Chapter 54: Ascension Association

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Ascension Association

Li Xun was Zhao Wuji’s disciple!?

Yun Wan had never mentioned this to Fang Xu.

According to rumors, Zhao Wuji had led a massive army to attack the Dusk Cloud Kingdom years ago. He slaughtered the entire royal family and even turned the ancestral lands where the Dusk Cloud Kingdom worshipped the Divine Spirits upside down, earning himself the fierce moniker "Human Slaughter." The remaining survivors of the Dusk Cloud Kingdom probably hated Zhao Wuji more than anyone else in the world.

However, Zhao Wuji was far too powerful. Back then, even with the combined strength of the entire nation, the Dusk Cloud Kingdom couldn’t defeat him. Now, they wouldn’t dare charge into the Central State to seek revenge. With their hatred redirected, if the shamans around Fenglin Town learned of Li Xun’s identity, they would probably kill him to vent their anger!

This was likely why his master had told him to cut ties with Li Xun.

But what was the Ascension Association? How could they stand on equal footing with the royal family?

"Master, the Ascension Association is..."

"It is a loose organization of martial artists," Lu Zhiyuan said, slowly standing up. "The world is vast, extending far beyond the Seven States of the Yu Kingdom.

"As far as I know, the Ascension Association has branches in Great Yu, the Dusk Cloud Kingdom, and other surrounding nations. No one knows who their leader is, but equally, no other faction dares to provoke them.

"After all, even a mere steward of the Ascension Association can reach the Fifth Realm of Martial Venerable. The elders above the stewards are existences that even Emperor Yu and the Human Slaughter, Zhao Wuji, wouldn’t dare provoke."

Fang Xu was astonished. Since the Ascension Association was so powerful, didn’t they have the slightest intention of replacing the royal families of various countries and establishing a superpower dynasty?

"Master..."

"I know what you want to ask." Lu Zhiyuan interrupted, smiling with his hands clasped behind his back. "Everyone in the world has the desire to pursue power.

"However, secular power only appeals to secular people.

"Fang Xu, let me ask you: if you were in the realm of a Martial Venerable, would you have any interest in the position of County Magistrate in Qinghe County?"

Hearing this, Fang Xu shook his head.

Lu Zhiyuan continued, "The stewards of the Ascension Association, and perhaps even some elders, might entertain the idea of replacing the royal families. However, the mysterious leader behind them probably doesn’t give a damn about this so-called imperial power.

"Therefore, the Ascension Association has a very unique rule.

"They do not interfere in secular power struggles. They only ask that various nations allow them to establish branches and recruit disciples within their borders."

They were hoarding talent! Fang Xu instantly understood the Ascension Association’s approach.

"Then why did the Ascension Association come to Fenglin Town?" having grasped the general situation, Fang Xu asked curiously.

Lu Zhiyuan’s expression turned somewhat solemn as he spoke slowly, "I also just found out. The master of the Wu family ancestor is actually a steward of the Ascension Association.

"Although he is only a registered disciple, that steward truly owed the Wu family ancestor his life back then.

"Now that the Wu family has suffered heavy losses, they have called in that old favor, which is why they managed to invite someone from the Ascension Association."

The Wu family ancestor’s master was a steward of the Ascension Association? Fang Xu was taken aback. He couldn’t help but marvel at the Wu family ancestor’s incredible luck; randomly saving a martial artist had led to such a fortuitous opportunity.

"Fenglin Town is becoming increasingly chaotic..." Lu Zhiyuan looked up at the sky outside the door, sighing with emotion. "When I came to Fenglin Town back then, I thought I could live a few peaceful days. I never expected...

"Fang Xu, remember my words. Whether it’s the Ascension Association or the Great Yu royal family, neither is to be trifled with. If you can hide from them, hide."

Lu Zhiyuan’s tone carried a hint of helplessness. It seemed that the situation had developed to a point far beyond his control.

It was the first time Fang Xu had seen such an expression on Lu Zhiyuan’s face. Worried, he asked, "What about you, Master?

"Does the faction behind you have a grudge against the Ascension Association?"

"A grudge?" Lu Zhiyuan chuckled. "My family isn’t qualified to be an enemy of the Ascension Association. It’s just that the Wu family will likely use this borrowed influence to throw their weight around."

"Are you talking about the blood food business, Master?" Fang Xu guessed.

The Zhang family, who originally monopolized the blood food business in Fenglin Town, had been wiped out. The Wu family was preparing to step in, but Lu Zhiyuan beat them to it. Furthermore, the attack that night had resulted in Wu Ningxue’s tragic death and left the Wu family ancestor severely injured. Now that the Wu family ancestor had called in his old favor and brought in someone from the Ascension Association, he would probably choose to sweep away all his obstacles and enemies outright.

Lu Zhiyuan remained silent.

Fang Xu thought for a moment before speaking. "If worse comes to worst, Master, just yield the blood food business to the Wu family."

The Ascension Association could not be defied. Fang Xu’s consistent principle was that, when faced with life and death, expendable things should simply be discarded.

"I know what I’m doing." Lu Zhiyuan smiled faintly before his expression turned grave. "Fang Xu, remember my words. If I am no longer around in the future, you must ensure Qingluo’s safety.

"Go now. Be careful during this time."

Feeling as though Lu Zhiyuan was making his final arrangements, Fang Xu felt a pang of sorrow but didn’t know what to say.

"Master, I’ll take my leave."

He could only cup his hands toward Lu Zhiyuan and slowly walk out of Zhiyuan Hall.

When he passed by the martial arts arena, Lu Qingluo was already gone; he had no idea where she went. Returning home from Zhiyuan Hall, he found that Chu Muyun had already prepared a meal. After joining her for lunch, Fang Xu selected a piece of high-grade blood food, set it to stew in a pot, and headed straight back to his room to cultivate.

Undercurrents were surging in Fenglin Town. If he could improve his cultivation base even a little bit right now, he would have a slightly higher chance of surviving.

Three days passed in a flash.

Over these past three days, Li Xun seemed to have forgotten Fang Xu’s existence and didn’t send anyone to look for him.

Inside the Fenglin Town government office.

Li Xun frowned deeply as he read the intelligence report in his hands. "What is the Ascension Association doing in Fenglin Town?"

In front of him, a Golden Scale Guard cupped his hands. "This subordinate received news that the patriarch of a small local family named Wuhuan is a registered disciple of Steward Xu from the Ascension Association.

"It is said that years ago, while Steward Xu was carrying out a mission, he was unfortunately injured and on the verge of death. Wuhuan accidentally saved him.

"After recovering, Steward Xu accepted Wuhuan as a registered disciple and promised him a favor. He stated that if Wuhuan’s descendants ever needed help in the future, they could seek him out using a token."

Hearing the Golden Scale Guard’s report, Li Xun felt rather irritated. He never expected that the insignificant Fenglin Town would involve such a troublesome existence as the Ascension Association!

"Where are the people from the Ascension Association now?" Li Xun asked after a moment of thought.

"They are riding Cloud-Stepping Steeds and have already reached Qinghe County. They should arrive tomorrow," the Golden Scale Guard replied with cupped hands.

They even deployed Cloud-Stepping Steeds!? Could Steward Xu have come in person?

With this speculation in mind, Li Xun’s expression turned grave.

A Cloud-Stepping Steed was a horse-type fierce beast worth a fortune. A superior steed could travel two thousand miles a day, making it a priceless mount that was hard to buy even with ten thousand gold. Only a steward of the Ascension Association had the right to use a Cloud-Stepping Steed as a mount. A steward from the Ascension Association was an existence capable of contending with his father. He himself had no way to handle such a person.

It seemed he needed to keep a low profile lately. After all, in the eyes of the Ascension Association, he wasn’t some noble Crown Prince. If a conflict arose and the other party casually wiped him out, his father probably wouldn’t dare utter a single word of complaint.