Chapter 78: When He Decided to Break Through, an Old Friend Arrived
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In the Garden of Zhou, when she was severely injured, she had once leaned on his shoulder. After that, she had never been so close to him again, not even during those snowy nights in the capital.
This was a true lean—she let her body and weight fall onto 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 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 or morality.
“Rumor has it that after the late Emperor banished Her Majesty to the Hundred Herbs Garden, she met my master and His Holiness the Pope, and only then learned the method to defy fate and change destiny… From this, it seems they must have been comrades who trusted each other deeply back then. Why… did they later become irreconcilable enemies?”
“Before the bloodshed at the National Academy, no one knows what truly happened. I’ve only vaguely heard that Her Majesty once made an agreement with Dean Shang, but later she didn’t keep her promise, which is why they turned against each other.”
“That agreement… I imagine it was about the throne.”
“That should be the case.”
“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 there wasn’t a single descendant of the Chen imperial clan worthy of the throne.”
“There are hundreds of imperial descendants scattered across the provinces and prefectures. Isn’t there even one capable of bearing the nation’s heavy responsibility?”
Chen Changsheng didn’t finish that sentence.
Xu Yourong understood his meaning and said, “No.”
Chen Changsheng said, “I’ve heard that Prince Xiang of the Chenliu King’s line has a very good reputation.”
“That’s just a surface reputation.” Mentioning Prince Xiang, a hint of mockery appeared between Xu Yourong’s brows. “In truth, this prince has been dissolute since childhood. He had excellent talent for cultivation, reaching the perfected state 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 very important for inheriting the throne?”
“Yes, very important.”
“Why?”
“To become the sovereign of the human race, what’s needed first isn’t virtue, but power.”
…
…
To become the sovereign of the human race, one needs great power.
This wasn’t hard to understand, because the demon race lurked in the north with undying ambitions, and the world could face floods and war at any moment.
By the same logic, to live a better life, free from unease and fear, one also needed greater power.
No external thing could fundamentally solve the problem—it could only improve your mood, boost your confidence, and enrich your days.
Friendship and love were beautiful; at times, they could save your life and soul. But what was most reliable was always the power you possessed yourself.
Entering Cold Mountain and encountering the Demon Lord, learning many secrets from the Heavenly Mechanism Elder—Chen Changsheng faced unimaginable pressure, but that was also motivation.
He had to improve his strength as quickly as possible, at least so that, unlike when he met the Demon Lord on the mountain path, he wouldn’t have no chance to fight back. Even with countless magical artifacts and treasures, he couldn’t unleash their full power and could only await 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 Thorough Illumination upper realm, yet he could withstand a full-force strike from a Star Gathering peak expert. If he truly succeeded in breaking through to Star Gathering, the yellow paper umbrella might allow him to live 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 to him, it was still very important.
Because besides the yellow paper umbrella, he had the ten thousand swords in his sheath, the stone bead that was once the Heavenly Book Stele, and most importantly, he had the Garden of Zhou.
After breaking through to Star Gathering, even beings 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 Garden of Zhou.
These were external pressures and needs.
His decision to break through to Star Gathering was more driven by internal spiritual need.
Only by becoming stronger could he face the unclear road ahead with greater calm.
The dual spiritual pressure from outside and inside was so intense and direct.
As for what the Heavenly Mechanism Elder had said in the garden, he had already deliberately forgotten it.
If he stopped cultivating altogether, even directly dispersing the true essence in his body, might he be able to delay the outbreak of his meridian injuries for a while? How long was a while? A year? Two years? What difference was there between twenty and twenty-two?
More importantly, even if he wanted to drag out such a miserable existence, would he, having lost his power, 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—in fact, they grew even more worried.
Because this calm was somewhat unreasonable, even frightening, like the ocean before a storm.
The storm didn’t come. The participants of the Stone Boiling Assembly arrived one after another.
Normally, all the cultivators attending should have gathered days ago, but because of that great upheaval, the Heaven Stone Grand Formation had sealed off the entire Cold Mountain for a time, so some cultivators—whether unlucky or extremely lucky—had been blocked 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, quietly nurturing his spirit and preparing for the breakthrough, while others reported to him.
After Zhong Hui, the Huai Academy sent two more masters. To his regret, Wang Po indeed hadn’t come. It seemed the Heaven Stones in Cold Mountain truly held little value for someone of his level.
The people from the Li Mountain Sword Sect arrived. Qiu Shan Jun, who hadn’t appeared publicly for a long time, still didn’t show. Chen Changsheng didn’t know why, but he felt relieved. Yet he also didn’t know how he would react if he saw Xu Yourong chatting amiably 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 pleased. 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 face was cold, and then remembered that Qi Jian hadn’t appeared…
Tang Thirty-Six patted Zheshe’s shoulder to comfort him.
Chen Changsheng stood by the railing, watching the distant commotion, hearing Guan Feibai’s voice faintly carried over. 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 in his actions. 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 make such a sour face later? After all, we represent the National Academy now. We need to maintain Chen Changsheng’s dignity.”
As Tang Thirty-Six expected, Gou Hanshi and the other Li Mountain Sword Sect disciples, just after being welcomed by the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion to the lakeside, didn’t rest—they simply washed up briefly and came to visit.
And as Tang Thirty-Six expected, Zheshe’s face was indeed very ugly.
Guan Feibai’s face was also very 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 Garden of Zhou, although Liang Xiaoxiao had been proven to have committed suicide, it was ultimately connected to Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng could sit in his chair and accept the bows of the Li Mountain Sword Sect disciples.
In the past year, many changes had occurred.
But on the mountain path, when Zhong Hui bowed to him, he had returned the courtesy as an equal. 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 a little better. However, when he saw that Zheshe’s face was still so sour, his own face soured again, and his words turned harsh.
“I warn you, don’t have any improper thoughts about my 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 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’s decorum and cared nothing for reputation.
Second, because his words were sharp, targeting the opponent’s weak points, making them extremely hard to defend against.
Like this short sentence of his—clearly improvised—it twisted through several turns, then stabbed directly at the Li Mountain Sword Sect’s greatest secret and biggest trouble.
Even Gou Hanshi, who was usually good-tempered, couldn’t help frowning and glancing behind him.
Even Chen Changsheng, long accustomed to his antics, couldn’t help shaking his head and glancing outside the hall.
The National Church clergy and Li Mountain Sword Sect disciples who had followed Gou Hanshi and the other two into the small building understood and quickly withdrew.
At their first meeting, there were already signs of a falling-out. Who knew what would happen next inside the building?
Those directly involved might not care, but they dared not participate, nor even listen.