Chapter Forty-Eight: Gathering of Eminent Figures

"This is likely something that soul extracted from its own memories," Uncle Zhou said. "At first, Zi Xu probably had no idea the soul could do that. His silence at the end was likely him consulting with the soul within him. If he’d known from the start, he would have coaxed the other into uttering even more disrespectful words."

Zhou Tian nodded thoughtfully, then continued, "Uncle Zhou, can you alter what those people say in the projection?"

"It's possible," Uncle Zhou replied, "but anyone with strong cultivation can easily spot such changes." For someone of his level, it was a trivial trick, but pointless; once the projection array was activated, the tampering became obvious.

"That's fine," Zhou Tian instructed. "Change the ‘seriously injure’ spoken by that person from the Da Luo Academy to ‘kill’."

"Alright," Uncle Zhou agreed, though he had no idea what his young master was up to. Still, if Zhou Tian asked, he would comply.

The jade tablet dissolved again into a shower of runic arrays. Uncle Zhou waved his hand, and countless runic chains intertwined and shimmered, the projection formation flickering incessantly.

A moment later, the formation gathered into a jade tablet once more. Uncle Zhou tapped it lightly, a rainbow flashed, and the projection reappeared.

"...help us kill her!" The words of the Da Luo Academy’s representative had been flawlessly altered. Zhou Tian nodded in satisfaction.

"Young master, this change is only superficial. If someone opens the projection array, they’ll see through it at a glance, so don’t use it as key evidence," Uncle Zhou cautioned. The method was not fit for serious occasions; if presented, it could backfire.

"I know," Zhou Tian replied. "I only want to use this to bluff them, not as real evidence."

Zhou Tian understood: injuring Tian Ling and killing her were fundamentally different concepts. After all, Tian Ling had been granted marriage by the Emperor Qin, and the imperial decree had been announced to all. If her life remained intact, excuses could be made; but if something truly happened, only blood could settle the matter.

With everything done, night had fallen. Uncle Zhou bowed and took his leave, but as he was about to exit Zhou Tian’s chamber, Zhou Tian seemed to recall something and asked, "Uncle Zhou, what realm are you at?"

Uncle Zhou paused, lowered his head, white hair trailing beside his ears. His voice was calm, respectful. "Young master, I am but at the Emperor realm."

He withdrew slowly, closing the door behind him...

Zhou Tian was at a loss for words. This weathered old man was an Emperor? No wonder he spoke with such authority; his offhand remark about being ‘but a Saint King’ was well justified.

Zhou Tian smiled wryly. This rather diminished his own motivation to strive. He pushed the door open and stepped outside, the sky awash with silver starlight. Looking up, Zhou Tian gazed at the sparkling points overhead.

After these days, Zhou Tian had learned that the glittering objects in the sky were not "stars," but the array bases of a vast formation laid across the Nine Provinces by the Eight States. The luminous moon, round as a jade plate, was the core of the array and a formidable artifact.

What a dazzling world this was. Dressed in a purple robe embroidered with cloud-gold dragons, Zhou Tian looked up, his figure as resplendent as the stars.

...

Time passed swiftly, events unfolded steadily. Tian Ling, with her formidable combat skills and the holy artifact in her possession, fought her way into the quarterfinals. She encountered another bearer of a sacred artifact, but the one Zhou Ying had gifted her was evidently superior. With equal cultivation, the challenger was defeated.

Among the candidates arranged by Da Luo Academy, one also reached the quarterfinals. That person seemed invigorated as if by spring elixir, fiercely advancing from the Sky-Hidden realm to the Human-Hidden realm. Wielding a blade-shaped sacred artifact, he struck fear into countless hearts, becoming a dark horse in the youth tournament and attracting much attention.

Five days passed in a blink. Today was the first match of the quarterfinals, where Tian Ling would face the Da Luo Academy’s champion.

The match was scheduled for noon. Zhou Tian and Tian Ling ate breakfast and set out early for the arena.

"Are you confident?" he asked.

Inside the carriage, Zhou Tian regarded Tian Ling, whose fighting spirit brimmed. For convenience, she wore a light blue robe today, elegant and radiant, clearly not an ordinary garment, and exuding an unspoken heroism.

"Absolutely!" Tian Ling declared firmly, her demeanor wholly different from usual. Her bright eyes shone with anticipation—a look Zhou Tian had seen often these days, reflecting her excitement for battle. He was at a loss; he could never fathom what went on in her mind.

The carriage rolled slowly along. Zhou Tian’s gaze was deep; all his arrangements over these days were for this moment. Everyone must pay for their actions.

Meanwhile, Tian Ling was puzzled, casting sidelong glances at Zhou Tian, her eyes limpid like autumn waters. She sighed inwardly—something felt off today. Zhou Tian hadn’t tried to take advantage of her as usual, which felt oddly unsettling...

Soon they arrived at the arena. The scene was even more lively than previous days, with not only the capital’s residents but many visitors from other parts of Futian State.

"There are so many people here today," Zhou Tian remarked as he stepped from the carriage, noting several familiar vehicles parked nearby.

"The General of the Western Territories, the General of the Southern Territories... Goodness, all four generals are here, the national advisor is here, Prime Minister Liu is here..." Zhou Tian counted, realizing several high officials of the capital had already arrived, and more might yet come. Today truly was a gathering of the great and powerful—likely more than all the previous matches combined.

"Zhou Tian, why are there so many important figures today?" Tian Ling asked, a hint of puzzlement in her tone. Having spent much time in the capital, she had come to understand there were few events capable of attracting the attention of these titans at the summit of Tian Qin, in a place where a single sword could fell a string of court ministers.

Even the four-year Futian State Youth Tournament, a grand event involving the entire young generation, was something these elders had seen countless times in their long lives. No matter how dazzling the prodigy, few ever rose to their heights, so there was little reason to pay attention to such competitions.

"Who knows," Zhou Tian replied, ruffling Tian Ling’s hair with a smile. "Maybe they just want to witness my Ling’er’s extraordinary battle prowess."

These old fellows truly had nothing better to do; all had come to watch the spectacle.