Chapter 16. A Gathering of Heavenly Geniuses, Followers of the Champion!
Ever since Chu Feng went to the Imperial Palace, Shangguan Chengfeng had been on edge, unable to eat or sleep in peace.
The dignified Third Prince of the Great Chu Dynasty had died at the hands of the Shangguan Family.
Worse still, he had brazenly arranged for someone to impersonate him.
Shangguan Chengfeng’s gaze darkened. One had to understand that a force of the Great Chu Dynasty’s caliber would show no mercy once it discovered that Chu Feng was an impostor. The entire Imperial City would be thrown into chaos, and countless people would be implicated.
As the instigator, the Shangguan Family would be seized and interrogated in an instant.
Even if members of the Shangguan Family attempted to flee, Great Chu would likely dispatch some of its ancient monsters to personally hunt them down.
And yet, seven days had already passed.
There had been no unusual movements within the Imperial Palace.
Could it be that Chu Feng had truly slipped through unnoticed?
Shangguan Chengfeng felt a knot of anxiety in his heart. He had no idea what Chu Feng had encountered inside the palace, nor how he had managed to remain undiscovered until now.
Today was the Heavenly Hunt Ceremony. By all rights, Chu Feng would be attending as well.
“He is a mere mortal. When the time comes…” Shangguan Chengfeng pondered inwardly.
With the qualifications of an ordinary mortal, would Chu Feng’s participation in the Heavenly Hunt Ceremony expose any irregularities?
Perhaps the greatest trial would come today.
Shangguan Chengfeng slowly exhaled. No matter what happened, all he could do was wait for this day to unfold.
Just then—
Razor-sharp sword energies suddenly streaked across the sky, piercing through ten thousand miles with dazzling brilliance!
At that moment, Shangguan Chengfeng’s pupils contracted. He was inwardly startled. The aura of that Sword Dao was peerless beyond compare. Even while seated inside Chenwai Tower, he felt a faint tremor in his heart.
Focusing his gaze, he saw several cultivators striding through the air atop flying swords. Their bearing was aloof, and countless strands of sword qi crisscrossed around them as they tore through the heavens.
By now, many within the Imperial City had noticed them, and exclamations erupted everywhere.
“Those are people from Yunhai Sword Manor!”
“Yunhai Sword Manor? Tens of thousands of years ago, it was a renowned sacred land of the Sword Dao in the Eastern Wasteland. Later, it declined and fell into obscurity. What are they doing here this time?”
“Heh, have you forgotten what day it is? It is the Heavenly Hunt Ceremony of the Great Chu Dynasty! The champion of every generation’s Heavenly Hunt Ceremony possesses immeasurable future potential. Before that person fully matures, countless followers will gather around him!
“At each Heavenly Hunt Ceremony, innumerable geniuses of the Eastern Wasteland travel from afar for the sole purpose of following the champion!”
Upon hearing this, the crowd suddenly understood.
Looking back toward the sky, they indeed saw that among the group from Yunhai Sword Manor was a vibrant young man, brimming with vigor.
The members of Yunhai Sword Manor arrived before the Imperial Palace. Though their bearing remained aloof, they did not fly directly in on their swords. Instead, they descended, their figures like fleeting sword shadows, and entered the palace.
Immediately afterward—
Terrifying auras descended from the distant horizon. Several groups arrived one after another, each riding on War Chariots. Their imposing momentum shook the entire firmament.
Gasps echoed throughout the Imperial City.
“That is the Young Master of the Nangong Family! He is the foremost genius of the younger generation in the art of formations within the Eastern Wasteland. Some have even predicted that he possesses the potential to become a Formation Venerable. Is he also here to become a follower?”
“The madmen from the Western Heaven Battle Hall have arrived as well! Are they not known for bowing to neither heaven nor earth? And yet they are willing to become followers?”
“Even people from the Myriad Beast Divine Mountain have come…”
Several powerful and renowned forces of the Eastern Wasteland appeared in succession. Their auras were overwhelming, crushing everything in their path. Many within the Imperial City scarcely dared to breathe, their faces filled with awe as they looked upward.
Then, at that very moment—
ROAR!
A thunderous roar suddenly tore through the sky, shrill and piercing, carrying an imperial aura that was noble and overbearing.
The roar was so astonishing that it immediately drew the attention of most of the Imperial City.
In the distant heavens, they saw a ferocious demonic beast with wings sprouting from its back. Its body was enormous, like a towering mountain, and upon its back rested an entire palace.
Everyone was stunned. The palace was colossal beyond measure, and no one could even begin to guess its weight. It must have been an astonishing figure.
The mere fact that the demonic beast could carry such a palace as it traveled was proof enough of its strength.
It was likely a demonic beast of the Condensing Dao Realm, or perhaps even the Venerable Realm!
And if someone could command a beast of that level, what kind of existence must its master be?
At that moment, someone with sharp eyes immediately recognized the origin of the enormous beast.
“That is a Sky-Treading Kui! It is used by the imperial family of the Great Xia Dynasty for travel!”
“What? People from the Great Xia Dynasty? What are they doing here? Could it be that the Great Xia Dynasty has also come to become followers?”
“What kind of power is the Great Xia Dynasty? In this wasteland, who could possibly be worthy of their allegiance? Perhaps they seek to become allies of Great Chu!”
“You are living in the past. The Great Xia Dynasty has been in decline for thousands of years, each generation weaker than the last. It once stood on equal footing with Great Chu, but now it has long since fallen into decay. It is no longer qualified to be compared with Great Chu at all! As for forming an alliance, that is utter nonsense!”
At these words, many nodded in agreement. A declining power gained nothing from the former glory of its ancestors.
The Eastern Wasteland was vast beyond measure, and conflict between its forces was brutal and merciless. Once a power like the Great Xia Dynasty began to wane, countless others would swarm like mad beasts to tear at it.
By lowering the dignity of their dynasty and coming here, they were merely acknowledging reality.
Soon, the Sky-Treading Kui slowly descended from the heavens.
BOOM!
After it landed, the area within a radius of ten thousand zhang became completely empty. Everyone had already retreated far away, filled with trepidation.
Before long, a woman stepped forward.
Her features were exquisitely striking, her skin like flawless jade, her delicate nose refined and elegant. The instant she appeared, she dazzled all under heaven.
She wore a pale golden gown, upon which a lifelike phoenix was embroidered, as though it were about to soar beyond the nine heavens.
Her long hair was elegantly coiled, and she wore a crimson-gold crown upon her head, giving her a sharp and heroic air. A few loose strands brushed across her creamy cheeks.
Countless onlookers nearly forgot to breathe. She was simply too beautiful.
Yet upon closer inspection, her eyes were as cold as frost, devoid of the slightest trace of emotion.
“The Eldest Princess of the Great Xia Dynasty, rumored to be the heir to the next Xia Emperor… Xia Zixuan?”
Xia Zixuan strode forward with firm steps toward the Imperial Palace. Behind her followed numerous servants and guards, yet on this journey, she herself was clearly the highest authority.
Soon, Xia Zixuan entered the Imperial Palace. Not a single person dared to block her path.
As they watched her departing figure, many eyes gleamed with anticipation.
“This Heavenly Hunt Ceremony is truly fascinating. The geniuses gathered this time may well be the strongest in a hundred years!”
“Who would have thought that even the heir of the Great Xia Dynasty would come? I have heard that Xia Zixuan herself is an astonishingly talented prodigy. And yet she has come to be a follower…”
“Heh, perhaps she is not merely here as a follower. Xia Zixuan may have come in hopes of gaining the protection of the Great Chu Dynasty.”
At this, some sighed with emotion.
Years ago, the Great Xia Dynasty had shone just as brilliantly, no less formidable than the Great Chu of today. But times had changed. No imperial dynasty could remain eternal; eventually, all would fade and decline.
Inside Chenwai Tower, at a window seat, Shangguan Chengfeng’s expression was solemn. The number of geniuses attending this Heavenly Hunt Ceremony was frighteningly large.
He could only wonder whether that boy Chu Feng would be able to survive this ordeal.