Chapter 1511 - 102: Factions (Part 3)
"Are you now... serving Ling Chenzi?"
Cui Zhen hesitated slightly.
The Undying Spring wasn’t particularly precious to him.
At least, using it on Old Shi was absolutely worth it...
He didn’t care about this strand of Undying Spring.
But Old Shi was right; compared to the Undying Spring, it’s more important that this "assassination" plan doesn’t have any slip-ups.
Given Ling Chenzi’s realm, strength, and sharpness, he could very well discover Old Shi’s anomaly. By deducing "Life Extension," he might infer the Undying Spring, and then figure out his presence, which would be disastrous. Everything he painstakingly prepared would be ruined. The Great Saint Mountain would revalidate the invitations and initiate an unprecedented internal purge.
By then, not only him, even Xie Xuanyi would suffer the consequences.
"Yes."
Old Shi sighed, "The news of this Great Saint Mountain birthday banquet was very sudden. I originally served the Holy Prince, but was temporarily reassigned to ’Yangchen Mountain’."
This was also the reason he was forced to sever contact with Cui Zhen recently.
Old Shi’s identity was special.
Suddenly sent away, he needed to first understand Yangchen Mountain’s rules and Ling Chenzi’s preferences.
Although his status was low, he couldn’t expose himself or bring trouble to Cui Zhen.
"You can hold onto this wooden box first."
Cui Zhen pondered for a moment, then said, "After the birthday banquet ends, you can use the Undying Spring..."
"No, no, no."
Old Ape laughed, "Master, this wooden box with me will only bring calamity to you. If you truly wish to extend my life, then wait until we’ve accomplished our goals and meet again next time—"
"Next time we meet..."
Cui Zhen was silent for a moment, then softly laughed, "Will there be a next time?"
This smile carried a hint of wistfulness.
Also some self-mockery.
Assassinating the Nether Sea is an extraordinarily dangerous plan.
He wanted to seize this opportunity to forcibly ascend, once again charging towards "Harmonization".
If successful,
naturally, it would be a reign over the world, reaching the highest peak!
If it failed,
then it would mean pulverized bones and lost everything.
If this time fails, he absolutely wouldn’t have another chance for "reincarnation", nor any possibility of "meeting again".
"What kind of talk is that..."
Old Ape also laughed, "Master has already experienced death, is there anything more dreadful than that? If only one person in this world could achieve Harmonization, it would be you."
When he spoke these words,
his voice was light, yet utterly sincere, utterly certain.
"That’s the logic."
Cui Zhen took a deep breath and put away the wooden box.
He laughed lightly, "Then I’ll borrow your auspicious words... After the dust settles, when we meet again, I’ll personally hand this wooden box to you."
"Good!"
The White Ape bowed deeply.
Old Shi did not linger.
He came here just to see his old benefactor one last time.
The two did not exchange many pleasantries.
Those who truly entrust their lives to each other won’t have too many pleasantries.
Before departing.
Old Shi handed over the information collected during this period, along with Ling Chenzi’s intelligence, entirely to Cui Zhen. It was a wooden slip, roughly textured yet substantial.
After Old Shi left.
Cui Zhen also departed from this mountain.
However, he didn’t go far but chose a route on the border of the Third Realm, opposite to Old Shi’s.
He chose a secluded little mountain.
Only then did Cui Zhen stop, turning towards a patch of darkness behind him and suddenly speaking.
"Fellow Daoist, when do you plan to reveal yourself?"
As the words fell.
The void twisted.
A tall figure draped in an azure magic robe stepped out from it.
He didn’t display a particularly strong aura, nor did he show Taoist Intent. Standing here, he was like a tree, a blade of grass, a leaf, merging with the mountains and earth.
"..."
The tall figure draped in the robe appeared but just silently watched the person before him without saying a word.
"Fellow Daoist, what does this mean?"
Cui Zhen stood with his hands behind his back, speaking indifferently.
Earlier when meeting with Old Shi,
he had taken great care to place talismans on the mountain summit; if these talismans were touched by Divine Thought, they would immediately alert him.
Even if the other party saw his meeting with the White Ape, they definitely wouldn’t know the specific content.
This Great Saint Mountain is full of mixed elements.
He deliberately changed his attire and modified his makeup.
What’s important now... is to shake off the "pursuers" and avoid causing too much commotion.
A faint cracking sound.
Cui Zhen’s thumb was already pressing against the hilt of his long saber, ready to unsheath it at any moment. The other person’s aura wasn’t strong, the realm was unknown, but that wasn’t important, for his Heart Lake did not generate "dangerous intent." Regardless of the level cultivated in the Yin God Realm, he could kill with a single strike.
"Relax."
"I’m not interested in the fellow you met earlier."
As the tall figure spoke,
Cui Zhen’s body turned to stone on the spot.
He gazed complexly at the man before him, his motion to draw the sword halted directly.
To be precise.
At the moment Cui Zhen heard this voice, he abandoned the idea of "drawing the sword."
Because he knew.
Drawing the sword was meaningless.
"Crash!"
The azure magic robe shook without wind, a strand of Taoist Intent unfurling like ink, enveloping the territory within a radius of dozens of feet. This segment of heaven and earth was shrouded by perfect Taoist Intent, revealing the tall figure’s true appearance—a dignified, severe face, yet the eyes lacked Killing Intent.
Demon Cultivators who attended the entrance ceremony in the Great Saint Mountain’s mountain gate wouldn’t forget this face.
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch.
Within the Dao Domain, lightning crackled, not annoying but exuding a subtle warmth.
"It truly is unexpected..."
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch lowered his eyelids, saying, "The esteemed first Great Venerable of the Demon Country wishes to use a ’woman’s body’ to obtain a Great Saint Mountain invitation? Turns out living another life can change a person so profoundly."
"North Swamp."
Cui Zhen’s expression was grave.
Being recognized, he didn’t argue or excuse himself, just huskily uttered the nickname they used back in the day: "I never thought... I’d meet you here."
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch resided in the North Swamp.
People only knew this was a desolate place, named for its significant marsh areas.
But nobody knew.
Years ago, Cui Zhen first met True Monarch in the "North Swamp".
Back then, True Monarch hadn’t attained the Dao yet, acted strangely, was a lone wolf, extremely solitary.
All Cultivators in the Demon Country, upon seeing him, would respectfully address him as True Monarch, or Qilin.
Only Cui Zhen referred to him as "North Swamp".
North Swamp wasn’t a pleasant name.
True Monarch had once grumpily asked Cui Zhen why he called him that.
At the time, Cui Zhen laughed heartily.
Because since birth, he’d been in the great marsh. The name Mo Zhen implied filth... In his youth, when he hadn’t attained the Dao yet, he’d had a younger brother named "North Swamp," who died young, tragically.
When they met, their manners and movements resembled those of old friends, leading to the name North Swamp.
Thus...
North Swamp, North Swamp, became known by all.
As years passed.
In the Demon Country and Human Race, everyone knew.
In the North Swamp, there was a Qilin.
Covered in dirt, unable to extricate himself, he encountered Miaofa and finally achieved purity.