Chapter 145: The Son of Heaven of the Great Tang, The Thousand-Character Token

Cheng Guang's words caused Empress Wang to shake her head immediately.

"That is not what I meant."

Pausing slightly, Empress Wang continued speaking to Cheng Guang:

"I am not yet certain about this matter, but have you ever considered the possibility? If it turns out you are indeed not of direct blood and this is discovered in the future, your life will likely not be spared. However, if you, my nephew, make it a habit to visit Wuming from time to time, then you will forever remain my nephew."

At this point, a hint of enticement crept into Empress Wang's tone.

"Whatever you desire in the future, your aunt can fulfill it for you."

Empress Wang knew that Cheng Guang was no fool. A hint was all that was needed. She believed that simply by bringing this matter to light, Cheng Guang's own intelligence would lead him to ponder deeply.

Why did his appearance bear no resemblance to either Cheng Zhihai or Wu Yuemei? Yet neither Cheng Zhihai nor Wu Yuemei had ever raised any questions about his appearance. Such matters were impossible to explain away. Even though Empress Wang knew that Cheng Guang was most likely the biological son of Cheng Zhihai and Wu Yuemei, appearance resembling neither parent was inherently inexplicable.

In Empress Wang's view, no matter how much Cheng Guang thought about it, he would ultimately conclude that even if he believed he was their biological son, to avoid unnecessary trouble, he would end up pleading with her not to leak the matter and would ultimately follow her instructions.

Confident in her heart, Empress Wang stared intently at Cheng Guang with her beautiful eyes.

However, Cheng Guang's reaction exceeded Empress Wang's expectations.

"Empress Aunt, your train of thought is truly extraordinary."

"Since you say it's not, then let's say it's not."

Cheng Guang chuckled, acting as though he had not taken Empress Wang's words to heart at all.

In reality, a slight ripple—or rather, a trace of murderous intent—had already stirred within Cheng Guang's heart. Empress Wang probably did not even believe her own words; she had likely just said them to test him.

Yet, how could she possibly have known that he truly was not the real Heir of the State Protector's Estate, but a complete imposter? His true identity had deceived Cheng Zhihai, Wu Yuemei, and even the State Protector Cheng Shiyuan himself. If his identity were to suddenly be exposed simply due to Empress Wang's baseless conjecture, Cheng Guang would truly find it neither funny nor crying.

Seeing Cheng Guang's indifferent reaction, Empress Wang froze for a moment before offering an awkward smile. Cheng Guang's carefree attitude left her momentarily at a loss for what to do. Besides, this was an idea she had conjured on the spur of the moment; since Cheng Guang had not acted in the direction she anticipated, she had no backup plan. She could only pick up her teacup and take a few sips to ease the awkwardness.

A moment later, Empress Wang took the initiative to patch things up. "If my nephew does not believe it, then your aunt has nothing more to say. Just pretend your aunt was merely babbling nonsense."

Cheng Guang nodded noncommittally.

"It wasn't necessarily babbling nonsense."

As he spoke, a profound and meaningful glint flickered in the eyes Cheng Guang directed at Empress Wang.

Noticing Cheng Guang's gaze, Empress Wang's body stiffened. For some reason, being stared at like this by Cheng Guang made her feel extremely uncomfortable. Even though summer was fast approaching, a chill involuntary swept through Empress Wang's entire body.

Empress Wang quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at Cheng Guang any longer. Her mind kept echoing the words Cheng Guang had just uttered:

*It wasn't necessarily babbling nonsense??*

*What did those words mean???*

*What wasn't babbling nonsense???*

*Was it what I just said???*

*Could it be that Guang'er, this Heir of the State Protector's Estate, is truly not the biological child of Wu Yuemei and Cheng Zhihai???*

*Did he admit it himself????*

*How is this possible?!*

Because of Cheng Guang's casual remark, towering waves instantly churned within Empress Wang's heart, refusing to calm down for a long time. One question after another surfaced endlessly in her mind. However, these complex and boundless doubts refused to be answered, gathering like dark clouds shrouding her heart and leaving Empress Wang struggling to breathe for a moment.

"Empress Sister, dinner is ready. What are you thinking about?"

I know not when, nor how much time had passed, but Empress Wang suddenly heard Wu Yuemei's voice ringing in her ear. Hearing it, Empress Wang slowly came back to her senses.

Upon recovering, she found that the table was already laden with numerous delicacies. Wu Yuemei was seated by her side, while Cheng Guang, the Heir of the State Protector's Estate, was already eating with great relish.

"Empress Sister, eat. These should all be things you love." Wu Yuemei smiled, gently inviting Empress Wang to dine.

Empress Wang's lovely face remained slightly stiff as she offered an awkward smile, then picked up her utensils and began to eat absent-mindedly. Even though the food on the table consisted of her absolute favorite dishes, eating them now felt like chewing wax, entirely devoid of any pleasant flavor.

Empress Wang's mind quickly drifted away from the food. Her beautiful eyes fell upon Cheng Guang from time to time, sizing him up as if trying to figure out why he had uttered those words earlier.

*It wasn't necessarily babbling nonsense...*

*What on earth is this Heir of the State Protector's Estate plotting in his head?*

Empress Wang did not understand. She truly could not comprehend it.

When the meal concluded, Empress Wang had no intention of staying longer. She stood up, bid farewell to Cheng Guang and Wu Yuemei, and left the State Protector's Estate.

Watching Empress Wang's departing figure, Cheng Guang's eyes remained tranquil, devoid of any ripples, as he gently tapped his finger on the table in a thoughtful posture.

Wu Yuemei, standing nearby, seemed to have sensed the strange atmosphere between Empress Wang and Cheng Guang. Turning her head slightly, her gaze fell upon Cheng Guang as she asked softly:

"Guang'er, what were you and your Empress Aunt talking about just now?"

"I noticed your Empress Aunt didn't seem to be in a very good mood."

Cheng Guang smiled and shook his head, then shrugged helplessly. "Mother, if you ask me, how would I know?"

"I don't have the guts to offend the Empress Aunt."

Wu Yuemei furrowed her brows slightly before smiling and speaking out, "I suppose you wouldn't have the guts."

"You should be more respectful toward your elders. Your Empress Aunt seems quite busy lately, and it's rare for her to visit our estate. Don't go upsetting her."

Whether Wu Yuemei was truly foolish or merely acting foolish, truly oblivious or feigning ignorance, Cheng Guang could not tell. Looking at her expression, he knew that Wu Yuemei genuinely believed Empress Wang had come to the State Protector's Estate simply to reminisce with her, without digging any deeper. She was a textbook sweet, naive fool.

And rightly so. If Wu Yuemei didn't possess this kind of personality, coupled with her identity as a royal princess, she would never have married Cheng Zhihai in the first place. No matter how persistent Cheng Zhihai was, State Protector Cheng Shiyuan would never have agreed.

Still, a naive fool had her perks.

Cheng Guang smiled. "Mother, I didn't upset the Empress Aunt."

Refusing to believe him, Wu Yuemei rolled her eyes at Cheng Guang and said, "Then why, after I came back, did I see your Empress looking so preoccupied? She was perfectly fine before I left."

Cheng Guang shook his head and said indifferently, "Probably her aunt came to visit."

Hearing this, Wu Yuemei froze once again.

"Aunt?"

Wu Yuemei did not understand what Cheng Guang meant by this.

Without offering a lengthy explanation, Cheng Guang smiled at her and said, "In any case, it's just my Empress Aunt's own problem; it has nothing to do with me."

"Well, Mother, I'll be heading off then?"

Seeing his attitude, Wu Yuemei could only sigh helplessly, waving her hand as she said:

"Alright, Guang'er, off you go."

Bidding farewell to Wu Yuemei, Cheng Guang walked toward the Myriad Phenomena Garden.

Inside the Myriad Phenomena Garden, the scene was far more tranquil than Cheng Guang had anticipated.

The first thing that came into view was Ning Qianxue practicing her cultivation. Clad in a white lotus-patterned dress and wielding a cold-moon longsword, she extended her arm and swept the blade through the air. Ning Qianxue's figure was inherently graceful; as she practiced her sword techniques, it looked less like martial arts training and more like a gentle, flowing dance.

Sweeping his gaze past Ning Qianxue, Cheng Guang looked toward the side room occupied by the Princess of Nanming.

The Princess of Nanming was not inside the room. Instead, she sat in a pavilion, leisurely sipping tea cup after cup.

As for the Abyssal Demon Emperor in its true form, it lay inside the room, its body tightly wrapped in a red cloth, twitching occasionally to prove that it had not given up struggling.

Cheng Guang merely glanced at the Abyssal Demon Emperor before looking away. At present, he still had no effective way of dealing with it. If he removed the Heaven-Shaking Scarlet Sash, the enraged Abyssal Demon Emperor would undoubtedly tear the entire State Protector's Estate apart. It would be better to consider releasing it only after finding a reliable method to subdue it.

Cheng Guang pondered inwardly.

"Heir, you're back. Would you like Qingluan to make something for you to eat?"

Noticing Cheng Guang, Qingluan quickly hurried over, having just been watering the flowers and plants.

Cheng Guang shook his head, replying, "I've already eaten. You guys can just have something yourselves."

With that, Cheng Guang glanced once more at Ning Qianxue, who was still deep in her martial arts practice. Without disturbing her, he walked straight into his bedchamber.

The moment he stepped inside, Cheng Guang felt that the surrounding atmosphere was somewhat unusual.

Lifting his gaze to scan the room's interior, his eyes swept past a desk, and he sensed something amiss.

Turning his head back to look closely at the desk, he saw a middle-income scholar in green robes and a scholar's cap sitting beside it.

The man's appearance filled Cheng Guang with a deep sense of familiarity.

It was none other than Zhou Qingxu.

When Cheng Guang had entered the chamber, Zhou Qingxu had apparently been sitting quietly in the wooden chair with his eyes closed in meditation. Only as Cheng Guang stepped inside did Zhou Qingxu slowly raise his head to look at him.

Zhou Qingxu had originally thought that, given his methods, even if Cheng Guang could detect his presence, it would take him a considerable amount of time. He had never expected Cheng Guang to notice the anomaly with a single glance, and upon looking back, spot him immediately.

The two locked eyes in silence.

Neither spoke.

After a brief pause, Zhou Qingxu chuckled. "I originally thought the Heir's cultivation realm was low while his methods were formidable, but I never expected the Heir's cultivation to be equally astonishing."

Hearing this, Cheng Guang remained expressionless. Being able to detect Zhou Qingxu was entirely thanks to the Saint-Consummation Dao Fruit. The power of the Saint-Consummation Dao Fruit had elevated his primordial spirit by more than one dimension, making it relatively effortless for him to spot Zhou Qingxu's figure.

Choosing not to respond to Zhou Qingxu's remark, Cheng Guang asked instead:

"You've returned to find me so quickly. Does this mean the Great Tang Emperor behind you is willing to see me?"

Zhou Qingxu nodded slowly, looking at Cheng Guang. "Yes, that lord is willing to see you. However, it requires you to go and meet him. Does the Heir dare to follow me there?"

Cheng Guang raised an eyebrow slightly. "You want me to go see him? Where is he?"

Zhou Qingxu merely smiled and offered no reply.

Seeing that Zhou Qingxu had no intention of telling him, Cheng Guang did not dwell on it and asked another question.

"Then how should I go see the Great Tang Emperor?"

Zhou Qingxu replied, "The Heir need only hold tightly to my sleeve, and I can take you to meet that lord."

"Since that lord is willing to see you, he likely holds you in high regard. In the future, should you truly and sincerely join our Great Tang, you will be able to see him without my leading the way."

Cheng Guang nodded noncommittally, having no objections.

"Now?"

Zhou Qingxu nodded. "Now."

Cheng Guang took a deep breath. Despite his composure, facing the impending meeting with the mysterious Great Tang and its equally mysterious Emperor inevitably brought a flutter of tension.

Drawing another deep breath, Cheng Guang stepped forward and grasped Zhou Qingxu's sleeve.

Zhou Qingxu instructed, "Heir, you may close your eyes now."

"Later, when I tell you to open them, you may do so. If you happen to miss seeing it, I hope the Heir will not blame me."

Hearing this, Cheng Guang closed his eyes directly.

Zhou Qingxu had sworn a Great Dao oath; even though his strength surpassed that of ordinary celestial beings, he lacked the power to evade the binding of a Heavenly Dao oath. Therefore, it was unlikely that Zhou Qingxu would harm him. Cheng Guang simply chose to follow his instructions.

With his eyes closed, Cheng Guang's world plunged into absolute darkness.

At the same time, Zhou Qingxu's voice sounded softly beside his ear.

"Heir, follow me and lift your feet."

As the words fell, Cheng Guang's world fell completely silent, devoid of any other sounds.

The sleeve of Zhou Qingxu's robe, held in Cheng Guang's hand, began to move.

Following Zhou Qingxu's pace, Cheng Guang walked forward step by step.

He took step after step, yet his path never seemed to intersect with the edges of his bedchamber or any of the obstacles within it. This struck Cheng Guang as exceedingly bizarre. He was intimately familiar with the layout of his room; walking this far should have long since caused him to collide with a wall. Why was it that, up until now, his surroundings had not touched a single object?

This defied all logic.

A strong, compulsive urge welled up within Cheng Guang to open his eyes and see what was happening around him.

However, just as he was about to open his eyes, a voice rang in his ear.

"Heir, we have arrived."

As Zhou Qingxu's voice trailed off, Cheng Guang's footsteps landed on the ground.

*Thud.*

The world within his ears suddenly regained sound.

The chirping of birds in the woods and the rustling of fallen leaves greeted him once more.

Opening his eyes slowly, Cheng Guang was greeted by a boundless flood of light rushing into his vision.

Taking in his surroundings, he was momentarily stunned, unable to collect his thoughts for a good while.

This was no longer his bedchamber.

Nor was it the Capital.

Instead, it was a deep mountain forest, situated by the edge of a serene pool of water.

A bamboo cottage stood quietly by the water's edge.

"Heir, please. The lord is waiting for you inside."

Zhou Qingxu turned sideways, pointing toward the bamboo cottage. His tone was fraught with profound reverence.

Whenever he mentioned the person inside the cottage, Zhou Qingxu's usual carefree and lazy demeanor unconsciously vanished. It was evident that the person inside commanded deep respect from him—or perhaps, a measure of fear.

Observing Zhou Qingxu's reaction without comment, Cheng Guang walked straight toward the bamboo cottage.

To be honest, facing someone who could make even Zhou Qingxu subconsciously feel reverence and fear, Cheng Guang still felt somewhat uncertain at the bottom of his heart. Strength comparable to a celestial being could not provide him with a sufficient sense of safety here.

Only the Emperor's Visage Talisman provided him with a shred of confidence.

If this so-called Great Tang Emperor intended him any harm, he would not hesitate—even at the risk of failing the system's mission—to activate the Emperor's Visage Talisman and flee this place immediately.

And this place... did not seem like a normal location either.

He had just been in his bedchamber, yet after walking merely a few steps with his eyes closed, he had arrived here. To claim this was not the handiwork of the Great Tang Emperor was something Cheng Guang would never believe.

On second thought, it made sense. Although Great Tang paled in comparison to the Heavenly Court—shattering into pieces at the mere touch of the latter—it had managed to endure long after, operating in the shadows during the timeline of the true heir, which proved that Great Tang was far from useless. At the very least, it possessed hidden capabilities capable of frustrating even the Heavenly Court.

Light flashed in Cheng Guang's eyes as thoughts raced through his mind.

As he walked, Cheng Guang stepped across the threshold of the bamboo cottage.

The interior of the cottage came into view.

There were very few furnishings inside: a desk, a reclining chair, and a pot of clear tea.

Reclining on the chair was a young man with pitch-black hair and dark attire. His features were obscured behind a ferocious mask, through which only a pair of eyes as deep as ancient wells were visible.

When Cheng Guang entered, the young man was still gazing out the window at the pond outside, staring at it in a dazed, unmoving trance.

He maintained that posture for a long time, not even turning his head to look at Cheng Guang, as if he hadn't noticed his presence at all.

Seeing the young man put on such an act, Cheng Guang was unbothered. A faint smile touched the corners of his lips as he simply stood quietly to the side, observing him.

This young man was the Great Tang Emperor, treated with such reverence by Zhou Qingxu. Judging by his youthful appearance, his actual age remained a mystery to Cheng Guang, nor did he know how formidable this Great Tang Emperor's cultivation really was.

For now, he would watch and wait. If any untoward changes occurred, he would immediately employ his methods to escape.

Thoughts flickered through Cheng Guang's mind as he finalized his contingency plan.

Seconds ticked away.

Cheng Guang did not have to wait long before he heard the young man—who had been fixated on the outdoor pond—suddenly let out a sigh.

Immediately afterward, the young man slowly turned his head to look at Cheng Guang.

As Cheng Guang's gaze collided with that of the black-robed, dark-haired youth, the world around him instantly spun, and the surrounding scenery began to twist and distort.

The dark aspects of Cheng Guang's inner psyche surged forth; resentment, greed, and cruelty swarmed in like a rising tide.

"This is..."

Cheng Guang's consciousness had already begun to lose itself when, suddenly, deep within his primordial spirit—or rather, echoing in his ears—a flash of golden brilliance erupted.

A figure crowned in golden light and draped in a monk's robe manifested within his mind, hands clasped together as it chanted: *Amitabha.*

The moment that chant resounded, absolute clarity instantly returned to Cheng Guang's mind.

Taking a deep breath, the confusion vanished from his eyes, and the distorted world around him snapped back to normal.

Seeing Cheng Guang snap out of it so quickly, the young man's eyebrows arched slightly. He sized Cheng Guang up a few more times, seemingly sensing a particular aura emanating from him.

A look of profound shock flickered across his deep eyes.

"Master Xuanzang..."

"No, perhaps not. Master Xuanzang could never be resurrected. Why does this Heir of the State Protector's Estate make me feel the aura of Master Xuanzang?"

Shocked, the young man muttered inwardly, though his exterior remained entirely composed.

"Heir of the Great Zhou State Protector's Estate."

After a brief pause, the young man took the initiative to speak, studying Cheng Guang and stating his identity in a flat tone.

"Your strength is indeed somewhat bizarre. Your cultivation realm feels as though it was forcibly hoisted up by some external force, and you've even made use of Three-Flower Grass. No wonder Zhou Qingxu could do nothing to you."

The young man spoke calmly.

In just a few words, he had stripped away all of Cheng Guang's secrets.

Hearing this, Cheng Guang's mouth twitched slightly. He truly had not expected this Great Tang Emperor to be aware of the existence of Three-Flower Grass. If not for the system's mission prompt, he wouldn't even have known what Three-Flower Grass was, let alone its function. Yet, this Great Tang Emperor knew it intimately.

Could it be that this Great Tang Emperor really was one of those ancient old monsters crawling back out from their coffins?

Cheng Guang made no effort to conceal the emotions roiling within him. Observing his expression, the Great Tang Emperor knew precisely what he was thinking.

A smile touched the corners of the Great Tang Emperor's lips—though it was soundless. "Although your methods and identity give you access to plenty of intelligence, I still cannot figure out where you learned of the existence of our Great Tang."

"You even managed to contact me through Zhou Qingxu."

"What is it you hope to achieve by seeking me out?"

Smiling faintly, the Great Tang Emperor finally voiced the question that had been weighing on his mind.

Facing the Great Tang Emperor's piercing gaze, Cheng Guang felt no timidity, replying smoothly and calmly:

"I learned of the Great Tang by sheer coincidence. As for how specifically, I can't quite remember."

"You can't quite remember..."

The Great Tang Emperor nodded slightly without comment, then continued, "Well then... do go on..."

Cheng Guang proceeded, "As for contacting you through Zhou Qingxu, my primary purpose is simply that I wish to join the Great Tang."

Hearing this, the Great Tang Emperor chuckled once more. "You wish to join my Great Tang?"

"Are you certain?"

Without changing expression, Cheng Guang replied, "The world is full of extraordinary people and wonders; no one knows what the future holds."

"Even a powerful celestial being like Zhou Qingxu is willing to follow Your Excellency. Since that is the case, my desire to join the Great Tang is naturally nothing out of the ordinary."

The Great Tang Emperor smiled and nodded. "Reasonable."

After uttering that single word, the Great Tang Emperor fell silent once more, quietly observing Cheng Guang.

Had he not sensed the faint aura of Master Xuanzang emanating from Cheng Guang, upon hearing his purpose, the Great Tang Emperor would have rejected him on the spot. No matter how powerful Cheng Guang's influence in the mortal realm or how noble his status, in the eyes of the Great Tang Emperor, such things were merely passing clouds.

However, after catching that trace of unusual aura on Cheng Guang, the Great Tang Emperor had abruptly altered his original intentions.

According to his knowledge, many ancient powerhouses and deities had awakened within the world today, all vying for the fortune of the Great Dao.

Perhaps Master Xuanzang had left behind some contingency plan after his death, or perhaps he had even been reincarnated. With this thought, the Great Tang Emperor cast a few more evaluating glances at Cheng Guang.

"Have you ever read scriptures?"

Cheng Guang nodded. Though he didn't quite understand why the Great Tang Emperor had suddenly asked him this, he replied, "I have perused them cursorily."

Hearing this, the Great Tang Emperor pressed on: "Well? Do you understand them, and how much insight have you gained?"

Cheng Guang shook his head. "I don't really understand scriptures. I merely know roughly what they speak of."

The Great Tang Emperor nodded faintly. His sole motive in asking was to gauge the probability of Cheng Guang being the reincarnation of Master Xuanzang. That trace of Master Xuanzang's aura on Cheng Guang had only flickered momentarily; if not for his own formidable cultivation and sharp perception, he never would have associated this Heir of the State Protector's Estate with the Master Xuanzang he knew.

Yet, Cheng Guang's shallow comprehension of the scriptures did not align with the identity of Master Xuanzang's reincarnation. If he were truly Xuanzang, his understanding of the scriptures, along with his innate perception and tenacity, would never be easily lost.

At this thought, a trace of disappointment surfaced on the Great Tang Emperor's youthful face. Though he couldn't fathom why the aura of Master Xuanzang lingered on this Heir of the State Protector's Estate, he reasoned that the youth could certainly not be Xuanzang himself.

*"The body is like the Bodhi tree, the mind like a standing mirror bright. Strive to wipe it clean at all times, and let no dust alight."*

*"That verse Master Xuanzang once recited to me—surely there is a better one. Yet the person is gone and things have changed; what that superior Zen verse might be is now lost to time."*

*"If this State Protector's Heir were truly Master Xuanzang's reincarnation, perhaps he would know."*

Closing his eyes, the Great Tang Emperor muttered softly to himself, rolling the black prayer beads in his hand one by one as if reciting something with utmost piety.

Then, reaching out, he summoned a brush and ink from thin air and began to write in the empty space before him.

The ink seemed to solidify, hovering suspended in mid-air, forming the very verse he had recited just moments before.

Lifting his gaze slightly, he looked at Cheng Guang.

"Can you compose a Zen verse superior to this one of mine?"

"If you can, I will agree to let you join the Great Tang."

Seeing the Zen verse inscribed by the Great Tang Emperor in mid-air, Cheng Guang's eyes widened fractionally.

At the same time, a wave of bizarre emotions surged within his heart.

What kind of situation was this?

Was this a gimme question?

Cheng Guang felt that the puzzle given to him by the Great Tang Emperor was simply too simple. For a moment, he actually hesitated whether he should write down the answer so decisively.

While Cheng Guang hesitated, the Great Tang Emperor grew somewhat impatient.

Putting aside his earlier thought—for he still couldn't be certain whether Cheng Guang was Xuanzang's reincarnation, and even if he were, there was no guarantee he would remember another Zen verse—the Great Tang Emperor recalled the days he had spent with Master Xuanzang long ago, and a wave of sorrow welled up in his eyes.

Beneath his youthful countenance lay a desolation entirely out of place with his appearance.

Just as the Great Tang Emperor was about to wave his hand and dismiss Cheng Guang's request to join the Great Tang, he suddenly heard Cheng Guang speak.

*"The Bodhi is originally no tree, the bright mirror also no stand. Fundamentally there is not a single thing, where can dust alight?"*

The moment Cheng Guang uttered those words, the refusal resting on the tip of the Great Tang Emperor's tongue was instantly blocked in his throat.

His deep, pitch-black eyes locked onto Cheng Guang, utterly unable to comprehend why this Heir of the State Protector's Estate had suddenly, out of nowhere, recited such a Zen verse.

"Where did you hear this Zen verse?"

The Great Tang Emperor stared intently at Cheng Guang, attempting to glean a trace of a clue from any subtle shift in his expression.

With an unchanging expression, Cheng Guang replied, "I seem to have heard it somewhere before. Hearing Your Excellency recite that other verse just now, I felt it was inferior, so the poem in my mind simply slipped out."

*"Heard it somewhere before..."*

The Great Tang Emperor repeated the phrase in a low murmur. Then, as if having settled on something, he covertly clenched his fist before slowly relaxing it.

With a sudden smile, he said, "Since the Heir of the State Protector's Estate wishes to join our Great Tang, I grant my permission."

"Although my Great Tang was only recently established, I have been making preparations in the shadows, and we still possess a certain foundation."

With a thoughtful pause, the Great Tang Emperor retrieved a token from his robe and, conveying it with a breath of spiritual energy, floated it right before Cheng Guang's eyes.

Reaching out, Cheng Guang caught it instinctively and saw the character "Thousand" ($ ext{千}$) carved prominently upon its surface.

Resting his chin in one hand, the Great Tang Emperor gazed at Cheng Guang with his deep, dark eyes.

"Since you are the Heir of the State Protector's Estate, joining my Great Tang means I cannot simply place you casually. Take this Thousand-character Token first."

"It doesn't have many practical uses for now; at best, it serves as a symbol of identity."

"If the Great Tang's Chang'an were still standing..."

At this, a hint of sorrow flickered across the Great Tang Emperor's youthful face. Weary of further conversation with Cheng Guang, he gave a wave of his hand.

"You may leave."

With those words, a formless wave of force emanated from his hand, propelling Cheng Guang backward out of the bamboo cottage.

Standing outside the bamboo cottage, Zhou Qingxu—who had been waiting anxiously—immediately hurried forward.

Seeing that Cheng Guang was completely unscathed, Zhou Qingxu experienced a momentary flash of shock and suppressed disappointment, though he quickly buried the latter feeling.

Just as Zhou Qingxu was about to speak, his peripheral vision caught sight of the token bearing the character "Thousand" clutched in Cheng Guang's hand.

Upon seeing the token, Zhou Qingxu's breath hitched instantly, and his expression twisted with a mixture of disbelief and terror.

"This..."

"How could that lord have handed this Thousand-character Token to you, Heir?!"

Zhou Qingxu's easygoing and lazy temperament shattered completely. Yanking his hands out from his sleeves, he stared wide-eyed at Cheng Guang, dumbfounded.

Compared to Zhou Qingxu, Cheng Guang's reaction appeared infinitely calmer.

He tossed the Thousand-character Token casually in his hand and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Is this Thousand-character Token very precious?"

Zhou Qingxu hurriedly pressed down on Cheng Guang's hand, terrified that he might drop the token.

At the same time, his gaze remained glued to the token, the yearning and adoration in his eyes impossible to conceal.

After a long while, Zhou Qingxu finally managed to calm his roiling emotions. Taking a deep breath, he released Cheng Guang's hand, offered an apologetic, wry smile, and spoke slowly:

"Heir, this Thousand-character Token is exceptionally precious."

"Aside from that lord, our Great Tang currently has twelve teaching heads and countless disciples."

"We twelve teaching heads were all personally nurtured by the lord. Even after attaining celestial cultivation—even reaching my current realm—the lord has only ever rewarded us with Hundred-character Tokens."

"Even so..."

"The lord still regards us with disdain, deeming us unqualified."

"Yet..."

"That lord has actually rewarded you, Heir, with a Thousand-character Token..."

"This is simply..."

At this point, disbelief surged back into Zhou Qingxu's voice.

Hearing this, Cheng Guang's expression finally shifted slightly, and he cast another glance back at the black-robed, dark-haired young man inside the bamboo cottage.

A Thousand-character Token!

It was actually this precious.

Just moments ago, in order to join the Great Tang, Cheng Guang had prepared himself to use the Emperor's Visage Talisman. Facing this unknown Great Tang Emperor, he had still felt a measure of tension; successfully joining the Great Tang to complete the system's mission would be wonderful, but even if it failed, it was no great loss. Cheng Guang possessed an open mindset.

Yet, he never expected that upon meeting the Great Tang Emperor, the person behind the mysterious Great Tang wasn't as terrifying or as dangerous as he had imagined.

Why, then, did Zhou Qingxu look terrified whenever he mentioned the Great Tang Emperor?

Was there differential treatment going on after all?

Thinking of this, Cheng Guang grew puzzled. He couldn't fathom what trait he possessed that allowed the Great Tang Emperor to treat him differently from everyone else, to the extent of rewarding him with a "Thousand-character Token" that Zhou Qingxu desired so desperately yet could not obtain.

*Could it be because of the Zen verse I recited?*

Frowning slightly, Cheng Guang sensed that the situation might not be so simple.

"The Great Tang Emperor first asked if I had read scriptures, and then posed a Zen verse riddle to me..."

"This behavior is extremely abnormal."

"It's as if he was verifying something..."

Recalling this, Cheng Guang suddenly realized that the Great Tang Emperor might have harbored a specific motive from the very beginning of their conversation. It was only after verifying something through him that he had treated him so differently.

Following that train of thought, Cheng Guang flashed back to the figure that had appeared in his mind earlier: the Holy Monk, Tang Sanzang.

*Could it be because of Tang Sanzang?*

Taking a deep breath, Cheng Guang stared blankly at the young man inside the bamboo cottage.

If that young man treated him with such special regard because of Tang Sanzang—because of the aura of Tang Sanzang lingering upon him—wouldn't that prove that...

This young man... most likely knew Tang Sanzang as well?

The Great Tang Emperor...

Could he be the Emperor Tang of that era?

At this realization, lights flickered in Cheng Guang's eyes, and his heart received a profound shock.

After collecting himself, Cheng Guang turned to Zhou Qingxu and asked:

"Master Zhou, what is the actual purpose of this Thousand-character Token?"

Upon hearing the question, Zhou Qingxu made no attempt to conceal it, answering honestly:

"Holding the Thousand-character Token grants access to the second floor of the Library Pavilion."

"That pavilion houses numerous collections belonging to the lord."

"My entire cultivation was attained within that library—though only on the first floor, the lowest level. Now that the Heir holds this Thousand-character Token, you may ascend to the second floor."

"The treasures on that second floor might very well elevate the Heir's cultivation realm to surpass my own."

Zhou Qingxu sighed, folding his hands and tucking them into his sleeves, a wisp of faint melancholy drifting across his face as he reflected that comparing oneself to others only led to frustration.

Cheng Guang nodded slightly. From Zhou Qingxu's explanation, he understood that the Thousand-character Token represented resources in a certain sense. The Library Pavilion Zhou Qingxu mentioned should be the equivalent of a library, but the items collected within the Great Tang's Library Pavilion were things the Great Tang Emperor had gathered personally—far beyond the comparison of the State Protector's Estate's own library.

Curious to know what the Great Tang Library Pavilion held, Cheng Guang prepared to shift his gaze and ask Zhou Qingxu where the pavilion was located.

Before he could speak, the Great Tang Emperor inside the bamboo cottage suddenly chuckled:

"Zhou Qingxu, take the Heir of the State Protector's Estate to visit the Library Pavilion."

"Tell the two elders of the pavilion to bring out that set of Buddhist robes and hand them over to the Heir."

Hearing the Great Tang Emperor's voice, Zhou Qingxu turned reverent and fearful, bowing his head deeply as he gave an affirmative reply.

Immediately afterward, he turned sideways. "Heir, this way please."

With that, he pulled Cheng Guang along as they walked away into the distance.

As Zhou Qingxu led Cheng Guang away from the edge of the pool, the Great Tang Emperor's gaze continued to linger quietly upon the water.

After staring at the pool for a long time, he suddenly noticed something, causing him to slowly sit upright.

Following the direction of the Great Tang Emperor's gaze, one could see that a faint, ethereal glow was suddenly flickering within the depths of the pool.

...

*(End of this chapter)*