Night fell, veiling the world in a hazy shroud. It was strange indeed.
Ever since the great battle on the Divine Mountain years ago, many heroes had been buried there. For Yan Ruyu, that battle was a stain on her record.
Yet, over the years, no one had dared to speak of that fateful event. Perhaps it was because the Emperor Venerable at that time was simply too terrifying. Or maybe the battle had left such a deep shadow on the cultivators that the mere recollection of it would send shivers down their spines.
Regarding that battle, everyone kept their mouths shut. No one would be so foolish as to mention the so - called "demonic star" incident. Even if some younger generations accidentally brought it up during their conversations, they would surely receive a good beating from their elders.
One should know that the matters concerning the Emperor Venerable were off - limits, and as for the "demonic woman," not a single word could be uttered. Whenever someone mentioned the "demonic star," they would just laugh it off, saying that it was a misunderstanding of the Star Disk Formation.
When it came to the secret letters that everyone on the Nine - Continent Continent had received over twenty years ago, they would gloss over it, claiming that it was just some highly - cultivated person teasing the younger generations.
As for the trip to the Divine Mountain, their accounts varied. Some said that the Emperor Venerable had gathered everyone to chat and exchange ideas. Others claimed to have witnessed a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix and all beasts kneeling. Some even said they had seen figures like fairies or the descent of gods.
In short, all those chaotic events had been woven into stories by the storytellers and written into books. But to this day, no one could specifically know or clearly explain what had truly happened on the Eastern Continent's Divine Mountain.
In a street in the Eastern Continent, several children were kicking shuttlecocks, chanting a nursery rhyme:
"The immortal arrives,
Saves our state.
Eliminates the tyrants for our Eastern Continent,
Brings peace to our people.
Autumn stirs,
Cold arrives.
The golden phoenix dances,
The white bird flies.
A dragon soars into the sky, startling all beasts.
Sacrifices for the country and finds peace,
Restores our tranquility."
What those children were mumbling about, they themselves probably didn't even know. This nursery rhyme had been sung since a certain day twenty years ago.
Some people said that the newly - enthroned king of the Eastern Continent, whose surname was Dongfang, was the most prestigious king in the Eastern Continent in hundreds of years. He never showed his emotions on his face. He handled political affairs in an orderly manner and was ruthless towards rebels. Although there were countless souls under his hands, he had never shed the blood of loyal officials.
The king of the Eastern Continent had never married. However, a young lady from the Jun family in the Qingyun Kingdom would visit the royal family of the Eastern Continent every now and then. On the surface, she claimed to be on good terms with the princess of the Eastern Continent, Dongfang Yinuo. In fact, every time she came to the Eastern Continent, she would head towards the main hall.
The palace guards had seen few girls as thick - skinned as her. Every now and then, she would be grabbed by her clothes and thrown out of the palace. The people of the Eastern Continent found it extremely strange.
They all knew that this king of the Eastern Continent had broken the rules by taking the throne with the surname "Dongfang" for the first time, which went against the words left by General Dongfang Sheng. But this king, Dongfang Yuxi, said that he had long severed his ties with the Dongfang family. He was not even in the Dongfang family's genealogy, so he was not considered a member of the Dongfang family.
Although he had the surname Dongfang, he could become the king of the Eastern Continent. Dongfang Yuxi was diligent in governing the country and rarely smiled. But after ascending the throne, he decorated the entire Eastern Continent with white silk for many rounds. Then he transformed the main palace into a mourning hall.
In that mourning hall, there was a memorial tablet. But there were no words on it. Every year, at a certain time, Dongfang Yuxi would enter the main palace to burn incense and pay his respects. He would kneel there for an entire night.
The people of the Eastern Continent sometimes couldn't help but wonder if the person on that memorial tablet was the king's parents. But wasn't this period of mourning a bit too long?
The young lady from the Jun family knew that the king of the Eastern Continent had no interest in women and didn't like to associate with them, but she still insisted on getting close to him. No wonder she was always thrown out.
What made the people even more puzzled was that in the Dongfang royal family, there was only one daughter left, Dongfang Yinuo. But she whole - heartedly supported Dongfang Yuxi's accession to the throne. She didn't seem like the pampered little princess of the Eastern Continent.
Even more strangely, Dongfang Yuxi had transformed the main hall of Dongfang Yinuo's father into a mourning hall to worship a memorial tablet without words. But the little princess was not angry at all. Every year, at the right time, she would even take the heir of the Hailing Kingdom, Xia Jingning, to pay their respects.
It was really strange. But as time went by, people got used to it. They only knew that there was an extraordinary and mysterious person in the royal family. Although that person had passed away, no one in the royal family dared to underestimate them.
This year seemed particularly different. As if they had made an appointment, the Eastern Continent was extremely lively.
The lord of the Cangwu Kingdom had come, accompanied by a woman dressed as a scholar, and there were several followers behind them. The two generals, Chu Wen and Chu Nuan, from the Eastern Wilderness, had also come and rented a courtyard on the outskirts.
The city lord of the Sea - Roaming City, the leader of the Shuiyun Sheng gang, and even some highly - skilled alchemists and spiritual herb masters from the large continents were flocking to the Eastern Continent.
"Have you heard? These people all have remarkable backgrounds."
"I know. The leader of the Shuiyun Sheng gang is well - known throughout the world. Although the two generals, Chu Wen and Chu Nuan, have no spiritual power, they are good at managing their subordinates. Over the years, no one has dared to offend the Eastern Wilderness."
"Exactly."
"Grandpa, I'm curious. Are these distinguished guests ordinary people without spiritual power?"
The old man was taken aback for a moment and then said, "They have no spiritual power, but they are not ordinary people."
"No, Grandpa."
"Alright, go and play. Adults are talking. Kids shouldn't interrupt."
The little boy left, muttering.
Yes, in the Nine - Continent Continent today, mental power was respected, and spiritual power was considered powerful. But these younger generations were really confused. Why did these people who dominated the Nine - Continent Continent have neither mental power nor spiritual power?
The emperor of the Eastern Wilderness, Ye Xingrui, was like this. The lord of the Cangwu Kingdom, Gu Zhiruo, was like this. The two generals from the Eastern Wilderness, Chu Wen and Chu Nuan, were like this. Even the leader of the world's most powerful gang, the venomous snake Xie An, and the military advisor Ye Xingchen, were like this.
And their king of the Eastern Continent, Dongfang Yuxi, was also like this. Why could they sit in these positions and be respected by the people without any cultivation?
The old man looked up at the distance, his eyes dim. "If it weren't for that great battle back then, their cultivation would be unparalleled today."
They had sacrificed all their cultivation for the world. No, perhaps it could be said that they had sacrificed for a belief in their hearts. They were worthy of being remembered by future generations.