Chapter 323: The Opportunity to Become an Emperor

There is a heaven beyond heaven, and people beyond people; one mountain is always higher than the next...

This was Hua Changxi's most intuitive feeling after hearing what Yan Zhenzhen said.

The Kunlun Secret Realm...

Yet another piece of information she had never heard of before!

It seemed that every time she felt she had become one of the top powerhouses in this world, someone even stronger would emerge, urging her to hurry up and cultivate to improve her strength—there was no end to it!

Hua Changxi suddenly felt a bit weary of this kind of "chasing." She felt as if she were being pushed forward by an invisible force, never able to stop.

"Changxi~"

Seeing Hua Changxi lost in thought, Yan Zhenzhen couldn't help but nudge her arm with her elbow.

Hua Changxi came back to herself and looked at Yan Zhenzhen: "What is it?"

Yan Zhenzhen looked at her: "Shouldn't I be the one asking you what's wrong?"

Hua Changxi shook her head: "Nothing."

Seeing her like this, Yan Zhenzhen was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "Changxi, cultivators must actively engage with the world."

Hua Changxi looked over, her face showing confusion; she didn't quite understand why Yan Zhenzhen would suddenly say that.

Yan Zhenzhen looked at her: "People cannot live only in their own worlds; they must be able to see others."

Hua Changxi felt it was a bit inexplicable. Was Yan Zhenzhen saying she was arrogant and ignored others?

She hadn't experienced much of the world, but she wasn't disconnected from it either. How could she be living only in her own world?

Yan Zhenzhen didn't say anything more. Words of guidance—those who understand will grasp it with a single hint; for those who don't, more words are useless.

She and Hua Changxi were friends, not master and disciple. If some things were said too much, even with good intentions, it would make people uncomfortable.

Friends should be even more mindful of boundaries!

Just then, the subdued Nascent Soul cultivators had completely calmed down, and the monks from Xiangguo Temple and Dixiu Temple stopped chanting. Yan Zhenzhen quickly changed the subject: "The demonic nature in those people has been suppressed."

Hua Changxi looked at Yan Zhenzhen, gave up on the idea of questioning further, and turned to look at the group of Nascent Soul cultivators who had destroyed the protective formation of the Artifact Saint Palace.

Indeed, under the purification and suppression of the Buddhist sounds, the black flames on the Nascent Souls within those cultivators who had nearly fallen into demonic cultivation were no longer growing.

Suddenly, Hua Changxi narrowed her eyes and asked Yan Zhenzhen in a low voice: "Of those surviving Nascent Soul cultivators, which ones are from the Imperial family, which ones are from the Duke's mansions, and which ones are from the Marquis or Count mansions?"

Yan Zhenzhen didn't understand why Hua Changxi asked this, but she still answered her question.

After listening, Hua Changxi was lost in thought.

She had thought wrong before; those who could ignite the black jade lotus petals were not necessarily from the Asura Gate. The Imperial family had black jade lotus petals in their hands, and the powerful nobles might have them too.

"Two died from the Imperial family, six from the Duke's mansions, and fifteen from the Marquis and Count mansions. Even with the spiritual energy recovery, these nobles still prioritize Imperial power."

Yan Zhenzhen sighed: "There's no helping that. Who else controls the most resources besides the Imperial family?"

Hua Changxi didn't respond. She had discovered a peculiar situation: among the thirty-one surviving Nascent Soul cultivators who participated in blowing up the Artifact Saint Palace's protective formation, sixteen had ignited both black and white flames within their bodies.

Of those sixteen, two were from the Imperial family, five from the Duke's mansions, and eight from the Marquis and Count mansions.

Are black and white flames that easy to ignite?

Hua Changxi thought of her own situation. She wanted to ignite the white flame, but even with white jade lotus petals, she couldn't. Why was it so easy for these people?

Furthermore, those who ignited both black and white flames simultaneously—though they ostensibly belonged to different factions, could they be in the same camp secretly?

"The Minister of the Heaven Department is here!"

Yan Zhenzhen's voice pulled Hua Changxi back to her thoughts.

Hua Changxi looked over. Wei Zhenjie's expression was not very good; he looked angrily at the dozen or so Nascent Soul cultivators who had nearly fallen into demonic cultivation, then walked quickly toward the chanting monks.

Yan Zhenzhen pulled Hua Changxi: "Let's go. The Minister of the Heaven Department is here; it's not good for us to keep watching what happens next."

Hua Changxi nodded. Just as she was about to leave with Yan Zhenzhen, she saw Jing Le look toward them and wave his hand, as if asking them to wait for him.

Hua Changxi and Yan Zhenzhen exchanged a look and stood still.

Immediately, Jing Le said something to the monk in the red cassock beside him, then walked toward the two with a smile.

As soon as he got close, he sent a voice transmission to Hua Changxi.

"Changxi, my master is at the Dixiu Temple camp. You can't ignite the white flame, right? Perhaps my master can solve it."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's eyes lit up instantly: "Really?"

Jing Le smiled and nodded.

The three left the Demon-Suppressing Army camp. Once they were far away from the crowd, Yan Zhenzhen asked: "How should that group of Nascent Soul cultivators be handled? What if they become uncontrollable again?"

Jing Le: "The Minister of the Heaven Department said they will all be locked in the Heaven Department's prison."

Yan Zhenzhen sneered: "Will the Imperial family and the nobles agree?"

Jing Le was expressionless: "They have to agree whether they want to or not. The trouble they caused this time is too great; they can't get away without giving an explanation."

Hua Changxi stroked her chin: "Can we think of a way to prevent the Imperial family and nobles from acting recklessly?"

Yan Zhenzhen shook her head, her face showing helplessness: "It can't be avoided. Do you know that in other places, a single spiritual herb can trigger a bloody battle, let alone the contention for the five great holy lands?"

"Before, I only heard that other places were in chaos; now, the capital is in chaos too."

"Perhaps this disaster at the Artifact Saint Palace is just the beginning..."

Jing Le added: "Chaos precedes order. I hope the Four Spirits successors appear soon to lead everyone in creating a peaceful and prosperous age for the Four Spirits Realm again."

Hua Changxi: "Four Spirits successors? The Four Spirits still have successors?"

Yan Zhenzhen smiled: "Our realm is called the Four Spirits Realm. The Four Spirits suppress the four directions. Those who inherit the will of the Four Spirits are all Four Spirits successors."

"You know about the Lingguang Hall in the south of the capital, right? The Zhu Que Army recruited by the Lingguang Hall is, in a sense, the Zhu Que successor."

"Of course, the Four Spirits successors Jing Le mentioned are the destined people who will rule the four continents in the future. But right now, the four continents haven't even established contact with the Central Continent, so I reckon we'll have to wait a while."

Hua Changxi was lost in thought: "The Central Continent can't just pin all its hopes on the four continents, can it? Can't we establish order in the Central Continent ourselves?"

Yan Zhenzhen smiled and patted Hua Changxi's shoulder: "Changxi, good ambition!"

Jing Le also smiled along.

Yan Zhenzhen then sighed: "The foundation of the Four Spirits Realm is actually the four continents. Only the four continents have the opportunity to become Emperors."

"Without becoming an Emperor, even a deity lacks the power to unify the continent."

Hua Changxi was puzzled: "Why doesn't the Central Continent have the opportunity to become an Emperor?"

Jing Le: "The foundation of every realm is limited. The Four Spirits Realm can only provide four Emperor positions."

Hua Changxi: "Then why can't it be the Central Continent?"

Jing Le looked at her: "When the Four Spirits Realm was first formed, there were only the four continents; the Central Continent only appeared gradually later."

"During the Primordial Era, when the Four Spirits Realm first perished, the innate Four Spirits—Zhu Que, Xuan Wu, Qing Long, and Bai Hu—died and sat in meditation, directly merging with the four continents."

Yan Zhenzhen sighed and took over: "That is to say, the Central Continent doesn't have the deep foundation of the four continents; the four continents have the legacy of the Four Spirits."

Hua Changxi followed their line of thought and asked curiously: "Then if I go to the Zhu Que Continent, will I have a chance to become an Emperor? Or must one be a native of the Zhu Que Continent?"

Hearing this, Yan Zhenzhen and Jing Le stopped simultaneously and looked at Hua Changxi together.

Hua Changxi felt her skin crawl: "What's wrong with you two?"

Yan Zhenzhen suddenly smiled: "Nothing, just think you really dare to think." ===== CHAPTER 324 =====