273: Chapter 273 Feigning Ease

Cangwu Yuji Platform · Side Hall

The side hall was brightly lit, its furnishings simple yet imposing.

A maid in moon-white palace attire led Zhu Rongyang and three young men and women into the hall, arranging for them to be seated in the guest section.

Apart from them, there was no one else in the hall.

Zhu Rongyang's gaze swept over the empty main seat, his heart stirring slightly. Before long, steady footsteps approached from afar.

Ling Hao, dressed in black casual robes, walked into the hall with a calm gait and took his seat at the main position.

Not long ago, someone had come to report that the Golden Crow Holy Land was visiting.

Since Zheng Nanxun and Su Fengyi were busy preparing for the Dingding Ceremony, only Ling Hao had come. However, that was enough.

Golden Crow Holy Land?

Ling Hao's gaze fixed on the Golden Crow totem on the clothes of the leading Elder, his thoughts turning slightly. This ninth-grade Holy Land, located far away in Fusang Province, had visited abruptly; their purpose was certainly not simple.

He naturally remembered Yu Lingshuang, or rather, the deep blood feud between the Linglong Blessed Land and the Golden Crow Holy Land.

He wondered if the Elder before him knew of that past, or if he knew that the remnants of the Linglong Blessed Land were all now in the Moonshadow Sect. Judging by his expression, he seemed unaware.

"Greetings, Supreme Moonshadow."

Zhu Rongyang was the first to stand, cupping his hands in a bow, his tone respectful.

"I am Zhu Rongyang, an Elder of the Golden Crow Holy Land. I have brought my unworthy Disciples with me today specifically to pay my respects to the Supreme."

"Greetings, Supreme!"

The three people behind him also followed, bowing respectfully.

Ling Hao's gaze swept over the three of them; all were at the Body Integration Stage.

"Solid Foundation, with accomplishments in Body Refining."

"Impressive bearing, with Sword Qi soaring to the heavens."

"Elegant and refined, with a lively disposition."

"Not bad, the Disciples of your sect have remarkable cultivation; their futures are promising."

No one dislikes praise, especially when it comes from a Supreme—didn't you see those three young men and women looking pleased?

Zhu Rongyang's mouth curled upward, and he humbly said, "The Supreme is too kind!"

After Zhu Rongyang responded humbly, seeing Ling Hao's inquiring gaze, he began to explain the purpose of his visit.

"Supreme, my Golden Crow Holy Land has always advocated for exchanges among fellow Daoists and sharing what we have. We came this time, firstly, to let our juniors broaden their horizons and witness the demeanor of the heroes of Cangwu."

"Secondly, we wish to discuss with the Supreme whether we could begin in Cangwu Province and organize a cross-province Cultivator exchange conference? To promote the sparring and growth of the younger generation across major provinces."

Was that really the purpose of his visit?

Ling Hao's expression did not change, and his tone carried a hint of perfectly timed regret: "Oh? Elder Zhu's proposal is excellent, and I deeply agree. It is just that..."

He shifted his tone slightly, carrying a touch of helplessness: "Elder Zhu, as you can see, the Niding Alliance launched a surprise attack a few days ago, causing severe damage to Cangwu City, and everything is waiting to be rebuilt. Furthermore, I and my fellow Daoists in the province are fully occupied preparing for the Dingding Ceremony to secure the Foundation of Cangwu's Luck. I truly lack the time to attend to this matter right now; I fear it can only be postponed for the time being."

Zhu Rongyang was not surprised by this answer, his face showing an expression of understanding.

"I see, it was I who was abrupt. The Niding Alliance's rampage is truly a scourge to the three provinces; as the Supreme presiding over the overall situation, you naturally must prioritize the province's affairs."

He then asked, seemingly inadvertently: "Speaking of which, when I first arrived in Cangwu City, I noticed several strange stone monuments and tall towers newly erected in the city. Their aura is profound, and they seem to have the effect of suppressing erosion qi and stabilizing space? I wonder what these are? Could they be... a strange formation newly created by your sect?"

Ling Hao picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and said in a calm tone: "Elder Zhu, you overpraise. These are the 'world-suppressing monument' and the 'resonance dao tower'. They were not created by my sect but were actually incomplete formation bases accidentally obtained from an ancient ruin. We repaired them slightly and barely managed to activate them. Their numbers are limited, and they are currently all being used to stabilize the situation in Cangwu City."

Zhu Rongyang frowned.

Ancient ruins? Limited numbers?

He had observed those monuments and towers at close range; although the Dao aura flowing on them was exquisite, it lacked any sense of ancient vicissitudes.

This was vastly different from the characteristics of ancient relics he knew of. However, seeing Ling Hao's calm expression, Zhu Rongyang could not press the matter further and had to suppress his doubts.

"I see."

He then asked: "The Supreme just mentioned holding the 'Dingding Ceremony'. I wonder if this ceremony... is related to the wu tripod that suppresses Cangwu's Luck? Could it be that the wu tripod... has suffered some mishap?"

You seem to be talking a bit too much, old geezer! I knew you people had bad intentions.

Are they here for the wu tripod? Does he, or rather, the Golden Crow Holy Land, know that the wu tripod has problems?

Ling Hao set down his teacup and said without changing his expression: "Elder Zhu must surely be aware that the nine main tripods of the nine provinces all serve as the main roots suppressing the Fallen Immortal Ancient Banyan."

"This, the Elder naturally knows."

"The wu tripod was indeed damaged during the Niding Alliance's attack, but it is nothing serious. This Dingding Ceremony aims to consolidate the province's Luck and reinforce the suppression."

Nothing serious, huh...

Zhu Rongyang's eyes were deep as he repeated the phrase in his heart. He clearly did not believe it; if there were no mishap, why hold the ceremony so hastily?

Ling Hao seemed not to notice his suspicion and politely asked: "I wonder if Elder Zhu and your Disciples need me to arrange viewing seats? However, as the ceremony is imminent, all seats have already been arranged properly, and I fear only the worship area on the very outskirts of the venue still has a few spots left."

As soon as these words were spoken, a trace of resentment clearly flashed across the face of the burly Disciple, Lie Shan.

Xu Xiao and Yan Xi's expressions remained unchanged, but they were also a bit dissatisfied in their hearts. As core members of the ninth-grade Golden Crow Holy Land, their status was noble, yet they were being arranged on the outskirts?

This Supreme Moonshadow, it seems...

Zhu Rongyang used a look to stop his Disciples' dissatisfaction.

His heart was solemn; from the previous probing and the current arrangement, he vaguely sensed that this Supreme Moonshadow seemed to harbor a subtle, intangible rejection toward him personally... no, toward the Golden Crow Holy Land...

Although it was common for ninth-grade powers to be wary of or even hostile toward each other, this feeling came somewhat inexplicably.

He suppressed his feelings and maintained a peaceful expression on his face: "The Supreme is too polite. We are guests from afar and shouldn't be too much of a bother. Watching from the outskirts will suffice; it will also allow us to experience the grand occasion of the Cangwu Province's Dingding Ceremony. We won't trouble the Supreme with further arrangements."

Ling Hao smiled broadly: "In that case, as Elder Zhu pleases."

...After some empty talk, Zhu Rongyang rose with his three Disciples to take his leave.

As he walked out of the hall, he keenly felt a cold gaze sweep past his side.

Zhu Rongyang turned his head sharply to look, but only caught the back of a woman dressed in a moon-white dress.

The figure quickly disappeared around the corner of the corridor; the familiarity revealed in that brief glimpse made his heart tremble slightly.

"Elder?"

Yan Xi sensed Zhu Rongyang's abnormality and asked in a low voice.

Zhu Rongyang withdrew his gaze, his brows furrowed, and he said in a deep voice: "It's nothing. Let's go."

It was just that the clouds of doubt in Zhu Rongyang's heart grew heavier. Who was that woman? Why did she have such strong hostility toward him?

The mission this time seemed even more troublesome than expected.

The other Disciples only knew that this trip was for exchange and viewing the ceremony.

Only Xu Xiao, watching Zhu Rongyang's thoughtful expression, vaguely felt that Elder Zhu's purpose for this trip was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.