Chapter 584: When He Decided to Break Through, an Old Friend Arrived
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In the Zhou Garden, when she was severely injured, she had once leaned on his shoulder. After that, she had never been this close to him again, not even during those snowy nights in the capital.
This was a true lean—she let her body and weight rest fully on his shoulder.
What passed between them, besides a young girl's breath and warmth, was comfort and heartfelt intent.
Chen Changsheng received it, and his mood lightened somewhat. He said, "Don't worry, I'm fine."
Xu Yourong said softly, "But since the Heavenly Mechanism Master has this thought, Her Majesty will surely think the same."
Chen Changsheng was silent for a moment, then said, "I can't stop others from thinking what they will."
Xu Yourong knew this was unavoidable. She also couldn't stop Her Majesty from thinking as she did.
Just as Chen Changsheng had said that night, Her Majesty had never been a good person in the ordinary sense, nor could she be judged by common ethics and morality.
"Rumor has it that after the Taizong Emperor banished Her Majesty to the Hundred Herbs Garden, she met my master and His Holiness the Pope, and only then mastered the method to defy fate and change destiny... It seems they must have been trusted comrades back then. Why... did they later become irreconcilable enemies?"
"Before the bloodbath at the National Academy, no one knows what really happened. I've only vaguely heard that Her Majesty and Dean Shang once made some agreement, but later Her Majesty didn't keep her promise, which is why they turned against each other."
"That agreement... I imagine it was about the throne."
"It should be so."
"Why was Her Majesty unwilling to return the throne to the imperial clan?"
"I asked her that many years ago. She said it was because none of the Chen imperial clan's descendants were worthy of the throne."
"Scattered across the provinces and prefectures are hundreds of imperial descendants. Is there truly not one capable of bearing the nation's burden?"
Chen Changsheng didn't finish the sentence.
Xu Yourong understood his meaning and said, "No."
Chen Changsheng said, "I've heard that Prince Xiang of the Chenliu lineage has a very good reputation."
"That's just a surface reputation." Mentioning Prince Xiang, Xu Yourong's brow showed a hint of mockery. "In truth, this prince has been dissolute and depraved since childhood. He had excellent talent for cultivation, reaching daily completion by age ten, but because of his character, he has no hope of stepping into the sacred realm in this lifetime."
"Is stepping into the sacred realm so important for inheriting the throne?"
"Yes, very important."
"Why?"
"To become the king of the human race, what's needed first isn't virtue, but strength."
...
...
To become the king of the human race requires great strength.
This isn't hard to understand, because the demon race is in the north, their ambitions undying, and this world could face floods and war at any moment.
By the same logic, to live a better life, free from unease and fear, also requires greater strength.
External things can only improve your mood, boost your confidence, and enrich your days, but they can't fundamentally solve problems.
Friendship and love are beautiful; at times, they can save your life and soul. But what's most reliable is always the strength you possess yourself.
Entering Cold Mountain and encountering the Demon Lord, learning many secrets from the Heavenly Mechanism Master—Chen Changsheng faced unimaginable pressure, but it was also motivation.
He had to improve his strength as quickly as possible, at least so that, unlike on the mountain path when he met the Demon Lord, he wouldn't be left without even a chance to fight back. Even with countless magical artifacts and treasures, he couldn't unleash their full power and could only wait for death.
He decided to seek an opportunity at the Stone Boiling Assembly to break through to the Star Gathering realm.
Back when he received the Yellow Paper Umbrella from Old Master Tang in Wenshui, he was only in the upper stage of Connecting Seclusion, yet he could withstand a full-force strike from a peak Star Gathering cultivator. If he truly succeeded in breaking through to Star Gathering, the Yellow Paper Umbrella might allow him to survive a little longer under the gaze of the Demon Lord... and Her Majesty the Empress.
That time wouldn't be long—maybe just a few breaths—but it was still very important to him.
Because besides the Yellow Paper Umbrella, he had the Ten Thousand Swords in the sheath, the stone bead from the Heavenly Book Stele, and most importantly, he had the Zhou Garden.
After breaking through to Star Gathering, even someone as powerful as the Demon Lord or Her Majesty the Empress would likely find it hard to directly sever his connection to that space.
Then he only needed to buy a very brief moment to hide in the Zhou Garden.
These were external pressures and needs.
His decision to break through to Star Gathering was more driven by internal spiritual needs.
Only by becoming stronger could he face the unclear road ahead with greater calm.
The dual spiritual pressures from outside and inside were so intense and direct.
As for what the Heavenly Mechanism Master said in the garden, he had already deliberately forgotten it.
If he stopped cultivating, or even directly dispersed the true essence in his body, might he delay the outbreak of his meridian injuries for a while? How long would that be? A year? Two years? What difference was there between age twenty and twenty-two?
More importantly, even if he wanted to drag out his existence like this, would he, having lost his strength, be allowed to live?
...
...
After making his decision, Chen Changsheng, with unimaginable willpower, shook off those terrible pressures and returned to calm.
Only Xu Yourong, Tang Thirty-Six, and Zheshe—those closest to him—still couldn't relax, and instead grew even more worried.
Because this calm was unreasonable, even frightening, like the ocean before a storm.
The storm didn't come. The participants in the Stone Boiling Assembly arrived one after another.
Logically, they should have all gathered days ago, but due to that major upheaval, the Heavenly Stone Formation had sealed off Cold Mountain for a time, so some cultivators, whether unlucky or extremely lucky, were kept outside the mountain for a while.
Given Chen Changsheng's current status, he naturally didn't need to greet anyone. He stayed in the small building, calming his mind and preparing for the breakthrough, while others reported to him.
After Zhong Hui, the Huaiyuan Academy sent two more masters. To his regret, Wang Po indeed hadn't come. It seemed these Heavenly Stones on Cold Mountain held little value for comprehension for a strong cultivator of his level.
The people from Lishan Sword Sect arrived. Autumn Mountain Lord, who hadn't appeared in public for a long time, still didn't show. Chen Changsheng felt inexplicably relieved—perhaps because he didn't know how he'd react if he saw Xu Yourong chatting warmly with that favored son of heaven.
Those who came were all old acquaintances, or rather, familiar faces.
Gou Hanshi, Guan Feibai, and Liang Banhu had all arrived.
Hearing this news, Chen Changsheng was somewhat happy. He said, "It really feels like the Green Vine Banquet or the Grand Examination two years ago—still the same people."
Zheshe said, "One person is missing."
Chen Changsheng paused, noticed Zheshe's cold expression, and then remembered that Qijian hadn't appeared...
Tang Thirty-Six patted Zheshe's shoulder to comfort him.
Chen Changsheng stood by the railing, watching the bustle in the distance, hearing Guan Feibai's faint voice. He wanted to go over but couldn't. As always, his status was different now. As the Pope's successor, whether it was elders from various sects or young talents like the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom, it wasn't convenient for him to take the initiative to visit.
"It's fine. Gou Hanshi is always steady; he'll definitely come to visit you soon."
Tang Thirty-Six said, then glanced at Zheshe and added, "I know how you feel, and I don't like those guys either, but can you not look so sour-faced later? After all, we represent the National Academy now. We have to maintain Chen Changsheng's dignity."
As Tang Thirty-Six expected, Gou Hanshi and the other Lishan Sword Sect disciples, just after being welcomed by the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion to the lakeside, didn't rest—only washing up briefly—before coming to visit.
And as Tang Thirty-Six expected, Zheshe's expression was really ugly.
Guan Feibai's expression was also ugly, because he had to follow Gou Hanshi in bowing to Chen Changsheng.
Liang Banhu's expression was complicated. Because of what happened in the Zhou Garden, although Liang Xiaoxiao was proven to have committed suicide, it was still related to Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng could sit in his chair and accept the bows of the Lishan Sword Sect disciples.
In the past year, many changes had occurred.
But on the mountain path, when Zhong Hui bowed to him, he had responded with the courtesy of a peer. Let alone now.
Seeing Chen Changsheng return the bow very seriously, without any reluctance, Liang Banhu's expression softened a bit, and Guan Feibai's face finally looked better. However, when he saw that Zheshe's expression was still so sour, his own face turned sour again, and his words became harsh.
"I warn you, don't have any improper thoughts about our little junior sister anymore!"
Tang Thirty-Six had earlier advised Zheshe to stay calm, but hearing Guan Feibai's words, he forgot all about calm and sneered at Guan Feibai, "What do you mean by 'improper thoughts'? Is your little junior sister a princess? Even if she were the Demon Lord's granddaughter, no one in Snow Old City would acknowledge that!"
When it came to arguing, few could match Tang Thirty-Six.
First, because he was a noble scion with deep background, yet he had none of a noble scion's demeanor and didn't care about reputation at all.
Second, because his words were sharp, targeting the opponent's weak points, making them very hard to defend against.
Just like this short sentence—though improvised, it twisted through several turns before stabbing straight at Lishan Sword Sect's biggest secret and biggest trouble.
Even Gou Hanshi, who was usually good-tempered, couldn't help frowning and glanced behind him.
Even Chen Changsheng, long accustomed to his antics, couldn't help shaking his head and glanced outside the hall.
The National Education priests and Lishan Sword Sect's attendant disciples who had followed Gou Hanshi and the other two into the small building took the hint and quickly withdrew.
At their first meeting, there were signs of a falling out. Who knew what would happen inside the building?
Those involved might not care, but they dared not participate, nor even hear it.