There must be at least billions of people on the Forsaken Continent, so it was inevitable that some of them would share the same names. But for the other two rising stars of the other sects to have the same names as Zhang Xuan’s direct disciples?
There was no way such a coincidence could possibly happen!
While others on the Forsaken Continent might not know of Zhang Xuan’s direct disciples, Wu Chen was familiar with them. It was no easy feat to ascend to the Forsaken Continent. It was already incredible that Zhang Xuan had been able to make his way up there with his own strength, so how could he possibly be able to bring his direct disciples along with him?
Not to mention, it was hard to believe that even his direct disciples would grow as monstrously fast as him!
In other words… he suspected that ‘Zheng Yang’ and ‘Liu Yang’ were Zhang Xuan’s aliases!
Thinking back to the days on the Master Teacher Continent, Zhang Xuan had always liked to take on new personas, such as Yang Xuan, Luo Tianya, and Sun Qiang… What better way was there for a humblebragger to humblebrag than this?
Sharply catching Wu Chen’s murmurings, Han Jianqiu turned his gaze over and asked, “They are the same person? What do you mean by that?”
“No, it’s nothing much.” Wu Chen shook his head. “It was just a casual remark.”
“I see.” Han Jianqiu nodded a little before remarking, “It seems like there will be a commotion at the Azure Bridge this time. I wonder how Zhang Xuan will fare against Zheng Yang and Liu Yang. To be honest, I’m looking forward to seeing those three geniuses going against one another in the dueling ring.”
“It will indeed be an interesting match.” Elder Liao nodded in agreement.
Wu Chen’s eyes darted downward, and he murmured with an even softer voice that only he could hear, “It’s indeed something worth anticipating. It’s just that I wonder if the person-in-question feels the same way…”
…
Half a day later, Zhang Xuan arrived back at Starchaser Island.
“Paying respects to Pavilion Master Liu.” Kui Xiao clasped his fist.
He had thought that the young man had just gone around touring the area, oblivious to the fact that he had just made a round trip to the highly dangerous Vacant Sea.
“Pavilion master?” Zhang Xuan frowned at that title.
“I have just instructed the elders to officially relay the message to the other five sects. From this day onward, you will officially be the incumbent head of our Sevenstar Pavilion!” Kui Xiao said with a cheery smile. “There’s no need to worry though. I’ll be supporting you as an elder.”
Zhang Xuan did not expect everything to proceed so swiftly, and he could not help but shake his head.
However, since he had already given his word to Kui Xiao, he would not back out anymore. Besides, his influence as the head of the Sevenstar Pavilion would make it much easier for him to move around the Forsaken Continent.
He would just have to leave the Blackback Tortoise with them before leaving the Forsaken Continent in order to repay them for this favor.
“How is the relationship between the Sevenstar Pavilion and Starchaser Palace?” Zhang Xuan asked.
“On the whole, Starchaser Palace doesn’t really have friendly relations with any of the other five sects. The Sevenstar Pavilion liaises with Starchaser Palace regarding business matters, but other than that, I’m afraid that we don’t have any informal connections with them,” Elder Kui Xiao replied.
“In other words, we aren’t close to them at all?” Zhang Xuan asked with a deep frown.
“It wouldn’t be wrong to say that.” Elder Kui Xiao nodded. “However, it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to bargain with them. As the head of the Sevenstar Pavilion, as long as what you request isn’t overboard, they will still try to accommodate your request to uphold some basic formalities.”
Even if the two sects were not close with one another, as fellow heads of the Six Sects, they still had to give each other some leeway. After all, there was no saying when they would require each other’s help, especially since there was a greater threat looming above them.
It would be unwise to cause a fallout over minor issues.
“I wish to pay a visit to the head of Starchaser Palace to ask about some matters,” Zhang Xuan said.
“If you are just asking some questions, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.” Elder Kui Xiao nodded. “As long as it doesn’t involve their rituals and the gods, I don’t see any issues in that. As you know, Starchaser Palace’s greatest strength is its ability to reach out to the gods. Naturally, that’s a confidential matter to them, and it would be unwise to ask them to share such sensitive matters.”
Back then, when the heads of the Six Sects were gathered together to discuss their plans for the Azure Bridge, Hall Master Qin Yuan had just broached the subject a little, and that had nearly landed them in a fight.
As long as the young man did not touch this sensitive topic, everything should be fine.
“This…”
Those words left Zhang Xuan completely wide-eyed.
Those two were the exact things that he wanted to ask the head of Starchaser Palace about!
Taking the young man’s response into sight, Elder Kui Xiao’s eyes widened as well as he carefully asked, “Pavilion Master Liu, do you intend to ask them about that?”
“Well, there is something extremely important to me that I really need to verify with Palace Master Du,” Zhang Xuan replied hesitantly. “Do you know how I can get into contact with her?”
Even though Elder Kui Xiao had already discouraged him, he still wanted to give it a try.
If he visited her and asked her in his capacity as the head of the Sevenstar Pavilion, it was more likely that he would receive a favorable response compared to him probing around as a disciple.
Seeing that the young man’s mind was made up, Elder Kui Xiao rubbed his temples in exasperation. It was just a moment ago that he had officially announced that he was passing down his position to this young fellow, and this young fellow was already starting to stir trouble.
Eventually, though, out of consideration that the young man was already the pavilion master, he still spoke up. “It’s not too difficult to get in contact with her. I should be able to help you arrange a meeting. However, Pavilion Master Liu, you must exercise the utmost prudence. Palace Master Du is a very hot-tempered person. If you get into a verbal disagreement with her, I will have to ask you to calm down and consider the interests of our sect…”
To be honest, he was not too worried about the young man’s safety. Du Qingyuan was a formidable cultivator, but their new pavilion master had a Semi-Divinity artifact and the Blackback Tortoise with him. If a battle really broke out, the one who would be in a disadvantageous position might not necessarily be him.
That being said, it was still best to avoid a conflict altogether. As heads of their respective powers, their relationship with one another would dictate the future relationship between their respective powers.
“Rest assured, I would just like to ask some basic questions. I have no intention of burning bridges,” Zhang Xuan said with a smile.
He had always gone with the mentality of an eye for an eye. He would not cause trouble if the other party did not provoke him, not to mention that the relationship between the two sects was at stake.
“That’s a huge relief!” Elder Kui Xiao patted his chest in relief upon receiving that promise. “Alright then, I’ll help you contact her right now.”
After that, he took out a Communication Jade Token and tapped it lightly.
A few moments later, he raised his head and said, “Pavilion Master Liu, she has agreed to a meeting with you. However, she requests for the meeting to be in Starchaser Palace.”
Zhang Xuan nodded in response.
The location did not matter to him.
Under Elder Kui Xiao’s lead, the two of them quickly made their way through the island, and soon enough, they were already standing right before the massive gates of Starchaser Palace.
Unlike other sects, Starchaser Palace appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary palace. It was located at the center of the massive city, just like the Sevenstar Pavilion, but its form was nowhere near as imposing as the latter’s seven towers.
However, if one took a closer look, one would realize that the spiritual energy within millions of li was surging endlessly toward this very palace, forming an enormous formation.
It was probably due to such a firm foundation that the Starchaser Pavilion had been able to thrive despite being surrounded by powerful aquatic creatures.
Elder Kui Xiao handed the greeting scroll over, and the two of them were immediately granted entry to the palace. Led by a female attendant, they were taken from corridor to corridor before eventually being settled within a spacious guest hall.
They waited for a short while before another female attendant entered the guest hall and said, “Pavilion Master Liu, our palace master wishes to have a private meeting with you. I’ll have to ask Elder Kui Xiao to rest here for the time being.”
“I understand.” Elder Kui Xiao nodded.
He knew that the young man had something confidential that he had to discuss with Du Qingyuan, so it was not convenient for him to be listening in as well. Thus, Elder Kui Xiao told the young man to take care of himself before settling back down in the chair.
Zhang Xuan followed the female attendant out of the guest hall, and passing through the corridor, he soon arrived before a private chamber.
The interior of the chamber was deathly silent, and there was a massive veil at the center of the room that hindered one’s sight.
A calm voice sounded from beyond the veil. “To what do I owe this visit, Pavilion Master Liu? I just received news regarding your inauguration, and I didn’t think that you would come knocking shortly after.
“The Sevenstar Pavilion has always been a trading partner of Starchaser Palace. I reckon that a matter that requires Pavilion Master Liu to request a meeting with me so urgently is something of vital importance. I’ll try my best to fulfill your request as long as it’s something within my means.”
Zhang Xuan was slightly displeased to see that the head of Starchaser Palace was putting on airs with him by facing him through a veil. He had never heard that Du Qingyuan had such a habit, so he could not help but think that the latter was trying to test or mock him.
Nevertheless, he clasped his fist and said, “I do have an urgent request that requires your assistance, Palace Master Du.”
The person beyond the veil nodded. “Feel free to speak your mind.”
“Palace Master Du, I heard that you have conducted a ritual two months ago for a god to descend upon the Forsaken Continent. I would like to ask some matters regarding the god,” Zhang Xuan said.
Since he was already there, he was determined to clarify the doubts in his mind.
“I have no idea where you received the news from, Pavilion Master Liu, but I am unaware of what you are speaking of. Given so, I fear that there’s nothing I can tell you,” the person beyond the veil replied coldly.
A frown appeared on Zhang Xuan’s forehead, and he said, “I have visited the Vacant Sea personally to investigate the matter, and there are witnesses stating that you visited the area two months ago. You conducted a ritual in order to summon a god, and the ritual failed, resulting in the god incurring some severe injuries while trying to barge her way through.”
“Pavilion Master Liu must have heard wrongly. I have been cooped myself in Starchaser Palace for years, and there’s no way I could have been at the Vacant Sea. I’m afraid that I know nothing of what you are saying at all,” the person beyond the veil replied. “If you are here to grasp at straws, I’m afraid that I don’t have time to accompany you, Pavilion Master Liu. Xiao Qing, send off our guest!”
The female attendant from before immediately walked over and gestured outward. “Pavilion Master Liu, this way please.”
“Since you are reluctant to share about that matter, Palace Master Du, I will have to ask you to pardon my discourtesy!”
Without even sparing a glance at the female attendant, Zhang Xuan harrumphed coldly before abruptly rising to his feet.
He knew that there was a chance that Du Qingyuan would feign ignorance of the matter, but since this matter concerned Luo Ruoxin, even if he had to flip the entire Starchaser Palace upside down, he was determined to uncover the truth.
He might still have thought twice in the past, but with five Semi-Divinities protecting him, he definitely possessed the means to force the other party to speak!
He was more than willing to wait for any other matter, but for this single issue, he could not allow himself to wait any longer.
“Discourtesy?” The voice beyond the veil turned wintry. “Pavilion Master Liu, are you intending to make Starchaser Palace your enemy?”
“I have no intentions of doing so. All I wish is for you to satisfy this little bit of curiosity of mine, Palace Master Du,” Zhang Xuan replied with a wave of his hand.
Hula!
The four Semi-Divinity realm beasts appeared in the room simultaneously.
“Invite Palace Master Du over here!”
“Yes, Master!”
Even though the three sharks and the Blackback Tortoise were aquatic creatures, having reached their current cultivation realm, they were more than capable of surviving on land as well. It was just that their strength would be slightly crippled as a result.
Hong long!
With the four aquatic creatures releasing their might at once, a tremendous energy burst right into the clouds.
“Audacious!”
The person on the other side of the veil clearly did not think that the new head of the Sevenstar Pavilion would be so brazen as to make a move in her own territory.
Huala!
Several Heavenly High Immortal realm elders burst into the room, causing a powerful burst of wind to sweep inward.
“Send out those intruders,” Zhang Xuan ordered calmly.
Peng peng peng peng!
All the elders who had just entered flew outward simultaneously and crashed to the ground, sustaining severe injuries.
There was simply too huge a gap between High Immortals and Semi-Divinities. Even though these aquatic creatures were only able to bring forth at most eighty percent of their strength on land, they were still a force far surpassing what those Heavenly High Immortals could deal with.
Hu!
While Shark One knocked those Heavenly High Immortals back, Shark Two, Shark Three, and the Blackback Tortoise dashed forward to encircle the figure beyond the veil. With their combined strength, they swiftly bound the other party and brought her before Zhang Xuan.
“You aren’t Palace Master Du Qingyuan? Who are you?”
Facing the young lady before him, Zhang Xuan questioned her with a deep frown.
The young lady before him was dressed in a light purple dress, and she boasted a curvaceous figure. Her appearance was reminiscent of that of a twenty-five years old, so her actual age was definitely beneath a hundred years. Furthermore, her cultivation was only at the Lesser High Immortal realm!
Of course, someone of Du Qingyuan’s means would be more than capable of concealing her age and cultivation, but it was obvious that the young lady before him harbored great fear of him despite the bravado that she was putting on. How could she possibly be the head of Starchaser Palace?
Not to mention, Du Qingyuan was rumored to be an expert even stronger than Elder Kui Xiao. Even if she was not the strongest within the Six Sects, she would definitely rank within the top three!
