Chapter 173: Some Changes

Due to the Empress' passing, the conclusion of the Myriad Willow Convention did not cause many waves. The entire Divine Capital became incomparably silent in the summer rain.

After offering their condolences, the cultivators chose to leave, their footsteps never ceasing.

When the people departed, some specially went to the academy to scold that young man. Some did it for Jiang Shuchan, and others for the Daoist prodigy Song Changxi. However, many simply did it to express their anger.

Song Changxi sat in the carriage, listening to the sound of horse hooves.

Opposite him was not his fellow disciples from the same sect, but the itinerant cultivator, Liang Zhao.

Liang Zhao had a great reputation in the cultivation world. He was often hailed as the number one itinerant cultivator of the younger generation. It was not because he had always been the most talented among the youngsters in the cultivator world, but rather, because the more talented ones would choose to join the various major sects and become disciples of prominent factions. Only he, had never shown any interest in joining these sects. He was a recluse with no fixed abode, traveling freely outside all the sects.

Liang Zhao lifted the carriage curtain and glanced outside. Many commoners on both sides of the street were looking at them, but there was no fear in their eyes. Instead, a sense of sorrow seemed to have taken hold.

"Before I came here, I had no knowledge or understanding of this so-called Great Liang Dynasty. Only after arriving did I realize that the foreign cultivators have been belittling the Great Liang Dynasty for no reason. This dynasty is clearly different from its predecessors, perhaps because they have an exceptional emperor?"

Liang Zhao glanced at Song Changxi, spilling some truths in his mind.

Song Changxi fell silent for a moment and said, "No one could have expected that in this Myriad Willow Convention, an extremely significant one in the history of the Myriad Willow Convention, it would be two Liang citizens who emerged as the champions. This matter is too significant, and if it weren't for that Empress' passing, it wouldn't have stopped at this."

Liang Zhao asked, "What happened in the final battle?"

He had been curious to know, but there had never been a suitable occasion to ask before.

Now that only the two of them remained, Liang Zhao felt it was an appropriate time to inquire.

Song Changxi and he had a decent personal relationship. Hearing this, Song Changxi sighed bitterly, "If you were to become my junior disciple, I can tell you."

The major foreign land sects had all sought to recruit him, but they had never succeeded. Liang Zhao looked at him and said, "Even if I were to come, it would be as your senior disciple. But you know I have no interest in that."

"You're pretty talented, you just lack resources. If you could join a major sect, you might surpass me and truly challenge those few individuals."

The most outstanding cultivators of this young generation were never Song Changxi, but those figures who did not participate in the Myriad Willow Convention.

Liang Zhao smiled and did not speak.

Song Changxi waited for a while for an answer. Realizing that he could not convince Liang Zhao, this handsome daoist prodigy slowly opened his mouth and said, "In that battle, my cultivation realm was higher than his, so naturally, I was suppressing him. He was just a martial artist with limited techniques, he wasn't my match at all. However, his tenacity, the toughness of his physical body, is undoubtedly the strongest among those in the Divine Trove Realm. Of course, compared to the tenacity of his body, his tenacious heart is what truly feels terrifying."

"Moreover, he excels in fighting, especially in life-and-death battles. His choices are always the best, which is why I lost, even though I'm a major cultivation realm higher than him."

Song Changxi's eyes showed a hint of lingering fear. Although he did not know what had happened at that time, if it were not for that, he might have already died.

"Jiang Shuchan and Xi Qiuchen probably also wanted to kill him but ended up being killed by him."

Liang Zhao nodded slightly. He had not known the reason behind the events before, but now he had a clear understanding. Whether was it Jiang Shuchan or Xi Qiuchen, they must have made the first move, which led to them being killed by Chen Chao.

"Jiang Shuchan and Yan Ruoshui, that qi refiner from the South, were very close friends. That's why she planned to set up an ambush to kill him. Xi Qiuchen is skilled in the dual cultivation technique, so he should have reached some agreement with Jiang Shuchan. However, even the two of them joining hands ended in failure. It truly makes one feel that there's more to it."

Song Changxi also reviewed what happened during the martial exam.

Liang Zhao said, "And you, even with a higher cultivation realm than him, you actually lost to him in a one-on-one situation. That is also very terrifying."

Many people might consider Chen Chao's victory in the martial exam as a stroke of luck. But they already knew that he was superior to them in many aspects, be it in dealing with demons or other things.

The only advantage they held was in cultivation realm, which also failed to become the decisive factor in the end.

Looking at it this way, Chen Chao becoming the champion was actually a very normal thing.

Liang Zhao said, "I heard that there are several young geniuses in the Great Liang Dynasty's northern frontier army. I presume they shouldn't be too weak either. We, these so-called cultivators, cultivate day and night and neglect everything else. There might be some problems."

Song Changxi fell silent for a moment and then said softly, "Those few probably already know, which is why they chose to travel the world early on."

Liang Zhao chuckled, "After leaving the Divine Capital this time, I'm also planning to travel the world. Previously, when I encountered that demon, my cultivation realm was actually on par with it. But I was not its match, it's really hilarious."

They were both true young talents of the current generation, they naturally had their pride.

"The demons in the North are even stronger. Those ancient mutated species with powerful bloodlines, it's likely that ordinary people would find it difficult to deal with them."

After some thought, Song Changxi said seriously, "In fact, both you and I should be grateful to those martial artists of the Great Liang Dynasty. If it weren't for them, we might not be able to cultivate in peace."

Liang Zhao did not speak.

For both of them, the journey to the Divine Capital was a transformative experience. Furthermore, it was apparent that there were many others like them. However, most people probably did not feel the same way.

"Return to the mountain and continue cultivating. It seems that something significant is happening there too."

The horse carriage drove out of the Divine Capital and slowly came to a stop by the official road. Liang Zhao got up and left the carriage. He had no sect or faction in the first place. Now that he had decided to travel the world, it naturally meant that he could leave whenever he wanted without any delay.

Song Changxi watched his back view, feeling some vicissitudes of emotion.

……

……

Similarly leaving the city were also Zhu Xia and the Myriad Heaven Palace's disciples. When she entered the Divine Capital, she did not come together with the other disciples of the Myriad Heaven Palace. However, when leaving, they departed together. But as the saintess, she naturally received special treatment and was currently still in the same carriage as her master.

The old man glanced at her and understood what his disciple was thinking.

"Do you like the imperial capital? Actually, the master likes it too. This place has the human touch that the mountains lack. Cultivators often say that cultivation means severing emotions and desires. But in reality, the bustling mortal world is also very interesting. For example, that old fogey who lives in the mortal world, when has he ever neglected his cultivation?"

Zhu Xia listened to her master mention the Divine Capital and said with some sadness "I finally made two friends, and now we won't see each other for many years. I'm really upset."

The old man smiled and said, "There will be plenty of opportunities to meet again. What are you worrying about, lass?"

Zhu Xia furrowed her brows, clearly not too happy.

The old man looked at Zhu Xia and said, "After returning to the mountain, focus on your cultivation and spend more time with your master. Your master doesn't have much time left."

As a great sage of Daoism, the old man usually would not say such things. But now that he spoke, it meant that his remaining time was indeed limited.

Soon, tears welled up in Zhu Xia's eyes as she looked at the old man, on the verge of crying.

The old man looked at Zhu Xia with emotion and said softly, "Don't cry. Flowers bloom and wither. If there's life, there's death. These things happen, so don't be sad. It would be enough if you can come and visit your master more often after I'm gone."

Zhu Xia said sadly, "Master."

The old man extended his withered hand and rubbed this girl's head. However, in his eyes, he saw another woman.

That woman back then also had a pair of dimples, just like Zhu Xia. When the old man first saw Zhu Xia, when he saw her pair of dimples, he was reminded of that woman.

Whether cultivators or ordinary people, they all had a next life. After death, the soul would experience three calamities and nine tribulations before it could reincarnate. However, even the most powerful cultivators could not determine a person's past and present life.

Therefore, the old man could not ascertain whether Zhu Xia was that woman or not, even if they strongly resembled each other.

Zhu Xia asked softly, "Master, what did you come to the Divine Capital for this time?"

The old man said candidly, "Master also had a junior sister back then, she had two dimples, just like you. She heard a story and left the Myriad Heaven Palace, coming to the Divine Capital. She met a young man she shouldn't have met and fell in love with him. But in the end, it didn't turn out well."

"Was it the dean?"

Zhu Xia, being so clever, naturally understood the old man's words with ease.

The old man nodded and smiled, saying, "That old fellow has good looks, many women were attracted to him."

Zhu Xia nodded and said earnestly, "I also think the Dean is especially..."

The old man chuckled and said softly, "It's a pity. I reckon that this will be the last time I'll meet with him in this lifetime."

After saying this, the old man shook his head, feeling somewhat nostalgic.

……

……

Just as the cultivators departed, Chen Zhao arrived again outside the Warden Office.

Looking at the two white lanterns hanging above, Chen Zhao fell silent for a moment before entering.

It was still the side entrance.

Someone quickly came out to greet him, it was Song Lian.

This commander of the Left Guard was personally acting as the steward.

"I never dared to imagine that you could accomplish this task."

Song Lian patted Chen Chao's shoulder with great joy as he said, "You've really brought glory to the Great Liang Dynasty."

Chen Zhao smiled bitterly and said, "I almost died inside. Did you guys know about that?"

Song Lian listened to this and said with a smile, "In the end, it turned out well.

Chen Chao did not say anything.

The two of them headed inside. Although Chen Zhao had visited this Warden Office once before, he still felt rather emotional when coming back at this moment.

The Warden was a true big shot.

And he himself did not seem insignificant anymore as well.

This feeling was actually pretty good.