Chapter 271: Clear Distinctions of Grudges and Gratitude

Time flows on.

Six hundred years have passed, and the world has long since undergone great changes.

Saint Emperor Yusu was devoid of Dao, severing the path of Martial Arts, and rebel armies rose from all directions.

The Holy Dynasty collapsed in its wake.

The Qi Kingdom was established.

Two hundred years after its founding, the Qi Kingdom collapsed.

The Shang Kingdom was established, vigorously developing commerce.

The Shang Kingdom's economy became highly developed, internal conflicts accumulated, and it expanded its territory, enfeoffing Heteronymic Kings.

At the same time, technology developed rapidly; guns and cannons appeared, airplanes took flight, and railways were laid everywhere.

The power of the Heteronymic Kings gradually grew, they harbored ulterior motives, and wars broke out everywhere.

More than four hundred years after the founding of the Shang Kingdom, it eventually existed in name only.

The world was divided into three, the people were collectively called the Yan people, and the three great warlords all claimed to be the orthodox rulers.

The three great warlords attacked each other from time to time, but maintained a delicate balance.

At this moment, in Linnan City.

In a large library, a young man in black clothes, holding a sword in his arms, was flipping through books.

This attire was exceptionally eye-catching.

He looked at the content in the books, his gaze occasionally pausing, as if he were pondering something.

"Handsome, do you like reading history too?" Beside him, a girl with an ordinary appearance revealed a smile on her face.

Her name was Zhao Ting, and she was very interested in history.

Unfortunately, the current situation was turbulent, and not many people cared about history.

Most people cared about establishing merit and achieving success, and how to survive better in such a world.

"Mm." The man in black did not look up and continued reading.

There were many books in the library, the paper was yellowed, yet few people had flipped through them.

"Is the handsome man reading the History of the Saints?" Zhao Ting leaned over.

It was rare to see a like-minded person, and she was very interested.

Especially since this like-minded person was also very interested in the History of the Saints.

"Although the Holy Dynasty only existed for ten or twenty years in our country's history, it has a different significance.

Especially since both Saint Emperors were women, which is extremely rare." Mentioning this, a look of admiration appeared on Zhao Ting's face.

"The reputation of the Holy Dynasty... doesn't seem to be very good, especially... Saint Emperor Yusu." The man in black spoke, his words carrying a sense of inexplicable vicissitudes.

"Historical records state that Saint Emperor Yusu was muddled and devoid of Dao, and the Jinyi Division she established was entirely composed of her male favorites. I think this is truly a slander against Saint Emperor Yusu by the people of the world!" Mentioning this, an excited expression appeared on Zhao Ting's face.

For a woman to be an emperor was truly rare, and she admired both Saint Emperors very much.

"Zhao Ting, Saint Emperor Yusu was indeed quite muddled; otherwise, how could the Holy Dynasty, which was so powerful, have been destroyed in her hands?

Could it be that you believe those nonsensical rumors circulating in the neighborhood that Saint Emperor Yusu severed the Martial Arts and was reviled by the martial artists of the world?

Where in the world are there such martial artists? Everyone is an ordinary person; one must believe in science.

Martial Arts, like Mythical things, are nothing more than legends.

Even our Grand Marshal Zhang has publicly stated that Martial Arts are nothing but fantasies."

Beside Zhao Ting, a young woman spoke; she wore the same uniform as Zhao Ting, and the two were from the same university.

Regarding Saint Emperor Yusu, according to historical records, her reputation was Very Poor.

Keeping male favorites, being fond of grandiosity, building many prisons, competing with the people for profit, and so on.

Especially during the Qi Dynasty, they blackened Saint Emperor Yusu's name thoroughly.

It was not until the Shang Dynasty that there was some favorable opinion.

Of course, there were also rumors among the people that Saint Emperor Yusu opened up eternal peace for the world, severed the path of Qi-Blood Martial Dao, and offended the classes of that time, which was why she was smeared.

Naturally, such rumors were rejected by the public.

Martial Arts were simply things that did not exist.

If Saint Emperor Yusu were so powerful that she could sever the Qi-Blood Martial Dao, such means would be nearly that of a Heavenly Human; how could she be smeared?

This is a contradiction.

Beside her, Zhao Ting was speechless and felt somewhat dissatisfied.

However, she could not find any arguments to refute it.

After all, what she had accepted was not the mainstream opinion.

She also understood that many non-mainstream theories like the Qi-Blood Martial Dao were all fake.

Yet she felt that the Qi-Blood Martial Dao was real.

And at this moment, the man in black, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, his tone extremely low: "Yusu was not muddled... just a bit foolish."

After the man in black finished speaking, a look of loss appeared on his face.

If Yusu had not chosen to do something for this world, she probably would not have met such an end.

This was the end Yusu wanted, and he could not change anything either.

Zhao Ting was stunned; she had not expected this man in black to suddenly say such things.

The man in black said no more, put down the book, and his figure slowly disappeared.

However, before he left, a faint voice came: "Evil Qi is clinging to your body; drink a bowl of chicken blood, and you can resolve the impending disaster of blood."

Beside her, Zhao Ting remained slightly dazed.

She did not understand the words of that man in black.

Why drink chicken blood?

Nearby, another woman wore a look of disdain on her face: "In modern society, there are still people pretending to be gods and ghosts."

The man in black left the library; a faint Blood Qi permeated his hands, eventually dissipating.

"Is this... a vampire?"

This kind of Blood Qi gave him a sense of familiarity.

To think they were still lingering on, alive.

However, the feeling it gave him was different from before; it seemed to have undergone a special change.

The man in black sighed slightly.

This man in black was none other than Lin Chao.

Back then, he had taken on the backlash of Cang Yi, and thick Blood Crystals had grown all around him before he sank into the sea.

He had also fallen into a slumber that lasted for who knows how many years.

A few days ago, suddenly, a force of gravity struck the crystal wall, shattering it, and only then did he finally awaken.

Walking out of the library, the sun was bright outside, and there were low, flat buildings everywhere; buildings higher than ten stories were rare.

Outside the library, a sedan was parked.

"Mr. Xu." A middle-aged man waved at Lin Chao, a respectful smile on his face.

"Mm." Lin Chao entered the car.

The middle-aged man was named Ji Hongyang; it was he who had unintentionally salvaged the crystal wall from the sea a few days ago, allowing the Lin Chao within to awaken.

Lin Chao knew that if the crystal wall hadn't shattered by chance, he might not know how much longer it would have taken to wake up.

Or perhaps, he would never have awakened.

Therefore, he owed Ji Hongyang a favor.

"How was the reading at the library, Mr. Xu?" Ji Hongyang stole a glance at Lin Chao.

When he found Lin Chao, he was incredibly shocked.

However, thinking of the Blood Guard beside Grand Marshal Zhang, he managed to accept it.

Grand Marshal Zhang partitioned the Eighteen Provinces, and on the surface, he relied on his army.

But in reality, Grand Marshal Zhang's greatest reliance was the Blood Guard, who made people tremble with fear.

This group of Blood Guard appeared no different from ordinary people on the outside.

However, they were like superhumans, possessing all sorts of abilities.

Such as infinite strength, speed as fast as lightning, or flight.

This group of Blood Guard was small in number, but as the most elite special forces, they were the sharpest blade in Grand Marshal Zhang's hand.

It was precisely because he possessed this blade that the officials in the Eighteen Provinces governed by Grand Marshal Zhang were as silent as cicadas in winter and rarely rebelled.

In Ji Hongyang's eyes, Xu Ling must also be an Extraordinary Person like the Blood Guard.

There were many such Extraordinary Persons in Shang, and most of them had defected to Grand Marshal Zhang.

Some of them had defected to the other two warlords respectively.

And there were others who, like Xu Ling, should be living in seclusion from the world.

For these past few days, Ji Hongyang had been secretly observing Lin Chao.

After observing for so many days, he found that Lin Chao's personality was not cruel, and he kept his word; on the surface, he could be considered a trustworthy person.

"Mr. Ji seems to have something to say?" At this moment, Lin Chao spoke, "Mr. Ji helped me out of my predicament, and I promised you that, within my power, I would help you do one thing."

Lin Chao had always been clear about gratitude and grudges, and he always repaid kindness.

A trace of joy appeared on Ji Hongyang's face; he stopped hesitating and spoke directly: "I hope, sir... you can help me protect someone."

Lin Chao closed his eyes and continued to practice: "Very well."

Now, having slept for several hundred years, his internal Qi-Blood cultivation had improved by a large margin.

However, he felt he still needed another hundred years for all his techniques to break through to the Innate realm.

The most difficult among them was still the martial art that represented him.

Up to now, he still had no clue.

Perhaps he needed all other martial arts to break through to the Innate realm before he could know the martial art that represented himself.

As he was now, practicing Qi-Blood Martial Dao, he carried all the Innate deities.

His strength had already reached a terrifying realm.

He had also embarked on another path.

"Mr. Xu isn't curious about who it is?" Up front, Ji Hongyang watched the road, a look of curiosity on his face.

This Mr. Xu had agreed too readily.

It seemed he was a person with real ability.

"Who is it?" Lin Chao asked.

"That person's surname is Huang, and his status is noble," Ji Hongyang said cautiously.

In the current Shang, three warlords divided the world, and the Royal Family existed in name only.

And the Shang Royal Family was surnamed Huang.

"Oh? Is that so." Lin Chao responded casually.

To him, whether the surname was Huang or something else made no difference.

Ji Hongyang could only continue, a grave expression on his face: "This young master is the only direct bloodline of the current Shang Royal Family.

Protecting him will very likely mean clashing with the Blood Guard, which carries immense danger; if you are unwilling, sir, you may refuse."

As he spoke, he looked at Lin Chao's eyes, watching for any change in Lin Chao's expression.

After all, this mission carries a tremendous threat.

"No matter," Lin Chao spoke, "what is the time limit?"

Ji Hongyang thought of something, a look of struggle flashing in his eyes.

"Three years."

Three years from now, the world will undergo a great change.

By then, the Prince will certainly be able to step onto that Great Dao, and even with the threat of Grand Marshal Zhang, he will likely no longer face danger and will be able to preserve his life.

The only thing they, this group of Royalists, can do now is to let the bloodline of the Royal Family continue.

"Good," Lin Chao replied.

"Thank you for your trouble, sir," Ji Hongyang's face revealed an excited expression, "Mr. Xu Ling, I will take you to see that person now."

He drove the car and headed forward.

……

Inside the seaside manor, a young man rode on a horse, a trace of desolation on his face.

The current Royal Family exists in name only.

He is also like a canary kept in captivity by Grand Marshal Zhang, unable to even leave Linhai City.

His life and death are both controlled in the hands of Grand Marshal Zhang.

He has no thoughts of restoring the Shang house; his only thought is to live like an Ordinary person in such a world.

Yet, even this cannot be achieved.

Huang Hun rode the horse, casting aside these melancholy thoughts, and galloped through the horse track.

Why think about these things?

How many people dream of the life of drunken stupor he lives now?

(End of this chapter)