Chapter 117

"Carefully calculating, there is still a difference of five or six layers between him and me..." Even though the conversation had passed nearly an hour, Chen Yi He was still in shock, he didn't know how great the gap between those two layers was.

"I'm afraid even if we were given five hundred years, we might not reach the seventh layer; after passing the third layer, cultivation is no longer just simple hard training." Qiu Yichen said to Chen Yi He, he gazed at the azure sky, muttering some more words, "If Dongfang Wuji were to come to the Heroes' Assembly, I doubt anyone would dare to contend with him."

"So can you move aside? You've delayed me for an hour; without our Palace Master stepping in, lacking the support of our Five Absolutes Palace, no one could possibly subdue that demon Dongfang Wuji!" Ruan Shu said this, both anxious and proud, she prostrated herself before her Palace Master in utter faith.

Indeed, the Five Absolutes Palace has such arrogant capability; no one dares to refute.

"What do you mean?" Chen Yi He asked Qiu Yichen.

"And you, looking so anxious, do you have some connection with the Dongfang Clan?" Qiu Yichen countered Chen Yi He; he is a sharp person, Chen Yi He rarely loses his composure before him, so he naturally wants to seize the opportunity.

"Nothing much," Chen Yi He chuckled, "hehe, but I want to go see."

"Then you're just asking for death." Ruan Shu said mercilessly.

"I must go to the Five Absolutes Palace; I have some words to say to the Palace Master." Qiu Yichen said.

Chen Yi He hadn't even expressed surprise, but Ruan Shu did, "Does our Palace Master know you?" In Ruan Shu's heart, the Palace Master is the coldest, most icy woman, she also keeps away from men; Ruan Shu doesn't believe Qiu Yichen could have any involvement with the Palace Master.

"Hehe, old acquaintances."

"It's nothing; the Dual Heroes Assembly can't proceed as usual whether you go or not, it's just a wasted trip," Qiu Yichen patted Chen Yi He's shoulder, saying concernedly, "But your trip to Dong Hai will surely bring you face-to-face with Dongfang Wuji—life or death, hard to predict—this parting, I don't know if we'll ever meet again."

"Don't worry, I'm an indestructible little cockroach, not so easily wiped out!" Chen Yi He confidently patted his chest, though he actually had no confidence at all.

Ruan Shu is also a beauty, though slightly inferior to the Palace Master and the Little Palace Master; as a beauty, she can't stand men being fussy, she urged, "Are you going or not? My time is truly precious."

"Beautiful lady, it seems I've latched onto you!" Qiu Yichen feigned innocence, puckering his lips at Ruan Shu.

"Beauty, it seems I've latched onto you!" Qiu Yichen feigned innocence, puckering his lips at Ruan Shu.

Chen Yi He also almost vomited.

"Alright, no more talk, I'm leaving now, farewell!" Chen Yi He turned his horse's head, heading east without looking back, he needed to reach Dong Hai in the shortest time.

Dongfang, wait for me, you must not come to any harm!

"Then you lead the way, so I don't have to keep looking at the map!" Qiu Yichen said to Ruan Shu.

Ruan Shu didn't say much more, she rode off on her horse, knowing Qiu Yichen would naturally follow.

Ruan Shu didn't say much more, rode away on her horse, knowing Qiu Yichen would naturally follow.

After two hours, Ruan Shu again discovered something strange on the road; she saw the Little Palace Master.

The Little Palace Master and Ruan Shu were going in opposite directions; for some reason she didn't notice Ruan Shu and Qiu Yichen, instead she simply walked past on another road.

"Little Palace Master," Ruan Shu did not call out to stop her; she rarely saw the Little Palace Master looking troubled, and doubt arose in her heart: "At this critical juncture, why is she heading south, leaving the Five Absolutes Palace—is it because my message didn't get through?"

By the time Ruan Shu wanted to shout to stop the Little Palace Master, she had already gone far away.

"Isn't that your Little Palace Master?" Qiu Yichen asked Ruan Shu.

"Hmm. Don't worry about that, let's hurry! We can reach the Five Absolutes Palace before nightfall; then you can tell the Palace Master whatever you have to say."

Qiu Yichen shook his head helplessly; the women of the Five Absolutes Palace are forever so cold.

Qiu Yichen shook his head helplessly; the women of the Five Absolutes Palace are always this cold.

Dong Hai.

Dongfang Clan manor.

The deepest part of the manor's prison.

"Drip… drip…" water droplets fell from the top of the prison, striking the ground.

The pitch-black prison, where you can't see your hand in front of your face; besides the dripping sound, there were faint scurrying noises of mice.

The atmosphere here is extremely oppressive; the cells near Dong Hai are exceedingly damp.

A frail woman curled up in the corner, breathing her last.

A weak woman huddled in the corner, her breath faint.

"Dongfang Giant Demon" sat before the wine table, a bowl just filled with wine; Duan Sheng held an empty envelope in one hand and a sheet dense with writing in the other, inevitably falling into thought.

When Duan Sheng was still young, his stature had not yet grown.

In a dilapidated thatched hut, Duan Sheng's dying father said to him, "Three hundred years have arrived; Dongfang Wuji is very likely to descend upon the world again; our ancestors who participated in his suppression will surely bear a grudge, waiting for revenge. Son, your generation coincides with the three-hundred-year mark; you must always be ready! Father can't wait any longer!"

In a dilapidated thatched hut, Duan Sheng's dying father said to him, "Three hundred years have arrived, Dongfang Wuji is very likely to descend upon the world again; back then our seniors participated in the sealing and killing, he will surely bear a grudge, lying in wait for revenge. Sheng'er, your generation coincides with the three hundred years; you must always be ready! Dad can't wait any longer!"

His thoughts returned to reality; Duan Sheng unconsciously gripped the hilt of his great sword, this time he lost his usual carefree attitude, "Hehe, hehe, Dongfang Giant Demon, it seems I cannot escape!"

Duan Sheng put down the envelope and paper, lifted the bowl, gulped wine, refilled and drank again; after three large bowls he stopped, "Hey… since I can't dodge, let's give it a try!"

Duan Sheng put down the envelope and letter, picked up the bowl, gulped down alcohol, refilled it after finishing, and only stopped after three large bowls, saying, "Hey… since I can't avoid it, let's give it a try!"

Capital.

Inside the imperial palace.

Emperor Wen of Zhou continually paced before his dragon throne, the grief over his lost son not yet fully eased, now he harbors new doubts.

Zhang Gonggong knew that Emperor Wen of Zhou's doubt concerned his own throne.

"Your Majesty, elder brother, constantly hesitating like this is no solution!" Zhou Ke said; Emperor Wen of Zhou's pacing made him anxious.

"Then you two had better think of a solution!" Emperor Wen of Zhou pointed at Zhou Ke and Zhang Gonggong standing before the great steps, "He… he… a person of the seventh layer, can my throne remain secure?"

"Then you guys had better think of a solution!" Zhou Wen Huang pointed at Zhou Ke and Zhang Gonggong standing before the great hall, "He… he… is a person of the Seventh Heaven; can my imperial throne remain stable?"

Zhang Gonggong also dared not answer.

"Back then, my ancestors announced a call to gather martial heroes to jointly oppose Dongfang Wuji! Now he has returned, will he spare me?" Emperor Wen of Zhou, anxious, clapped his hands, then leaned back onto the dragon throne.

"Your Majesty, the Dongfang Clan repays grudges; this time we can only face them!" Zhang Gonggong said.

"Face it! He alone could storm the palace and twist my head off!" Emperor Wen of Zhou fumed, "Quickly think of a solution!"

"This news has already spread throughout the martial world; I think even if we stay silent, a reaction will come soon." Zhou Ke said.

"This news has already spread in the martial world; I think even if we don't speak up, there should be a response soon enough," Zhou Ke said.