Chapter 448: Arrival and Rumors (1)

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

In the following days, the government office strictly regulated the public order and waited for the Emperor to arrive. The Ning Tian Prefecture appeared calm and peaceful.

For some reason as well, there were fewer nobles who came to build relationships every day. Zhou Jing was much more free. Other than refining pills and cultivating, he interacted with Miao Xuzi and Xuan Yuanzi and asked them about the matters of Mt Qingliang.

Although he had not decided to join their sect, his words revealed such a tendency. Miao Xuzi was very willing to answer and tell him the truth about his sect, such as which spell techniques had been passed down, how many true disciples there were in this generation, and so on.

As they interacted, Zhou Jing also understood their status in the sect.

The Righteous Heart Sect had now been passed down for 21 generations, and the current head was a 19th generation disciple. Miao Xuzi and Xuan Yuanzi were both the junior brothers of the head. They were both 19th generation disciples as well, and to the new disciples of the Cooling Mountain, their seniority was akin to being their martial granduncle. Their status was not low.

And in the Righteous Heart Sect, there had always been a tradition that some true disciples of spell techniques would have their own guardians. Xuan Yuanzi was Miao Xuzi’s guardian. He did not know spells and purely practiced martial arts, but his skills were outstanding.

Although it was a spell sect, the martial arts skills of Righteous Heart Sect that carried the characteristics of a cultivator sect were also extraordinary in this world. However, Righteous Heart Sect rarely participated in the matters of the martial world. Therefore, although it was one of the five orthodox sects that had entered the world, it did not belong to one of the eight great sects of the martial world. To ordinary martial artists, it was equivalent to being a “hidden” expert.

Perhaps he felt that some martial arts were not worth mentioning in the eyes of an expert like Zhou Jing who had mastered an immortal technique such as summoning the winds, so Xuan Yuanzi was not stingy with showing off his martial arts. His long sword danced like the moonlight, and his movements were ethereal and agile. His fists and palms were light, but as his strength surged, it could actually split rocks.

Zhou Jing was surprised to discover that this ordinary-looking old Daoist was actually the most powerful person he had ever seen in this world. He was much stronger than Shen Sanqiu and could probably withstand five to six strikes from Chen Feng.

According to the two of them, there were still six to seven Dao Protectors with such skills on their mountain.

… It seemed that it was easier for such a sect with both spells and martial arts to produce top experts than ordinary sects in the martial world.

The days passed patiently.

The weather was shady and cold, with a light drizzle. The maple leaves were gradually turning yellow, and the autumn sun was setting.

As the golden color gradually spread throughout the mountains, the Emperor of the Great Xia finally arrived at Ning Tian Prefecture.

…

The city gate was wide open, and the dragon carriage guarded by the royal guards entered Ning Tian Prefecture.

A few imperial guards on horses led the way, and the eunuchs followed behind.

On both sides of the dragon carriage were royal guards holding spears. They were tall, handsome, and had excellent armor.

As for the Emperor of the Great Xia, he was sitting in the dragon carriage with a eunuch holding an umbrella cover and another fanning him. The officials and nobles of Ning Tian Prefecture who had left the city to welcome him followed closely behind the dragon carriage.

“His Majesty is out on a patrol. Those not involved, retreat!”

A eunuch shouted at the top of his lungs.

Wherever the dragon carriage passed, the citizens on the street knelt down and bowed in the direction of the Emperor in fear and trepidation.

Only by showing off ostentatiously could one display the might of the royal family.

The Emperor of the Xia Dynasty swaggered through the city and entered the palace in the center of Ning Tian Prefecture.

In the Ye Residence, Zhou Jing, who was meditating, could not help but open his eyes when he heard the news from the butler.

italics “This c*unt is finally here…”

Zhou Jing took a deep breath.

It all depended on whether the deeds and reputation he had accumulated over the past few months could pique the interest of this dog emperor.

Compared to him taking the initiative to show his divinity, having the Emperor summon him, along with the recommendation of the various nobles, would look more natural.

As long as he could come into contact with the center of power, Bill’s path as an apostle would be on the right track.

…

This was not the first time the autumn patrol had been conducted. The royal guards, eunuchs, and palace maids brought from the north settled down in the palace and continued with their duties.

“The weather in the south is still the most comfortable…”

In the Imperial Garden, the Emperor strolled around and took a deep breath, his expression relaxed.

It was truly a pity he could not move the capital to Ning Tian Prefecture and stay here.

Thinking of this, the Emperor restrained his smile, feeling annoyed.

The matter of moving the capital had been mentioned a few times, but the court officials were all against it. Even the Left and Right Ministers did not agree, so he could not do as he pleased.

Sighing, the Emperor summoned his personal attendant and requested to summon Zhao Xing’an and some of the top nobles in the Ning Tian Prefecture. He planned to ask about the progress of the local Emperor’s Temple and also ask about the recent local rumors.

The attendant hurriedly went down to give the orders.

Not long after, Zhao Xing’an and a few of the top nobles of Ning Tian came to seek an audience with the Emperor. They had been waiting outside the palace for orders.

“Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live our Emperor.”

“Everyone, please rise.”

The Emperor raised his hand for them to stand up.

Then, he looked at Zhao Xingan and asked, “How’s the construction of the Son of Heaven’s Temple near Ning Tian Prefecture?”

“Your Majesty, the two Holy Towers have been completed, but the Heaven Observation Tower and the Imperial Altar have yet to be completed…”

Zhao Xing’an hurriedly replied.

The Emperor frowned in dissatisfaction, “It’s too slow. If this continues, when will all the Emperor’s Achievements be completed?”

“Please forgive me, Your Majesty.” Zhao Xing’an immediately lowered his head.

The Emperor shook his head.

The Observation Temple of the Son of Heaven was built everywhere in the world, but its location was not randomly chosen. Instead, it was built according to the trend of the dragon veins in the world determined by the combined efforts of many Fengshui masters in the Imperial Astronomy Branch.

These Son of Heaven’s “observatories” were all located at the important nodes of the dragon vein. They were known as the “Eye of the Array”. If there was a map overlooking and connected these Son of Heaven’s temples, it could form the shape of a dragon . Every building was like a different part.

According to the Imperial Astronomers, when all the array cores were completed, they would be able to suppress the dragon vein and allow the luck of the Great Xia Dynasty to last for a thousand years. The Son of Heaven, who had accomplished this, would have merits that could catch up to the Great Ancestor.

As for Ning Tian Prefecture, it was a key node of the Dragon Vein. According to the Imperial Astronomers, it could only be suppressed by building several Son of Heaven’s temples.

After asking about the Emperor’s Temple and the local government, the Emperor suddenly thought of something and asked,

“Minister Zhao previously submitted a petition saying that an expert who can summon the wind and rain has arrived in Ning Tian Prefecture. Tell me what this person is doing now.”

Zhao Xing’an composed himself and told the truth. He told him about Perfected Master Windwalker’s deeds since stepping into Ning Tian, sweeping the river with wind, and the Azure Dragon Rises into the sky. He even told him about this person staying in Ning Tian to search for the heavenly secrets.

“Is there really such a miraculous person?”

The Emperor’s interest was piqued.

An old noble at the side nodded and said energetically, “Not only can this person summon the wind and rain, but he also knows the path of alchemy. He can refine a kind of longevity pill that can nourish the body and extend one’s lifespan. I’ve already tried the medicine personally and it’s quite effective. My spirit is becoming more and more hale and hearty. I brought a bottle on this trip and was about to offer it to His Majesty…”

This person took out a bottle of pills from his pocket and handed it to the eunuch beside him. The eunuch handed it to the Emperor.

The Emperor curiously opened the medicine bottle and poured out a few crystal clear yellow pills. They were as bright as yellow stones.

“Take this medicine down and let the imperial doctor test its quality.”

The Emperor naturally would not casually take medicine of unknown origin. He turned around and instructed his attendant.

Then, he sized up the few of them and asked, “You’ve all gotten to know this Perfected Master Windwalker. How’s his character?”

“This person is a quiet cultivator in the wilderness. He’s a carefree person. He does things according to fate and acts like an expert…”

Another noble explained in detail.

After the Emperor heard this, he pondered for a while before speaking,

“It would be a pity if I don’t see such a strange person… Pass down my orders. Tomorrow, summon this Daoist to the palace for an audience.”

He was quite surprised. Where was this mysterious Perfected Master Windwalker from? He actually appeared out of nowhere.

As for the existence of the Longevity Pill, it made his heart race. He could not help but want to figure it out.

It just so happened that he had brought an expert from the Imperial Astronomers along. Tomorrow, the person would accompany him to see and test out this Perfected Master Windwalker.