“Step aside, bystanders!”
Thousands of imposing and well-armed Imperial Guards appeared to clear the area, with dozens of swordsmen leading the way, and divine beasts pulling the chariot—there was a great display of prestige.
A faint scent of incense wafted in the air.
Lu Changsheng, accompanied by several disciples, did not wish to attract attention and consciously stepped aside.
“Swordsmen of Daluo Golden Immortal rank serving as bodyguards, and the divine beast Baize pulling the chariot; the person inside must surely be of noble status.”
Following Lu Changsheng, Lin Qingzhi came to witness the grandeur of the Immortal Imperial City in the Immortal Dynasty; it wasn’t hard to guess that the person in the chariot must be an important figure from the Immortal Dynasty.
A local cultivator commented, “You’re not wrong; that’s none other than the Crown Princess of our Immortal Dynasty. She is the apple of the Dragon Emperor’s eye—extremely treasured. Moreover, she is now a Divine King Realm powerhouse. It is said that the Crown Princess even has a partial lineage of the Supreme Imperial Physique, and her talents are incredibly high. If it weren’t for the Immortal Dynasty’s rule that the throne is passed down to men and not women, the throne might very well belong to the Crown Princess.”
The Crown Princess of the Immortal Dynasty?
No wonder the procession was so grand.
The Immortal Dragon Emperor has a group of sons and daughters, among whom the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess have the highest cultivation levels, with the Crown Princess surpassing the Crown Prince by one or two realms.
From the information that Lu Changsheng knew, the Immortal Dragon Emperor’s dozen or so princes and princesses all had, more or less, a portion of the Supreme Imperial Physique lineage—the question was how much.
To date, only the Heavenly Emperor and the Emperor Ku possess the pure bloodline of the Supreme Imperial Physique.
The Supreme Imperial Physique is known as the number one physique in the Immortal Realm; the Great Perfection of the Supreme Imperial Physique is extremely fearsome.
Although the lineage of the Immortal Dragon Emperor does not possess a complete Supreme Imperial Physigue, just the awakening of part of the bloodline has allowed them to easily enter the Divine King Realm, which mortals could only dream of achieving.
“Hm?”
A corner of the chariot’s curtain was lifted, revealing an ethereal beauty who curiously peered outside, the dragon and phoenix patterns on her hairpin gently swaying.
Her bright gaze swept past Lu Changsheng.
There was something unusual about this man.
Even though Lu Changsheng had used a Disguise Pill and concealed his aura, she still noticed him.
“To think I would be fortunate enough to witness the Crown Princess’s immortal beauty today is truly a blessing for three lifetimes!”
“The Crown Princess indeed lives up to rumors—the epitome of celestial beauty, astonishing to behold!”
The surrounding cultivators were utterly entranced.
As the Crown Princess’s chariot passed, no one could have imagined that the Crown Princess would lift the curtain, seemingly observing those outside.
What status and cultivation level did the Crown Princess possess? That they could glance upon her celestial face was akin to their tombs emanating smoke in good fortune.
“It is indeed the lineage of the Supreme Imperial Physique. Even with my aura concealed, to still be noticed—I wonder what she realized.”
Lu Changsheng’s gaze met with the Crown Princess’s without fear.
The Crown Princess was indeed beautiful, but, well, Xue’er was even more so.
The Crown Princess’s eyebrows furrowed; she could not see through Lu Changsheng’s facade.
She then let the curtain fall back into place.
The Confucian Sect Assembly was imminent, with The Eight Great Confucian Sects and Confucian scholars from all over gathering in the Immortal Imperial City—experts abounded, hidden dragons and crouching tigers, and some exceptional figures with depths unfathomable had entered the city, concealing their own auras, which was not surprising.
As long as they did not cause trouble in the Imperial City, the Crown Princess had no reason to take action.
After the Crown Princess’s procession passed, Lu Changsheng continued to stroll around the Imperial City with his disciples.
“Apart from the Imperial Palace, it is Ziyang Academy outside the city that has the most substantial presence. The Immortal Dynasty reveres Confucianism and respects Taoism; no wonder there are no temples.”
Lu Changsheng was somewhat familiar with the situation in the Immortal Dynasty.
In three days, the Confucian Sect Assembly will officially commence. The Nine Great Confucian Sects and tens of thousands of large and small Confucian Sects will gather at Mount Ziyang’s Dragon Arena outside the Imperial City.
Not everyone has the privilege to enter the Dragon Arena, because the number of Confucian scholars gathering this time is simply too many for Mount Ziyang to accommodate.
Only the Great Confucians who have received an invitation from Ziyang Academy can bring their disciples into the venue, and each Great Confucian is limited in the number of disciples they can bring.
Other Confucian scholars without an invitation can only wait outside the venue.
Even so, this is an invaluable opportunity for them to listen to Dao teachings.
If they are fortunate enough to hear a lecture on the classics from a Saint-ranked Great Confucian and reach an epiphany, then it is a tremendous gain.
“Weilong Academy has arrived!”
The disciples of Ziyang Academy announced, and everyone paid their respects solemnly.
Weilong Academy, one of The Nine Great Confucian Sects, has produced countless Great Confucians, and in the past hundred million years, even a Saint has been born.
The last Confucian Sect Assembly was hosted by Weilong Academy.
A breath of Vast Righteous Qi, a thousand miles of the Merry Wind.
A group of elegant and dashing Confucian Scholars appeared, with the mark of the Yellow Dragon on their robes.
“Bailu Academy has arrived!”
A group of Confucian Scholars in fluttering white robes arrived soon after.
Bailu Academy is also one of the Nine Great Confucian Sects!
Their robes bear the insignia of the White Deer on the chest.
Normally, the Nine Great Confucian Sects would not gather together, except for at the Confucian Sects’ Convention.
The lead figure of the Bailu Academy, dressed in a white robe and holding a folding fan, appeared indifferent and detached.
His aura seemed unremarkable, yet no one dared to treat him with disrespect.
Could the leader of the Bailu Academy, itself one of the Nine Great Confucian Sects, be a mere Mortal?
“Is he, could he possibly be the White-robed Scholar who is ranked 72nd on the Divine King Ranking?”
“Unexpectedly, Bailu Academy is led by him!”
“This person is not far from attaining sainthood.”
Even the Great Confucians and Disciples of Ziyang Academy paid their respects in a solemn manner.
Those among the top hundred of the Divine King Ranking are essentially all freaks of nature.
The White-robed Scholar, with expectations of sainthood.
“South Foot Academy has arrived!”
“Black Tortoise Academy has arrived!”
“Huangliang Academy has arrived!”
…
One after another, Great Confucians and Disciples of the Confucian Sects arrived, with the potent aura of Mount Ziyang everywhere to be found.
“Brother Shanyang, long time no see.”
“Brother Boren, since our last farewell, ninety-nine hundred thousand years have passed. Life between heaven and earth is like a swift steed racing by, fleeting in an instant.”
Many among these Great Confucians knew each other, seizing the occasion for warm greetings and inquiries about wellbeing.
“Last time, Tianming Academy’s Disciple took first place at the Confucian Sects’ Convention. This time, our Bailu Academy shall not abdicate our responsibility to win.”
“Our Weilong Academy does not sit idly either; this time we have nurtured a fine seed with a Saint’s demeanor, who might just seize the title.”
“I’ve heard that the Master of Ziyang Academy has taken a Direct Disciple.”
“Hasn’t the Master gone without accepting disciples for over a hundred million years? What sparked his interest all of a sudden?”
“Unless the individual’s talents are freakishly high, the Master wouldn’t take them as a Direct Disciple. The Master has lived for countless ages, and his standards are exceedingly discerning.”
“Tianming Academy, Weilong Academy, Ziyang Academy, all boast Disciples of saintly bearing; it seems this Confucian Sects’ Convention is destined to be a fierce battle of dragons and tigers.”
The Nine Great Confucian Sects, situated in different directions, each wearing differently colored Daoist Robes that shone with dazzling brilliance, made for a grand spectacle.
“That old Master has actually taken a disciple; it seems this time it won’t be easy for Zi Ming to win the championship.”
Within the seats of Tianming Academy, an old man with white hair and plasters on his face drank deeply from a worn gourd while speaking to a man next to him, whose temples were also graced with white hair.
The man with graying temples was none other than Zhuo Xiangren, whom Lu Changsheng had encountered at the inn.
Zhuo Xiangren, also a master on the Divine King Ranking, spoke respectfully before the decrepit old man, “The depth of the Master’s Cultivation Level is unfathomable, and it is almost beyond measure. It has been a long time since he has taken a Disciple. This Miss Mo must not only possess exceptional talents but probably also carries Great Fortune with her.”
Thud, thud, thud.
The decrepit old man took another swig from the neck of the bottle before carelessly wiping the liquor from his mouth with his sleeve, “Let’s see what kind of genius his Disciple really is.”
At the South Foot Academy’s seats, an elder with a youthful face but white crane hair stood with his hands behind his back, suspended in midair with a diminutive stature, but no one dared to underestimate him.
This was the leader of South Foot Academy.
South Foot Academy, also one of the Nine Great Confucian Sects, is located in the southern part of the Immortal Realm, and all southern Confucian Scholars are under its wing.
The youthful-faced elder with hair like a white crane stared at the decrepit old man from Tianming Academy, “Last time at the Confucian Sects’ Convention, our Disciple from South Foot Academy was defeated by Tianming Academy. This time, my newly accepted Disciple will surely surpass Tianming Academy.”
The various Great Confucian Sects secretly competed against each other, with undercurrents surging.
“The Confucian Sects’ Convention is upon us; as a junior, I represent Ziyang Academy in welcoming all the esteemed sages here.”
A graceful figure appeared at the venue, her voice calm and composed.