Chapter 1013: Becoming a Person Useful to the World
Zhang Ruochen, Zhang Fengxing, and the others arrived at a relatively secret stronghold and temporarily settled down. Afterwards, Zhang Fengxing left alone to report to the higher-ups of the Royal Zhang Clan.
This stronghold was merely an inn, with no important figures present.
That was why Zhang Fengxing dared to bring Zhang Ruochen here. Even if Zhang Ruochen had ulterior motives, the losses would not be too great.
Zhang Fengxing's son, named Zhang Shu, was eleven years old. His cultivation had reached the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection, marking him as a genius.
From Zhang Shu, Zhang Ruochen extracted a lot of valuable information.
Their lineage was descended from the Royal Zhang Clan's Twelfth Master, "Mingjiang King." His father, Zhang Fengxing, was merely a sub-chieftain in charge of intelligence gathering.
Ming Emperor had a total of forty-eight siblings. By the time Zhang Ruochen was born, half of those imperial uncles and aunts had already died of old age. Those still alive were all long-lived experts.
The so-called Twelfth Master was actually Ming Emperor's twelfth imperial younger brother, also Zhang Ruochen's twelfth imperial uncle.
Besides Ming Emperor's siblings, the Royal Zhang Clan had many other branches scattered across the entire Central Domain, forming a vast ancient aristocratic family.
Even after the establishment of the First Central Empire, when the Zhang Clan suffered bloody purges by the Imperial Court and the Ministry of War, they were never completely eradicated.
The Zhang Clan's power had shifted from the open to the shadows, going into hiding.
"Eight hundred years ago, Twelfth Imperial Uncle was already over two hundred years old. I wonder if he is still alive today?" Zhang Ruochen sighed inwardly.
Zhang Shu said, "Big brother, your cultivation is so powerful. Can you teach me a move or two?"
"Of course." Zhang Ruochen carefully examined Zhang Shu and nodded. "You are still at the Yellow Extreme Realm. You can switch to a different cultivation technique. I can pass on a top-tier cultivation method to you."
"The technique I am currently cultivating is the Ghost-grade lower-rank 'Spirit Frost Art.' Isn't that considered top-tier?" Zhang Shu said.
Zhang Ruochen gently shook his head, took out a piece of jade, and used his spiritual power to inscribe a technique onto it.
Zhang Shu took the jade and stared at the text, deeply shocked. "A King-grade lower-rank technique, the 'Tai Ming Sacred Canon'... This... this is a technique only direct descendants of the royal clan can cultivate. Big brother, can I really cultivate it?"
Zhang Ruochen looked at him with a firm gaze and nodded. "You should know the importance of the 'Tai Ming Sacred Canon.' So, you must keep it secret. Do not let anyone know."
Zhang Shu immediately hid the jade recording the "Tai Ming Sacred Canon" and nodded very seriously.
At the same time, he secretly guessed that this big brother must be a core figure of the Zhang Clan. Otherwise, how could he have obtained the cultivation method for the "Tai Ming Sacred Canon"?
Zhang Ruochen passed on the "Tai Ming Sacred Canon" to Zhang Shu because he valued his character.
Zhang Shu was only eleven years old.
A sword had been held to his neck, yet he did not bow his head. This showed that the boy had a resolute character, worthy of cultivation.
Zhang Ruochen was waiting in the inn when, suddenly, a wave of spiritual power fluctuations spread out. Chu Siyuan passed through the wooden wall and appeared in his room.
Seeing Chu Siyuan gave Zhang Ruochen another headache. "Senior Chu, why are you haunting me like a restless spirit? Why have you come again?"
Chu Siyuan's expression was very serious. He snorted, "Do you know that from the moment you entered Shengming City, you were already being watched by experts from the Bright Hall?"
"What business is that of yours?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Chu Siyuan was so angry he trembled, his beard standing on end. "You brat... you are so ungrateful. I kindly helped you deal with those Bright Hall experts, and this is how you treat me?"
Zhang Ruochen showed a curious expression, surprised. "Senior Chu killed all those Bright Hall experts?"
"Do I look that cruel? I only knocked them out and used my spiritual power to erase some of their memories." Chu Siyuan said.
Zhang Ruochen gave a disdainful look. Not cruel? Just a few days ago, he had killed one hundred thousand soldiers of the Undying Blood Clan. He was practically a mass murderer.
Chu Siyuan said seriously, "Zhang Ruochen, I must warn you. Acting chivalrously is the right thing to do, but you had better not meddle in the affairs of the Imperial Court and the Zhang Clan. Otherwise, you will definitely bring trouble upon yourself."
In fact, Chu Siyuan also had some complaints about the cruel methods of the Imperial Court and the Ministry of War.
To deal with the descendants of the previous dynasty, the Ministry of War used very dirty tactics, committing many acts of indiscriminate slaughter, forcing those people to rebel.
So, when Zhang Ruochen stepped in to save some members of the Zhang Clan, Chu Siyuan did not think he was wrong. Instead, he saw it as an act of righteous intervention, the conduct of a righteous man.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "I am already a major criminal wanted by the Empress's decree. Am I afraid of further offending the Imperial Court?"
Chu Siyuan's gaze was icy. "The only reason you are still alive, boy, is that you have not yet encountered any formidable figures. In Shengming City, many top experts from the Ministry of War and the Imperial Court are gathered. If you get too close to the Zhang Clan, you will soon expose your identity."
"Since Luo Xu entrusted you to me, I have a responsibility to protect your safety. You cannot stay here any longer. Come with me immediately."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. He had no intention of leaving. He wanted to continue waiting, preferably to meet with the higher-ups of the Zhang Clan.
Chu Siyuan used forceful means, striking as fast as lightning.
"Sizzle."
A layer of light appeared on the tip of his index finger, and he drew a circular mark on Zhang Ruochen's forehead.
Instantly, Zhang Ruochen's sacred qi and spiritual power were sealed, losing all his strength.
"Old man Chu, what are you trying to do?"
Zhang Ruochen was very angry, feeling that Chu Siyuan was deliberately causing trouble, disrupting his plans every time.
Chu Siyuan shook his head and sighed. "I am trying to save you, to keep you from jumping into a fire pit. If you come with me, I will agree to any condition you name."
"We are not related by blood or friendship. Why are you so good to me?" Zhang Ruochen felt like crying but had no tears.
Chu Siyuan told him the truth. "Your talent is very high. You are a pillar of talent. The Kunlun Realm is about to fall into chaos. It needs young heroes to take over from the older generation of saints and hold up a piece of the sky. Otherwise, humanity will face the danger of extinction. I intend to guide you onto the right path, teach you some moral character, and make you a person useful to the world."
Zhang Ruochen knew he could not argue with this stubborn old man. Gradually, his mind calmed down. "You just said that if I come with you, you will agree to any condition?"
"That is correct."
Chu Siyuan lifted his chin, stroking his beard, looking like a man of great attainment. "As the Master of the Painting Sect, my word is as good as gold."
"What if I want a fifth-grade Saint Yuan Pill?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Chu Siyuan laughed. "With my status, is obtaining a fifth-grade Saint Yuan Pill really that difficult? Boy, do you know the Cai Clan?"
"One of the four great medieval aristocratic clans of Shengming City, that Cai Clan?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Chu Siyuan nodded. "I am a close friend of the Cai Clan's patriarch. The eldest legitimate son of the Cai Clan is my second disciple. The eldest legitimate grandson of the Cai Clan is my grand-disciple, and also this year's new top scholar runner-up. With this connection, is obtaining a fifth-grade Saint Yuan Pill really a problem?"
"So, Senior Chu intends to take me to the Cai Clan to see the style of a medieval aristocratic clan?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"Clever." Chu Siyuan nodded, looking at Zhang Ruochen with an expression of "the boy can be taught."
Chu Siyuan was determined to teach Zhang Ruochen how to be a good person. If Zhang Ruochen continued to resist, it might make Chu Siyuan think he had a rebellious nature, increasing the intensity of his "teaching."
Since that was the case, he might as well go along with him for now and find a chance to slip away later.
If he could actually get a fifth-grade Saint Yuan Pill, that would be the best outcome.
"Alright! I agree. First, undo the seal on me." Zhang Ruochen said.
Chu Siyuan undid the seal on Zhang Ruochen and patted his shoulder, speaking earnestly. "I have already inquired. Tonight, the Cai Clan will hold a banquet, inviting all the proud sons of heaven in Shengming City to celebrate my grand-disciple becoming this year's new top scholar runner-up."
"This is a perfect opportunity for you to see the sights. Then you will know what true young heroes and the hope of humanity really are."
"Also, from now on, do not associate with cultivators from the Demon Sect. As the saying goes, 'He who touches pitch shall be defiled.'"
Zhang Ruochen repeatedly agreed, then left the inn and followed Chu Siyuan toward the Cai Clan's location.
Meanwhile, Mu Lingxi, who had left the Moon Worship Demon Sect, had finally arrived at Tiantai Prefecture after half a month of travel.
However, she did not find Zhang Ruochen. Instead, she encountered Ling Feiyu.
Mu Lingxi stared at Ling Feiyu, who was blocking her path, showing a wary expression. "Who are you, and why are you stopping me?"
Ling Feiyu stood with her hands behind her back by the bank of an ancient river, gazing at the mist-covered water surface, and spoke three words: "Ling Feiyu."
"You are the Palace Master?"
Mu Lingxi carefully observed Ling Feiyu's back and finally realized that this person indeed looked very much like the Palace Master.
The sharp sword dao aura emanating from Ling Feiyu was uniquely her own. Even standing ten zhang away, Mu Lingxi felt a considerable palpitation.
"You don't need to look for that person anymore. Come back to the main altar with me." Ling Feiyu said.
Seeing that the Palace Master had not fallen, Mu Lingxi was naturally quite delighted. She immediately bowed and said, "Since the Palace Master knows who I am going to find, you should know that I have a reason I cannot avoid going."
"Whatever your reason, you must go back now. Don't you know that sacred realm figures from the sect have been following you? They want Zhang Ruochen even more than you do." Ling Feiyu said.
Mu Lingxi was secretly shocked. "No wonder I was able to escape the main altar so easily. Someone deliberately let me go, hoping I would lead them to Zhang Ruochen."
"But the Sect Leader has issued the Death God Order. Zhang Ruochen is in great danger now." Mu Lingxi lowered her head, her eyes slightly red.
"When I return to the main altar, there will be no more Death God Order." Ling Feiyu said.
Although her heart was filled with a thousand reluctances, in the end, she had no choice but to follow Ling Feiyu back to the Demon Sect's main altar.
"When I return to the main altar, I will go into seclusion to break through to a very important major realm. At that time, the Saint Maiden Palace will be left in your care."
Seeing Mu Lingxi's distracted expression, Ling Feiyu reminded her, "Your cultivation has already fallen far behind Zhang Ruochen. If you want to keep pace with him, you had better work harder from now on."
Although Mu Lingxi did not know why the Palace Master cared so much about her and Zhang Ruochen's affairs, the Palace Master's words made sense. She truly needed to redouble her efforts in cultivation. (To be continued.)