Chapter 238

Amidst the falling snow.

Zhang Gui watched Ding Chengqi's retreating figure disappear.

He sat back down on the warm stool in the stone pavilion.

Seeing Lü Zhenduan opposite him still eating and drinking as if no one else were around, he couldn't help but smile dumbly and shift his gaze.

In the last few months, due to the turmoil in the Ming Song Empire, the population of the True Dragon Kingdom had increased more than threefold.

It had surpassed the five-million mark in one fell swoop, doubling the speed at which he accumulated 'Substance and Void'.

Coupled with the news of the True Dragon Kingdom's unique sixth-grade 'special unit', the Stone Corpse Soldiers, defeating the Flower Dragon Cavalry—the elite army of the Ming Song Empire in the Eastern Continent—the news had spread throughout the True Dragon territory.

The spoils of war brought back, hundreds of Flower Dragon Beast corpses, were all made into specimens and sold openly, proving that this was no rumor.

This gave the True Dragon citizens not only national cohesion but also national self-esteem!

Following the deliberate guidance of the True Dragon court, they gradually began to see themselves as citizens of a powerful overseas nation!

And this change in national consciousness fed back into the mysterious domain.

It allowed the judicial divine authority Zhang Gui mastered, along with the four rule theories of the two major elements of 'Capital' and 'Legal System', to undergo positive evolution.

And these conceptual changes in the highest supernatural domain of the Western He Continent connected with the evolution of the bloodline divine cluster of the 'Body, Heart, and Spirit' three treasures in the Eastern supernatural domain.

This made Zhang Gui feel that the time for his next supernatural promotion was not far off.

However, even so.

When he was idle, as long as the environment was suitable, he would still consciously use clumsy methods to explore the divine cluster and trace his bloodline.

For example, at this moment, Zhang Gui stretched out his palm, facing the snowy ground outside the pavilion, and activated the main divine cluster 'Drink River' within his body.

In an instant, the white snow covering the ground, along with the snowflakes falling from the sky, were all swept up by him and absorbed into the pores of his arms.

Lü Zhenduan opposite him was not surprised in the slightest, clearly having seen it countless times before.

Only after he was full did he give a symbolic light cough.

"The Heir Apparent remains vigilant in times of peace, never forgetting to hone his supernatural abilities; it is truly admirable."

Zhang Gui dispersed 'Drink River', clapped his hands, and looked at Lü Zhenduan, who was already sweating profusely.

He opened his mouth, operated the other main divine cluster 'Swallow Crow' within his body, and turned the raging flames under the large copper hot pot into a thin line, swallowing it into his abdomen.

"Old Lü, use a handkerchief to wipe your head. Sweating so profusely while eating makes it easy to catch a cold."

Lü Zhenduan nodded, picked up the large cotton handkerchief on the table, wiped his face and head vigorously, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Suddenly, he said something shocking:

"Heir Apparent, something terrible has happened!"

"Hmph, is the phrase 'something terrible has happened' surprising in the current Ming Song?"

Zhang Gui asked back dismissively.

"Longhu, don't mock me. As long as 'something terrible' happening to others doesn't affect you, why would you take it to heart?"

Lü Zhenduan said bluntly:

"The greatest reliance of Prince Zhen's 'Traveling Palace'.

That Tao Goddess has been persuaded or forced by a few outsiders—in any case, she has left..."

"Wait a moment.

'A few outsiders' forced away 'that person' who had already achieved the Celestial Rank.

Which 'outsiders'? From outside the universe? Heavenly demons descending to the mortal world? You're telling a good joke."

Zhang Gui's eyes widened upon hearing this, and he blurted out.

"Heir Apparent, please listen to me from the beginning." Lü Zhenduan lowered his voice and revealed a mysterious expression.

"Do you know of the existence of the 'Earth Cave Realm'?"

Seeing this grandson playing the 'mysterious person' act, Zhang Gui was so angry his mouth felt dry.

He stood up, picked a crystal persimmon from the persimmon tree in the courtyard, didn't even wash it, clapped his hands, and threw it in front of Lü Zhenduan.

"What 'Heir Apparent'? I'm a 'persimmon cake'! If you have something to say, say it quickly.

If you delay, be careful, or I'll give you a big slap that will make you see stars."

Lü Zhenduan had once lived with Zhang Gui in the coroner's office outside Hancheng Prefecture in the Gyeonggi Province of Xianrong Island, and they would eat, drink, drink tea, and chat from time to time, so they already had a close personal friendship.

Therefore, he didn't mind his expression, picked the persimmon cake up from the table, and really ate it in one bite.

The smile on his face gradually disappeared.

"Longhu, Zhao Pujun is dead.

Everything I am about to say was what he said at the banquet the night before he died.

The 'Four Continents of Diyuan' we live in is called the Human Realm.

And the area within a radius of 3,333 li around the Great Earth Cave is called the 'Earth Cave Realm'.

The rules of our Human Realm are that the struggle of 'aristocratic families' to establish dynasties is primary, and hidden sects are secondary.

The rules of the Earth Cave Realm are that 'sects' divide the territory, and mutual assistance is primary.

Ancient families operating silently are secondary.

And these divisions, sayings, and rules were established 9,000 years ago in the Near Ancient Era by the last two supreme beings of the human race who achieved the fruit of God King and Supreme Saint: 'Da Qi' and 'Queen Mother of the West'.

It is said that in the million years of human survival, many sages and great powers have emerged.

Whenever they encountered 'great contention' between our human race and the hundred races of Earth Demons, resulting in tragic casualties, they would conceive various systems.

Seeking great prosperity, great flourishing, and eternal stability for the race!

Oh my, you say, as mortals, what virtue or ability do we have to be protected by..."

"Old Lü, don't flatter me first.

So according to you, our current life was arranged by two great saints and powers 9,000 years ago."

Zhang Gui suddenly interjected quietly.

Lü Zhenduan was stunned.

"It can't be said to be arranged.

After all, Emperor Da Qi's 'Xiaque' and Queen Mother of the West's 'Kunlun' wouldn't even interfere with things like the Yuanshan Empire unifying the entire Eastern Continent.

Only when the great policies they set are violated—for example, if a certain ancient sect doesn't honestly hang around in the 'Earth Cave Realm' but insists on swaying the rise and fall of our human dynasties..."

"Wait a moment.

Tao, that person, was 'gotten rid of' by the disciples under the two supreme beings who still exist!"

Zhang Gui's eyes rolled upon hearing this, as if he had thought of something, and he exclaimed, jumping up from the warm stool.

Lü Zhenduan nodded.

"Longhu, oh Longhu, I knew there would eventually be something that would surprise you.

Zhao Pujun felt it was likely so.

But the Tao Goddess had just ascended to heaven, and she was manipulating things on an overseas island nation that had left the Four Continents of Diyuan.

Coupled with the beginning of the 'small nation war' on Xianrong Island, it was Yin Xiansheng who incited Prince Zhen to counterattack the surprise raid by the Yuanshan Guard Army of the Qianji court.

As a result, it escalated step by step into the current situation of national subjugation and clan extermination.

Although the Tao Goddess had the 'merit' of fanning the flames in the process, it was at most a small punishment and a big warning, or even just persuading her to leave.

As for the mess left behind, whoever should clean it up, cleans it up!"

Zhang Gui frowned thoughtfully upon hearing this.

"So, that Goddess who ascended to heaven really left?"

"She left a few days ago.

And I heard she also hooked away that 'Yuanshan Guard Army' commander, Borjigin Baori Eshen, from Xianrong Island.

But that Baori Eshen can refine millions of people into living evil ghosts; he is far more like an evil cultivator or demon than a proper general.

Abandoning everything in the mortal world to run to the Earth Cave Realm, I feel it's a matter of course."

After finishing, Lü Zhenduan couldn't help but look at Zhang Gui.

Clearly, he felt that this vassal state Heir Apparent and barbarian general, who had devoured millions of human corpses with divine cluster secret arts, didn't look like a 'proper person' either.

(End of chapter)