Chapter 2021: The Heavenly Bridge Opens Early

After struggling for a long time, he managed to keep the name 'Little Chick,' filled with relief.

Now he truly understood just how terrible this master was at naming.

Fortunately, he had fought for the name; otherwise, whether it was 'Chicken Tyrant' or a reduplicated name like Little Sword Sword, he couldn't accept it!

Otherwise, in the future, facing divine beasts across from him.

'I am the supreme divine beast that roams the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, traversing ten thousand realms, the Desolate Ancient Divine Dragon, Aotian!'

'I am the supreme divine beast that burns the Eight Wastelands and boils the oceans, the Nine-Headed Fire Phoenix, Huo Qianyu!'

…

When it was his turn…

'I am the divine beast… Little Chick, Chicken Tyrant!'

…

If that really happened, he would vomit blood and die without even fighting.

What kind of nonsense was this…

How had he found such an unreliable master…

He looked down at his own body…

It seemed he really did look like a chick! And one that had just hatched at that…

The key was that he had lost his memories… What kind of divine beast was he?

Little Chick fell into deep thought.

Ignoring this creature tangled in existential crisis, Zhang Xuan took out the corpses of the three Immortal Lords who had just assassinated him.

Their spatial rings, like those of the previous Temple warriors, contained nothing valuable. He only hoped to refine these fellows. Having been ambushed twice by the Temple, he still didn't know how his identity had been leaked, and he was anxious.

Since he began cultivation, he had never craved strength so urgently!

Although the Soul-Imprisoned Golden Figures could only be used one at a time, having more of them greatly helped his safety. For example, when that guy self-destructed earlier, with more golden figures, he could line them up as shields, making it safer.

…

The ancient, quiet temple.

The tall figure flickered again and appeared in the center of the flame-encircled hall.

'Failed again?'

A pair of eyes stared coldly at the black-robed man before him.

'Yes…' The black-robed man trembled.

'It seems I underestimated him. The Chosen One indeed has great fortune…'

His eyes narrowed, and the tall figure snorted coldly: 'You will go personally! If you fail again… don't come to see me; kill yourself! Also, find out exactly what trump cards he has that three Temple Immortal Lords couldn't succeed!'

'Yes, master!'

The black-robed man nodded hastily and turned to leave.

'Wait…' The tall figure waved his hand: 'Spread the latest news from the Temple: the Heavenly Bridge will open… half a month from now!'

'Half a month? Early?'

The black-robed man was startled.

Normally, the Heavenly Bridge would not open for some time. Opening it in half a month—wasn't that too soon?

'Since the Lingyun Sword Pavilion established him as Sect Master, they surely want him to be a challenger and challenge the Heavenly Bridge. If it opened normally, there would still be a long time, and I fear that during that period, he could break through to Immortal Lord. By then, none of you would be a match for him!'

The tall figure's gaze turned cold: 'We must not let him succeed, or else you will all die!'

'Yes! I understand…' The black-robed man's expression turned grave. Without further words, he turned and left.

…

Above the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, a slender boat hovered in the air. A woman stood quietly on it, followed by a child.

'Palace Master Du, why have you come in person?'

The air rippled, and a figure appeared abruptly—it was Han Jianqiu.

'I came for your new Sect Master.'

The woman said calmly, her hands behind her back.

This was Du Qingyuan, the Palace Master of the Zhuxing Palace.

'Sect Master?' Han Jianqiu frowned.

'Yes. Can you ask him to come out and see me?'

Du Qingyuan nodded.

'This…' Han Jianqiu hesitated: 'Palace Master Du, I'm sorry, but the Sect Master is… cultivating the Lingyun Sword God Technique in seclusion and cannot receive guests for now…'

The news that the Sect Master had left the sect must be kept secret; otherwise, once the Temple learned of it and went after him, the hope they had just gained might vanish.

'In seclusion?' Du Qingyuan frowned.

She knew that the new Sect Master of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion was to learn the Lingyun Sword God Technique, so she had no suspicion when he said that.

After all, Han Jianqiu had gone through the same thing, spending fifteen years in seclusion.

Even if this Zhang Xuan was talented, it certainly wouldn't be fast. She couldn't wait here for years!

'Do you have a portrait of him? Let me see it.'

Han Jianqiu looked at her with confusion: 'May I ask why Palace Master Du has come specifically to find our Sect Master?'

Under normal circumstances, Du Qingyuan, as the Palace Master of one of the six great sects, Zhuxing Palace, had a cultivation at the Pseudo-God realm, no weaker than himself! Before becoming Sect Master, Zhang Xuan was just a nobody from a small city. There should be no connection between them. Why had she come specially to inquire?

'I just find the name familiar, like an old acquaintance, and wanted to confirm if it's him.'

Du Qingyuan said.

If Zhang Xuan were here, he would surely recognize that this Du Qingyuan was the 'god' from the upper realm who had appeared when he performed the ritual using Chen Yonghuang's means after Luo Ruoxi left.

In the end, she had taken Chen Yonghuang's soul and, using some secret technique, created a new body for him—the child standing at the stern of the boat, Wuchen.

'Old acquaintance?'

Han Jianqiu frowned again.

The Sect Master had been determined to go to the Zhuxing Sea, and no one could stop him. Now the Palace Master of Zhuxing Palace had come here. Could it be that the two were indeed old acquaintances?

After a pause, he turned his wrist, and a jade tablet appeared. He tapped it lightly, and Zhang Xuan's image emerged.

'This is our Sect Master, Zhang Xuan.'

Although the relationship between Zhuxing Palace and the Lingyun Sword Pavilion was not very good, Du Qingyuan had no bad reputation, so she probably wouldn't harm the Sect Master.

Moreover, he hadn't told her where he had gone. Even if she knew his appearance, it didn't matter.

'Indeed…'

Seeing the image, Du Qingyuan's eyes lit up, and the child Wuchen behind her was even more excited.

'Do you know him, Palace Master Du?'

Han Jianqiu asked.

'We met once…' Du Qingyuan nodded, then turned to instruct: 'Wuchen, if you want to stay here, I can speak with Sect Master Han…'

'Thank you, Palace Master!'

Wuchen's eyes brightened, and he nodded hastily.

'Mm.' Du Qingyuan acknowledged, about to speak, when her delicate brows suddenly furrowed. At the same time, she saw that Han Jianqiu across from her was also startled. After a moment, his face turned pale: 'The Heavenly Bridge… is opening early? Half a month from now?'

'This, this is too fast!' Han Jianqiu's body stiffened.

The Heavenly Bridge opened once every hundred years and was the only path into the Temple. If one missed it, they would have to wait another hundred years!

The new Sect Master of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion was fast in cultivation and exceptional in swordsmanship. Barring accidents, if the bridge opened at the normal time, he would definitely be able to advance his cultivation to the peak of Immortal Lord and qualify to challenge it!

Once that happened, reclaiming the other half of the character belonging to the Sword Pavilion would be easy.

But opening in half a month—there was no time!

Moreover, he had already gone to the Zhuxing Sea. Where he was now was unclear, and they couldn't contact him…

What should be done?

'Enter the Divine Communication Hall!'

Without hesitation, Han Jianqiu took out a Divine Communication Jade Talisman, and with a thought, entered it. Du Qingyuan followed without stopping.

This was a jade talisman that only the continent's top experts could use, allowing them to gather quickly and discuss matters.

As for why they had to gather in person to discuss the Heavenly Bridge matter before, it was because the Divine Communication Hall, being a treasure of another sect, still had the potential to leak information.

A simple meeting like this was not a big problem.

In a sealed room of the Divine Communication Hall, figures appeared one after another. The other sect masters had apparently also received the news and hurried over.

'What plans do you all have?'

Seeing that the six sect masters had all arrived, Han Jianqiu looked around.

'The Heavenly Bridge is opening, so the six great sects naturally need to prepare properly. Sect Master Han, hasn't your new Sect Master of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion already comprehended the Divine Sword Intent? Why hasn't he come?'

An old man looked over.

The news that the new Sect Master of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, Zhang Xuan, had comprehended the Divine Sword Intent had spread across the entire continent, known to everyone. Under normal circumstances, he was qualified to attend such a meeting.

'He is in seclusion and hasn't been notified yet…'

Han Jianqiu said.

'And what about your new Sect Master, Zheng Yang?' The old man then looked at the Qin Yuan Sect Master nearby.

'He… is also in seclusion!' The Qin Sect Master nodded.

'Both in seclusion?' The old man frowned. 'The chance to enter the Temple through the Heavenly Bridge comes only once every hundred years. The two most promising sect masters are both in seclusion. What do we do?'

When the two sect masters had taken office, both sects had been filled with great enthusiasm. How could they both be in seclusion at this critical moment?

'How about this: we try to notify the sect masters, and you also quickly select the strongest and most talented disciples within your sects. Gather at the Heaven-Connecting Stone at the Zhuxing Sea in ten days. Before the Heavenly Bridge opens, we'll test the strength of each sect and then decide who will lead.'

After a pause, Han Jianqiu said.

'Agreed…'

Everyone nodded simultaneously.

This was indeed the best approach.

The Temple's location was above the Zhuxing Sea, and the Heavenly Bridge appeared there as well.

For the six great sects to have experts enter it, they had to arrive early.

'This is the best way. Gathering together will also help us find better countermeasures…'

Just then, a faint voice sounded, and with a flicker of shadow, a tall figure also appeared in the room.

Seeing this figure, everyone stood up and clasped their fists: 'Hall Master Kong!'

It was the Hall Master of the Divine Communication Hall!

'Mm, no need to be formal. I've heard the news too… You all should quickly bring your sects' top experts to the Heaven-Connecting Stone. Once we choose who will lead, I will personally explain the details of the Heavenly Bridge and the Temple to him.'

Hall Master Kong smiled and looked at Han Jianqiu: 'Especially your new Sect Master, Zhang Xuan. When he arrives at the Heaven-Connecting Stone, I hope Sect Master Han will introduce him to me. A genius who has comprehended the Divine Sword Intent—I would really like to meet him!'

'I will definitely have him come and pay respects to Hall Master Kong!' Han Jianqiu nodded.