Chapter Six: The Wang Family of Eastern Ridge
“Wang Clan of East Ridge, here to pay respects to the mountain.”
As each of these eight words rang out with clarity and precision, echoing in the ears of everyone gathered on the Taiyi Platform, all eyes turned to the distant skies, where a white six-winged celestial steed drew a golden carriage, soaring slowly towards them.
Standing at the front of the carriage was an elderly man in golden robes. Though his hair and beard were white, his countenance was imposing, and his upright posture lent him an extraordinary air of authority. At each corner of the carriage followed four middle-aged men, clad in armor of various hues—gold, green, blue, and red—each striking in their appearance.
“That’s Elder Wang Rui, one of the top ten elders of the Wang Clan of East Ridge—the very one who once single-handedly slaughtered the city of Lingyang.”
“And those are the clan’s seven generals: Liu Zheng of Gold, Lin Yang of Wood, Qian Miao of Water, and Wang Yan of Flame—the pillars of the Wang Clan’s border army.”
As expected, the arrival of the horse, carriage, and five formidable individuals instantly stirred the atmosphere of the Taiyi Platform. After all, these five were the backbone of the Wang Clan of East Ridge, the dominant force of Lingzhou, their reputation spreading far beyond the region.
Thus, the identity of the person inside the carriage became the focal point of attention for everyone present. A rare six-winged celestial steed, accompanied by these five, was more than enough to command such respect, including from the various peak lords of Taiyi Mountain and the sect master, Master Lingxu.
Qin Yi remarked, “The Wang Clan of East Ridge certainly knows how to make an entrance. Whoever is inside that carriage must hold extraordinary status within the clan.”
Zhang Chen replied, “It must be one of their young masters. But the Wang Clan has nine young masters—only a few would warrant such attention from the clan head.”
“True,” Zhang Chen agreed, though he was certain the person inside was not Wang Hong. With Wang Hong’s remarkable cultivation at the Golden Core stage, he would not require escorts of comparable strength.
Under the gaze of the crowd, the golden carriage finally landed gently on a clearing not far from the center of the platform.
“Wang Rui, Liu Zheng, Lin Yang, Qian Miao, Wang Yan of the Wang Clan of East Ridge, pay respects to the sect master and elders of Taiyi Mountain.” When the carriage landed, the five men cupped their hands in greeting, showing ample respect to Taiyi Mountain.
Master Lingxu merely lifted his eyelids, signaling Gu Beishan to welcome the guests. The Wang Clan took no offense, understanding well that the sect master’s cultivation and status were beyond comparison.
“Since you are guests, Taiyi Mountain warmly welcomes you. May I ask the purpose of your visit?” Gu Beishan, ever stern, asked in his usual measured tone. Yet his question echoed the thoughts of all present, for they were eager to learn the identity of the carriage’s occupant.
“Wang Yun Cheng of the Wang Clan of East Ridge, pays respects to the sect master and peak lords of Taiyi Mountain.” Before Wang Rui could speak further, a youthful voice issued from within the golden carriage, and the curtain was drawn open.
As the golden curtain fully parted, a young man in gold robes stepped out, cupping his hands in salute. His refined features and noble bearing bespoke the unique prestige of a great clan.
His personal appearance and introduction immediately sent a ripple of excitement through the platform:
“So it’s the ninth son of the clan head—no wonder he travels with such fanfare.”
“It’s him! Wang Yun Cheng, whose talent is said to rival Wang Hong’s.”
“The ninth son of the Wang Clan, child of destiny,” Zhang Chen observed from afar, his tone somber. The fame of Wang Yun Cheng in Lingzhou was far from ordinary.
“He’s famous in Lingzhou?” Qin Yi feigned ignorance.
“What do you think?” Zhang Chen rolled his eyes in irritation.
Qin Yi merely laughed, saying no more.
“May I ask the reason for your visit to Taiyi Mountain?” Gu Beishan inquired again, his tone devoid of the joy that would usually accompany the arrival of a gifted new disciple. At last, he understood why the sons of the three great families of the South Sea had come together to pay respects here—apart from Chen Wenxiang, the others were likely accompanying him as a matter of formality.
“Master Nanhua, I believe you already know. Today is Taiyi Mountain’s annual initiation for new disciples—a fact well known in Lingzhou. Naturally, I am here to pay my respects and join the mountain.” Wang Yun Cheng replied with a smile, undaunted by Gu Beishan’s stern tone.
This display left the crowd secretly astounded. Truly, the scions of great clans were cut from a different cloth. Ordinary youths would avoid Gu Beishan’s gaze, much less respond so confidently at such a moment.
“Oh! Whom do you wish to take as your master?” Gu Beishan asked, somewhat surprised by his directness.
“Let’s proceed according to tradition,” Wang Yun Cheng replied, walking directly to the high platform.
This act earned him even greater respect from those present.
Gu Beishan nodded and tossed a purple-gold lotus to Wang Yun Cheng, who caught it in his right hand. Instantly, the lotus bloomed with dazzling light, opening eighty petals in a single flourish.
This spectacle, as expected, caused a stir throughout the plaza:
“My heavens, is this even possible?”
“The ninth son of the Wang Clan, child of destiny—indeed!”
High above, Master Lingxu and the peak lords’ eyes flashed with surprise, before returning to calm.
“Remarkable,” Zhang Chen admitted, unable to deny his astonishment.
“Yes, very remarkable,” Qin Yi concurred, his words sincere. To open eighty petals of the purple-gold lotus in one motion was a feat that would stand out in any initiation ceremony at Taiyi Mountain.
Yet Wang Yun Cheng, gazing at the eighty-petaled lotus in his palm, showed no joy—rather, he seemed dissatisfied, perhaps displeased at not opening eighty-one petals at once. As expected, moments later, the eighty-first petal blossomed, and the lotus radiated brilliant light, shining gloriously in the midday sun.
However, the blooming of the eighty-first petal caused little further commotion, for most had already anticipated this outcome.
Seeing the result, Gu Beishan flicked his finger, and the purple-gold lotus drifted back to him, closing once more into a bud. After storing the lotus, Gu Beishan glanced at Master Lingxu, who nodded, signaling him to proceed.
Looking at Wang Yun Cheng, Gu Beishan asked loudly, “Wang Yun Cheng, whom do you wish to take as your master?”
Wang Yun Cheng seemed to ponder, then replied, “I wish to take Master Zi Xuan as my teacher.”
This answer surprised those present—not because Master Zi Xuan was unknown, but precisely because his reputation in Lingzhou was especially great. Especially after last year’s incident, his fame had reached its peak.
Yet because of his renown, everyone knew that Master Zi Xuan’s disciples, counting the one branded last year as a traitor to humanity—Qin Yi—numbered only four. Moreover, it was common knowledge that his four disciples were all extraordinarily gifted. The former Qin Yi was a prodigy among humans, while the other three were likewise renowned both within and outside Taiyi Mountain.
With Wang Yun Cheng’s talent and sensitive status, apprenticing under the sect master or any peak lord would not be difficult. But now, it seemed less certain.
After all, every year at Taiyi Mountain’s initiation, there is at least one new disciple who can make the purple-gold lotus bloom with eighty-one petals, but Master Zi Xuan’s disciples had only ever numbered four.