Chapter 444 - 419: The Kunshan Outcast

The Emperor issued a decree, summoning Song Zhao to the capital!

After confirming that this second piece of news was true, Song Ciwan stood still, silent for a moment.

She found it both unexpected and, upon reflection, not at all strange that the Emperor would issue such a decree.

’The question now is, should I go?’

Song Ciwan didn’t have to think for long. She quickly made her decision: she wasn’t going!

’At least, not right now!’

Although she was considered a top expert among the younger generation, she was still no match for the likes of a True Immortal Martial Saint.

Forget a True Immortal Martial Saint—Song Ciwan felt that even against a Top Level Celestial Immortal, she wouldn’t necessarily win unless she was willing to burn her Lifespan at any cost.

’A place like the Imperial Palace... who knows what kinds of strange things are hidden there?’

’What’s the difference between going to a place like that and Tang Monk walking right into the Silk Cave?’

’In a world where power belongs to the individual, the Emperor isn’t some true god. No matter how powerful the rule of Great Zhou is, I have Fetal Transformation and Shape-shifting. I can undergo countless changes. No one can force me to go where I don’t want to go!’

Fetal Transformation and Shape-shifting was different from an ordinary Transformation Technique. As one of the classic Daoist Techniques among the Thirty-Six Celestial Spirit Techniques, when cultivated to the High Depths, it could even obscure the Celestial Secret.

Even without reaching the High Depths, with enough proficiency, it was perfectly possible to alter her aura and change her very bone structure and appearance.

Song Ciwan walked slowly down the long street, taking in the lively atmosphere of the Mortal World while silently contemplating the path ahead.

It was the New Year season. The first day of the year had passed, but the Lantern Festival had not yet arrived.

People bustled along the main street, clasping their hands in greeting and joyfully wishing each other, "A prosperous new year to you, and may you enjoy a long and healthy life!"

There were also many people discussing the Celestial Pride List. As she passed a street near the Academy, she overheard some scholars saying:

"The top ten of the Celestial Pride List still has seven from our Human Race and three from the Demon Race. However, aside from Tushan Jing, who’s still number one, the only ones left from the Demon Race are Ao Feng of the Dragon Race at number nine, and the Demon Scholar’s Night Traveling Lamp at number ten."

As it turned out, after Song Ciwan replaced Lu Wen to become third on the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List, the remaining rankings had simply shifted down.

Lu Wen dropped to fourth place, and tenth place was taken by the former number nine, Ao Feng of the Dragon Race.

Later, when Lu Wen was killed by Mo Yinghuai in a single blow, the list was short one person, so everyone ranked below him moved up a spot.

Ao Feng went back to being number nine, and number ten was filled by the one who was previously eleventh, Night Traveling Lamp.

At the same time, a newcomer ascended to the Celestial Pride List, becoming the new number one hundred.

But with such huge changes in the top ten, the world’s attention was almost entirely focused there; hardly anyone paid any mind to the new person at number one hundred.

The scholars were jubilant, discussing, "Second through eighth place are all from our Human Race! The Demon Race has suffered a great loss of face this time."

But someone raised a concern, "This time, Lu Wen was successfully assassinated—killed right under the nose of a Demon Saint. Will the Demon Race really not declare war?"

Just then, a scholar in a brocade robe snorted. "Elder Mo is a Celestial Immortal, too. The Demon Race was the first to send a Demon Saint to assassinate our Human Race’s Celestial Pride, Song Zhao. We humans are simply paying them back in kind with a Celestial Immortal of the same realm. What face do they have to declare war over this?"

His fellow student asked, "Why does everyone say Immortal Venerable Mo is only a Celestial Immortal and not a True Immortal? He managed to kill Lu Wen right under a Demon Venerable’s nose and only lost an avatar in the end. Is that really something a mere Celestial Immortal can do?"

The scholar in the brocade robe immediately put on a mysterious expression. "That’s because you don’t know Elder Mo’s true origins. An outcast of Kunshan. Gentlemen, do you know what that title truly signifies?"

"What is it? Quick, tell us, Brother Zhou!"

This Brother Zhou, clearly from an extraordinary family, knew many secrets that ordinary people did not. Surrounded, complimented, and urged on by the others, he finally began to slowly reveal a hidden story from a thousand years ago.

He began, "Gentlemen, I only know a little about this because I happened to overhear some elders in my family discussing it. Listen closely, but you absolutely must not go spreading it around. If you misspeak and offend a certain Immortal Master, don’t blame me for not warning you today!"

His words, of course, only made everyone more curious.

’It’s just human nature—the more something is Forbidden, the more people want to know about it. Besides, if it were truly that secret and completely taboo, would this Brother Zhou dare to bring it up on a public street?’

’So, while it might be a secret, it’s probably only secret to a certain extent, or maybe it’s one of those secrets that a lot of people already know. It’s just not common knowledge.’

With the crowd murmuring their agreement and urging him on, Brother Zhou finally continued, "This story goes back a thousand years, to a romance between a human and a dragon."

Song Ciwan had only been listening casually, her mind still focused on her own path forward.

But when Brother Zhou said the words "romance between a human and a dragon," her focus snapped to him, her curiosity thoroughly piqued.

Brother Zhou adopted a storyteller’s tone and began to narrate. "A thousand years ago, Immortal Venerable Mo was the chief disciple of Kunshan. Back then, our Great Zhou had not yet been founded. The Nine Provinces World was fractured, humans and demons lived intermingled, and the Demon Race was more powerful than the Human Race!

"Common folk were often oppressed by the Demon Race, sometimes even ending up as their food. Many Immortal Masters from the Kunshan Sect roamed the Mortal World, vanquishing demons and eliminating evil. Immortal Venerable Mo was chief among them, and he made a great name for himself throughout the Nine Provinces World.

"Back then, as number one on the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List, Immortal Venerable Mo was given a title by the people of the Nine Provinces: the Rescue Immortal Venerable!"

Hearing this, the scholars were momentarily lost in admiration. One of them nodded and said, "Vanquishing demons and eliminating evil, the Rescue Immortal Venerable, number one on the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List! It’s a real pity that in our generation, the top of the Celestial Pride List is occupied by the Demon Race.

"Immortal Venerable Mo truly was a figure worthy of reverence! But how did someone like that later become an outcast of Kunshan?"

Brother Zhou deliberately left them in suspense. "There’s a reason for that, of course. Don’t be impatient, gentlemen. Let me continue."

He went on, "Immortal Venerable Mo began his Cultivation at a young age and was full of youthful vigor. In the Nine Provinces Land of that era, humans and demons lived intermingled. Though there were Evil Demons, some of the Demon Race were friendly toward the Human Race. As such, intermarriage between humans and demons was even a common occurrence!"

Intermarriage between humans and demons!

Hearing this, the scholars couldn’t help but shake their heads, a mixture of shock and wonder in their voices. "Intermarriage between humans and demons... it truly was a barbaric and chaotic era. An act that goes against the Celestial Dao like that... no one would dare do such a thing today!"

Brother Zhou simply smiled, offering no judgment on the matter, and continued, "In any case, a thousand years ago, intermarriage between humans and demons was permitted. So, as Immortal Venerable Mo roamed the world performing chivalrous deeds, he didn’t fall in love with a woman from the Human Race, but with a Dragon Maiden... and she with him!"