Chapter 1037: Bright Hall Internal Strife
The white-haired old Daoist held the token of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion in his hand. The materials used to forge the token were extremely unique, making it impossible to counterfeit.
Even though Zhang Ruochen had never met a member of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion before, he still had to acknowledge the man's identity.
Who would have thought that the legendary Dragon-Protecting Pavilion actually existed?
Zhang Ruochen returned the token to Zhao Fu and asked, "Where are the other members of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion?"
Although Zhang Ruochen's cultivation was still very low, Zhao Fu treated him with great respect and did not dare to offend him. He replied, "The members of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion are scattered across the Kunlun Realm, each with different identities and missions. Only the Pavilion Master knows everyone's true identities."
Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly and asked again, "What exactly is the mysterious mission of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion?"
Zhao Fu shook his head with a smile and replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, this general only knows that his own mission is to guard the Imperial Clan's tomb forest. He does not know the missions of the others. However, the Pavilion Master surely knows."
Zhang Ruochen asked a few more questions, such as: Where was the Pavilion Master of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion? Eight hundred years ago, did the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion take away the national treasury of the Sacred Bright Central Empire?
However, Zhao Fu knew very little, and Zhang Ruochen did not obtain any substantial or useful information.
Zhao Fu told Zhang Ruochen that his master had already passed away. Before dying, he had only instructed him on a method to contact the Pavilion Master of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion, which could only be used in the most urgent situations. At other times, the Pavilion Master would contact him proactively.
Zhang Ruochen did not ask Zhao Fu to contact the Pavilion Master. It was not that he did not want to recall the members of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion, but rather that he felt the timing was not yet right.
Currently, the situation in the Kunlun Realm was changing rapidly, with undercurrents surging. Unpredictable disasters could erupt at any moment.
The more commotion one stirred up, the more attention they attracted, and the faster they would die.
Kong Lanyou said, "Actually, Cousin, you could also recall the members of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion. As long as you raise your arm and call out, with the support of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion and the Bright Hall, plus the descendants of the Zhang Imperial Clan and various old loyalists, we could easily take the Sacred Bright City, rebuild the Sacred Bright Central Empire, proclaim yourself emperor in one fell swoop, and oppose Chi Yao's First Central Empire."
She continued, "Right now, the imperial court's army is being held back by the undead in the Eastern Domain, the Death Zen Sect in the Southern Domain, and the Undying Blood Clan in the Northern Domain. They have no time to deal with us. We can take this opportunity to grow stronger, expand our territory, and cause the First Central Empire to completely collapse."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "Your idea is good, but your analysis only scratches the surface."
Kong Lanyou bit her lip, showing a look of displeasure, feeling that Zhang Ruochen was not giving her any face.
After all, she was the Holy Ancestor of the Bright Hall, with eight hundred years of experience, profound cultivation, and feared by all. Yet, Zhang Ruochen still treated her like a little girl of ten-something and directly refuted her suggestion.
"Are you unconvinced? Then let me analyze the current situation of the world for you."
Zhang Ruochen said, "First, whether it's the undead in the Eastern Domain, the Death Zen Sect in the Southern Domain, or the Undying Blood Clan in the Northern Domain, none of them are a match for the First Central Empire. If Chi Yao is determined to destroy them, she wouldn't need to expend much effort."
Kong Lanyou naturally knew how terrifying the foundation of the First Central Empire was, and she also understood how frightening Chi Yao's cultivation was. However, she still didn't quite understand Zhang Ruochen's meaning and showed a puzzled expression.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Kong Lanyou and shook his head, sighing inwardly. After all these years, she really hadn't become any smarter.
"I suspect Chi Yao is training her troops," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Training troops?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded clearly. "The First Central Empire has ushered in a martial arts golden age, with Saints emerging in large numbers, brilliant and prosperous. But humanity has been at peace for several hundred years, becoming arrogant and extravagant, forgetting the days when they struggled to survive in the cracks between the various barbarian beast clans."
"If I were Chi Yao, standing at the peak of the Kunlun Realm and seeing such a situation, I would also introduce a force to temper them."
Huang Yanchen's eyes flickered. "The Empress deliberately refrained from cleaning up the chaos in the three domains? Wouldn't that cause many innocent humans to die? How can she be so cold?"
Kong Lanyou thought carefully, a cold light flashing in her eyes. "Based on my understanding of her, she might very well do that. Cousin knows her best. Her schemes are deeper than anyone's."
Zhang Ruochen continued, "Second, the stone talisman left by Qiangu Nüdi can only seal the passage between the Yin and Yang realms for a few years. Soon, even stronger and more numerous undead and ghost fiends will flood into the Kunlun Realm."
"That will be the true calamity. Even if the entire Kunlun Realm unites, they may not be able to withstand it. Facing such a disaster, what meaning is there in us rebuilding the Sacred Bright Central Empire and waging a life-and-death war with the First Central Empire now, other than causing more of our people to die?"
"The Kunlun Realm has too many hidden dangers. Many ancient forces and powerful overlords are still lying low, waiting for their opportunity. If we jump out first to rebuild the Sacred Bright Central Empire, we will definitely become the target of everyone's attacks and will not end well."
Just the two hidden dangers of the Underworld King and the Blood Queen had already made Zhang Ruochen feel very uneasy.
Moreover, the Kunlun Realm had far more than just the Underworld King and the Blood Queen.
After all, the Undying Blood Clan was only one of the ancient clans.
Not to mention the distant ones, just the Corpse-Driving Ancient Clan and the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan—if they dared to jump out and stir up trouble, they must have some hidden methods.
The Kunlun Realm was too vast. Someone like Zhang Ruochen, who had died, could be resurrected after eight hundred years. Who knew how many things beyond ordinary cognition were still hidden?
Given Kong Lanyou's current identity and cultivation, she naturally knew many secrets about the Kunlun Realm. Her small lips moved slightly, but in the end, she said nothing and continued listening to Zhang Ruochen's explanation.
Zhang Ruochen's tone softened a bit. "And third, can the Bright Hall really reunite with the Zhang Imperial Clan?"
Hearing this question, Kong Lanyou bit her lips tightly and sighed inwardly. "What must come, has finally come."
Zhang Ruochen no longer avoided the issue and asked directly, "Lanyou, the Peacock Mountain Villa owes me an explanation, doesn't it? Eight hundred years ago, why did it happen?"
He had to ask sooner or later.
If he didn't ask, there would always be a rift between him and Kong Lanyou.
Kong Lanyou did not dare to meet Zhang Ruochen's eyes. Instead, she stared at the distant tombs and said, "Cousin, I was still very young back then. I didn't know why those things happened. It wasn't until later... several hundred years later, that I learned the truth."
"What is the truth?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Kong Lanyou blinked her eyes, showing a pleading expression. "For now, I still can't tell you."
"Is it really that hard to just reveal the truth?" Zhang Ruochen was very puzzled.
What was Kong Lanyou trying to hide? Why wouldn't she say it?
Eight hundred years had already passed. Many things had already happened and become the past. Was there still a need to hide them?
Kong Lanyou shook her head vigorously. "Please, Cousin, don't force me, okay? When I feel it's time to tell you, I will definitely reveal everything."
"Alright, I won't force you." Zhang Ruochen sighed.
Finally, Kong Lanyou breathed a slight sigh of relief. She didn't want to hide the events of that year from Zhang Ruochen, but she had to.
Some things were not as simple as they appeared on the surface.
Kong Lanyou said, "I am the Holy Ancestor of the Bright Hall. As long as I am willing, I can completely command all the branches of the Bright Hall. Cousin, no matter when you want to rebuild the Sacred Bright Central Empire, I will rush to support you at the first moment."
Given Kong Lanyou's current cultivation and status, being able to say such words naturally moved Zhang Ruochen deeply.
However, the Bright Hall and the old loyalists loyal to the Sacred Bright Central Empire had long since broken ties, with deep hatred between them. Even if they were forcibly integrated, it would surely plant hidden dangers.
In Zhang Ruochen's view, it was better to focus on developing the Bright Sect and cultivating a force that truly belonged to him.
Zhang Ruochen did not ask Kong Lanyou whether the leak of his identity was related to her. Because he already believed that Kong Lanyou would never do such a thing.
Then, there was only one person left: Kong Hongbi.
"Kong Hongbi probably just wanted to use other forces to find me. He might not actually know my true identity," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
Seeing a cold light flash in Zhang Ruochen's eyes, Kong Lanyou asked, "Cousin, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing."
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly and did not reveal the conflict between him and Kong Hongbi.
Zhang Ruochen never liked to rely on others' strength. If he could solve a problem himself, he would always do it with his own hands.
Only by being strong oneself could one be truly strong.
In the following period, Zhang Ruochen stayed in the Imperial Clan's tomb forest. Not only was he guarding his mother's tomb, but he was also cultivating, striving to improve his cultivation.
By refining divine blood, Zhang Ruochen's cultivation successfully broke through to the peak of the Fifth-Step Half-Saint.
On this day, Zhao Fu brought a piece of news: "Internal strife has broken out in the Bright Hall. The imperial court's army is gathering, preparing to take this opportunity to wipe out the Bright Hall in one fell swoop."
The Bright Hall was not a monolithic entity internally. It was composed of more than a dozen forces from previous dynasties, with the Peacock Mountain Villa being only the largest among them.
Each force had different interests, so it was not impossible for internal strife to erupt.
Upon hearing the news, Kong Lanyou prepared to go back. "Cousin, come back to the Bright Hall with me? Once I quell the internal strife, I can support you as the Hall Master of the Bright Hall."
"No."
Huang Yanchen walked out and immediately objected. "The Bright Hall has just erupted in internal strife, and the imperial court's army has already gathered. Isn't that too suspicious? I suspect this matter is related to the Empress. Her departure from the Central Imperial City might be to eliminate the Bright Hall first. If you go back to the Bright Hall with Cousin now, wouldn't it be very dangerous?"
Kong Lanyou pondered carefully and felt that Huang Yanchen's words were not entirely unreasonable. "Cousin, after I quell the Bright Hall's internal strife, I will come to find you."
Zhang Ruochen also felt that this matter was very suspicious. However, he knew that Kong Lanyou had to go back because the clansmen of the Peacock Mountain Villa were still in the Bright Hall.
Eight hundred years had passed, and Kong Lanyou indeed had not changed. However, the responsibilities on her shoulders had become very heavy.
She was no longer just an innocent and carefree little girl, nor just Zhang Ruochen's cousin. She was the Holy Ancestor of the Bright Hall.
"Lanyou!"
Zhang Ruochen called out to her and reminded her, "Be careful. If you see Chi Yao, don't fight her head-on. One day, I will personally go to her palace and make her pay the price she deserves."
Kong Lanyou responded, nodded, and then turned into a streak of white light, disappearing into the Imperial Clan's tomb forest.