Chapter 496: Imperial Expedition: As Long As I Am Here, the Morale of the Great Tang Soldiers Remains

Sun Wukong actually understood the logic Yang Jian spoke of; after all, what Tang An had to do truly could not be hindered by the attachments of romance.

It was just bitter for Nezha, who also had to grow up against his will and was forced to accept such an outcome.

As the two were speaking, Nezha arrived.

He did not continue to disturb Tang An, but feeling depressed in his heart, he wanted to find Sun Wukong and Yang Jian to drink.

"Brother Nezha..." Sun Wukong wanted to comfort him, yet he did not know where to begin.

Nezha pulled at the corners of his mouth and smiled, "Let's drink."

Yang Jian directly handed a jar of wine to Nezha, "Drink."

There was no need for words between them either; if he wanted to drink, they would simply drink with him.

Atop the roof ridge of the Zhenmo Pass gate tower.

Tang An's divine sense saw the three of them drinking, but she did not step forward.

"I'm sorry."

This apology was directed at Nezha, but only she herself knew the reason why.

However, before Tang An could think any further, the space around her changed in an instant. And she appeared within the void.

Sitting before Tang An playing chess was none other than Hongjun Laozu, who used all living beings as chess pieces.

"Do you truly not wish to be the Heavenly Dao?"

Tang An teleported in front of the chessboard, sat cross-legged, and observed the game before her.

"Using all living beings as chess, is that feeling of controlling everything really worth your obsession?"

Hongjun did not speak, but placed another piece.

"You cannot change the Fixed Number."

"The changes you think you make are always just changes to the process. As for the ending, you have never truly changed it."

Tang An naturally understood this, so she held a white piece and placed it in a position that seemed casual.

Once the white piece fell, the black pieces were shaken from their positions, and the situation of the game changed in an instant.

"At the very least, what I wanted to do, I have done. To me, that is winning."

Hongjun placed a black chess piece, "Why are you so insistent on being a mortal for a lifetime?"

He and Tang An could neither understand the other's obsession. After all, one pursued the supreme, while the other pursued the simplest.

Their abilities were both powerful, both had selfish motives, and both laid out plans layer by layer for the results they desired.

But in the end, it seemed neither was the winner.

Tang An did not answer the question, and her chess style also changed. "Perhaps, we can cooperate."

"Cooperate?"

"Yes, I firmly believe that there are no eternal friends in this world, nor eternal enemies, only eternal interests."

"As long as our goals are aligned, you and I can cast aside past grievances and cooperate temporarily."

"After all, didn't you bring me here with the same purpose?"

Tang An did not like to talk nonsense, so she went straight to the point.

"You like being the Heavenly Dao, then you should continue to be it well. I want to be my mortal, and naturally, I will also give it my all."

"At critical moments, you and I can help each other and fulfill one another."

"There is only one point: you cannot hurt the people around me again."

"If you lay a hand on those around me again, then even if I have to kill the Dao to prove the Dao, even if I have to sacrifice myself, I will immediately pull you down from your position."

Hongjun was silent for a long while, finally spoke, and placed a black chess piece.

"Agreed."

After saying this one word, Hongjun waved his hand to reveal a scene.

It was the Zhenmo Pass in the Outer Domain, with the Outer Realm Demon Race attacking the city in swarms.

"They are attacking the city suddenly, with unknown motives."

Tang An did not speak, but was speculating on the purpose of the Outer Realm Demon Race's attack this time.

Before, when she went to the Outer Realm Demon Race to look for a lab rat, the Outer Realm Demon Race hid from her like they were hiding from something; why did they suddenly change their nature and do the opposite?

Was it a death order from the Origin Demon, and if so, what was the Origin Demon's goal?

"Since Senior Wutian has not asked for reinforcements, it means he can still control the situation." Tang An was not worried.

Hongjun, however, shook his head, "The Origin Demon is not as easy to deal with as you think."

Otherwise, he would not have allowed the Origin Demon to strengthen the Demon Race for many years, and even nearly caused the Heavenly Dao to be destroyed several times.

Tang An naturally knew this; she had known it from the very first moment she saw the Origin Demon.

The Demon Nests of other Ancestor Demons were easy to find, but the Origin Demon's Demon Nest left her with no solution. After all, wanting to kill the Origin Demon before finding the Demon Nest was a task that was almost impossible to achieve.

"Do you know where the Origin Demon's Demon Nest is?"

Hongjun raised his eyes to look at Tang An, "He... has no Demon Nest."

"What?"

"The Origin Demon is formed from the innate dark Qi. He does not need a Demon Nest to be immortal and indestructible."

"Furthermore, he has comprehended the Creation Law of the Great Dao, and the Outer Realm Demon Race was created by him using the Creation Law, following his own immortal and indestructible nature."

Tang An's brain thought rapidly, "I do not believe in the saying of being immortal and indestructible; all things in the world have their mutual generation and mutual restraint, and even the Origin Demon has a limit to the damage he can withstand."

Hongjun had long since lost count of how many times he had calculated, searching for a way to completely exterminate the Outer Realm Demon Race. Yet to this day, there were still only four words: "The time is not yet ripe."

And when the time would be ripe was even more of an unknown.

"Forget it, this matter is not something that can be accomplished in a hurry. I will return today, and I hope that next time we meet, Master Ancestor can bring me some good news."

Tang An felt a faint sense of unease in her heart, so she did not linger here.

Although Tang An had come to find Hongjun and said with her own lips that they could cooperate, it was impossible for her to trust him wholeheartedly.

Everyone was merely taking what they needed and had their own separate schemes. Being able to exchange information on certain matters was already a very good show of sincerity for cooperation.

"Hum!!!"

When Tang An returned, the night had not yet faded; a warning hum sounded atop the city walls, followed closely by the rapid beating of war drums.

The soldiers of Great Tang assembled urgently, acting according to previously practiced plans, and rushed to the city walls.

Li Shimin started in alarm at the sound, ran out of his sleeping quarters while putting on his shoes, and threw on his robes, intending to lead the troops to the city walls.

"Father," Tang An appeared by his side, "I am here; you do not need to lead the campaign in person."

In truth, she felt for Li Shimin; his body was no longer as robust as it once was, and a hint of a stoop was faintly visible in his frame.

Yet Li Shimin insisted on going, "How can there be a reason for my daughter to be on the front lines while I, her father, retreat behind the scenes to idle?"

The eunuch had already dressed Li Shimin in his dragon-patterned armor and had someone bring Li Shimin his sword.

Tang An knew she could not dissuade him, "Very well, with you commanding at the front, I can rest easy."

"But you must remember, your body is truly not suited for charging into battle anymore."

Only then did Li Shimin agree to Tang An, "With me present, the morale of our Great Tang soldiers will remain high."

"Rest assured, I know my own body well."

As the father and daughter were speaking, a great commotion appeared outside Zhenmo Pass.

"I haven't gone to deliver gifts to you yet, but you are already in such a rush to deliver yourselves to my doorstep."

Tang An summoned the Jinbao Sword, "Jinbao, protect my father."

Jinbao was somewhat displeased, "I, Lord Sword, still need to go out and kill the enemy."

"Jinbao," Tang An said with great solemnity.

"Fine, fine," the Jinbao Sword did not argue with Tang An further, "With me, Lord Sword, taking the field, you can rest easy."

"Thank you," Tang An finished speaking and left that place.

When she appeared again, she was already standing in mid-air, with the Great Killing Weapon, which had finished charging in advance, suspended beside her.

And before her, appearing out of thin air and illuminating the entire Zhenmo Pass, was the Two-Domain Passage about to be opened.