Chapter 399: Zero-Frame Start, Zero-Cost Moral Purchase

Even Taishang Laojun did not expect that Tang An would open with such a lion's share demand.

"You came today just to ask for the Dragon-Coiling Staff?"

"No."

With a "swish," Tang An unfurled a scroll covered in dense writing.

"The Dragon-Coiling Staff is certainly important, but these items are also indispensable."

Sun Wukong was dumbfounded, "Master, that doesn't seem to be what you said just a moment ago..."

"Sigh, you don't understand. This is what I call a zero-frame start, a zero-cost moral purchase. Only by catching them off guard can one win in a single strike."

The corners of Sun Wukong's mouth twitched slightly, Yang Jian turned his face to stifle a laugh, and Nezha was clearly too accustomed to this to be surprised.

In the entire Doushuai Palace, the only one who was hurt was that elderly gentleman of unknown age.

Looking at Taishang Laojun's expression, a headline flashed through Tang An's mind.

"Empty-nest elderly man in Heavenly Court suffers mass robbery in broad daylight. Is this the decline of social morals, or the extinction of human nature?"

"Uncle Master, please don't look at me like that. I am doing this for the sake of all living beings. After all, I can't be the only one taking all the hits without even having some medicine to recover my health, right?"

"Besides, I am facing the entire Outer Realm Demon Race invasion alone. Think about it, if I get hurt or kick the bucket halfway, where are you going to find a successor so quickly, right?"

"If the Three Realms fall by then, your losses will be far greater than this, right?"

Taishang Laojun looked at the Diamond Bracelet, Immortal Pills, Purple-Gold Red Gourd, Lamb Fat Jade Pure Vase, Huangjin Rope, Seven-Star Sword, and so on inside Tang An's Wealth Gathering Ring... and fell into deep thought.

After a long while, he sighed: "Look at your good disciple; she could have clearly just taken them by force, yet she is here lecturing about grand principles."

"Fine, fine." Taishang Laojun did not take the things from Tang An's hand, but with a wave, he placed the items he had long prepared into Tang An's Wealth Gathering Ring.

It concerned the safety of the Three Realms, and he had watched the child grow up all along. Since she was about to head to the battlefield, how could he, as an elder, not show some support?

"The Dragon-Coiling Staff should not belong to you just yet. When it is time for it to be yours, it will appear by your side of its own accord."

Tang An sat down on her bottom beside Taishang Laojun and helped herself to an Immortal Fruit, clearly already used to these Saints speaking in riddles.

Taishang Laojun studied Tang An, seeing that her mental state had improved quite a bit. "After being depressed for these days, have you figured things out?"

Tang An stopped the action of biting the fruit, then switched to eating a different one.

"I've figured it out. Even if I hadn't, I would have to. I can't just keep wallowing in self-pity forever."

"The Three Realms don't revolve around me alone, so naturally, I cannot demand that others treat me in the way I desire."

"As for protecting the Three Realms, after I calmed down, I thought about a lot."

"If I cast aside those schemes and negative emotions and calm my heart to ask myself again, I am actually willing."

"After all, the people of Great Tang believe in me as a god and grant me Faith Power. Naturally, I must shoulder the responsibility to guard my country and ensure the safety of my Great Tang people."

"My noble Imperial Father also treats me with sincerity; wherever he is, that is my second home."

"For the sake of both family and country, even without the status of Guardian, I would still stand up and do my utmost to protect my home and defend my country."

"Setting that aside, let's talk about national righteousness."

"I have witnessed how the martyrs, in order to spare their descendants from the suffering of war, fought three generations' worth of battles in one lifetime. The stories forged by the blood of heroes are so tragic and such great feats."

"Nurtured by that kind of grand righteousness, we descendants also have the same mettle and integrity in our bones. In the moment of national life and death, everyone is a fine man or woman capable of sacrificing everything."

"The so-called valuing righteousness over life—if sacrificing me alone could trade for peace in the world, I believe many would make the same choice as me. Even if... it might mean being an unsung hero."

Tang An paused after saying this.

Tongtian Jiaozhu no longer hid himself and appeared out of thin air before Tang An and Taishang Laojun.

"So you have accepted your fate?" Tongtian Jiaozhu activated an Array; within this array, only the three of them could hear.

"Accept my fate? No." Even if she were willing to sacrifice herself, she, Tang An, would never accept her fate.

"Compared to the class Wukong wants to rebel against, the imperial power Yang Jian wants to rebel against, and the paternal power Nezha wants to rebel against, what I, Tang An, want to rebel against is the so-called Destiny and Fixed Number."

"The ending I want, the life I want, will ultimately be rewritten by my own hands."

"That ending—the Saints' decree won't do, and the Heavenly Dao's decree won't do either!"

"I, Tang An, only believe that fate is determined by oneself!"

"Perhaps no one has ever succeeded in rebelling before this. But I am certain that one day, I, Tang An, will be the first person in history to succeed in such a rebellion!"

An incomparably heroic and ambitious aura rippled out from around Tang An.

The three of Sun Wukong did not know what Tang An was discussing with Taishang Laojun and Tongtian Jiaozhu. But they could feel how magnificent Tang An's aura was at this moment.

Looking at the eyes of Tongtian Jiaozhu and Taishang Laojun, they were extremely satisfied and gratified.

They were old and could no longer fight, but the young still had plenty of strength. Even if she was still immature, so what?

If she lacked weapons, they would prepare them; if her wings were not yet full, they would shelter her from the wind and rain.

One generation lifts up the next; one day, someone will succeed.

"However..."

"However what?" Taishang Laojun asked.

"The crisis is coming, and I cannot sit and wait for death. I will return to the future later, and when I come back, I will have to trouble you again, Uncle Master."

"Oh? Trouble me for what?"

"You all like to speak in riddles, so this time I will be a riddle-maker too." Tang An acted mysterious, took a few more Immortal Fruits, and prepared to leave.

Tongtian Jiaozhu flashed to block Tang An's path, his expression hesitant.

Tang An studied Tongtian Jiaozhu; she hadn't expected the legendary Tongtian Jiaozhu to have such a side.

"Master, Uncle Master is right. If you want to ask me, just ask."

"You heard it before?"

"Sigh." Tang An knew that everyone hadn't yet adapted to her suddenly becoming this strong.

"I am not far from your realm now, and since you two didn't avoid people when talking, it would be hard for me not to hear."

"Then..."

"Master." Tang An took an Immortal Fruit, wiped it on Nezha, and then handed it to Tongtian Jiaozhu.

"Even if your previous goal might not have been for my sake, it is true that you saved me several times, and it is also true that you traversed the River of Time to satisfy those strange and eccentric requests of mine."

"A teacher for a day is a father for life; I, Tang An, am not so ungrateful."

"You are still my Master, and I am still your little disciple. Don't worry, if I don't die, I will definitely take care of you in your old age, ha."

In the eyes of Tongtian Jiaozhu was surprise, astonishment, and even more, an indescribable sense of relief and being moved.

"With me, your Master, here, even the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon shall not think to take your life."

"Tsk, no wonder I didn't have a shred of hesitation or doubt when I first clung to your thigh. Looking at it this way, my investment eye is quite good." Tang An finished eating the Immortal Fruit and threw away the fruit core.

"Alright, everything that needed to be said has been said, and everything that needed to be taken has been taken. Next, it is time to attend to serious business."

"Serious business?"

"Naturally, it is to resurrect Yaoji Zhanggongzhu."