novelraw Chapter 110
Chapter 110
Chapter 110
The elders from the other sects turned to Gu Yang with increasingly complicated expressions.
“You!” Xia Pingyi’s face darkened at the sound. He thought the Chu Emperor spoke recklessly. If the Emperor truly intended to go to war, then war would follow…and Xia Pingyi had not come to start a war with a great nation over a single disciple. He had come only to avenge his student. Open conflict, though the White Spirit Sect feared no one, would not suit the current situation.
He ground his teeth. “Fine. Since Your Majesty says so, I’ll give you face.” He fixed his gaze on Gu Yang. “Boy…your name is Gu Yang, right? I’ll remember you. You dared kill Bai Tianhong; you have provoked the White Spirit Sect. From this moment on, if you ever step outside Chu’s borders, I will make sure you never return.” He glanced once more at the imposing Emperor, his eyes turning cold, then snorted and swept his sleeve as he strode into the void and left.
With Xia Pingyi’s departure, the other sects that had designs on Gu Yang dared not show themselves before the Emperor. That included the Fist Demon and the Collapse-Fist Sect.
“Master!” the Fist Demon wanted the burly elder to act, but the burly elder shook his head gravely. “That kid now has the Emperor’s protection. We can’t move.” “Let’s go.” He led the Fist Demon away. One by one, several sect delegations turned and departed, though each cast a long, lingering look at Gu Yang before leaving.
Although Gu Yang had gained safety for the moment, the trouble he had stirred up was far from simple. Even with the Emperor’s personal protection, if Gu Yang ever dared to leave the imperial city, the White Spirit Sect would unleash its fiercest pursuit. Even if Gu Yang survived, his future growth would suffer.
When the sect elders finally dispersed, only Gu Yang, Li Tianming, and the imperial entourage remained on the field. The imperial princes stepped forward and stood behind the Emperor, their gazes toward Gu Yang full of admiration and reverence. Simply drawing his sword in the face of a sixth-layer Yuanhai powerhouse had earned Gu Yang their deep respect.
Gu Yang relaxed slightly and sheathed his sword. He turned slowly to face Chu Ling’er and the Emperor. “Thank you, Your Majesty, and thank you, Princess, for speaking up,” he said, bowing slightly. He had heard Chu Ling’er’s voice earlier and did not neglect to acknowledge it. The Emperor watched his composed gratitude with evident approval. Chu Ling’er’s pretty face flushed; she lowered her head and dared not meet Gu Yang’s eyes. The Emperor smiled faintly.
“Gu young friend, you need not be so formal. I helped because the Purple Moon Secret Realm belongs to Chu; I will not allow other sects to act wantonly there.”
Gu Yang nodded slightly, understanding the Emperor’s meaning.
“You displayed techniques in the Purple Moon Secret Realm that shocked me,” the Emperor continued. “But you killed Bai Tianhong; the White Spirit Sect will not let that go.” He paused, then added, “This is not the place to speak. Gu young friend, will you come with me to the imperial city so we can talk properly?”
Gu Yang did not refuse. He had no choice but to stay in the imperial city for now; if he left, he could not be certain he could slay Xia Pingyi. He bowed slightly. “Then I will follow your command.”
Li Tianming nearly fainted from fright, then watched Gu Yang converse with the Emperor and felt his heart pound. What on earth happened? he thought. It’s only been three days, and he’s like a man apart from the world. Yet he could not deny that Gu Yang no longer resembled the person he had been.
“White Spirit Sect… an invitation from the imperial house…” Li Tianming reflected. As the sect leader had said, this hidden dragon would not remain trapped in the small pond of the Liuyun Sect forever.
“Elder Chief, come with me,” Gu Yang called to Li Tianming before leaving. Li Tianming answered quickly, “All right.”
Gu Yang and Li Tianming left the Purple Moon Secret Realm with the Emperor’s party and headed for the imperial city. The Chu imperial city covered an enormous area…comparable to a province. The palace itself loomed grand and majestic as they entered.
The Emperor did not hesitate to show generosity. He arranged a vast, luxurious villa for Gu Yang and his companion to stay in. Gu Yang accepted without reservation. He understood that the Emperor valued his talent and realized the Emperor had likely used some means to observe the Purple Moon Secret Realm; the Emperor probably already knew the techniques Gu Yang had displayed there.
“Gu young friend, if you need anything in the future, simply instruct the servants,” the Emperor said with a smile before departing.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Is there a place in the imperial city suitable for cultivation?” Gu Yang asked, bowing slightly as an afterthought.
“A place for cultivation? Are you preparing to break through to the Baoyuan realm?” the Emperor’s eyes brightened. Gu Yang had only recently reached the peak tenth layer of Ningzhen…was he already preparing to advance to Baoyuan? Gu Yang did not hide his intent and nodded. The Emperor considered for a moment and then said, “Very well. I will have a closed-door chamber with a Spirit-Gathering Array prepared for you immediately.”
Breaking into Baoyuan was no small matter; the Emperor, having walked such paths himself, understood that well. He waved his hand and ordered the arrangements without stinginess. Gu Yang thanked him gratefully.
“No trouble at all. With your talent, if you break into Baoyuan, your abilities will manifest even more perfectly. In a few years, I may well have to look up to you,” the Emperor said with a smile. Gu Yang demurred politely. After some light conversation, the Emperor and his princes departed. Chu Ling’er lingered with reluctant glances but did not speak, quietly watching Gu Yang until they left.
Not long after, palace array masters arrived and erected a Spirit-Gathering Array around Gu Yang’s villa. These array masters specialized in formations and worked swiftly. The moment they completed the array, Gu Yang felt the local spiritual energy thicken noticeably. When the array masters left, Gu Yang exhaled and entered the chamber covered by the Spirit-Gathering Array without hesitation.
Next… it’s about time to break through to Baoyuan, he thought.