Scarfing Down Fruit Platters, Chen Changsheng: They're All Trash

Faced with Chen Changsheng's suggestion, Zuo Xinghe merely fell silent and gave no answer.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng smiled but said nothing.

Emperor Zuo had lived for twenty-three hundred years, surviving even twice as long as Spirit Transformation cultivators.

As the saying went, old men grew shrewd and old horses grew slippery. Chang'an City today could well be called a Dragon's Pool and Tiger's Den.

If not for investigating clues about the Bronze Ancient Hall, he would never have involved himself in this matter.

Chang'an City Imperial Palace.

The nine Princes of the Xuanwu Kingdom had all gathered in the great hall. Seated high upon the dragon throne was a young man.

This young man was the strongest emperor in Xuanwu Kingdom's history, the Xuanwu Emperor.

The Xuanwu Emperor propped his chin on one hand, smiling as he looked at his nine sons.

At that moment, one Prince stepped forward and said, "Father Emperor, I have sought out masters far and wide and searched every famous mountain and great river in the Xuanwu Kingdom."

"At last, I have found a dragon lair for Father Emperor. With this dragon lair, it will surely help Father Emperor live another lifetime."

Seeing that one Prince had already stepped forward, the other Princes refused to be left behind and began describing the great efforts they had made to find dragon lairs.

Yet among the nine Princes, only the First Prince, Zuo Xinghe, remained silent.

The reason he said nothing was simple: Chen Changsheng was frantically wiping out the fruit platter before him.

As he watched his brothers introduce the dragon lairs they had found, Zuo Xinghe was anxious beyond measure!

"Sir, perhaps you could wait a little before eating."

"How about we introduce the dragon lair first?"

Hearing Zuo Xinghe's "suggestion," Chen Changsheng swallowed the Spiritual Fruit in his mouth and said, "This is a banquet. Eating is the main business. Besides, that isn't what you should be concerned about right now!"

At those words, Zuo Xinghe's face filled with confusion.

"Not concern myself with the dragon lair right now? Then what should I be concerned about?"

Faced with Zuo Xinghe's utter lack of understanding, Chen Changsheng rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Your father is about to die, yet you nine sons are happily finding him burial plots. Don't you think that's rather hard to justify?"

Once Chen Changsheng finished speaking, Zuo Xinghe instantly understood.

It was true that Father Emperor wanted to find a dragon lair, and it was also true that his time was running out.

But at a time like this, the first thing he, as a son, should have felt was reluctance to part—not thoughts of finding his father a good grave.

Even if he did not truly feel that way, he at least had to put on a show!

Thinking this, Zuo Xinghe softly asked, "Sir, is it still in time?"

"It is never too late to mend the fold after the sheep are lost. Remember to make your movements exaggerated."

Having received Chen Changsheng's answer, Zuo Xinghe immediately rose and launched into a fierce sprint.

While sliding forward, he dropped to both knees, then smashed his forehead viciously against the floor.

"Father Emperor!"

"Your son cannot bear to part with you!"

The Princes: ???

Zuo Xinghe's sudden move caught the other eight Princes completely off guard.

At the same time, Emperor Zuo on the dragon throne turned his gaze toward Chen Changsheng, who was scarfing down fruit platters.

An old monster who had lived for more than twenty-three hundred years was unquestionably powerful.

No conversation in the great hall could escape his ears.

He naturally knew the thoughts and temperaments of all nine Princes like the back of his hand. But the helper his eldest son had brought along seemed rather interesting.

With that thought, Emperor Zuo said, "A great man should not weep and whine. What sort of conduct is this?"

Faced with Emperor Zuo's mildly reproachful tone, Zuo Xinghe cried even louder.

"Father Emperor, as the saying goes, men do not shed tears lightly, only when their hearts are broken. Now that your son is about to part from Father Emperor, how can your son not feel reluctant?"

Watching his eldest son's exquisite acting, Emperor Zuo smiled faintly and used Spiritual Power to help Zuo Xinghe to his feet.

"I know your filial devotion. But life, parting, and death are the Heavenly Dao. You need not grieve too deeply."

After saying that, Emperor Zuo waved his hand again. A servant at once brought Chen Changsheng another enormous "fruit platter."

Faced with Emperor Zuo's reward, Chen Changsheng grinned, flashing a mouthful of white teeth.

"Many thanks, Emperor Zuo!"

With that, Chen Changsheng resumed scarfing down the "fruit platter," eating and stuffing his pockets at the same time.

The Princes: "..."

Could you have even a shred of shame? How had you even come up with such a shameless trick?

Why hadn't I thought of it?

Although Emperor Zuo had not explicitly said anything, the other eight Princes all knew that Zuo Xinghe's actions had clearly earned him points.

After that little performance ended, Emperor Zuo finally began speaking of serious matters.

"My end is approaching. I wish to find a land of Immortal Destiny and defy fate to live another lifetime."

"Ten years ago, I promised that whoever could find a true land of Immortal Destiny would receive the Imperial Throne of the Xuanwu Kingdom."

"Now is the time for you to show your results."

As his words fell, the eight Princes gave meaningful looks to the "masters" beside them.

Immediately afterward, those "masters" stepped forth one after another, confidently introducing the dragon lairs they had found.

The descriptions sounded so mystical and profound that even Zuo Xinghe could not help feeling tempted.

Yet Chen Changsheng, his helper, continued the great undertaking of scarfing down "fruit platters," with no intention of speaking at all.

Half an hour passed, and all eight dragon lairs had been introduced.

Everyone turned their eyes toward Chen Changsheng. Seeing his crude behavior, the Second Prince said displeasedly, "Eldest Brother, where did you find such a rustic country bumpkin? This is the crucial moment of Father Emperor's thousand-year plan."

"Letting such a person appear in the great hall—wouldn't that disgrace our Xuanwu Kingdom?"

Hearing this, Zuo Xinghe was about to retort when Chen Changsheng finished off the last Spiritual Fruit and said unhurriedly, "Haven't you heard of making an appearance as the grand finale?"

"The capable ones always appear last. What are you panicking for?"

As he spoke, Chen Changsheng looked at Emperor Zuo. "May I ask, Emperor Zuo, do you have a map?"

"If possible, the map should be as large and detailed as it can be."

Hearing this, Emperor Zuo flicked his finger. Five burly men immediately carried in a massive rolled-up map.

When the map was unrolled, it covered nearly half the palace hall.

Chen Changsheng studied the map carefully, marking out each of the eight dragon lairs mentioned earlier.

After finishing everything, Chen Changsheng cupped his hands and said, "Emperor Zuo, forgive me for speaking bluntly, but in my eyes, these eight places are all trash."

"If you wish to defy fate and live another lifetime, only one place has even a slight possibility."

The moment those words came out, the many masters present immediately grew furious.

"Outrageous! What sect and school do you come from, to dare spout such wild nonsense here?"

"Name your master's sect, and we shall teach you a proper lesson on behalf of your master."

Facing everyone's fury, Chen Changsheng picked at his ear and said indifferently, "My apologies, but my sect does not specialize in Dragon Seeking and Acupuncture Point Location. I taught myself these things."

"Besides, my main profession is selling coffins. I also work part-time in Dragon Seeking and Acupuncture Point Location, as well as handling Funeral Service Packages."