Sneak Attacks First

A thousand years have passed, and every time the Emperor revisits this place, he doesn't know how to withstand that attack.

That was an absolute difference in strength. Even if he was outstanding and unmatched at the same cultivation level, he was still no match for that attack.

The Emperor once suspected that there was Tenth Realm above the Ninth Realm, and that the Tenth Realm could crush him like Hongjun did at his current level.

However, the Emperor never sensed the Tenth Realm until he felt the Mental Strengthening Chapter in Zhang Xuezhou, at which point he began to understand some of the direction.

The Emperor treated Cai Ma with supreme authority, and Cai Ma obediently followed the rules of Western Kunlun, with Zhang Xuezhou being an exception.

The Emperor couldn't treat Zhang Xuezhou the same way he treated Cai Ma, and Zhang Xuezhou didn't act like a proper student either.

"This chair can actually withstand the aftershocks of a fight, that's amazing!"

The oppressive atmosphere of this broken, collapsed, and dilapidated ruin was indeed alleviated by Zhang Xuezhou's arrival.

Listening to Zhang Xuezhou continue praising the chair, the Emperor felt that what Zhang Xuezhou was saying was completely off-track from normal thinking, but he had to admit that Zhang Xuezhou was not wrong.

"Where have you been all these years?" the Emperor had no choice but to ask.

"Over the years, I have been continuously cultivating myself according to the Yin-Yang School's Realm Technique within the Great Han Dynasty," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"How is your Realm Technique?"

The Heavenly Court's cultivation techniques couldn't even shake the Zhang Xuezhou -Yin-Yang School's Realm Technique, leaving the Emperor utterly helpless.

Times are changing, and the Heavenly Court has indeed fallen behind in some aspects.

Even the most intelligent emperor is but one, and the total number of living beings in the entire Western Kunlun Secret Realm is still limited.

Without a suitable environment, Western Kunlun is left to rely on its past achievements, making even the smallest step forward difficult.

The decline of the Heavenly Court made the Emperor truly feel what it meant to be alone. He pondered the years and conditions of Zhang Xuezhou's cultivation and wondered if Zhang Xuezhou was qualified to participate in the hundred-year agreement to avoid losing face.

"The students have worked hard over the years, using every means possible to reach the Divine Ability Realm," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"That means nothing has changed!"

Zhang Xuezhou visited Western Kunlun a few years ago; at that time, Zhang Xuezhou was already at the Divine Ability Realm.

To this day, Zhang Xuezhou remains unchanged, and has not continued the astonishing cultivation speed that once shocked the Emperor and Empress.

Zhang Xuezhou's rapid advancement came to a halt at the Divine Ability Realm. Of course, the Emperor must say that further advancement in cultivation level is quite difficult. Cultivators are also divided into different ranks in the latter three realms, and Zhang Xuezhou was awkwardly placed at the bottom of the latter three realms.

It is not surprising that True Self Realm cultivators will appear during the Hundred-Year Agreement, while Divine Ability Realm cultivators will inevitably be at the bottom. Only cultivators like Cai Ma, who specialize in Fate Technique, have some deterrent power.

"I'd like to change," Zhang Xuezhou retorted. "How about you brew me some more Nine Treasures Wine? I'm sure I'll have a chance to break through to the Sole Self Realm!"

"You'll have to ask your master's wife about this yourself," the Emperor said helplessly. "I've been brewing wine without restraint all these years, and I've run out of the essential ingredients for Nine Treasures Wine!"

Can't you do it for me?

"No, she'll hit me!"

Zhang Xuezhou dared to ask, and the Emperor, without the slightest concern for his reputation, readily admitted that he couldn't access the Empress's Little Jin.

A drunkard like him had lost all credibility with the Emperor and Empress, let alone the ability to use the potent medicine to continue brewing wine.

No matter how sweet the Emperor's words may be, the Empress will not believe the words of a drunkard like the Emperor, let alone a drunkard like Zhang Xuezhou.

"Looks like I'll just get beaten up if I go ask!"

Zhang Xuezhou grumbled, feeling that the Emperor had ruined his reputation, making it difficult to even brew wine now.

"If you can bring honor to Kunlun, you should have no problem getting some benefits from your master's wife," the Emperor said.

"I'll try my best," Zhang Xuezhou nodded. "My master's wife had me fight Jiang Qi last time, but I still don't have a complete memory of the hundred-year agreement. I don't know what I'll be facing."

"The rules for participation are quite simple," the Emperor laughed. "For example, I'll place a cup on this chair. If your competitor can get the cup, he wins; if he can't get the cup within the time limit, you win!"

"Is this all it takes to make our contest that's been going on for over a hundred years?" Zhang Xuezhou asked in surprise.

"It's that simple, it's just that the questions set by each party are different," the Emperor nodded, "As for the methods of interception and acquisition used, that depends on your own capabilities!"

"It doesn't sound difficult," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"Cai Ma, tell me how to deal with this," the Emperor said.

"I can directly coerce him," Cai Ma muttered to himself. "If he knows what's good for him and leaves, I won't fight him to the death. If he doesn't, I'll cut off decades of his lifespan so he'll never have a good life!"

"Your cultivation is limited, and directly confronting your opponent is insufficient. You must not learn from Cai Ma's methods," the Emperor glanced at Cai Ma before turning to Zhang Xuezhou and admonishing him, "You can only secure victory by seizing every opportunity!"

"So we can launch a surprise attack, right?"

Zhang Xuezhou was delighted upon hearing this.

He's not good at head-on combat, but he's much better at stealth and sniping.

The Emperor's words didn't explicitly mention the word "sneak attack," but the implication was clear: he was teaching Zhang Xuezhou how to use a sneak attack.

"Don't be so focused on harming them," the Emperor retorted. "They might have the same intentions. You yourself need to be more careful!"

Seeing Zhang Xuezhou's slightly excited expression, the Emperor felt both pleased and embarrassed, thinking that Zhang Xuezhou was too fond of taking the wrong path and was quick to understand.

Of course, as long as you can win, there are advantages to cheating.

Young people fight for a fortuitous opportunity, while those behind the scenes also contribute to the centuries-old order of the various Sacred Land through their participation in the competition, thus establishing a hierarchy.

Sitting on the cold bronze throne, the emperor felt a moment of unease.

"He just wants to appear virtuous and righteous on the surface, but secretly he'd love for you to launch a sneak attack, ideally eliminating both the Immortal Court and the Western Sect!"

A sense of unease arose in the Emperor's heart. Suddenly, a hairy monkey leaped out from the Emperor's chest and barked at Zhang Xuezhou.

"With your cultivation level so low, you can't survive without resorting to sneak attacks!" the monkey shouted. "If you ask me, use every underhanded trick you can find to try and gain even the slightest chance of victory!"

"Thank you for your guidance, teacher," Zhang Xuezhou, bowing slightly.

"You'll benefit from winning, and he'll benefit too. We'll see if we can negotiate with the Three Pure Ones later..."

"You stubborn monkey, you're truly incorrigible! Go and reflect on your actions for three more days!"

The monkey was about to speak again when the Emperor reached out and pinched it, instantly turning the man-sized monkey into a round pill.

As soon as the Emperor put it in his mouth and swallowed it, the monkey's clamor immediately fell silent.

"I've truly committed many sins in my life!"

The Emperor harbored deep resentment.

He noticed the wonder of Zhang Xuezhou's cultivation technique, deciphered it, and repeatedly discussed it with Ren Anran, eventually creating this thing that repeatedly contradicted him.

Of course, the Emperor couldn't say that this was entirely a bad thing.

His cultivation level has indeed increased.

If he and the monkey are of one mind and body, their combined power can be increased by at least 50%.

If Hongjun doesn't intervene, and the Immortal Court hasn't received any secret treasures from Hongjun in recent years, there's at least a 30% chance that he could suppress the three Celestial Venerables Yuanshi, Laojun, and Lingbao in a relatively fair environment, with the minimum guarantee being a draw.