“Alright, I’ll be taking my leave first. There are still some matters that I need to attend to.”
After asking everything he wanted to know, Zhang Xuan quickly left the accommodation of the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion and began making his way over to where Elder Qin Yuan was.
“Hall Master Zheng!”
Upon seeing Zhang Xuan, Elder Qin Yuan heaved a sigh of relief. He quickly filled the other party in regarding the details.
Having learned of the matter from Han Jianqiu, Zhang Xuan was not too surprised by the news. With a contemplative frown on his forehead, he asked, “Elder Qin, what’s your view on the matter?”
“Since the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion is already allied with Starchaser Palace, I was thinking that we could try allying ourselves with the Sevenstar Pavilion. At the very least, we’ll be able to have each other’s backs and have more say on issues,” Elder Qin Yuan replied.
“If you don’t mind, I can bring you over to meet the newly inaugurated Pavilion Master Liu Yang of the Sevenstar Pavilion. I heard that he’s a young genius, so the two of you might be able to get along well with one another”
“Get along well…” Veins popped out on Zhang Xuan’s temples.
He would have to suffer from dissociative personality disorder to be able to get along well with himself!
Elder Qin Yuan noticed the grim look on Zhang Xuan’s face and proposed, “If you aren’t too comfortable with the matter, I can postpone the meeting with Pavilion Master Liu.”
Zhang Xuan was silent for a moment before slowly nodding. “There’s no need for that. Let’s head over and meet Elder Kui Xiao. It happens that there’s something I would like to inform the two of you about.”
If he wanted to, he was confident that he could continue his disguise for much longer. However, given the forceful measures that the Hall of Gods had used against Starchaser Palace, it was becoming apparent that the Six Sects would have to gather together and coordinate with one another in order to survive this ordeal.
So…
It was about time for him to reveal his identity as the head of four sects. With the stakes he had in four sects, he was in a good position to push for an alliance among the Six Sects.
The only issue with that was that he was not too certain that these people would be able to take the blow!
“Sure, let’s head over right now!”
Elder Qin Yuan was not sure what Zhang Xuan was going to talk about, but the grim look on the latter’s face suggested that it was something of the utmost importance. Thus, he quickly led the way forward.
The place where the Sevenstar Pavilion resided, the Greenfate Quarters, was not too far from the Changyuan Gazebo. Five minutes later, they were already standing right before Elder Kui Xiao and the others.
Elder Qin Yuan took one step forward and introduced Zhang Xuan proudly. “This is our new hall master, Zheng Yang!”
“He does look like an outstanding individual.” Elder Kui Xiao nodded in agreement.
He had been wondering if the new head of the Myriad Beasts Hall might actually be Liu Yang, the new head of their Sevenstar Pavilion, in disguise, but from the looks of it now, there was indeed no relations between the two of them.
Their pavilion master was currently only at Lesser High Immortal realm whereas this Zheng Yang had already reached the Heavenly High Immortal realm. Furthermore, the latter’s foundation seemed to be extremely firm, and he seemed ready to achieve a breakthrough at any moment.
“May I know where Pavilion Master Liu is at the moment?” Elder Qin Yuan asked with a frown. We have already brought our hall master here, so don’t you think it’s a little rude for your pavilion master not to come out and greet us?
“We have already sent the message out, so our pavilion master should be returning very soon. I’ll have to ask you to wait patiently for a moment,” Elder Kui Xiao said.
Following that, he took out his Communication Jade Token and began writing on it.
Seeing that Elder Kui Xiao had begun sending messages over to ‘Pavilion Master Liu Yang’, Zhang Xuan flicked his wrist and took out a Communication Jade Token. The Communication Jade Token soon lit up, indicating that there was a message. However, he simply held onto it quietly in his hand, not bothering to check it at all.
Elder Kui Xiao swiftly noticed the light flickering on the Communication Jade Token in Zhang Xuan’s hands. Knowing that it would be rude to peek at the other party’s private message, he politely said, “Hall Master Zheng, it seems like someone is trying to contact you.”
“That does seem to be the case.” Zhang Xuan nodded. “Elder Kui, you need not pay me any heed. Feel free to continue sending messages to your pavilion master.”
“I see. Alright then.”
Elder Kui Xiao had no idea what this Hall Master Zheng Yang was trying to pull off. Nevertheless, he continued sending messages to Liu Yang, and surprisingly, the Communication Jade Token in Hall Master Zheng Yang’s hand continued glowing brilliantly.
This left him feeling deeply perplexed.
Thus, he sent two more messages… and the Communication Jade Token in the other party’s hands glowed even more brilliantly. It was almost as if it was resonating with his movements.
“This…”
An ominous feeling arose in Elder Kui Xiao’s heart. He gently took the Communication Jade Token that was placed atop Hall Master Zheng Yang’s hands and looked at it.
His body immediately stiffened. With a doubtful tone in his voice, he called out, “Pavilion master?”
“Un.” Zhang Xuan nodded.
“This…”
Putong!
Elder Kui Xiao nearly fainted on the spot!
His deduction actually turned out to be accurate. Liu Yang was indeed Zheng Yang!
You even tried to deny it back then…
Elder Qin Yuan was bewildered by the abrupt development. He turned his gaze over and asked, “What’s going on?”
“Take a look at this, and you should be able to understand what’s going on…” Elder Kui Xiao passed his Communication Jade Token together with the one that he had taken from Zhang Xuan over.
Elder Qin Yuan looked at the two, and his body suddenly stiffened on the spot. “Hall Master Zheng… You are actually Liu Yang?”
Zhang Xuan nodded in response, confirming Elder Qin Yuan’s doubts.
“…”
The two elders stared at one another for a very long time before bitter smiles emerged on their faces. Eventually, a sigh of resignation escaped their lips.
“I guess this isn’t too bad. After all, the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion and Starchaser Palace have a common leader as well. Such a relationship allows for greater intimacy between two sects. Even if chaos befalls the Forsaken Continent, with such a connection between both of our sects, we’ll be able to support one another through times of difficulty without any worries,” Elder Qin Yuan said.
The situation had come to a point where it was impossible for a sect to survive alone. What had happened to Starchaser Palace was a warning to the rest, but even if two sects allied with one another, if they could not trust each other, this partnership would be for naught.
However, if they centered themselves around a leader who had equal stakes in both sects, they could be assured that there would be no backstabbing or the like. With a tight collaboration between the two sects, they would be able to stand their ground against the others.
Furthermore, their leader was skilled in both beast taming and battle techniques. With such capabilities, would they have to fear the Heavenly True Immortal realm Zhang Xuan?
With this, what did they have to fear?
Even the Hall of Gods would have to think twice before crossing them!
“Since that’s the case, let’s make a declaration to inform the world about our alliance. With this, the others won’t dare act so smugly anymore!” Elder Kui Xiao remarked with a relieved smile.
By making a declaration about their alliance, they would be confirming the stand of both of their sects. This would grant them a greater say when it came to matters concerning the Six Sects.
“There’s no need to send out a declaration. Isn’t the inauguration ceremony of Sect Leader Zhang Xuan about to begin? Most likely, the other sects will dispatch their top echelons over to witness the ceremony. It’ll be much more effective and impactful to announce the news there,” Elder Qin Yuan said.
The way in which the news was disseminated made a difference as well. If the two of them made the announcement right before the top echelons of the Six Sects, the effects would be much more pronounced.
“That sounds like a good idea…” Elder Kui Xiao nodded in agreement.
At this moment, the heavy chiming of a bell echoed across Starchaser Island.
“It’s starting. Let’s head over now,” Elder Kui Xiao said as he stood up.
“Un…”
Zhang Xuan had intended to fully explain the matter, but he knew that he was unable to explain the full situation in a moment’s time. So, he could only follow the rest into Starchaser Palace quickly.
The inauguration of a new palace master for Starchaser Palace was a major affair, so the place was filled with huge crowds of people. Every single one of them was excited to meet the first person on the Forsaken Continent to take over a leadership role in two of the Six Sects!
In the largest square of Starchaser Palace, there was a high seat that was located right in the middle of the crowd. Han Jianqiu, Kui Xiao, and everyone else were standing in the area with their bodies upright, making the atmosphere look particularly dignified and solemn.
“I heard that Sect Leader Zhang Xuan has comprehended the Gods’ Sword Intent. Even though his cultivation is only at the Heavenly True Immortal realm, his fighting prowess is nowhere beneath that of Heavenly High Immortals!”
“Indeed. Someone who is able to catch the eye of both Han Jianqiu and Du Qingyuan is bound to possess extraordinary capabilities!”
“I’m interested to see what kind of person he is. There have been many rumors going around regarding him, but Zhang Xuan remains an elusive figure on the Forsaken Continent. This is probably the first time he’s coming into public eye…”
…
Hushed discussions could be heard beneath.
When the news that a single person was going to be the heads of the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion and Starchaser Palace, a huge uproar was stirred across the entire Forsaken Continent. Overnight, Zhang Xuan had become a figure admired by countless citizens.
“I would like to see if this Zhang Xuan is more capable than our Hall Master Zheng!” Elder Qin Yuan chuckled softly beneath his breath.
“Later on, after the inauguration ceremony concludes, we’ll usher our Pavilion Master Liu up to announce the fact that he’s the head of both of our sects and that both of our sects are going to forge a formal alliance with one another. That news will surely make the jaws of the others fall off!” Elder Kui Xiao said.
Just thinking about the bewildered expressions that would appear before him made him want to dance in joy.
After all, there was nothing more enjoyable than passing down one’s shock to another person!
“Alternatively, we can have our Hall Master Zheng challenge Zhang Xuan to a fight. Surely a True Immortal realm cultivator won’t be a match for him…” Elder Qin Yuan smiled.
But halfway through his words, he suddenly froze on the spot. “Hall Master Zheng, what are you doing?”
Elder Kui Xiao turned his head over as well, only to see their pavilion master flying straight for the centermost seat in the square.
“I was joking when I said that you should challenge him to a duel! This is the inauguration ceremony of Starchaser Palace; we can’t afford to cause trouble here! Otherwise, we’ll be turning the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion and Starchaser Palace against us!” Elder Qin Yuan exclaimed.
He was nearly scared out of his wits.
He had said those words as a passing remark, but who would have thought that their hall master would take them seriously and actually head right for the centermost seat?
That would really incur the wrath of those two sects upon them! It was true that they were confident in their alliance, but still, there was no reason to make the Ascendant Cloud Sword Pavilion and Starchaser Palace their enemies for nothing!
“What should we do?” Elder Qin Yuan turned to look at Elder Kui Xiao anxiously.
What better chance was there to speak of collective responsibility than right now?
“Calm down. Something doesn’t seem to be right over here. Take a look over there…” Elder Kui Xiao was surprised by the happenings as well, but he knew that Zhang Xuan was not a reckless individual, so he was not as anxious as Elder Qin Yuan.
Hearing those words, Elder Qin Yuan quickly looked ahead of him.
On the way of heading to the centermost seat, the leader of those two sects swiftly changed into a twenty-year-old young man.
Hu!
Sitting down upon the highest seat, the young man emanated an imposing aura that commanded the deference of the crowd before speaking loudly.
“I am Zhang Xuan!”
Looking across the crowd around him imposingly, the young man continued. “You can also address me as Zheng Yang or Liu Yang!”
“Zheng Yang?”
“Liu Yang?”
“Aren’t those the names of the heads of the Myriad Beasts Hall and Sevenstar Pavilion?”
“Wait a moment, does that mean that he’s the head of four sects then?”
In an instant, the surroundings quietened down completely.
