Undying Life

Chapter 658: Chapter 658: Tian Jizi

"Great Zheng Dynasty? The dynasty with the nineteen-clawed fortune golden dragon?" the leader exclaimed, glancing at the letter and then at Zhong Shan.

"It seems my Great Zheng is not completely unknown. Yes, it is indeed that Great Zheng. Please hand the letter to Tian Jizi," Zhong Shan said solemnly.

"Big brother, is this Great Zheng very famous?"

"Big brother, it's just a dynasty. Do they have the right to see the patriarch?"

"I've heard the young master mention it. He holds it in high regard," the leader reassured the other disciples.

"The young master?" the group was surprised.

"You wait here! I'll go see the patriarch," the leader said.

"Alright," Zhong Shan nodded.

The leader gave the group one last look before flying to a distant peak, while the others stayed behind with Zhong Shan and his companions.

"Your Majesty, what should we do?" Wei Taizhong asked quietly.

"Observe protocol first," Zhong Shan replied firmly.

"Understood," Wei Taizhong nodded.

"Protocol? First protocol, then force? Do you think you can fight on Tian Family grounds? Ha ha ha!" one of the arrogant Tian Family disciples laughed.

"Ha ha ha..."

The other disciples joined in the laughter.

Wei Taizhong's eyes flared with anger, Yin Luoyue frowned slightly, and Mr. Shi remained expressionless, while Zhong Shan seemed to ignore them completely.

Seeing that their mockery didn't provoke a response, the Tian Family disciples snorted and fell silent.

Before long, the man who had taken the letter returned.

"The patriarch invites you. Please follow me," he said.

"Very well," Zhong Shan nodded.

Amid the curious gazes of the Tian Family disciples, Zhong Shan and his companions followed the man towards a massive southern peak. They landed a distance away from the mountain.

"Tian Family rules prohibit flying near the five peaks," the man explained.

"Understood," Zhong Shan nodded, following the man on foot towards the mountain.

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"The patriarch is waiting in the Tian Vein Hall. Please come with me," the man said again.

"Tian Vein Hall?" Zhong Shan frowned suddenly.

"What is it?" the man asked.

"Isn't this the Fate Peak? Why is it called the Tian Vein Hall?" Zhong Shan's brows furrowed, recalling something peculiar.

"Indeed, it is the Fate Peak. Our family's main hall can only be called the 'Tian Vein Hall,'" the man replied matter-of-factly.

Zhong Shan, however, couldn't help but tighten his frown. The name 'Tian Vein Hall' reminded him of another place—the residence of the feng shui master Tian Lao in the former Great Luo Dynasty.

To clear Gu Qianyou's name, Zhong Shan had sought help from Tian Lao, whose hall was also named 'Tian Vein Hall.' Zhong Shan had assumed it was a feng shui term, as Tian Lao belonged to the 'Heaven' branch of feng shui. But now, things seemed off.

"Do you know 'Tian Lao'?" Zhong Shan asked while walking.

"Huh? You know the master of the Feng Shui Peak?" the man looked at Zhong Shan with surprise.

"The master of the Feng Shui Peak? Tian Lao?" Zhong Shan echoed, equally surprised.

"I am originally from the Feng Shui Peak. How do you know the name of our peak master? Not all Tian Family disciples are aware of it. How do you know?" the man looked at Zhong Shan seriously.

"I have met Tian Lao several times," Zhong Shan replied oddly.

Hearing Zhong Shan's words, the man gave him a strange look, then remained silent.

As they walked towards the Fate Peak, there was no fortune or merit surrounding it, but countless green lights that seemed to come from the distant stars.

Zhong Shan looked up, seeing the entire starry sky above. The green lights from the Fate Peak were drawn from those stars.

The stars shone brightly, as if influenced by some formation, each flickering at a specific frequency.

"Using the power of the stars to set up a defensive formation?" Zhong Shan was slightly surprised. The Tian Family indeed had deep foundations.

Beneath the Fate Peak, there were many buildings and numerous disciples moving around. No one stopped Zhong Shan's group as they approached.

Soon, they arrived in front of a large palace.

The palace had the words "Tian Vein Hall" inscribed above it, with many guards stationed outside.

"You wait here. I will report to the patriarch," the man said.

"Alright."

The man entered the palace and soon returned. "Come in."

Zhong Shan brushed the dust off his clothes and entered with his three companions.

As they stepped inside, it felt as if they had entered the starry sky. Stars surrounded them on all sides, moving as if following the paths of destiny. The ceiling and floor were also filled with stars. Zhong Shan knew it was all an illusion, projections making the hall look like the depths of the cosmos.

At the other end of the hall, an old man looking about sixty years old sat cross-legged, eyes closed, surrounded by endless stars. He seemed to be the master of all these stars.

The old man had no overwhelming aura, blending seamlessly with the starry sky.

As they entered, the old man slowly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam like a sword flashing through them.

"Great Zheng Dynasty? Emperor Zhong? And the Supreme Yin?" the old man stood up slowly.

He appeared kind, but there was a subtle indifference beneath his kindness, a detachment from the world.

"Greetings to the patriarch of the Tian Family," Zhong Shan said.

"Greetings to the patriarch of the Tian Family," Yin Luoyue echoed.

Wei Taizhong and Mr. Shi remained silent, standing behind Zhong Shan.

"Supreme Yin, what brings you to my Tian Family today?" Tian Jizi asked with a faint smile.

"I am temporarily staying with the Great Zheng Dynasty. As they say, when you take someone's food, you should help them. I am accompanying Emperor Zhong at his invitation," Yin Luoyue replied.

"Oh? Emperor Zhong?" the old man looked at Zhong Shan, scrutinizing him.

"A small dynasty like ours is probably beneath the notice of the Tian Family patriarch. I have a question I hope you can clarify," Zhong Shan said, frowning.

"Oh? Speak," Tian Jizi replied, staring at Zhong Shan.

"In this underworld, there must be many with statuses like mine. You don't personally receive each one, do you?" Zhong Shan asked.

"A small emperor indeed does not warrant a personal meeting," Tian Jizi continued to smile, but there was a hint of arrogance in his tone.

Just that one sentence revealed that beneath the kind exterior lay a true madman.

"Oh? Then why is that?" Zhong Shan frowned.

"Because my son, Tian Xiao, has mentioned your name more than once. I wanted to see for myself one of the two future arms he speaks of," Tian Jizi said, staring at Zhong Shan with a wild gleam in his eyes.

"One of the two future arms? Ha ha ha, Tian Family Patriarch, you jest!" Zhong Shan laughed heartily.

"It's not me, it's my son, Tian Xiao. However, I haven't seen anything particularly extraordinary," Tian Jizi remarked.

"Is that so? There are many who seek fame and those who spread rumors. I, Zhong Shan, do not have that fortune," Zhong Shan replied with a light smile.

On the surface, Zhong Shan remained calm, but inside, he felt a chill. He sensed the contempt in Tian Jizi's words, a blatant disdain as if he were merely inspecting a commodity. Normally, Zhong Shan would not bother with someone like this, but for Yinglan's sake, he endured the coldness in his heart.

"Whether you have that fortune is your concern. Now, tell me, why have you come to my Tian Family?" Tian Jizi asked directly.

Zhong Shan's brow furrowed slightly. From Tian Jizi's words, he discerned the patriarch's real motive. Tian Jizi merely wanted to see if Zhong Shan was special and, having seen him, considered the matter settled. Zhong Shan realized he had only gained entry to the Tian Vein Hall because of Tian Xiao's favor.

Taking a deep breath, Zhong Shan decided to dispense with formalities. It was clear that Tian Jizi held him in low regard, and continuing with pleasantries would only be self-degrading.

"I have come for the Jingbo Pool," Zhong Shan said gravely.

"Oh?"

Tian Jizi's pupils contracted at the mention of the Jingbo Pool. His previously calm expression finally showed a hint of surprise.

"I have a relative who was thrown into the Jingbo Pool by your Tian Family. I ask the Tian Family Patriarch to reunite us," Zhong Shan requested earnestly.

"I don't know what you are talking about!" Tian Jizi took a deep breath, speaking coldly.

But Zhong Shan continued, "Her name is Wei Yinglan. She was captured at the entrance to the Yellow Springs Road by your Tian Family. You may not know her name, but you certainly know this."

With that, Zhong Shan took out a memory crystal and activated it, projecting its contents.

It showed Yinglan being taken into the underworld by a Tian Family disciple.

"Is it her?" Tian Jizi's eyes widened in shock as he recognized Yinglan.

"Tian Family Patriarch finally remembers?" Zhong Shan asked with a hint of joy.

However, a look of fierce anger quickly clouded Tian Jizi's eyes.

"Her? That calamity? Hmph!" Killing intent flashed in Tian Jizi's eyes.

"Please return her to me," Zhong Shan stepped forward.

"No!" Tian Jizi's eyes turned cold.

"No? Then please give me an explanation," Zhong Shan said sternly.

"An explanation? Who do you think you are?" Tian Jizi shouted, his anger not yet abated.

Just as Zhong Shan was about to retort, an elderly female voice came from outside the hall.

"Who has angered the Patriarch so much?"

Everyone turned to see a short, ugly old woman with graying hair and a white robe, walking in slowly with the aid of a staff.

"Tian Lao, you have come," Tian Jizi said, taking a deep breath.

Tian Lao? Zhong Shan's eyes nearly popped out. This old woman was called Tian Lao? The Feng Shui Peak Master, Tian Lao? Could it be a coincidence?

No, it couldn't be a coincidence. Both were named Tian Lao, both practiced feng shui, and both had residences called "Tian Vein Hall." This was too much to be a mere coincidence.

"I haven't left the Tian Family for two thousand years. I heard someone mentioned having met me several times, so I came to see," the female Tian Lao said calmly.

Zhong Shan: "..."

Everyone turned to look at Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan: "..."

"It's you?" the female Tian Lao asked, frowning at Zhong Shan.

"..."