Chapter 41: The Mysterious Genius from the Eastern Wilderness; Jin Yang, Holy Son of Jialou

The origins of the Immemorial Sacred Mountains were ancient, tracing back to the previous era of the Azure Realm.

Many cultivators speculated that lofty deities presided within those peaks, their divine flames once illuminating the sky and sending terrifying tremors throughout the world.

Recently, many beings from these Sacred Mountains had emerged, appearing in various regions. Keen observers noticed a pattern: they were all converging on the same location—Chongyue Ancient City, the seat of the Lin Family.

Speculation ran wild regarding their intentions.

Most agreed it had everything to do with the Young Lord from the Upper Realm.

Chongyue Ancient City.

As the central hub and vital artery of the Central Heavenly Domain, this city connected the surrounding regions and housed a population of nearly 100 million cultivators.

Clouds and mist wove through the skyline, glowing with spiritual light. Magnificent halls, towering pavilions, and floating palaces stood in abundance. Divine talismans shimmered on the walls, while cultivators and spirited beasts transformed into streaks of rainbow light, crisscrossing the air above. It was a scene of extraordinary mystical grandeur.

Already the designated venue for the upcoming “Heavenly Pride Discourse Conference,” the city was now bursting at the seams due to the rumors of the Upper Realm Young Lord.

Cultivators from every corner of the world flooded in.

Major Holy Lands and Imperial Dynasties dispatched their experts, all bearing heavy gifts to pay their respects.

It wasn’t just the Central State. Young elites from the desolate Northern Desert and the wild Southern Border had also arrived, eager to showcase their skills at the conference—and perhaps, if fortune favored them, to catch the eye of a higher power.

Clinging to a powerful thigh was, after all, a time-honored tradition in the cultivation world. There was no shame in ambition.

…

“Brother Jin Yang, long time no see. Your cultivation feels even more unfathomable than before.”

“You flatter me. Brother Zeng Tian has made great progress himself; it seems you have already mastered that Divine Ability?”

“Haha, pure luck, pure luck. I cannot compare to you, fellow Daoists.”

“Fairy Chen, I haven’t seen you in years. Your elegance far surpasses the past. Truly worthy of being the leader of the Wanhua Holy Land.”

Inside a luxurious pavilion, a group of young men and women sat together, enveloped in halos of precious light. Their eyes flickered with divine energy, their auras steady as mountains or captivating as spirits.

Cultivators watching from a distance couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.

This was a gathering of the elite.

They were descendants of Ancient Noble Families, Imperial Princes, and Holy Sons of sacred sects. Behind each of them stood a formidable background, and hidden in the shadows were powerful guardians ensuring their safety.

For such a group of Heavenly Prides to gather casually for tea and conversation was a rare spectacle. If news spread, it would shock the entire city.

“Brother Jin Yang,” someone asked curiously, “I heard a rumor that some time ago, you fought a talented youth from the Eastern Wilderness. They say you exchanged a hundred moves to a draw and even became sworn brothers. Is this true?”

The question was directed at a young man who resembled a solar deity.

His hair seemed to burn with golden fire, and his body shimmered with divine light. This was Jin Yang, the Holy Son of the Jialou Holy Land.

The Jialou Holy Land was an ancient powerhouse in the Central State, older even than the Lin Family. Like the Lin clan, they boasted ancestors who had ascended to the Upper Realm. As their Holy Son, Jin Yang’s cultivation was formidable—he had already reached the late stage of the Transcendent Realm, suppressing most of his peers.

Hearing the question, Jin Yang let out a hearty laugh.

“It is naturally true. Let me tell you, my Little Brother’s talent is not something I boast about lightly. He is absolutely a once-in-a-thousand-years genius.”

“With only mid-stage Transcendent Realm cultivation, he exchanged over a hundred moves with me without losing ground. I was forced to use my ‘Great Sun True Body’ just to barely suppress him. And even then… I felt he was holding back several trump cards.”

Jin Yang’s expression turned serious, filled with genuine admiration.

“My Little Brother is truly extraordinary. His personality is steady and resolute—clearly someone destined for greatness. Unfortunately, he offended a powerful figure and was framed. He had no choice but to flee his home and come to the Central State.”

He shook his head with regret.

He had heard the story from his sworn brother, of course. The enemy was a force his brother couldn’t contend with yet.

As for the rumors drifting in from the Eastern Wilderness? Jin Yang didn’t believe a word of them.

Jealousy? A toad lusting after swan meat?

Ridiculous.

In Jin Yang’s view, it was clearly the Taixuan Saintess who was the villain. She had betrayed his brother to climb the social ladder, clinging to a powerful man like a vine. To add insult to injury, she had spread slanderous rumors to ruin his brother’s reputation.

“The most venomous heart is that of a woman.” The saying fit her perfectly.

Hiss!

Jin Yang’s words caused the group to gasp. They exchanged glances, their expressions shifting.

They were shocked.

As fellow Heavenly Prides, they knew Jin Yang’s character. He was straightforward, brash, and honest to a fault. He wouldn’t lie about something like this.

More importantly, Jin Yang was strong. In the entire Central State, aside from a few monsters like the Third Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty, he had few equals. He was easily in the top five of their generation.

If even Jin Yang praised this mysterious youth so highly… just how strong was he?

“Brother Jin Yang, what is the name of this Eastern Wilderness genius? We must meet him one day,” someone asked, eager to make a connection.

Jin Yang’s face stiffened. He hesitated, looking troubled. “This…”

It wasn’t that the name was unspeakable.

But if he said it, he feared these people would be terrified into silence, daring not to ask another question. Jin Yang was straightforward, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew the weight of the enemy his brother faced.

Seeing his reluctance, the group tactfully dropped the subject.

Suddenly, someone exclaimed in surprise.

“Why is the Lin Family’s Star Picking Pavilion open today?”

The speaker was the Holy Son of the Yuanchu Holy Land, a powerful genius in his own right.

The group followed his gaze and froze.

The Star Picking Pavilion was the tallest structure in Chongyue Ancient City, named for its height that seemed capable of plucking stars from the sky. It offered a panoramic view of everything below.

Usually, it was reserved exclusively for Holy Lords, Imperial Monarchs, and other supreme figures.

But today, the windows were open.

“And they are being personally attended by a Great Power Realm Elder of the Lin Family…”

“Wait… isn’t that blue-skirted woman Lin Qiuhan, the Lin Family’s Favored Daughter? And the one in white, with the veil… she looks like the Taixuan Saintess from the Eastern Wilderness…”

Another genius squinted, shocked as he recognized the figures. He had visited the Eastern Wilderness once and had the fortune of seeing the region’s Number One Beauty.

“If she is here… then that man in white must be…”

“Him?!”

Realization hit them like a lightning bolt. They stood up in unison, excitement written all over their faces.

With that level of treatment and company, there was no need to guess.

It was the Young Lord from the Upper Realm!

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

“We must go pay our respects immediately!”

The group sprang into action. Several Heaven’s Favored Daughters hastily pulled out compacts from their spatial rings, touching up their rouge and powder to ensure they looked radiant.

Only Jin Yang remained seated for a moment longer. An unnatural expression flashed across his face—conflict, hesitation, and a hint of dread.

Fortunately, in the flurry of excitement, no one noticed.

…

Inside the Star Picking Pavilion.

Guided by a deferential Lin Family Elder, Gu Changge and his entourage arrived at the top floor.

Given his status, the Lin Family had naturally provided the best accommodations possible.

The view from the pavilion was breathtaking. One could overlook the entire ancient city and gaze thousands of miles into the distance, taking in the vast, magnificent landscape of the Central State.

It was a view usually reserved for the rulers of this world.