A lone city shrouded in thick smoke.
Zhu Xun and You Youju have been silent for half a month. During this time, they have tacitly avoided "bothering each other," although it is possible that they are both very busy.
You Youju would receive rare and precious items that would suddenly appear on his table every week, which he would simply keep in his room.
The autumn rains seem endless.
Si Chuitang and Hua Heying came to visit You Youju. Half a month later, Hua Heying had grown a little taller and her face had become much more beautiful.
"The autumn rains have been incessant for the past two weeks, yet not a single drop has reached your Yundi Peak?" Si Chuitang asked.
You Youju gave Si Chuitang a wink; it was Chaolan, who had just returned from Zuiyou Garden carrying farm tools.
The two exchanged a smile, and Chao Lan answered for You Youju: "After these few days of rain, it will all fall. The flowers and plants in Zuiyou Garden can no longer be used for drinking."
Si Chuitang said enviously, "You two, master and disciple, have a very good relationship."
Hua Heying casually took out two crystal and amber bracelets and placed them on the table: "These are for you two, thank you."
Chao Lan washed her hands, picked it up and examined it. "I have one too?" She then praised it generously: "Its purity surpasses ice, its flawlessness surpasses jade, its radiance shines like jade. Why is your discerning eye always so unique, Master Uncle?"
The two put them on, and You Youju said, "They look really good, and they must be quite valuable."
Then, looking at Si Chuitang's hand, she saw that she was already wearing a tourmaline bracelet that matched her red dress. She covered her mouth with her hand wearing the bracelet and laughed, "Hehe, you've been found out."
"......"
As the group chatted and laughed, Chu Fei arrived again, at yet another inopportune moment. You Youju was puzzled as to why this person always arrived shortly after the other two.
Hua Heying asked, "Are we going to the Elders' Hall again?"
Chu Fei looked visibly embarrassed: "No, the Grand Elder sent a disciple to take Huai Jing with him."
You Youju raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"
Chao Lan stood up and bowed to the three of them: "Master, please rest assured. My two senior uncles, Huai Jing will be leaving now."
You Youju was quite resentful towards the two of them: "You two shouldn't come here anymore, it's like you've been tracked by Cangzhou Shui."
The two moved outside, and Chu Fei reminded them, "The elder said to change into your disciple robes. I'll wait for you outside. Go quickly."
We need to change into disciple robes? This means it's not an ordinary meeting. Why am I the only one allowed to attend such a serious matter?
Only Cangzhou Shui was present in the Elders' Hall. However, it was clear that there were guests, and the entire hall was already prepared to receive them.
Chao Lan composed herself and stepped forward: "Elder."
Cangzhou Shui beckoned Chaolan to sit down: "Sit down, sit down, Chaolan, you've finally come."
Chao Lan sat down politely and asked, "Elder, why did you specifically call me here today? Is there something important happening?"
Cang Zhou Shui stroked his goatee slowly, keeping everyone in suspense: "There's something important happening today. Chao Lan, do you know what the Demon Realm has to do with us these days?"
Chao Lan wanted to say that they should keep to themselves, but then she remembered the matter between Zhao Hua and A Xun: "They both wanted to test each other but held back."
Cangzhou Shui then asked, "So what do you think?"
Chao Lan's eyes darted around, realizing that today's events were once again related to the conflict between the two realms: "Naturally, it's best if we can live in peace."
The answer was clearly not what Cang Zhou Shui wanted: "You've been misled by your master. Humans and demons are sworn enemies!"
Chao Lan frowned: "Even if we're irreconcilable enemies, hundreds of years have passed. Why fight over such a vast world?" He felt depressed and couldn't help but think of the imperial city a thousand miles away.
Cang Zhou Shui looked at him with a disappointed expression: "Look at you! Since you also understand that the other party is testing us, are we not going to react? You got your position today because of the struggle hundreds of years ago. Having inappropriate mercy is your fatal flaw!"
Chao Lan finally understood why her master always looked worried when he returned from the Grand Elder's place: "But the previous Demon Emperors often caused trouble, and the two clans have fought openly and secretly many times. Now that a new person has taken over, why should there be a big battle? Besides, this is not something a disciple can choose. This disciple is just an ordinary disciple of Chaoyun Mountain. But isn't this disciple's identity a stabilizing force for all sects?"
Cangzhou Shui seemed to see another You Youju, and was furious: "Wouldn't it be better to deal with them and avoid trouble?"
"Can they kill them all? Can everyone keep up with the deaths? The prosperity of a nation is also due to the suffering of its people, and so is the decline of a nation. It would be better to have other immortal sects implement more measures that benefit the people, just like our sect. It was precisely because of our previous warning to the demons that we were able to avoid being attacked. Why fight to the death?"
Cangzhou trembled with unease, never expecting that even the God of War would be taught a lesson by You Youju, that lazy bum, and have his title taken away in vain.
He was about to launch into a accusation when the gatekeeper announced the arrival of the guests.
Cang Zhou Shui snorted and flicked his sleeve, lowering his voice to say, "That's because of the birth of the Purple Emperor Sword!" He added with a hint of warning, "Take your seat! Don't forget that your every move reflects on the face of Chao Yunshan."
Chao Lan lowered her head: "Yes. This disciple understands."
Master must be under immense pressure every day.
The various sects filed in. There are now ten sects in the world. Besides Chaoyun Mountain, the others are: Duanchen Valley, Cangming Temple, Baicao Mountain, Qingfeng Sect, Tianyu Sect, Guyue Zen, Youyin Pavilion, Zhengyang Heaven, and Ziyuan Sect. Among them, Chaoyun Mountain, Guyue Zen, and Baicao Mountain are the three most prestigious sects, not only for their enduring strength but also for their formidable power. (This ranking of strength is provided by the once-every-thirty-years Immortal Sword Tournament.)
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Cang Zhoushui pulled Chao Lan to his side and announced loudly, "As you can see! This is the current 'God of War,' Cen Chao Lan!"
A murmur arose from the crowd. Some seized the opportunity to flatter her, saying they had long admired her; others praised Chao Lan's extraordinary beauty; still others whispered among themselves that she was just a pretty face with no substance...
"Chao Lan, stand still." Cang Zhou Shui's voice reached her ears.
Why did Cangzhou Shui cast a sect order on himself?
The sect decree is a unique spell that each elder can cast on all disciples under their sect. It is similar to a kind of immobilization command. It is used to "discipline and restrain" disciples who are disobedient, violate sect rules, or are disobedient and unfilial.
There are four ways to break the spell: first, kill the one who issued the order; second, the one who issued the order will automatically break it; third, one's own skill level must be higher than the one who issued the order. Finally, there is Chao Lan, who is special because she is within the scope of the order's jurisdiction but can disobey it.
This is also a privilege of status.
Chao Lan didn't immediately grasp Cang Zhou Shui's purpose; the thought of "the descent of the Purple Emperor Sword" still lingered in his mind.
Cang Zhoushui opened Chao Lan's clothes at the chest, revealing that she was born with the War God's Seal. Chao Lan was startled, and before she could remove the curse, Cang Zhoushui was pushed back a few steps as if by something and sat back in his seat. Chao Lan's vision was blurred, and the entire hall was shrouded in a fog, making it impossible to see each other clearly.
"Could someone possibly impersonate the God of War? Why would Senior Brother deceive my disciple and do something that would embarrass my sect?"
The somber voice, tinged with suppressed anger, reached the ears of everyone present.
You Youju stood beside Chao Lan: "Can you move now?"
Chao Lan lowered her head slightly and replied to You Youju'er, "Thank you, Master."
As the fog dissipated, all that could be seen were the livid-faced elder, Cen Chaolan, and his master sitting together.
Sect Leader Gu Yuechan, not wanting to get involved in their conflict, asked first, "Disciple? Are you Elder You Youju of Yundi Peak?"
You Youju took the teacup handed to him by Chaolan, showed it to everyone, and slowly drank it: "It is indeed I."
Another round of whispers ensued.
Cangzhou Shui hissed, "What are you doing here!"
You Youju: "Can't I come?"
Sect Leader Gu Yue Chan remained calm and composed: "According to custom, the elders of Yundi Peak should ascend to their positions at the age of thirty-five. You took on disciples at the age of sixteen. What is Elder You doing now?"
Cang Zhou Shui stood up: "This matter is a private matter of my sect, and it is not the purpose of inviting you all here. Please hear me out first."
Cangzhou Shui and the other sect leaders exchanged a glance, clapped their hands, and several disciples from different sects carried up several large boxes.
Even without a close look, one can see that the disciples carrying the box are wearing white headscarves and coarse linen clothes.
You Youju's temples throbbed. Chao Lan gently grasped You Youju's hand, and the warm touch made You Youju relax a little under Chao Lan's gaze.
Cangzhou Waterway: "Open!"
The box was opened, and the disciples on both sides each took a rope end from inside the box and unfurled it towards the crowd from front to back.
Hanging on the rope were blood-stained, tattered disciple robes from different sects.
A strong stench of blood mixed with the putrid smell spread through the hall. Some people were shocked, some were angry, some were confused, and some even covered their faces and sobbed.
"What...what is this?!" someone asked.
The Qingfeng Sect leader slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "What else could it be! These are the tattered clothes of several of our sect's disciples!"
The leaders of the Ziyuan Sect said one after another, "Our small sect is indeed weak and outnumbered, but we should not be humiliated like this by the demons!"
Holding You Youju's hand tighter, You Youju swallowed hard and carefully turned to look at Chao Lan. Chao Lan was filled with grief and indignation; her other hand, resting on her knee, clenched so tightly that the knuckles bulged and trembled slightly.
You were deeply moved by the orange.
He was equally grief-stricken, but he also knew that it was all the Regent's doing.
So he said, "Everyone, please calm down. Do you remember the last time a sect went to the Demon Realm to investigate, they returned unscathed? We should be capturing the real criminals now, not attacking those who seek peace!"
The crowd's expressions were complicated, and some even looked at You Youju as if he were a fool.
Well, he himself also felt that his statement was too rational and idiotic.
Damn it.
The sect leader of Zhengyangtian chuckled and glared at You Youju: "Does Elder You, who is oblivious to what's going on outside, know that the person who went there that day was our sect?"
He bowed to Cang Zhou Shui and said, "I know that Chao Yun Mountain has always advocated peace, and everyone has followed Chao Yun Mountain for a hundred years without ever overstepping the bounds. But how can we not avenge this?! This is the demons showing off and retaliating against us!"
Cang Zhoushui gave You Youju a meaningful look: "Our Chaoyun Sect is the leader of all sects, so of course we cannot ignore this matter. This matter is neither to be underestimated nor to be rushed. This is precisely the purpose of my invitation to you all. I would like to ask you all to stay at our Chaoyun Mountain Sect for a few days to discuss this in detail, as that would be the best course of action."
You Youju transmitted her voice to Cang Zhoushui: "How could you not discuss such a big matter with the rest of us?!"
Cang Zhou Shui sneered, "When the demons kill, do they consult with you, the peace envoy? When you don't want to become a sword, do you consult with me?"
Xiao Baiyao's words from that day still echoed in my ears; nothing, You Ju, could change.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
