Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 287: Chapter 259: Foundation Establishment Ceremony, Thousand Eyes’ Return

Several more days passed.

A light snow began to fall in the evening. By dawn, the entire Jinyun Valley was blanketed in a layer of ice and snow, and the air held a biting chill that seemed to freeze water in an instant.

But within the valley, the scene was one of jubilant celebration, with festive lanterns and decorations everywhere.

「This day.」

After completing a Grand Circulation, Chen Che slowly ended his cultivation session and changed into an azure-colored long robe.

Over the past two months of Cultivation, he had completely mastered the First Technique of the Taichu Haoyue Sword and had also grasped the basics of the Wind Thunder Technique Step.

In addition, his Realm had advanced to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer.

With his vast True Essence and his Ice Skin and Jade Flesh technique at the Small Success stage, he was confident he could face any Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator head-on, even without using his Sword Pill or the Nine Transformations Spirit Flame Technique.

’However, a Golden Core Cultivator is another matter entirely...’

’After all, the gap between Grand Realms is as wide as a heavenly chasm. Even if I used every trick up my sleeve, the best I could hope for against a True Master who has just achieved Core Formation is mutual destruction.’

’The time has come.’

Gazing at the sky, Chen Che pushed open the door and stepped outside.

In the courtyard, a woman in a palace gown, her face elegantly made up, was staring dazedly into a pond. A cool breeze stirred, sending snowflakes drifting down. As strands of hair danced at her temples, her profile looked as cold and sharp as frost. But the moment she saw Chen Che, her expression thawed as if ice and snow were melting away.

"Let’s go, Qingxuan."

Chen Che took her delicate hand, summoned Xuan Peng and the Profound Cyan Sparrow, and they slowly flew toward the main hall.

Today was the day of Meng Qingxuan’s Foundation Establishment ceremony.

The entire Jinyun Valley had been transformed into a grand banquet venue. Starting from the main hall, a total of eighty-one primary seats were arranged for the Foundation Establishment Major Cultivators. Below these main seats, numerous workbenches and pumpons were set out neatly for the remaining guests.

The banquet stretched from within the valley all the way to the Market. Whether mortal or Cultivator, everyone was welcome to a seat.

However, only invited guests were permitted to enter the valley itself.

But on an occasion like this, no one dared to force their way in. After all, with all of Jinyun Valley’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered, not to mention the Meng Family, anyone who dared cause trouble would be making an enemy of half of Yunzhou. Without overwhelming power and influence, they would surely die without a proper burial.

When Chen Che and Meng Qingxuan landed in the plaza, over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Meng Family were already seated, along with the valley’s top brass. Lu Qinglian, Ding Fei, and Hu Yao were among them.

After they exchanged greetings, Meng Qingxuan moved to sit in the second-most prominent seat.

"Qingxuan, you’re the guest of honor today. You should take the head seat," Chen Che said gently.

Meng Changtu interjected, "But you are the Valley Master."

Meng Qingxuan considered this for a moment, then smiled brightly. "Why don’t we remove the head seat and place ours together, side by side?"

"Very well."

Seeing Meng Qingxuan’s insistence, Chen Che gave a slight nod.

"Let the celebration begin!"

As they took their seats, Chen Che made the announcement. At the same moment, he formed a hand seal for a Spell.

In an instant, the Cultivators outside the main valley grounds cried out in astonishment.

The withered trees and wild grasses by the roadside, long dead, suddenly burst into bloom, spreading out from Jinyun Valley as if competing to be first. Though it was the dead of winter, it felt as if they had been transported to a season of a hundred blooming flowers.

At the same time, a herald’s voice echoed from the valley entrance as Cultivators began to arrive in the plaza one after another.

"From the Yu Family of Chi State, the esteemed Yu Sihai has arrived!"

"The Zheng Clan Leader, the esteemed Zheng Hong has arrived!"

"The Wu Clan Leader, the esteemed Wu Xingtian has arrived!"

...

Guests entered the valley with each announcement.

In addition to the vassal families, a number of business partners had also been invited to take this opportunity to connect. These families all seemed to know one another, exchanging pleasantries as they entered before following a disciple’s guidance to their assigned seats.

However, these guests were subtly divided into several factions.

One faction was led by Zhao Deyou. Although his own Cultivation was not high, his son was incredibly promising. Even Ding Fei could see that Zhao Changping was destined for a high position in the future, so it was only natural for these families to seize the opportunity to back him.

The other two factions were led by Ding Fei and Liang Yuan, respectively.

Ding Fei was also an Elder of Jinyun Valley. Despite his own modest Cultivation, if he were to have an heir with a Spiritual Root, that heir’s treatment would be no worse than Zhao Changping’s. The only issue was that, despite being married for over half a year, his wife had yet to show any signs of pregnancy.

Many families were already discussing sending him concubines, and some had even gifted him various Spirit Treasures meant to enhance vitality and fertility.

As for Liang Yuan, although he had only recently joined the valley, he had reached Foundation Establishment before the age of thirty and now served as the Chief of the Forging Hall. With three of his martial brothers also holding positions in the Forging Hall, his potential was plain to see, making him a natural ally for many families to court.

What surprised Chen Che was that even Li Changqing had gathered a number of supporters.

Chen Che’s public promise to help him establish a new Hall had clearly gotten around. These opportunistic vassal families would naturally not pass up such an investment opportunity. If a Talisman Hall were truly established in the future, their own families’ status would rise with it.

As long as they weren’t secretly undermining the valley, Chen Che had no objection to this.

Only Hu Yao remained alone, unaffiliated with any faction.

’That one...’

Chen Che sighed to himself.

Clearly, Hu Yao had been influenced by his master, Lu Yi. He was devoted solely to Jinyun Valley and refused to engage in forming cliques for personal gain. If one absolutely had to place him in a faction, Hu Yao would be considered a staunch member of the ’Chen Faction’.

"Qingxuan, people like Hu Yao are the ones who will be the true pillars of Jinyun Valley in the future," Chen Che transmitted to her quietly.

"Mm," Meng Qingxuan acknowledged with a slight nod. She understood his meaning perfectly. It wasn’t that people like Zhao De’an or Ding Fei were untrustworthy, but that people like Hu Yao were more willing to sacrifice personal gain for the greater good.

"Every major power needs people like him," she added.

Chen Che smiled and was about to reply when a completely unexpected announcement cut him off:

"From the Lu Family of Xuzhou, the esteemed Lu Yuntian has arrived!"

’Lu Yuntian?’

Stunned, Chen Che shot a surprised glance at Lu Qinglian. ’Are those two actually going to reconcile?’ he wondered.

Lu Qinglian looked just as bewildered, slowly shaking her head to show she knew nothing about this either.

A guest was a guest, and since Lu Yuntian was the head of a clan, they couldn’t afford to be impolite. Chen Che immediately led Meng Qingxuan forward to greet him.

"Congratulations on your Foundation Establishment, Fellow Daoist Meng. The path to longevity is now open to you."

Lu Yuntian offered his congratulations before turning to Chen Che. "Valley Master Chen, I have come uninvited. I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion."

’With my clan’s matriarch serving as a Tributor in Jinyun Valley, I couldn’t very well pretend I didn’t know about such a grand event,’ he thought.

"All who arrive are welcome guests. Fellow Daoist Lu, please, take an honored seat."

One doesn’t slap a smiling face. Chen Che immediately had another seat brought out, placing Lu Yuntian next to Meng Changtu.

Meng Changtu shot a sideways glance at Lu Qinglian, then immediately began exchanging pleasantries with Lu Yuntian. The Lu Clan Leader was all smiles, responding warmly and even exchanging a few words with Lu Qinglian from time to time.

As more Cultivators arrived, Jinyun Valley grew increasingly boisterous.

But the true climax of the ceremony was the arrival of Meng Qianxun.

"The Meng Family Ancestor, Meng Qianxun, has arrived!"

"The Meng Family Ancestor? He’s a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator... He actually came in person?"

"I heard he hasn’t left Fuyun Mountain in thirty years. He’s been preparing for Core Formation this whole time. I wonder what his progress is like."

"He’s not just here to see his granddaughter. He’s here to inspect his future grandson-in-law!"

Fortunately, Chen Che already knew he was coming, so he wasn’t particularly surprised.

The old man was amiable and kind, and Meng Changtu was practically carved from the same mold. He gently patted Chen Che on the shoulder.

"Impressive," he said. "Young and full of promise. You have a great future ahead of you."

"You flatter me, Elder," Chen Che replied with a bow.

"Don’t be so modest. For Jinyun Valley to reach its current heights in just a few short years... your abilities far surpass my own and Changtu’s. Who’s to say that one day soon, you won’t be the one supporting the Meng Family?"

Meng Qianxun clasped his hands behind his back and glanced at Meng Qingxuan, who had also come to greet him.

"You’re the star of the show today. This old man won’t steal your thunder."

With that, he took his seat.

When Chen Che looked up again, he saw even deeper awe in the eyes of many of the vassal clan members. This was precisely why clans so often held grand ceremonies: they were an opportunity to display power, backing, strength, and connections.

Meng Qianxun’s arrival signified the incredibly deep bond between their two families.

Of course, even more of the vassal families were overjoyed. The stronger Jinyun Valley became, the more secure their own existence would be.

Not long after, Chen Yin also arrived at Jinyun Valley.

"I never expected you to come in person, Fellow Daoist Chen."

After all, they both served Thousand Eyes, so Chen Che had sent an invitation over to Hunzhou as a symbolic gesture.

’I thought Chen Xi would be the one to come,’ Chen Che mused. ’I never expected this ancestor of the Great Chen Royal Family to show up in person. He’s clearly determined to build ties with Jinyun Valley. Not that I mind. He isn’t a fool; he won’t risk a falling-out with Thousand Eyes over this.’

’And I’m not about to get tied to his warship in exchange for some paltry benefits.’

’Even if Thousand Eyes comes looking to assign blame later, I can remain uninvolved.’

"It is Tributor Chen’s partner’s Foundation Establishment ceremony. How could I possibly be absent? That would be a great breach of courtesy, would it not?"

Chen Yin, wearing his golden face mask, replied with a smile and a cupped-fist salute.

"Please, be seated."

Chen Che arranged for him to sit with Meng Qianxun.

As the guests settled in, disciples immediately began serving fruits, wine, and various delicacies.

This Spiritual Food had been specially prepared by Jinyun Valley. It was rich with Spiritual Qi and considered a rare delicacy even in the outside world. Soon, the assembled Cultivators were toasting one another, discussing cultivation theories, and renewing old acquaintances, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Chen Che and Meng Qingxuan had already made their rounds, toasting everyone present.

Everywhere they went, they were met with a chorus of compliments and subtle praise.

Before they knew it, the afterglow of sunset had dyed the edges of the sky red. The fading light and the colors of the mountains blended into one, creating a scene as beautiful as a painting.

As the celebration wound down, Chen Che was just about to speak when he suddenly sensed something and snapped his head up to look at the sky.

At almost the same instant, Meng Qianxun and Chen Yin, who had been in conversation, also looked up in unison.

High in the sky, Xuan Peng let out a sharp, cloud-piercing cry as it stared fixedly into the distance. The boisterous, festive Jinyun Valley fell eerily silent as countless gazes followed those of Chen Che, Meng Qianxun, and Chen Yin, all fixed on the far-off horizon.

Chen Che narrowed his eyes.

’I feel an immense aura approaching,’ he thought. ’It’s a Golden Core Cultivator...’

Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, a figure in a black robe and a ghost-faced mask seemed to cross an immense distance in a single step, appearing silently in the air above their heads.

It was the Thousand Eyes True Master!

’Wasn’t he at the Black Tortoise Calm Sea?’

Chen Che’s gaze sharpened. He knew this sudden return could only mean one thing: something had gone wrong at the Undersea Palace.

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