First the mountains and rivers rose up.
Then the rivers unfurled, led by a host of sword immortals walking ahead, pulling out dazzling sword lights in front, with flying swords side by side, the dazzling sword glows.
This was the most basic opening act of the Zhang Family, and after the crowd of sword immortals, there were another thousand mountain-moving Realm cultivators striding over the waves, majestic and sonorous, shaking the mountains and rivers.
Subsequently closely followed were spirit beasts of the Overturning Sea Realm taking the stage, passing through the sky, their shadows covering half the sky.
The spectating cultivators watched with shocked expressions, shouting out one after another, feeling that the Zhang Family's foundation was truly powerful, no wonder they could sit at the position of the Southern Domain's top sect.
Finally there were nine Reaching Heaven Realm cultivators taking the stage, treading through the sky. Eight of the Reaching Heaven Realm cultivators walked at the forefront. Their common trait was that none of them were cultivators from the Zhang Family's main family, but were all from branch families and external families.
The only Reaching Heaven Realm cultivator from the Zhang Family’s main family was the Second Patriarch of the Zhang Family, Zhang Erzu, who walked at the very end as the finale act. With a faint smile on his face, he felt the shouts around him as he took his seat at the main seat, laughing to everyone,
"My Zhang Family has gone through over three thousand years, going through ups and downs, walking a difficult path, and have finally reached this position, this status. As we move forward with our future developments, I also ask everyone to give me some face."
After Zhang Erzu finished speaking, applause rang out from below.
Subsequently, the current highest status deputy family leader of the Zhang Family took the stage.
Zhang Feiyu stood at the forefront, his aura steady, his expression stern, his hands placed flatly at his sides. In a flat tone he said,
"I'm very grateful to all who have come today despite your busy schedules. As for the reason why I’ve gathered everyone here, aside from holding this banquet to celebrate my Zhang Family’s pride reaching the Heavenly Glory Realm... there is also another matter..."
The other sect leaders' hearts tightened, roughly guessing what Zhang Feiyu was about to say next, their eyes lowered.
Zhang Feiyu lightly tapped on the table, his tone heavier as he continued,
"This second matter is to establish some rules for the Southern Domain, rules that I and Sect Leader Qin have discussed together."
Qin Ji rose from the back, nodding with a smile.
"It is also the intention of Triumphant Mountain."
The cultivators below lowered their heads. Even if they were dissatisfied, they did not dare to speak out, because this was the intention of both the Zhang Family and Triumphant Mountain. Which mid-level sect in the Domain would dare oppose them?
It was just that the cultivators below were a little unclear why Triumphant Mountain was supporting the Zhang Family so much. Rumor has it that it was because of the Zhang Family Patriarch who had not appeared for over three thousand years.
But to still have such influence without appearing for over three thousand years, how terrifying must that patriarch be?
The various cultivators did not dare to think too much about it. They could only quietly watch Zhang Feiyu speak from his high seat.
Among those watching with them was also an old man wearing tattered clothes and a cape. He leaned his hoe against a tree and stood with his hands behind his back, smiling as he listened to Zhang Feiyu’s speech.
The tall tree swayed, and the dense leaves of the canopy made rustling sounds, seemingly someone had moved in the shadows.
"I didn't expect you to have such leisure and elegance as well." A voice with a hint of laughter suddenly spoke.
"You're one to talk." The old man in tattered clothes did not turn his head, only laughing in response.
"I'm different, I came to find you." Wang Yangzi looked down at the hunchbacked figure next to him and sighed,
"Meditating the Dao for three thousand years, you've meditated for quite a while indeed."
"It's still alright. I've walked many roads, seen many people, went round and round, it should be time for the final journey." Chen Xia chuckled lightly. The wrinkles on his face bunched together, looking exactly like an old man.
Wang Yangzi laughed, "That is growth."
The two old men stood side by side in silence for a moment more, before Wang Yangzi suddenly asked again, "What are your plans afterwards?"
Chen Xia was silent for a bit, then shook his head slightly with a laugh, "I don't know for sure. After I finish the final stretch of my journey on the path of meditating the Dao, I should go find some saints in the Domain to ask."
He raised his hand, pointing at Zhang Feiyu speaking animatedly above them, laughing,
"Three thousand years ago, he was still a little cultivator who followed behind me, not even daring to speak loudly. Every time he took the initiative to talk to me, he had to think carefully for a long time, but even so, when he spoke his words would still stutter.
"And now, he can talk so confidently by himself in front of so many cultivators. He has really grown well."
Wang Yangzi nodded, also laughing, "That is growth indeed."
The two old men stood side by side in silence again for a moment before Wang Yangzi suddenly asked, "What do you plan to do afterwards?"
Chen Xia was silent briefly before replying softly, "I don't know for sure. After finishing the final stretch of my journey of meditating the Dao, I should find some saints in the Domain and ask them some questions."
He raised his hand, pointing to Zhang Feiyu animatedly speaking above them, and laughed, "Three thousand years ago, he was still a little cultivator who followed behind me, not even daring to speak loudly. Every time he took the initiative to talk to me, he had to think carefully for a long time, but even so, when he spoke his words would still stutter.
"Now, he can confidently speak in front of so many cultivators all by himself. He has truly grown well."
Wang Yangzi nodded, also laughing, "That's growth for you."
The two old men stood side by side in silence for another moment before Wang Yangzi suddenly asked, "What do you plan to do after?"
Chen Xia was silent briefly before replying softly, "I don't know for sure. After finishing the final leg of my journey meditating the Dao, I should find some saints in the Domain and ask them some questions."
"Must you fight them?" There was some worry in Wang Yangzi's words.
"I have to settle the old scores of Ma Xiaohong plotting against me and getting me sent to the Domain. Dealing with just the few Reaching Heaven Realm cultivators at the top layer of the Domain is certainly not enough, so I still have to find those saints."
Chen Xia spoke plainly, determination evident in his elderly face.
"Then it's settled, count me in for backup later! Damn straight!" Wang Yangzi shook his head slightly, chuckling once.
"Aren't you afraid?" Chen Xia asked in surprise, turning his head.
"It'd be impressive if they aren't afraid of me. After all, we both struggled through life and death together in the Great Death Domain. And I've long looked down on those saints who know nothing but plot all day instead of minding their own business."
Wang Yangzi crossed his arms, disdain evident in his words.
Chen Xia also laughed and nodded, "Then we shall be partners in crime."
"It would be my pleasure." Wang Yangzi grinned. The two men continued listening to Zhang Feiyu's lofty speech together.
One was a four-fold quasi-saint, the other a two-fold saint. Standing shoulder to shoulder among the crowd, chatting leisurely.
Perhaps they did not speak much, but the smiles never left their faces.
Such were old friends.
After Zhang Feiyu finished his speech, the rules announced were nothing too difficult to accept. On the contrary, there were many benefits for the surrounding sects too.
The other sect leaders naturally happily accepted them, openly acknowledging the Zhang Family's position as the top sect of the Southern Domain.
Next was for the Zhang Family to show off their pride a little, introducing their most outstanding younger generation for the sect leaders of other sects to get acquainted with.
With that, the Zhang Family’s banquet entered its final stages, and the fanfare gradually died out.
The cultivators also left one by one.
Only a wine shop remained among the waters and mountains. The boss was an old man wearing tattered clothes and a cape, with a straw hat covering his entire face, selling cheap spiritual wine.
And precisely because the wine was so cheap, many low level cultivators would come to his shop to drink. Sounds of laughter rang out constantly, becoming quite a big point of congregation.
"Old Chen, Old Chen, a jug of your strongest liquor!"
"Over here too, one jug!"
"......"
Calls kept coming out. Chen Xia hunched over, busily delivering wine jugs to the various customers.
Whenever he had time, he would use a towel on the counter to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
The cultivators who came here to drink all thought this old man was a lonely widower. But occasionally a tall old man would come to help him run the wine shop too.
The two old men worked busily front and back. At their leisure they would take a plate of melon seeds and stand at the front of the wine shop, casually chatting and laughing.
Outsiders could not understand what they were talking about. But they felt these two old men were quite interesting. Especially that Old Chen, who liked to talk about stories of waters and mountains.
He said that two thousand years ago, when he was passing by the great ocean, an aquatic flood dragon stirred up the waters into huge waves. So he casually flicked out a finger and beheaded the flood dragon, then patted his clothes and went on his way, keeping his identity hidden.
And whenever that tall old man was around, he would compete with Old Chen over who was more impressive. The two old men would boast nonstop.
The cultivators drinking the wine would take it all as jokes and laugh out loud at times, keeping things lively.
What they could never imagine was that either one of these two old men could easily massacre the entire mid-level of the Domain all by himself.
They were both saint-level peak masters!