Chapter 1401

"I obey Your Majesty's command!"

"Good. With sovereign and minister of one heart, their strength can cut through metal! What of an immortal? Merely a relic of the previous dynasty!"

The Sage Emperor helped the two up, his heroic spirit soaring to the clouds.

The pressure on him from the Great Li Taizu was by no means small.

The first Emperor in tens of thousands of years — the strategic decision to strike first had to bear the foremost pressure; one need only look at the two pillars at his left and right.

We will win.

He raised his head and looked at the Cloud Dragon again.

"Lord Shenlong, your knowledge is vast and your lifespan long. Do you know how many Crucibles there are in the world today? Which have amiable natures and still harbor attachment to the mortal world?"

"I do not know. I perished ten thousand years ago and have lingered on the immortal island since. The Crucibles in the mortal world have gradually increased — all after my fall."

"I know. This is called 'one dragon falls, ten thousand things are born.' The Laozu Sect — ow! Big Brother, what are you doing —"

"So you're saying the Great Li Taizu truly was the first Crucible in the mortal world?"

"Yes. All things have their developmental trajectory and can be traced. The Great Li Taizu is the first post-natal cultivator to become an Immortal — this cannot be wrong; I witnessed it with my own eyes.

Ten thousand years ago — no, one should say tens of thousands of years ago — the human race was still tribal, divided among the mountains. At that time cultivation methods bloomed in variety: the Sacrificial Path, the Conjoined Path, the Golden Core Path — all had their own splendid achievements.

Simultaneously, from tribes they continuously evolved into sects and nations, until thirty thousand years ago, when the current Benwo Method — oh, that is your Four Gates Seven Roads — was gradually born and became the mainstream.

The Great Li Taizu was autocratic and cruel, yet his talent was peerless under heaven. His ambition seemed innate. After entering the Crucible realm, no treasure medicine could help further; one becomes increasingly desireless. Only this man — his ambition grew ever more vigorous, and he pursued control over all things in the world with a morbid obsession.

Even though a Crucible is effectively immortal and undying with an endless lifespan, the sole price being a slumber every three thousand years, he could not tolerate this loss of control. He aimed his spear at me.

Hateful. It wasn't that his ambition couldn't be seen back then, but I thought a Crucible would naturally become peaceful. Who knew it would be like this? Had I known today would come, when he entered the Crucible realm I should have struck first and strangled him in the cradle!"

Liang Qu sighed.

The importance of nurturing trust — goes without saying.

This first Immortal, the Great Li Taizu, was like the White-Robed Crossing of the River — he set a terrible precedent. Formidable, yes, but he could be called the Crucible with the worst reputation.

The Old Yin Whale cooperating with the Yin-Yang Person — did they deliberately push this fellow to the front to weather the storm? Given the Yin-Yang Person's overbearing, autocratic nature, perhaps they could see it coming, yet didn't care?

One man, one beast; one immortal, one demon emperor — cooperating yet scheming against each other.

Vying to be the first to rush onto the Hua Hong Road.

"I wonder if the Netherworld, as of now, can —"

"Impossible —"

Three people and two beasts secretly plotted loudly on the immortal island.

The evening sun slanted westward, scattering golden fragments.

The three lying on the Vine Soldiers stirred awake.

"Huu —"

Zhang Longxiang took a deep breath, straightened his body. He had tried entering a dream to comprehend the Slaying of the Flood Dragon, so this matter did not surprise him; he merely marveled at the Crucible's supreme methods — dead for ten thousand years yet uncorrupted, leaving a back hand — and marveled even more at the information obtained.

The White Ape and the Huai King — are they the same person?

Then who is the "Stone in the River" on the Yellow Sand River now?

The one who refined the Stone Monkey Position Fruit, who defeated the East Sea Overlord — was it all Liang Qu?

There's the Stone Monkey, the Charm Fruit, and the immortal pill His Majesty spoke of has already been bestowed. I wonder how the progress goes — wouldn't that mean —

"Has Your Majesty ever sought the Qintian Supervisor to perform divination?" Liang Qu's words interrupted Zhang Longxiang's thoughts.

"Yes. The Qintian Supervisor's divination results were all great auspiciousness." The Sage Emperor nodded.

The great affairs of the state lie in sacrifice and war. Since a showdown is inevitable, one naturally must divine and question heaven.

"Your Majesty, this result is not necessarily correct."

"Hm?"

Liang Qu recounted the strange state of the Old Toad coming to find him.

He originally hadn't understood why the Old Toad came to find him, came and then said nothing was wrong — until just now, when the Sage Emperor decided to strike first, a flash of insight struck; the more he thought, the more he felt it was so. He just hadn't said it on the spot, lest he dampen the Sage Emperor's heroic spirit.

Between the Four-Wilds Sky Instrument and the Old Toad, Liang Qu trusted the Old Toad more.

The Sage Emperor's expression turned solemn.

The Frog Clan's Frog Duke — seemingly old, lecherous, and greedy by nature — but anyone who sets aside prejudice and learns more knows just how fierce his battle record is.

In a hundred years he raised the Frog King; in ten years he raised Liang Qu.

He fought the Eight-Claw King, battled the Southern Border Zhen Xiang, and cracked open a Flood Dragon's head.

His index finger tapped the table.

A long while.

"Proceed according to plan for now. Today, make two extra copies of the Yin-Yang Five Elements Plate first. Let me think; we'll speak again tomorrow."

"I obey!"

【Yin-Yang Five Elements Plate】?

The little Shenlong's eyes on the soft cushion lit up; he counted on his claws.

One Five Elements Seed: two hundred thousand. One Five Elements Plate: one million. Two sets: two million four hundred thousand. Hiss — another two million four hundred thousand essence entering my account?

Hee hee hee, Big Black Tangyuan, slippery fatso — what do you have to fight me with!

"The Sage Emperor is wise!" The little Shenlong waved a flag and cheered, picked up the brush from the table, swayed it left and right. "Great Li Taizu, stray dog of a ruined house! The Sage Emperor is the one all hearts turn to!"

"Hahaha, come, let's go out first."

"Your Majesty, please wait. There is still one matter that requires Your Majesty's awareness."

The Sage Emperor arrived too quickly — he entered the immortal island immediately. Fearing leaks, he had early instructed Liang Qu not to send word, so only now was there an opportunity.

"What matter?"

"In a few days I will obtain the immortal pill and officially step into the Thousandfold Root Sea."

Zhang Longxiang thought to himself, indeed.

The Holy Emperor was overjoyed: "I almost forgot this matter, Liang Qing, how is it?"

"Having taken the immortal pill, I do not fail the Holy Emperor's grace!" Liang Qu knelt on one knee, "Many thanks, Your Majesty, for bestowing the pill!"

As for the immortal pill entering the belly actually having no key effect, later it was relying on Wu Cangshou's heavenly tribulation—such talk need not be said further, it would only weaken the sense of cultivation.

Moreover, the heavenly tribulation is the trigger; the essence is that the immortal pill gave sufficient potential to be triggered.

From bestowing an official post on a minor fourth-level martial artist, all the way nurturing to Yinglong, obtaining the immortal pill, nurturing to the position fruit—surely there must be some sense of achievement?

This sense of achievement is also one of the key reasons for mutual trust.

Adding to the previous circumstances, he does not intend to conceal too much; if something truly happens in the future, he will admit.

He is willing to bet and accept defeat.

As the Holy Emperor was about to leave, his eyes lit up, and he directly sat back in the rattan chair: "Has the position fruit been formed?"

"The position fruit has been formed!"

"Quickly tell, what does this position fruit, nurtured from yang energy, look like? I am very curious." The Holy Emperor's curiosity reached its peak.

Zhang Longxiang, seeing this, wanted to take his leave—each person's methods are secret; the Holy Emperor gave the immortal pill and can ask, but he then finds it inconvenient to—

"If King Longxiang is willing, he may stay and listen." Liang Qu warmly urged him to stay.

Zhang Longxiang did not decline either; seeing the Holy Emperor nod, he directly went along and sat down.

He too is curious.

No one can fail to be curious.

The Taizu of Great Li is the first postnatal forge in the world, who opened heaven and earth; Liang Qu, having nurtured the martial sage's yang energy into a position fruit, is not to be outdone.

"Cough, cough, hearing is false, seeing is real—if King Longxiang is willing, why not try it directly?"

"Oh?" The Holy Emperor looked toward Zhang Longxiang.

"Then, shall we test it here, or go outside?"

Zhang Longxiang was eager to try; upon learning that Liang Qu and Bai Yuan are the same person, he had long wanted to try—

"It is not a sparring match."

The Holy Emperor was even more pleased—not a sparring match, yet he could still experience the authority of the position fruit—

Liang Qu directly reached out and pressed Zhang Longxiang's shoulder.

The next moment.

Zhang Longxiang's pupils suddenly dilated.

Outside the cabin.

The Wang of Chong and the Wang of Su, among other martial sages, silently guarded and waited.

In an instant.

A mighty aura burst forth explosively from within the treasure ship!

Sensing it carefully, it was dazzling and radiant, soaring and mighty, utterly familiar.

The Wang of Chong: "?"

The Wang of Su: "?"

The Prince of the Clan: "?"

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