Chapter 99: A Lone Shadow Calms the Storm

On the way to Li Shun's residence.

“Fortuitous Creation? Th-this... how could a mere subordinate like me deserve such a title?” Fang Xun asked with a somewhat uneasy expression.

Sun Chengyou merely smiled.

“First there was Zhou Xunzhen, then Duanmu Qiuche. The two Creation Realm experts who have risen within Great Qian in recent times both share countless connections with you. If anyone deserves the title of Fortuitous Creation, who else could it be but you?”

“Fortune and fate have always been elusive and difficult to grasp. Yet facts speak louder than any argument. Though you yourself have yet to return, the name ‘Fortuitous Creation Fang Xun’ has already spread throughout the Sacred Capital.”

The smile on Sun Chengyou's face gradually faded.

“Of course, most people still treat it as nothing more than an amusing anecdote.”

He stared meaningfully at Fang Xun.

“But as the saying goes, things never happen more than three times. If a third Creation Realm cultivator ends up being connected to you, even through the most tenuous of ties...”

“Then the title of Fortuitous Creation will truly be cemented.”

“Across the vast lands of Great Qian, there are countless individuals trapped at the Celestial Phenomena Realm, unable to step into Creation. Most of them hold tremendous power and influence...”

Sun Chengyou stopped there.

By then, the two had already arrived outside Li Shun's small courtyard.

The topic was quietly dropped.

“I understand,” Fang Xun replied in a low voice.

He then transmitted his voice into the courtyard.

Moments later, Li Shun hurried out to greet them.

He first bowed respectfully to Fang Xun before turning toward Sun Chengyou with a look of surprise.

Because Sun Chengyou had specifically instructed him beforehand not to reveal his identity, Fang Xun merely introduced him by saying:

“This is Lord Sun from the Sacred Capital. He heard that you obtained recognition from the Imperial Bloodline within the Imperial Mausoleum and wished to come personally to see you.”

A trace of nervousness appeared on Li Shun's face at just the right moment.

Then he slapped his forehead.

“Please, honored elders, come inside!”

A short while later, Sun Chengyou sat within the main hall, smiling as he looked at Li Shun seated below.

“Tuizhi, what are your plans going forward? Do you intend to continue living within the Imperial Mausoleum, or...?”

Li Shun hesitated briefly.

Fang Xun immediately rebuked him.

“Lord Sun is one of our own seniors. What is there that cannot be said?”

Only then did Li Shun answer.

“As the saying goes, reading ten thousand books is not equal to traveling ten thousand miles. Since beginning my cultivation journey, I have read quite a few classics and scholarly works.”

“Yet throughout all of Great Qian, I have only ever been to Lengshan and the Imperial Mausoleum.”

“Now that the mausoleum has been dissolved, I have recently developed the desire to travel the world and broaden my horizons.”

Sun Chengyou nodded approvingly.

“When one is young, one should indeed venture out and see the world.”

“Great Qian's thirteen provinces and one hundred eight commanderies contain countless heroes and breathtaking wonders. Gaining more experience is never a bad thing.”

“However... without official travel documents and permits, moving between commanderies and counties will subject you to repeated inspections.”

“Especially now, when Qingzhou Commandery is conducting a massive manhunt for the two rebels who trespassed into the Imperial Mausoleum.”

Sun Chengyou pondered for a moment before reaching a decision.

“Before you depart, come visit my residence. I can prepare a travel permit for you.”

Neither Li Shun nor Fang Xun had expected him to make such an offer.

Even Fang Xun could not conceal his surprise.

Li Shun, however, quickly thanked him repeatedly.

“My homeland lies in Linchuan Commandery of Yangzhou.”

“It is a place where dozens of great rivers converge, filled with countless extraordinary sights.”

“If the opportunity arises, you should pay it a visit.”

“Of course, if it does not interest you, there is no obligation.”

After leaving behind those words, Sun Chengyou departed together with Fang Xun.

On the road, Sun Chengyou noticed Fang Xun's hesitant expression and smiled.

“Shensi, do you have some doubts?”

Fang Xun answered honestly.

“Earlier, My Lord specifically mentioned Linchuan in Yangzhou and even offered to personally provide a travel permit for my disciple...”

“The Mu Family Bloodline,” Sun Chengyou replied directly without concealing anything.

“In the third year of the New Calendar, His Majesty conducted an eastern inspection tour and passed through Linchuan.”

“Without warning, the heavens darkened, fierce winds arose, and the waters of ten great rivers surged upward like dragons, charging directly toward the Imperial Procession.”

“His Majesty let out a cold snort and used a single phantom projection to suppress all ten river dragons in an instant.”

“Though the wind and rain ceased afterward, that projection remained behind from that day onward.”

Sun Chengyou spoke slowly.

Shock appeared on Fang Xun's face.

“Such a thing actually happened?”

“His Majesty's projection remained behind? Why have I never heard of this before?”

Sun Chengyou merely sighed softly and continued.

“We originally believed that with His Majesty's projection guarding the region, Linchuan Commandery would enjoy favorable weather and abundant harvests forever.”

“But no one anticipated...”

“His Majesty's might was simply too overwhelming.”

“From that day onward, all wind and rain ceased in Linchuan.”

“For five hundred and seventy years, not a single drop of rain has fallen.”

Fang Xun could not help but exclaim.

“More than five hundred years without rain? That's...”

“In an ordinary region, five centuries without rainfall would have long turned the land into a barren wasteland.”

“But Linchuan lies at the convergence of ten great rivers. Water vapor is abundant, and irrigation channels can easily be drawn from the rivers.”

“So despite the lack of rain, the region has never truly suffered from water shortages.”

“After so many years, the people have grown accustomed to it.”

“However, wind and rain are part of the Heavenly Dao itself.”

“With His Majesty's projection present, the winds have ceased and the rains have stopped. That means the natural circulation of heaven and earth has fundamentally been disrupted.”

“Since the third year of the New Calendar, not a single Celestial Phenomena cultivator has emerged from Linchuan.”

“Even I only managed to break through after leaving Linchuan on my journey to the Sacred Capital.”

“This has always been a source of deep embarrassment for our commandery. It's hardly surprising that you've never heard of it.”

Sun Chengyou shook his head.

“In that case, why not...”

Fang Xun stopped midway through the sentence.

His face turned slightly pale.

He did not dare utter the remaining words.

His Majesty's projection represented imperial favor itself.

If someone were to submit a memorial requesting its removal...

What would that imply?

The memorial likely wouldn't even reach the Chancellor's Office before the Black-Robed Enforcers arrested them.

“And what does this have to do with the Mu Family Bloodline?” Fang Xun asked instead.

“His Majesty's sacred projection is naturally untouchable. No one dares disturb it in the slightest.”

“But respectfully inviting it to relocate would not constitute disrespect.”

“The entire Linchuan Commandery exhausted its accumulated resources a hundred years ago to forcibly create a blessed Grotto-Heaven specifically intended to house and worship that Imperial Projection.”

Sun Chengyou let out a bitter laugh.

“The Grotto-Heaven was completed.”

“But His Majesty's projection simply refuses to enter.”

“For all these years, we've tried every conceivable method, yet the projection has not moved even a single step from the place where the ten rivers meet.”

“You should know as well that roughly a century ago, His Majesty gradually withdrew from worldly affairs.”

“By the time we wished to submit another memorial requesting the projection's relocation, it was already too late.”

“Every memorial sent to the Chancellor's Office vanished like a stone sinking into the sea, never receiving a response.”

“So we had no choice but to seek another solution.”

“The idea of using a bloodline connection to attract the projection and guide it elsewhere was one of our theories.”

“Unfortunately, for all these years, we never found a suitable candidate.”

After finishing his explanation, Sun Chengyou added:

“It remains only a hypothesis. There is no guarantee it will succeed.”

“Whether Tuizhi chooses to go or not is entirely up to him.”

“Do not pressure him.”

“Of course, if it truly succeeds...”

“It would be a tremendous blessing for every citizen of Linchuan Commandery.”

Fang Xun's expression turned solemn.

“This subordinate will certainly persuade him properly.”

“If he can resolve a problem that has plagued Linchuan for centuries, it would be a great opportunity for him as well.”

Sun Chengyou nodded.

He said nothing more.