Chapter 34: The Great Elder of Zi Wu Gate

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Great Elder of Zi Wu Gate

"Three thousand years ago, the Midday Celestial Burning Technique and the Midnight Soul-Severing Sword were unrivaled in the world."

When Liu Huaguang, the Great Elder of Zi Wu Gate, heard the Mountain Guard Disciple recite this sentence, he nearly leaped to his feet.

The Midday Celestial Burning Technique, the Midnight Soul-Severing Sword... especially with the mention of three thousand years ago... in the entire current Zi Wu Gate, no more than five people had ever heard of them.

No matter who this person was, how could he, Liu Huaguang, refuse to see them?

He immediately dispatched his own direct disciple, Xiao Changyong, to personally escort the person up the mountain.

Under Xiao Changyong’s guidance, Chen Qi’an passed through the main gates of Zi Wu Gate. Even though he had witnessed the splendor of the Celestial Qi Kingdom’s Capital City, he was still struck with awe by the magnificent scenery here.

Pavilions and towers were built into the mountainside, hidden amidst clouds and mist, as ethereal as an immortal’s realm.

The halls and buildings were simple yet solemn, and walking through the mountain forests was a refreshing and uplifting experience.

After entering the Sect proper, on the vast Martial Arts Arena, countless disciples flew back and forth, their Sword Qi flaring. It was a bustling scene.

For a moment, Chen Qi’an was completely dazzled.

"Brother Chen, this way, please. My master is still waiting to see you!" Xiao Changyong urged.

The two walked a short distance before arriving at Liu Huaguang’s Elder Residence.

Liu Huaguang shot Chen Qi’an a sharp glance, and suspicion immediately bloomed in his heart.

"Who sent you to see me?"

"Elder Liu, might we speak privately?" Chen Qi’an asked hesitantly.

"Very well. Follow me." After a moment’s thought, Liu Huaguang led him into the study and closed the door. ℯℯ𝑙.

Although he couldn’t detect the slightest aura of Cultivation from Chen Qi’an, he hadn’t refused him because of those words.

He was deeply puzzled. ’Why would that person send someone like this to see me?’

’Who is this person?’

’Friend or foe?’

’And what is their goal?’

The moment Liu Huaguang closed the door, Chen Qi’an dropped to his knees with a THUD.

"What is the meaning of this?" Liu Huaguang asked, confused.

"This disciple begs Elder Liu to accept me and save my Chen Family from its crisis," Chen Qi’an pleaded, kowtowing.

Both confused and somewhat angered, Liu Huaguang demanded, "Who exactly are you?"

Chen Qi’an took out the two books Chu Fan had given him from his robes, held them up with both hands along with the sword he was carrying, and offered them forward.

"What are these?"

Liu Huaguang had just finished asking when he saw the four words on the cover of the top book: "Midnight Soul-Breaking Sword Manual."

In an instant, his eyes flew wide.

He walked forward and picked up the book. Before he could even open it, he saw the four words on the book beneath it: "Midday Celestial Burning Technique."

With trembling hands, he began to flip through the Midnight Soul-Breaking Sword Manual. The further he read, the deeper his shock became.

"This... this... this... Where did you get these?"

"A senior asked me to deliver them," Chen Qi’an said. "He said that as long as I gave these three items to Elder Liu, Elder Liu would surely be able to resolve my Chen Family’s crisis and would also accept me as a disciple."

"This... this is truly the complete Midnight Soul-Breaking Sword Manual! It’s really the complete Midnight Soul-Breaking Sword Manual!" Liu Huaguang burst out laughing.

Then he took the other book from Chen Qi’an’s hands, and after flipping through it, he laughed heartily once more.

He even forgot to tell Chen Qi’an to rise.

"Did that person also have you give me this sword?" Initially, Liu Huaguang hadn’t noticed anything special about it.

Chen Qi’an nodded.

Liu Huaguang picked up the sword and drew it from its scabbard. A wave of chilling cold instantly filled the entire study.

"This is the Midnight Mandarin Duck Sword?" Liu Huaguang exclaimed in shock.

"Quick, get up! Get up! Tell me, what did this senior look like? Did he leave a name?" Liu Huaguang asked urgently.

Seeing Liu Huaguang’s reaction, Chen Qi’an was filled with admiration for that Guard Fan. ’Everything is happening exactly as he predicted, without the slightest deviation.’

Chen Qi’an said, "Reporting to you, Elder, the man called himself Fan Chu and claimed the Celestial Qi Monarch sent him to protect me. However, I am certain he was not sent by the Celestial Qi Monarch. A few days ago, my Chen Family suffered a great calamity..."

Chen Qi’an then recounted the events of the past few days in Yunzhou City, holding nothing back and altering no details.

After hearing the story, the wrinkles on Liu Huaguang’s already-lined forehead seemed to deepen and pile on top of each other.

"He killed the Young Sect Leader of Red Blood Mansion, then sent you to our Zi Wu Gate, asking us to save your Chen Family?"

Chen Qi’an nodded and said, "Yes. He said that as long as I gave you these three items, Elder Liu, you would surely arrange to save my Chen Family and accept me as your disciple."

"Did he say where he got these items?"

"He did," Chen Qi’an said. "He said he recently made a trip to Dingfeng Slope and found these items there. He said they are treasures that will revitalize your Zi Wu Gate. He also said you don’t need to thank him, as it was a small effort, but if you feel grateful, you should look after the Chen Family."

When Liu Huaguang heard the two words "Dingfeng Slope," he mostly believed Chen Qi’an’s story, but at the same time, he couldn’t help but consider the deeper implications.

What kind of place was Dingfeng Slope? For three thousand years, countless people had ventured into Dingfeng Slope, and not one had ever returned.

Yet someone had actually managed to leave Dingfeng Slope.

The reason Liu Huaguang was so excited to see these three items was due to a matter of lineage. The Midday Celestial Burning Technique and Midnight Soul-Severing Sword passed down from the generation of Zi Wu Gate’s founder, Shang Hu, were both incomplete versions.

In truth, Zi Wu Gate’s true legacy could be traced back more than five thousand years. But in that great battle three thousand years ago, the Sect Leader of Zi Wu Gate at the time led all the sect’s masters to participate.

Not a single one of them returned.

Back then, Shang Hu was not a core disciple, and he only remembered the general gist of these two cultivation techniques, with some parts being vague and unclear.

Yet even with the incomplete versions of the Midday Celestial Burning Technique and the Midnight Soul-Severing Sword, after a thousand years of development and inheritance, the sect had still managed to secure a foothold in the Eastern Domain.

But now, the complete cultivation techniques had returned, and the heirloom sword of Zi Wu Gate had been found. One could only imagine what the future now held for Zi Wu Gate.

As the Great Elder of Zi Wu Gate, how could he not be ecstatic?

But now he was caught in a dilemma. These items were far too important to Zi Wu Gate, but if they committed to protecting the Chen Family, it would be tantamount to declaring war on Red Blood Mansion.

After all, besides a Steward Elder, the only son of Red Blood Mansion’s Sect Leader had died in Yunzhou City. This was an irreconcilable feud.

Of course, Liu Huaguang and Zi Wu Gate could simply take the items and refuse to fulfill their responsibility to protect the Chen Family. But Liu Huaguang couldn’t bring himself to do it.

In truth, wasn’t this all part of Chu Fan’s scheme?

Among the Six Sects and Eight Gates of the Eastern Domain, there were men like Liu Huaguang who held righteous principles, but they were few and far between. It was precisely because Chu Fan held Zi Wu Gate’s most important treasures, and because he understood Liu Huaguang’s character, that he was able to hatch such a plot.

Just as Liu Huaguang was hesitating, Chen Qi’an seemed to remember something and suddenly said, "Oh, right. Fan Chu also said that you wouldn’t need to protect our Chen Family for too long. Ten years at most, and Red Blood Mansion will be reduced to ash."

"’Ten years?’" Liu Huaguang muttered. ’That makes it negotiable.’

"You wait here for me. After all, a matter of this magnitude is not something I can decide as a single Elder. I need to report to the Sect Leader and discuss it with the other Elders. But rest assured, with these three items, I, Liu Huaguang, will risk my life to protect your Chen Family in the interim."