Zhao Yunheng's words naturally contained not even a hint of falsehood; all he wanted was for Song Tonghai to bow his head.
As long as Song Tonghai spoke up, he would have means to ensure the Song Family's peace; at worst, he could send them to the Imperial Capital and still preserve their lives.
Seeing his expression did not seem feigned, the Son of Heaven nodded slightly, "That's good, put away those thoughts, and do not interfere with the Song Family's affairs anymore. There are many hidden nuances in this matter, do not bring trouble upon yourself."
"Imperial Brother, could you enlighten me?" Zhao Yunheng became somewhat curious.
"Five years ago, I received a message from the Fourteenth Imperial Great Uncle, stating that the Song Family's bloodline might be unusual, commanding me to investigate all Song surnamed noble families within the neighboring countries," the Son of Heaven said.
Slowing his breath, the Son of Heaven spoke gravely, "Three thousand years ago, there was a Song surnamed Celestial Lord who crossed the True Immortal gate, his ancestral home was less than a million li away from our Great Zhou."
"I have examined many records; kingdoms nearby all have Song surnamed noble families, some have lasted for a thousand years, some stand for less than a hundred years, but they share one astonishing commonality: in their families, there has almost always been an Immortal Seedling."
"The Song Family, could they be descendants of the Celestial Lord?" Zhao Yunheng's face changed dramatically.
If the Song Family truly descended from the Celestial Lord, that would be too astonishing.
The Immortal Sect is but a group of Cultivation practitioners, whereas a Celestial Lord is a true Immortal!
Bathed in the baptism of heaven and earth, their bodies filled with Immortal Bone; a breath could turn to clouds, bringing rain, and a snap of the fingers could create an unsurpassable Cave Heaven Blessed Land. Contrasted with them, the so-called Immortal Sect is hardly worth mentioning.
"Not a descendant of the Celestial Lord, it may well be from the same origin. This matter is top-secret, not to be disclosed," the Son of Heaven shook his head slightly.
"You need not think too much about it. Even if they are descendants of the Celestial Lord, that Celestial Lord has long since left the mortal realm. The Fourteenth Imperial Great Uncle is tracing their lineage for other plans. You should not get involved," the Son of Heaven said dismissively.
"The fact that Song Lingqing is of High Quality Immortal Bone has already spread to the neighboring states, and those who are after her are far more than just one or two. Her situation is even more perilous, and it remains uncertain whether she can live to participate in the grand competition. All we can do is quietly observe how things unfold."
"I understand, thank you for the reminder, Imperial Brother."
Zhao Yunheng's forehead was faintly beaded with cold sweat. He had vaguely sensed that the Song Family's lineage was somewhat divine but had never imagined it could be to this extent.
"Go now. I have already sent Mingzhou to deal with the matters in Luofeng City. You can return to your fief in a few days." The Son of Heaven waved his hand and strode into the shadows inside the hall, vanishing in an instant.
Zhao Yunheng was stunned for a moment, rubbed his face, and walked slowly out of the side hall, deep in thought.
"Father, you..."
Seeing the red handprint on Zhao Yunheng's face, Zhao Jichang, who was waiting outside, panicked for a moment.
"It's nothing. Enjoy your time in the Imperial Capital for a few days. After a while, your father will take you back to our fief."
Zhao Yunheng came back to his senses and said soothingly, "You can forget about Song Lingxue. Your father will find you another match."
"Match or no match, it's not something I particularly care about," Zhao Jichang shook his head, trying to mask his concern, "Is your face really okay? Do you want to see a physician?"
In that short span, Zhao Yunheng's face had swollen like a steamed bun, with five clear finger marks visible, red and swollen with streaks of blood.
The Imperial Uncle's strength was formidable...
"No love lost," Zhao Yunheng muttered indifferently.
With hands clasped behind him, Zhao Yunheng walked toward the palace exit, his mind starting to calculate once again.
After hearing about the Celestial Lord Song, his eagerness to arrange a marriage for Zhao Jichang intensified.
There was more than one Song surnamed noble family in Great Zhou besides Song Tonghai. He remembered several prominent households with the surname Song right within the Imperial Capital. A step-by-step visit should, after all, lead to a suitable match.
Being of the same surname as a Celestial Lord, even marrying someone with the surname Song might allow for some of the Immortal Qi to rub off on them. If necessary, he might marry a few more.
As for whether it would work out, that was a matter for later.
...
...
Luofeng City, City Lord's Mansion.
The sun was setting to the west, and the coldness surged, with the bone-chilling wind starting to howl again.
Inside the main hall,
Chu Zheng sat at the table, pouring himself a cup of tea, a silent sigh in his heart.
"Boy, go out and ask around about me, Li Mingzhou, what kind of person I am. Even the Son of Heaven showed me respect in his youth. If you miss this opportunity, it will never come again," Li Mingzhou said.
Wrapped in red armor, Li Mingzhou stood not far away, his countenance solemn, his voice deep as he spoke:
"I haven't witnessed what kind of person Li Mingzhou is, but seeing that you have exceptional Root Bone and Innate Divine Strength, I couldn't bear to let your talents go to waste in the countryside, so I'm giving you this chance."
After speaking and seeing Chu Zheng still silent, Li Mingzhou grew somewhat impatient:
"Do you really not wish to become my disciple? Let me tell you, I have no sons. If you become my disciple, all I have will be yours in the future, including the position of Commandant of the Vermilion Bird Divine Guards I can help you vie for it with the Son of Heaven."
At these words, Chu Zheng still did not speak, his heart filled with helplessness.
Li Mingzhou's response, all due to the phenomenon surrounding this Dragon-Tiger Body, his physique gradually becoming unlike ordinary people, with a waist like a dragon and a back like a tiger, muscles taut like a Strong Bow, bones hard as steel. Li Mingzhou had keen eyesight and caught sight of this.
After feeling his bones and noticing that there were no traces of Inner Strength within Chu Zheng's body, Li Mingzhou was even more overjoyed and insisted on taking him as a disciple.
Of course, Chu Zheng could not agree. Taking a master was not a trifling matter. The saying, "One day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father," was not empty talk.
Li Mingzhou may be capable, but he was far from qualified to be his master.
In the path of Cultivation, the qualified are the teachers, regardless of age.
With Qi-refining Technique at hand, Chu Zheng was confident enough that with just one more month's time, he could overpower Li Mingzhou without even using his hands.
In terms of strength, Li Mingzhou was not enough; in terms of vision and knowledge, Li Mingzhou probably wasn't much stronger than him either.
Given all these disparities, how could Li Mingzhou qualify as his master?
Seeing Chu Zheng quietly drinking tea, Li Mingzhou finally lost his patience, trying to smile it off lightly: