Chapter Seventy-Five: The Blessed Land of Caves and Heavens

Chapter Seventy-Five: Blessed Caves and Auspicious Lands
Chapter Eleven: Hidden Contentment in the Capital’s Groves, The Seven Heroes Stir Up the Turbulent Spring and Autumn (Part Five)

The woman in black returned the greeting with a gentle smile. “Junior Brother Ye, there’s no need for such courtesy! I did not expect you to be so young and accomplished, your cultivation and mastery are truly impressive, worthy of great respect.”

A faint blush appeared on Ye Hua’s face as he replied, “Senior Sister Zhang, you overpraise me! My meager skills are nothing compared to the Supreme Water-Moon Mysteries of the Taiqing Palace on Mount Lao, or the renowned Divine Spring of Taiqing Palace. I have long admired their fame!”

Zhang Lan, hearing this, covered her smile with a hand and was about to respond when Zhang Ke, standing to the side, interrupted with a laugh. “Enough, why all this mutual flattery? The Supreme Water-Moon Mysteries are extraordinary, but the Four Noble Truths techniques of the Wutai sect are equally profound—each has its own merits. If you two continue like this, I fear Senior Brothers Ma and Shi might take offense!”

“Ah! Junior Brother Zhang, what are you saying? Junior Brother Ye and Junior Sister Zhang come from illustrious lineages—there’s nothing for us but to envy them! Isn’t that so, Brother Shi?” boomed a robust young man seated at the outermost side, his deep voice causing the tea on the table to ripple.

A burly young man sitting to the right nodded in agreement. “Big Brother Ma is right! Ha, Junior Brother Zhang, we don’t need you to introduce us to make friends. We’ll introduce ourselves!” He turned to Ye Hua with a grin.

“Junior Brother Ye, my name is Shi Lei, disciple of the True Return Sect under Patriarch Hun Kun on Lion Peak, Liaodong. We should get to know each other better! As for this fellow, I don’t know much about his background—you’ll have to ask him yourself.” With that, he pointed at the burly Ma.

Ye Hua clasped his hands in greeting. “Brother Shi, of course!” He then turned to the young man surnamed Ma and offered a respectful bow. “Greetings, Brother Ma!”

Ma burst into hearty laughter. “Haha, there’s no need for such formality, Little Brother Ye. Don’t listen to that black rock talking nonsense! If you think me worthy, just call me Brother Ma in the future—or Ma Fei, I don’t mind either way!”

Ye Hua smiled. “Brother Ma, there’s no need for such words.”

Ma Fei’s expression turned apologetic. “I was raised with strict orders from my sect not to reveal anything about our Daoist tradition. It’s not that I won’t disclose it to you—even Junior Brothers Zhang and Gu know nothing of it. I’m sorry for this.”

Ye Hua was about to reply when Shi Lei interjected with a mocking laugh. “Oh come now, Big-Headed Ma, do you really think I don’t know your background? The Thirty-Six Blessed Caves and Seventy-Two Auspicious Lands, right? I might not know the exact sect or cave, but I’m not mistaken!”

Ma Fei’s expression changed dramatically. “You—you know?!”

Shi Lei chuckled. “Last time, when you used that Golden Needle Crossing Tribulation move, your true essence carried the unique spiritual essence of those blessed caves and lands. Even though you usually do your best to hide it, in a critical moment, a bit always slips out. It’s not difficult to tell!”

Ma Fei could only nod and sigh. “Ah, a lifetime of reputation ruined by a sly fellow like you!”

Hearing mention of the Thirty-Six Blessed Caves and Seventy-Two Auspicious Lands, Ye Hua’s heart stirred and a long-hidden memory surfaced: a vision of a beautiful woman in snowy white, wielding an immortal sword to vanquish demons—a peerless celestial maiden. “I am a disciple of Zhang’s Cave, the fifty-eighth of the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands. I am traveling the world on my master’s orders. You may call me Sister Qiu.” That voice seemed still to echo in his ears.

“I wonder if that Sister Qiu knows this Brother Ma? Will I ever see again the immortal heroine who once saved my life?” Ye Hua thought to himself, a touch of melancholy in his heart. Lost in thought, he suddenly heard Zhang Ke calling, “Brother Ye, Brother Ye!”

Ye Hua started and snapped out of his reverie. Looking at Zhang Ke in confusion, he asked, “What is it, Senior Brother Zhang?”

Zhang Ke smiled. “Brother Ye, do you have something on your mind?”

Ye Hua blushed slightly. “Forgive me, Senior Brother—I was just reminded of something for a moment.”

Zhang Ke gave a warm smile. “May I ask, did you come to the capital to participate in the scholarly competition?”

Ye Hua was surprised. “Scholarly competition? What’s that?”

Zhang Ke looked at him curiously, then realization dawned. “Ah, of course, you are new to the capital and likely haven’t heard of it.” He continued, “For centuries, the power of the Great Divine State of Hua has waned, while the Western devils have gradually encroached. King Wen Zheng and King Hong Ming jointly petitioned the court to recruit talented youths from across China to travel and study in the Demonlands, to learn the ways of magic and use them for our own benefit.

The Holy Emperor of Hua, troubled by this, entrusted Kings Wen Zheng and Hong Ming to oversee the matter. But for some unknown reason, Empress Shengci’an also became involved, and in the end, the Regent Prince Yuan himself issued an edict to the world, selecting one hundred and twenty outstanding youths to journey together to the Demonlands!”

Ye Hua suddenly understood. No wonder he had heard talk on the road of the Four Young Lords and Prince Yuan’s recruitment of talent, and the words of the Six Tribes of North Xi—so this was the reason!

Ye Hua turned to Zhang Ke, asking, “Senior Brother Zhang, when I arrived, I heard the people in the streets talking about the Four Young Lords of the capital. Who are they, and what connection do they have to Prince Yuan?”

Zhang Ke’s brows furrowed at the mention of the Four Young Lords. He sighed and replied, “The Four Young Lords of the capital are not to be taken lightly! The so-called Four Young Masters—the first is Yuan Gongzi, the eldest son of Prince Yuan, whose reputation is widespread thanks to his father’s influence. The second is—”