Chapter 356: Open Conspiracy (First Update)

Mending Heaven Pill.

It can bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh and bone, effectively recreating a person.

Soul Returning Grass.

It can allow a wandering soul to leave the body without dying, and can preserve a soul for a thousand years without decay.

It is no exaggeration to say that both of these are rare and precious items.

The Mending Heaven Pill is equivalent to having an extra life, while the Soul Returning Grass is equivalent to having an extra layer of insurance in the worst-case scenario.

Ren Yidao has many life-saving methods, but no one would complain about having more ways to save their own life.

This is an open conspiracy.

"People die for wealth, birds die for food; this saying is truly not wrong."

Even though Ren Yidao knows clearly that True Person He's request this time is not well-intentioned, he cannot help but feel tempted.

Greed is endless.

Even for someone like Ren Yidao who prides himself on being rational, when faced with enormous benefits, it is hard for his heart not to fluctuate.

Take a gamble, turn a bicycle into a motorcycle?

So, will you bet?

However, Ren Yidao has not completely lost his mind; before making a decision, he asked one more question: "Where is the True Person's Cave Abode? If it is truly in the South Sea, it will take quite a lot of time to go there and back."

"It is on an island somewhere in the South Sea, but it is very close to the East Sea, on the path that the Demon Emperor City is advancing along." True Person He knows that this Highness is new to the Demon Emperor City and is still unclear about many basic facts, so he explained:

"Your Highness also knows that the Demon Emperor City is not fixed in one place, but moves across the Four Seas along a special route."

In order not to be locked onto by the Human Race, the Demon Emperor City has been wandering above the Four Seas.

But this is not hiding; it is more like the noble Demon God, even after passing away, still proudly patrolling His territory.

The Demon Emperor City does not need to deliberately make any moves; its very existence is enough to deter a crowd of petty people with ulterior motives.

"According to my calculations, in a few more days, we will not be far from my Cave Abode, so it will not take much time to make a round trip then."

"However, if Your Highness does not intend to go in person, please forgive me for not being able to tell Your Highness the address."

True Person He watched Ren Yidao frown and ponder with a calm and composed expression, leisurely sipping his tea.

He is not worried about what choice Ren Yidao will make.

"Heh heh, he will definitely go."

A smart person will not give up such a rare opportunity.

And this Crown Prince is an absolutely smart person.

Agreeing is merely a matter of time.

The room was quiet for a while, with only the sound of Ren Yidao's fingers rhythmically tapping on the tabletop.

Thump... thump... thump.

"Hoo..." Ren Yidao stopped his fingers, reached the answer in his heart after thinking, and asked without raising his head: "Does the True Person want me to go alone?"

Hearing this, a satisfied smile appeared on He Shou's face.

"Heh heh."

He knows.

This fish has already taken the bait.

However, True Person He is not in a hurry to reel in the big fish right now.

But it is not yet time.

It still lacks some seasoning; if he forces it now, he will inevitably snap the fishing line and fight him to the death.

That would be inappropriate.

He still needs to wear him down for a while longer.

"Your Highness is overthinking; of course not. How would I dare to let Your Highness take risks?" He Shou said with an understanding smile: "As long as Your Highness agrees to go and retrieve it personally, you can find a few good friends to accompany you, such as peers like little friend Qingteng."

Qingteng, having been mentioned by name, blinked and immediately put on an expectant look, looking at Ren Yidao as if about to start acting spoiled.

"It is just that they need to take an oath before me, that they must never leak the news of the Cave Abode to others." True Person He joked: "That Cave Abode contains my life's savings; if outsiders were to find it, I would only have tears left to shed."

"Heh heh, the True Person's actions are righteous; you will never be treated like that." Ren Yidao cupped his hands in a salute, which served as his formal reply: "When the time comes, please tell me the specific address of the Cave Abode."

"However, what about you, True Person? Will you not lead the way for us? Will you not go back to the Cave Abode to take a look?"

Ren Yidao felt a bit strange and still could not understand why True Person He would go through such roundabout ways to get him to go to the Cave Abode, instead of taking him there personally?

Is there some unspeakable difficulty?

What exactly is the reason he cannot go in person?

Unfortunately, True Person He did not intend to explain this matter, casually saying: "I don't need to; the difficulty of refining the Mending Heaven Pill is extremely high, so I must adjust my state in advance, and the Soul Returning Grass is more effective the sooner it is used after being picked."

"When Your Highness goes, I will stay in the Demon Emperor City to prepare the furnace and prepare other main materials for Your Highness in advance."

"In addition, to prevent any problems in the future, I will also state my terms upfront."

"Providing the Soul Returning Grass and refining the Mending Heaven Pill, these are all precious values to me."

"My help this time is not without a motive." True Person He became a bit more serious, staring into Ren Yidao's eyes and speaking earnestly: "I am willing to do this because I hope to exchange it for a favor from Your Highness in the future."

"Your Highness is essentially taking out a loan from me, which will need to be repaid in the future."

"Have you thought clearly about the price of this?"

From this point, one can actually see the difference between True Person He and the State Preceptor.

Although both are old schemers, one uses an open conspiracy, while the other is good at hidden schemes.

True Person He's methods are not necessarily much more brilliant than the State Preceptor's, but just in terms of making the other party feel at ease accepting it, he is much stronger.

He Shou puts his "purpose" on the table; he just wants to build a bond of kindness with you and ask for a return once you are successful in the future.

From an outsider's perspective, this all looks like a big shot who appreciates you is making an early investment in you.

But Ren Yidao knew clearly that the facts were not so.

This was likely not just as simple and beautiful as forming a "good affinity," but rather... forming Causality!

Causality!

There is a cause for every effect, and an effect for every cause.

At this moment, Ren Yidao accepted a cause handed over by He Shou, and in the future, he would have to repay it with an effect.

As for whether it would be a good effect or an evil effect in the end, that was unknown.

It is not up to you!

Ren Yidao looked at He Shou, and the other party also quietly looked back; both sides saw the emotions in the other's eyes.

"... Very well."

After staring at each other for a moment, Ren Yidao nodded, raised his right hand, and swore an oath: "With the Demon God above and His Majesty the Demon Emperor as witness, I, Hu Wanwan, hereby swear that if He Shou assists me today, then when He Shou has a request in the future, I will certainly not have a single word of refusal."

"If I violate this oath, may the Demon God loathe and abandon me, and may all demons execute me together."

After Ren Yidao spoke, the temperature in the room rose by a few degrees, as if an invisible source of fire had appeared above.

He Shou knew this was not an illusion; the source of that invisible flame was none other than the Demon Emperor!

When the Crown Prince's oath mentioned the Demon Emperor, she cast her gaze here.

Not everyone's oath could make the Demon Emperor feel a response, and the Demon Emperor would not respond to every single one.

But once the Demon Emperor indicated that she already knew of this matter, she would inevitably act as the supervisor and judge.

Even if the Demon Emperor wanted to engage in favoritism, it would not be possible; this is the rule of the Heavenly Dao, which cannot be violated.

And Ren Yidao stood behind the fire source, his eyes reflecting a crimson silhouette, and asked True Person He:

"Does the True Person think this oath is acceptable?"

He Shou narrowed his eyes and slowly nodded.

"Not bad, quite not bad."

This Crown Prince, does he simply want to increase the credibility of the oath? Or does he deliberately want to bring the Demon Emperor into this?

... Heh, do you think that with the Demon Emperor intervening, you can make me retreat?

"Your Highness is righteous, this poor Daoist is deeply grateful!"

True Person He stood up to salute and bowed deeply: "I will certainly not fail Your Highness's trust and will entrust everything to Your Highness!"

Ren Yidao hurriedly stepped forward to support He Shou, saying repeatedly:

"True Person, please rise quickly, why perform such a great salute?"

At the same time, Ren Yidao glanced at the phantom beside him, seeing her disappear after a faint nod.

"Leaving just like that?"

"So cold, not willing to say a single word."

After complaining in his heart, Ren Yidao put the matter aside and began to haggle with True Person He again.

So you are the one called He Shou, right?

You want to use Causality to scheme against me?

Fine, then go ahead and try.

You have provoked me, Hu Wanwan, and you have provoked the wrong person.

You have... provoked a dead man.

After Ren Yidao left with Qingteng, He Shou sat alone in the room, his eyes lowered, his hands constantly calculating.

After a long while, he let out a long sigh.

"This matter is indeed feasible!"

"The cause has been planted; I shall simply harvest the effect in the future."

"However, I still need to wait a little longer..."

"It will not be too late to act after he has finished reorganizing his foundation."

At the thought of everything he would possess in the future, his smile could not be suppressed, and his mouth almost stretched to his earlobes.

Crack.

A crisp sound came from his jaw, and then his chin collapsed limply; this sudden turn of events made He Shou's appearance instantly become ferocious.

Regarding this, He Shou was not surprised; he raised his hand to skillfully push his loosened jaw back into place, his fingers brushing across his face to return his features to their previous appearance.

"Cough, cough, I got a bit carried away; this is not good, not good."

After adjusting for a while, True Person He raised his hand and knocked in a strange rhythm.

Whoosh—

With a flash of light, a humanoid sculpture with its arms held high, whose face and gender were unclear, appeared silently before He Shou.

He Shou was not surprised by this and said without lifting his head:

"Deliver a message to the Azure Dragon Lord for me."

"I will find an opportunity to go into closed-door meditation for a period of time in the future; tell him to hand any matters over to the other two Star Envoys first."

Demon Emperor City, Eastern Palace.

"So, everything here will be mine from now on?"

"Yes, from the moment you became the Crown Prince, everything in the Eastern Palace belongs to you."

"Oh—"

Ren Yidao blinked his eyes, looking around like an old lady who had never seen the world, glancing left and then right.

Suddenly, he cast a rather strange look at the tortoise shell decoration placed in the corner.

Who designed this? Bring the designer to me!

It's so out of place, how jarring!

"What kind of look is that... oh, I remember now, never mind."

So it's Gui Yan!

I actually thought it was some uniquely styled potted plant.

So many things have happened that I completely cast you to the back of my mind.

Sorry about that!

By the way, why haven't you left yet?