Chapter 39: The Grand Gathering of Heroes in Great Xia

Thus, Chen Mu slept for three days, with Rou'er watching over him the entire time. She sighed softly to herself, murmuring, "The malice of this world is even more terrifying than what you have endured. As long as you possess a strong heart, you can overcome anything. Yet, the animosity between races has already reached the point of mutual destruction. Who is righteous and who is demonic? Now, it is the immortals who bear the mandate of Heaven who decide such things. But is our demon race truly no more than evil outcasts? Are we doomed to become the mounts beneath others' legs? Not only our race, but the previous ones who carried the mandate of Heaven..."

When Chen Mu awoke, he found himself lying in his own cave dwelling. Rou'er was curled up beside him, guarding him. His mind was dazed as he recalled all that had happened: he had killed He Silai, gravely wounded He Lang, and nearly killed his senior brother Gu Feng—only his nominal master had stopped him in time.

Chen Mu felt numb; everything seemed empty and unreal. He turned to Rou'er, asking, "How long have I been asleep?"

"Three days," Rou'er replied, snuggling into his arms.

When Chen Mu sat up, Rou'er darted into the spirit beast bracelet, vanishing from sight.

With hollow eyes, Chen Mu surveyed his surroundings. He realized he had barely spent any time in this new cave dwelling, as he had been away for most of this period.

As he sat in a daze, a sudden knock sounded at the door. He hesitated, then went to the entrance and lifted the restriction.

A disciple from the inner sect stood at the doorway and said, "Chen Mu, the Valley Master says that if you’re awake, you are to go to the Sect Hall immediately."

Chen Mu could sense the hostility in this disciple's eyes, but he ignored it. Only after the disciple had left did he step out, heading toward the Sect Hall.

On the way, he felt the same hostile glares, the same animosity directed at him, but Chen Mu paid it no mind. He resolved that if anyone dared to lay a hand on him, he would make rivers of blood flow here.

Inside the Sect Hall, Chen Mu performed only a bow, not a full kneel. "Disciple Chen Mu pays his respects to Master and the Elders."

Xiao Jueqing immediately rebuked him for not kneeling, "Chen Mu, why have you not performed the proper salute?"

"Because I will not kneel to those who wish to kill me," Chen Mu replied.

Guo Xingyuan could see the knot in Chen Mu’s heart and felt a headache coming on. As the Sect Master, without clear evidence, he could not show overt favoritism to Chen Mu; otherwise, the disciples of Star-Gazing Valley would grow rebellious at heart.

With a sigh, Guo Xingyuan could see that Chen Mu’s heart already no longer belonged to the Valley. He waved his hand, signaling that he did not mind Chen Mu’s attitude, and instead advised him in earnest, "Chen Mu, take these days to rest and recover. In a week, you will attend the Grand Gathering of Heroes in the Great Xia. You must do everything you can to enter the Nether Spring Secret Realm. After bathing in the Nether Spring, your path of cultivation will benefit beyond measure. You must seize this opportunity."

Chen Mu asked, puzzled, "The Grand Gathering of Heroes?"

"Once every four years, all the sects within the Great Xia Empire host the Grand Gathering of Heroes. It is an invaluable opportunity for disciples to exchange and compete, and there is a chance to enter the empire’s secret realm and seek fortune. I intend for you to participate this time. All disciples at the late Foundation Realm are required to attend, but you are an exception, as your strength has not yet reached that level."

"The secret realm?" Chen Mu pressed.

"This secret realm is under the control of the imperial family and is called the Nether Spring Secret Realm. Within it lies the Nether Spring Pool, which can cleanse the marrow and rebuild the body. Some say it is a gateway to the Underworld, where one can see memories of past lives. Of course, the marrow cleansing is true, but as for seeing past lives, that’s pure nonsense. I’ve been there myself; there are no such memories..."

Understanding the situation, Chen Mu replied in a daze, "Disciple accepts the order and will not disappoint Master’s expectations."

Days passed, and when the day of the Grand Gathering arrived, the elite disciples of Star-Gazing Valley assembled in the square. Most were at the late Foundation Realm.

There were two exceptions in the group. One was Chen Mu, who stood out starkly among them and drew scornful, hostile glances from the others. The other was the most talked-about figure of the moment—the Valley’s legitimate senior disciple, Senior Brother Gu Feng.

"Did you see? Senior Brother Gu Feng has reached perfect Foundation Realm. Now our Star-Gazing Valley can truly boast of a prodigy at that level among the younger generation."

"To reach perfection at Foundation Realm by the age of twenty-six—that talent is truly enviable. Now, let’s see who dares say our Valley’s younger generation has no one exceptional?"

"Indeed. It’s a pity that Senior Brother Gu Feng, so talented and handsome, is not accepted as a true disciple by the Sect Master. Who knows what kind of spell the new guy, Chen Mu, has cast on the Sect Master to become his personal disciple? Chen Mu is clearly a troublemaker—poor Senior Brother Gu Feng."

"Exactly! What right does that Chen guy have? Look at him—no sign of a strong aura, yet he’s being taken to the Grand Gathering. There must be something fishy here. Do you think Chen Mu could be the Sect Master’s illegitimate son?"

"Shh! Think it if you must, but don’t say it aloud. If the Sect Master hears, you’re in for it."

"Still, say what you will about his character, Chen Mu’s strength is decent. He beat He Lang and even fought Senior Brother Gu Feng to a standstill."

"Hmph! If the Sect Master hadn’t arrived, Senior Brother Gu Feng would have finished off Chen Mu right then!"

"..."

Listening to these rumors and feeling the hostile stares, Chen Mu wondered when he had become the Sect Master’s illegitimate son. But he ignored it all. His only desire now was to grow stronger, to explore the unknown world, to seek the path between immortals and mortals his father had spoken of.

He had no wish to argue. Looking up, he caught a cold, piercing gaze—none other than Senior Brother Gu Feng. Chen Mu met his eyes, and only then did Gu Feng look away.

At that moment, Guo Xingyuan strode forward and stood before the assembled disciples, silencing the chatter.

"I have summoned you here because you all know what is to come. All disciples above late Foundation Realm are gathered to take part in the Grand Gathering of Heroes two days from now. This gathering is a grand event for all sects of the Great Xia Empire, meant to foster communication and exchange among the younger generation. You may exchange cultivation insights, trade treasures and artifacts, and, of course, compete in martial contests. The greatest opportunity is to enter the Nether Spring Secret Realm, to seek out the Nether Spring Pool and cleanse your bodies, bringing yourselves closer to the Dao. If you have any questions, speak now."

Some newly advanced disciples asked basic questions. When all doubts were resolved, Guo Xingyuan spoke again, "If there are no further questions, let us depart."

With a wave of his hand, a flying vessel appeared—fifty meters in length, gleaming with silver light, its surface carved with dragons and phoenixes, majestic and awe-inspiring. With curious eyes, the disciples boarded the vessel one by one.

Once everyone was aboard and steady, the flying vessel began to rise and sped toward the site of the Grand Gathering.

Inside the vessel, the disciples chatted and laughed, all eagerly anticipating the journey. Only Chen Mu sat alone in a corner, meditating, out of place among them. No one approached him; if anything, they kept their distance, openly hostile. This suited Chen Mu fine—he had no need for empty social gestures.

Though he seemed to be meditating, Chen Mu was actually refining the fire in his dantian, a practice Rou’er had assigned him and which he completed diligently each day.

Time passed, and after more than half a day, the vessel finally came to a stop. Chen Mu opened his eyes from meditation—Star-Gazing Valley had arrived at their destination.

This year, the Grand Gathering was held in a forbidden area of the Great Xia Empire. Originally, this land was reserved for the imperial family alone, but the presence of the Nether Spring Secret Realm had led to a reluctant permission for sect disciples to enter.

Still, entry came with conditions—it was strictly limited to the elite young disciples participating in the Grand Gathering.