Chapter 41: The Eastern Lord Appears Once More

Only a relatively small number of representatives from the various schools of thought, screened and invited into the Xianyang Palace, were present—only about eighteen in total. The Confucian school sent five, the Mohist school three, the Agrarian school three, the Strategists two, the Guigu School of Vertical and Horizontal Alliances one, and the Taoist Heavenly Sect one.

The newly rising eclectic school sent two, while another, though not possessing profound cultivation, displayed actions and speech throughout the journey that closely resembled those of Mohist disciples, suggesting he was a descendant of the Gongshu family, the long-standing rivals of the Mohists.

A total of eighteen figures had received invitations. Among the hundred schools of thought, they could be considered the most renowned masters. One after another, they stepped down from their carriages and looked around, finding themselves in an immensely vast and level open area.

Underfoot, the ground was neatly paved with hard stones, while in the distance stood a continuous complex of palaces. Exquisite yet archaic, with upturned eaves and delicate tiles, the towering structures rose majestically and orderly, gleaming with a dark, somber luster under the clear, sunny sky.

The people of Qin esteemed the color black and specialized in the study of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. The Zhou Dynasty had regarded fire as supreme, but Qin's conquest of Zhou represented the cyclical transition of the Five Elements, with the virtue of black water being peerless; hence, black was revered above all.

Squads of soldiers clad in pitch-black armor patrolled incessantly. The entire plaza covered an area of a thousand paces in radius, and the place where the visitors stood was close to a high, tiered platform. It had thirty-six steps and stood three zhang high, with several figures already standing atop it.

"Greetings, distinguished heroes of the hundred schools, I am Xiong Qi!"

"By the command of our King, today we shall first determine the candidates for the Palace Protectors and Palace Swordsmen. For hundreds of years, the various states have been locked in strife and the hundred schools have contended in eloquence. Your arrival in Xianyang is a testament to your affirmation of the State of Qin."

"Among the hundred schools, strength and weakness have their order, with you honored as the foremost. It is hoped that you will fully display what you have learned, surpass your peers, secure vital official posts within the palace, and guard the safety of our King!"

Xiong Qi was Lord Changping, a maternal relative from the State of Chu. Over the past century, ever since the time of Queen Dowager Xuan of Qin, the maternal relatives from Chu had grown deeply rooted in Qin. Originally a son of the reigning monarch of Chu with the title of Prince, he had been appointed as an official of the court by King Zhuangxiang of Qin due to the centuries-old marital alliance between Qin and Chu.

Two years ago, he was further appointed as Chancellor by King Zheng of Qin. In terms of court status, he was second only to the Chancellor and Marquis of Wenxin, Lü Buwei. Standing over eight Chi tall, with a fair complexion and a slender, elegant physique, he was around thirty years of age. He wore a towering Gaozhan crown, a brocaded green robe, and an official sash.

An aura of nobility permeated his entire being. Seeing the arrival of the vanguard of heroes from the hundred schools summoned beneath the high platform, he took the lead, cupped his hands in a bow, maintained a steady smile, and spoke in a composed and rigorous tone.

"However, a few days ago, the Yin-Yang School already took the lead in entering the Xianyang Palace to pay respects to our King and displayed their learning. His Majesty was greatly pleased and initially intended to directly confer upon them the office of Palace Protectors, but that would not be procedurally appropriate."

"Therefore, today, the two representatives of the Yin-Yang School have declared that whoever can defeat them may claim the position of Protector. As for the Palace Swordsmen, their selection shall be deliberated after the Palace Protectors are chosen!"

With a slight shift in his tone, Lord Changping Xiong Qi turned his body slightly and extended a single hand to gesture toward the two graceful figures beside him. The meaning behind his words was already quite obvious: the King of Qin had originally intended to bestow the protector posts upon them.

Yet, since the decree of recruitment had been issued, it was uncertain whether there might be even more unfathomable experts among the hundred schools. Today's match served both as a test for the Yin-Yang School and as a trial for the descendants of the hundred schools present who wished to contend for the positions of Palace Protectors.

"So it is them!"

Beneath the high platform, Zhou Qing and Zong Qiong stood side by side, raising their heads slightly to look toward the elevated platform not far away. There emanated two distinct and formidable auras, both at the peak of the Hunyuan Xiantian realm—no, it seemed one of them had already stepped into the Huishen realm, and apparently not long ago.

The other Xiantian martial artist of the Yin-Yang School was also merely a step away from the realm of Huishen Xuanling. Judging by their vital life force, both were still in a rising phase and did not appear to be over eighteen years of age, looking merely fifteen or sixteen. However, the Star Soul of the Yin-Yang School had not yet appeared, which somewhat puzzled Zhou Qing.

Indeed, the two individuals on the high platform were the Sun Protector and the Moon Protector—two of the three luminaries and star protectors of the Yin-Yang School, whose status was second only to that of the Eastern Emperor Taiyi. The Moon Protector was a young and delicate maiden.

She wore long, pale purple hair gathered into an intricate updo, with a strand of hair falling loose on each side, pinned by a sky-blue crystal hairpin adorned with carved silver leaves and tiny silver pearls.

She was draped in a light blue short robe, decorated at the back with a moon-shaped pattern. Her deep blue collar stood high, revealing a glimpse of snow-white skin. Around her waist was a sash alternating in deep blue and purplish-blue, while underneath she wore a deep blue wide-sleeved long gown paired with a moon-white cross-collared inner garment.

Her long skirt trailed on the ground, the violet-striped hem fluttering in the wind. Hearing the words of Lord Changping, she moved gracefully, her light blue crystal earrings trembling. A pink lip gloss lent her a hint of allure, and a sky-blue veil covered her bright eyes, suspended directly down to her waist from her hair clip. Across her forehead hung an ice-blue teardrop pendant, giving her an extraordinarily transcendent appearance.

As for the other person, she was the Sun Protector. According to what his senior brother had said, two years ago on the Guandao Terrace of Mount Taiyi, the Eastern Emperor Taiyi had once brought forth the Eastern Monarch of the Yin-Yang School, utilizing the profound mysteries of her breakthrough into the Huishen realm for cultivation.

Unexpectedly, in a mere two years, the Eastern Emperor Taiyi had not only enabled the Eastern Monarch to break through to Huishen, but had even brought the newly recruited Moon Protector to this realm as well. Her natural talent was undoubtedly supreme, and she possessed extraordinary aptitude in the arts of Yin and Yang.

Compared to the Moon Protector, whose entire body exuded a bewitching allure, the Eastern Monarch appeared much colder. She was dressed in a dark blue long gown, her pitch-black hair bound low and secured by a dark golden hairpin adorned with dark blue gemstones.

Her appearance was peerless, her facial features wondrous. The pale blue long gown draped over her body, exposing her jade-white shoulders, beneath which her budding breasts were faintly concealed. Behind her hung a prestigious accessory representing the newly rising sun.

Her long hair cascaded down her back, with two strands of short hair radiating a dark golden luster resting on her shoulders. Of tall and statuesque stature, she walked at a leisurely pace, guarded by wisps of dark golden mysterious light, and nodded slightly toward Lord Changping.

"These two are the eminent experts of the Yin-Yang School!"

"The Eastern Monarch!"

"The Moon God!"

Lord Changping introduced their identities one after another. As his words trailed off, he once more cupped his hands in a bow to the gathered masters of the hundred schools beneath the platform, before stepping back to the side of the stage, leaving the field entirely to the Eastern Monarch and the Moon God of the Yin-Yang School.

Today, he only required the final outcome!

"To think that the various schools of thought have declined to such an extent nowadays, lacking even a single decent expert. It is rumored that among the new generation of Confucian disciples, Fonian and Han Fei are the best. I wonder if the two of them have graced us with their presence?"

"It is rumored that among the new generation of Mohist leaders, Jing Ke and Gao Zu are the best. I wonder if the two of them have graced us with their presence?"

"It is rumored that among the new generation of Agrarian sector masters, Tian Guang, Tian Meng, and Zhu Jia are the best. I wonder if the three of them have graced us with their presence?"

"..."

Soft and melodious words echoed, intertwined with a trace of lunar mystery. The bewitching voice lingered in the ears of those beneath the high platform, crisp and incessant, as if she were thoroughly familiar with the state of the hundred schools of thought, recounting their details as if reading from a family registry.

The Eastern Monarch beside her remained motionless, standing quietly before the high platform and looking down upon the gathered members of the hundred schools. An intangible aura of arrogance radiated outward; however, whether intentional or accidental, she omitted only the Taoist and Guigu schools from the present assembly of the hundred schools of thought.