sonovelo Chapter 597: The Names Sung at the Dragon Terrace
Chapter 597: The Names Sung at the Dragon Terrace
Chapter 597: The Names Sung at the Dragon Terrace
The majestic Dragon Terrace gleamed with a golden radiance, its brilliance mirrored by swirling clusters of clouds that adorned the sky.
An immense crowd gathered below, their eager gazes burning with the intensity of the midday sun. Behind the Dragon Terrace stood ten towering pillars, each adorned with carvings of coiling dragons and carrying the banner of one of the ten sects participating in the Battle at the Imperial City.
As the competition progressed and sects were eliminated, the pillars were taken down one by one. Now, only a single banner remained—a white flag embroidered with gold—fluttering elegantly in the wind.
"Mount Shu Sect!"
As the Emperor of the Yu Dynasty ascended the Dragon Terrace, the deafening cheers for the Mount Shu Sect came to an abrupt halt. Traditionally, a high-ranking official from the Imperial Supervisory Bureau would make such announcements, but this time, the emperor himself stepped forward to announce the names. Clearly, the emperor was in an exceptionally good mood.
"After many days of fierce competition, the winning sect of this year's Assembly of Immortal Sects is... the Mount Shu Sect!" The emperor's voice resonated with a commanding blend of authority and delight.
The emperor was happy not just because Chu Liang held the title of Imperial Younger Brother. The main reason was that the reign of the Penglai Supreme Sect had lasted for far too long. Any sect that could defeat Penglai Supreme Sect and take the championship was sure to bring him joy.
"Ling Ao! Xu Ziyang! Jiang Yuebai!" He called out each name slowly and clearly. "And my Imperial Younger Brother, Chu Liang!"
"He is the champion of this year's Assembly of Immortal Sects!"
Each time a name was called, the twelve great drums on the city walls thundered in unison, and the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Even the auspicious clouds above seemed to join in the celebration of these young champions.
These were the most dazzling names of this generation!
In no time, their names would echo across the nine provinces and beyond, known far and wide. No matter where life took them, the glory they achieved today would be a source of pride for a lifetime.
The entire capital of Yu buzzed with excitement!
At this moment, he lay peacefully with his eyes closed in Jiang Yuebai's arms.
Jiang Yuebai sat beside him in the Imperial City's medical hall, letting him rest his head on her lap as they waited for the Imperial Supervisory Commissioner to personally tend to his injuries.
"Strange..." The Imperial Supervisory Commissioner frowned and said, "I've used my foundational qi to stabilize his life force. Although his wounds appear serious, they are only skin-deep. For someone as strong as him, the major injuries should already be repaired. It doesn't make sense for him to still be unconscious."
"Did you hear that?" Jiang Yuebai said, gently patting Chu Liang's face. "It's time to wake up."
"Mm..." Chu Liang's eyelids fluttered, but he still didn't open his eyes.
"If you keep this up, you will miss the moment when they announce your name at the Dragon Terrace. Stop faking it," Jiang Yuebai added.
Chu Liang opened his eyes immediately.
"Owh..." he groaned, rubbing the back of his head. Still sounding groggy, he added, "If you say I was unconscious, I guess I was. But even then, I swear I heard a voice... like the sound of heaven calling me back.
Jiang Yuebai smiled faintly and said in a helpless tone, "What should I do with you?"
As Chu Liang gazed at her face, he couldn't help but reflect on how some beauties appeared stunning from a distance but lost their charm up close. Jiang Yuebai, however, was different. From afar, she looked breathtaking, and up close, she was even more radiant.
"Why did you concede?" he asked.
Hearing this, Jiang Yuebai rolled her eyes at him in annoyance, thinking, So, he heard that too. Which means he was never actually unconscious. He just tripped, fell, and conveniently let me catch him. This guy was faking it the whole time.
"Little one, why are you so sad?"
The boy lifted his gaze and saw an elderly man with long white hair and a beard, wearing plain, coarse robes.
It was hard to tell how old he was, but he seemed very kind. Most of his face was hidden behind his flowing white hair, yet a warm smile shone through.
"My little turtle died..." the boy said sadly, his voice trembling. "Everyone was running over there to watch the Assembly of Immortal Sects, and my turtle accidentally crawled onto the road and got stepped on!"
"Then... do you wish for it to come back to life?" the kind elder asked suddenly.
"Huh?" The boy looked up with a strange expression. Though he was young, he knew that the dead could not return to life. "Is that even possible?" he asked.
"If you sincerely make a wish, I can help you bring it back to life," the elderly man said with a gentle smile.
Hearing this, the boy quickly closed his eyes and whispered his wish. "I sincerely wish for my turtle to come back to life."
As the words left his lips, the elderly man gently waved his hand over the turtle's lifeless body. In that moment, something miraculous happened.
The turtle's once drooping head slowly lifted, and it began moving from side to side again.
"Huh?" The boy's eyes widened in astonishment. "My turtle really came back to life!"
He gazed at the elderly man with awe, as if he were a divine being. "Grandpa, you're amazing!"
"Heheh." The elder chuckled softly and asked, "Are you happy?"
"Yes!" The boy nodded eagerly.
"Since I helped fulfill your wish, would you be willing to help me with something in return?" the elderly man asked gently.
"Yes!" The boy nodded again and asked, "What can I do to help you?"
"Help me by singing this ballad to your little friends, okay?" There was something unusual about the elderly man's voice, as though it carried a hidden power that engraved the words deeply in the boy's mind.
The ballad was long, yet the child remembered every word after hearing it just once, as though the lyrics had been etched into his soul.
The melody lingered in his mind as he hopped and skipped through the streets and alleys, eager to find his friends and sing it to them. "When the Purple Star retreats from sight,
"And Celestial Charm ascends the night,
"The Celestial Master comes from realms on high,
"To cut through demons beneath the sky. "Chaos stirs in the Dragon Pool,
"The Divine Fire Fades and Cool,
"Through mountain strife and shadowed fray,
"The Dragon-Slaying Saber lay."