Chapter 122: Heir, This Is Impossible
The Tianmen Mountains stood quietly amidst the rolling peaks.
The afternoon sunlight was somewhat dim, but the weather today was exceptionally fine. The vault of heaven resembled a washed expanse, limpid and immaculate, with the brilliant sun suspended high in the empty air.
"The Heir Apparent certainly possesses a fine disposition, still indulging in wine at a time like this."
Zhao Jin uttered this remark, then suddenly assumed a thoughtful expression, nodding slowly as he said, "Very well then. Once the Heir Apparent has finished his wine, it will be time to set out on the road."
"I shall grant the Heir Apparent a little time to finish his drink."
With these words, Zhao Jin placed his hands behind his back, his gaze calm as he watched Cheng Guang.
Cheng Guang, however, paid Zhao Jin no heed. Cup after cup, he drank his wine. His brows furrowed at times and relaxed at others, as if he were deep in thought.
From the very beginning, Cheng Guang’s gaze had not once fallen upon Zhao Jin; instead, he looked toward the direction of the Great Zhou capital.
Cheng Guang was pondering why the Great Zhou Emperor had suddenly decided to move against him.
Although the power of the Estate of the Defending Nation was immense, and the Great Zhou Emperor had once shown signs of unease, no matter what, he had never revealed any indication of wanting to make a move against the estate.
Even if a move against the estate were to be made now, judging by the Great Zhou Emperor’s temperament, he would not have been in such a rush as to strike at him immediately. This attack was aimed directly at the fatal weakness of the Defending Nation's Estate.
From the very start, there was no intention of sparing even a shred of grace.
Just why was that?
Could the Great Zhou Emperor have obtained some intelligence that forced him to act thus?
Cheng Guang pondered within his heart, yet he could never quite fathom the reason. He had just asked Zhao Jin, but Zhao Jin had refused to tell him.
If he simply asked Zhao Jin, the latter naturally would not speak.
It seemed he would have to resort to some means.
Thinking of this, Cheng Guang let out a sigh. The alcohol rose to his head, tinging his peerlessly handsome face with a layer of intoxication.
At the same time, the wine in the flask he held was entirely drained.
Cheng Guang rarely drank to begin with, so there had not been much liquor in the flask anyway.
Seeing that Cheng Guang had finished his wine, Zhao Jin asked, "Heir Apparent, would you care for another cup?"
Zhao Jin appeared exceedingly solicitous.
He harbored no worry that Cheng Guang could escape from his grasp at this moment.
With the restrictive barrier cast, unless a Heavenly and Human realm expert actively probed the area, no one would be able to perceive the barrier he had set up, nor would they know anything happening within it.
Everything had been executed with utter perfection.
In Zhao Jin’s view, even if a Heavenly and Human expert were to detect the barrier, it would take them a considerable amount of time to break through it. During that timeframe, it would be more than enough to kill Cheng Guang hundreds of times over.
As Zhao Jin’s voice trailed off, Cheng Guang ignored him entirely. He simply set down his wine cup and shook his head, saying, "No need. Drinking too much harms the body."
"Zhao Jin, if you wish to make your move, you may do so now."
Zhao Jin nodded once more, closing his mouth without uttering another word. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes as he silently watched Cheng Guang.
He slightly raised his hand, and a terrifying aura brewed within his palm, just as he was about to act—
Deep within the flying vessel, the numerous guards who had been secretly observing were burning with anxiety. Seeing that Zhao Jin was about to strike, they could no longer restrain themselves. Springing to their feet, they all leaped forward to shield Cheng Guang.
Someone shouted sternly:
"Zhao Jin, how dare you make a move against the Heir Apparent!"
"What kind of treacherous intentions are you harboring!"
"If His Majesty learns of what you have done, he surely will not spare you!"
Aside from the guards—
Qingluan was also extremely anxious. Her hand was clenched so tightly that her slender fingernails dug slightly into her flesh due to the excessive force, oozing a faint trace of blood.
Zhao Jin raised one hand, the brilliance of divine abilities flickering around him. He looked at Cheng Guang, whose expression remained unruffled, and then at the cluster of guards blocking the way. He let out a dry, incredulous chuckle.
"Heir Apparent, your guards are truly loyal to the extreme. In the face of me, they actually dare to step out."
"However, whether they step out or not, the outcome will be the same."
As he spoke, Zhao Jin shook his head slightly, and the terrifying aura brewing in his palm grew increasingly intense.
The light of divine abilities flickered incessantly upon Zhao Jin's person. The vault of heaven, which had been immaculate a moment ago, suddenly rolled with dark clouds, and silver serpents danced wildly within them.
It was as if the heaven and earth within a bowl had all been stirred by Zhao Jin's divine ability.
The winds and clouds shifted color.
Upon feeling the aura radiating from Zhao Jin, every guard on the flying vessel instantly turned pale with despair and collapse.
Zhao Jin was an expert of the Ninth Grade Martial Emperor realm. Even though he was a eunuch and his vital blood was somewhat weaker than that of ordinary people, he had made up for it to a certain extent by practicing martial arts that only eunuchs could cultivate.
When fighting an opponent of the same realm, Zhao Jin might not be particularly formidable.
But against those of a lower realm, he was basically an invincible existence.
"Go."
Zhao Jin flicked his hand outward, and the silver serpents dancing wildly across the firmament rushed toward his body like reversing seawater.
Just as they were about to touch his skin, following another wave of Zhao Jin's hand—
The silver serpents lunged toward the guards who were shielding Cheng Guang.
Upon the flying vessel.
The technique unleashed by Zhao Jin had not yet reached them.
Yet everyone's complexion had already turned deathly pale owing to the sheer momentum and pressure emanating from him.
The silver serpents hurtled swiftly toward the guards, transforming into blinding silver light that arrived in an instant. Imbued with the might to shatter gods, slay immortals, and fracture even the void itself, they surged forward to engulf everyone!
Upon witnessing this spectacle, the guards blocking Cheng Guang's path found their minds blank. Apart from despair and utter helplessness, no other emotion remained.
Even though they felt powerless to the absolute extreme, they still did not flee. They stood fast, forming a human wall directly in front of Cheng Guang.
It was as if by simply doing this, they could block Zhao Jin's attack.
Yet deep down, they knew that even with all their might, they could not withstand Zhao Jin's assault. Buying a breath or two of time would already be a supreme stroke of fortune!
The silver light closed in!
Countless guards were driven downward by the boundless pressure; their bones groaned and cracked loudly, and they spat mouthfuls of blood!
Upon the flying vessel, numerous magnificent structures were instantly crushed into fine powder!
Having swept his hand outward, Zhao Jin no longer looked at Cheng Guang. He sighed and slowly withdrew his hand.
He knew that after this single blow, Cheng Guang was destined to die.
No matter how many guards shielded Cheng Guang, it was useless.
The cultivation and strength of these guards were at most at the Seventh Grade Rebirth realm; how could they possibly contend with him?
Next, all he needed to do was smash this flying vessel to pieces.
Just as Zhao Jin prepared to step into the void and ascend toward the inverted rim of the bowl-shaped barrier, he suddenly seemed to notice something and turned his gaze back to Cheng Guang.
He saw that while the silver serpent imbued with devastating power surged toward Cheng Guang, causing the guards before him to sink lower and spit blood—
Cheng Guang's expression had not changed in the slightest. Instead, he calmly lifted his gaze to cast a glance at him.
Immediately afterward, Zhao Jin saw Cheng Guang produce a talisman out of thin air from some unknown place.
The talisman fluttered gently and burst into flames against the wind.
The next instant.
Streams of wondrous light flickered into existence behind Cheng Guang.
Zhao Jin fancied he could hear them.
From within the void surrounding Cheng Guang, the sound of rolling war drums rang out, accompanied by the thunderous din of charging hooves!
Simultaneously, the battle cries of soldiers seemed to echo through the air.
At first, those sounds were barely audible.
Yet within a single breath, they grew sharp and distinct!
"The enemy is invading! General! We request to do battle!"
"The enemy is invading! General! We request to do battle!"
All around Cheng Guang, those wondrous beams of light transformed into individual soldiers clad in pitch-black armor and crimson battle cloaks. They reined in their steeds with blades held horizontally, their auras immensely powerful and bone-chilling!
Zhao Jin could not see the faces of the soldiers.
Beneath heavy visors, he could only see pairs of cold, merciless eyes brimming with intense battle intent.
At that moment, Cheng Guang simply uttered a soft "Hn."
No further instructions from Cheng Guang were needed. The multitude of soldiers he had just summoned charged directly toward the divine technique Zhao Jin had unleashed.
One hand held the reins; the other gripped a broadsword.
They rode in a charging formation!
The sound of war drums in the void grew faintly more intense.
Seeing this, Zhao Jin's eyes shifted slightly.
He suddenly realized that by some unknown method, the soldiers summoned by Cheng Guang all possessed a cultivation base that had actually reached the Eighth Grade!
With the joint effort of so many soldiers, it seemed they truly possessed the strength to contend with him!
What manner of technique was this?!
Even if the Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate held a noble status, he ought not to possess methods of this caliber.
Could it be the ability of some extraordinary supreme treasure??
In that fraction of a second, Zhao Jin fell into deep contemplation.
It was not only Zhao Jin who was stunned. The guards standing before Cheng Guang, who had nearly been pressed to the point of being unable to stand straight by Zhao Jin's divine might, wore dazed expressions with slightly slack jaws as they looked upon the soldiers summoned by Cheng Guang.
For a moment, they were completely speechless.
After being dazed for a moment, a trace of joy welled up in the depths of their eyes.
They realized that their Heir Apparent actually possessed the means to counter this Zhao Jin!
Their Heir Apparent was saved!
Upon seeing Cheng Guang use the General Talisman, the guards' very first reaction was not that they themselves were saved, but that Cheng Guang was saved.
Cheng Guang noticed the expressions of these guards and lowered his eyelids slightly.
These guards—
One had to admit, they all possessed a kind of blind loyalty.
Even if they were to die, they did not wish for him to be harmed.
However, viewed from another angle, if Cheng Guang himself were to die, these guards would probably not survive either.
Thinking along those lines, it was easy to understand why the guards thought the way they did.
Under the gaze of everyone present.
The hundred soldiers summoned by Cheng Guang collided head-on with the boundless, immortal-slaying, Buddha-destroying silver light!
At that moment, heaven and earth turned entirely white.
With a single, deafening "Boom!"—
The heavens and earth seemed to go momentarily deaf, falling into a blank silence!
Immediately following that, a massive shockwave formed millions of tons of pressure, surging and roaring outward into the surrounding heaven and earth!
Amidst the howling gale, Cheng Guang stood with his hands behind his back. His sleeves whipped wildly in the wind, his dark hair rose and fell, and his peerlessly handsome face remained calm and unruffled as he gazed ahead.
It was as if he could pierce through that blinding white light and see clearly everything happening within it.
Under Cheng Guang's watchful eye:
Crack!
Following a sound like shattering glass, the white light dissipated.
Clack, clack, clack!
The pitch-black armor worn by the hundred soldiers was coated with specks of brilliant silver radiance. Although the armor showed cracks, not a single trace of fear existed among the soldiers.
Plunging straight into the body of the silver serpent, they held their battle blades horizontally before them.
At that moment, the hundred soldiers transformed into a black dragon with a sharp horn upon its head, tearing the silver serpent apart right down the middle!
Thus, the divine technique unleashed by Zhao Jin was thoroughly neutralized.
When experts do battle, while victory does not depend entirely on cultivation level, and factors such as the quality of divine abilities and one's foundation also play a part, cultivation nevertheless plays a crucial role.
It is the decisive factor in combat between experts.
Although Zhao Jin had been momentarily shocked when he first saw the hundred soldiers summoned by Cheng Guang, he still did not believe these people could withstand his attack.
After all, he was an expert of the Ninth Grade Martial Emperor realm!
A casual strike from him was simply not something below the Ninth Grade could resist!
And yet now, the soldiers summoned out of thin air by this noble Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate had joined forces to shatter his divine attack!
How could this be possible!
A tremor ran through Zhao Jin's heart, and he was too astounded to utter a word.
What shocked him even more was that after shattering his divine attack, the hundred soldiers summoned out of thin air by the Heir Apparent had sustained quite a few injuries, yet the battle intent in their eyes had hardly diminished at all!
From the very beginning, it had not changed in the slightest.
They still gazed at him with cold mercilessness.
It seemed as though they would launch an active offensive against him at the very next moment.
Zhao Jin had to admit that even he himself felt a chill rise in his heart when facing these hundred soldiers.
He felt that—
The hundred soldiers before him were as cold as glaciers.
They seemed devoid of any superfluous emotion whatsoever; they were entirely born for war!
How preposterous!
When ordinary martial artists faced an expert of a higher realm, it was inevitable that fear would arise in their hearts—that much he could understand.
Yet he, a dignified Martial Emperor realm expert, had actually produced a trace of fear toward this group of soldiers who barely attained the Eighth Grade realm.
If there were a thousand or ten thousand of them, he might feel some apprehension.
After all, if the opponent's numbers were vast enough, even if their cultivation realm were lower, they could exhaust him to death through sheer attrition.
Yet this was only a hundred people.
Zhao Jin could not comprehend it!
Lifting his eyes slightly, his gaze pierced past the hundred soldiers to fix upon Cheng Guang, who stood at the edge of the deck.
"Heir Apparent, is this your method?"
"If you think that relying solely on these people can stop me, you are being far too naive."
"It is merely a futile struggle."
Zhao Jin spoke slowly.
Cheng Guang, however, did not reply.
Feeling slightly unamused and letting a spark of anger ignite in his heart, Zhao Jin drew a deep breath. Restraining himself and growing somewhat more cautious, he took a step forward, the light of his divine ability flickering around his body as he attacked the hundred soldiers summoned by Cheng Guang.
And just as Zhao Jin launched his assault upon the hundred soldiers—
The guards standing before Cheng Guang could not help but say to him:
"Heir Apparent, if you can escape right now, you should flee as soon as possible."
"We will never be a match for this Zhao Jin."
"Zhao Jin is a man by His Majesty's side, possessing profound cultivation. He reached the Ninth Grade Martial Emperor realm countless years ago; he cannot be compared with ordinary Ninth Grade Martial Emperors."
Faced with the words of the surrounding guards, Cheng Guang shook his head. "There is no escaping, nor is there any need to run."
He swept his gaze over the guards nearby who had coughed up mouthfuls of blood earlier because they could not bear the pressure exerted by Zhao Jin, and said:
"All of you, stand back from me. Stop getting in the way."
As Cheng Guang's voice fell, the guards froze slightly.
They had no time to ponder why Cheng Guang would say things like "there is no escaping, nor is there any need to run."
Instead, their minds snagged on his instruction for them to stand back and stop getting in the way.
They looked at the hundred soldiers not far away who were once again fighting desperately against Zhao Jin without any regard for their lives, and involuntarily lowered their heads.
Their faces were filled with shame.
Although the strength of these guards was somewhat higher than that of their own Heir Apparent, their methods were far too weak.
They couldn't even compare to the soldiers summoned by the Heir Apparent.
Originally, they had thought that even if they had to throw away their pride, they would stay behind to guard the Heir Apparent.
Yet seeing Cheng Guang's solemn expression—devoid of any joking or disdain—they realized that perhaps staying by the Heir Apparent's side really was getting in the way.
And when the Heir Apparent spoke thus, he was likely also concerned for their safety.
At this thought, many of the guards felt a warmth in their hearts, and quite a few were so moved they nearly shed tears.
Cheng Guang did not afford them the time for sentimentality, waving his hand to drive them further back.
When the guards in front had retreated and the deck of the flying vessel became much emptier—
Cheng Guang's gaze once again fell upon Zhao Jin not far away.
Although the battle prowess of the hundred soldiers summoned by the General Talisman could not match Zhao Jin's, their reckless, fearless demeanor still brought immense pressure to bear upon him.
Even if they could not kill Zhao Jin, they could stall him for a certain amount of time.
They would not let Zhao Jin break away so easily.
Cheng Guang simply stood not far off, watching Zhao Jin.
Meanwhile, Zhao Jin, facing the wave upon wave of murderous encirclement from the hundred soldiers, felt his heart ache with anxiety.
His cultivation realm was high, and his strength was superior to the hundred soldiers summoned by Cheng Guang.
However, wishing to resolve them quickly was no easy task.
At the very fastest, it would take an hour.
Initially, Zhao Jin had been in no hurry, because in his view, he could deal with Cheng Guang in just a few breaths.
But right now—
He was in a rush.
In Zhao Jin's estimation, if these hundred soldiers were to stall him for an hour, and Cheng Guang were to pull out some other trick afterward, dragging things out hour by hour...
Forget about killing Cheng Guang.
Whether he himself could leave safely became a question.
The faster he eliminated this Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate, the more time he would have to clean up the traces left behind here, and the lower the probability of future exposure.
Otherwise, if things dragged on too long and he lacked the time to clear the battlefield—
Even if he succeeded in assassinating the Heir Apparent, his exposure would be guaranteed down the line.
At that point, Zhao Jin did not believe His Majesty would protect him; His Majesty would merely cast him aside as an abandoned pawn to preserve himself.
Such was his mission as a subject.
It was something he could not defy.
With this thought, Zhao Jin glanced sideways at Cheng Guang not far away. Noticing that Cheng Guang's surroundings were completely undefended, a plan formed in his mind.
He swept his hand outward.
With a slight mental command, primal chaos surged wildly around him, and the light of divine abilities flickered incessantly. Silver serpents from all directions wandered within the dark clouds of the firmament, winding toward the hundred soldiers under his guidance.
Taking a step through the void, he plunged directly into the battle formation of the hundred soldiers. As his fists and feet thrashed about, the soldiers struck by his blows were sent flying instantly, crashing violently through the railing of the flying vessel and tumbling down into the sea of clouds.
With mere gestures, Zhao Jin broke the hundred soldiers' formation and routed three of them.
Simultaneously, the remaining ninety-seven soldiers reacted swiftly, once again forming a ring of encirclement to slash toward Zhao Jin.
However, owing to the divine technique Zhao Jin had previously cast, the silver serpents agilely wove through the battle array. Upon touching the bodies of the soldiers, they caused their forms to stiffen slightly, rendering their movements somewhat sluggish.
As if anticipating this, Zhao Jin took another step forward. This time, it was as if he had directly crossed the void; his figure instantly appeared not far from Cheng Guang.
Treading upon primal energy, his body surged forward, breaking free from the hundred soldiers within a breath as he charged toward Cheng Guang with boundless pressure.
Looking at Cheng Guang not far away, Zhao Jin wore a smile at the corner of his mouth.
He knew that with such rapid movement, the Heir Apparent could not possibly react in time.
The Heir Apparent was likely still under the impression that he would be entangled by those hundred soldiers for a while longer.
As he lunged toward Cheng Guang, Zhao Jin observed Cheng Guang's expression.
He noticed that—
Even as he charged at Cheng Guang, Cheng Guang's gaze landed upon him.
His expression did not change at all.
There was the placidity of one who remains unruffled even if Mount Tai collapses before them.
The smiling expression at the corner of Zhao Jin's mouth suddenly stiffened.
Had the Heir Apparent noticed him?
How could the Heir Apparent possess such swift reflexes??
Doubt and suspicion surged in Zhao Jin's heart, but he quickly suppressed the thought. Even if the Heir Apparent had reacted this quickly, it mattered little.
He was confident that no matter how fast the Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate had reacted, he could no longer conjure any method to block him.
Even if he were to summon another batch of those hundred soldiers, it would be impossible.
At such close range, not even an immortal could save this Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate!
With the speed of lightning and bearing infinite momentum, Zhao Jin swept toward Cheng Guang, his form transforming into a streak of rainbow light.
One hand lifted slightly, the terrifying aura within his palm pulsing like breath.
As he reached Cheng Guang's side—
Zhao Jin lowered his eyes slightly, looking at Cheng Guang's peerlessly handsome face close at hand, and sighed.
"Heir Apparent, go well."
Just as Zhao Jin's voice trailed off, his hand descended toward the crown of Cheng Guang's head.
The air beneath his palm produced a series of explosive reports; one could easily imagine how terrifying the force contained within his palm must be.
And at this moment.
Cheng Guang's expression still did not change; his noble eyes gazed steadily at Zhao Jin.
Under Zhao Jin's watchful eye:
The corners of Cheng Guang's mouth lifted slightly.
The Heir Apparent was smiling?
Zhao Jin was stunned. At such a juncture of life and death...
The Heir Apparent was actually still smiling??
In a flash, Zhao Jin's thoughts raced to completion, yet his hands did not hesitate as he slammed fiercely onto the crown of Cheng Guang's head.
Simultaneously, a wondrous beam of light suddenly burst forth from Cheng Guang's body!
Muttering a silent "Not good," Zhao Jin hurriedly closed his eyes, assuming that the Heir Apparent had once again unleashed some formidable technique.
Though his eyes were closed, Zhao Jin's movements did not stop.
Primal energy surged in his palm as he brought it down heavily, as if determined to crush Cheng Guang completely into fine powder!
Boom!!!
The moment his palm touched Cheng Guang, a thunderous explosion erupted.
A mere breath later, the air exploded once more, and the void itself trembled faintly.
Before all the onlookers watching this side had time to utter a cry of worried alarm, everything was already over.
After executing two consecutive strikes, Zhao Jin slowly exhaled a breath, feeling a slight sense of relief. He knew for certain that this noble Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate could never survive his two attacks.
Yet the next moment, he suddenly felt that the tactile sensation in his palm was somewhat unusual.
Cold, slightly hard, and seemingly somewhat smooth.
What was this?
Zhao Jin snapped his eyes open and looked down at Cheng Guang beneath his hand.
With just a single glance—
Greeting him directly was a pair of greenish, somewhat demonic beastly pupils.
What on earth is this thing!?
A violent shock racked Zhao Jin's heart, and his expression shifted drastically.
The next instant.
Zhao Jin saw that pair of beastly pupils carry a hint of playful amusement.
"I've finally waited for this moment."
A hoarse voice rang out.
Sensing something amiss and perceiving an impending sense of danger, Zhao Jin hastily sought to retreat.
However, a pair of thick, heavy, and coarse giant claws swiftly wrapped around his body and squeezed tight.
Zhao Jin's body stiffened, his eyes bulged slightly, and a sense of oppression assailed every bone and joint in his body.
At that moment, he felt as though his internal organs were being deformed by sheer, monstrous strength.
Struggling mightily, Zhao Jin looked into the pair of playfully tinted beastly pupils before him, utterly unable to comprehend the scene unfolding before his eyes.
When he finally caught sight of the full appearance of the beastly pupil's owner:
Zhao Jin was startled.
At this moment, what was holding him was seemingly a genuine fierce beast!
Not a single trace of Cheng Guang's original appearance remained!
Why could this Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate transform into the shape of such a fierce beast?!
Even if his exterior had turned into a beast, what was up with this monstrous strength??
Could the Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate have been a fierce beast all along??
Fragmented speculations flashed wildly through Zhao Jin's mind.
Looking at Cheng Guang, who had transformed into an armored tortoise before him, Zhao Jin felt a wave of helplessness wash over him.
Primal energy burst forth from his body.
All of his attacks landed upon Cheng Guang's form.
Yet they were like stones sinking into the sea, unable to stir up even the slightest ripple!
After struggling for mere moments, Zhao Jin already wanted to beg for mercy.
Looking at the fierce beast before him and wishing to say something, Zhao Jin had just parted his lips—
When Cheng Guang applied a tight squeeze with both arms.
The words that bounced out of Zhao Jin's throat were entirely transformed into a meaningless "Ugh!!"
Gazing at Zhao Jin, whom he held in his embrace, Cheng Guang's expression remained unruffled. Seeing that Zhao Jin's resistance was growing weaker, he lifted his gaze to look at the green porcelain bowl inverted over the vault of heaven.
"Zhao Jin."
A hoarse, grating voice issued from Cheng Guang's throat.
Struggling to gaze at Cheng Guang while held tightly in his embrace and pressed beneath him, Zhao Jin found even breathing extremely difficult at this moment.
"Zhao Jin, dissolve this restrictive barrier. You no longer have any chances left."
Cheng Guang gazed at the green porcelain bowl inverted above the firmament as he spoke to Zhao Jin.
Hearing Cheng Guang's words, the already pale complexion of Zhao Jin grew even uglier.
"Heir Apparent, that is impossible."
Without even thinking, Zhao Jin shook his head in refusal.
If he didn't dissolve the barrier, he could still live a little longer.
But once the barrier was lifted, the moment people outside perceived what had happened here, death would be his only outcome.
The Great Zhou Emperor would never tolerate him.
Looking down at Zhao Jin and knowing what the other was thinking, Cheng Guang grinned, the stiff face of the tortoise pulling into a somewhat ferocious smile.
"Zhao Jin, I know what you're thinking. Rest assured, I won't kill you."
"As long as you obediently cooperate, I will spare your life. I can even help you win the reward of the Great Zhou Emperor."
Upon hearing Cheng Guang's words, Zhao Jin instead grew bewildered.
You won't kill me?
I just came here to assassinate you, the Heir Apparent.
And yet you can actually let me go?
Gazing at Cheng Guang with flickering eyes, Zhao Jin fell into deep thought.
Seeing that Zhao Jin was still hesitating, Cheng Guang lacked the patience to wait and spoke directly: "Even if you don't dissolve this barrier, it probably won't hold out much longer anyway, right?"
"It will be shattered sooner or later."
"Whether you dissolve the barrier or not, death awaits you either way."
"However, if you cooperate with me, I can temporarily spare your life."
Hearing this, Zhao Jin's expression shifted uncertainly.
Although he did not know why this noble Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate had suddenly transformed into the appearance of a fierce beast—
Zhao Jin could not deny that at this moment, he had no countermeasure whatsoever against this noble Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate.
Aside from cooperating with Cheng Guang and allying with this Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate, it seemed there was no other way out.
Gazing at Cheng Guang with cold eyes, Zhao Jin drew a deep breath.
"Heir Apparent, how do you want this servant to be obedient?"
Cheng Guang smiled. "Zhao Jin, we both merely wish to stay alive."
"You came to assassinate me, and since the assassination failed, you are bound to die."
"Even if you had killed me, if this matter were exposed later, you would still be cast aside by His Majesty as a scapegoat and directly put to death."
"However, if you cooperate with me, not only will you not have to die, but you might even win His Majesty's reward down the line."
Zhao Jin's eyes narrowed slightly. He drew a deep breath and did not reply to Cheng Guang immediately.
Although Zhao Jin could not guess what Cheng Guang wanted him to do—
He understood one thing clearly.
The moment he agreed to Cheng Guang and cooperated with him now—
He would become a man on Cheng Guang's boat.
From then on, if Cheng Guang wanted him to live, he would live.
If he wanted him to die, he would die.
There was not the slightest room for resistance.
If His Majesty were to discover the truth later on, he would still die.
The risks were immense.
Yet...
If he did not cooperate with the Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate at this moment, he feared he would not live much longer anyway.
Pondering to this point, a bitter smile surfaced at the corner of Zhao Jin's mouth. He let his hands fall limply and closed his eyes in grief.
"Heir Apparent, you may release me."
Zhao Jin's words constituted tacit agreement.
With a smile, Cheng Guang immediately released his grip on Zhao Jin.
Leaving Cheng Guang's embrace, Zhao Jin quickly retreated a few steps, keeping a wary eye on him.
A smile remained on Cheng Guang's lips.
A flash of demonic light swept across his body.
The massive, mountain-like armored tortoise from moments before vanished instantly, replaced once more by a peerlessly handsome and elegant young nobleman.
He made no sudden moves, gazing unhurriedly at Zhao Jin.
It was as if he had no fear of Zhao Jin playing any petty tricks.
With a bitter, wry shake of his head and nothing more to say, Zhao Jin cast his gaze toward the green porcelain bowl in the vault of heaven and extended a hand. A streak of rainbow light shot forth from his palm.
After flickering a few times, the green porcelain bowl shrank gradually and settled into Zhao Jin's palm.
As the bowl shrank, the surrounding restrictive barrier also slowly dissipated.
The sound of clouds, the sound of wind—all entered the ear.
A bird that had been huddled beneath the eaves of the flying vessel sensed something, chirped joyfully, and fluttered its wings to fly away.
Holding the green porcelain bowl in his hand with a complex expression and a heart as cold as dead ashes, Zhao Jin looked at Cheng Guang not far away, feeling rather like he wished he were dead.
At the very beginning—
He had believed that dealing with this noble Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate was a matter of absolute certainty.
Who could have imagined that he would capsize in the gutter.
Not only had he failed to kill the Heir Apparent, but he had instead been firmly manipulated by this very Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate.
"Heir Apparent, what should I do next?"
"His Majesty ordered me to slay you. If I return this time without any sort of account to render, I shall end up dead after all. The words the Heir Apparent spoke to me just now surely didn't mean for me to simply go die somewhere else, did they?"
Zhao Jin gazed at Cheng Guang and asked.
"Naturally not." Cheng Guang smiled. Looking at the approaching Tianmen Mountains in the distance, he straightened his robes, appreciating the scenery of the Tianmen Mountains, and laughed:
"When you return, just say that you have already slain me."
"Then let us wait and see His Majesty's reaction."
"See His Majesty's reaction?" Zhao Jin did not understand.
Yet Cheng Guang smiled. "Indeed. Once I am dead, His Majesty will either appease the Estate of the Defending Nation and put up a front of investigating the culprit vigorously, or else he will suppress the Estate of the Defending Nation and fight them to the bitter end."
"I wish to see how His Majesty chooses."
Hearing this, Zhao Jin fell silent for another moment. He still couldn't quite fathom it: even if he could figure out how His Majesty would choose, what significance did it hold?
His Majesty was the sovereign.
No matter how great the power of the Estate of the Defending Nation might be, they were ultimately subjects.
If the sovereign demanded a subject's death, the subject had no choice but to die.
His Majesty was currently playing a covert game of chess; even if it became an overt game in the future—intent on wiping out the Estate of the Defending Nation—the people of the world would say nothing against it.
Cheng Guang cast a sideways glance at Zhao Jin, easily discerning what the latter was thinking.
He did not offer an extensive explanation.
Seeing His Majesty's reaction upon hearing news of his death was one thing.
Additionally, he wanted to see whether his father, the Defending Nation's Duke, was truly submissive to Great Zhou or if he harbored other thoughts in his heart.
As for Cheng Zhihai, there was no need to dwell on him; that man would absolutely never rebel.
His wife was a Great Zhou princess.
Moreover, Cheng Zhihai himself was an extremely rigid individual. Creeds such as "sovereign is sovereign, subject is subject, father is father, son is son" were deeply engraved into his bones.
Wanting to make Cheng Zhihai turn against Great Zhou was likely harder than ascending to the heavens.
Even if the world were to fall into chaos in the future, Cheng Zhihai would probably never actively betray Great Zhou.
However, the Defending Nation's Duke might not be the same.
He wanted to see whether, if he were to die and a hint of information were subsequently leaked to the Defending Nation's Duke, the latter might break entirely with the Great Zhou Emperor.
If the Defending Nation's Duke could turn against him, then when the world descended into chaos in the future, he might still be able to persuade the Duke to vie for deer across the realm and contend for the supreme power of this world.
Being the Defending Nation's Duke within Great Zhou was certainly wonderful, but no matter how wonderful, he was still a subject.
Ultimately, he remained constrained by others.
Although the Great Zhou Emperor was an enlightened ruler—reckoned a fine sovereign among the monarchs of all dynasties in the world—a monarch was, after all, a monarch, and a distinction remained between him and his subjects.
Zhu Yuanzhang from his past life had also been an enlightened monarch.
And yet? He had still been bloody and ruthless. To ensure the smooth transition of power so that the Zhu family could rule for myriad generations, even though he possessed many loyal officials under his command, anyone who posed the slightest obstacle to the inheritance of power was put to death one by one.
Between monarch and subject, there was inherently no true equality to speak of.
As Cheng Guang pondered thus.
The flying vessel had already passed the Tianmen Mountains.
A hearty, booming laugh rang out from the distance, and within moments, it echoed close at hand.
"Welcome to the Taihao Sword Sect, Heir Apparent! My apologies for failing to greet you from afar."
As the voice faded—
A burly man swept over from the distance, and in the span of a breath, his figure landed beside Cheng Guang.
Cheng Guang turned his head to look. The newcomer was a rugged, heavily bearded man clad in black martial attire, with a massive sword taller than himself strapped across his back.
Clearly, this person belonged to the Taihao Sword Sect.
Cheng Guang cupped his fists in greeting to the man and asked, "And your esteemed self is?"
The burly man slapped his own forehead and let out a loud laugh. "I forgot the Heir Apparent wouldn't recognize me."
With that, the man paused and introduced himself:
"The Sect Master of the Taihao Sword Sect, Ning Liang."
Cheng Guang's expression shifted slightly. Clearly, he had not expected the newcomer to be none other than the Sect Master of the Taihao Sword Sect.
A sect master taking the initiative to come out and welcome him personally—
This showed how highly they regarded him.
Cheng Guang had still somewhat underestimated his own status.
Even though the Taihao Sword Sect was one of the Four Secluded Sword Sects and possessed a heritage perhaps far deeper than the Estate of the Defending Nation, its overall strength was still slightly inferior to the estate.
After Ning Liang introduced himself, several more streaks of light appeared behind him. Varying in appearance, they all wore martial attire embroidered with the image of a blazing sun upon their chests; it was evident they were figures of immense weight and authority within the Taihao Sword Sect.
Upon landing on the flying vessel, they greeted Cheng Guang one by one.
When the salutations were concluded, Ning Liang swept his gaze across the deck, noticing the lingering traces of battle remaining upon it, and his face registered surprise.
Upheaval at the Heavens: A Retelling of Ancient Might
"Heir Apparent, this is..."
Cheng Guang waved his hand with a smile. "It's nothing, just ran into a minor accident. A trivial issue."
Upon hearing Cheng Guang dismiss it thus, Ning Liang's eyes narrowed and a flash of anger surfaced in his gaze. Someone actually dared to make a move against the Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate?
And right near the borders of their own territory, no less?
If outsiders were to find out, never mind what they thought of the estate, wouldn't they assume his Taihao Sword Sect was easy to bully?!
Ning Liang carefully sensed the lingering aura of battle, suddenly seemed to perceive something, and cast his gaze upon Zhao Jin, who stood quietly not far from Cheng Guang.
For a moment.
He grew even more astonished.
"He did this?"
"How can he still be standing here..."
Ning Liang considered himself a rather intelligent man, yet seeing this bizarre scene before him, he found himself momentarily unable to react.
Cheng Guang smiled without offering a detailed explanation, simply saying to Ning Liang, "Uncle Ning, I reckon I'll be staying in the Taihao Sword Sect for a spell. The wedding ceremonies will have to be postponed for a bit."
"I hope Uncle Ning will agree."
Withdrawing his gaze from Zhao Jin and hearing Cheng Guang's words, Ning Liang scratched his head and burst into a hearty laugh. "Of course that's no problem, Heir Apparent!"
"For the Heir Apparent to be willing to stay awhile in the Taihao Sword Sect is our sect's great fortune. Stay as long as you like! You can consummate the marriage right here in the sect today for all I care!"
Hearing this, Cheng Guang was momentarily startled by Ning Liang's warmth, though he didn't find it particularly repulsive.
This future father-in-law seemed quite agreeable.
After exchanging a few simple pleasantries with Ning Liang, Cheng Guang turned to Zhao Jin and said, "Zhao Jin, you may head back first. Just report that you have already executed me."
"Whatever kind of commotion arises afterward, pay it no mind."
Zhao Jin nodded slightly. Hesitating for a moment, he looked as though he wanted to say something, but as the words reached the tips of his lips, he swallowed them back and hurriedly leaped away into flight.
Cheng Guang watched Zhao Jin depart.
He could guess what Zhao Jin had wanted to say when he left.
If Zhao Jin went back now and told the Great Zhou Emperor that he had executed Cheng Guang—
The moment Cheng Guang reappeared later on, Zhao Jin's words would instantly become a lie.
At that point, he would be guilty of the crime of deceiving the sovereign.
Death would be inescapable.
Yet Cheng Guang cared little for that.
If Zhao Jin didn't do as told, Cheng Guang would have him killed on the spot right now.
Zhao Jin was a eunuch with neither clan nor descendants; his selfish nature was far heavier than that of ordinary people.
Given the chance to live a little longer, he would never choose an early death.
Cheng Guang was confident that Zhao Jin would make the correct choice.
Even if Zhao Jin failed to heed his words in the end and reported the truth to the Great Zhou Emperor, it still mattered little.
Cheng Guang himself had nothing to fear.
By then, Zhao Jin would be the one in dire straits.
Instead of making a move against Cheng Guang again, the Great Zhou Emperor would likely bring Zhao Jin's head himself and offer an explanation to Cheng Guang—
Protesting that all of this had been Zhao Jin acting entirely on his own accord, without the slightest connection to His Majesty whatsoever.
Pondering to this point, Cheng Guang smiled. Watching Zhao Jin vanish from sight, he turned his attention back to Ning Liang.
Laughing and chatting amiably with Ning Liang all the while—
He steered the flying vessel onward, entering the territory of the Taihao Sword Sect.
The Taihao Sword Sect was nestled deep behind the Tianmen Mountains amidst a ring of towering peaks, characterized by precipitous terrain and verdant, layered crests.
The great gate of the sword sect was none other than the Tianmen Mountains themselves—ancient and solemn, with the history and heritage of the sect carved directly into the stone cliffs, imbuing the place with a heavy aura of antiquity.
Upon entering the Taihao Sword Sect, the scenery opened up before the eyes.
A sprawling plaza stretched out horizontally, at the center of which stood a massive sword monument.
Deep within the Taihao Sword Sect lay a mysterious lake. Its waters were pitch-black, as though connecting to boundless darkness.
Yet when the moonlight cast down upon it, golden ripples would dance across the surface, resembling the lingering traces of sword qi drifting through the air.
Even from afar, Cheng Guang could sense the profound mystery and terror of the Dao of the Sword.
Every single disciple here practiced swordsmanship, each radiating a formidable aura—sharp and piercingly fierce, standing like unsheathed blades.
As Cheng Guang steered the flying vessel into the Taihao Sword Sect, countless disciples within the sect raised their heads to gaze upward.
Upon seeing Cheng Guang standing on the deck of the vessel, alongside Ning Liang beside him, they all wore looks of astonishment.
"Is that the Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate?"
"He's even more handsome than the legends say. Truly dashing."
"Good looks can't buy meals, though. He's probably just a pretty boy. Come to think of it, the Sect Master actually went out to welcome the Heir Apparent personally."
Many muttered amongst themselves, unable to completely suppress a strong undercurrent of sour envy.
The current saintess of the Taihao Sword Sect—Ning Xue, regarded as the goddess in the hearts of countless disciples—was about to be married to the Heir Apparent of the Defending Nation's Estate.
While this was a match between peers of equal social standing, it remained something many disciples still could not immediately accept.
They did not resent the sect for using Ning Xue in a political marriage.
They only resented the person marrying Ning Xue.
Why wasn't it them?
Watching the flying vessel sail overhead and journey deep into the interior, quite a few sword sect disciples began beating their chests in frustration and sighing with bitter regret.
…………
(End of this chapter)