Martial Cultivator

Chapter 995: At the Doorsteps

Sensing the change in the sky, Lu Ji’s expression changed at once.

He looked at Chen Chao in disbelief.

As the master of the dream, only Lu Ji himself should have had the ability to alter it, while Chen Chao, as a mere observer, should not have been able to do anything.

Yet even Lu Ji, a great cultivator who had long since broken through Nepenthe and stepped into the Fuyun Realm, could not understand why his dream was now being changed by Chen Chao.

Before long, a palace attendant rushed into the great hall, trembling as he looked at the young emperor. “Your Majesty, the heavens have changed!”

The young founding emperor of Great Liang looked at the attendant before him, his eyes filled with confusion.

Soon after, the court officials in the hall all came outside, looking up at the sea of clouds now gathering over the imperial city, their eyes wide.

One court official immediately fell to his knees, his face pale. “Your Majesty, this is a warning from Heaven. You must not act willfully, or the realm may collapse in the blink of an eye!”

As he spoke, more court officials quickly knelt down.

With such a heavenly phenomenon descending, no one could ignore it.The young founding emperor looked at the clouds in the sky and suddenly burst into laughter. “What warning is this? This is an auspicious sign! Heaven itself agrees with Our decision. Our will is set and cannot be changed!”

Once the young sovereign had made his decision, no one could change it. Even if all the court officials opposed him, it would not matter.

Lu Ji looked at the founding emperor of Great Liang, his thoughts complicated. That Great Liang could rise from weakness to strength, and over two hundred years not produce a single incompetent ruler, was something rarely seen in history. Before, he had thought it was mere chance. But now, seeing this young founding emperor, and then seeing this even younger martial artist here, he suddenly understood why.

From beginning to end, these people had always shared the same nature, passed down in one line. The prosperity of the dynasty was inevitable; it only required time.

Drawing back his gaze, Lu Ji looked at the young martial artist quietly watching the sea of clouds and could not help but ask, “Did you glimpse the scenery of Fuyun?”

Though he asked this, he already believed the answer was no. Letting him drink the tea and witness that period of history had not been for the sake of his cultivation, but rather because Lu Ji wanted to see what kind of person this young man, who could now influence the fate of the world, truly was.

From a single detail, one can infer the whole. He had thought that by understanding the young martial artist’s temperament, he could understand what kind of dynasty this was, but after seeing the founding emperor, he already had his answer.

Chen Chao took a slight breath. His entire bearing now carried an indescribable quality. Hearing Lu Ji’s question, the young martial artist said, “It feels like I’ve seen a gate. I want to go take a look.”

After saying this, Chen Chao began to walk upward into the sky, as if, in a place unseen by all others, there was a staircase leading straight to the heavens.

And this young martial artist was ascending step by step.

With every step he took, a faint footprint was left in midair.

As he continued forward, more and more footprints appeared.

Looking at that trail of footprints, at that figure not particularly tall yet incomparably upright, Lu Ji searched his mind over and over, but could no longer think of a second person like Chen Chao.

The young man before him was different from all others.

......

......

In the teahouse, Lu Ji opened his eyes. His whole body suddenly trembled, then he raised a hand to rub his brow and glanced at the young man before him.

Chen Chao had his eyes closed, as if he were still within that dream.

But from his body, strands of white mist had already begun to slowly seep out, gradually enveloping him.

With his turbid eyes, Lu Ji lifted his gaze toward the outside of the window.

It should have been nightfall by now, yet outside it was as bright as day.

He stood up and slowly walked to the entrance of the teahouse, only to suddenly discover that the entire Rainfront County of Ying Prefecture was lit as though it were daytime. Above, in the sky, clouds gathered, and at the horizon there was a stretch of radiant sunset glow.

Countless common people stepped out from their courtyards, staring at the clouds and glowing sky above with wide eyes.

What common people feared most was heavenly punishment, because in the face of it, there was often nothing they could do. The only thing they could do was hope that Heaven would not bring disaster upon them.

But the celestial phenomenon before them did not inspire fear.

Because it was simply too beautiful.

They would rather believe that immortals were descending into the mortal world than believe that this was a sign of impending calamity.

Yet just as the people marveled at this rare sight, above the sea of clouds, from even higher in the sky, peals of thunder began to sound.

In that distant expanse of sky, countless dark clouds started to gather, as though a great storm was about to arrive.

Thunder rumbled continuously.

It was as if it carried the cold indifference and ruthlessness of the will of heaven and earth.

Standing at the teahouse entrance, Lu Ji’s expression shifted slightly. From Nepenthe into the Fuyun Realm, according to what he knew, although exceptional individuals might occasionally trigger celestial phenomena, it would never be like this.

Those accumulating bolts of heavenly lightning resembled the tribulation recorded in daoist texts!

Lu Ji frowned and turned back toward the teahouse, his expression growing increasingly grim. What exactly was going on with this young man? Why would he trigger a heavenly tribulation while breaking through?

Daoist texts clearly stated that heavenly tribulation existed to erase those cultivators who strayed from the righteous path, preventing them from reaching higher realms and bringing harm to the world. But no matter how one looked at that young man, he did not seem like someone who would harm the world.

Lu Ji could not make sense of it, only confusion filling his mind.

The common people had never seen such a strange yet magnificent sight. Some more timid ones had already retreated into their homes, but before such a heavenly tribulation, no matter where one hid, it would ultimately be useless.

As the thunder grew louder and louder, Lu Ji, feeling the killing intent of heaven and earth, felt his heart sink to the bottom.

......

......

Sword Sect.

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master, who had just fought Chen Chao and was preparing to enter seclusion again, was sitting at the cliff’s edge, looking at the clouds before him.

But at this moment, this person who had already broken through the Nepenthe Realm to become a Fuyun Great Sword Immortal suddenly raised his head and looked toward Ying Prefecture. Though the Sword Sect's Sect Master could not see the exact scene, he had already sensed something unusual.

He frowned, thought for a moment, and then his entire body turned into a streak of sword light, departing the Sword Sect at once and heading for Ying Prefecture.

As he drew closer to Ying Prefecture, the Sword Sect’s Sect Master became increasingly aware of the changes in the aura. Pausing for a moment before a stretch of cloud sea, this number one figure in the sword dao under heaven finally guessed the truth of the matter.

“He understood it so quickly?”

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master found it somewhat unbelievable. That young man was not yet thirty, and had cultivated for little more than a dozen years, yet he had already reached a place that had taken him a full hundred years to attain?

“Advancing too quickly, no wonder even heaven and earth can’t tolerate it.”

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master shook his head, his whole body turning into a streak of sword light as he continued rushing forward.

At last, upon reaching the borders of Ying Prefecture, the Sword Sect’s Sect Master halted once more, then lifted his head to look around. Countless drifting clouds were now converging toward a single place, and the cold, indifferent will above the sky had become even more distinct.

The common people might not be able to sense anything, but the Sword Sect’s Sect Master, publicly acknowledged as the strongest of the human race, could clearly feel the killing intent emanating from the will of heaven and earth.

An all-pervasive killing intent.

He watched for a moment, then turned to look north.

At a time like this, some man-made calamities were even more terrifying than natural disasters.

......

......

The demon race had changed commanders. Demon Lord Redsleeve had not been in a hurry to lead the army south these past days, instead reorganizing the demon forces. As the demon race’s most skilled commander, she understood a principle often spoken of by humans:

If a worker wishes to do his job well, he must first sharpen his tools.

Only after fully familiarizing herself with the demon army, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, could she command them as easily as moving her own limbs.

Thus, the desolate north was enjoying a brief period of peace.

Further to the north, within the royal palace of the demon capital, the Demon Emperor suddenly opened his eyes.

This leader of all demons abruptly looked south. Without a moment’s hesitation, he transformed into a streak of demonic qi and arrived at the banks of the Onan River.

After standing at the riverbank briefly, the Demon Emperor moved again, and when he next appeared, he was already at the edge of the desolate north.

Before him stood the most magnificent structure of the human race - the Northern Frontier Great Wall. It was because of that wall that the demon race had been unable to head south for two hundred years.

But in truth, their inability to head south had little to do with that wall.

The Demon Emperor passed over the Northern Frontier Great Wall unnoticed.

In his life, he had only come to Great Liang once before.

Outside the Infatuation Daoist Temple, he had once spoken with the two most authoritative figures among the human race, but the outcome had not been good.

That man, whose posture had been so upright, had refused to bow his head. It was also precisely why the Demon Emperor had admired him.

But now, that man was no longer there.

On this second visit to Great Liang, the Demon Emperor did not go to see the divine capital. Instead, he bypassed it and headed straight for Ying Prefecture.

With that man gone, the Divine Capital held no importance for him.

This time, the Demon Emperor was traveling in haste, so along the way he did not conceal his demonic qi. In the sky, a mass of rolling black clouds surged forward, and the demons on the ground, sensing that overwhelmingly powerful aura, all fell to their knees. They might not know who had arrived, but the deepest fear within their bloodline made them instinctively lower their heads.

As the cultivators of Xinliu Prefecture and Ying Prefecture sensed that terrifying demonic qi passing overhead, in that instant, even some cultivators who had stepped into the Nepenthe Realm raised their heads to look toward the sky, a sense of helplessness and fear rising within them.

Had the Northern Frontier Great Wall already been breached, and the demon race begun their southward advance?!

This was perhaps the most immediate thought in the minds of those cultivators.

Otherwise, how could such a great demon dare to head south so unrestrained?

A shadow had already taken root deep in their hearts.

But just as the Demon Emperor reached the border of Ying Prefecture, he suddenly stopped.

Because ahead of him, a tall figure had already appeared.

That man stood with his hands behind his back, his long hair streaked with black and white.

The number one swordsman in the world, the Sword Sect's Sect Master, had already been waiting for a long time.

The Demon Emperor looked at this sword cultivator who had once struck at him deep in the desolate north, his eyes devoid of emotion.

The Sword Sect's Sect Master said, "With Your Majesty's status, why bother making a move against a young man?"

The Demon Emperor said calmly, "So it really is him preparing to break through."

The Sword Sect's Sect Master smiled and said, "Each generation produces its own talents, each surpassing the last. Since he bears the surname Chen, and is that His Majesty's nephew, then whatever happens is nothing strange."

The Demon Emperor thought for a moment, then acknowledged this reasoning. "Chen Che's nephew reaching this step is not surprising."

"Your Majesty, why not wait for him to break through? After that, the two of you can fight to your heart's content. It would not damage Your Majesty's reputation."

The Sword Sect's Sect Master looked at the Demon Emperor, sword intent already surging in his eyes. He too wanted to fight the Demon Emperor, but this was not the right moment. If he could make the Demon Emperor withdraw without fighting, that would naturally be the best outcome.

The Demon Emperor looked at the Sword Sect's Sect Master and said flatly, "Since he is Chen Che's nephew, then he should not be given too many chances."

The Sword Sect's Sect Master shook his head. "Your Majesty pressing him like this is beneath you."

"You intend to stop Us?"

A trace of mockery flashed through the Demon Emperor's eyes. Back then, he had never regarded this sword cultivator as an equal opponent. Now, that had not changed.

In his eyes, there had only ever been one true opponent, which was Chen Che.

Aside from Chen Che, everyone else in the world was nothing but chickens and dogs.

The Sword Sect's Sect Master smiled. "That His Majesty once showed me kindness, so naturally I must try to stop you... but to be honest, even without that, I would still wish to fight Your Majesty once more. My current sword has reached perfection; I must find someone to test it against."

The Demon Emperor said nothing, only looked at the Sword Sect's Sect Master. After a moment, he suddenly said, "In Our view, you are indeed somewhat stronger than that daoist. Below Chen Che, you can be considered second."

The Sword Sect's Sect Master smiled. "Many thanks for Your Majesty's recognition."

"But even so, you are still not Our opponent."

After the Demon Emperor said this, the demonic clouds behind him had already spread to fill the sky.

At this moment, the entire sky was filled with an extremely terrifying aura.

Demonic qi blanketed the heavens.

The Sword Sect's Sect Master raised his hand, saying nothing.

Then a streak of sword light illuminated the sky.

"Whether I am Your Majesty's opponent or not, we will only know after we fight. But if by chance I win Your Majesty, it would at least earn me the admiration of the world once."

The Sword Sect's Sect Master took a deep breath and smiled faintly.