Xu Fu started in surprise, then his expression eased. So this was the origin of the Dragon-Swallowing Scheme, and the one before him was the true Mandate of Heaven.

Although Zong Shou sensed the True Spirit of the First Qin Emperor, it was only a fragment at most, posing no real threat to him.

He then smiled enigmatically: "So that's how it is! Xu Fu misunderstood. However, in my view, Your Majesty must have only recently broken free? To cross a hundred worlds in two days, is there some urgent matter?"

Not just Xu Fu, but even Chong Xuan, along with the disciples behind this man, were curious.

Faced with several gazes, Zong Shou remained unconcerned: "I intend to take the life of Yin Yu Li Bie Xue. Unfortunately, my manpower is a bit lacking, so I wished to ask Mr. Xu Fu if he would be willing to lend me a helping hand?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Fu was completely stunned into silence, while Chong Xuan's body faintly trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief mixed with a degree of anxiety.

"Your Majesty’s words have truly astonished Xu Fu! Please forgive my lapse in composure!"

After a long pause, Xu Fu finally recovered, his expression incredibly complex.

A month prior, he had predicted that the Yin Yu Great Shang was running out of time. He never expected that the final outcome would involve him.

"However, Your Majesty will likely be disappointed! I presume Your Majesty also knows that Yin Yu not only controls the Twelve Edict-Guarding Bronze Men but can also restrain me using the First Qin Emperor's True Spirit Divine Seal. While Xu Fu is far away now, it is out of complete despair, and also with the intent to avoid disaster—"

Zong Shou did not wait for Xu Fu to finish, sweeping his large sleeve, interrupting him without politeness: "The situation regarding the Twelve Edict-Guarding Bronze Men is something we both clearly understand. As for the Qin Emperor's Divine Seal, as long as it is not the True Spirit, its effect on you, Xu Fu, is limited. Do not use this as an excuse to decline!"

Xu Fu’s words immediately choked off, and the few people behind him were also utterly astonished.

They sensed that Xu Fu’s aura was completely suppressed by the opposing party today.

This Great Qian Emperor's demeanor could truly be called domineering and arrogant.

Xu Fu’s face cycled between green and white, and only after a moment did he speak again, but this time with a cold laugh: "Even so, Your Majesty, what reason do I, Xu Fu, have to exert myself for you?"

Zong Shou looked closely at Xu Fu, then shook his head: "Nothing more than your lifespan nearing its end, returning to dust after ten thousand years!"

Xu Fu’s expression remained unchanged; anyone with a slight mind could see through his true thoughts.

Then Zong Shou inquired again: "Xu Fu, do you know Ao Kun?"

"Ao Kun? The Art of Extinguishing Existence? It rings like thunder—"

Xu Fu chuckled lightly, his manner airy and nonchalant: "Is Your Majesty suggesting that the Art of Extinguishing Existence can help Xu Fu break the seal? If Ao Kun were a Saint Venerable of the Ultimate Realm right now, Xu Fu might have a sliver of hope. Unfortunately, Your Majesty should also know, the closer a profound Great Dao is to its origin, the harder it is to advance. Ao Kun took a shortcut to enlightenment through the Dragon-Swallowing Secret Art, inherently lacking one layer. Attacking the Ultimate Realm in the future will likely be harder than hard. I fear Xu Fu will not live to see that day—"

Only then did he notice that Zong Shou had no intention of continuing to persuade him.

Instead, behind him, a pair of silver-white wings suddenly unfurled, stretching ten thousand zhang, piercing the void of the two Boundary Rivers.

And Zong Shou looked over with a cold, indifferent gaze, as if a deity were looking down upon the common folk.

"Then, if you possessed these wings, what do you think?"

Xu Fu’s voice naturally ceased, his pupils almost shrinking into pinpricks as he stared at the opposite side in horror.

"These are the Wings of Augmentation and Manifestation?"

He didn't know the name of this Divine Treasure, but he could clearly discern the 'Augmentation' Divine Art within the white radiance.

In an instant, he recognized the function of this item.

This item could bless all things, and augment all methods!

Xu Fu’s face twitched; he now understood Zong Shou's meaning. A sliver of hope gradually rose in his eyes.

"The Hegemon manifests! So that's how it is. So that's how it is—"

Following several low murmurs, Chong Xuan beside him turned ashen-faced, realizing Xu Fu had been moved.

At this moment, he did not know what to do to intervene. However, breaking the Qin Emperor's curse had been Xu Fu's wish for ten thousand years, the last obstacle on his path to longevity.

Let alone that he lacked the power to stop him, even if he could, how could he voice an objection?

Yet, Yin Yu was also his Lord, and they shared over a hundred years of monarch-subject loyalty.

Unsure of what to do, he spoke with a hard tone: "As far as I know, your nation only has less than a million soldiers on the Central Cloud Continent. Are you intending to sweep the world with such military strength? If Yin Yu dies, the Great Shang will certainly disintegrate, and the Cloud Realm will fall into chaos. Widespread war and countless deaths will ensue. Have you considered this, Your Majesty?"

Zong Shou swept his cold glance over this man and then paid him no more mind, completely ignoring Chong Xuan.

"Mr. Xu Fu, what is your opinion?"

He was unwilling for anyone to suffer disaster because of him, but if he had to choose between the subjects of Great Qian and another nation, it would certainly be the former.

As long as Great Qian enjoyed peace and prosperity, what did the turmoil of the world matter to him?

The trip to the Imperial Capital was not just for Jin Buhui; it was also to completely resolve this hidden danger before the great war with the Dark Age Demon Court.

A hidden threat in the heart must be removed!

Xu Fu did not deliberate for too long before asking again: "If Li Bie Xue perishes, can Ao Kun lift this Qin Emperor's curse for me?"

"No!"

Zong Shou shook his head without hesitation: "My Brother Ao was already wounded at the foundation due to the battle in the Realm of Myriad Beings, causing him to lose quite a bit of cultivation time. How could I, his sworn brother, possibly impose such a request upon him? We can discuss this matter a hundred years from now. This single step alone grants eternal life and escape from the cycle of reincarnation. Does Mr. Xu Fu truly believe that achieving this alone can be so easily obtained?"

He was no longer the same person as a few days prior. Back then, his strength was weak; even holding a good card, he had no room to bargain before an Ultimate Realm expert, left to be slaughtered at will.

Now, the balance of power had shifted; today, Xu Fu had no other choice but to agree!

Xu Fu was also a man of great decisiveness; after only a brief thought, he knew that unless he abandoned his desire for longevity, he would have to submit to being manipulated.

He felt a surge of resentment and bitterness, being toyed with in the palm of a youth younger than him by thousands of years. This feeling was unbearable.

With a bitter smile, Xu Fu calmed down again. He glanced apologetically at Chong Xuan.

"Then let the limit be one hundred years! I will not act against Yin Yu."

This was the condition he proposed: for one hundred years, he would serve Great Qian.

As for Yin Yu, it was to appease the heart of Chong Xuan, his disciple. In truth, even without him, Yin Yu's fate was already sealed.

Seeing Zong Shou remain silent, seemingly noncommittal about his words, Xu Fu’s mind settled slightly, and a hint of a smile returned: "However, Your Majesty, if you wish to encircle and kill a Saint Venerable of the Ultimate Realm, there remains a massive flaw! If this flaw is not mended, Your Majesty's scheme is destined to fail."

Zong Shou started, gathering his thoughts, listening carefully.

"The primordial spirit of an Ultimate Realm expert is entrusted to the Great Dao, communicating with Heaven and Earth. They can also foresee the past and the future; although not as well as those who specialize in divination, they can still predict their own fortune and misfortune. This divine ability of emotional resonance is available to ordinary cultivators, but the Ultimate Realm can go a step further, seeing omens of death and perceiving murderous intent and malice. Therefore, Saint Venerables of the Ultimate Realm are difficult to encircle and kill, not just because of their cultivation, but because these individuals often have premonitions before encountering danger, allowing them to evade in advance."

Zong Shou was even more puzzled; how was the demise of Xi Zi, and the fates of Xing Xie Kun Ming explained then?

He then heard Xu Fu continue: "Xi Zi knowingly faced danger and went to his death generously. As for Xing Xie Kun Ming, one had only recently entered the Ultimate Realm, less than a year, not yet established. The other, while possessing some cultivation, was blinded by greed. The battle in the Realm of Myriad Beings involved over ten Ultimate Realm experts. The entanglement of karma made sensing difficult, which is normal. These two, and Li Bie Xue, are not comparable."

Saying this, Xu Fu flicked his horsetail whisk, the corner of his lips curling up.

"However, I, Xu Fu, happen to possess the method to counter this! But Your Majesty must remember, to avoid accidents, it is best to resolve this battle swiftly—"

Zong Shou’s eyes narrowed slightly. He had pursued this man only to gain a bit more certainty for the battle a few days later.

He hadn't expected to gain such a harvest from Xu Fu.

Resolve it swiftly? That was also his intention.

※※※※

"Encircle and kill Li Bie Xue?"

In the Sword Palace of the Myriad Sword Realm, Ling Chen held a communication talisman, his face full of shock and surprise.

After staring blankly for a moment, Ling Chen realized that the few people before him were looking at him with questioning eyes. He quickly composed himself: "The Sages of Myriad Beings sent word saying that in four days, Zong Shou will personally arrive in the Imperial Capital to take Yin Yu’s head and execute the Supreme Primordial Demon, Li Bie Xue."

As expected, the people present shared the same expression Ling Chen had just moments ago.

"Personally entering the Imperial Capital, isn't that walking into a death trap?"

Without exception, they all thought, has Zong Shou gone mad because of the death of his close confidant?

To take Yin Yu’s head within the Imperial Capital—not only would the Daoist and Confucian schools never stand idly by, they would be delighted if they did something so foolish.

Even the Twelve Edict-Guarding Bronze Men and Li Bie Xue himself could bury both sects.

"This matter is preposterous!"

The person who spoke was to Ling Chen's left. A fat old man who appeared amiable, but anyone with sufficient cultivation could see that his entire body was enveloped by an incomparably sharp sword intent, his sharpness fully exposed.

Taking 'Jian' (Sword) as his surname, his name was Tong Ming, the foremost of the six Great Saint Realms under the Sect Master of the Sword Sect.

"Although our Sword Sect is allied with Great Qian and mutually reliant, the Sword Sect will absolutely not participate in such a foolish endeavor!"

"It is indeed bizarre, but if Zong Shou has gone mad, the Sages of Myriad Beings would not accompany him in madness either. Therefore, there must be a reason—"

Si Kong Fou fell into deep thought: "We shouldn't rush to refuse this matter. We can ask the Sages of Myriad Beings for a detailed explanation. Or perhaps Xiu Guan has returned from the Outer Regions, it's not impossible."

"Xiu Guan?"

Jian Tong Ming's expression visibly softened: "There have indeed been rumors in the last day or two that Xiu Guan is about to return. It's just talk, though; I don't know where it originated—"

If Xiu Guan, who had proven the Eternal and was infinitely close to the Half-Step True Realm, were added, then while the situation would be perilous, it wouldn't seem quite so unreliable.

But could that really happen? (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.). Your support is my greatest motivation.) No Pop-up Novel Website