Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter 100 - Celebration Banquet (2)

Seeing the sympathetic looks from Zanxing and Tian Fangfang, Rong Yu comforted them, saying, “But it’s alright. It’s not just my senior brother. In fact, quite a few of the cultivators who went with the Chihua Sect to capture the Bixi spirit yesterday were also seriously injured and won’t be able to enter the secret realm.” He thought for a moment and added, “The number of people entering the secret realm this time might be much less than what the sects originally anticipated.”

Hearing this, Tian Fangfang and Men Dong exchanged glances. They had not gotten along well with the people from the Chihua Sect and had assumed, based on their cheerful demeanor yesterday, that they had achieved a great victory. But it seemed many had been injured.

Mu Cengxiao tilted his head and asked, “Are there many injured?”

“Many have minor injuries, but about a dozen are too seriously injured to enter the secret realm,” Rong Yu replied. “Our Liuli Sect only sent two people in total. With my senior brother out of commission, it’s fortunate that I can still go.”

Mu Cengxiao coldly remarked, “Tan Tianxin really played his cards well.”

“What do you mean by that?” Men Dong asked, his mouth full of rose-flavored cheese candy, speaking indistinctly. “Are you saying Tan Tianxin intentionally got those cultivators injured?”

Zanxing inwardly shook her head. With the domineering nature of the Chihua Sect, it wouldn’t be surprising if they had done something like this. By deliberately holding back when the Bixi spirit went on a rampage and only stepping in after their competitors were almost all injured, they could effortlessly claim victory while also weakening future opponents—a strategy that killed two birds with one stone.

The cultivators probably understood this logic but chose not to speak out, unwilling to offend the Chihua Sect now that things had reached this point.

“It doesn’t matter,” Tian Fangfang said, pulling Rong Yu to sit down with them. “Entering the secret realm alone, you might be bullied by the Chihua Sect scoundrels. Once we’re in, stick with us. Don’t worry, we promise not to take your good finds.”

Rong Yu smiled and replied, “Thank you, Senior Brother Tian.”

“There’s no need for thanks,” Tian Fangfang said, throwing an arm around Rong Yu’s shoulder and handing him a cup of wine. “I remember being as poor as you before I joined the Taiyan Sect. From now on, we’re good brothers now. Let’s toast to our future fortune.”

Mimi tried to jump onto Rong Yu again, but Zanxing quickly grabbed her back. She picked up a piece of fish cake with her chopsticks, but the taste in her mouth was not as pleasant as she expected.

It seemed like the matter of the Bixi spirit was about to be put to rest.

But could it really be resolved so easily?

Throughout the celebration banquet that night, Zanxing remained preoccupied with her thoughts.

When she returned to her room, even Meng Ying, who usually paid little attention to external matters, noticed her low spirits and asked what was troubling her. Zanxing brushed it off with a casual remark.

That night was also very peaceful, without any demons suddenly sneaking into her room. Zanxing slept soundly until dawn. When the day broke, palace maids arrived to deliver the preparations needed for entering the secret realm that evening.

The secret realm of Li’er Country opened once every ten years. When the secret realm was to be opened, the royal family and high-ranking officials of Li’er Country had to be present. The entrance to the secret realm was located at the royal mausoleum, and the ceremonial protocols were extremely elaborate. The list of things to pay attention to was lengthy, even more detailed than the imperial records of Emperor Shengning.

Gu Baiying didn’t even glance at it. Tian Fangfang, who couldn’t read, paid no attention to it either. Meng Ying, being a prideful genius, wouldn’t bother with these mundane rituals. Men Dong and Mu Cengxiao only skimmed a few pages before setting it aside. Only Zanxing, eager to learn more about the customs and traditions of Li’er Country, carefully read through the detailed instructions.

However, the document was too long. Before Zanxing could finish reading it, the time to enter the secret realm had arrived.

The time inside the secret realm of Li’er Country was completely opposite to the time outside. Thus, entering the secret realm at the midnight hour would correspond to noon within the secret realm.

The imperial mausoleum was located north of the palace. From the observatory in the Cloud Sea Garden, one could see a corner of the mausoleum. Surrounded by the sea on all sides, the design of the mausoleum symbolized the ascension ladder at the end of the sea of clouds.

All the sect cultivators followed the palace maids who led the way to the mausoleum. The mausoleum was built against a mountain, and as everyone looked up, they saw a long jade staircase leading from the ground up to a splendid white jade palace at the end, which was particularly exquisite and intricate.

Perhaps due to the humid climate of Li’er Country, the palaces here were mostly constructed from jade and stone. While they appeared remarkably beautiful, they also felt cold and imposing.

To the side of the staircase stood a very tall jade stele, known as the Merit Stele, inscribed with the achievements of past emperors. The current stele honored Emperor Shengning, and when Zanxing glanced at it, she saw the praises for the Shark Demon Incident among the engravings. What once seemed like mere exaggeration now felt nauseating to her.

While she was lost in thought, a dull bell sounded from outside. The ruler of Li’er Country had arrived.

This emperor, who appeared delicate and elegant, wore a snow-white ceremonial robe today, with a crown adorned with twelve tassels and the robe embroidered with twelve symbols. This attire added a regal aura to his demeanor.

Zanxing also saw Princess Lizhu. She was dressed in a vibrant red ceremonial gown with intricate patterns woven into the fabric. While white was the revered color in Li’er Country, it was unclear whether her attire was a personal choice or if it was customary for female ceremonies. Nevertheless, standing before the White Jade Palace, she resembled a blazing fire, vibrant and intense.

The hour was approaching.

On the platform in front of the White Jade Palace, twenty-eight pillars were inscribed with the twenty-eight constellations. The king ascended the platform, carefully retrieving a round seal from a box held by a courtier at his side. Placing the seal into the groove on the platform, the stars on the twenty-eight pillars gradually lit up, illuminating the entire night sky above the imperial tomb.

“Esteemed cultivators, the entrance to the secret realm has been opened,” the king said with a smile. “Please, proceed.”

The disciples of various sects had been waiting for a long time. Upon hearing this, they began to ascend the steps one by one, heading towards the entrance illuminated by the twenty-eight constellations on the high platform. The first to ascend were disciples from Chihua Sect, followed closely by those from Yin Feng Sect, and then by Zanxing and her group, and then those from Xiang Ling Sect.

There was hierarchy even among sects, hence the lesser-known ones followed behind.

Finally, Rong Yu was the one who stayed behind.

Tian Fangfang waved enthusiastically at him, saying, “Junior Brother Rong, hurry up, and don’t forget to stand with us later!”

Rong Yu smiled and walked up the steps.

One step, two steps, three steps. Just as he was about to take the final step onto the Starry Sky Terrace, Rong Yu suddenly stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Tian Fangfang asked. “Why did you stop? Did you sprain your foot?”

The other cultivators beside him had already ascended the platform, leaving him alone behind. Gradually, everyone began to notice. The transmission of the secret realm could only begin after everyone had ascended the platform. Someone urged, “What’s this kid dawdling for? Hurry up!”

Rong Yu didn’t move.

After a moment, Rong Yu lifted his head, his gaze wandering through the crowd, until finally, he looked at Gu Baiying.

The youth stood with his arms crossed on the steps, smiling at him. “What are you staring for? Come on.”

“What have you done?” he asked slowly.

Gu Baiying stared at him with interest. “Nothing much, just set up a demon-revealing formation.”