Taiping City.
This was a city in Yan State, located relatively close to Lan State. Any news from Jinyun City in Lan State would reach here quickly.
"Have you heard? In this war between the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty and the Jin Meng Empire, some peerless, ruthless guy appeared and killed the Jin Meng Empire’s Martial Saint Ancestor. Just slaughtered him like a chicken!"
"You’ve got to be kidding! An expert like a Martial Saint, getting killed by someone?"
"Don’t tell me you don’t believe it! This news came from the second son of the second grand-uncle of a friend of my brother-in-law, who’s a soldier in Jinyun City. It’s absolutely true!"
"Let me tell you, with a chain of connections that long, there’s no way it’s true!"
"The story’s true! It’s already spread everywhere!"
"The Jin Meng Empire and the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty are in a truce now. That part’s undeniable, right?"
"I’ve heard about that, but hasn’t it been confirmed yet?"
"It’s been confirmed. They say it’s all thanks to that ruthless guy. With the Jin Meng Empire’s Martial Saint Ancestor dead, of course they don’t dare to keep fighting!"
"Is this ruthless guy you’re talking about one of our people?"
"Not sure. But he also attacked our dynasty’s Martial Saint Grand Ancestor. The outcome of that is unclear. However, the Old Emperor broke through to the Martial Saint Realm, so our dynasty has another Martial Saint Ancestor now. The Jin Meng Empire is no longer a match for us!"
"I see, so that’s why you said there’s a truce. But wait, if the Jin Meng Empire’s Martial Saint Ancestor is dead and our dynasty has two Martial Saints, why didn’t we just attack the Jin Meng Empire and take over their lands?"
"Who knows! Only the higher-ups know what they’re thinking!"
Inside the tavern, countless people were discussing matters of the border—or more precisely, matters concerning Jinyun City.
The Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty had conscripted many, but the rich and powerful could still find ways to avoid the draft.
If not for the coercion by a Martial Saint expert during the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s third round of conscription, the important figures of the Major Sects would never have been affected.
Naturally, within the various Noble Families, many used other means to evade conscription.
Those with money and power always had ways to find substitutes.
And the people who frequented taverns were, for the most part, exactly this type.
Yang Chan sat in the tavern, eating roast duck, his ears tuned to the news being passed around by these people.
He was currently disguised as a middle-aged man, exuding the aura of someone who had practiced Martial Arts. He even carried a baleful air, looking like someone not to be trifled with.
He had gone through several identities before settling on his current one.
He had appeared in Taiping City to listen for follow-up news from Jinyun City in Lan State.
"What about the people from the Sects in the various states? Is there no news? After all, even people from the Celestial One Water Palace participated in the border war. Haven’t they returned yet?"
At a table not far from Yang Chan, a group of people began discussing Sect matters.
These were all topics of great public interest. While sometimes exaggerated, the general gist of the stories was usually correct.
"I heard that the people from the Major Sects who participated in the war suffered heavy losses. This time, it was the result of being forced by a Martial Saint from the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. If the Great Zhou’s Old Emperor hadn’t broken through to the Martial Saint Realm, they would have probably ganged up to make trouble for the Great Zhou Imperial Family."
"After all, it’s said that the Martial Saint Ancestor who forced the Major Sects to join the war was coughing up blood all the way back to White Jade City. He’s probably not long for this world!"
"Is that ruthless guy really that strong? What’s his name?"
"Strong? Hah! They say this peerless ruthless guy took on two Martial Saint experts by himself, killed the Jin Meng Empire’s Martial Saint Ancestor, and severely wounded the Great Zhou Imperial Family’s Grand Ancestor. The Grand Ancestor isn’t expected to live much longer. How could he not be strong?!"
"If the Great Zhou Imperial Family’s Old Emperor hadn’t broken through to the Martial Saint Realm, that Martial Saint Grand Ancestor would have probably died in Jinyun City."
"That ruthless guy’s name seems to be Ouyang Qingtian. It’s a very domineering name. You can tell just from the name that he’s no simple character!"
"But because of this, the war between the two nations ended. It’s said that this peerless ruthless man has already gone to the Jin Meng Empire to become its new Emperor. That’s why the two nations have a temporary truce!"
"I see. So what’s this Ouyang Qingtian’s background?"
"His background is astounding! They say he’s the successor of a peerless great sect, or that he’s..."
"If you don’t know, don’t just spout nonsense! Ouyang Qingtian is from a reclusive Noble Family!"
Hearing this, someone at the next table immediately retorted.
"That’s not right. Didn’t they say he came from a humble background and was oppressed by people from the Jin Meng Empire? He’s only acting now to kill their ancestor and get his revenge!"
Yet another table offered a different origin story.
Yang Chan’s mouth twitched slightly as he listened, but that wasn’t important.
It didn’t matter what Ouyang Qingtian’s background was. What mattered was that the two nations had declared a truce, and the people from the Major Sects were returning to their Sects.
And that meant he could return to the Cyan Yuan Sect, which was the real good news for him.
The Old Emperor Yang Yu breaking through to the Martial Saint Realm, however, was a surprise. It now seemed that the Old Emperor had appeared in Jinyun City with the intention of using the Power of Origin National Fate to break through to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm.
According to the information he had, the Power of Origin National Fate could weaken bottlenecks and even aid in Realm breakthroughs. So the Old Emperor had appeared at the border for the sake of the Power of Origin National Fate, and he had actually succeeded.
He hadn’t expected that part.
A lot had certainly happened after he left the border battlefield.
Still, he felt he’d made the right choice to leave. Otherwise, he would have been caught up in the mess.
The appearance of too many Martial Saint experts meant the border had become all the more dangerous.
"Waiter, more wine!"
"And bring another roast chicken!"
Having finished the roast duck, Yang Chan ordered a roast chicken.
Martial Artists had large appetites. The tavern’s roast duck had been excellent, so he wanted to order a roast chicken to try its flavor as well.
He finished his wine and ordered more. It was all light wine, the kind that wouldn’t get one drunk.
Besides, with his current Cultivation, it was extremely difficult for him to get drunk. Any alcohol that entered his stomach could be expelled from his body directly.
Acting this way was also in line with his current identity. After all, his current appearance was that of a Jianghu Hero, someone who had clearly seen combat. Ordinary people wouldn’t dare to approach him.
"Right away, sir! Please wait a moment!"
The waiter called back loudly.
Before Yang Chan had to wait long, the light wine and roast chicken appeared before him, the aroma of the chicken wafting over him.
"I’ve also heard that the Celestial One Water Palace is about to return. This time, even though the Great Zhou Imperial Family has produced a new Martial Saint, the Major Sects definitely won’t let this go. The Imperial Family treated the Sect members like cannon fodder, causing them to suffer terrible losses!"
"What do you mean? I don’t get it!"
"They say the Old Emperor of the Great Zhou Imperial Family’s breakthrough to the Martial Saint Realm is related to the heavy losses of the Major Sects. That’s why the Major Sects are going to join forces to put pressure on the Great Zhou Imperial Family!"
"Even a Martial Saint expert wouldn’t dare to ignore the combined power of all the Sects. It’s a force capable of overthrowing the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. Even the Imperial Family can’t afford to overlook it!"