Chapter 597: The Names Sung at the Dragon Terrace

The majestic Dragon Terrace gleamed with a golden radiance, its brilliance mirrored by swirling clusters of clouds that adorned the sky.

An immense crowd gathered below, their eager gazes burning with the intensity of the midday sun. Behind the Dragon Terrace stood ten towering pillars, each adorned with carvings of coiling dragons and carrying the banner of one of the ten sects participating in the Battle at the Imperial City.

As the competition progressed and sects were eliminated, the pillars were taken down one by one. Now, only a single banner remained—a white flag embroidered with gold—fluttering elegantly in the wind.

"Mount Shu Sect!"

As the Emperor of the Yu Dynasty ascended the Dragon Terrace, the deafening cheers for the Mount Shu Sect came to an abrupt halt. Traditionally, a high-ranking official from the Imperial Supervisory Bureau would make such announcements, but this time, the emperor himself stepped forward to announce the names. Clearly, the emperor was in an exceptionally good mood.

"After many days of fierce competition, the winning sect of this year's Assembly of Immortal Sects is... the Mount Shu Sect!" The emperor's voice resonated with a commanding blend of authority and delight.

The emperor was happy not just because Chu Liang held the title of Imperial Younger Brother. The main reason was that the reign of the Penglai Supreme Sect had lasted for far too long. Any sect that could defeat Penglai Supreme Sect and take the championship was sure to bring him joy.

"Ling Ao! Xu Ziyang! Jiang Yuebai!" He called out each name slowly and clearly. "And my Imperial Younger Brother, Chu Liang!"

"He is the champion of this year's Assembly of Immortal Sects!"

Each time a name was called, the twelve great drums on the city walls thundered in unison, and the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Even the auspicious clouds above seemed to join in the celebration of these young champions.

These were the most dazzling names of this generation!

In no time, their names would echo across the nine provinces and beyond, known far and wide. No matter where life took them, the glory they achieved today would be a source of pride for a lifetime.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The entire capital of Yu buzzed with excitement!

At this moment, he lay peacefully with his eyes closed in Jiang Yuebai's arms.

Jiang Yuebai sat beside him in the Imperial City's medical hall, letting him rest his head on her lap as they waited for the Imperial Supervisory Commissioner to personally tend to his injuries.

"Strange..." The Imperial Supervisory Commissioner frowned and said, "I've used my foundational qi to stabilize his life force. Although his wounds appear serious, they are only skin-deep. For someone as strong as him, the major injuries should already be repaired. It doesn't make sense for him to still be unconscious."

"Did you hear that?" Jiang Yuebai said, gently patting Chu Liang's face. "It's time to wake up."

"Mm..." Chu Liang's eyelids fluttered, but he still didn't open his eyes.

"If you keep this up, you will miss the moment when they announce your name at the Dragon Terrace. Stop faking it," Jiang Yuebai added.

Chu Liang opened his eyes immediately.

"Owh..." he groaned, rubbing the back of his head. Still sounding groggy, he added, "If you say I was unconscious, I guess I was. But even then, I swear I heard a voice... like the sound of heaven calling me back.

Jiang Yuebai smiled faintly and said in a helpless tone, "What should I do with you?"

As Chu Liang gazed at her face, he couldn't help but reflect on how some beauties appeared stunning from a distance but lost their charm up close. Jiang Yuebai, however, was different. From afar, she looked breathtaking, and up close, she was even more radiant.

"Why did you concede?" he asked.

Hearing this, Jiang Yuebai rolled her eyes at him in annoyance, thinking,

So, he heard that too. Which means he was never actually unconscious. He just tripped, fell, and conveniently let me catch him. This guy was faking it the whole time.

"That is what you deserve." After a brief pause, she stood up and pointed toward the city walls outside. "Listen, everyone's calling your name."

Chu Liang was severely injured, but as the Imperial Supervisory Commissioner had noted, they were merely wounds to his skin and flesh. For a cultivator—especially one with Chu Liang's exceptional regenerative abilities—the vital damage had already healed in no time. The remaining injuries would mend with rest and posed no serious threat. While he couldn't engage in combat for now, his movements were unaffected.

Several chambers lined the corridor, each dedicating to treating injured disciples from the Battle at the Imperial City. Yang Yuhu stood at the entrance of one of these rooms.

He stood there, listening to the sounds from outside, seemingly lost in thought.

When he saw Chu Liang emerge from the room, a hint of awkwardness crossed his face. Chu Liang, however, was the first to smile and greet him. "Brother Yang, how is your brother doing?"

"My elder brother... he's fine. A few days of rest, and he'll be back to normal," Yang Yuhu replied. After a brief hesitation, he added, "Congratulations."

Since Yang Shenlong's Azure Dragon cultivation legacy specialized in recovery, his healing process was undoubtedly as quick as Chu Liang's.

"Thank you," Chu Liang said with a slight nod.

He then leaped into the air alongside Jiang Yuebai, landing gracefully atop the high walls of the Imperial City. Ling Ao and Xu Ziyang were already there, waiting for them. With everyone gathered, they were ready to ascend the Dragon Terrace together.

The moment Jiang Yuebai and Chu Liang showed up together, the already thunderous cheers grew even more intense.

In the past, whenever Chu Liang and Jiang Yuebai were seen together, the crowd would mock Chu Liang with cries of "Scoundrel!" But now, those jeers had become cheers of "A perfect match," and no one dared to oppose it anymore.

Even if a few die-hard Jiangjiang fans refused to accept reality, someone would immediately step forward to admonish them, "He's talented, and she's beautiful—they're a match made in heaven! What right does a monster like you have to object to this?"

"Come forth!" the emperor commanded with a grand wave of his hand.

Chu Liang and the other three ascended the Dragon Terrace together, where palace attendants promptly stepped forward to dress them in golden crowns, jade belts, vibrant ribbons, and robes embroidered with red patterns. In an instant, the four were transformed, radiating dazzling splendor.

Chu Liang and Jiang Yuebai stood in the center, looking like a bridegroom and bride. Xu Ziyang gave off the image of a valiant and dignified best man, while Ling Ao... looked like the unwilling younger brother of the bride, forced to step in after their father passed out drunk and couldn't escort her.

Amid this atmosphere of universal celebration, the emperor clasped Chu Liang's hand and said, "Champion, say something to everyone."

As the new champion of the Assembly of Immortal Sects, this was Chu Liang's moment to speak. From atop the Dragon Terrace, even the softest words would echo across the entire city and be etched into everyone's memory.

He stepped forward, cleared his throat, and stood tall under the radiant glory of the moment. Even someone as accustomed to the limelight as him couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

Chu Liang composed himself briefly before finally speaking, his voice filled with excitement: "My dear friends...

"Red Cotton Peak of Mount Shu is proud to announce the opening of new shops in the Immortal's Square of the capital of Yu! To celebrate our championship this month, everything will be fifty percent off!"

...

While the citizens of the capital of Yu gathered outside the Imperial City, caught up in the excitement of the Assembly of Immortal Sects, a boy remained completely indifferent to it all.

People did not share the same joys and sorrows.

He cradled a tiny turtle in his hands, its head hanging lifelessly. The boy sat on the ground, tears streaming down his face as he sobbed quietly.

Just then, a kind and gentle voice spoke nearby.

"Little one, why are you so sad?"

The boy lifted his gaze and saw an elderly man with long white hair and a beard, wearing plain, coarse robes.

It was hard to tell how old he was, but he seemed very kind. Most of his face was hidden behind his flowing white hair, yet a warm smile shone through.

"My little turtle died..." the boy said sadly, his voice trembling. "Everyone was running over there to watch the Assembly of Immortal Sects, and my turtle accidentally crawled onto the road and got stepped on!"

"Then... do you wish for it to come back to life?" the kind elder asked suddenly.

"Huh?" The boy looked up with a strange expression. Though he was young, he knew that the dead could not return to life. "Is that even possible?" he asked.

"If you sincerely make a wish, I can help you bring it back to life," the elderly man said with a gentle smile.

Hearing this, the boy quickly closed his eyes and whispered his wish. "I sincerely wish for my turtle to come back to life."

As the words left his lips, the elderly man gently waved his hand over the turtle's lifeless body. In that moment, something miraculous happened.

The turtle's once drooping head slowly lifted, and it began moving from side to side again.

"Huh?" The boy's eyes widened in astonishment. "My turtle really came back to life!"

He gazed at the elderly man with awe, as if he were a divine being. "Grandpa, you're amazing!"

"Heheh." The elder chuckled softly and asked, "Are you happy?"

"Yes!" The boy nodded eagerly.

"Since I helped fulfill your wish, would you be willing to help me with something in return?" the elderly man asked gently.

"Yes!" The boy nodded again and asked, "What can I do to help you?"

"Help me by singing this ballad to your little friends, okay?" There was something unusual about the elderly man's voice, as though it carried a hidden power that engraved the words deeply in the boy's mind.

The ballad was long, yet the child remembered every word after hearing it just once, as though the lyrics had been etched into his soul.

The melody lingered in his mind as he hopped and skipped through the streets and alleys, eager to find his friends and sing it to them. "When the Purple Star retreats from sight,

"And Celestial Charm ascends the night,

"The Celestial Master comes from realms on high,

"To cut through demons beneath the sky. "Chaos stirs in the Dragon Pool,

"The Divine Fire Fades and Cool,

"Through mountain strife and shadowed fray,

"The Dragon-Slaying Saber lay."