Chapter 508 - 445: Divine Mansion (2)

Chapter 508: Chapter 445: Divine Mansion (2)

When the old clan chief saw the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, his eyes lit up. "Yes, yes! This is the aura."

Bai Yuan was even more stunned by the old clan chief’s answer.

’Could the Heirloom Seal of the Realm have some connection to the Demon Hunters?’

But then he remembered that the origin of Xuan Yang’s Heirloom Seal of the Realm was untraceable. It had been the state seal since at least the previous dynasty, which meant it was a full five thousand years old—perhaps even older.

’Perhaps it really does have some history with the Demon Hunters.’

The old clan chief studied the Heirloom Seal of the Realm intently before speaking. "Clan Chief, you may not know this, but in the legends of us Demon Hunters, this aura is the aura of a god."

Bai Yuan’s pupils dilated.

’A god?!’

The old clan chief continued, "Clan Chief, I have said it before. Before our ancestor Zhe Yi left the Southern Border, the Ancestral Court enshrined the Divine Bone. Even though Ancestor Zhe Yi took the Divine Bone with him, its aura remained in the Ancestral Court."

With the old clan chief’s reminder, Bai Yuan couldn’t help but recall his own experience in the Ancestral Court.

His eyes instantly lit up.

’He was right.’

He hadn’t spent long in the Ancestral Court. While he had sensed something unusual, he wasn’t nearly as sensitive to this aura as the old clan chief.

The old clan chief’s gaze suddenly turned fervent. "Clan Chief, perhaps this object can lead us to the Divine Bone."

"..."

Bai Yuan gazed at the Heirloom Seal of the Realm in silence and simply nodded.

’Perhaps the Divine Mansion really is connected to the gods of legend.’

...

With the Demon Hunters joining his ranks, Bai Yuan no longer needed to personally deal with enemies below the Mingxin realm.

Of course, given his personality, he couldn’t possibly stay cooped up in Ling Province forever.

He still needed to go out and grind for experience every now and then.

His progress bar was still growing at a steady pace.

He had only been practicing the Martial Dao for a decade, and his speed was already astonishing. Breaking through to the Tong Shen realm was not something that could be accomplished so easily.

Even a genius like Grand-master Xu Dingchun had taken a full 120 years.

’These things can’t be rushed...’

The world outside remained chaotic. While Bai Yuan carried on as usual, the four provinces of Shuofang had truly become a haven in a world of strife.

After the Third Prince’s death, the alliance with the Southern Border, Ximo, and the East Sea had crumbled instantly. The various factions now acted for themselves, throwing Xuan Yang into ceaseless turmoil. However, the Zhenxi Army and the Northern Garrison Army had once again fallen quiet.

’Master is returning to Ling Province?’

Bai Yuan’s mind raced as he read the letter from the Northern Garrison Army.

Dong Wanjun had been stationed in Xiangzhou all this time.

Now that Li Wei was dead and Xuan Yang lacked even a single legitimate Emperor, there was no longer any need for him to remain at his post.

That was why Old Dong had made his decision.

To return to Ling Province.

Xuan Yang had a system of regional armies, but without supplies from the central Court and with no authority to levy taxes, the Northern Garrison Army had no choice but to return to Shuofang.

This was where the importance of Bai Yuan’s legitimacy became clear.

Years ago, to get him to suppress the rebellion in the Northern Territory, Li Chengyuan had granted him the authority to forge weapons and conscript troops. Coupled with the fact that levying taxes was a Jiedu Envoy’s right, Bai Yuan was essentially an emperor in all but the ability to mint his own currency.

Old Dong had no intention of joining any particular faction yet, so bringing the Northern Garrison Army to Ling Province was undoubtedly the best decision.

「Ten days later.」

An elite force of tens of thousands slowly marched into Huanglong Prefecture.

The people of Huanglong Prefecture looked on with reverence at the sight of the fully armored Northern Garrison Army, whose bodies emanated a palpable killing intent.

In the Northern Territory, everyone would give a thumbs-up at the mere mention of the Northern Garrison Army.

From Xu Dingchun to Dong Wanjun—with the sole exception of that one vainglorious General from the Capital City—they were all true heroes. They had held the Demons of the Northern Plains at bay beyond the walls, sparing the people of the Northern Territory from ruin.

The main force was soon stationed in the barracks Bai Yuan had prepared.

The trade between the Cao Bang and the Northern Plains was even more prosperous than he had imagined. Bai Yuan was now a bona fide local magnate; some provinces in Jiangnan weren’t as wealthy as he was.

Supporting the Northern Garrison Army was a strain, but not an insurmountable one.

"Master."

Bai Yuan had been waiting for a long time at the entrance to the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office.

He was about to bow but was stopped by Old Dong. "You’ve already graduated from my tutelage. There’s no need to bow to me anymore."

A warmth spread through Bai Yuan’s heart.

In the Jianghu, a disciple’s graduation signified their master’s acknowledgment of their skills.

But coming from Old Dong, it had another layer of meaning: he believed Bai Yuan had surpassed him and no longer needed to consider him a master.

Old Dong looked at Bai Yuan, his eyes filled with deep emotion.

He never would have imagined that the disciple he had casually taken in all those years ago would become a major figure capable of influencing the fate of the realm.

Just then, You Shengnan and Xiongshan also came over.

"Master."

Old Dong looked at the first two disciples he had ever taken, his eyes brimming with a smile.

He had watched You Shengnan and Xiongshan grow up.

In truth, he had poured far more effort into them than he had with Bai Yuan.

Of course, this world has never operated on the principle that more effort guarantees greater returns. Old Dong was already very satisfied with what You Shengnan and Xiongshan had achieved.

Wan Jun Peak had its successors.

The Martial Dao heavily favored talent; not everyone could shatter the ceiling like Bai Yuan.

Even in the entire thousand-year history of the Divine Mansion Sect, only he and Bai Yuan had managed it.

Bai Yuan asked, "Master, would you like to visit the Divine Mansion Sect?"

Dong Wanjun mused for a moment. "Let’s go and see."

Bai Yuan nodded.

With that, the master and disciple ascended into the sky, disappearing over the horizon in moments.

Watching the two depart, Yang Fangyu and Li Huan were filled with envy. Yang Fangyu shook his head repeatedly. "Tell me, why can’t I be a high-flying Immortal like that?"

Li Huan shot Yang Fangyu a sideways glance. "Then you’d first have to become a town Hunter."

The thought that Bai Yuan had started as a small-town Hunter who could barely feed himself made Yang Fangyu feel all the more that life was unfair.

...

Today, the Divine Mansion Sect’s Main Peak was unusually lively.

The old Sect Leader Murong Tian, the current Sect Leader Ouyang Hua, the twelve Peak Masters, and the Commander of the Divine Mansion Army were all gathered before the Sect Leader Hall, waiting for something.

Just then, Yu Hui smiled faintly. "They’re here!"

Everyone looked up in unison.

They saw two figures descend from the heavens, arriving before them in a flash.

"Senior Brother Dong."

"Commander."

"Junior Brother."

Everyone used a different title, but they were all addressing the same person.

They gazed at Dong Wanjun, their eyes filled with a thousand emotions.

This was especially true for the twelve Peak Masters. Recalling how they had fought tooth and nail with Dong Wanjun in the past, they could only find it laughable now.

Looking back, it was clear that Dong Wanjun’s forbearance hadn’t stemmed from fear, but from sheer disdain.

’We were the clowns all along.’

Dong Wanjun looked upon the vibrant, flourishing Divine Mansion Sect and nodded in satisfaction.

The Divine Mansion Sect hadn’t suddenly leaped to become a major sect capable of challenging the Celestial Profound Sect just because it had produced him and Bai Yuan. In fact, if it had, Dong Wanjun would have been worried.

He knew all too well the hardships one had to endure to reach such heights.

An individual could afford to take risks, but a sect had to advance with steady, deliberate steps. Otherwise, its ruin could come in an instant.

As long as the Divine Mansion Sect continued on its current path, it was only a matter of time before it became one of the great, ancient sects.

"Senior Brother, we’ve done a decent job," Dong Wanjun said. "Master would be very pleased."

Hearing Dong Wanjun’s words, Murong Tian’s eyes crinkled with a smile.

He should have died of old age by now, but Bai Yuan had used a miraculous technique to extend his life, allowing him to live to this day.

"Master’s spirit in the heavens can finally rest in peace."

In the entire Divine Mansion Sect, only he and Dong Wanjun could truly call each other martial brothers, for they shared the same master: the Shenfu Sect Master from three generations prior.

In truth, their master had treated both of them exceptionally well.

It was this bond that had kept Dong Wanjun from ever considering betraying the Divine Mansion Sect.

’Looking back now, Master truly was Master. Sincerity is the only ultimate weapon.’

With Bai Yuan and Dong Wanjun present, the Divine Mansion Sect was guaranteed to become one of the top two or three sects in the Northern Territory.

Dong Wanjun then said to Bai Yuan, "Bring those grand-disciples of mine here. Let me have a look."

Before the words had even left his mouth, Murong Fu emerged from the crowd with his junior martial brothers and sisters.

"Greetings, Grand-master."

Murong Fu looked at Dong Wanjun, instinctively shrinking his neck.

’Grand-master is just as fierce as I remember.’

He often heard Master Ouyang say that their grand-master was a ruthless man whose hands were stained with the blood of ten thousand enemies.

’So intimidating.’