The Great Zhou Emperor

Emperor Duanmu Jing of the Great Zhou Emperor dismissed his attendants and sat alone in the pavilion, contemplating the affairs of the Great Zhou.

The Great Zhou Dynasty was founded six hundred years ago, and it ruled alongside the Great Qian Dynasty along the Taiwu Mountain Range.

More than ten years ago, with the help of the Trialist Gong Xin, they attempted to annex the Great Qian Dynasty, but in the end, their efforts failed and all their experts perished.

In recent years, it was only with the help of the Heavenly Ladder that it recovered its Vital Energy.

However, in the distant Great Qian territory, the name of North Spring Mountain was renowned. It was said that Gu Yuanqing had a close relationship with the Great Qian Imperial Family, and Li Chengyi, the son of the Eldest Princess, had been his student since childhood.

In other words, as long as that person in North Spring Mountain exists, the Great Zhou will never have the opportunity to take over the Great Qian, and will instead have to be constantly wary of the Great Qian, which is gradually becoming stronger.

Judging from the Heaven Ladder Rankings, not to mention the Divine Platform Realm, there are seventeen Dao Fire Realm Cultivator, while the Great Zhou only has three. There are over one hundred and thirty Dao Embryo Realm Cultivator, while the Great Qian Zhou has less than forty.

Even if there are Cultivator in neighboring small countries or Overseas countries, the vast majority of them are in the Great Qian.

This clearly demonstrates the comparison of the two countries' strengths.

"Sigh!" Duanmu Jing sighed softly. Given such a disparity, the Taiwu Mountain Range alone could not stop them. Now, the only question was when the Great Qian would make a move.

But just then, he suddenly felt a tightness all over his body, and his vision blurred, and he found himself in an unfamiliar place.

"Who?" Duanmu Jing exclaimed in shock and anger, channeling all his true True Qi. He was about to unleash his cultivation at the Dao Embryo Realm, but it was firmly suppressed by an invisible force.

Gu Yuanqing sat calmly in his Chair and said, "Great Zhou Emperor, there is no need to panic. I summoned you here only to discuss some matters with you; I will not harm your life."

Duanmu Jing then got a clear look at his surroundings. It was an ordinary-looking courtyard, and a young man in his early twenties was sitting on Chair next to the tea table opposite him.

The young man had delicate features, wore a light blue long robe, and his hair was casually tied back.

His expression was grave. He had just been inside the Imperial Palace, how did he end up in this unfamiliar place? Could it be...?

"Who are you? Why have you dragged me into this illusion?" Duanmu Jing asked in a deep voice.

"An illusion?" Gu Yuanqing chuckled, then said, "You can treat it as an illusion if you want. Come, sit down and let's talk."

Duanmu Jing looked around, frowned, and felt that this illusion was so real that he could not see any flaws. It was almost Heaven.

"Who exactly are you? Since you dare to meet me, don't you dare to state your name?"

"Since you're so eager to know, then I'll tell you. My surname is Gu."

"Gu?" Duanmu Jing thought of all the experts he knew with the surname Gu, then suddenly realized something and his heart sank.

Gu Yuanqing picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then smiled, "Yes, Gu Yuanqing, have you heard of him?"

Upon hearing this name, Duanmu Jing's entire body stiffened.

How could anyone not recognize this name? Even within the Great Zhou Kingdom, there are countless people who worship the Immortal Gu of North Spring Mountain, and this name is at the Heaven Ladder Rankings, far ahead of anyone else in this world.

Duanmu Jing forced a smile, "So it's Young Master Gu. May I ask what brings you to me?"

Gu Yuanqing said, "Let's sit down and talk. There are indeed some things I need to tell you."

Duanmu Jing took a breath and sat down.

"Please have some tea!" With a thought, Gu Yuanqing caused the teapot to float and pour a cup of hot tea.

"Thank you, Young Master Gu." Duanmu Jing picked up his tea, took a sip, and used it to suppress the chaotic thoughts in his mind. At least from the current point of view, the other party did not intend to make things difficult for him. It was just that the reason why he was included in the illusion still needed to be discussed before he would know.

Duanmu Jing was only at the Dao Embryo Realm, while the power of North Spring Mountain was growing stronger. Gu Yuanqing, being in the Mountain, could easily sense his thoughts.

"You don't need to overthink it. I won't interfere in your affairs with the Great Qian Dynasty. I invited you to North Spring Mountain this time to discuss the World Conflict."

Duanmu Jing was suddenly startled. He noticed a phrase: North Spring Mountain. Was this North Spring Mountain, and not an illusion? How could this be? North Spring Mountain was tens of thousands of miles away from the Great Zhou Kingdom. In the blink of an eye, he had traveled from the Imperial Palace to North Spring Mountain?

Gu Yuanqing smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll take you back after we've finished talking. I won't let you walk back from North Spring Mountain by yourself."

Duanmu Jing calmed himself down and said, "I had long heard of Young Master Gu's Divine Ability abilities, and seeing them today, I can confirm that his reputation is well-deserved."

Gu Yuanqing said, "Let's not waste time with pleasantries. As the Great Zhou Emperor, you must be very busy. Let's get straight to the point."

"Speaking."

"The inter- World Conflict is only ninety years away. The Exquisite World, which World Conflict, is called the Slanting Moon World. They have many experts. As far as we know, there are no fewer than seven Void Heaven Realm cultivators and Divine Platform Ninth Layer cultivators..."

As Gu Yuanqing explained, Duanmu Jing's expression immediately became serious.

The World Conflict between the two realms is a major event; if they fail, the consequences are unknown!

"The grudges between you and the Great Qian are ultimately internal matters. I don't want your grudges to affect the World Conflict. Everything must give way to this, otherwise, I, Gu Yuanqing, will have no choice but to take action."

Gu Yuanqing's subsequent words carried a threat. As for how to make a move, Duanmu Jing naturally understood. Given Gu Yuanqing's relationship with Great Qian, would he really help Great Zhou?

Back then, a Cultivator at the Dao Fire Peak from Outer Heavens forced the Great Zhou Kingdom to submit and cooperate. If it were Gu Yuanqing now, the Zhou Kingdom would have no room for resistance whatsoever.

Duanmu Jing knew how to make a decision in an instant. He said in a deep voice, "Although I am the emperor of the Great Zhou, I am also a person of this world. Faced with the conflict between the two worlds, I can naturally distinguish which is more important. If there is anything that my Zhou Kingdom needs to do, please give your orders, Young Master Gu!"

Gu Yuanqing smiled and said, "Don't worry, this will only benefit your Great Zhou. In a few days, I will send someone to Great Zhou to establish a cultivation Sacred Hall. The person I send will be at the Divine Platform Ninth Layer. He will not interfere in the affairs of your Zhou Kingdom; his only task will be to train Cultivator for your Zhou Kingdom. Time is too tight, and I don't want to have to spend time persuading others later. I will only be responsible for sending the person; as for the rest, I hope that you, as the Great Zhou Emperor, will give your full support."

Upon hearing the words "Divine Platform Ninth Layer, "Duanmu Jing couldn't help but tremble again. When did the Divine Platform Ninth Layer appear in the Floating World?

Moreover, the key point is that Gu Yuanqing's words were not "invite," but "send," which makes a big difference!

"Young Master Gu, rest assured, since this is the matter, the entire Great Zhou will certainly cooperate fully."

Duanmu Jing naturally had other guesses in his heart, but when facing Gu Yuanqing, he could only hope that the truth was as Gu Yuanqing said: that he was only training experts and not involved in national affairs.

At this moment, Gu Yuanqing added calmly, "Let me make this clear from the start: I am willing to send people to guide the cultivators of the Great Zhou Dynasty in their cultivation, solely for the sake of the interdimensional struggle. However, if, ninety years from now, during the interdimensional struggle, anyone attempts to stand behind or even stir up trouble, I will kill them without mercy!"

Duanmu Jing solemnly declared, "If such a person truly exists, there's no need for Young Master Gu to intervene; I, Duanmu Jing, will personally deal with this matter."

Afterwards, Gu Yuanqing chatted with Duanmu Jing for a while, then waved his hand and sent him back to the Imperial Palace.

Duanmu Jing felt a blur before his eyes and sat back down in his original seat. Everything that had just happened seemed like an illusion, but when he felt the lingering aroma of tea in his mouth and the Spiritual Qi of the Spirit Spring Water within his body, he realized that everything was real.

At this moment, a pale-faced, beardless eunuch led a group of guards and rushed over. When he saw Duanmu Jing, he was overjoyed and scrambled over to kneel down on the ground.

"Your Majesty, you scared this servant to death! Your presence suddenly vanished, and we can't find a trace of you anywhere. The entire palace is in complete chaos."

Duanmu Jing snorted lightly, "What kind of behavior is this, all this panic? What could possibly happen to me in this palace?"

"Yes, yes, this old servant panicked and lost his composure. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Duanmu Jing stood up, put his hands behind his back, and looked in the direction of Great Qian.

These methods are even more terrifying than the rumors suggest; they can traverse thousands of miles with a wave of the hand, making this heavily guarded Imperial Palace seem like a joke.

"What a pity! Why must such a person be born in the Great Qian instead of my Great Zhou Heavenly Dao!"

Duanmu Jing clenched his fist tightly.