Chapter 267: Chapter 125: Divine Domain Flowing Colors
Clouds in the sky shimmered with flowing light, dazzling and eye-catching, spreading from the heavens like a fiery red sunset, illuminating half of the sky.
“What’s happened?”
Not only had he noticed something off, but everyone in Zhang Xuan’s residence was stirred, including Sun Qiang and Liu Mingyue; they came out of their rooms one by one, looking up at the sky with curiosity and surprise.
The scene before them was clearly not a normal celestial event, but rather a sign that something was happening.
“Could it be the birth of some artifact?”
Sun Qiang couldn’t help but speak up.
“Impossible…”
Zhang Xuan shook his head.
While artifacts could indeed provoke a spectacle, to cause such a commotion required a high grade, and just by the pressure alone, they would likely be unable to withstand it.
Moreover, if there really was an artifact appearing with such a grand presence, those who had left earlier, like Zhou Cang, would have certainly rushed back by now, and there wouldn’t be silence like this.
“Then it must be the arrival of some saint beast…” Sun Qiang continued to speculate.
The seven-colored glow could signify good fortune, either an artifact, a medicinal ingredient, or a saint beast—nothing else came to mind.
“Possibly…”
After pondering for a moment and unable to figure out what had happened, Zhang Xuan was just considering having Sun Qiang go out to gather intelligence when a subordinate rushed in.
“Old master, there is a man named Min Jiangtao outside requesting to see you!”
“Let him in!”
Zhang Xuan gestured, and not long after, Min Jiangtao was ushered in by the subordinate, and as soon as he entered the room, he immediately bowed with cupped fists, respectful in manner, “Lord Zhang!”
“Hmm!” Zhang Xuan nodded, looking at him curiously.
By all accounts, the man shouldn’t have come to seek him out without good reason, so his sudden appearance must mean that something had happened.
Seeing his look, Min Jiangtao hurriedly explained, “I’ve just received news; your Elder Brother from the sect has been inquiring about you today…”
“I know!” Zhang Xuan nodded.
The sudden appearance of Mo Baiye at the Wanxiang Sect and Mo Hong’s actions made it clear his movements must have been discovered.
“I’ve learnt that there’s a high possibility the master might act against you!” Hesitating briefly, Min Jiangtao shared his speculation.
He had been forced to use Red Cherry to defeat Mo Hong, initially not thinking much of it, but upon returning, he immediately realized something was amiss and discreetly sent someone to keep tabs on Mo Hong’s every move—and indeed, he noticed something awry.
Zhang Xuan acknowledged with a sound, “I’ve guessed as much!”
Although he didn’t use Mo Blade during his match with Mo Hong, the opponent was extremely strong and showed no mercy, forcing him to rely on his own understanding of Mo Blade to dodge in advance.
It must have been this that gave him away.
Still, ever since he killed Ling Buyang, he never had any illusions that his relationship with the other party could improve; a fallout was just a matter of time!
“What should we do now?” Min Jiangtao revealed a hint of anxiety.
Mo Baiye, despite teaching him the wrong saber art, was after all his old master, and the man before him was not only strong but had also shown him kindness. It was vital to stay on good terms with both and he didn’t wish to offend either.
“You can subtly hint to him about my identity… If he’s sensible, seeing your face, I’d be too lazy to bother; if not, I wouldn’t mind having the Mo Blade Sect change their leader!”
Hands folded behind his back, Zhang Xuan appeared indifferent.
At this moment, facing the Mo Blade Sect leader, he definitely had no chance of winning, but as long as he could bluff for a short while and be given a month, or even longer, the outcome might be different in a rematch!
For him, time was of the essence; he refrained from killing the aforementioned because he intended to use him as a decoy…
“Yes!”
Min Jiangtao shuddered.
“Is there anything else?” Relieved at having bluffed the other party, Zhang Xuan asked.
“Nothing, nothing… I shall take my leave then!”
Min Jiangtao, not daring to linger, turned and left.
Watching him leave, Zhang Xuan turned to Sun Qiang not far off, “Three things, first, send someone to keep an eye on the Mo Blade Sect’s movements, and if they plan to act against us, alert us in advance. Second, inquire about where we might purchase a large amount of Heavenly Mandate Vitality. Third, find out what’s exactly happening with this phenomenon in the sky…”
“Yes!”
Sun Qiang bowed and left.
With his strength, monitoring the Mo Blade Sect was unrealistic; however, with enough money, procuring any desired intelligence was not an impossible task.
Two hours later, Sun Qiang hurried back, a glance betraying a note of urgency in his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Zhang Xuan frowned upon noticing his odd behavior.
Sun Qiang reported, “Replying to the young master, I’ve inquired about the phenomenon in the sky, and it seems to be related to Empyrean Kong shi…”
“Tell me in detail!”
Zhang Xuan’s expression grew stern.
With so much time passing, not only had the sky’s anomaly not disappeared, but the colors had also grown denser and more resplendent, as if someone had lit a piece of the heavens on fire.
“Zhang Xuan! Zhang Xuan…”
Just as Sun Qiang was about to elaborate, shouts were heard from outside the courtyard, followed by a woman striding over behind a subordinate.
“Young master…”
The subordinate hurriedly tried to explain, attempting to stop the woman yet failing.
Hearing the address, the woman saw Zhang Xuan’s features clearly, and her beautiful eyes showed a trace of puzzlement, “You are Zhang Xuan?”
“You can leave first!”
Without addressing her inquiry, Zhang Xuan casually waved his hand, turning to the intruding woman with a slight smile, “What wind has blown Master Fu over here?”
It was none other than Master Fu Yingying from the underground market in Han Yuan City!
“It is you… I never expected your true appearance to be so handsome, even younger than I imagined…”
Fu Yingying was visibly excited.
In previous meetings, he had always a different face, and although she knew he was young, she did not anticipate such a noble and imposing presence.
“Cough cough!” Zhang Xuan felt a bit speechless.
Being handsome was beyond his control.
Ah, troublesome!
“I have urgent matters for you, do you remember our deal in Han Yuan City? Is it still valid?”
After a sigh, Fu Yingying stopped fretting and asked directly, “I’ve just been informed that the family selection contest will begin this afternoon. Do you have time now… to help me?”
“This afternoon?” Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
He had agreed to help her in the family selection, with half a month arranged prior, but it had only been six or seven days; could a grand family’s definite schedule change so suddenly?
“Yes!”
Fu Yingying’s eyes revealed a mixture of urgency and helplessness, “I had hoped to prepare more upon my return, to reduce some of your burdens, but before I could, I received this news…”
“Family selection contests are certainly rigorous, with every step pre-designed in advance; why the rush?” Zhang Xuan was still puzzled, finding it somewhat farcical.
Fu Yingying looked up at the sky, “What else but this sudden anomaly?”
“Ah?”
Zhang Xuan was even more surprised.
“That in the sky is called Divine Domain Flowing Colors, a special phenomenon that occurs when the core of the Heaven Mandate Domain is activated!”
Fu Yingying explained.
“Divine Domain Flowing Colors? Core activated? The Heaven Mandate Domain you’re talking about… could it be Zhilan Valley?”
Startled, Zhang Xuan suddenly thought of something, his pupils narrowing, and he rapidly glanced at Sun Qiang nearby, who also nodded, prompting excitement and anticipation to surge within him.
The core of the Heaven Mandate Domain being activated… Could it be that Empyrean Kong shi was about to forge it fully?
Nearby the Zhou Yi Dynasty, there was only one Heaven Mandate Domain—Zhilan Valley.
Empyrean Kong shi had been chased into it and had been quiet since.
And he had made a grueling journey here for the purpose of rescuing him.
Yet before he had found a way into the Domain, the other party had already activated its core… Could this mean that the forging was not far from completion, and success could come at any moment?
If so, that would indeed be wonderful.