Chapter 78 – Actually, the Chapter Above This One Is Quite Important

The Rookie Rankings were one of the nine great charts of the Sea World Atlas, gathering the most talented young disciples of the cultivation world who had surpassed Foundation Establishment — every one of them figures looked up to by lower-ranked cultivators.

Having received a positive answer, Yu Zhen grew conflicted again, worried that the Hall Master might do something embarrassing. Could someone with such a formidable background really be summoned at her casual call?

But Yan Weishan came — and came very quickly at that. He bowed solemnly and said, “What guidance does Senior Jun have for me?”

Upon hearing “Senior,” Yu Zhen calmed down. As expected, this Hall Master had been demoted from above.

Jun Wenjiu, on the other hand, felt something akin to exasperated helplessness. Oh well, oh well — she had already been called “Grand-Ancestral Uncle” by someone; she could certainly get used to being called “Senior.”

“Fellow Daoist Yan, Crown Prince Changsheng has been involved in a case. However, someone observed that the sword technique she used closely resembles that of your Sword Sect. Since you happen to be here, I’ve called you over to ask a thing or two. What do you have to say?”

Not even a preamble — being a Hall Master really did make a difference. Yu Zhen stood silently to the side, fading herself into the background.

Yan Weishan was the young man who had inexplicably appeared outside Xiaohan Town back then to reproach Zhan Changfeng for using books to exchange for manual labor, then just as inexplicably left.

He chewed over Jun Wenjiu’s words and gestured uncertainly at his own waist. “Senior is asking about that child?”

“Is that so?” Jun Wenjiu turned to ask Yu Zhen — she hadn’t paid attention to the matter and didn’t even know how old Crown Prince Changsheng was.

“That is correct,” Yu Zhen replied.

Yan Weishan relaxed. “This child does indeed use our sect’s foundational sword art. However, which senior within the sect has taken a liking to her is not yet known. If she is involved in a case with the Bureau of Patrol, handle it impartially.”

He had only recognized Zhan Changfeng’s sword technique by chance — he had seen her repel bandits on the road to Huangzhou — which was why he had paid her closer attention.

Zhan Changfeng using books as incentive to have others build a house for her was not inherently wrong, but those who walked the path of the sword had their eyes and heart fixed solely on the sword. They upheld a single word — sincerity — and their way was one of forging ever forward through devoted, bitter cultivation. Such a calculating, opportunistic approach was something they rejected; it did no good for the path of sword cultivation and only bred laziness, causing one’s grip on the sword to falter. That was why he had stepped out to stop her then. Evidently, however, Zhan Changfeng had not listened.

Jun Wenjiu simply said, “I see.”

Yu Zhen, however, asked obliquely, “Since she is a disciple your sect has taken an interest in, she should be leaving when the Heavenward Path opens, yes?”

Yu Zhen felt that Crown Prince Changsheng was far too good at stirring up trouble. It would be best if the Sword Sect packed her up and took her away soon, so she could cultivate in peace and stop causing them headaches.

Yan Weishan was very forthright. “I imagine the fellow disciple who transmitted the techniques has some arrangement in mind. Whether she leaves or not, I cannot say for certain.”

“Thank you for the trouble of coming, Fellow Daoist.”

Yu Zhen heard Jun Wenjiu begin exchanging pleasantries to see him off and said nothing more — but she absolutely could not have anticipated that Jun Wenjiu’s next words would be: “Since you’re already here, don’t leave just yet. The people over at Lingshan just sent word that they’ve found the lair of a rogue cultivator. Unfortunately, those fellows have been eating without growing any muscle and still can’t take the rogue cultivator down. Would you like to give it a try? The pay will be at the rate for non-staff personnel.”

Well, well — our free-spirited and unrestrained Hall Master was putting a major sect’s disciple to work as labor. And only offering non-staff pay, at that.

Yan Weishan’s focus was clearly also off. “How many spirit stones?”

Yu Zhen, who had assumed Yan Weishan would refuse outright, stood there in a daze. Is your Sword Sect really that short on money?

In truth, Zhan Changfeng was also very short on money. Reorganizing the Three Prefectures and establishing the Military Arts Academy and the like — Yi Shang’s side couldn’t allocate funds for it, and the Huangzhou prefectural treasury didn’t have much either. So she was currently busy seizing people’s assets.

Among officials, few could claim clean hands, and merchants were no purer. On top of that, with the Three Prefectures being re-established and rules and responsibilities undergoing many changes, those with stubborn mindsets or unwilling to relinquish power were protesting fiercely. It was time to seize some assets and let them calm down.

The days passed in a flurry of activity, and in the blink of an eye it was the mid-autumn festival — the day the Heavenward Path would open.

To avoid causing too great a stir, the Heavenward Path generally appeared after the moon had climbed to the middle of the sky.

This day was critically important for Zhan Changfeng — the Gongsun Clan’s counterattack was imminent.

She didn’t mind being hunted, but she absolutely could not allow the Gongsun Clan’s forces to enter Shenzhou and aid Li Mao.

This year’s mid-autumn festival was bound to be extraordinary. After noon, all seven commanderies of Huangzhou sealed their city gates, permitting neither entry nor exit. Nearly ten thousand soldiers were mobilized and, before nightfall, had sealed off Xiling.

Xiling was precisely where the Heavenward Path would appear.

The moment the army moved, the cultivators grew suspicious. They had never encountered the imperial court suddenly interfering in Xiling’s affairs. Looking more carefully, it seemed the Bureau of Patrol’s forces had also doubled — the atmosphere was extremely tense.

This was an omen that something major was about to happen.

The army surrounded the outside of Xiling, while the Bureau of Patrol guarded the Heaven-Descending Altar within.

For this year’s Heavenward Path opening, almost all of the Bureau of Patrol’s Overseers who weren’t on external assignments were present. Even the task of overseeing registrations was personally presided over by Yu Zhen.

Though they knew what the army was there for, there was still a measure of discomfort among them. Cui Gu couldn’t hold back and stepped forward to ask Zhan Changfeng, “Crown Prince, do you not trust the Bureau of Patrol?”

“Correct.”

“. . .” Could you not be at least a little more polite and tactful!

“This time, we will thoroughly investigate the background of every individual.” Cui Gu felt his face sting. He threw out those stiff words and walked away.

The other Bureau of Patrol cultivators who had been straining their ears to listen kept their gazes downcast, pretending they had heard nothing, and did not go looking for further discomfort.

Cui Gu walked over to Yu Zhen’s side and couldn’t help complaining, “This Crown Prince really does speak bluntly.”

“Someone who was born above power — do they need to consider your feelings?”

“She may command respect now, but once she reaches Cangyun Ravine, a worldly title won’t hold any weight. If she’s still this disrespectful to seniors there, she’ll end up getting jumped.”

Yu Zhen laughed despite herself, then felt a touch of wistfulness. “That’s not necessarily true.”

Although Yan Weishan had not directly acknowledged her status as a disciple, in Yu Zhen’s view, Zhan Changfeng entering the Nine Extremes Return-to-One Sect was as good as settled.

The Nine Extremes Return-to-One Sect was one of the great sects of the upper realm — a sect that truly carried an authentic Dao lineage, renowned across three thousand worlds for its sword path, and acclaimed with the honor of “ten thousand swords returning to the origin.”

Gaining entry was harder than ascending to heaven. Among those within the Six Institutes of Cangyun Ravine, precious few ever made it through those gates.

But once one entered, the breadth of the path that opened before them — how could the rest of them even compare?

The Hour of Xu.

An aurora appeared in the sky. Its light descended, falling upon the Heaven-Descending stone platform, and within the light, a staircase ascending upward appeared, half-visible and half-hidden.

Three layers of guards surrounded the Heaven-Descending Platform, leaving only two openings — one for entry and one for exit.

“Cultivators wishing to travel to Cangyun Ravine may come forward to register! After registering, ascend the stone platform, drip your blood onto the Arrow Token, and you may walk the Heavenward Staircase!”

The long-waiting cultivators excitedly surged forward to line up, their joy written plainly across their faces.

At this time, Figures also began to appear on the staircase, walking downward. Their expressions carried, to varying degrees, a sense of relieved bewilderment.

On the staircase — some going up, some coming down; two different circumstances. Those going up might not get what they wished for; those coming down might not find peace of mind. But at least in this moment, all of them held a new beginning.

When Sun Xingyi brought his granddaughter over, he spotted Zhan Changfeng.

She still stood there at ease, dressed in dark robes, with the Coachman following behind — seemingly unchanged. Yet Sun Xingyi had already guessed her identity.

It was just that in front of him, this identity had been so thoroughly concealed — clearly she did not want him to know. Sun Xingyi naturally could not expose her, and could only step forward and say, “Young friend, I am leaving. I hope we may meet again someday at Cangyun Ravine.”

His voice carried a slight tremor.

After all, he had once been a generation’s loyal and righteous hero who resisted the barbarians. Zhan Changfeng did not want him to be dragged into war again in his old age, and so had always hidden her identity from him.

Fortunately, he saw through it and said nothing.

Zhan Changfeng gave a nod. “May the journey be smooth, Senior Sun.”

She watched the grandfather and granddaughter ascend the Heavenward Staircase, their figures fading from sight, then turned her attention to the exit.

Cultivators arriving from Cangyun Ravine had to pass through layer upon layer of verification — their age, their cultivation level, the purpose of their visit, whether they had come to train or to settle, and for how long.

Only after all criteria were met would their personal information be entered into the records and a strand of their vital essence left behind.

Each year, the quota for those from Shenzhou entering Cangyun Ravine was not fixed — one only needed to obtain an Arrow Token. But for those from Cangyun Ravine entering Shenzhou, there were only one hundred and twenty slots. After all, Shenzhou was still fragile and easily disrupted by a civilization of a higher order.

Thanks to the book recommendation list from Ink Bamboo Moonlight — a second update today.