Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

"Your Majesty, the Grand Preceptor has arrived—"

Everyone's attention was drawn to the waiter's voice, and they all looked toward the two empty seats at the front.

A majestic figure slowly emerged from the main hall, a brilliant golden avenue stretching out before him. With each step he took, ripples spread across the space, and laws materialized as fish that lingered and leaped at his feet.

He was enveloped in a golden glow, which illuminated the entire Imperial Garden as if it were daytime. Wherever the golden glow shone, it felt as if one were bathed in the morning sun, and one's whole body felt warm and comfortable.

Behind him, an old man dressed in coarse linen clothes, with white hair and beard, and long eyebrows reaching the ground, rode a ten-foot-tall sika deer step by step. A whisk that emitted a pure white light was placed on his forearm, and the silver strands fluttered in the wind.

The sika deer's hooves landed on the black jade floor tiles, making a crisp "tap tap tap" sound. Wherever it passed, weeds grew wildly in the cracks between the tiles, blooming with delicate flowers, which was incredibly magical.

In the blink of an eye, the two arrived at the very front of the banquet.

The golden light gradually faded, revealing the true face of the newcomer. He wore a jade crown, and his face was shrouded in a mysterious aura, making it impossible to see his features.

He wore a heavy black imperial robe, embroidered with the sun, moon, stars, beautiful mountains and rivers, birds, insects and fish, and a three-foot-long sword at his waist.

He seemed to have merged with the surrounding world, his aura as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

The old man with long eyebrows showed no signs of magical power. He looked like an ordinary, unsmiling old farmer. After the sika deer he was riding stopped, it turned into a wisp of pure energy and merged into his whisk.

Song Changsheng could see clearly that the "sika deer" was the spirit of the whisk in his hand. The spirit manifested outwardly, just like a living being of flesh and blood. The whisk in his hand was probably not far from being a "Dao artifact," belonging to the same level as the Jade Cleansing Sword in Zhuang Yuechan's hand.

At this moment, at the signal of the master of ceremonies, all those attending the banquet stood up, including the group of Nascent Soul True Monarchs in front.

"We pay our respects to His Majesty the Human King!" The crowd bowed in unison. The Nascent Soul True Monarchs bowed slightly to show their respect, while the others bowed deeply.

When the human race first rose to power, the living environment was harsh, and the surrounding area was a desolate wasteland left by the demon race.

Therefore, according to their merits, the Human Emperor enfeoffed 365 human kings, who went to the wild wilderness to reclaim wasteland and strengthen the borders, thus laying the foundation for the human race to live and thrive in this land.

Even though the glorious era of the Immortal Dynasty has passed, every human king deserves the heartfelt respect of all people. The respect is not for the human king himself, but for his ancestors and for the human king's sword forged with blood and faith.

"Rise, everyone." The king's voice was full of majesty, echoing in their ears like a great bell.

Upon hearing this, Song Changsheng raised his head and began to carefully examine this King of Men.

He seemed to see a crimson, five-clawed dragon coiled around him, its enormous, bell-like eyes slowly scanning the surroundings.

The moment he saw those eyes sweep over him, Song Changsheng subconsciously lowered his head. Then he felt a faint, almost imperceptible pressure sweep over him.

"Is that the power of fortune gathered by the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty?" Song Changsheng clicked his tongue in amazement. Since he came into contact with the [Law of Fortune], this was the first time he had seen such a huge power of fortune in one person.

The "Dragon of Destiny" that he had condensed with the [Chengyuan Sword] was nothing more than a firefly compared to the bright moon in front of him.

Even though the era of the Immortal Dynasty has long since passed, the fact that such a powerful "Dragon of Fortune" can still be formed shows that the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty is indeed the leader of the five major powers. Perhaps it only needs one opportunity to advance into a first-class immortal dynasty in the world.

But for some reason, Song Changsheng always felt an indescribable strangeness when facing this King of Men.

"Gentlemen, you have come from afar to attend the Five Academies Conference. I have prepared a few cups of wine to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey."

Today, regardless of status, let's reminisce about old times. Please drink heartily and without restraint.

Having said that, the King raised the golden wine goblet on the table and drank it down to the brim.

Everyone raised their glasses and drank together, then sat down again, but the atmosphere was much more reserved than before.

This is only natural. Both the Human King and the Grand Master are at the Nascent Soul stage, powerful beings only one step away from the Divine Transformation stage. It is rare to see someone who can completely let go in front of them.

"Please, Imperial Advisor."

"There is a distinction between ruler and subject; Your Majesty, please go first," the Grand Preceptor said matter-of-factly.

The King had no choice but to take his seat first.

Although their relationship was that of ruler and subject, it was also that of teacher and student. He always respected the Grand Preceptor and treated him with the respect due to a teacher.

However, the Grand Preceptor was a rigid person who always adhered to the proper etiquette between ruler and subject, and he handled the situation with great care, which sometimes left the Grand Preceptor feeling quite helpless.

But isn't this also one of the reasons why he respects the other party?

"What does the Imperial Advisor think of the level of these talented young people who have come to attend this conference?"

"This is far more intense than ever before; it should be the most fiercely contested competition in recent years," the old Grand Tutor said decisively.

"The various forces are full of talented people, and the Earth Infant Fruit Tree has also produced an unprecedented number of perfect spiritual fruits. The Tianshan Mountains are in turmoil, and immortals, Buddhas, demons and monsters are stirring up trouble."

"The Imperial Advisor is well-versed in the arts of celestial secrets. Could he answer my questions and resolve my doubts? Is all of this a sign of something?" The King waved his hand and erected a barrier, limiting the sound to the two of them.

The old imperial advisor paused for a moment before saying, "Your Majesty, the art of divination is not omnipotent. When human strength reaches its limit, it concerns the changes of the entire world, which are beyond my ability to predict."

If a great era truly arrives, someone will naturally issue a warning, and by then it won't be too late to prepare.

"Who?"

The old imperial advisor raised his head, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes: "The source of that prophecy...the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion!"

"The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion... "

"Isn't this too passive? Can Da Zhen afford to wait?" the King murmured softly.

Upon hearing this, the old Grand Preceptor sighed and said, "If Your Majesty is truly worried, I can find time to divine the secrets of heaven and strive to gain a slight advantage for Great Zhen."

"Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Preceptor."

……

The banquet lasted until dawn, and it was only then that everyone realized that the Human King, the Grand Preceptor, and a group of Nascent Soul True Monarchs had left sometime earlier.

As the officials of the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty gradually left, Ji Shinian stood up and looked at everyone, saying, "It's getting late, we should go back. Before leaving, the Supreme Elder sent me a message saying that the competition format for this Purple Mansion Grand Competition has changed slightly, and we need to go back and plan it out again."

Because the number of fruits produced by the Earth Infant Fruit Tree is uncertain, the Purple Mansion Grand Competition is not held every year. The top three winners of this year's competition will each receive an Earth Infant Fruit, and the rewards are no less generous than, and may even exceed, those of some previous Golden Core Grand Competitions.

Therefore, the five major powers have invested an unprecedented amount in this year's Purple Mansion Grand Competition, bringing together top geniuses from their respective academies. The changes to the competition format are of great importance and must be carefully planned during this time; the Myriad Manifestations Palace is certainly ambitious this time.

In the Purple Mansion Grand Competition, they must secure a top-three finish; in the Golden Core Grand Competition, they must aim for third place and strive for first.

Including the guaranteed one, at least three [Earth Infant Fruits] are needed to meet the expectations of the Myriad Manifestations Palace.

Of course, it would be even better if we could win first place in the Golden Core Competition and obtain four [Earth Infant Fruits].

Soon it was time for the Five Academies Tournament to officially open. Everyone boarded the flying boats arranged by the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty and left the capital city of Gaoyang City for the Zhulu Academy, which was the official venue for the competition.

Standing on the deck of the flying boat, Song Changsheng felt a vague unease. Several days had passed since he sent out his message via flying sword, and he still hadn't received a reply from Zhuang Yuechan.

According to their agreement, Zhuang Yuechan was supposed to arrive in Zhongzhou ahead of time to wait for him, but now she can't get in touch with him.

He could only keep comforting himself that Zhuang Yuechan was delayed on the road and had not yet arrived in Zhongzhou because the journey was too long.

"Don't worry, Marquis Dingyuan has promised that as long as he finds your wife's whereabouts, he will personally escort her to Zhulu Academy. There are also people left in the palace in Gaoyang City who will keep in touch with us at all times." Ji Shinian's voice suddenly rang out behind Song Changsheng.

Song Changsheng glanced at him with some surprise. He had no idea that Ji Shinian had made these arrangements beforehand, and besides, how did he know?
"Does this seem a bit unexpected?"

Fellow Daoist Gu is indeed perceptive; he noticed that you've been acting strangely these past two days, so he came to me.

I think it's most likely because of your wife's situation.

Ji Shinian reached out and interrupted Song Changsheng, who was about to speak. He walked to Song's side with his hands behind his back, patted his shoulder, and said softly, "There's no need for unnecessary words. I can understand the torment you're going through right now."

I can totally relate.

I once made a promise with her that when she returned from her training, I would apply to go to the East China Sea to guard the Spirit Island, to accompany her as she worked at sunrise and rested at sunset, and to live a simple and peaceful life together.

But... she broke her promise and went to another world alone.

Back then, I was just like you are now, constantly gazing at her path home, hoping she would suddenly appear from an unexpected corner and give me a big scare.

Unfortunately, I waited for six hundred years, two hundred and twenty thousand days and nights, and she never came to see me again, not even in my dreams.

Therefore, I completely understand how you feel right now, and believe me, the same tragedy will not happen to you again.

"The Marquis of Dingyuan has royal connections; once your wife enters the pass, finding her will be quite easy."

Song Changsheng was surprised that Ji Shinian, who seemed so carefree, had such an experience, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

After much deliberation, he comforted her, saying, "As long as the true spirit is not extinguished, there will be a day of reincarnation sooner or later. Fellow Daoist and she may still have a chance to meet again."

Upon hearing this, Ji Shinian did not answer, but pointed to a huge floating island in the air ahead and said, "Look, we've arrived at Zhulu Academy."

As the head of the five academies, Zhulu Academy has an exceptionally profound history, which can be traced back to the Immortal Dynasty. Its predecessor was actually the academy of the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty. After several reorganizations, it became the Zhulu Academy of today, which is responsible for attracting talents from all over the world for the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty.

Initially, the five major powers had no interaction.

During a massive demonic upheaval, the five major powers cooperated for the first time, and by chance, discovered the existence of the Earth Infant Fruit Tree during the final battle.

Because none of them had the strength to monopolize the power, the Five Academies Conference, held once every six hundred years, came into being.

However, it was originally called the Five Sects Grand Competition. Later, in order to promote exchanges, the Myriad Phenomena Palace and other forces established a branch academy with the help of the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty to attract talents from the outside world.

This is how it gradually evolved into a grand event between the five major academies.

The leaders of the five major forces are all focused on obtaining a few [Earth Infant Fruits], but for most of the participating cultivators, this is an excellent stage to showcase themselves and an opportunity to become famous.

No young man is without his wildness. Even Song Changsheng sometimes felt this way. However, fearing that his success would attract unwanted attention, he had to restrain himself, conceal his brilliance, and tread carefully, as if walking on thin ice.

Now, it seems he no longer needs to deliberately hide his brilliance.

Looking at the floating island so close at hand, a long-lost sense of pride and passion welled up in his heart.

A white-robed cultivator with a youthful face and white hair, exuding an air of otherworldly grace, stood on the edge of the floating island, a red-crowned crane circling above his head, emitting a loud, clear cry.

From afar, he called out loudly to the crowd, "Welcome, fellow Daoists, to Zhulu Academy. The five deans have been waiting for you for quite some time."

"Your demeanor remains as impressive as ever after all these years, fellow Daoist." Ji Shinian returned the greeting with a cupped hand, then looked at Song Changsheng and said, "This man is named Shu Qi, also known as the White-Clad Swordsman."

"Speaking of which, we have some connection with your Great Qi, I'll tell you in detail later."

"Oh?" Song Changsheng was somewhat surprised. Could it be that he could meet a fellow villager here?
After the flying boat docked, Shu Qi's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Song Changsheng and his group. He smiled and said, "I heard that there are cultivators from the Great Qi who have come to participate this time. This must be this fellow Daoist, right?"

"Song Changsheng of the Wangyue Song Clan greets fellow Daoist."

"Song Changsheng, Song Zixu."

"I've heard of you. You probably haven't heard of me, but you've likely heard of my master." Shu Qi said with a slight smile.

Song Changsheng's heart stirred. The person in front of him was already at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, and his master was most likely a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

In the cultivation world of the Great Qi, or rather, in the four border regions, the number of Nascent Soul True Monarchs who have emerged in recent years can be counted on one hand. He knew most of them, but he didn't know which one it was, so he cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask who your esteemed master is...?"

"My master is the carefree True Lord, Feng Wanli!"

"Feng Wanli? The number one rogue cultivator in the world a thousand years ago, the top-ranked cultivator of the Ascending Heaven Pavilion, the Carefree Immortal Feng Wanli!" Song Changsheng was shocked; this news was truly unexpected. (See Volume 5, Chapter 214 for details)

Feng Wanli is a peerless genius in the Four Realms, comparable to the former Jade Cleansing True Monarch. Born into a rogue cultivator, he broke through to the Golden Core stage at just over 160 years old, becoming famous far and wide.

His record at the Ascending Heaven Pavilion in Sifang City when he was seventy-five years old remains unbroken to this day.

Later, he left the Four Realms to pursue the path of freedom, and gradually disappeared without a trace.

Now, more than a thousand years have passed, and everyone thought he had perished. Unexpectedly, this legendary figure actually broke through to the Nascent Soul realm in the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty!

...(End of chapter)