37: Chapter 37 Gathering of Heroes

The news of the Crown Prince's return spread to every corner of the capital overnight, as if it had grown wings.

great yan imperial calendar, 24th of the Tenth Month, Mid-Winter.

Before dawn, the area in front of the Crown Prince's Mansion became lively.

The first to arrive were the court officials. Those who had been wavering, those who had been watching from the shadows, and those who had once harbored other intentions—all of them had come now. Carrying gifts, wearing smiles, and exercising extreme caution, they crowded before the mansion gates, waiting for an audience with the Crown Prince.

The doorkeeper leaned against the doorframe, not even lifting his eyelids. "His Highness the Crown Prince has said he is not receiving guests today."

The officials looked at each other in dismay but dared not say much, only able to wait obediently outside the gate.

The second group to arrive were representatives from various powers.

Seventh Prince Shang Lie of the Great Shang Empire arrived in a gold-inlaid and jade-encrusted carriage, flanked by two guards at the Early Stage of the True God realm, stopping majestically before the gate. Prince Ying Zheng, 4th Prince of Daqin Empire, brought only an old servant and rode an ordinary date-red horse, looking as low-key as a neighbor coming for a visit. Grand Elder Renxuanzi of the Renxuan Sect, clad in a gray robe, arrived on foot with two Disciples behind him carrying several gift boxes. Grand Elder Chen Daoming of the Dixuan Sect also arrived on foot, dressed in plain clothes with a calm expression, showing neither joy nor anger.

Four groups of people, with four different styles, met right in front of the Crown Prince's Mansion.

Shang Lie glanced at Ying Zheng and sneered, "Brother Ying has come as well?"

Ying Zheng smiled slightly. "If Brother Shang can come, why can't this Prince come?"

The two looked at each other, sparks faintly flying in the air. Grand Elder Renxuanzi and Grand Elder Chen Daoming stood to the side; neither spoke, just waiting quietly.

The doorkeeper still leaned against the doorframe, not lifting his eyelids. "His Highness the Crown Prince has said he is not receiving guests today."

Shang Lie's face darkened. "Not receiving guests? This Prince has traveled thousands of miles from Great Shang, and he won't see me?"

The doorkeeper glanced at him and said indifferently, "His Highness said he is not receiving guests today. However, His Highness also said that if the guests who have come from afar do not mind, they may come inside for a cup of tea."

Only then did Shang Lie's expression soften slightly.

The first underground level.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan sat in the main seat. The sand table before him had been removed and replaced with a wide tea table. On the table were several plates of pastries and a pot of hot tea. Jiang Ziya stood behind him, his aura restrained like a deep abyss. Zhang Liang, Strategist Guo Jia, and Strategist Jia Xu sat on either side.

Footsteps were heard outside the door.

The doorkeeper led the four inside. Shang Lie, Ying Zheng, Grand Elder Renxuanzi, and Grand Elder Chen Daoming—four in the True God Realm, two at the Middle Stage and two at the Late Stage—were now gathered in this humble underground hall.

Xiao Xuan did not stand up, merely raising a hand. "The four of you have come from afar. Please, take a seat."

The four looked at each other and took their seats.

Shang Lie was the first to speak, his tone carrying a hint of testing. "Your Highness, having not seen you for three months, your cultivation has advanced greatly. It is truly worth celebrating."

Xiao Xuan said indifferently, "Prince Shang is too kind. I was merely lucky."

Shang Lie laughed. "Lucky? Going from the Sixth Grade to heaven-man realm Perfection in three months is not something that can be achieved by Luck alone."

Xiao Xuan did not respond, merely picking up his teacup and taking a light sip.

Ying Zheng suddenly spoke, his voice steady as a bell. "Your Highness, this Prince heard that you paid a visit to the Holy Land?"

The hall fell silent. The gazes of Shang Lie, Grand Elder Renxuanzi, and Grand Elder Chen Daoming all fell upon Xiao Xuan simultaneously.

Xiao Xuan set down his teacup and looked at Ying Zheng. "Prince Ying is well-informed."

Ying Zheng smiled slightly. "This Prince is merely curious. The Holy Land has not concerned itself with worldly affairs for three thousand years; why did they specifically invite Your Highness?"

Xiao Xuan said, "That is a question Prince Ying should ask the Holy Land, not me."

Ying Zheng's smile faltered slightly.

Grand Elder Renxuanzi suddenly spoke, his voice aged and calm. "Your Highness, this old man has something to ask."

Xiao Xuan looked at him. "Please, speak."

Grand Elder Renxuanzi said, "Your Highness has left your name on the stele of destiny. Do you know what this signifies?"

The hall fell silent once more. The stele of destiny—no one present was ignorant of those three words. It was the most sacred object of the Holy Land, recording the names of the Children of Destiny. In three thousand years, only three names had been carved upon it—the Great Yan Founder, the Great Xia Founder, and the Great Zhou Founder.

Xiao Xuan looked at Grand Elder Renxuanzi, his gaze as calm as water. "What does Senior think it signifies?"

Grand Elder Renxuanzi was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "It signifies that Your Highness is the Child of Destiny of this generation. The fourth Child of Destiny in three thousand years."

The expressions of Shang Lie and Ying Zheng changed simultaneously. They knew what a Child of Destiny represented—one favored by heaven and earth, an existence capable of unifying the world.

Xiao Xuan said indifferently, "Senior overpraises me. I was merely lucky."

Grand Elder Renxuanzi shook his head. "It is not Luck. A Child of Destiny is not determined by Luck."

He stood up and looked at Xiao Xuan, his gaze deep as an abyss. "Your Highness, I came today because I wish to confirm one thing."

"What thing?"

"Your Highness, when do you intend to unify the world?"

A deathly silence filled the hall. This question was too direct, so direct that even Shang Lie and Ying Zheng held their breath.

Xiao Xuan looked at Grand Elder Renxuanzi, and after a moment of silence, he suddenly laughed. "Senior, I cannot answer that question for you right now."

"Why?"

Xiao Xuan said, "Because I am not yet ready."

Grand Elder Renxuanzi looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "Then when will Your Highness be ready?"

Xiao Xuan stood up and walked to the window, his back to the crowd. "On the day I am ready, the world will naturally know."

Grand Elder Renxuanzi was silent for a long time before he suddenly smiled. "Good. This old man shall wait."

He turned and left without another word.

Grand Elder Chen Daoming had not spoken from beginning to end. He simply sat there, quietly watching Xiao Xuan with a gaze full of scrutiny and a hint of curiosity.

After everyone else had left, he stood up and walked to Xiao Xuan.

"Your Highness, this old man has a few words, though I know not if they are appropriate to speak."

Xiao Xuan said, "Senior, please speak."

Grand Elder Chen Daoming said, "What happened with the Dixuan Sect last time was my Junior Brother's fault. This old man apologizes to Your Highness on his behalf."

He bowed deeply.

Xiao Xuan supported him up. "Senior need not be like this. The matter from last time is already in the past."

Grand Elder Chen Daoming straightened up and looked at Xiao Xuan. "Your Highness, I have one more matter for this visit."

"What is it?"

Grand Elder Chen Daoming took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Xiao Xuan. "This is a letter from our Dixuan Sect's Sect Master to Your Highness. Your Highness will understand after reading it."

Xiao Xuan took the letter but did not open it on the spot.

Grand Elder Chen Daoming nodded and turned to leave.

The first underground level became quiet once more.

Xiao Xuan sat in the main seat, opened the letter, and read it carefully. After finishing, he remained silent for a long time.

Zhang Liang asked, "Your Highness, what did the Dixuan Sect Master say?"

Xiao Xuan handed the letter to him. Zhang Liang took it and read it, his pupils shrinking slightly. "They wish to form an alliance with Your Highness?"

Xiao Xuan nodded. "More than just an alliance. They want to use my hand to deal with the Tianxuan Sect."

Guo Jia said, "Tianxuan Sect? Are they not both part of the six great Sects?"

Jia Xu stroked his beard and said, "The six great Sects are not a monolithic block. The Tianxuan Sect and Dixuan Sect have been fighting for over a thousand years. Now that the Dixuan Sect sees Your Highness as the Child of Destiny, they want to borrow Your Highness's momentum to suppress the Tianxuan Sect."

Xiao Xuan nodded. "The Strategist is correct. But this is not a bad thing."

He stood up and walked to the sand table—though it had been removed, the map in his mind remained clear.

"The Dixuan Sect wants to borrow my momentum, and I also want to borrow theirs. They want to deal with the Tianxuan Sect, and I also want the Tianxuan Sect to behave. We each take what we need."

Zhang Liang asked, "Does Your Highness intend to agree to them?"

Xiao Xuan shook his head. "No rush. Let them wait for a few days first. Let them know that I am not so easily used."

He paused and suddenly smiled. "However, there is one thing I must prepare for in advance."

"What matter?"

Xiao Xuan turned around and looked at everyone. "The matter of fighting."

He pointed to his own cultivation. "heaven-man realm Perfection is enough for the capital. But to establish a foothold in the world, it is far from enough. I need more people who can fight."

He looked at Jiang Ziya. "Master Jiang, what kind of person do you think I should summon next?"

Jiang Ziya was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "Your Highness, those you summoned before were mostly strategists and civil officials. But now, what Your Highness needs are martial generals. Martial generals who can fight."

Xiao Xuan nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."

He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into his mind. That light screen that only he could see floated quietly.

[Next Summon Countdown: 273 days]

273 days. It was too long.

He opened his eyes. "273 days, I cannot wait that long. Is there a way to summon early?"

Jiang Ziya was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "There is."

Xiao Xuan's eyes lit up. "What way?"

Jiang Ziya said, "The Luck of the Child of Destiny. After Your Highness left your name on the stele of destiny, you possessed the Luck of the Child of Destiny within your body. If you can find enough Heaven And Earth Treasures, or—slay enough powerful enemies and use their Luck to catalyze it, you can summon early."

Xiao Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Slay enemies?"

"Correct. The higher the enemy's cultivation, the stronger their Luck. Slaying one in the True God Realm can advance the summon by at least one month."

Xiao Xuan fell silent. Slaying someone in the True God Realm? He was only at heaven-man realm Perfection, still two major Realms away from the True God Realm. But he did not hesitate for long.

"Then we fight."

He looked at General Lu Bu. "Lu Bu, starting tomorrow, accompany me in sword practice."

Lu Bu cupped his fists, Battle Intent burning in his eyes. "This subject obeys!"

Xiao Xuan then looked at Zhao Gao. "Zhao Gao, check if there are any blind powers near the capital that can be used for practice."

Zhao Gao bowed. "Yes!"

That night. South of the city, at the Taoist temple.

Jiang Ziya had returned here once again.

Having not been inhabited for three months, the Taoist temple was covered in a layer of dust. He did not clean it, merely sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat, closing his eyes to rest his spirit.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes and looked toward the direction of Yongan Ward.

"His Highness wants to summon early... Good, good, good."

He raised his hand, his withered fingers lightly plucking at the void. A ripple invisible to the naked eye spread out, instantly enveloping the entire capital.

A moment later, he withdrew his hand and nodded.

"Three hundred miles north of the capital, there is a nest of mountain bandits. The leader is at the Early Stage of the Void God Realm, with over three hundred men. It is perfect for His Highness to practice."

He smiled slightly and closed his eyes again.

That fishing rod with the baitless straight hook still lay across his knees. The luster on the rod was brighter than in previous days.