Xiao Zhaolin sized up Jiang Ruoxu and said slowly, "Does my realm need a mere lonesome ghost like you to protect it? You could not even protect the Jiang Kingdom. What right do you have to speak of cooperation with me?"
Jiang Ruoxu said in a deep voice, "How many Ascension Realm cultivators can the foundation of your Chu Kingdom withstand?"
Xiao Zhaolin waved a hand and said, "That need not concern you. I can show some respect for the name Jiang Ruoxu, but you have only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. If you cannot persuade me to cooperate with you, then leave on your own."
Jiang Ruoxu chuckled. "I had long heard that Xiao Zhaolin, Emperor of Chu, was incomparably arrogant. Seeing you today, the rumors truly do not fall short. Even your father would not have dared speak to me like this back then."
Xiao Zhaolin slightly raised his eyelids. "If you came here to lean on your age and flaunt your seniority, you may leave now. I am very busy."
Jiang Ruoxu said slowly, "The Inner Demon and the Heavenly Gate are real, but they are also false. They are real because both truly exist. They are false because they are not as the rumors describe them—they are living beings in the flesh."
Only then did Xiao Zhaolin raise his head. "Now that interests me. Tell me what happened to you back then. I have always had doubts about how you suddenly suffered cultivation deviation, and then later died."
Jiang Ruoxu said, "It was probably over thirty years ago. I do not remember the exact details very clearly. I broke through into the Ascension Realm and saw the Heavenly Gate. Thus, I left my physical body in the Jiang Kingdom's Imperial Palace, while my Nascent Soul flew toward the Heavenly Gate.
"However, when I reached the gate, I encountered the Inner Demon. I do not know how powerful it truly was, because it had secretly planted a method upon me when my cultivation had reached the point where Ascension was within sight. We had barely exchanged a few moves before I was defeated.
"But at the final moment, my Jingzhe Sword erupted with a unique power. It severed the Inner Demon's control through its demonic qi and bought me time. I seized the chance, rushed before the Heavenly Gate, and successfully knocked it open!"
Xiao Zhaolin raised an eyebrow slightly. "What did you see?"
"An eye!"
Jiang Ruoxu said, "That was not some Heavenly Gate at all, but an eye—a gigantic eye covered in countless tentacles. It was utterly disgusting, embedded in the void just like that.
"Knocking open the Heavenly Gate merely meant that eye opened. Those tentacles tried to drag me into it. I fought with everything I had, and in that instant, I comprehended a suicidal move within my Overlord True Intent. I barely managed to sever several tentacles.
"I do not know whether it was fortune or misfortune, but White Jade Capital's restrictions still remained within my Nascent Soul at that time. When I was nearly dragged into that eye, White Jade Capital's restriction pulled me back out.
"I fled madly with the Jingzhe Sword, but the Inner Demon had already locked onto me. I was hunted until there was no road to heaven and no gate into the earth. With no other choice, I became the Jingzhe Sword's Sword Spirit. During our exchanges, I had discovered that the Inner Demon's attacks were very ineffective against physical bodies. After becoming the Jingzhe Sword's Sword Spirit, I escaped its pursuit.
"However, though my Nascent Soul escaped the pursuit, it was still invaded by the Inner Demon's demonic qi. Before long, I became delirious and killed indiscriminately. You should know what happened afterward—I was subjected to encirclement and suppression by the kingdoms of the world."
Xiao Zhaolin said gravely, "mortal power, even Battle Qi, has little effect on Ascension Realm cultivators."
Jiang Ruoxu said, "That is indeed true. But in that battle, the elites of the various kingdoms joined forces. They gathered nearly thirty percent of the world's experts, along with the armies of every nation. Though they could not kill me, they triggered immense heavenly and earthly phenomena. Amid those phenomena, my realm surged violently, and I caught a glimpse of a mysterious hidden realm. I suspected that was the true Heavenly Gate.
"But it vanished after only an instant. Fortunately, in that fleeting moment, I seized a strand of Immortal Qi. It completely suppressed the demonic qi and restored my clarity. Thus, I went with the flow and created the illusion that I had died beneath heavenly lightning. From then on, I hid away and continuously studied that strand of Immortal Qi."
Xiao Zhaolin asked, "Did you find any results?"
Jiang Ruoxu said in a deep voice, "Naturally. It was power beyond the Ascension Realm."
"You have mastered it?"
Jiang Ruoxu nodded slightly. "Speaking of which, I must thank Gu Mo, the current Number One Under Heaven. Without that boy, I likely would have needed another ten or even twenty years to master that strand of Immortal Qi."
Xiao Zhaolin asked doubtfully, "What happened?"
Jiang Ruoxu said, "Gu Mo sank Penglai Immortal Island. You surely know about that, do you not?"
Xiao Zhaolin nodded.
Jiang Ruoxu said, "He sank Penglai Immortal Island through the power of his physical body. He transformed into a dragon. Only at that moment did I realize that everyone in the world had taken the wrong path.
"All of us sought Nascent Soul Ascension and abandoned our physical bodies, because it was universally accepted that a physical body could not ascend. To ascend, one had to shed the mortal body. Yet Gu Mo retained his physical body, and the power of that body reached the Ascension Realm!"
At this point, Jiang Ruoxu sighed softly. "Gu Mo truly is a great man. He is too great. He changed the world. None came before him, and none will come after him.
"From that, I understood the true direction of that strand of Immortal Qi. Afterward, I used the sword as my body and completely fused with that Immortal Qi."
Xiao Zhaolin stood and said, "For the information about Physical Body Ascension alone, as long as your request for cooperation is not excessive, I can agree to it. What do you wish to cooperate on?"
Jiang Ruoxu said in a deep voice, "Borrow the nation's destiny and kill the Heavenly Gate!"
Xiao Zhaolin asked doubtfully, "Have you not already mastered power Above Ascension? You cannot kill that eye?"
Jiang Ruoxu said, "In the heavens, I have no absolute certainty. Once it notices something wrong and hides itself, I will never be able to find it. Therefore, I can only drag it into the human world.
"I have studied formations all these years and created a God Slaying Array. I originally planned to find an opportunity to deal with the Inner Demon first, but I never expected it to suddenly disappear. Then I will use it against the Heavenly Gate.
"My God Slaying Array requires the mobilization of Human World Power. It can trap the Heavenly Gate and prevent it from returning to the heavens for a short time, allowing me to seize the chance to kill it. At present, no nation possesses stronger national destiny than your Chu Kingdom. Therefore, cooperating with you is most suitable."
Xiao Zhaolin chuckled. "National destiny? Fine. I agree."
Jiang Ruoxu said, "After I kill that eye, I will not immediately seek the true Path to Immortality. I will first help you sweep clear the universe and unify the world. Only then will I seek the Path to Immortality.
"Now that the Inner Demon is dead, those old monsters hiding away will surely be scrambling to restore their Ascension Realm cultivation. They may very well cause chaos. You may rest assured—I will help you suppress those old monsters."
Xiao Zhaolin chuckled. "Actually, those old monsters are not important. They feared the Inner Demon and did not dare ascend, so no matter how strong they are, they have limits. If you wish to help me sweep clear the universe, the greatest obstacle is Gu Mo. Can you defeat him?"
Jiang Ruoxu said, "Gu Mo is very strong. With Physical Body Ascension, if I am not mistaken, he has also achieved Nascent Soul Ascension. His title as Number One Under Heaven carries the greatest weight in history. Among Ascension Realm cultivators, he is also Number One Under Heaven. But unfortunately, I have now grasped power beyond the Ascension Realm.
"A year ago, I was not his match. Now, he is not mine."
Xiao Zhaolin looked at Jiang Ruoxu, pondered for a while, then said, "I fear you are mistaken. Gu Mo has definitely also mastered power beyond the Ascension Realm."
Jiang Ruoxu's pupils contracted slightly. "How do you know?"
Xiao Zhaolin asked, "Do you know Beyond the Heavens?"
Jiang Ruoxu nodded slightly. "One of the Thirteen Taboos. It is suspected to be the heavenly realm, though whether it truly exists remains to be verified."
Xiao Zhaolin said, "I do not know whether it is the heavenly realm, but Beyond the Heavens definitely exists. The reason I know is because the founding of my Chu Kingdom was, to a great extent, aided by Beyond the Heavens."
Jiang Ruoxu said, "I have heard that legend. It is said that your Chu Kingdom's founding emperor was aided by a Goddess in establishing Chu."
Xiao Zhaolin said, "That Goddess from the legend came from Beyond the Heavens."
Jiang Ruoxu asked in surprise, "There truly is a Goddess?"
Xiao Zhaolin said, "There is. Moreover, there are currently two Divine Envoys from Beyond the Heavens within my imperial city."
A flicker of shock passed through Jiang Ruoxu's eyes.
Xiao Zhaolin continued, "That is why I know Gu Mo possesses power Above Ascension. Earlier, I sought aid from those two Divine Envoys. They promised to eliminate Gu Mo for me. Not long afterward, I saw the Inner Demon appear within the imperial city."
"You could see the Inner Demon?" Jiang Ruoxu asked in astonishment.
Xiao Zhaolin said calmly, "I was born with Double Pupils. These eyes of mine can see many hidden things. It is not strange that I could see the Inner Demon. The reason I recognized it as the Inner Demon was because its demonic qi was so powerful that nothing like it could be found in the human world.
"Of course, I was not completely certain at the time. I merely had suspicions. It was only after combining that with what you just said about the Inner Demon's disappearance that I confirmed what I saw that day was the Inner Demon, or rather, an incarnation of it.
"Then, within two days, those two Divine Envoys had me escort something to the Northern Zhou Kingdom. They said it was a Dragon Scale, specially obtained to help me kill Gu Mo. Afterward, I heard that Gu Mo went to Northern Zhou.
"With all those coincidences, I began to suspect that the two Divine Envoys had intended to use the Inner Demon to kill Gu Mo. And now, combined with what you said about the Inner Demon's disappearance and its weak attacks against physical bodies, I can determine that the Inner Demon died at Gu Mo's hands.
"Gu Mo was able to kill the Inner Demon. In other words, does that not mean he has also mastered power Above Ascension? Otherwise, even if the Inner Demon could do nothing to him because of his physical body, it should not have simply vanished, should it?"
Jiang Ruoxu pondered for a while. "In that case, it is highly likely that Gu Mo killed the Inner Demon. Still, I have a question. You knew that Gu Mo could transform into a dragon and sink Penglai Island. Why did those two Divine Envoys think to use a Dragon Scale to kill Gu Mo, and why did you not stop them? Using dragon scales to kill a dragon—is that not simply a joke?"
Xiao Zhaolin sneered. "Because I wanted the Inner Demon to fail."
"Why?" Jiang Ruoxu asked doubtfully.
Xiao Zhaolin said, "Two reasons. First, I later decided that I would personally defeat Gu Mo, openly and honorably. Second, I wanted to borrow Gu Mo's hand to kill those two Divine Envoys."
Jiang Ruoxu did not understand. "Why do you want to kill the two Divine Envoys? Did they not come to help you unify the world?"
Xiao Zhaolin said, "They wish to unify the world, but not by helping me. They could help anyone, because they are nurturing puppets. As for their ultimate goal, I do not know.
"If that were all, I could barely coexist with them. But there is one contradiction that cannot be resolved: they do not permit me to achieve the Ascension Realm. I, the Son of Heaven, am even restricted by others in cultivation. What humiliation is that?
"I must achieve the Ascension Realm, yet they will not allow it. Then naturally, we cannot coexist. Either I die, or they die."
Jiang Ruoxu pondered. "They have helped you, after all. Perhaps it can be discussed."
Xiao Zhaolin sneered. "They always act as though they stand above all others, as if I would not be where I am today without them. But in truth, when the late emperor died and that demon concubine joined forces with court officials to kill me and place another upon the throne, those two Divine Envoys did not appear.
"When I ascended the throne young, maneuvered between all sides, and seized control of the Imperial Court, they did not help me. Later, when I expanded territory and opened new lands, they still did not help me. They only intervened in trivial peripheral matters.
"Their reason for demanding that I obey their orders was not how much they had helped me. Rather, they said that Chu Taizu had been supported by their Beyond the Heavens, so Great Chu must obey their orders generation after generation. In their eyes, I am merely their puppet. If I refuse to obey, they can replace me at any time!"
Xiao Zhaolin sneered at Jiang Ruoxu. "Do you think there is still room for negotiation?"
"No," Jiang Ruoxu said.
"Then that is why I want to kill them," Xiao Zhaolin said. "I originally intended to have Gu Mo act, but since you are here now, I will leave this matter to you. If you cannot even kill them, there is no need to speak of killing that eye in the heavens."
"Fine."
Jiang Ruoxu agreed readily, then added, "However, I wish to ask this: since those two are Divine Envoys, what makes you so certain they can be killed? Or what if Gu Mo cannot kill them?"
Xiao Zhaolin said, "Over the years, I have deliberately and casually drawn information from them, and I have also used my Double Pupils to observe them. Those two do not dare easily reveal themselves in the human world. Human World Power should restrain them. As long as their barrier is broken, they will certainly die.
"Of course, if I am wrong, then I will admit I was unlucky. If I can fight, I will fight. If I cannot, I will calmly face death. Though I am only in my twenties, I have weathered countless storms in this life. I gambled my way through them all, and my gambling conduct is very good."
As he spoke, Xiao Zhaolin chuckled and looked Jiang Ruoxu over. "For example, right now, I am gambling as well. I am betting that you truly wish to slay gods, and were not sent by those two to test me."
Jiang Ruoxu sighed. "You young people these days really are more remarkable than the last... Hmm, when do you intend to kill them?"
"Better to strike today than choose another day," Xiao Zhaolin said. "Let us go now. What do you think?"
"Fine."
Before his words had faded, Jiang Ruoxu's figure abruptly blurred and transformed into a wisp of condensed green smoke, silently slipping into the ancient, heavy greatsword at Xiao Zhaolin's side.
The candles inside the hall flickered without wind. The heavy sword released a low hum, as though a savage beast that had slept for eternity was slowly opening its eyes.
Immediately, Xiao Zhaolin gripped the heavy sword and walked out.
Very soon, he arrived outside the pavilion concealing a barrier. He clasped his hands and said, "Disciple Xiao Zhaolin requests an audience."
The seemingly ordinary wooden door of the pavilion silently slid inward, revealing some plain tables and chairs behind it. Yet when Xiao Zhaolin stepped inside, a distorted vortex of light and shadow appeared behind him.
Expressionless, Xiao Zhaolin stepped into it.
The sensation of heaven and earth spinning seized him instantly. In the next moment, he stood within a tranquil valley. Lush greenery filled the valley, dotted with exotic flowers and strange grasses. A crystal-clear brook babbled past, and upon a smooth boulder by the stream, Master Chen and Master Qiu sat opposite each other, engrossed in a game of chess. Chess pieces struck the stone board with crisp sounds, intertwining with the murmur of the brook and birdsong. The scene was exceptionally peaceful and harmonious, like a world entirely separate from the bustling Imperial Palace outside.
Xiao Zhaolin's arrival did not interrupt their game. Without lifting his head, Master Chen casually pinched a white piece and set it down. "Emperor, why have you come here today instead of handling state affairs in the Imperial Court?"
Carrying the Jingzhe Sword, Xiao Zhaolin walked to within several yards of the stone table and stopped. He gave a slight bow. His posture seemed respectful, but his gaze was sharp as an eagle's. "This disciple indeed has something he does not understand, and has come to seek instruction from the two Esteemed Ones."
Master Qiu slowly placed a black piece, then raised his eyes toward Xiao Zhaolin. His gaze paused briefly on the clearly extraordinary sword in Xiao Zhaolin's hand. "Oh? What matter?"
Xiao Zhaolin asked, "This disciple wishes to know the relationship between Beyond the Heavens, the Heavenly Gate, and the Inner Demon."
Master Chen suddenly looked up. "Emperor, why are you suddenly asking this?"
Xiao Zhaolin said calmly, "I happened to hear that the Inner Demon guards the Heavenly Gate and devours Ascenders, and that the Heavenly Gate is not a gate at all, but merely an eye. Yet the two Esteemed Ones have always said the Heavenly Gate is a true gate. Then I have reason to suspect that Beyond the Heavens behind the Heavenly Gate is not the heavenly realm either. I fear it is a place where demons and monsters gather."
"You dare!" Master Chen's beard and hair flared as his rage surged to the heavens. Blinding white light erupted from his body, and his powerful pressure no longer held anything back as it crushed down like raging waves. He roared, "Emperor, have you lost your mind today?"
Xiao Zhaolin chuckled. "Then let us speak of the second matter. If I insist on breaking through to the Ascension Realm, what will the two Esteemed Ones do?"
"Then we will replace the emperor!"
Master Qiu placed a piece upon the board, and the Spiritual Energy within the valley instantly became violent.
"Emperor, you have tested us many times already. Today, I will not beat around the bush with you any longer. It is indeed false that emperors cannot ascend. But you cannot ascend."
"Why?" Xiao Zhaolin asked.
"Because an Innate Sage who ascends must die. As for the reason, you are not worthy of knowing it yet," Master Chen said.
"Then there is nothing to discuss."
Before his words had faded, Xiao Zhaolin suddenly drew his sword!
Clang—!!!
A clear, resounding sword cry that seemed capable of piercing gold and splitting stone exploded forth!
It was as though the sound had come from the primordial wilderness of ancient times, carrying the dominance and resolve to sever all things. In an instant, it tore apart the valley's tranquility and shattered that invisible, terrifying pressure.
The moment the Jingzhe Sword left its sheath, it was no longer rusted and mottled. Instead, it burst forth with an unimaginable, dazzling radiance.
Azure gold light soared into the heavens. Upon the sword body, an azure gold Sword Qi condensed to the utmost extreme, containing power beyond the mundane, erupted with savage force.
Rip—!
Like silk being torn, like glazed crystal shattering!
Before the horrified eyes of Master Chen and Master Qiu, that azure gold Sword Qi slashed fiercely at a point in the void.
A grating crack, as though the entire world were groaning, suddenly rang out!
The transparent barrier that covered the entire valley and cut it off from the smoke and fire of the human world was like a glazed dome struck by a massive hammer. It was instantly covered in spiderweb cracks.
Then, amid an earth-shaking boom, it completely shattered.
Countless crystalline fragments fell like plummeting stars, only to swiftly dissolve into nothingness as they descended.
The barrier was broken—broken by a single, casual slash.
The valley vanished in an instant.
The three appeared within the imperial city.
A unique "aura" surged in like floodwaters breaching a dam. It was the most ordinary, most commonplace thing in the human world, yet also the foundation upon which the world was built—the smoke and fire of human life.
The clamor of carriages and horses, the cries of street vendors, children's laughter, the panting of plowing oxen, the warmth of ten thousand household lamps... countless breaths of the mortal world interwove, forming an immense, chaotic torrent of power filled with living vitality, yet also carrying turbid air!
Master Chen and Master Qiu hurriedly formed hand seals. Unique streams of air wrapped around their bodies, resisting Human World Power.
"Emperor, do you wish to be doomed beyond redemption?" Master Chen roared.
Yet Master Qiu stared fixedly at the sword in Xiao Zhaolin's hand and said solemnly, "Xiao Zhaolin, we can help you break through to the Ascension Realm, but you..."
Xiao Zhaolin directly slashed out twice, instantly cutting through the currents of air around Master Chen and Master Qiu.
"Aah—!!!"
"No—!!!"
Two shrieks so miserable they no longer sounded human rang out at the same time!
The moment Master Chen and Master Qiu's bodies came into contact with the surging aura of the human world, their skin and flesh began to blacken, shrivel, and rot at a visible pace!
Their originally immortal-like faces were instantly covered in hideous black spots. Their skin peeled away in flakes like scorched paper, revealing flesh beneath that was likewise rapidly carbonizing and decaying.
Their bodies convulsed violently, as though invisible flames were burning them from within. Their magnificent robes rapidly turned to flying ash amid their rotting flesh.
In only several breaths, their outstretched arms became stark white bones, and in the next moment, even the bones crumbled apart, turning into gray white dust that fell in soft showers.
"You should have interrogated them for some information first," Jiang Ruoxu said as he appeared.
Xiao Zhaolin sneered. "Do you know why many people scheme for years, only to still fall short at the final step?"
"Why?" Jiang Ruoxu asked.
Xiao Zhaolin said, "Because they talk too much, kill without enough decisiveness, and give their opponents the opportunity to counterkill them. All unknowns stem from insufficient strength. As long as your power reaches the necessary level, every doubt will be resolved."
Jiang Ruoxu nodded slightly. "Still, these two so-called Divine Envoys were not very strong. They were only at the Ascension Realm. Moreover, their condition was strange. They were unlike Ascension Realm cultivators of the human world. They were... very light."
Xiao Zhaolin said, "I know."
"You knew?" Jiang Ruoxu asked in surprise.
Xiao Zhaolin chuckled. "I like gambling, but I have never lost. Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because every time I gamble, I possess absolute certainty." Xiao Zhaolin looked toward Jiang Ruoxu. "Take a guess. If you had been unable to kill those two Divine Envoys just now, did I have another method to kill them?"
Jiang Ruoxu paused, then gave him a thumbs-up. "You young people of this generation are truly becoming more and more formidable. Now that I am cooperating with you, I fear that one day, if I am careless, you might kill me as well."
Xiao Zhaolin waved his hand. "There is no conflict of interest between you and me, so I will not kill you. However, Gu Mo is hunting you. We have a common enemy. He can kill the Inner Demon, and he can kill you as well."
Jiang Ruoxu said in a deep voice, "He slaughtered a demon. Then I shall slaughter a god. I look forward to fighting him."
Xiao Zhaolin chuckled. "If he kills you, remember to leave that strand of Immortal Qi inside the sword. Then I will carry your sword and kill several true gods. That can count as fulfilling your wish for you."
"That should not be necessary," Jiang Ruoxu said. "I do not think I will die."
Xiao Zhaolin said, "But among the Wanted Criminals targeted by Gu Mo in this world, not one has ever escaped."
Jiang Ruoxu fell silent for a while. "If that day truly comes, I will leave the sword to you. You can kill gods in my stead. Gu Mo will kill gods as well. The two of you can usher in an age of god slaying. I believe the human world is the world of humans. There should be no gods, and even less should gods rule the human world!"