Sixth Ancestor Goes in Person, Citizens Line the Streets to Welcome Evergreen Saint Venerable

The courtyard fell silent for a moment, then an aged voice rang out.

"Come in."

Su Gan straightened his robes, pushed open the courtyard gate, and walked inside.

The white-haired old man in the courtyard still sat cross-legged atop a slab of bluestone with his eyes closed.

His breathing was long and steady, with not the slightest ripple of spiritual energy around him.

But Su Gan knew that was because the Sixth Ancestor's aura had already merged with heaven and earth!

With his cultivation as a Seventh-Rank Grandmaster, he simply could not sense fluctuations at that level.

Su Gan stopped before the Sixth Ancestor and respectfully bowed.

"Your grandson pays his respects to Sixth Ancestor."

The Sixth Ancestor slowly opened his eyes.

Those eyes appeared clouded, yet now and then, a glint that made one's heart tremble flashed deep within them.

"Why did you have time to visit this old man today? Did something happen on the front lines again?"

Su Gan shook his head. "There are no new developments at the front for the time being. Your grandson has come to report a piece of good news to Sixth Ancestor."

"Oh?"

The Sixth Ancestor raised his brows slightly.

Su Gan took the two memorials from his sleeve and presented them with both hands.

"Please review them first, Sixth Ancestor."

The Sixth Ancestor accepted the memorials and swept his gaze over them.

At first, he skimmed them casually, but his expression gradually turned grave.

By the end, a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes.

"Evergreen Saint Venerable... Lin Changqing... a reclusive Martial Saint?"

The Sixth Ancestor set down the memorials and stroked his beard.

"This name, I have indeed never heard before. It seems he truly is an old fellow who has lived in seclusion for many years."

He paused, his tone carrying a trace of emotion.

"Ordinary reclusive martial artists can barely restrain themselves from entering the world once they break through to Eighth-Rank Grandmaster."

"But this Evergreen Saint Venerable quietly cultivated all the way to Ninth-Rank Martial Saint before showing himself. Such temperament is rare indeed."

"Still, the Heavenly Martial Continent is vast and boundless, and all manner of extraordinary people exist. Someone who could endure until becoming a Martial Saint before entering the world was most likely an old monster devoted entirely to bitter cultivation."

After Su Gan told the Sixth Ancestor everything about how he had handled matters in court earlier, he asked, "What cultivation do you think this Evergreen Saint Venerable possesses, Sixth Ancestor?"

The Sixth Ancestor pondered for a moment.

"He slew six Seventh-tier Demon Kings and two Eighth-tier Demon Emperors within a few days, including one at Peak Eighth Tier. Such a record is absolutely not something an Early Martial Saint Stage cultivator who had only recently broken through could achieve."

"At the very least, he has stabilized his Early Martial Saint Stage cultivation for a long time. He may even be at the Mid Martial Saint Stage."

He looked at Su Gan, approval in his gaze.

"The emergence of a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint, even one with only Early Martial Saint Stage cultivation, would be a great help if we could recruit him into the Great Yu Dynasty."

"If he is in the middle or late stage, it would be like adding wings to a tiger."

"You handled matters well in court. Sending someone with lavish gifts to make contact was a good arrangement."

Su Gan was delighted, but then the Sixth Ancestor abruptly changed his tone.

"However, sending Xiao Qianjun would be inappropriate."

Su Gan was slightly stunned. "What does Sixth Ancestor mean?"

The Sixth Ancestor rose from the bluestone, clasping his hands behind his back.

"Although Xiao Qianjun is the Chief Commander of your Demon Suppressing Division and holds great authority, he is still only an Eighth-Rank Grandmaster."

"Having an Eighth Rank cultivator approach a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint is itself a form of disrespect. Even if the other party says nothing, he will inevitably wonder whether the Great Yu Dynasty is looking down on him."

Su Gan's heart tightened, and he quickly said, "Then your grandson will go invite Third Ancestor at once..."

"No need."

The Sixth Ancestor waved his hand.

"Your Third Ancestor is holding the front lines and cannot be moved lightly. The others all have their own duties as well. This old man will make the trip himself."

Joy appeared on Su Gan's face at those words.

When he had come to find the Sixth Ancestor, that had actually been what he wanted.

He simply had not had the nerve to say it outright. Now that the Sixth Ancestor had proposed it himself, Su Gan could not have wished for more.

"With Sixth Ancestor going personally, it could not be better!"

Su Gan bowed again, his voice sincere.

"This matter will be entirely decided by Sixth Ancestor. Your grandson will cooperate with all his strength. Whatever needs preparing, please give the order."

The Sixth Ancestor nodded.

He had already begun considering what terms he should offer to recruit this reclusive Martial Saint.

What did a Martial Saint who had spent years in seclusion and only just entered the world lack most?

Cultivation resources? The Great Yu Dynasty could provide the resources required by a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint, but the cost would not be small.

Power and status? An honored elder position was the basic offering; granting him a kingship or appointing him minister was not beyond discussion.

Or perhaps they should simply treat him with sincerity and let him feel Great Yu's earnestness!

After thinking for a moment, the Sixth Ancestor came to a decision.

"This cannot wait any longer."

"Such a huge disturbance has erupted in Green Province. The news must already have spread. The other great dynasties are less concerning, since it will take them time to send people. But those first-rate sect forces within Great Yu... they will not be slow to act."

The Sixth Ancestor furrowed his brow slightly.

"Though those sect forces are collectively weaker than the Great Yu Dynasty, each has Ninth-Rank Martial Saint foundations guarding it. If they get there first..."

Su Gan's heart clenched.

The Sixth Ancestor was right.

Besides the imperial court, the Great Yu Dynasty also contained three first-rate sects: the Heavenly Sword Sect, the Myriad Laws Sect, and Medicine God Valley.

All of them had experts at the Ninth-Rank Martial Saint level overseeing them.

Though they were not competitors like the other dynasties, they were likewise recruiting every force they could.

A newly emerged reclusive Ninth-Rank Martial Saint was an invaluable treasure to them as well!

The Sixth Ancestor made his decision at once. "There is no need to draft any documents. Xiao Qianjun and Han Tieshan will remain in the Capital City. This old man will handle the matter personally and depart immediately."

As he spoke.

He raised his right hand and lightly slashed at the empty air before him.

Rip!

Space was torn open into a rift.

With that single motion, a trace of the Sixth Ancestor's Martial Saint aura inadvertently leaked out.

Though that holy pressure was only a faint thread, it made Su Gan, standing nearby, shudder from head to toe.

He felt as though a mountain had crushed down upon his chest.

Even his breathing stalled.

So this was a Martial Saint?

Just a trace of leaked aura made it difficult for a Seventh-Rank Grandmaster like him even to stand firmly!

Su Gan's eyes were filled with awe.

The Sixth Ancestor stepped into the Spatial Rift.

"Oh, right."

He suddenly halted, turning back to glance at Su Gan.

"This old man has already taken those items Han Tieshan prepared. Since we are recruiting someone, naturally, we cannot go without gifts."

As his words fell, the Spatial Rift closed.

The Sixth Ancestor's aura vanished completely, and the courtyard returned to silence.

Su Gan stood where he was.

He stared at the place where the Sixth Ancestor had disappeared for a long time without moving.

The lingering spatial fluctuations around him left his heart unable to settle.

Ever since he ascended the throne, the Demon calamity had worsened with each passing day, while reports from the front lines had become more urgent one after another.

Reviewing memorials alone occupied more than half his time.

By the time he finished handling state affairs every day, it was already deep into the night, and occasionally he still had to toil with his consorts.

As for cultivating, he simply did not have the energy.

Even after consuming countless precious heavenly treasures, his cultivation remained stuck at Peak Seventh Rank.

That threshold leading to Eighth-Rank Grandmaster was one he could not cross no matter what.

Su Gan sighed, exhaustion flashing through his eyes.

"Just a few more years."

He silently calculated in his heart.

Once the situation stabilized somewhat, he would hand the throne over to the Crown Prince.

Then he would devote himself to closed-door cultivation and charge toward the Eighth-Rank Grandmaster realm.

He could not remain at Seventh Rank forever.

After all, before ascending the throne, though he had not been the most outstanding martial artist among the many princes, he had not been especially poor either.

"I hope Sixth Ancestor's journey goes smoothly and that he can recruit this Evergreen Saint Venerable for Great Yu."

Su Gan gathered his thoughts and murmured softly.

"With one more Martial Saint standing guard, my burden will ease somewhat as well."

He shook his head with a bitter smile.

"The emperor's seat... truly is not easy to sit in."

On the official road from Qingshi County to Green Province City, a procession marched forward in grand array.

Inspector Ma Yuanzhong rode his horse sideways, respectfully leading the way for Lin Changqing.

Behind them, the honor guard carried the Inspector's banners, making for an impressive display.

"Saint Venerable, Green Province City lies ahead."

Ma Yuanzhong pointed forward as he spoke.

Lin Changqing lifted his eyes and looked ahead.

The outline of Green Province City had already appeared in his sight. Its walls were tall, and its gate towers majestic.

It was many times larger than Qingshi County.

And on both sides of the official road outside the city gates, crowds had long since gathered.

They were densely packed, stretching beyond the eye's reach.

There were ordinary citizens in rough cloth, martial artists with sabers and swords at their waists, and City Guard Army soldiers maintaining order.

Everyone craned their necks, gazing in the direction of the official road.

When Lin Changqing appeared on horseback upon the road, the crowd instantly stirred.

"He's here, he's here! That is Evergreen Saint Venerable!"

"He looks so young! Saint Venerable looks barely over twenty?"

"What do you know? Martial Saint experts can preserve their appearance long ago! For this senior to cultivate to Ninth-Rank Martial Saint, he must have endured at least centuries of bitter cultivation! His true age is probably even greater than Inspector Ma's!"

"Centuries? I heard some Martial Saints have lived for over a thousand years..."

Cheers erupted from the crowd in waves.

A woman holding a child squeezed to the very front, standing on tiptoe to look.

The moment she saw Lin Changqing, her eyes instantly reddened.

"Saint Venerable saved the village of my mother's family! If Saint Venerable had not acted, my parents and younger brother would never have survived!"

Holding her child, she knelt on the ground, her voice hoarse.

"Thank you, Saint Venerable, for saving our lives!"

An old farmer beside her knelt as well. "My nephew was captured by Demons. Saint Venerable destroyed that Demon nest and rescued him! Saint Venerable is my family's great benefactor!"

"Long live the Saint Venerable!"

The cheers rose wave after wave, and many people were so moved that their eyes turned red.

A young martial artist stood at the back of the crowd, looking at the figure on horseback with eyes full of worship.

The hand gripping his sword trembled slightly.

"One sword strike killed an Eighth-tier Demon Emperor... If I could possess even one-tenth of Saint Venerable's strength in this life, dying would be worth it!"

The companion beside him rolled his eyes. "One-tenth? You think you deserve that? You should thank heaven if you can reach even one percent!"

"Can't I at least dream about it?"

Good-natured laughter broke out among the crowd.

Ma Yuanzhong wore a broad smile as he turned sideways and said to Lin Changqing, "Saint Venerable, look at this. These citizens and martial artists have all come because they heard of your name!"

"This humble official merely let out a little word, and they came of their own accord to welcome you. It shows how great Saint Venerable's fame is, and how deeply the people of Green Province are grateful to you!"

Lin Changqing swept his gaze across the crowd.

With his senses, he could naturally tell that these people had not been deliberately arranged by Ma Yuanzhong.

Their expressions, their eyes, and their emotions were all sincere.

The four words Evergreen Saint Venerable truly carried weight in Green Province now.

The corners of his lips lifted slightly. He nodded but said nothing.

Amid the attention of countless eyes, the procession passed through the city gates.

Both sides of the streets within Green Province City were likewise packed with people. The cheers stretched from the city gates all the way to the entrance of the Prefectural Governor's Mansion.

Upon reaching the mansion gates, Ma Yuanzhong dismounted and personally took hold of Lin Changqing's reins.

"Saint Venerable, we have arrived."

Lin Changqing dismounted and glanced over the Prefectural Governor's Mansion.

The mansion gates stood tall, stone lions imposing, and above the lintel hung three gilded characters: "Prefectural Governor's Mansion."

It was obvious that the place had been carefully renovated.

Ma Yuanzhong led the way ahead, passing through the front hall and around the corridors until they arrived at a spacious banquet hall.

The banquet hall doors had already been thrown open.

The moment Lin Changqing reached the entrance, a rich fragrance wafted out.

His steps paused slightly.

It was the scent of meat.

More precisely, it was the aroma released by spirit beast meat that had been meticulously prepared.

The fragrance spread through the air in layer upon layer.

The scent alone was enough to whet one's appetite.

Lin Changqing's gaze fell upon the enormous round table at the center of the banquet hall.

The table was already covered with dishes.

Every one of them was exquisite as a work of art.

There were also all manner of unidentifiable spirit vegetables and spirit fruits, arranged in colorful heaps upon the plates.

Lin Changqing's throat bobbed involuntarily.

To be honest, he was craving it.

Although the body of a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint no longer needed food to sustain life, since absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was more than enough.

Not needing to eat and not wanting to eat were two different matters.

Good food was a pleasure once it entered the mouth.

Besides, every dish on this table was made with spirit beasts and spirit plants, all containing Spiritual Power.

Ordinary people who ate them would strengthen their bodies, while martial artists would improve their cultivation.

Though the Spiritual Power was negligible to a Martial Saint like him, the taste certainly would not be lacking.

Ma Yuanzhong was adept at reading expressions.

When he saw a hint of satisfaction appear on Lin Changqing's face, delight bloomed in his heart.

He hurriedly pulled out the chair at the seat of honor and said respectfully, "Saint Venerable, please take the main seat!"

"These ingredients were specially gathered by this humble official from all across the province. I invited Green Province's finest Spirit Chefs to prepare them. Their skill may not compare to the imperial chefs of the Capital City, but they are still unmatched in Green Province."

Lin Changqing took his seat of honor.

Ma Yuanzhong did not dare sit down. He stood beside him and personally attended to him.

"Saint Venerable, this Roasted Spirit Suckling Pig was made from a third-rank spirit beast. The meat is tender and melts in the mouth."

"This Spirit Fish Soup uses a fourth-rank spirit fish caught from the Cold Pool of Green Province. It was simmered for three hours before this broth was produced..."

As he introduced the dishes, he served food onto Lin Changqing's plate.

Lin Changqing picked up a piece of roasted suckling pig and put it into his mouth.

The skin was crisp, the meat tender, and the fat melted across his tongue.

It truly was delicious.

He then sampled the Spirit Fish Soup. The broth was fresh and flavorful, brimming with Spiritual Power.

This taste was truly excellent.

Lin Changqing was in high spirits, and a rare trace of a smile appeared on his face.

At the sight, Ma Yuanzhong felt even more delighted.

As long as he could satisfy the Saint Venerable, all the effort he had put into these arrangements had not been wasted.

This was a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint!

If he served him well, Ma Yuanzhong's words would carry a different weight in court from now on.

Meanwhile.

Capital City, Imperial Palace.

The Sixth Ancestor stepped out of the void and appeared outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Han Tieshan had long been waiting there with the lavish gifts prepared.

Ten massive chests stood there, each sealed with a strip of paper covered in engraved spirit patterns.

Inside were the finest heavenly treasures, spirit stones, and medicinal pills.

They were prepared according to the highest standards for a worship elder, with the specifications only exceeding the requirement, never falling below it.

"Greetings, Sixth Ancestor." Han Tieshan bowed with utmost respect.

The Sixth Ancestor swept his gaze over the chests and nodded.

With a sweep of his sleeve.

All ten chests were stored within a spatial treasure.

Then, without lingering for even a moment, he raised his hand and tore open space once more.

His figure flashed and vanished into the void.

Han Tieshan looked at the spot where the Spatial Rift had closed and thought to himself.

The Sixth Ancestor is personally making the trip, and he is bringing such lavish gifts. His Majesty is determined to win over that Evergreen Saint Venerable.

He turned and headed toward the Ministry of War offices.

"Then this subject shall await your good news in the Capital City."