After speaking, he suddenly turned around, bowed his head to Chu Zheng, and declared clearly, “Though Zhu is without talent, I am willing to follow Young Master, serving before your saddle and behind your horse, gladly accepting any orders.”

Everyone was stunned and looked toward Chu Zheng in unison. They saw his expression was calm and composed, with an imposing noble bearing and an inviolable sacred imperial aura.

The people of Penglai Valley had lived in the valley for over a thousand years. The younger generation was proud and ambitious, having long wanted to leave the valley to see the world and display their abilities, but lacked opportunities. Now stirred to excitement by Zhu Yuanqing’s words, they all knelt down in unison, declaring loudly, “We are willing to follow Young Master, serving before your saddle and behind your horse, gladly accepting any orders!”

Before Chu Zheng could speak, Master Mu had already sighed deeply and said gravely, “This is what everyone desires – it seems to be heaven’s will.” After speaking, he exchanged glances with several other elders and knelt on the ground.

In an instant, among the thousand people in the field, except for Miss Tan’s few guards, all the rest knelt at Chu Zheng’s feet. Chu Zheng smiled faintly, as if the matter had nothing to do with him, and gestured for them to rise, saying, “What are you all doing? I’m merely an outsider and don’t deserve such high expectations.”

“Not so,” Zhu Yuanqing said. “Since we can replace the Miss and become Valley Master, why can’t Young Master replace us? Worldly affairs naturally belong to those with virtue – with Young Master’s talents, you are duty-bound to accept.”

Master Mu said gravely, “Young Master need not decline. Chief Zhu’s words have awakened us from our dreams. Heaven’s will brought Young Master here for today’s purpose. I believe even the Miss wouldn’t object.”

Saint Ousi laughed charmingly, “Last night I observed the stars and saw a new star shining brightly in the true south. I thought some contemporary hero had emerged in the south – I didn’t expect it to correspond to today’s situation.”

Though Miss Tan had a gentle temperament, she wasn’t foolish. Seeing how everyone around her coordinated to push Chu Zheng into the Valley Master position while she stood isolated and helpless with no one caring, she immediately understood. A trace of bitterness slowly rose in her heart. Her bright eyes misted over as she stared directly at that man she had carefully spent two years with. For a moment, she felt his calm and handsome face was so strange – after two years together, she had never truly seen through him. She suddenly felt the vastness of heaven and earth while she stood alone, surrounded by emptiness with no branch to depend on.

“Since public opinion is thus, please Miss, hand over the keys and construction secrets to the new Valley Master.”

Miss Tan stared blankly at Chu Zheng, remaining silent without uttering a word. Seeing this, Chu Li smiled and stood up, saying tenderly with pity, “Su Ning, are you unhappy? If you’re unhappy, I won’t serve as Valley Master and will leave tomorrow.”

Miss Tan, dressed in white, heard this and shook her head slightly, saying lightly, “Actually, if you wanted the Valley Master position, you only needed to tell me and I would have given it to you. You didn’t need to go through such a big charade.”

Chu Zheng hadn’t expected this usually gentle woman to suddenly say such words. He was immediately stunned and said awkwardly, “Where do I want to be Valley Master? It’s really that such kind intentions are hard to refuse…”

“Forget it, you don’t need to say more.” Miss Tan waved her hand and said gravely to the crowd below, “You want me to give up the Valley Master position – I have nothing to say. But asking me to hand over construction secrets, construction bureau keys, and gunpowder formulas is absolutely impossible. Though I’ve never left the valley and don’t understand outside affairs, I know what great chaos would emerge if these things got out, and how many lives would be harmed. You can discuss slowly – I’m leaving first.”

After speaking, she turned to leave.

“Wait!” Zhu Yuanqing suddenly blocked Miss Tan’s path, his eyes deep as he said gravely, “Public opinion is thus, and everyone desires it. Since Miss has already tacitly agreed, why must you cling to these treasures and refuse to let go? Emperors take turns ruling – today it comes to my house. The Tan family has enjoyed the benefits for so many years – today you should also yield your position.”

Tan Sheng’s eyebrows shot up as he suddenly drew his precious sword, flashed forward, and angrily shouted, “Surnamed Zhu, what are you saying! If not for the Tan family ancestors, your ancestors would have perished in the chaotic world a thousand years ago – where would it be your turn to make noise here today! Now that the old Valley Master is gone, do you want to unconscionably force the Miss?”

“Brother Tan Sheng, why such anger? I merely think that since we’ve confirmed establishing Young Master Chu as Valley Master, we should hand over the valley’s important shamanic items to the new Valley Master for safekeeping as usual – that’s all.”

As soon as these words fell, the crowd below suddenly shouted chaotically, “Chief Zhu speaks correctly! Should hand them to the new Valley Master for safekeeping!” “Exactly, since she’s no longer Valley Master, why still hold onto the secrets?” “If the name isn’t right, the words won’t be smooth – the Tan family should also yield their position!”

Tan Sheng frowned tightly, turning to look at the various family heads and elders. Master Mu looked slightly embarrassed, coughed lightly, and said gravely, “This old man also thinks Chief Zhu’s words are reasonable.”

Miss Tan stood frozen in place, her gaze passing over each elder’s face one by one. She saw they all looked embarrassed and didn’t even dare raise their heads to meet her eyes. Suddenly everyone below Phoenix Cry Platform knelt down in unison, shouting loudly, “Please Miss hand over the treasures to the new Valley Master for safekeeping!”

Mountain-like shouting immediately arose. Miss Tan’s face turned pale as paper, her pair of eyes dark and misty like water, looking toward Chu Zheng with bright clarity.

Tan Sheng turned to Chu Zheng and said, “Young Master Chu, both the old Valley Master and Miss have shown you great kindness. Please say something – you can’t let them bully Miss like this!”

Chu Li raised his eyebrows and slowly walked toward Miss Tan, seeming quite troubled as he slightly frowned. After thinking for a long while, he said thoughtfully, “Su Ning, I know you’re unwilling. But today everyone shows such favor – it’s really hard to refuse such kind intentions. How about this – you first give me the items, and afterward I’ll discuss with everyone and return them to your safekeeping. What do you think?”

Tan Sheng flew into a rage, shouting sternly, “Surnamed Chu! I knew long ago you harbored ill intentions. The old Valley Master risked his life to save you that day, and over these two years Miss has cared for you meticulously. The entire Penglai Valley has treated you with courtesy – who would have thought we’d raise such an ungrateful, shameless wretch!”

“Audacious!” Zhu Yuanqing angrily shouted, saying gravely, “How dare you show disrespect to the new Valley Master! Do you want to go to the Ten Thousand Poisons Pit?”

Several burly men with broad backs and strong builds immediately stepped forward. Miss Tan frowned tightly, raised her delicate hand to block them, standing in front of Tan Sheng as she said gravely, “Stop! As long as I haven’t handed over the secret texts and classics for one day, I remain the acting Valley Master of this valley for one day. I want to see who has such audacity!”

Though Miss Tan was gentle and indifferent by nature, she had long held high position and retained her accumulated authority. When she became angry like this, she was quite imposing, and everyone immediately dared not act rashly.

Miss Tan slowly took a breath and said gravely, “The secret techniques, elixir texts, formulas and classics – I only have half in my hands. The other half is with Uncle Qing of the Craftsmen Department. I still need to discuss with the old man.”

“No need to discuss!” Zhu Yuanqing laughed heartily, pointing at someone below and declaring loudly, “All eight hundred craftsmen of the Craftsmen Department agree unanimously. Uncle Qing is right down there now.”

Miss Tan was greatly shocked upon hearing this. The eight hundred craftsmen had always lived in the inner valley with little contact with outsiders. Uncle Qing was even a family servant of several generations of the Tan family, utterly loyal. She hadn’t expected him to appear here today, and couldn’t help but frown in disbelief.

“I’m sorry, Miss,” the thin, hunched old man said slowly. “I… I really want to see what use those things have in the outside world. I’m not coveting wealth and honor – as long as you let me see once, even if I die, I can close my eyes in peace.”

Miss Tan painfully shut her eyes tight, turned her head to the side, her body trembling slightly.

Zhu Yuanqing pressed aggressively, “Please Miss hand over the secret techniques and formulas!”

“Please Miss hand over the secret techniques and formulas!”

Everyone shouted in unison. Miss Tan opened her eyes in panic, her eye sockets reddening. Seeing this, Tan Sheng became furious and suddenly roared fiercely, brandishing his precious sword as he charged straight at Zhu Yuanqing. Who would have thought that the seemingly lazy and unrestrained Zhu Yuanqing would suddenly laugh heartily, flick his wide sleeve, and in a flash of silver light, a line of blood immediately shot skyward. Tan Sheng’s body maintained its original momentum charging forward until reaching the platform’s edge, where he crashed down with a thunderous sound. His body convulsed twice, his throat stained with blood, his eyes wide open. His body straightened once and he died on the spot.

“Tan Sheng!” Miss Tan suddenly screamed and was about to run toward the platform below.

But Zhu Yuanqing suddenly raised his arm vertically, grabbed Miss Tan’s clothing, and said with a smile, “Is Miss about to leave? Please first hand over the secret techniques and formulas, then you may depart safely.”

“Tan Sheng!” Tears poured down Miss Tan’s face as she cried and struggled, but unfortunately all these people remained motionless like stones, their eyes staring at her like evil wolves, as if they had all gone mad. Looking at Tan Sheng’s corpse, Miss Tan, encountering such a great upheaval for the first time, finally collapsed sitting on the ground, covered her face with her hands, and wept bitterly.

“Bring up that captured Southern Chu official. Today we’ll use him to consecrate our Penglai righteous banner. From today forth we swear to follow Young Master to the death, never changing our resolve!”

Enormous shouting thundered forth. Miss Tan’s entire body trembled as her tearful eyes looked toward that man she had fantasized about too many times as her lifelong companion. Her fragrant heart nearly shattered inch by inch.

She saw Chu Zheng smile lightly and stand up, declaring loudly, “承蒙诸位抬爱, I certainly won’t forget everyone’s kindness. When I ascend to the great throne in the future, I’ll share this realm with all of you! When Penglai emerges, who can compete with our brilliance!”

“When Penglai emerges! Who dares compete!”

Amid the mountain and sea-like shouting, a man in blue robes was thrown with a bang onto the center of the high platform. The black cloth on his face was yanked off by someone. Lin Mubai suddenly shouted loudly at Chu Zheng, “Ungrateful! Traitorous minister and rebel! Southern Chu’s million elite troops sleep on their weapons waiting for dawn – they will surely take your head to sacrifice to the late Emperor’s spirit in heaven!”

Chu Zheng chuckled and said, “You should go to the underworld to meet your late Emperor. Soon, he’ll also go to find you.”

The executioners immediately raised their long knives, suspended high above Lin Mubai’s head. The pedantic scholar stubbornly straightened his neck, looked at Chu Zheng with disdain, didn’t even close his eyes, and gnashed his teeth as he called out, “Let me watch with my eyes open and see how miserably you’ll end up in the future!”