Chapter 162: Spreading Across the World
Central Province.
Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.
Star Observation Platform.
The night wind swept across the nine-zhang-tall Star Observation Platform, causing the star banners to flutter loudly.
Li Chunfeng, dressed in a black robe, stood with his hands behind his back before the jade-carved star disk. This former Profound Heaven Lord of the Great Zhou, now the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, was gazing intently at the countless stars in the sky.
Suddenly, his brows furrowed sharply, and the fingers in his sleeves began unconsciously performing calculations.
"Hmm?"
The young man beside him who had been drinking almost choked, and lazily leaned over: "Old man, what's wrong? Did you see a shooting star?"
Li Chunfeng ignored his disciple's teasing, staring fixedly at the southwestern sky: "A new power is rising in the southwest."
"Hah!" The young man waved his hand dismissively, "Isn't that quite normal? In these past ten years, there have been at least seven or eight hundred newly risen powers."
He raised his head and took a gulp of wine, counting on his fingers: "Since the Great Zhou fell ten years ago, although there are still six royal descendants fighting for that broken dragon throne, in reality, the Xuanying Continent has long returned to an era where sects and aristocratic families hold sway."
"Those emerging sects and families are like hungry wolves, constantly dividing the legacy left by the Great Zhou—" The young man let out a burp, "Just this year, seven new sects have emerged in You Province alone, not to mention how exaggerated it is in the core regions..."
"This time is different." Li Chunfeng suddenly interrupted him.
The young man froze, somewhat sobered from his drunkenness.
Then he saw his master wave his sleeve, and a brilliant star projection immediately appeared on the star disk.
"Look." Li Chunfeng pointed to the southwest corner, "The Polaris has shifted, and the Greedy Wolf Star is radiating light. This is a sign that a top-tier power is about to emerge."
His finger traced along the star trajectory: "More crucially here—between the Alkaid Star and the Mizar Star, a golden line has suddenly appeared. According to the 'Star Pivot Scripture,' this newly risen power is at least a formidable existence capable of competing for the top ten of the 'Heavenly Rankings'."
"Top ten of the Heavenly Rankings?!" The wine pot in the young man's hands almost fell to the ground, "Isn't that only possible for top-tier powers backed by Saint Realm experts..."
He suddenly widened his eyes: "Could it be that someone has successfully attained the Saint Realm? But I haven't heard of any ancestor breaking through recently. On the contrary, that one from the Hong Family mysteriously fell some time ago."
"No..." Li Chunfeng slowly shook his head: "You're overlooking one person."
"Who?"
The Star Observation Platform suddenly became terrifyingly quiet, even the wind stopped.
Li Chunfeng said word by word: "When the Heavenly Rankings was last opened, the one who suddenly appeared at the top of the Heavenly Ranking—"
"Chen Chang'an."
The wine pot in the young man's hands fell to the ground with a "clatter."
"That person... is finally about to emerge?"
Li Chunfeng nodded gravely, just about to continue speaking.
Suddenly, a jade flying sword broke through the air.
The sword's tail dragged a faint cyan spiritual light, drawing a cold arc across the night sky. Li Chunfeng raised his hand, and the flying sword steadily landed in his palm, its body trembling slightly and emitting a faint hum.
He tapped the sword's spine with his fingertip, and rows of spiritual patterns appeared on the sword's body, transforming into words that entered his vision.
After a moment, his expression unchanged, he simply handed the flying sword to the young man beside him: "Take a look."
The young man took the flying sword, scanned it with his spiritual sense, and immediately raised his eyebrows, a playful glint in his eyes: "Tsk, as expected, you were right, old man."
He casually tossed and caught the flying sword, his tone carrying a hint of teasing: "Some had already guessed that the Immortal Spirit City that suddenly appeared in Qingzhou was backed by that person.
Now it turns out, not only did he take in the former dynasty's princess, but he also openly accepted the remnants of the Imperial Guard."
The young man tilted his head, with a half-smile: "Isn't he afraid that the world's sects and families might think—another Ji Wuque is about to appear in this world, and then attack him collectively?"
Li Chunfeng stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze directed at the distant churning sea of clouds, and said calmly: "Even so, it should be the world's sects and families that are afraid."
The young man froze, then burst into hearty laughter, unrestrained and bold: "Old man, you're right! A true tiger would never fear being surrounded by wolves!"
He casually sheathed the flying sword at his waist, excitement gleaming in his eyes: "Still, whether that person is the next Ji Wuque remains uncertain."
Li Chunfeng nodded slightly: "Soon, someone will be unable to resist going to test him."
This great age of contention... is about to become even more tumultuous.
...
Several days passed.
Within a dense forest in Lingzhou.
Night fell like ink, with tree shadows swaying.
Ji Changming's luxurious brocade robe was now stained with mud, its sleeves torn by thorns. This Prince of Qi, once meticulous about his appearance, no longer cared. Leaning against an ancient tree, his expression was grim enough to drip water.
Dozens of red-armored soldiers stood guard vigilantly around him, each bearing wounds—the remnants of the Southern Suppressing Army, one of the Eight Pillars of the Great Zhou.
"Ji Changkong..." Ji Changming gritted his teeth as he uttered the name, his knuckles turning white.
He never imagined his sixth brother, always so timid, would dare collude with the Zhao family against him! Even less expected was the sudden demise of the Hong Family's ancestor!
With the Hong family's fall, the Zhao family immediately launched their offensive.
He had fled in haste, abandoning most of the Southern Suppressing Army's elite forces within the encirclement.
"Your Highness..."
A middle-aged scholar dressed as a civil official approached—his most trusted strategist, Xu Wei. Xu Wei lowered his voice: "This subordinate has a strategy that may resolve our current predicament."
Ji Changming impatiently waved his hand: "Speak!"
"Your Highness should proceed to Qingzhou."
"Qingzhou?" Ji Changming frowned, "Why go to that remote backwater?"
A sharp glint flashed in Xu Wei's eyes: "Does Your Highness recall your sister, Princess Lingxiu?"
"That girl?" Ji Changming paused, then sneered, "That palace fugitive who escaped ten years ago? Why mention her?"
"Just two days ago, the princess accepted remnants of the Imperial Guard in Immortal Spirit City."
"What?!" Ji Changming shot upright, "Weren't the Imperial Guard completely annihilated ten years ago?"
Xu Wei shook his head: "The Imperial Guard led the Eight Pillars—how could they be so easily destroyed? These past ten years were likely merely lying dormant. While the various princes now fight bitterly, the princess alone has remained patient..."
Ji Changming interrupted disdainfully: "What great ambitions could a mere woman possess?"
"Precisely for that reason, we should vie for her support!" Xu Wei urged, "The Imperial Guard remains loyal to the royal house. With their backing, why worry about staging a comeback?"
Seeing Ji Changming still hesitating, Xu Wei added fuel to the fire: "Don't forget—Yang Hong, commander of the Southern Suppressing Army, is your maternal uncle! Though severely wounded, he remains at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Human Realm. With him present, what threat is a mere princess?"
Ji Changming's eyes suddenly lit up.
He could already envision himself leading the Imperial Guard back to Lingzhou, crushing that bastard Ji Changkong underfoot.
"Excellent!" He flung his sleeve wide, ambition blazing in his eyes, "To Qingzhou we go!"
...
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