Daqin Zhentiansi

At this moment, the Xuanyu Temple was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and the atmosphere was filled with an almost frenzied celebration.

A huge red silk banner hung high in front of the main hall, "Xuanzhen Hall," and brand-new flags fluttered in the wind.

The servants and disciples hurried along, their faces filled with tension and anticipation, as they arranged various spiritual fruits and immortal wines around the viewing platform that had already been set up.

Everyone knows that today is the big day when the people from the Ten Temples Garrison will announce the appointments, and the new abbot is none other than the acting abbot, Zhao Kun!

Disciple Li Xuan, accompanied by several followers, arrogantly barged into the courtyard of the lecturing scholar Zhou Xianqing.

Zhou Xian sat on a stone bench, gazing at the hustle and bustle outside the courtyard, a deep worry shrouding his brows, unconsciously twirling a string of jade beads in his hand.

"Uncle-Master Zhou, the auspicious time is approaching. The abbot commands you to hurry to the Xuanzhen Hall to witness the ceremony." Li Xuan's voice was filled with undisguised pride and urging.

Zhou Xian slowly raised his head and sighed, "Li Xuan, the position of abbot has not yet been filled..."

"Not yet what?" Li Xuan scoffed, interrupting Zhou Xian, his face full of mockery. "Uncle-Master, what are you waiting for? For Zhang Yuan to crawl out of the lava canyon?"

"Stop dreaming! The news from the garrison is crystal clear: the Lava Canyon has been turned into a hellish inferno. Even Lord Nine-Headed Nether Serpent has been defeated. Qing Xuanzi and Zhang Yuan have long since been annihilated, not even ashes remain!"

He glanced around at his disciples behind him, and raised his voice: "From now on, Xuanyu Temple belongs to Senior Brother Zhao! Uncle-Master, a wise man submits to circumstances. You should quickly compose yourself and go congratulate the new abbot!"

After saying that, Li Xuan ignored Zhou Xian, snorted coldly, and led his group away, leaving the courtyard in silence.

Originally, Li Xuan had some respect for Zhou Xian, but after Zhang Yuan gave a sermon at Xuanyu Cliff, Zhou Xian not only did not support Li Xuan, but also praised Zhang Yuan highly, Li Xuan rarely came to see Zhou Xian.

This time, Li Xuan finally found an opportunity to humiliate Zhou Xian, the scholar who lectured on scriptures.

As Zhou Xian watched their departing figures, a trace of grief, resentment, and helplessness flashed in his eyes.

He had already sent a message to the Ten Temples Garrison, but unfortunately, he still couldn't stop Zhao Kun from ascending to the position of abbot.

"Ah...the ways of the world—"

Just as he was feeling down, the space in front of him seemed to ripple slightly.

A familiar figure appeared before him without warning.

His green robe was spotless, his face was calm, and there was a faint smile on his lips. Who else could it be but Zhang Yuan?

"Senior Brother Zhou, it's been a few days. You seem to be in a bad mood?" Zhang Yuan's voice was gentle, as if he had just returned from a walk.

Zhou Xian's eyes widened in disbelief. He jumped to his feet, his voice trembling with excitement, and whispered with incredible joy, "Junior Brother Zhang...you...you're back?!"

Zhang Yuan nodded slightly, as if he had only done a trivial matter: "Yes, I returned after the battlefield was over."

"During my time in the Lava Canyon and the Garrison, I gained some valuable insights from the inheritance, and I was just thinking of discussing them with you, my senior brother."

He spoke casually, as if he were simply saying that the weather was nice today.

Zhou Xian was taken aback, then his face lit up with surprise.

"That is indeed my wish, and I dare not ask for it!"

Xuanzhen Hall Square.

The square was now bustling with people.

Disciples of Xuanyu Temple, as well as guests from several neighboring temples who wanted to befriend Zhao Kun after receiving his "good news," arrived in an endless stream.

Many of the abbots and guardians of the surrounding dozen or so temples also arrived.

"The messenger from Songshi Temple has arrived! Congratulations to Abbot Zhao on his ascension to the throne! We present three 'Jade Essences' and a piece of ten-thousand-year-old warm jade!"

As the chanting of names took place, an elder dressed in the robes of Songshi Temple, with a broad smile, bowed deeply to Zhao Kun, who sat regally on the high platform.

"Master Zhao, my Venerable Master heard that you are about to take charge of Xuanyu, and specially instructed me to send a small gift to express his gratitude."

"The Venerable One said, 'With a master of such great talent and vision as you, Xuanyu Temple will surely be able to join hands with Songshi Temple in the future to jointly defend against powerful enemies!'"

This flattery was so eloquent that it made Zhao Kun overjoyed, and he stroked his beard and smiled with a touch of composure.

He chuckled and waved his hand, exuding the air of a master: "Venerable Songshi, you are too kind. Our two families should be closer in the future."

Several garrison commanders quickly stepped forward to accept the gifts and then led the guests aside.

As the elder of Songshi Temple walked, he looked around with a puzzled expression and muttered to himself, "Didn't the Venerable One say that the one most capable of suppressing everything in Xuanyu Temple is Fellow Daoist Zhang Yuan? Why haven't I seen Fellow Daoist Zhang?"

He had fought alongside Zhang Yuan during the previous battle against the Blackwater Serpent Clan.

At that time, he felt that Zhang Yuan was not someone to be underestimated.

I came here this time also to see Zhang Yuan again.

Not far away, another figure landed.

"The Vice Abbot of Chenyun Temple has personally arrived! Congratulations, Abbot Zhao! We present one hundred bolts of 'Flowing Cloud Immortal Brocade' and ten jars of 'Azure Sky Spiritual Spring'!"

The deputy abbot of Chenyun Temple stepped forward directly, his voice loud and clear.

"Master Zhao, what a joyous occasion! Everyone in Chensha River knows of Xuanyu Temple now, and under your leadership, the future is limitless!"

"We hope that the Abbot will continue to support our Chenyun Temple! In the lower reaches of the Chensha River, Xuanyu Temple will likely be the leader!"

The blatant dependence in these words made Zhao Kun and his confidants beam with pride and smugness.

Zhao Kun sat upright in the main seat on the high platform, enjoying the gazes below that were either awe-inspiring or fawning. Hearing the repeated addresses of "Master Zhao," he felt smug and elated.

His trusted elders were also beaming, whispering amongst themselves:

"Look, this is the prestige of the Abbot! Even Songshi Temple and Chenyun Temple have come to offer their congratulations with such solemnity!"

"Yes, Abbot is farsighted and has close ties with...that side. This is the true way out for Xuanyu Temple! With Abbot's help, how can our temple not prosper?"

"Hmph, Qing Xuanzi and Zhang Yuan are ignorant of the times; their deaths and dissipation are entirely their own fault. The heavens of Xuanyu Temple ultimately belong to Abbot Zhao!"

The atmosphere in the square was lively, with everyone immersed in the joy that Zhao Kun was about to have a "legitimate" status.

Just as the noise and commotion reached their peak, a steady whooshing sound came from the sky.

A large flying boat, entirely black with sharp lines and bearing the majestic emblem of the Ten Temples Garrison, slowly descended outside the gate of Xuanyu Temple, like a giant beast tearing through the clouds.

The immense pressure emanating from the flying boat instantly silenced the noise in the square.

Immediately afterwards, under the watchful eyes of countless people filled with astonishment and uncertainty, a somewhat forlorn figure stepped off the airship alone.

He was wearing a Taoist robe in the style of Xuanyu Temple, covered in dust and dried dark bloodstains, and torn in many places, making him look extremely disheveled.

His face was gaunt, bearing unmistakable weariness and the ravages of war. Though his eyes remained calm, a deep well of blood and fire lingered beneath that calm. This was none other than Qing Xuanzi, who was believed to have "perished in the Lava Canyon!"
He was the only one!
The other core disciples of Xuanyu Temple who went with them were nowhere to be seen!

"Senior Brother Qingxuan?! It's Senior Brother Qingxuan!" A loyal disciple of Qingxuanzi exclaimed in disbelief, his voice trembling with a hint of relief at surviving a disaster.

"Elder Qingxuan... he, he actually came back alive!"

"Where are the others? Where are Senior Brother Wang and the others? Why is he the only one here?" After a brief moment of astonishment, whispers quickly spread.

The excitement that had just risen on the faces of the disciples and elders who were devoted to Qing Xuanzi was instantly replaced by immense doubt and sorrow, and their steps forward became hesitant and heavy.

On the high platform, Zhao Kun's smile suddenly froze, his pupils shrank sharply, and the jade cup in his hand was crushed to pieces with a "crack"!

His confidants, including Li Xuan, were initially shocked, but their eyes then filled with undisguised mockery, disgust, and schadenfreude.

Li Xuan reacted the fastest, his face instantly filled with a harsh and vicious aura. He rushed to Qing Xuanzi, who had just emerged from the shadow of the flying boat, and pointed at him almost to his nose, shouting in a shrill voice:
"Qing Xuanzi! You jinx! How dare you come back?"

"The lava canyon has been turned into a purgatory, and even Lord Nine-Headed Nether Serpent was defeated. What about Senior Brother Wang and Senior Sister Zhao who went with you? Did they all die because of your incompetence? And you're the only one who managed to survive and hide back here?"

He spat as he spoke, his words extremely vicious: "Today is the auspicious day of the inauguration of the new abbot of Xuanyu Temple! You wretched dog, covered in bad luck, get out of here! Don't stand here and offend the abbot's noble bearing! And don't block the way of the garrison commander!"

Zhao Kun suppressed his shock, anger, and slight unease, forcing a fake smile on the high platform. His voice carried a condescending "concern" and undisguised sarcasm: "Oh, Junior Brother Qingxuan? You're really... tough! You managed to escape from that perilous Lava Canyon all by yourself? Tsk tsk, that 'luck' is truly remarkable! But..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming sharp, his gaze piercing Qing Xuanzi like a knife, "Where is Zhang Yuan? Where is that self-proclaimed extraordinary Zhang Yuan, the Taoist Master?"

"Wasn't he supposed to be incredibly powerful? Why didn't he 'return in triumph' with you? Could it be... that he finally exhausted himself, perished in the demon's belly, and turned to ashes? Haha!"

He laughed lightly, and his confidants immediately joined in with shrill laughter, filled with glee at Zhang Yuan's "fall" and contempt for Qing Xuanzi's lonely and disheveled return.

Qing Xuanzi stood alone in the center of the field, enduring gazes from all directions that were filled with surprise, pity, disdain, or malice. His expression remained unusually calm, as if Li Xuan's insults and Zhao Kun's mockery were nothing more than mosquitoes buzzing in his ear.

He didn't look at them, but simply raised his head slightly, his gaze falling on the Zhenyue Guard flying boat that was hovering in the air with its cabin door just opened.

Just then, the cabin door of Zhenyue Guard's flying boat was suddenly flung open!

Deputy Governor Lin Tao, dressed in the black brocade robe of the Deputy Governor of the Ten Views Garrison, with a solemn expression, descended the flying boat step by step, surrounded by several imposing Zhenyue Guards in gleaming armor, ascending an invisible staircase.

The powerful pressure from the peak of the Saint Realm, mixed with the killing intent of the military, instantly engulfed the entire square like a tidal wave, suppressing all discussions, laughter, and shouts.

The entire room fell silent, save for heavy breathing and heartbeats.

Lin Tao's gaze, sharp as a cold star, swept across the entire room with an undeniable air of authority.

His gaze swept coldly across the faces of Li Xuan, Zhao Kun, and the others, carrying a hint of barely perceptible disgust, before finally landing on Qing Xuanzi, who was standing in front of Li Xuan, looking disheveled but still holding his head high.

Li Xuan shuddered when Lin Tao's gaze swept over him, his arrogance vanishing instantly. He hurriedly stepped aside to make way, instinctively reaching out to push Qing Xuanzi into a corner: "The esteemed envoy has arrived! All bystanders, get out of the way! Qing Xuanzi, get out of the way!"

However, Lin Tao's next move plunged the entire Xuanyu Temple into an unprecedented silence and shock!

The high-ranking and powerful deputy prefect, facing the haggard and solitary Qing Xuanzi, actually nodded slightly, a gentle smile, even tinged with respect, on his face. He spoke loudly, his voice carrying clearly throughout the Xuanzhen Square, where a pin drop could be heard:

"Abbot of Qingxuan Temple, I, Lin Tao, have come here to read out the imperial edict of appointment on the orders of the Lord of Yuezhen Mountain, the Guardian of the Ten Temples."

"Master Qingxuan?!"

These four words were like four thunderclaps, exploding one after another in the sky above the square!

The color drained from Zhao Kun's face in an instant, and his body swayed violently. If his trusted aides hadn't caught him quickly, he would have almost fallen onto the platform.

His fake smile froze completely, and all that remained in his eyes was boundless horror, bewilderment, and disbelief!

Li Xuan was so frightened that his soul almost left his body. His hand, which was pointing at Qing Xuanzi, froze in mid-air, as if he had been frozen in place. His mouth was wide open enough to fit a fist, and his whole body trembled violently uncontrollably, as if he had seen the most unbelievable and terrifying thing in the world!

All the guests and disciples in the square, regardless of their faction, were dumbfounded, their minds blank!
Qingxuan... the Abbot?!

How can this be? !
However, Lin Tao wasn't finished speaking!
He paused slightly, his gaze, filled with a hint of inquiry and a deeper respect, sweeping across Qing Xuanzi's side as if searching for something, before continuing to ask:

"I wonder... if your esteemed Fire Commander will be able to attend your inauguration ceremony today?"

"Lord Huo Shuai?!"

These four words are like a nuclear bomb thrown into a stagnant pool!
"boom--"

An invisible shockwave swept across the entire arena!
As if struck by a tremendous blow, Zhao Kun's legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the abbot's chair with a thud. His face was ashen, his lips trembled, but he could not utter a sound. His eyes were filled with boundless fear and utter despair!

Li Xuan let out a miserable scream and collapsed to the ground. His crotch was instantly soaked, and a strong stench filled the air. He looked in horror at Qing Xuanzi's back, then at Lin Tao, as if he had heard the true name of the Death-Taking Demon God!

Fireman?

That god of war who burned away the demons of the three races in the lava canyon, whose might shook the Sunken Sand River, and who controlled the Hundred Observation Battle Formation.
Will he... will he appear at Xuanyu Temple?
Will he also attend Qing Xuanzi's inauguration ceremony?

What... what on earth is going on?!
The entire Xuanyu Temple was plunged into a suffocating, absolute silence! Even the sound of the wind seemed to be frozen.

Only the two words "Fire General" are like an invisible, burning brand.

Accompanied by boundless fear.

It is deeply engraved in the soul of everyone.

It made their blood almost freeze!

Right at the top of this desolate place.

Under the horrified gazes of everyone, two figures seemed to materialize from the void.

He appeared silently not far from Qing Xuanzi.

One of the men had a refined and scholarly appearance; he was none other than Zhou Xian, a scholar who lectured on classical texts. He wore a serene smile that suggested he had seen through the ways of the world.

The other person, dressed in a dark blue Taoist robe in the style of Xuan Yu Temple, seemed to have been given a different meaning. His posture was as upright as a pine tree, his face was calm and undisturbed, and his eyes were as deep as the ocean, as if they contained the flames that could burn everything and the chaos that created the world.

It was Zhang Yuan!

Zhou Xian chuckled softly, his voice not loud, but clearly breaking the suffocating silence: "Junior Brother Zhang said there would be a good show at Xuanyu Temple today, and he's right. How could Senior Brother Qingxuan's inauguration ceremony as abbot be without us?"

Zhang Yuan's gaze calmly swept over Zhao Kun, who was slumped on the platform, Li Xuan, who had lost control of his bladder on the ground, and the stunned crowd. Finally, it landed on Qing Xuanzi, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips. His voice was not loud, but it was like the tinkling of gold and jade, clearly imprinted in everyone's hearts:
"Senior Brother Qingxuan is assuming the position of Abbot today, which is a grand event for Xuanyu Temple. As a disciple of Xuanyu Temple, I, Zhang, am naturally obliged to attend the ceremony."

As he finished speaking—

"Shh!"

Deputy Prefect Lin Tao and all the Zhenyue Guards standing like javelins behind him moved in perfect unison, as if they had practiced a thousand times, bowing and clasping their hands in Zhang Yuan's direction.

The clanging of armor produced a resounding clang, which merged into a torrent of respectful shouts that echoed through the sky.

"Your subordinates—greet Commander Huo!" (End of Chapter)