As the day to meet the Heavenly King approached, Jiang Wen felt a little uneasy. He sat in the courtyard, watching the flowers fall, his mind empty.
In the past few days, he had also tried to awaken the divine statue in his sea of consciousness, but since the last time it showed a reaction to hotpot, it had been as silent as a stone statue. No matter what Jiang Wen did, the divine statue remained unresponsive.
“It’s really strange, could it be that it was just my imagination back then?” Jiang Wen wondered, not dwelling on the matter any further.
“I’ve met her so many times, and I’m still nervous.” Jiang Wen mocked himself. In fact, it wasn't that he was nervous, but he had a feeling of apprehension, like a traveler nearing home after a long journey.
During those years in Taicang, the person he was closest to was Jiang Wenji.
Now, they were about to meet again, yet it would be like strangers meeting. The origin of cause and effect in the world is often so subtle.
Changing into the Taoist robe of the Jingxu Temple, Jiang Wen followed the Heavenly Abyss guards towards the royal city. He instructed Luo Ji to stay at home and not come out. If anything happened, she could wait for Xue in the mansion.
He had already written a letter to Xue, telling her his request.
Heading north, he crossed many streets.
Arriving in front of the royal city, he was once again struck by a sense of awe. This was the royal city of Heavenly Abyss, the place where all of Taicang's power was concentrated.
The Heavenly King sat in this Heavenly Abyss City, ruling the eight wildernesses. He commanded the armies of the world, pacifying the foreign tribes in all directions. The hundred tribes of humanity thrived under his leadership, sharing in this prosperous age.
Now, Heavenly Abyss was the center, and cultivators submitted. Nanqi was respectful, Beiyi bowed its head, Dongjun provided horses, and Ximan provided soldiers. The covenant of the hundred tribes shone like the great sun, illuminating all directions. If Jiang Wen were to evaluate Jiang Wenji's achievements, he would probably use the phrase: Her achievements are like mountains, her name will be passed down through generations.
Entering the royal city, the soldiers sheathed their weapons, and the magnificent city gate was immediately visible.
This city was no more than a hundred zhang high, but it spanned dozens of miles. It had sharp iron thorns on top, and various stone statues were scattered in the middle. These stone statues were all of the Stone People race, who usually turned into stone. If anyone dared to invade, they could form an army and leave no one alive.
Tall statues stood on both sides of the city gate. Their bodies were a hundred zhang tall, holding spears and axes.
As Jiang Wen passed under their toes, he could feel a certain hidden power. This power was similar to the creations of the Yu Yun race he had encountered before, so it seemed that they were puppets forged by the Yu Yun race. He didn't expect the Yu Yun race to join Heavenly Abyss City so early; perhaps the history could be moved forward.
Accompanied by a dragon-horse-drawn carriage, he galloped along the avenue. There were many people coming and going, some riding phoenixes, some riding horses and carriages. They were always traveling between the city towers, like stars in the sky.
Jiang Wen sat upright, his eyes calm. He was not wearing court clothes, but simple Taoist robes.
Suddenly, a familiar figure walked past the corner of his eye, and he looked over. He saw a mechanical flying boat passing by, with several Yu Yun people sitting on it. Among them was a little girl with a beautiful face. Jiang Wen recognized her at a glance. Deng Luo, he didn't expect Deng Luo to be a little girl at this time. He didn't know how long she lived back then, but he could still see her in later generations.
The Yu Yun race's flying boat and Jiang Wen's dragon-horse carriage landed together on the majestic square.
Here, divine soldiers guarded the area, and thirty-six tall pavilions were located.
Each pavilion was like a mountain, and the four forbidden armies of Heavenly Abyss were stationed on them. Jiang Wen heard from the servants that these pavilions were said to be inhabited by powerful people.
Jiang Wen opened his eyes and could feel the aura of Dao Palace Realists among them.
“Thirty-six Dao Palace Realists, Heavenly Abyss City is extraordinary.” Jiang Wen sighed inwardly, wondering how Taicang was destroyed back then. If it was only the Nanqi rebellion plus the help of the immortal sects, this force would not be enough to overthrow Taicang, which was ruled by Heavenly Abyss City. Just these thirty-six Dao Palace Realists were enough to pacify the combined rebel army of Nanqi. As long as the Saint did not intervene, who could be their enemy?
Furthermore, with the hundred tribes under the command of Heavenly Abyss and the hundred sects in the Boundless Pavilion, it was hard to imagine that such a powerful Taicang could have its destiny taken away.
“Perhaps a lot of things happened during this period.” Jiang Wen was lost in thought and stopped thinking about these things. He got out of the dragon-horse carriage and prepared to walk towards the palace of the royal city.
Passing by the Yu Yun race's flying boat, several Yu Yun elders saluted him when they saw the badge hanging on his waist. Only the little girl Deng Luo blinked her eyes and looked at him curiously.
“I didn’t expect Deng Luo to be so young back then.” Jiang Wen smiled and suddenly wanted to tease Deng Luo.
He walked over and said to the Yu Yun people: “Are you from the Yu Yun race?”
“We are indeed from the Yu Yun race, I wonder what the immortal wants?” The Yu Yun elder hurriedly bowed, with a trace of fear on his face. Everyone was uneasy, with different expressions. It could be seen that they were very restrained in the royal city and had a sense of awe for this Heavenly Abyss City.
“Are you here to see the Heavenly King too?” Jiang Wen asked again.
“We are here to see the Heavenly King.” The Yu Yun elder said humbly. “We Yu Yun are surviving in the wilderness. Fortunately, we have the protection of the Heavenly King, so we can now enter this covenant of a hundred tribes. We are here today to see the Heavenly King and witness our loyalty. Once the Yu Yun people make a covenant, they will follow the Heavenly King to the death!”
The elder was passionate and excited, and Jiang Wen could hear the sincerity in his words. He also knew that what the Yu Yun elder said was true, and the Yu Yun people had indeed kept their promise.
Even at the moment when the Heavenly King fell and Heavenly Abyss City declined, the Yu Yun people still did not abandon them. They only preserved a part of the race and then followed the Heavenly King with the whole clan.
Jiang Wen thought of those things, and his heart was filled with emotion. Who would have thought that the Yu Yun people, who joined Heavenly Abyss City so late, would eventually be the most loyal tribe.
“It’s okay, I can see your sincerity.” Jiang Wen smiled, and then walked to Deng Luo.
The little girl was ignorant and innocent, looking at him with big eyes. This made Jiang Wen smile involuntarily, and he reached out and touched Deng Luo's little head: “This girl will definitely achieve great things in the future.”
“Thank you for your guidance, immortal!” The Yu Yun people were overjoyed when they heard this. “This is the daughter of our Yu Yun royal family, one of the candidates to inherit the position of Yu Yun clan leader. The princess's name is Deng Luo, and she was born to a concubine. Today, I brought her here to see the world. I didn't expect to be so fortunate as to receive such praise from the immortal.”
“Haha, I also feel that I have a great affinity with this child.” Jiang Wen smiled, and then took out something and handed it to her. “This thing is a life-saving talisman, which can save your life. Wear it on your body, and you won’t be afraid of being assassinated by others.”
“Thank you, immortal, thank you, immortal.” The elders were overjoyed and hurriedly asked Deng Luo to take the life-saving talisman. Deng Luo was a little timid and shy, but she still pinched the talisman with her small hand under the urging of her clansmen.
“Thank, thank you, immortal.” Deng Luo said softly.
“It’s okay, no need to thank me.” Jiang Wen rubbed her head and then walked towards the palace.
“If you have time, you can come and sit in my mansion. I heard that the Yu Yun race is good at mechanical arts, and I am a little curious.”
“Don’t worry, immortal, we will definitely come to visit.” The Yu Yun people said quickly.
They watched Jiang Wen leave, and after a long time, they looked at each other.
Then they laughed, their faces full of joy.
