Chapter 428: 368 Zhangg Direct Pointing Department: Brocade Robe Direct Pointing! [Requesting Monthly Votes!]
"I never expected this guy to actually be part of the Great Zhou Imperial Family!"
"Yeah, remember how ugly he was when he first arrived? Who could have imagined it?"
"I heard this guy is the illegitimate son of the Zichuan King."
"The Zichuan King, huh?"
"Heh!"
"Quite the coincidence, isn’t it!"
"Tsk tsk! The bloodline of the Zichuan King, showing up here at our Taizhen Sect to learn cultivation?"
"Who knows how much he secretly curses and resents our Taizhen Sect!"
...
The next day.
Chen Jichuan arrived at the Outer Disciple square, and as soon as he showed up, many of the Outer Disciples began pointing at him and whispering.
Some spoke in hushed tones.
Some were outright blatant.
Chen Jichuan remained calm, turning to look at Zhang Yu next to him.
The fact that Jiangg Xian was the illegitimate son of the Zichuan King was only known to Lord Wuu Quan and Zhang Yu within Leiyin Mansion.
Wuu Quan wasn’t someone who would gossip with these Outer Disciples.
The only one who could’ve leaked the information was Zhang Yu.
"Jiangg Xian, I—"
Zhang Yu realized it wasn’t hard to guess.
With a sheepish expression, he forced a grin at Chen Jichuan and said, "I slipped yesterday—I didn’t mean to."
"It’s fine."
Chen Jichuan replied lightly.
He had seen many people and could tell loyalty from deceit.
Zhang Yu, though somewhat mature, was ultimately just an eighteen-year-old boy. He couldn’t hide things well in his heart or on his face.
Whether spreading the news of Chen Jichuan being the illegitimate son of the Zichuan King at Leiyin Mountain was intentional or unintentional, Chen Jichuan could see it clearly.
"So two-faced."
Chen Jichuan felt displeased.
But he didn’t rush to retaliate.
Instead, hearing the many overt and covert discussions around him made him chuckle inwardly.
"What a tragic life!"
"Still so tragic!"
Chen Jichuan couldn’t help but laugh.
From the Central Continent World onward, counting this life, he had started over four times—all equally miserable.
Living in a doghouse, being abused.
Being imprisoned and toyed with.
This time, born as the child of a vassal king, who fell to hardship among the commoners, enduring bitter experiences. Finally, just as he was about to rise above it all—with wealth and glory within his grasp—the promise of a lavish life was snatched away.
He was even scared to death in the process.
It was truly misfortune to the extreme.
"But at least dying early spared him a greater torment."
"Otherwise, after arriving at Leiyin Mountain and hearing about the Zichuan King’s defeat and death, his kingdom abolished and title stripped, he might have found it even harder to accept."
Chen Jichuan felt a sense of relief for Jiangg Xian.
And, at the same time, for himself.
"I have no interest in worldly power."
"This time, starting directly in an Immortal Cultivation Sect makes this life the best one yet."
In the Central Continent World, one life spent three years searching for immortals, seven years refining demons—it was incredibly arduous.
In the Starry Sky World, the first life was spent being imprisoned in the talisman making workshop for five years, tormented and played with by spoiled offspring—truly pitiful.
The second life was much better.
But this was due to the accumulation of the previous life.
In comparison, this life’s fortune was indeed better.
Thinking this in his heart.
The discussions around him continued.
Suddenly—
"The superintendent is here!"
Someone shouted, and the square instantly quieted down.
Soon.
A group of people approached, led by a middle-aged man in a white robe, flanked by eight others.
Chen Jichuan glanced at them, immediately seeing through their cultivation levels—
"One Late-stage Qi Refining."
"Eight Qi Refining Middle Stage."
The Wuu Quan couple had operated and established their mansion for over a hundred years. Though Leiyin Mansion didn’t have many True Persons, there were quite a number of Qi Refinement cultivators.
But in Chen Jichuan’s eyes, it wasn’t impressive.
"The Wuu Quan couple hail from the Taizhen Sect."
"The Taizhen Sect has Divinity Transformation Stage cultivators. If I could enter Taizhen Sect, I could understand this world much faster."
Chen Jichuan considered internally.
In the square.
The Late-stage Qi Refining superintendent of Leiyin Mansion arrived and succinctly spoke, instructing Chen Jichuan and the other newly entered Outer Disciples to choose their cultivation paths.
These Outer Disciples were either hand-picked worldly talents by True Persons of the sect.
Or previously servant disciples who, after passing rigorous assessments, earned promotion as Outer Disciples.
Most of them were brought in from the secular world.
Like Chen Jichuan and Zhang Yu.
By right.
The two of them ought to have started as servant disciples and see if their performance would allow them to join the outer sect.
But thanks to ’Jiangg Xian,’ Wuu Quan directly raised them a level, admitting them straight to the outer sect.
Though this wasn’t uncommon.
Many in Leiyin Mansion were similarly connected individuals.
"Either talented."
"Or well-born."
"Or lucky."
"Or hardworking."
"Any one of these gives you hope of stepping into the Immortal Path."
Chen Jichuan hadn’t displayed his talent or effort yet—for outsiders, he was seen as a connected individual.
Moreover, as a newly fallen connection, he naturally faced scorn and contempt.
This was normal.
Chen Jichuan paid it little mind, and after the superintendent briefly explained the three paths—’Immortal,’ ’Xing,’ and ’Life,’ he decisively chose Immortal Dao.
This batch of Outer Disciples had been admitted for at least two or three months.
During that time, they had studied and learned enough to have a basic understanding of the three paths of cultivation and likely already made up their minds.
Some had even decided long before joining Leiyin Mansion.
Thus, hesitation was sparse now.
"Fifty percent for Life Dao."
"Forty percent for Xing Dao."
"Ten percent for Immortal Dao."
Chen Jichuan roughly estimated from observation, combining with usual trends, forming a mental picture of the proportion of cultivators in Leiyin Mansion and the Great Zhou Cultivation Realm overall.
"Immortal Dao is arduous."
"Xing Dao is obscure."
"Those who choose Life Cultivation Martial Arts are often the majority, holding sixty percent."
"The remaining forty percent are split equally between Immortal Dao and Xing Dao."
But this time, because of the Great Zhou Prime Minister Jia Yi’s reputation and the sweeping Enlarging the Grace Order that eradicated the vassal kingdoms, it affected this batch of disciples significantly.
Many who initially leaned toward Immortal Dao or Life Dao ultimately chose Xing Dao instead.
"Impulsive choices lead to regrets sooner or later."
Chen Jichuan was neither a short-sighted enthusiast nor a hot-blooded teenager.
Having resolved his intention early on, he chose Immortal Dao without hesitation now.
Next to him, Zhang Yu, who had boasted about choosing Xing Dao the previous night, hesitated but ended up picking Immortal Dao as well.
...
Though Leiyin Mansion had only been established recently, it was complete in its offerings despite its small size.
Not only did it have the three lineages of ’Immortal Dao,’ ’Xing Dao,’ and ’Life Dao,’ but beneath them, there were even more specialized categories.
Take Immortal Dao, for example.
Various cultivation techniques were available for selection, alongside various magic arts for study.
Additionally, there were paths for Alchemy, Artifact Refining, talisman making, Beast Taming, Array formations, and other skills for deeper exploration.
From the moment one is born, life is full of choices.
Stepping into Immortal Sects amplifies this.
Such as choosing between Immortal, Xing, and Life paths.
Choosing cultivation techniques or magic arts.
Choosing among specialized skills and trades.
...
Choices everywhere, and every choice demands caution.
A single misstep could derail one’s Immortal Path entirely.
Chen Jichuan had plenty of experience from past lives to draw from and additional lifetimes for correction, making things much simpler for him.
The years of cultivation brimmed subtly with brilliance, though calm was the main theme.
They say wherever there are people, there is Jianghu.
But within Leiyin Mansion, among the Outer Disciples, everyone focused on cultivation, building themselves up in hopes of achieving success sooner.
Time was precious.
Energy was mostly consumed by cultivation, leaving no room for scheming or conniving.
It was rather harmonious.
The fierce battles, hidden plots, and bloodshed Chen Jichuan anticipated didn’t materialize, leaving him somewhat disappointed.
So he immersed himself in cultivation.
A month.
Two months.
A year.
Two years.
Time flowed like water.
Chen Jichuan chased and accumulated, all the while waiting and guarding.
This life had started well, but it was not without its risks and concerns.
"Seven Kingdoms Chaos claimed the lives of the seven kings, their realms were abolished, and their descendants were ordered executed by Emperor Zhou."
"I am the illegitimate son of the Zichuan King, so I am among those targeted."
"If no one knew, it would be fine. But now, Zhang Yu has spread the word throughout Leiyin Mansion, making it well-known. I fear the court will come looking."
As Chen Jichuan grew more familiar with Great Zhou, his opinion of the worldly court became less dismissive.
In this life.
Soldiers in the army practiced cultivation, primarily Life Dao Martial Arts, their combat power not inferior to Immortal Cultivators.
Court officials for the most part also possessed cultivation. Their words could pacify nations; their decree could suppress demons—a force to be reckoned with.
An ordinary True Person Daoist, even a peak True Person Daoist, could hardly challenge a behemoth like the Great Zhou Court.
Chen Jichuan felt concern in his heart.
But as his cultivation improved, that concern gradually diminished, replaced by growing confidence.
Breath Training.
Postnatal.
Innate.
Qi Refinement.
In his previous life, it had taken him two years to reach Qi Refinement. In this life, it only took one year.
By the third year of this life.
Chen Jichuan progressed to Qi Refining Middle Stage, greatly elevating his cultivation and self-defense capabilities.
Right at this moment.
The Great Zhou Court finally sent someone.
...
On this day.
Leiyin Mountain, Yunding Palace.
Wuu Quan and Zhang Jin sat up top, with a burly, handsome middle-aged man in embroidered robes seated on the lower right.
Wuu Quan glanced at the man and asked, "The court and our Immortal Sect have always kept their affairs separate. What brings the Direct Pointing Envoy here today?"
The middle-aged man was no ordinary figure.
He was a ’Direct Pointing Envoy’ from the Great Zhou Zhi Zhi Si, named Jiang Chong.
The Zhi Zhi Si’s duties primarily involved rooting out treachery, administering justice, capturing criminals, overseeing the conduct of officials and nobility, and investigating and quelling heretical activities.
Its notorious reputation was widespread, feared by all.
Even an Immortal Dao True Person encountering these envoys within Great Zhou’s borders would need to show deference.
But outside Great Zhou’s borders, for someone like Wuu Quan of the Taizhen Sect, coming across one or two Direct Pointing Envoys wasn’t concerning.
Showing courtesy in receiving them was optional.
Denying them entry outright was manageable.
The Zhi Zhi Si could hardly object.
Jiang Chong, being aware of Wuu Quan and Taizhen Sect, approached with measured restraint. Hearing Wuu Quan’s question, he smiled and replied, "I have come on the order of a superior to apprehend the remnants of the Seven Kingdoms. I kindly ask Master Wuu’s cooperation."
"Remnants of the Seven Kingdoms?"
"Who is it that the Envoy seeks to detain?"
Wuu Quan looked at Jiang Chong and calmly inquired.
"A young Outer Disciple who entered Leiyin Mansion three years ago—’Jiangg Xian.’"
Jiang Chong replied.
"Jiangg Xian?"
Wuu Quan’s expression turned to doubt, and he asked again, "What ties does this young man have with the Seven Kingdoms? Three years ago, he was still a child; how could he have been involved in the chaos surrounding the Seven Kingdoms to now be deemed a remnant?"
"Jiangg Xian is the illegitimate son of the previous Zichuan King—"
Jiang Chong answered but was quickly interrupted by Wuu Quan: "Nonsense!"
Wuu Quan’s face turned sour, his tone sharp: "The Zichuan King had only four sons and two daughters. Of the four sons, two fell in battle, and two were ceremonially executed after the war. Where could there be any surviving descendants? I’ve never heard of this so-called ’Jiangg Xian’ being a child of the Zichuan King."
Jiang Chong recognized from Wuu Quan’s words that he was deliberately evading the matter to protect Jiangg Xian.
Nevertheless, bound by his mission, Jiang Chong still spoke tactfully: "I dare not deceive you, Master Wuu; Jiangg Xian is indeed the illegitimate child of the Zichuan King. The chaos of the Seven Kingdoms caused considerable harm, and His Majesty has decreed that all bloodlines of the seven rebellious kings must be apprehended. I request your understanding, Master Wuu, for my duty."
"Enough, say no more!"
"Jiangg Xian has nothing to do with the Zichuan King nor with your Zhi Zhi Si. He is an Outer Disciple of Leiyin Mansion, and you should abandon this notion!"
Wuu Quan’s demeanor grew stern, cutting off any further discussion as he stood up and said to Jiang Chong, "I must proceed to Taizhen Mountain to meet with my elders soon. The hour is late; I would appreciate it if Envoy Jiang were to promptly descend the mountain."
"But he is merely an Outer Disciple."
"Moreover, the Seven Kingdoms harbored enmity with Taizhen Sect. For Master Wuu to protect their bloodline, this Jiangg Xian, I doubt the Old Ancestors in Taizhen Sect would approve."
Jiang Chong realized Wuu Quan was attempting to leverage Taizhen Sect against him and the Zhi Zhi Si.
However, Jiangg Xian was considered a remnant of the Seven Kingdoms, and given the Emperor Zhou’s command and Taizhen Sect’s significant involvement in the eradication of the Seven Kingdoms, technical ties made Taizhen Sect adversaries rather than allies to Jiangg Xian.
Wuu Quan sheltering him privately was reasonable.
But if the issue made it public, Wuu Quan might struggle to explain himself within Taizhen Sect.
"Envoy Jiang need not fret."
"Now, kindly leave."
Wuu Quan dismissed him, signaling once again for departure.
Seeing this, Jiang Chong refrained from further persuasion, rising to his feet and exiting the palace, leaving Leiyin Mountain directly.
...