, making it difficult to recruit geniuses from other states.
“There lies the vital area of Star Pavilion.”
After more than ten days, an enormous pavilion reaching into the clouds appeared dozens of miles away.
Surrounding the colossal Star Pavilion were countless other pavilions built for ordinary Elders and Disciples to reside and cultivate.
Star Pavilion alone, inhabited by just Elders and Disciples, numbers over a million.
Streaks of flowing light descended on the gate of Star Pavilion. These cultivators came from all major states, each radiating an extraordinary aura.
“Master, there are so many strong cultivators here, much more bustling than our Mount Shu.”
Lu Qinglian was excited, feeling the powerful aura of those present.
A disciple of Star Pavilion came over: “Fellow Daoists, from whence do you hail?”
“We come from Xia State.”
“Xia State? So, you belong to sects such as Mount Shu, Immeasurable Temple, Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, and the like?”
“Precisely.”
“Please, fellow Daoists, follow me to the guest lodgings.”
The Star Pavilion disciple led Lu Changsheng and his group to the residential area for the various sects.
Located in a secluded area, Xia State was among the later arrivals, with most strong cultivators from other sects having already arrived.
Lu Changsheng could feel many powerful presences in this area, where even the rare Unity Realm cultivators were not uncommon to see.
After all, the Zhong Zhou conference was a gathering of strong cultivators from sects across all major states.
“Who are these arrivals?”
“I just heard them say at the gate of Star Pavilion that they are cultivators from Xia State.”
“Mount Shu of Xia State was once unrivaled at the Zhong Zhou conference five hundred thousand years ago, outshining even Star Pavilion at the time. However, in subsequent conferences, except for Immortal Green Lotus securing a top eight position thirty thousand years ago, they have not been able to enter the top sixteen, let alone win the championship.”
“It seems that Xia State has declined. At this Zhong Zhou conference, they are most likely just making up the numbers.”
“Indeed, their aura is quite ordinary; it seems their cultivation isn’t anything special either.”
The strong cultivators from the various sects who had arrived earlier were naturally curious about the origins of Lu Changsheng and his group.
Ever since Ancestor Daoist Taiqing of Mount Shu dominated and won the Zhong Zhou conference, Mount Shu had gained considerable fame across the states. Knowing that Lu Changsheng was the Sect Leader of Mount Shu, many people swept their Divine Sense over Lu Changsheng and his group. They found that Lu Changsheng and the others’ realms were no higher than the fifth level of the Unity Realm, with most at the first or second level, while some Sect Leaders from powerful sects looked disdainful.
Times have changed, and Mount Shu is no longer the sect that once broke Star Pavilion’s monopoly.
“It seems we are being underestimated. There’s not much we can do about it; it’s unfortunate that the decline of Xia State’s cultivation world coincides with this Zhong Zhou conference. If it had been postponed for a few thousand years, Xia State would have had several Unity Realm Great Accomplishment cultivators by then.”
Grandmaster Chen couldn’t help but lament.
Xia State has many unparalleled geniuses. The current Sect Leaders of various sects have not been cultivating for more than a few thousand years, which does not compare to some cultivators from sects in other states who have been practicing for ten thousand years.
However, the Sect Leaders of Xia State’s sects all have the potential to reach the Great Accomplishment of the Unity Realm.
Yu Xuanji, however, remained composed: “Participating in the Zhong Zhou conference isn’t just for the rank. Experiencing the cultivation techniques and Divine Skills of other sects is also crucial for our Path Comprehension.”
“Sect Master Lu!”
As Lu Changsheng and his group faced the disdain of other powerful sects, a graceful figure appeared, waving enthusiastically at Lu Changsheng.
Lu Changsheng turned to see who it was, and it was none other than the Sect Leader of Penglai Sword Sect, Penglai Fairy.
Penglai Fairy was still at the third level of the Unity Realm, but after one hundred and forty years of cultivation, she had reached the peak of the third level, only a step away from the fourth.
“Your cultivation seems to have grown stronger since our last encounter on Penglai Immortal Island.”
Penglai Fairy noticed that Lu Changsheng’s realm fluctuated between the second and fourth levels of the Unity Realm, and although his true level wasn’t clear, it was evidently much stronger than when he confronted Wind Thunder Pavilion on Penglai Immortal Island.
Lu Changsheng, who was at the second level of the Unity Realm, had previously killed Lei Tiannan of the fourth level, which meant his current combat power was even stronger.
For Unity Realm cultivators facing a lifespan of ten to twenty thousand years, one hundred and forty years was but a year in mortal terms.