Chapter 40: Chapter 39: Convergence
Translator: 549690339
When the Forbidden Places and Blessed Lands first appeared is already impossible to investigate.
According to legend, traces of Forbidden Places and Blessed Lands began to intermittently open as early as the Pre-Qin Dynasty. It is said that some people have found opportunities within and ascended to an immortal existence.
Even some claim that the three Penglai Islands sought by Emperor Shi’s envoy were a kind of
Forbidden Place and Blessed Land. The treasures hidden within could help one to become immortal.
Regrettably, this world’s civilization stretches back so far into the mists of time, and in the Tianbao years of the Tang Dynasty, an unprecedented rebellion swept across the Great Tang. Not only did it bring a once glorious empire to its knees, but it also ignited countless ancient texts, causing them to disappear without a trace.
As a result, most of the current records can only trace as far back as Emperor Suzong of Tang’s Zhide Era. Everything prior to that is a taboo subject for all the surviving books – deep mysteries hinted at only in fragments of shuffled notes and whispers of hearsay.
Even the most meticulous historians, who strive only for the truth, have left behind the names and policies of emperors from before Suzong’s reign. Yet, they completely brushed over events connected to cultivation practices.
So, most of the veritable records about Forbidden Places and Blessed Lands originated after Emperor Suzong.
According to those records, the original Forbidden Places and Blessed Lands were not numerous, and the intervals between their openings were long – a minimum of a hundred years apart. If a cultivator was unlucky, they might go their entire lives without ever stepping foot inside one.
It wasn’t until the last moments of the previous dynasty that the number of Forbidden Places and Blessed Lands began to increase. After the founder of the Great Ming overthrew the old regime, a variety of Forbidden Places and Blessed Lands began to spring up, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
Because of this, some obstinate people believed that the establishment of the Great Ming was an unparalleled event in history, a splendid achievement granted by the favor of the heavens.
The Forbidden Place and Blessed Land in Anping Prefecture first appeared after the establishment of the Great Ming, and it has opened intermittently a dozen or so times since then.
After the explorations of people of various generations, our understanding of the Forbidden Place and Blessed Land gradually matured. The longstanding powers also possessed their own hand-drawn maps.
Although Gu Ji, the prefect, has not been in Anping Prefecture for long, the government office of Anping Prefecture possesses the most complete map since the opening of the Forbidden Place and Blessed Land.
Therefore, Pei Xuanjing saved himself a lot of trouble. After coordinating with the personnel dispatched by the prefect, they headed straight for the place where the treasure was foretold to appear.
Half a month later, Pei Xuanjing and the people under the prefect’s command arrived in a plain in the Forbidden Place and Blessed Land.
“Master, according to our map, we’re less than ten miles away,” Gu San informed Pei Xuanjing.
Gu Da, Gu Er, Gu San…
These were the names that Gu Ji gave these people. Although Pei Xuanjing thought the names were a bit hastily given, he had to admit they were easy to remember.
In terms of why Gu San was talking to him instead of Gu Da…
It was because Gu Da and Gu Er were the strongest among these people. They were given special attention during the pursuit by the Liu family and got killed off as a result.
But that wasn’t the point.
Pei Xuanjing glanced at the sky and gave a command, “Tell them to rest here for two hours. We’ll leave once everyone has recuperated.”
“Yes!” Gu San was an obedient executor. Upon hearing Pei Xuanjing’s order, he had some doubts in his heart, but still followed the instructions without hesitation.
“Off you go!”
Pei Xuanjing waved his hand and found a place to sit down by himself.
He let these people rest, naturally he had his own considerations.
After half a month of continuous traveling, these people were already extremely tired. Moreover, with the treasure about to appear, they were inevitably going to encounter many rivals.
In their current state, if they were to encounter an unexpected situation, they’d end up confronting the enemy while completely drained.
Since the treasure would only appear at night, they had plenty of time now. It would be better to rest here for the time being, adjust their condition, and prepare for the upcoming events.
Two hours later, the sky gradually began to darken.
Pei Xuanjing stood up, hung the Flowing Flame Sword at his waist, and signaled Gu San, “Let’s go!”
A ten-mile distance wasn’t far to begin with.
The weakest among them was already a Seventh-grade martial artist, and they arrived at the destination after the time it took to burn one stick of incense.
The location of the treasure was in the center of a lake on the plain. When the moon reached the zenith of the sky and its glow covered the lake, the treasure would emerge from the water.
By the time Pei Xuanjing arrived, the area around the lake was already filled with numerous martial artists, at least hundreds of them, gathered in small groups.
Seeing Pei Xuanjing’s arrival with Gu San, the already tense atmosphere simmered with an additional undercurrent.
Nothing else, but a man’s reputation precedes him.
If before entering the Forbidden Place and Blessed Land, people thought Pei Xuanjing’s rise was merely a stroke of luck and the incompetence of Anping Prefecture’s major powers allowed an upstart to make a name for himself.
But one month after the opening of the Forbidden Place and Blessed Land, Pei Xuanjing, in this month, single-handedly and sword stroke by sword stroke killed countless people, creating an unparalleled reputation, that almost everyone dared not belittle.
In truth, he singlehandedly struck fear into the hearts of many, deterring them from causing further trouble.
Moreover, the story of Pei Xuanjing’s confrontation with Li Yuzhen, intimidating the monks of Diamond Gate, mysteriously got out.
All these incidents have confirmed in people’s minds that as long as Pei Xuanjing does not die prematurely, he will definitely be another Tie Qianshan.
About twenty years ago, Tie Qianshan was just the same. He rose from a nameless youth, step by step, through bloodshed and killing, carving out his own reputation and leading the small Tie Sect to its current stature — dominating the Northwest Dao.
Therefore, when Pei Xuanjing approached, the crowd that had surrounded the lakeside automatically cleared a path for him.
This is fame, this is strength, and this is what countless martial artists strive for throughout their entire lives.
Such is a man’s way!
They wish they could take your place!
Seeing Pei Xuanjing’s domineering appearance, countless people on the scene were filled with envy and jealousy, wishing they could replace him.
“Hehe.” Pei Xuanjing chuckled lightly.
Without any hesitation, he led Gu San and the others towards the open area that had been cleared for him.
He found himself growing more accustomed to the law of the jungle in this world, without feeling the slightest discomfort.
This feeling was really comfortable, easy to immerse oneself in.
“Pei Xuanjing, you’ve finally arrived!” Suddenly, someone broke the silence.
Pei Xuanjing looked in the direction of the voice. The monk from the Diamond Gate was looking at him with an unfriendly gaze.
He glanced at the few people gathered around the monk and laughed, “What, did you find some more helping hands?”