Burying His Grandmaster, Chen Changsheng's Deal with Emperor Zuo

Chen Changsheng's words plunged Zuo Xinghe into silence.

After a while, Zuo Xinghe said, "Since you understand Father Emperor's intentions, sir, what do you think Father Emperor will do next?"

"What else could he do? Of course, consider whether he can accept the price I've named!"

Zuo Xinghe stared at Chen Changsheng in surprise.

"Sir, do you know how to enter the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground?"

"I have a tiny bit of confidence, but not much—only half a chance out of ten."

"But don't underestimate that half-chance. If you want to buy the half-chance I hold in my hands—"

"Even if your Father Emperor traded the entire Xuanwu Pavilion for it, he would still be making an enormous profit."

With that, Chen Changsheng waved his hand.

"Alright, you can leave now. I want to read in peace."

"Also, remember to have someone copy all the Ancient Texts in Xuanwu Pavilion for me. I'll keep them and read them slowly later."

Zuo Xinghe's mouth twitched at Chen Changsheng's demands, but he said nothing.

Because he knew this matter was no longer something he could interfere in.

After Zuo Xinghe left, Chen Changsheng began slowly reading through Xuanwu Kingdom's historical records.

And once Chen Changsheng began reading, an entire month passed.

During that time, Xuanwu Kingdom sent people every day with plentiful cultivation resources. Chen Changsheng accepted every single one without exception.

Yet he did not mention the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground even once.

Crunch!

Biting into a Spiritual Fruit that countless people dreamed of obtaining, Chen Changsheng lay atop pages larger than a bed and read intently.

His leisurely appearance was enough to make others green with envy.

"You really can keep your composure."

A voice came from beside him. Chen Changsheng turned his head and saw that Emperor Zuo had somehow arrived at Xuanwu Pavilion.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Chen Changsheng bowed to Emperor Zuo, but Emperor Zuo had no intention of responding. Instead, he glanced over Xuanwu Kingdom's historical records.

"You've read this much in just one month. It seems you truly enjoy reading."

"Your Majesty truly has a discerning eye. I have no particular hobbies, but I alone love books."

"Because books can bring me boundless knowledge."

Hearing Chen Changsheng's words, Emperor Zuo gently stroked the book before him.

"I gave you Xuanwu Pavilion, and you became the National Teacher. You accepted every resource I sent you without exception."

"After receiving so many benefits, you remain greedier than ever. Do you truly think I would not dare kill you?"

With that, Emperor Zuo fixed Chen Changsheng with an icy gaze.

Chen Changsheng grinned.

"Your Majesty is mistaken. Though I have taken many things, none of them are what I truly wanted."

"A transaction places importance on fairness. Forcing a purchase or sale will not do."

"Your Majesty's strength is beyond doubt. My life or death depends on nothing more than a single thought from Your Majesty."

"But I am absolutely certain that Your Majesty will neither kill me nor force me to do anything."

"Hmph!"

Emperor Zuo snorted. "What makes you so confident?"

"The Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground!"

"Your Majesty understands the terror of the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground better than I do. When entering such a perilous place, absolutely no accidents can be allowed."

"That means the people Your Majesty brings in must be absolutely loyal."

"If Your Majesty forced me to help, I imagine there would still be a trace of unease in Your Majesty's heart."

Faced with Chen Changsheng's brazen confidence, Emperor Zuo fell silent for a moment before saying, "Name your conditions."

"I want to ask Your Majesty to help me kill someone. As for that half-chance, Your Majesty will obtain it in the process of killing that person."

"Interesting. Someone even your strength and wisdom cannot kill is surely no simple character."

"Though you have shifted to Xuanwu Kingdom's cultivation path, I can still sense another path upon you."

"If I am not mistaken, you should come from the Great Qian Dynasty, 30,000 Li away."

"Xinghe has praised you to the skies. Are you interested in telling me about your past?"

Chen Changsheng smiled faintly. "Since Your Majesty wishes to hear it, then I shall tell Your Majesty."

"This story begins eighty years ago..."

Chen Changsheng recounted everything that had happened between himself and Master Yuhua exactly as it had occurred.

But as he told the story, Chen Changsheng concealed his relationship with Yixiu and the others.

Before someone whose end was near, he had no desire to reveal that he had already attained Chang Sheng.

"After the battle at Night Moon Kingdom's Forbidden Ground, I fled to Xuanwu Kingdom and remained here for forty-three years."

After hearing the entire story, Emperor Zuo could not help but become somewhat curious about Chen Changsheng.

Because he found himself increasingly unable to see through what kind of person Chen Changsheng was.

He had traveled a thousand miles and escaped death by a hair, all to bury an old friend.

By all reason, such a man should have been deeply loyal and devoted, yet as Chen Changsheng described the tragic fate of his sect, his eyes were filled with calm.

It was simply a contradiction.

At that thought, Emperor Zuo said, "You were willing to risk offending me just to ask me to kill your grandmaster."

"What is your purpose in doing this? Revenge?"

"Not at all. Asking Your Majesty to act is only to fulfill a promise I once made."

"When I left Night Moon Kingdom, I said I would bury him. Words once spoken must naturally be honored."

Hahaha!

Emperor Zuo laughed at Chen Changsheng's utterly serious expression.

"What a man who keeps his word."

"According to you, there are eighteen Bronze Ancient Halls, and there should be some kind of connection between them."

"One of those Bronze Ancient Halls appeared in the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground. That should be the source of your half-chance, correct?"

"Correct."

"You told me the secret of the Bronze Ancient Hall. Are you not afraid that, like your grandmaster, I will borrow the Calamity power beneath the Bronze Ancient Hall?"

Faced with Emperor Zuo's question, Chen Changsheng remained calm.

"As I said before, I do not concern myself with this Calamity power."

"The reason I seek the Bronze Ancient Hall is because an old friend disappeared within one."

"I merely wish to confirm her safety. That is all."

After saying that, Chen Changsheng quietly waited for Emperor Zuo's answer.

"I must admit, your request leaves me unable to refuse."

"The Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground is fraught with dangers. Even if it can increase the chance of success by a single thread, I will not let it pass."

"Make your preparations. We leave tomorrow. I do not have much time left."

After leaving those words behind, Emperor Zuo turned to depart.

"Your Majesty, that grandmaster of mine had already reached Spirit Transformation Completion fifty years ago. Are you truly certain?"

Hearing this, Emperor Zuo paused.

"How vast is Xuanwu Kingdom?"

"Even Night Moon Kingdom and the Great Qian Dynasty combined barely amount to half of Xuanwu Kingdom's territory."

"Would the Spirit Transformation Completion you speak of dare enter the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground?"

"The terror of the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground is beyond words. Let alone Spirit Transformation Completion, even those beyond Spirit Transformation would likely not dare set their sights on it."

"Xuanwu Kingdom was not so vast in the past. Everything it has today was conquered by my hand, bit by bit."

"I have destroyed two nations like the Great Qian Dynasty. What those beyond Spirit Transformation dare not do, I dare!"

With that, Emperor Zuo's figure vanished completely.

After Emperor Zuo disappeared, Chen Changsheng was once again the only person left in the vast Xuanwu Pavilion.

Looking in the direction of the Great Qian Dynasty, Chen Changsheng murmured, "Grandmaster, after fifty years, your Disciple's Disciple is finally coming to fulfill his promise."

"You should be quite surprised, shouldn't you?"