Free Web NovelChapter 1316: Chapter 9: The Grand Ceremony
Ji City.
This city’s layout is horizontal and vertical, squared and orderly. For many years, it has stood in Daze County just like this, meticulously organized.
It is said that it was not always like this. Although it was orderly, it was not as strictly demanding as it is now, as if every detail must achieve symmetry.
But how it was before, there aren’t many left who can clearly say.
The subtle and gradual change in a city is hard for its inhabitants to detect. People always slowly accept it, slowly get used to it.
As for outsiders...
Apart from when the Secret Realm of the Seven Star Tower is open, there have never been many visitors to Ji City.
Of all the top families in Daqi, the most closed off is the Da Ze Tian Clan. The reason why is clear to people.
Ever since that person, whose name people avoid mentioning, moved into Fubi Tower, the discussions regarding this city and the tower have grown fewer and further between.
What is there to discuss that is not good? Finding death does not need to aim at a madman.
If one simply desires death, one might as well choose a more comfortable way to die.
The Clan Leader of the Tian family, Marquis of Gaochang Tian Xili, is now in Linzi participating in the grand ceremony. Another powerhouse of the God Descending Realm from the clan, Tian Huanwen, is overseas managing affairs.
But Ji City still runs so calmly and monotonously, without a single ripple.
Because that one... really dislikes ripples.
Political wisdom, the ability to govern, all are external; officials in Ji City only need to know two things. First, it’s best not to trouble that one. Second, it’s best if they themselves are not trouble.
Because for that one, the way to solve trouble is too simple. So simple that it leaves no chance for remedy, not to mention regret.
Today is good weather.
Because of that grand ceremony far away in Linzi, the weather throughout Qi Country will not be poor today.
"When people are joyful, the sky must smile," as the saying goes.
This sentence is a prominent one in the history of cultivation. Several legendary sages somehow match this saying, and it’s unclear to whom it originally belonged. But since then, the technique of changing weather has become simpler.
Of course, this "simplicity" is also a relative concept. But for a powerful nation like Qi Country, whether it’s simple or not, it’s simple.
Right now, the clouds are scarce, the sky is clear, and sunshine bathes the city walls.
A person of average height, donning a cloak, walks along from the end of the Official Way, entering through the wide-open city gates. His steps are unhurried, neither fast nor slow.
The guard at the city gate, Tian Sifu, yawns lazily, somewhat drowsy from the tail end of summer, with sleepiness clinging to his eyelids.
In Daze County, no one dares to trouble the Tian family.
And in Ji City, trouble does not exist for the Tian family.
Therefore, the job of guarding the city is truly boring.
But as this yawn escapes him, he suddenly snaps to alertness, quickly adjusts his posture, and stands still without glancing sideways.
"Dammit, I got lax," he thinks uneasily.
No matter how dull it is, there are rules to city guarding.
Ji City is very much a city that abides by "rules."
The rules of this city are deeply emblazoned in people’s minds. They don’t need, nor wish, to be reminded again.
The guards couldn’t care less about what the cloaked person feels.
After he enters the city gate and stands on the street, looking left and right.
People on the street hustle by in a hurry. Those who do catch a glimpse of him only give a quick, curious glance.
The citizens of Ji City seem exceedingly busy, too busy to entertain curiosity.
On both sides of the street stand houses that are virtually identical. With eaves and windows, their patterns could nearly be mirror images. Even the signs of the various stores are uniformly standardized.
Only the people inside the stores differ, yet the clothes they wear are of a similar style. It seems that in Ji City, what people wear in their respective professions is standardized.
This is really too strict a city.
"Hey! I’m talking to you! Don’t just stand in the middle of the road!"
At the city gate, a guard berates.
Tian Sifu stands with unswerving gaze; maintaining order is also the duty of a guard, and to this, he is well accustomed.
Looking straight down the street from here, there’s a strange sense of order.
It’s as if there’s an invisible line down the middle of the street, splitting the crowd evenly into two halves.
Those coming and going are distinctly separated.
And the cloaked one stands right on that invisible central line, somewhat awkward and conspicuous.
"Oh, right, my apologies," the cloaked person amiably apologizes. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
This voice bears a trace of world-weariness.
The apology seems genuine, but he doesn’t actually move aside, his feet planted as if nailed to the ground, still blocking the road.
He looked around and muttered to himself, "This place has changed from before."
"What’s wrong with you? Can’t you understand when spoken to nicely?" the guard who yelled to chase him away became angry, brandishing his knife and approaching with a stern voice: "Do you have a death wish!?"
The cloaked figure did not turn around and pushed back with a wave of his hand.
The air coalesced into a giant semi-transparent hand that descended from the sky, instantly crushing the guard into a pulp!
"Ahh!"
Screams erupted as the bustling crowd scattered in panic.
The city guards unsheathed their swords, and someone rang the large drum alarmingly.
Yet this person remained standing in the middle of the road, seemingly indifferent to everything around him.
"All along there were people talking nicely, always nicely speaking."
He shook his head and said, "It’s you Tian family people who can’t understand!"
Tian Sifu, with his standard-issue long sword drawn and his hands trembling, shouted incoherently, yet he didn’t move a step forward. It was clear to everyone that this caped person was not someone they could handle...
For some reason, outside of the danger, he inexplicably thought of the guard who was just killed and realized he actually did not bear the Tian surname. He himself was a Tian... Of course, he wasn’t much of a Tian either, otherwise, he wouldn’t be here guarding the city gates.
But his legs were even shakier now.
The resolute individual who just killed the guard with a press of his hand removed his cloak casually on the main street leading to the city gate and threw it aside.
Whoosh!
The ordinary material of the cloak whirled into the air with a whistling sound, becoming fiercer as it spun into a shop and smashed a smooth hole right through the building!
Having removed his cloak, he revealed his middle-aged face covered with stubble.
Right on this long street, he let out a long, loud howl: "After many years of worldly dealings, it’s been a long time since I paid my respects. Liu Xiao of the Liu Family of Fufeng has come to visit! Who of the Tian family is present!?"
Liu Xiao, the only God Descending Realm powerhouse from the Liu Family of Fufeng!
The very Liu Xiao who years ago personally took action, leading an assault in Chang Ming County to kill Tian Anping, but failed due to the latter’s breakthrough in the nick of time!
The lifetime nemesis of the Tian family of Da Ze!
On a day when both Tian Huanwen and Tian Xili were absent, during the July when Tian Anping’s ten-year sentence was nearing its end.
He came to visit!
He inquired who of the Tian family was present, but perhaps he had no need to meet anyone else.
His voice thundered, overwhelming the entire city.
Under Tian Sifu’s frightened gaze, Liu Xiao leapt into the air, darting over the chaos of the crowd, tracing a sharp arc in the sky, aiming straight for Fubi Tower at the very center of Ji City!
...
...
Linzi.
In front of The Imperial Ancestral Temple, upon the vast square, all were somber.
The Ritual Officer, holding the imperial edict, proclaimed loudly before the Cinnabar Steps: "...Today, Zhongxuan Zun of the Heavy Mystery, with his peerless elegance, contends for our nation. Displaying power on the Guanhe Platform, letting the world know of Daqi’s heroes... Awarded one hundred Prime Stones, one supreme Yellow-grade Dao Technique! Encouraged to steadfastly pursue his heart’s path, to rectify his actions. Never forget the ambition for Qingyun, always bear the virtue of substantial merit, decreed hereby!"
Zhongxuan Zun, in his snow-white attire, bowed in gratitude, his demeanor graceful as ever, impeccable in every sense.
The rewards were generous but not particularly heavy for Zhongxuan Zun.
However, everyone was clear that not every Yellow River Gathering resulted in such grand ceremonies for second place. Zhongxuan Zun’s accolades had somewhat benefited from the event’s winner’s glow.
But on the other hand.
The phrase "peerless elegance" inscribed on the imperial edict was sufficient to indicate the Emperor Qi’s expectations for him.
It was an official recognition of the widely circulated commoner phrase, "Stealing all the limelight of his peers."
The other rewards, in comparison, didn’t seem to bear as much importance.
And this elegant white-clothed nobleman, still wearing a faint, nearly undetectable smile, showed neither arrogance nor meekness.
Zhongxuan Zun’s willingness to play a supporting role only highlighted his unrivaled confidence.
Even though he knew today was Jiang Wang’s main stage, he showed no intention of avoiding the limelight.
Even if he had chosen to exit early and find an excuse to seclude himself for cultivation, no one would have criticized him. After all, his performance on the Guanhe Platform was there for all to see, and everyone knew the kind of proud person he was.
Yet he participated in the ceremony as usual, walking alongside Jiang Wang, the star of the day.
Observing Jiang Wang’s glory.
His pride was self-evident, without the need for words.
Even those intent on mocking him found their scorn dissipating behind the trail of his flowing white garments.
The title of champion at the Yellow River Gathering was indeed the highest honor.
But such a title alone was not enough to overshadow Zhongxuan Zun.
While Jiang Qingyang might be dazzling, why should he shy away from the limelight!
