27: Chapter 27 Zhou Wu's Variables

At this moment, Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang exchanged a glance, stepped forward simultaneously, lifted their robes, and knelt on both knees.

"Senior!"

The two spoke in unison, their foreheads touching the ground.

"Junior Qin Muchuan (Su Fuguang) implores Senior to accept us as Disciples!"

The eyes of everyone in the hall fell upon the two of them.

Jiang Changge swept his gaze over the two, his heart stirring slightly.

These two shared a deep Karma bond with Lu Jinghan, having been close friends who lived and died together in their past lives.

If they could all enter the Kunlun Sect in this life and support each other, it would be of great benefit to Lu Jinghan's Dao path.

Furthermore, while their Aptitude was not top-tier, it was acceptable.

Jiang Changge pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.

"The two of you have acceptable Aptitude, and your Heart-Nature is also considered superior."

Hearing this, Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang were overjoyed, but they dared not make a sound, simply kneeling quietly in place, waiting for what would come next.

Jiang Changge swept his gaze over the two, then glanced at Lu Jinghan.

"You share a deep friendship with Jinghan. Out of respect for Jinghan's Face, I will accept you."

Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang were stunned at first, then overjoyed, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Thank you, Revered Master! Thank you, Revered Master!"

The two spoke in unison, their voices filled with excitement and gratitude.

Lu Jinghan also hurried forward and bowed respectfully to Jiang Changge.

"Thank you, Revered Master!"

Jiang Changge waved his hand, his tone indifferent.

"Once you enter the Kunlun Sect, you must abide by the Kunlun Sect's rules. Cultivate diligently and do not slack off."

Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang nodded repeatedly, their eyes filled with determination.

"We, your Disciples, will certainly do our utmost and not fail Revered Master's high expectations!"

Jiang Changge nodded slightly.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu watched this scene, feeling a myriad of emotions.

The Qin and Su families were truly lucky.

Not only did they obtain Heaven Rank Cultivation Techniques and Magical Artifacts, but now their clan descendants had also been accepted into the Kunlun Sect.

This fortune was enough for both families to rise within the next hundred years and become true top-tier families of the Zhouwu Dynasty.

However, the Zhou Imperial Clan did not lose out either—Zhou Tianchen had also entered the Kunlun Sect, and a connection had already been established between the Imperial Clan and the Kunlun Sect.

Thinking of this, Ancestor Zhou Huaixu felt slightly more at ease.

Jiang Changge stood up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"Alright, you may all disperse."

Inside Taihe Hall, the crowd dispersed one after another.

Jiang Changge sat back down, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, his gaze distant.

Now, he had five Disciples: Lu Jinghan, Lin Yanzhou, Zhou Tianchen, Qin Muchuan, and Su Fuguang. Although the number was small, each had their own strengths.

Lu Jinghan possessed the Space-Time Dao Body and the memories of his past life at the Peak of Undergoing Tribulation; in time, he would surely achieve great things.

Although Lin Yanzhou had mediocre Aptitude, he had a "fated" life recognized by the System. That Minimalist Cultivation Method was tailor-made for him, and even Jiang Changge could not predict what his future achievements would be.

Zhou Tianchen was obsessed with Alchemy and had a steady Heart-Nature. If he could Revered Master his theory that "Alchemy is cultivation," he might well walk a path unprecedented by anyone before.

As for Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang, while their Aptitude was not as Heaven-Defying as Lu Jinghan's, it could still be considered superior.

More importantly, the bond between them and Lu Jinghan might become an aid on the latter's Dao path.

"Five Disciples, barely enough," Jiang Changge muttered to himself.

Now, he just needed to wait.

Wait for the Purple Bamboo Forest to open, go to that top-tier Secret Realm in the Southern Wastelands to sign in, and obtain a hundredfold critical reward.

As for other matters, there was no rush for now.

He picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and his gaze passed through the window lattice, landing on the distant skyline.

The Purple Bamboo Forest should be opening soon.

— —

Nanli Dynasty, Taili Hall.

The Nanli Imperial Lord Yang Potian stood in the hall with his hands behind his back, his expression as gloomy as water.

Inside the hall, Grand General Yang Zhirong stood respectfully.

"Zhirong, did you see it with your own eyes?" Yang Potian asked in a deep voice.

Yang Zhirong looked up, his expression grave.

"Your Majesty, I saw it with my own eyes."

"Ancestor Zhou Huaixu was extremely respectful to that young man in white, calling him 'Senior.' His posture was so low, I have never seen anything like it before."

"I stayed in the Zhouwu Dynasty for several days and made inquiries. I learned that the young man calls himself the 'Revered Master of Kunlun,' and his Disciples once shone brilliantly during this Great Family Ranking Battle."

Yang Potian's brows locked tightly: "Kunlun? Do you know the origin of this Kunlun?"

Yang Zhirong shook his head: "I have scoured all intelligence, but neither in the Southern Wastelands nor the entire Xuanhuang World has there ever been a record of a force called 'Kunlun.' It is highly likely to be an ancient, reclusive Sect."

"That old thing, Ancestor Zhou Huaixu, has reached the Peak of Undergoing Tribulation. There are few people in the entire Xuanhuang World who can make him so respectful," Yang Potian muttered to himself.

"Could it be a Red Dust Immortal?"

Yang Zhirong remained silent. He dared not judge this guess, but he also could not deny it.

Yang Potian paced in the hall for a long time, then suddenly stopped.

"Did that young man in white ever reveal his cultivation?"

Yang Zhirong thought carefully for a moment and shook his head: "He did not."

"But I once sensed his Elder take action, killing Ye Family Head Ye Lingxiao with a single sword strike. The strength of that aura was at least at the Late Stage of Undergoing Tribulation."

"Moreover, that Elder was equally respectful to the young man in white, calling him 'Sect Master.'"

Yang Potian's pupils constricted slightly.

A powerhouse at the Late Stage of Undergoing Tribulation was actually just a subordinate of that young man in white?

Doesn't this mean that the young man in white's cultivation is at least at the Peak of Undergoing Tribulation, or even higher?

"Pass down the order," Yang Potian said in a deep voice. "The Purple Bamboo Forest is about to open. Have everyone prepare. This time, we must field our strongest lineup in the Southern Wastelands."

"Yes." Yang Zhirong bowed to receive the order, hesitated for a moment, and asked again, "Your Majesty, what about the Zhouwu Dynasty..."

Yang Potian waved his hand.

"Do not act rashly for now. The Purple Bamboo Forest is the top priority. As for what powerhouse Ancestor Zhou Huaixu has latched onto, we will discuss it after the Purple Bamboo Forest ends."

"I understand."

Yang Zhirong exited the hall. Yang Potian stood alone in the hall, gazing into the distance, remaining silent for a long time.

The standoff between the three Imperial Dynasties had been maintained for thousands of years. Now, the Zhouwu Dynasty suddenly had such a variable, making him feel a faint sense of unease.

But for now, the Purple Bamboo Forest was the only thing he had to focus on.

It was one of the top-tier Secret Realms in the Southern Wastelands, opening once every hundred years.

Not only would the major forces of the Southern Wastelands send people in, but Prodigies from the Central Plains, East Sea, Western Regions, and Northern Territories would also come.

There were countless Opportunities within the Secret Realm. If they could obtain enough resources from it, the strength of the Nanli Dynasty would certainly be able to rise to another level.

As for that variable in the Zhouwu Dynasty, they could only calculate it slowly after the Purple Bamboo Forest ended.

Xuanyuan Dynasty, deep within the Imperial Palace.

Xuanyuan Imperial Lord Xu Hongyuan sat in the Imperial Study, with National Preceptor Xu Daozi, who had just returned from the Zhouwu Dynasty, standing before him.

"National Preceptor, did you see it with your own eyes?" Xu Hongyuan put down the vermilion brush in his hand, his expression grave.

Xu Daozi stroked his beard and nodded slightly.

"Your Majesty, I saw it with my own eyes. Ancestor Zhou Huaixu was extremely respectful to that young man in white, one could even say—awed."

Xu Daozi paused, "That young man in white emerged from the Secret Realm deep within the Imperial Palace together with Ancestor Zhou Huaixu."

Xu Hongyuan frowned: "The Secret Realm deep within the Imperial Palace? Are you referring to the ancient ruin controlled by the Zhouwu Dynasty?"

"Exactly." Xu Daozi nodded.

"The Zhouwu Dynasty has held that ruin for thousands of years and has never allowed outsiders to enter. That Ancestor Zhou Huaixu could bring that young man in white inside shows how much he values him."

Xu Hongyuan was silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "What do you think is the origin of that young man in white?"

Xu Daozi pondered for a long time before answering cautiously.

"I dare not jump to conclusions, but Ancestor Zhou Huaixu's attitude is not what one should have toward a Cultivator of the same rank."

"If he were just an ordinary Peak of Undergoing Tribulation, given Ancestor Zhou Huaixu's pride, he would never be so subservient."

"Someone who can make Ancestor Zhou Huaixu so respectful, I fear it is..."

He did not continue, but Xu Hongyuan already understood his meaning.

A Red Dust Immortal, that legendary Realm.

Xu Hongyuan stood up, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked out the window, "It seems these are troubled times."

"The Purple Bamboo Forest is about to open. I hope the Zhouwu variable will not affect us."

"National Preceptor, you shall arrange everything for the Purple Bamboo Forest."

"Yes." Xu Daozi bowed to receive the order and turned to leave.

Xu Hongyuan sat alone in the hall, his gaze falling on the memorials on the desk, remaining silent for a long time.

The Zhouwu Dynasty suddenly having such a variable made him feel a faint sense of unease.