novelraw Chapter 241 - 239: Pushing It Too Far
Chapter 241 - 239: Pushing It Too Far
This was only the first time. There would be a second, and a third. Wang Meng had to overcome this hurdle eventually. Right now, being in Celestial Heart Castle, he actually held a home-field advantage.
"He said he was going to prepare a gift."
Yang Ying had no idea what Wang Meng was planning.
In the main hall, the principal disciples from every level of Celestial Heart Castle had already gathered, respectfully awaiting the Celestial Heart Ancestor’s emergence from seclusion.
The doors to the sealed chamber swung open, bathing the hall in radiant light. A wave of surging Elemental Power washed over them. The several hundred Core Disciples of Celestial Heart Castle present instantly felt their bodies fill with strength, each of them experiencing a boost to their power. They hurriedly fell to their knees in unison. "We greet the Elder Ancestor!"
"Rise," a deep, resonant voice echoed. An old man with a youthful complexion despite his white hair emerged, wreathed in light.
The symbol of Celestial Heart Castle, the very core of its power: Celestial Heart Ancestor Yang Yingtian.
With a casual lift of one hand, everyone felt a gentle yet immense power compelling their bodies to rise on their own.
Led by Yang Molong, the members of Celestial Heart Castle, from the highest to the lowest rank, came forward to greet the Elder Ancestor one by one. After all, there were many people whom the Celestial Heart Ancestor didn’t recognize.
"Long Xi greets the Elder Ancestor. May the Elder Ancestor soon achieve enlightenment of the Great Dao," he said, prostrating himself on the floor.
"Elder Ancestor, Long Xi is my adopted son," Yang Molong said. "The boy is talented, intelligent, loyal, and sincere. I hope the Elder Ancestor will look upon him with favor and offer him guidance."
The Celestial Heart Ancestor glanced at Long Xi and nodded but said nothing.
The Celestial Heart Castle’s bloodline was not particularly prosperous. However, Yang Molong had accepted many Closed-door Disciples who were now performing quite well. The only true descendant, however, was from Yang Ying’s branch of the family. Following right after Long Xi, it was Yang Ying’s turn to pay her respects.
"Yang Ying greets the Elder Ancestor! I wish the Elder Ancestor a long and happy life, and may you be happy every day!"
Master Celestial Heart could feel the resonance of his own blood within her. Hearing her unique well-wishes, the old man was deeply gratified. "Qingzi, this child is quite good. She’s training at the Holy Hall, is she not?"
A smile appeared on Yang Qingzi’s face. "I’m honored by your remembrance, Elder Ancestor. My child, Ying’Er, is indeed training at the Holy Hall Flying Phoenix Hall. She is the lead disciple of the Flying Phoenix Hall."
The Celestial Heart Ancestor nodded. "Mm, she is getting on in years. Does she have a partner?"
Just as Yang Qingzi was about to speak, Yang Molong had already taken a step forward. "Elder Ancestor, I was planning to take advantage of your grand birthday celebration, with so many brilliant talents from all over gathered here, to select a suitable partner for Little Ying."
"This is a matter of great importance. It must be handled with care," the Celestial Heart Ancestor said with a nod.
’Yang Molong knew full well that the Elder Ancestor’s indifference toward Long Xi was due to his lack of blood ties to the family.’
"Please rest assured, Elder Ancestor. I will be sure to select the absolute best for Yang Ying!"
Upon hearing Yang Molong’s words, Long Xi was already smiling to himself.
"Elder Ancestor, this disciple has something to say," Yang Ying said, summoning her courage.
Yang Molong shot Yang Ying a glare. "Do not speak nonsense in the Elder Ancestor’s presence and break decorum."
"Speak," said the Celestial Heart Ancestor. Having just emerged from seclusion to see so many disciples, he was clearly in a good mood.
"This disciple already has someone in her heart."
The disciples present immediately burst into discussion. They never expected Yang Ying to be so audacious. A matter like this was not for her to decide.
The Celestial Heart Ancestor, however, remained expressionless. "Whoever he is, he must be worthy of you, and worthy of Celestial Heart Castle."
The greetings from the others continued, and the matter was set aside for the moment.
Once the greetings were concluded, the Celestial Heart Ancestor kept only Yang Molong behind.
"Ying’Er, you were too reckless just now."
"Mother, there’s no turning back now. I have to fight for this myself, or I’ll just be a puppet on a string!"
The freedom she enjoyed in the Holy Hall was far greater than anywhere else. Having returned to Celestial Heart Castle, Yang Ying was no longer accustomed to its many rules and regulations, and she especially hated having her life arranged by others.
Only by comparison did she realize just how wonderful the Holy Hall was.
"So be it. It’s better that the Elder Ancestor knows. No matter what happens, your mother will support you!"
Yang Qingzi took Yang Ying’s hand.
"Molong, what are your intentions regarding Yang Ying?"
"Elder Ancestor, progress on the Eight Great Castles Alliance has been difficult. I need the full support of the Long Family Castle, so I wish to arrange a match between Long Xi and Yang Ying. Their child would then become the heir to our Celestial Heart Castle," Yang Molong said.
Yang Yingtian nodded. "Handle this matter properly. Don’t let it become complicated like it did with your sister."
"Please rest assured, Elder Ancestor. A matter as important as marriage is not for the younger generation to trifle with. She should be prepared to make sacrifices for the family."
Yang Yingtian nodded. "Who will be attending from the Three Sects, Five Schools, and Eight Great Castles?"
"The Castle Lords of the Eight Great Castles will all be in attendance; they wouldn’t dare neglect such a courtesy. As for the Five Schools, they are each sending an Elder."
"Mm, keep an eye on the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. Don’t let any trouble break out."
"Please rest assured, Elder Ancestor. Besides, with you present, they wouldn’t dare act recklessly," Yang Molong said. "As for the Three Great Sects, the Holy Hall has sent Zhou Feng, the Chief Elder of the Pill Cultivators. I’m afraid only you command such prestige. For the birthday celebrations of other castles’ ancestors, the Holy Hall would send an ordinary Elder or a lead disciple at most."
Yang Yingtian nodded. "Heh, I know of Zhou Feng. He is Zhou Luodan’s Closed-door Disciple, and the one who will inherit the mantle of the Pill Cultivators. And Heaven-Dominating Hall?"
"The representative from Heaven-Dominating Hall is Yan Yuyue, the head disciple of the Evil Lord, Jin Tiannan. One could say Yan Yuyue is the Evil Lord’s mouthpiece; she holds a special position in Heaven-Dominating Hall, and this is her first time attending an event of this nature."
Yang Molong’s face beamed with pride. The Holy Hall and Heaven-Dominating Hall were giving them an immense amount of face. In the Small Thousand World, especially for the great families, status and face were paramount. The presence of these representatives from the Holy Hall and Heaven-Dominating Hall had invisibly elevated Celestial Heart Castle’s standing among the Eight Great Castles.
"Very good. The representative from the Demon Heart Sect is named Lin Jinghao. I’ve never heard that name before. The Demon Heart Sect never plays by the rules, but I doubt Jinn Qiushui would send a complete unknown."
Yang Yingtian nodded again. "This grand birthday celebration of mine is entirely to build momentum for your Eight Great Castles Alliance. You must make good use of it. Is the person Yang Ying brought with her a problem?"
"I’ve looked into him. He’s from the mortal world, with a Life Mark of around the Twentieth Layer and no background to speak of. Elder Ancestor, I will take care of him. I won’t let him cause any trouble."
A murderous glint flashed in Yang Molong’s eyes.
Yang Yingtian shot Yang Molong a glare. "Foolish! Was the lesson from last time not enough? If you kill that boy, do you think Yang Ying will simply obey? That girl is just like her mother—stubborn to a fault. Forcing her will only make things worse. Use your head."
"You mean...?"
"You can kill a person, but you cannot kill their feelings. A person’s heart, however, can be changed."
’Yang Molong had an epiphany. It was so simple! All he had to do was make Wang Meng humiliate himself. Make him realize that a worthless piece of trash like him was unworthy of Celestial Heart Castle, and he would back down on his own. At the same time, it would make Yang Ying see the vast gap between them. Once she saw Wang Meng’s pathetic state, her feelings would naturally fade.’
’The Holy Hall was wonderful, but it was just too free, too undisciplined. There was no sense of propriety.’
’If he killed Wang Meng outright, Yang Ying would raise hell, and the entire plan would be ruined. He couldn’t make the same mistake twice.’
The Celestial Heart Ancestor’s birthday banquet began.
At an event like this, the seating was strictly arranged according to sect and status.
The major figures were seated inside the main hall, while ordinary disciples remained in the courtyard outside.
Just as Yang Ying and Wang Meng were about to enter, a disciple blocked their path.
"Young Mistress, you may enter, but this man must remain outside."
"Why? He’s my honored guest!"
"My apologies, Young Mistress, but these are Young Master Long’s orders."
"Third Sister, please don’t be angry. I’m not targeting anyone. This is a rule set down by the Elder Ancestor himself. The inner hall is reserved for important guests from the Three Sects and Five Schools; unrelated individuals are not permitted inside. If not for our status as Direct Lineage Disciples, the two of us would also have to stay outside. I hope you won’t make things difficult for me, Third Sister," Long Xi said, his eyes fixated on Yang Ying. The mere sight of her was intoxicating, and he found he couldn’t look away.
"I’ll stay wherever Wang Meng stays!" Yang Ying declared, taking Wang Meng’s arm and preparing to leave.
"Third Sister, the Elder Ancestor personally requested our presence in the inner hall. Surely you wouldn’t disregard the Elder Ancestor’s wishes, would you?" Long Xi said.
Wang Meng just smiled. "Ying’Er, you go on in. It’s actually quite nice out here. The air is fresh, and I’ll get to see all the masters who’ve come from far and wide. It’s a good chance to broaden my horizons."
As he spoke, Wang Meng gave her a slight wink.
"But..." Yang Ying felt this was a grave insult to Wang Meng and couldn’t bring herself to agree.
"Be good," Wang Meng said, shaking his head gently.
Yang Ying bit her lip. "I’ll come out and join you after I’ve paid my respects to the Elder Ancestor."
Wang Meng didn’t object. Standing to the side, Long Xi was inwardly furious, but he maintained a placid smile, a testament to the composure expected of a prominent family.
"Third Sister, after you."
Wang Meng didn’t mind either way. He was just about to find a place to sit when the same Celestial Heart Castle disciple from before approached him again. "Your seat is over there! Have you no manners? Do you think you can just sit wherever you please?!"
Although Long Xi and Yang Ying’s seats were in the inner hall, their low seniority placed them near the doorway. Wang Meng’s spot, however, was right by the main entrance. He looked less like a guest and more like a Doorman.
This arrangement allowed Yang Ying and Wang Meng to see each other perfectly—a detail Long Xi had carefully orchestrated. He wanted Yang Ying to see Wang Meng’s true colors. How could a poor, pathetic loser like him ever be worthy of a Fairy like her?
A carefully staged play was about to begin!
In the Small Thousand World, few could truly be called an "Ancestor." Aside from those who were self-proclaimed or used it as a moniker, only cultivators whose Elemental Power had reached the eightieth layer were considered true Ancestors.
Reaching Fifty Layers of Elemental Power was known as Minor Perfection. Those between the Fifty Layers and fifty-ninth layer were called Quasi-Ancestor Masters. During this stage, the unlucky might face a Minor Celestial Tribulation, though the probability was extremely low. For smaller, minor sects, even someone at Fifty Layers was enough to be considered an Ancestral Master. Upon reaching the sixtieth layer, one became a true Ancestral Master.
The levels from sixty to seventy-nine comprised the Ancestral Master’s Venerable Position. This was an incredibly long process, one where time itself seemed to lose meaning. Ancestral Masters were rare to begin with, and ninety percent of them would remain stuck at the seventy-ninth layer for the rest of their lives.
However, upon breaking through to the eightieth layer of Elemental Power, the levels up to the eighty-ninth layer constituted the true Elder Ancestor’s Venerable Position. The power wielded by an Elder Ancestor was vastly different from that of an Ancestral Master.
Celestial Heart Castle’s immense prestige in the Small Thousand World was entirely dependent on the Celestial Heart Ancestor; the family’s intrinsic power was not particularly strong.
If one broke through the ninetieth layer, they would become a First Generation Grandmaster. The Five Great Sects, for instance, were all overseen by a Grandmaster.
The Three Great Sects, on the other hand, were able to command the martial world because their three Sect Leaders had all reached the realm of Great Perfection.
Celestial Heart Castle itself didn’t command much respect, but as long as the Celestial Heart Ancestor was alive and possessed the potential to break through to the next realm, every sect and school had to give them face.
Disciples like Yang Ying and Long Xi, being of the Direct Lineage, were permitted to sit in the inner hall, but only on the periphery. The center of the hall was reserved for representatives from the Three Sects, Five Schools, and Eight Great Castles, as well as a few powerful Loose Cultivators.