Time returned to when the Heavenly Pool Sacred City had just emerged.
Jade Water City.
At this time, many strong individuals had also left Jade Water City to seek immortal opportunities in the Heavenly Pool Sacred City. For a time, there were no cultivators above the Saint realm in the vast Jade Water City, and even those in the Carefree realm were few. Lei Heng temporarily became the strongest cultivator in Jade Water City.
Inside the City Lord's mansion, Zhang San was drenched in sweat. He gasped for breath, planting the wooden sword that Lu Chengfeng had specially crafted for him on the ground, gripping the hilt with both hands to support his body.
Originally, Zhang San's figure was quite thin, but after practicing the Drawing Sword Technique for eight months, his muscles had become much more substantial, and his skin had turned a bronze color.
After resting for a while, he asked Lei Heng, who was beside him, "Uncle Lei, do you think Master and Aunt have also entered that city?"
"That city" naturally referred to the Heavenly Pool Ancient City. With the alignment of nine stars, the starry sky trembled, and the Holy Emperor's envoy descended with the Holy Emperor's decree. Except for unintelligent beasts, poultry, and pets, all living beings knew that a celestial city had appeared in the Heavenly Pool Ancient Star.
Inside were countless opportunities and countless deadly threats.
Lei Heng heard this and said, "I think so."
Lei Heng did not give a definitive answer. After all, when Lu Chengfeng and Gu Huaiyu left, they didn't say anything about it, so he naturally wasn't sure.
However, the emergence of that city was known throughout the world, and he believed that the two City Lords must have also entered that city to seek immortal opportunities.
"Then why aren't you going, Uncle Lei? All the strong people in the city have gone," Zhang San asked curiously.
"Me?" Lei Heng smiled and said, "I promised the Great City Lord to take care of you during her absence, so naturally I won't leave. Besides, with my cultivation level, I'd probably not even qualify as cannon fodder if I went."
"How could that be? You're a Carefree realm expert," Zhang San didn't believe it. During this time, besides practicing the Drawing Sword Technique, he spent the rest of his time learning everything about cultivation: realms, formations, the art of pills… Of course, it was impossible for him to master these things now; he just remembered some basic things, the division of cultivator realms, the types of formations, the common medicinal materials for refining pills, and so on.
Awakening, Transcendence, Concentration, Void Breaking, Life and Death, Nirvana, Transcendent, Entering Sainthood, Carefree, Saint…
The Carefree realm was already the ninth realm. In Zhang San's view, it was already a very, very strong existence. Now, hearing Lei Heng say that he wouldn't even qualify as cannon fodder, wouldn't he, a little shrimp who hadn't even reached the Awakening realm, be worse than cannon fodder?
This was too打击人了 (打击人了 should be translated as 'discouraging')!
"The Carefree realm seems very strong, but in front of experts like the Great City Lord and the Deputy City Lord, even at the same realm, I'm just an ant. Moreover, both City Lords are Saint realm experts, and they must be facing enemies of the same realm. If I went, wouldn't I be worse than cannon fodder?"
Lei Heng smiled wryly.
Zhang San was still young and didn't know the weight of being invincible at the same level. He scratched his head, seemingly understanding, and said, "I will definitely become a peerless expert like Master in the future."
"Then you have to work hard, Young Master. When you become a peerless expert, maybe I'll also bask in your glory and become famous in history!" Lei Heng said with a smile. Zhang San's talent was mediocre, and wanting to become a peerless expert like the Great City Lord was harder than ascending to heaven, but he didn't discourage Zhang San; instead, he encouraged him.
The four elements of cultivation are wealth, law, companionship, and land.
Wealth refers to cultivation resources, law refers to cultivation methods, companionship doesn't mean a Daoist partner, but a companion on the path of cultivation, and land refers to the cultivation environment.
Zhang San lacked none of these four elements. Lei Heng believed that Zhang San would definitely become a peerless expert in the future.
"Hehe, I will!" Zhang San smiled, and after resting, he began to swing the wooden sword again, continuing to practice the Drawing Sword Technique.
Although his cultivation hadn't reached the Awakening realm yet, after practicing the Drawing Sword Technique for this period of time, and with the cultivation method taught by his master, ordinary jackals, tigers, and leopards were no longer his match. He could clearly feel the power within his body becoming stronger.
This feeling gave him a lot of confidence.
Zhao Quan came over at this time and took a look, finding that Zhang San was still working hard. A trace of gratification flashed in his eyes, and he didn't disturb Zhang San. Just as he was about to leave, Steward Fu hurried in.
Seeing this, Zhao Quan couldn't help but ask, "Steward Fu, why are you in such a hurry?"
Steward Fu was indeed very anxious. Although his cultivation wasn't very high, he was also in the Entering Sainthood realm, but now he was sweating on his forehead. This was definitely not because of the heat, but because of anxiety.
Steward Fu saw Zhao Quan and quickly said, "Is the Young Master here?"
"Little Zhang San is still cultivating," Zhao Quan pointed to Zhang San in the center of the training field.
"I have something to discuss with the Young Master, something very important," Steward Fu said, bypassing Zhao Quan and walking towards the training field.
Seeing this, Lei Heng stopped Steward Fu. He frowned and said, "Steward Fu, the Great City Lord instructed that the Young Master should not be disturbed while he is cultivating."
Seeing this, Steward Fu became even more anxious, with fine sweat covering his forehead. Lei Heng saw this and couldn't help but ask, "Steward Fu, if there's anything urgent, you can tell me."
"It's like this…" Steward Fu quickly explained the matter. After finishing speaking, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, because this news had made him feel uneasy.
"What? You said that person is the two City Lords' master?" Lei Heng looked at Steward Fu in shock.
Steward Fu nodded and said, "That's what that person said. I can't see through his cultivation, so I thought of asking the Young Master, perhaps the Young Master knows something."
Now Lei Heng also felt that he couldn't handle it. He told Zhang San to stop, and Zhang San looked at Lei Heng in confusion, asking, "Uncle Lei, was there something wrong with my practice just now?"
Lei Heng shook his head, recounted what Steward Fu had just said, and then asked, "Young Master, do you know the two City Lords' master?"
"Master's master? Wouldn't that be my grandmaster? Master never mentioned it to me," Zhang San was also dumbfounded.
Lu Chengfeng and Gu Huaiyu had indeed never mentioned Gu Changsheng to Zhang San, because they were worried that Zhang San was too young and, if he knew he was the Holy Emperor's grand-disciple, he might bully others in the future.
"Steward Fu, where is the person? Take me there quickly!"
Whether it was true or false, Zhang San had to confirm it.
"In the front hall!" Steward Fu said. Initially, he had arranged Zhang San and the others in the front hall, so that regardless of whether their identity was real or not, there would be no lack of courtesy. Steward Fu's grasp of human relationships could be described as reaching the pinnacle.
Thus, the group followed Steward Fu to the front hall.
…
