The cabin was quiet.
A pair of eyes slowly opened. He endured the soreness all over his body but made no sound. Instead, he immediately closed his eyes, then squeezed them open to a sliver, stealthily surveying his surroundings.
Once he confirmed his safety, he opened his eyes fully, raised a hand to his forehead, and desperately tried to recall what had happened.
The Ascension Assembly, the sacrifice, the summoning of the True Demon… he remembered nothing after that.
What had truly transpired at the Ascension Assembly?
"You're awake?"
As Ji Xiu pondered, a figure entered from outside the cabin, holding a plate of grilled fish.
"Hurry up and eat. Mr. Tu grilled this himself."
"Mr. Tu?"
Ji Xiu sat up from the bed, his eyes full of confusion. "Senior Brother Ziji, what happened at the Ascension Assembly?"
"Alas..."
Ziji sighed, carrying the grilled fish to Ji Xiu's side. "You've been unconscious for nearly a day. Eat something first. After you're done, go find Mr. Tu. He'll tell you everything."
"...Alright."
Ji Xiu said no more, picking up his chopsticks and devouring the grilled fish.
Though he was of royal blood, he was no pampered noble. He ate whatever could fill his stomach.
A grilled fish weighing half a kilogram was gone in a little over ten breaths.
After finishing, Ji Xiu's first action was to look at Ziji.
His eyes were filled with hope and longing.
A longing for the truth.
"Alright, go on then."
Ziji collected the wooden plate and waved his hand. "But you need to be mentally prepared. Some things… if you can't accept them, and you find it difficult to tell Mr. Tu, then your senior brother will wait for you here in the cabin. You can tell me."
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Ziji replied and then rushed out of the cabin without looking back.
Night had fallen. The light boat sailed under the starlit river, bathed in moonlight, accompanied by the evening breeze.
Yun Ze sat at the bow of the boat, gently stroking the ancient zither on his lap. He gazed at the horizon, occasionally plucking a few notes, but not forming a melody.
"Master."
Ji Xiu approached Yun Ze from behind and clasped his hands. "Where are we going...?"
"We're returning to Tongtian Academy."
Ji Xiu frowned. This single sentence made him vaguely guess at something.
If it were any other cultivator, it would be fine. Worldly ties had to be severed eventually, and leaving sooner was no big deal.
But his parents… they were his family. He couldn't imagine leaving after such a major event without saying goodbye.
Unless… something had happened at home!
However, he didn't ask directly. Instead, he followed up, "Returning to Tongtian Academy? But Mr. Tu, I haven't even said goodbye to my parents and elder brother yet."
"Your elder brother left ahead of us. He has to report back to the Immortal Prefecture. He said he'd find an opportunity to visit you at the academy later."
Yun Ze replied calmly.
This was indeed the truth. After he left the Chengtian Imperial Palace, he had rushed to the Immortal Gathering and found Yu Xian, who was still asleep in the Ye Huan Tower.
This fellow, despite the magnitude of the events, hadn't been woken up.
As Yun Ze woke him, Ji Shan also arrived. The two of them explained everything that had happened at the Ascension Assembly to him.
This matter, as an Inspector holding a Supervisory Order, was clearly not within his purview to handle. At the very least, it required a true Nascent Soul stage cultivator.
One hundred thousand people, a dynasty, and three hundred and sixty-five so-called truths of the world.
This Southeast Heaven was likely on the brink of a massive upheaval!
Yu Xian dared not linger. Yun Ze also didn't chat with him for long, only agreeing that once the dust settled, Yu Xian would immediately come to Tongtian Academy to find him.
Even if he couldn't make it, he would contact him via a sound transmission jade slip.
With that, Yu Xian immediately took Ji Shan to the nearest Immortal Prefecture office. Yun Ze had no choice but to take Ziji and Ji Xiu towards Tongtian Academy.
If they didn't return soon, and they encountered anything else on the road, he might not be able to handle it.
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiu's brow furrowed, and his tone became flustered. "Then what about my Emperor Father and Empress Mother? Such a major event occurred in Chengtian Royal City, are they still safe?"
We've finally reached this topic...
"Alas."
Yun Ze sighed and placed a hand on Ji Xiu's head. "After you fainted, the formation shattered, the earth trembled, and the True Demon's consciousness emerged from the Nine Nether. This caused the mortals to prostrate and offer sacrifices, ultimately shattering their Golden Cores and achieving Demonic Infants.
All the mortals in Chengtian Royal City perished, including your Empress Mother. Later, a mighty Nascent Soul cultivator descended and slew the Demonic Infant.
After I dealt with the matters of the Ascension Assembly, I rushed to the Imperial Palace. At that time, only your Emperor Father remained alive within the palace.
Upon seeing me, he told me only one thing and asked me to relay a message to you."
In a few brief sentences, Yun Ze recounted everything that had happened the previous day to Ji Xiu.
Although he was only seven years old, these were things he had to face.
Ji Xiu clenched his fists, his eyes already slightly reddened.
He looked up at Yun Ze and asked in a low voice, "What did Emperor Father say?"
"'He who kills his father, slays his mother, and destroys his nation is a demon of the Nine Nether. If your cultivation reaches completion in the future, avenge me, and kill the demon for the people!'"
Yun Ze conveyed Ji Lanshan's last words to Ji Xiu and wiped the tears from his eyes. "This is what your Emperor Father wanted you to know. Do you understand what it means?"
"I understand."
Ji Xiu lowered his head. "Emperor Father wants me to kill the demon for revenge, not to restore the kingdom."
"It's good that you understand."
Yun Ze's greatest concern now was that this young prodigy would be disheartened after receiving this news.
However, judging by his calm reaction earlier, the possibility of him being disheartened was not high.
This young man would either dedicate himself to the grand plan of restoring the kingdom, or he would focus solely on cultivation, just to kill the demon for revenge!
Currently, it seemed the latter was more likely.
Yun Ze gently stroked his head. "Go back and rest. We still have half a month's journey to Tongtian Academy. That should be enough time for you to digest this slowly."
"No."
Ji Xiu looked up, tears still glistening in his eyes. "Master, I want to learn! The sooner I cultivate, the sooner I can avenge my parents!"
"You go back and rest today."
Yun Ze frowned. "When your state of mind is peaceful, then come and find me to cultivate."
"But Master..."
"Obey!"
"Alright."
Ji Xiu agreed, clasped his hands in a salute, bowed, and returned to the cabin.
Yun Ze watched Ji Xiu's retreating figure and couldn't help but sigh.
The Ji Xiu before him resembled him greatly from his past.
Hadn't he himself been solely focused on revenge back then, before embarking on the path of cultivation?
It was a pity, however, that he was not Xiao Hanshi.
When it came to teaching disciples, he was a complete novice. In normal circumstances, a genius would be fine; it was just a matter of solving problems with their techniques and cultivation.
But Ji Xiu's current state and state of mind were clearly not right. A slight misstep could lead him astray.
He dared not guide him in cultivation in this state.
In fact, he was even considering whether he should truly take Ji Xiu as his disciple.
Four-attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root, mutated divine soul!
With such talent, even if he were a direct disciple of an Emperor, he might still have a chance to compete.
He himself was only at the Foundation Establishment stage. By the time Ji Xiu reached the Nascent Soul stage, he would likely still be struggling with how to form his Golden Core.
Forget it.
Yun Ze shook his head and turned to look at the horizon again.
These matters could be discussed after they returned. The Emperors were likely not in the mood to take disciples at the moment.
...
... ... httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Southeast Heaven, in a small town within a certain country.
The evening breeze blew, making the lanterns on the eaves sway. The dim candlelight flickered, casting shadows on the ground littered with corpses.
The entire town was now devoid of any living beings.
Or, to be precise, devoid of any living mortals.
Every single one of them had died in a remarkably similar manner… kneeling, kowtowing, worshiping!
Just like the mortals in Chengtian Royal City.
On the outskirts of the town, several cultivators in dark purple robes passed by the corpses.
They each held a cane made from a bone-white spine and were heading in the same direction.
When they reached the center of the town, it was already filled with people dressed similarly to them.
There were at least a hundred of them.
Yet, not a single person spoke, nor was there even the slightest sound.
As more and more people in dark purple robes arrived, the town gradually became 'lively.'
The town, which had only been filled with corpses, was soon occupied by people, each wearing dark purple robes and holding bone-white spines.
*Buzz!*
With a resonant hum!
All the figures in dark purple robes raised their heads and looked towards the center of the town.
A crimson glow slowly ascended. Under everyone's gaze, it finally hovered beneath the bright moonlight.
The person wore a crimson robe, and a large hood completely concealed their face, making it impossible to discern their features. Only their figure suggested they were female.
None of the onlookers showed any curiosity; their eyes were fixed on a crystal skull held in her hand.
"The Sacred Clan issues a decree!"
*Boom!*
As the four words fell, all those in dark purple robes knelt down, looking up at the sky!
A wisp of dark purple quietly rose, attaching itself to the crystal skull. The hollow eyes instantly filled with a purple luminescence.
*Clang~*
A strange, vibrating sound slowly echoed, and everyone's eyes were filled with fervor.
"The Nine Nether will appear! The Sacred descends upon the Southeast!"
"The Nine Nether will appear! The Sacred descends upon the Southeast!"
As the cheers reached their peak, the purple glow on the crystal skull gradually receded.
"Heaven bless our Southeast Xuan Tian!"
The crimson-robed figure, seeing this, raised the skull with both hands. "We welcome the True Sacred's descent, to guide our mortal world into sanctity!"
"We welcome the True Sacred's descent, to guide our mortal world into sanctity!"