Chapter 140: Secrets Divulged

Ziyun Era, Year 1229, December 25

Zhou Donghuang had entered the Connate stage and become a Connate-level practitioner!

After killing Xiang Xiong, Zhou Donghuang did not bother using any martial arts to leap onto roofs or vault across the walls to leave the Chu royal household. Instead, he arrogantly swaggered out of the main doors of the courtyard where Xiang Xiong and his royal consort had been.

To top it off, he kicked open the courtyard doors.

“Who goes there?!” the maid and guards who kept watch outside the courtyard shouted out in anger, but when they saw meter-long green rays of light emanating from the young man who stepped out of the yard, they were quick to keep their lips sealed. Instead, there was only fear in their eyes.

“Qi emanating a meter long— that is a true sign of a Connate-level practitioner who has just entered the Connate stage,” they thought.

“This young man clothed in white: is he really a Connate-level warrior?”

Zhou Donghuang took a quick glance at the maid and the guards and then turned and headed toward the main entrance of the Chu royal household, controlling the qi that was radiating from his body while he walked.

He was still trying to adapt to this newfound Connate state.

Even though Donghuang had experienced being in this state in a previous life, it was a completely foreign and new encounter to his present life and current body, and he definitely needed some time to adjust to it.

He could get used to maintaining the outward flow of qi quite quickly.

Therefore, as Zhou Donghuang stepped out of the gates of the Chu royal household, it was already apparent to most of the people in the vicinity that their master, the Chu king, Xiang Xiong, had been killed by a Connate-level practitioner.

And killed along with the king was the Chu royal consort, Fan Ji.

About half an hour later, in the main hall of the Chu royal household: “I have come back from Chuxiu Inn. The innkeeper witnessed with his own eyes the meter-long rays of green light radiating from Zhou Donghuang’s body when he returned to the inn.”

Xiang Donghua, the second elder of the Chu royal household, said gravely in response, “It has been confirmed that the young man who killed the king and the royal consort, and who so arrogantly strutted out of our palace a while ago was Zhou Donghuang!”

“He…has already entered the Connate stage?”

The look on Xue Meng’s face, the commander of the Chu royal city guards, changed dramatically at this moment.

“It looks like there has not been an appearance of a representative from the Valley of the Medicine Masters, and in all the border districts of the Sixteen Countries there is not one person who has been able to stop him!”

“Commander Xue, it looks like it has been two months since you last made your report at the royal household to tell them that His Majesty and the Valley’s Connate demon had been killed? In my estimates, a representative sent from the Valley would have been here by now, so why hasn’t he come?”

“Someone from the Valley of the Medicine Masters will come eventually. It is possible that they are not bothered about Emperor Yunyang’s death, but surely they could not ignore the fact that their Silver-Crowned Crane is dead.”

“I think so too. That Silver-Crowned Crane was not just the Valley’s only Connate-level demon, it was also the Head of the Valley’s personal mount for many years!”

…

The Chu royal household had intended the keep the death of their king, Xiang Xiong and the royal consort, Fan Ji under wraps. However, the number of people who already knew were too many, and soon enough, the news had managed to spread far and wide.

This sensational news stirred up all of the Chu royal city.

“Both the king and the royal consort died at the hands of that Zhou Donghuang?”

“Heavens! That young man, is he not worried that the Yunyang imperial household will hold him responsible?”

“The Yunyang imperial household? Didn’t he also kill the last Great Consummation adept of the Qi-Gathering that the Yunyang imperial household sent? Why would he be afraid of them?”

“It’s no wonder everyone says that he can make an enemy of an entire country, there hasn’t been any sign of a response from the royal household. It could be that they are very fearful of him.”

“The districts surrounding the Sixteen Countries of the East Valley and even the Valley of the Medicine Masters have refused to make a move. I’m afraid no one can stop him!”

“I hear that after he had committed the murders, shafts of qi more than a meter long were wrapped around his body as he left the royal household. Apparently he has entered the Connate stage!”

“The Connate stage? Him, a young man his age, entering the Connate stage?”

“A Connate-level teenager…that seems to defy the laws of nature itself!”

…

A teenage Connate practitioner. Never in all of the country of Yunyang, much less the surrounding districts of the Sixteen Countries of the East Valley including the Valley of the Medicine Masters, had there ever been an appearance of one.

And this young man’s achievements could be considered completely unprecedented in all of the surrounding areas of the Sixteen Countries of the East Valley.

Inside the Tang Family mansion, the head of the powerful and influential aristocratic family Tang Liunian wanted to immediately step forward with his congratulations when he heard that the young man had entered the Connate stage. However, after more serious consideration, he laughed bitterly as he decided to strike that idea.

“The Yungyang royal household must have no guarantee of being able to put him to task and that is why they are taking so long to send someone over. However, the champions from the Valley of the Medicine Masters, whose abilities have been called ‘strong like a forest, and unwavering under the force of the wind,’ I estimate should not take much longer to come and deal with him,” Tang Liunian said with a sigh.

At first, when the Yunyang family’s Emperor had died at the hands of Zhou Donghuang, news of this had been kept so tightly under wraps that even the aristocratic families in the Chu royal city were completely unaware.

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They only thought that a Great Consummation adept of the Qi-Gathering had been sent from the Yunyang imperial household, together with a Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering beast, and both had been killed by the young man.

“Now all I hope is that the champion from the Valley of the Medicine Masters be willing to accept him into the Valley, as opposed to killing him. Otherwise, it would be a complete waste of talent.”

It was precisely because he had considered the possibility of the young man being defeated by the Valley that Tang Liunian decided against paying a personal visit to congratulate him.

Imagine if he were to congratulate the young man today. The Chu royal household wouldn’t dare to touch him, and the Yunyang imperial family wouldn’t go near him.

But what if the arrival of the representative from the Valley of the Medicine Masters meant death for Zhou Donghuang?

After the young man’s death, the Yunyang imperial family still would not care for him, but the Chu royal household surely wouldn’t let him get away so easily!

As the head of the Tang family and generations of aristocracy, Tang Liunian needed to consider all the possibilities.

At the Yang Family mansion, the head of the grand Yang family, Yang Yunji, had received news that the young man had entered the Connate stage. He was thoroughly displeased.

“I only wish that the champion from the Valley of the Medicine Masters would kill him right away when he comes and that he doesn’t recognize his talent and try to accept him into the Valley.”

As Yang Yunji prayed silently about this his eyes were full of cold-blooded murder.

In the Shi Family mansion: “The Yunyang imperial family hasn’t sent anyone over for a long time now, and the Valley of the Medicine Masters has been nothing but silent. It looks to me like the Yunyang imperial family has no intention of sharing the spoils of the Primal Core practitioners’ essence that Zhou Donghuang now possesses.

“Otherwise, considering the lure of the power of the Primal Core Essence, it is impossible that no sound or word has come from the Valley,” said the head of the Shi grand family, First Young Master Shi Yu, as a look of realization flashed across his eyes.

“I’m sure that the Yunyang imperial household has kept this from the Valley of the Medicine Masters only because they want this miracle essence of the Primal Core practitioners for themselves!”

As he considered this, Shi Yu left the Shi family mansion immediately and headed straight for the Lu family mansion.

The Lu family was the foremost of the three grand families in the Chu royal city, and other than the occasional business dealings that they had with the Shi family, they did not have much else to do with each other.

Nonetheless, this time Shi Yu was heading straight for the head of the Lu family. Lu Yuanshan.

“Dear Nephew Shi Yu, I hear from my family’s subordinates of reports that you have a plan to establish a connection between the Lu family and the Valley of the Medicine Masters? Is there any truth to this?”

Lu Yuanshan was a middle-aged man, an emaciated figure dressed in long grey robes. Half his hair had already turned white. With a grave look on his face, he considered Shi Yu.

“Master Lu, would I dare spread deceit and lies as I stand right in front of you?” Shi Yu smiled slightly. “I’m here this time because I want to offer a rare opportunity to the Lu family.”

“Explain the details to me.”

Lu Yuanshan stared at Shi Yu intensely. He did not think that Shi Yu, a subordinate from a more inferior grand family such as the Shi family, would dare take the head of the finest of the grand families—the Lu’s—for a ride.

Shi Yu drew a deep breath and proceeded to explain all he knew about Zhou Donghuang, planning out every detail. “Now, both the Chu royal mansion and the imperial household already know that Zhou Donghuang has gotten his hands on the Primal Core essence. However, the imperial household apparently does not want the Valley of the Medicine Masters to know about this. If they did, even if the imperial household did not dare to send a representative to deal with Zhou Donghuang, the Valley would not wait until today to make a move.

“So I have come to the conclusion that the imperial household has kept this news from the Valley.”

As Shi Yu came to this point, Lu Yuanshan could not help but draw a sharp breath. “Who would have thought that a man like Zhou Donghuang could have come from an inferior prefecture.”

“I’ve always said, how could an evildoer such as he appear in the country of Yunyang…an 18-year-old Connate practitioner…”

“And so it is, all because he has gained the powers of the Primal Core essence.”

“It’s no wonder then.”

As he said this, Lu Yuanshan stared deeply into Shi Yu’s eyes. “And so, you, Shi Yu, wish to have the Lu family report of this to the Valley of the Medicine Masters? Why don’t you go on your own?” questioned Lu Yuanshan.

“Master Lu, you must be worried that there is some error in this news, and that the Valley would somehow place the blame on you?”

Shi Yu seemed to be able to read Lu Yuanshan’s thoughts with one look. “How about this: I will make the trip with you,” he said, smiling slightly. “I’ve come here for you, because I know that the Lu family owns a Qi-Gathering level-seven flying beast. Of course, if you decide not to go, I will look to the Ouyang family instead.”

“According to my sources, the Ouyang family also possesses a Qi-Gathering level-seven flying beast,” smirked Shi Yu, knowing for sure that Lu Yuanshan would take the bait.

“The Chu royal household has a Qi-Gathering level-eight flying beast. Why didn’t you look to them?” asked Lu Yuanshan.

“Master Lu, if the Chu royal household had the intention of doing that, they would have reported of this to the Valley on their own…After all, they had known about that Zhou Donghuang and his Primal Core essence for a long time now.”

“If I were to go to the Chu royal household, it would come to nothing. And if so, why would I want to take that extra mile?” Shi Yu asked, shaking his head.

“Master Lu, if you and I were to go together, and the Valley of the Medicine Masters does eventually get hold of Zhou Donghuang’s Primal Core essence, I am sure they will not let a good deed go unrewarded.”

“If you’re really uninterested, I will head for the Ouyang family now,” continued Shi Yu.

Lu Yuanshan reacted immediately at the mention of the Ouyang family, but at last he finally agreed. “Okay! You and I will make the trip together!”

Soon after, a vulture rose from the Lu family mansion into the sky and headed for the region beyond the Chu royal city. Its entire body was jet black, except for the feathers surrounding his shiny bald head, which were white.

This very vulture was the Lu family’s Qi-Gathering level seven flying beast, the white-headed vulture.

And at this very moment, on the white-headed vulture’s back, stood Shi Yu and Lu Yuanshan.