Chapter 584: I'm Here

"Chu Liang..."

Inside the Divine Mirror of the Eight Trigrams, Chu Liang's teammates surrounded him with worried expressions.

Chu Liang remained seated on the ground cross-legged, with two fingers on his left hand extended like a sword. A faint yet powerful sword qi swirled around him. The invisible force attacked anything that entered within a three-chi[1] radius of Chu Liang.

Jiang Yuebai and the others were afraid they would disturb him, so they did not even dare try approaching.

The group had entered this hidden realm together to cultivate, and after tens of days of Perfect Qi Circulation, their cultivation levels had advanced considerably. Furthermore, Chu Liang had already prepared the treasures of nature they needed for their breakthroughs early in advance. That meant they could advance once they reached the critical point of their level.

When the seventy days were over, they prepared to leave the hidden realm. However, that was when they discovered that Chu Liang had fallen into a strange state.

His Perfect Qi Circulation had long since stopped, replaced by a mysterious sword qi infused with Dao essence. Anyone who approached instinctively sensed there was something threatening about it.

Immortal Jiuyi and Wang Xuanling rushed over. With one glance, they figured out what was happening to Chu Liang.

"He's in a state of enlightenment."

Nevertheless, it was precisely because they understood what was happening that they were even more shocked than Jiang Yuebai, Xu Ziyang, and Ling Ao.

This state of enlightenment was not a simple moment of sudden insight. It was a mysterious state that only those pursuing a Great Dao would experience, achieving Unity Between Person and Dao.

For cultivators at the realms in the Heavenly Gate, this was a rare state that they might experience but could not seek out. Usually, the lowest realm a cultivator might experience this state of enlightenment was the sixth realm. That was because they needed enlightenment to open up the Heavenly Gate and advance to the seventh realm.

After reaching the seventh realm, it was highly unlikely they would be able to make further progress in their cultivation through traditional cultivation methods. They had to depend on moments of enlightenment to advance their cultivation.

In the Human Gate phase of cultivation, the focus was on strengthening the cultivator's physique. In the Earthly Gate phase, the focus went beyond the cultivator's corporeal body. In the Heavenly Gate phase, the focus was on a Great Dao.

Chu Liang was only at the middle stage of the fifth realm. How could his understanding of a Great Dao have reached such a high level?

Sensing the flow of Dao essence around them, Immortal Jiuyi mused, "He is experiencing enlightenment for the Great Dao of Severing the Void. This Dao essence does not belong to one of the Mount Shu Sect's cultivation legacies, nor is it associated with my sect. What triggered this enlightenment?"

Wang Xuanling was equally bewildered, but he quickly recalled the matter at hand. "The envoys from the Imperial City are already waiting outside. If he doesn't emerge from the state soon..."

The state of enlightenment could last mere moments, or it could stretch across decades. By then, Chu Liang would emerge to find himself in an extremely different world.

It was simply not an option for them to wait indefinitely for him to emerge from that state.

"Then it's up to you to decide what's more important."

If it were a disciple of the Fog-Hidden Mountain of Immortals, Immortal Jiuyi would have made the decision without hesitation. Nevertheless, this was a matter for the Mount Shu Sect; it was not his place to interfere.

There were only two possible choices. The first was to let Chu Liang continue receiving enlightenment. That would grant him tremendous benefits and possibly change the course of his life. However, this would mean that he might not make it in time for the final round of the Assembly of Immortal Sects. Chu Liang was undoubtedly the Mount Shu Sect team's ace. Without him, their performance would suffer.

The second option was to forcibly pull Chu Liang out of his state of enlightenment. This was a feat that both Wang Xuanling and Immortal Jiuyi could accomplish. Doing that would prematurely end Chu Liang's precious opportunity to gain enlightenment, but he would then be able to participate in the final round of the assembly.

Faced with this decision, Wang Xuanling did not hesitate in the slightest.

He stated definitively, "His future is more important, of course."

The Mount Shu Sect had already made it far enough into the Assembly of Immortal Sects; they wouldn't regret it even if they advanced no further. A disciple who could attain enlightenment at the fifth realm was the true hope for the sect's future resurgence.

Wang Xuanling turned around and spoke to Jiang Yuebai, Xu Ziyang, and Ling Ao. "You three head to the Imperial City. I'll stay here and ensure Chu Liang finishes attaining his enlightenment."

Jiang Yuebai and the others nodded. "Understood."

"In that case, I'll let him remain in the hidden realm," Immortal Jiuyi said. "Time flows faster here, so he may still make it in time for the Battle at the Imperial City."

"Thank you, Sect Leader Jiuyi!" Wang Xuanling exclaimed, sincerely expressing his gratitude.

Chu Liang's enlightenment might be linked to him entering the Divine Mirror of the Eight Trigrams, so it was very important that he had Immortal Jiuyi's assistance.

Wang Xuanling gazed deeply at Chu Liang and the sword qi circling him. The old man seemed to have gotten a glimpse of what the Mount Shu Sect would be like a century from now.

...

The vicinity of the Imperial City was buzzing with bustling crowds.

The imperial court and the higher-ups of various immortal sects were seated atop the city walls, while commoners crowded around the Dragon Terrace, watching the clouds and fog ascend from midair, rising into the sky.

The clouds and fog gradually parted, revealing the Water-Moon Mirror Flower's projection of the scenes within the Corridor City.

The Battle at the Imperial City should have already begun by now, but the ceremonial parade wasn't over yet. Just as some people in the crowd threw out curses and complaints, the last procession finally slowly entered the main street.

The person in the lead had fair, radiant skin that seemed to glow like jade. As she rode in silently on a celestial horse, she resembled a fairy appearing among mortals. Her presence alone brought quiet to Heavenly Street.

She was the head disciple of the Mount Shu Sect—Jiang Yuebai.

Behind her was Xu Ziyang, sitting tall and perfectly upright. The eldest senior brother of Jade Sword Peak had a determined gaze and striking features.

Before Chu Liang's sudden rise in status, Xu Ziyang and Jiang Yuebai had long been known as the twin pillars of the Mount Shu Sect—their top two disciples.

Xu Ziyang even had some fans. As the procession moved through the streets, he drew the attention of many young single and married women.

Riding on a horse behind Xu Ziyang was a short-haired youth who was not well known.

Huh? Is that it?

After seeing the last person in the procession, the same question popped into the minds of those in the crowd.

Where is the Young Hero with the Divine Whip?

Previously, only a small proportion of the capital's citizens knew about Chu Liang. However, after making a name for himself in the Competition of a Hundred Sects, he was now one of the most celebrated figures among the immortal sects. Many people had gathered there just to see him.

Someone yelled, "Where is the Young Hero with the Divine Whip?"

"The Young Hero with the Divine Whip! The Young Hero with the Divine Whip!"

"..."

Hearing the crowd's chants, those within the Imperial City looked puzzled too.

During the last seven days, the teams preparing for the Battle at the Imperial City would have been cultivating intensely. Nevertheless, they would have done it in a way that ensured their safety, preventing any mishaps that might lead to their absence in the final round. It was extremely rare for anyone to miss such an important event.

After the Mount Shu Sect's procession entered Corridor City, a palace attendant approached the city wall. "Your Majesty, all ten teams have arrived. Shall we commence the Battle at the Imperial City?"

On the city wall, the emperor was seated in a throne, surrounded by members of the imperial family and officials of the imperial court.

He asked, "Why has my younger brother not arrived? Did something happen to him?"

Warrior Lao said, "Your Majesty, there is news from the temporary imperial residence..."

Then he stepped closer to the emperor and whispered the rest.

The emperor furrowed his brows slightly. "Enlightenment..."

It was, of course, a tremendously wonderful thing that Chu Liang was experiencing a state of enlightenment, but there was no telling how long it would last. It was unlikely he would be able to make it in time for the Battle at the Imperial City, marking the end of his participation in this year's Assembly of Immortal Sects.

Nonetheless, right when the emperor was about to declare the start of the final round, a tall, gorgeous woman with an aggressive and domineering demeanor in the Mount Shu Sect's seating area jumped to her feet.

She yelled, "Hang on!"

The emperor looked at Di Nufeng exasperatedly.

Given that they were in a public setting, he refrained from addressing her as Second Aunt and simply asked, "What is it?"

Di Nufeng spoke casually, with her arms folded into her sleeves. "My disciple hasn't arrived yet. Can we wait for a bit longer?"

Before the emperor could reply, someone in the Penglai Supreme Sect's seating area stood up. This man had bronze skin, a cold, steely expression, and a tall and muscular physique that strained against his crimson Daoist robe. He was none other than Daoist Chi Niu of Penglai.

After the second round of the assembly, many more people had gone there to watch the Battle at the Imperial City. The Penglai Supreme Sect now had two more rows of spectators in their seating area—higher-ups who were there to observe the battle.

Daoist Chi Niu had previously clashed with the Mount Shu Sect over the purchase of one of the six demon-slaying treasures. Chu Liang had outplayed him and won the bid for the treasure.

Despite failing to acquire the treasure, Daoiust Chi Niu had thought that he had inflicted major financial damage onto the Mount Shu Sect. However, Chu Liang's subsequent success in managing Red Cotton Peak turned the Mount Shu Sect into a wealthy new commercial powerhouse in the world of cultivators, with riches rivaling even Taotie City. The money they had lost in the auction was likely of little consequence now.

So, when Daoist Chi Niu saw that the Mount Shu Sect was trying to delay the start of the Battle at the Imperial City due to Chu Liang's absence, he couldn't just stay silent.

He jumped up and shouted, "The start time for the Battle at the Imperial City was set long in advance. If someone hasn't arrived, it counts as he has withdrawn from the battle. How can we delay the entire event for one person?"

"What's the rush?" Di Nufeng shot a glance at him. "Are you in a hurry to pay respects at your parents' graves?"

"You—!" Daoist Chi Niu glared at her. "How insolent! Are all members of the Mount Shu Sect this rude?"

"It's just me; don't drag the whole of the Mount Shu Sect into this," Di Nufeng replied calmly. "Just because you look like a pile of cow dung in a humanoid form doesn't mean everyone from Penglai is ugly, right?"

"What?!!" Daoist Chi Niu uttered, his face flushed with anger. He raged, "You shrew—"

"So what if I'm a shrew? Didn't a shrew give birth to you?" Di Nufeng rolled her eyes and then shook her head. "I just said a few words, and your face turned so red. Do you have a screw loose? You might as well change your Daoist title.

Hm,

you've got a big head and a thick neck. You don't seem like a red bull; you're more like a wild pig."

Daoist Chi Niu rolled up his sleeves angrily. "I—"

Di Nufeng interrupted. "You what? Did you suddenly realize you're too ugly and want to say 'I'm sorry' to everyone here? Let me tell you, it's too late! The damage is done.

"If you plan to atone for the damage you've inflicted to the mortal realm by taking your own life, you should find a dark and deserted place. After all, if you scare some kids with your corpse, your merit points, which have already been deducted until there's nothing left, will have to be deducted even further when you get to the netherworld."

Daoist Chi Niu pointed at Di Nufeng. "You—"

Di Nufeng interrupted him again. "What about me? Do you want to ask why I'm scolding you and going overboard with my insults? Well, do you know why you're angry? It's because lies don't hurt. It's the truth that cuts like a knife. You're only angry because my words hit you where it hurts."

Daoist Chi Niu looked around at everyone, his hands trembling with rage. "She—"

"What? You're a full grown adult, yet you're looking for someone to help fight your case like a child? Matters of the martial world should be handled the way it's done in the martial world. Are you even a man?" Di Nufeng pressed on. "It's pointless for us to just keep talking. I propose we add an extra segment—an exhibition match. The two of us will have a duel. How about that?!"

Daoist Chi Niu was so infuriated that it looked like smoke was going to come out of his ears. "Aaaaaaah!!!"

At that moment, someone pressed their hand firmly on Daoist Chi Niu's shoulder. It was a slim man in black robes—Daoist Xuan Lu.

He calmly held Daoist Chi Niu back and said, "Don't waste time with her."

Daoist Xuan Lu stepped forward and ignored Di Nufeng. He directed his gaze at the emperor and the Imperial Supervisory Commissioner instead.

He said, "The time for the Battle at the Imperial City was set early in advance. We've already delayed the start of the battle for too long. The sects of the Divine Nine and the Terrestrial Ten are all present. Why should everyone wait for one person who is late? Is he being given special treatment because he's Your Majesty's younger brother?"

The emperor's expression darkened at those words.

He had no choice but to say, "Since Chu Liang of the Mount Shu Sect still has not arrived even after the long delay, the Battle at the Imperial City shall—"

Right then, a beam of swordlight streaked across the sky at tremendous speed, descending like a meteor into Corridor City.

Accompanying the meteor's descent was a loud, drawn-out yell.

"I'm heeeeeeere!"

1. Basically around one metre in total. ☜