Undying Life

Chapter 820: Chapter 817: A Day in Heaven, a Year on Earth.

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In Tianyuan Pavilion, Zhong Shan dismissed the ministers and sent the empresses away, then sat alone for three or four hours. His mind was filled with images of Wei Kui'er.

Around midnight, Zhong Shan finally moved. Taking a light breath, he said, "You're here?"

"Your servant, Dark Emperor, greets Your Majesty!" A faint figure suddenly appeared in the study, carrying a cloth bag on his back.

"Dark Emperor? Was everything successful?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Yes. When Ye Qingcheng attempted to escape, I caught up with him and killed him. I have brought the Immortal Trapping Sword for Your Majesty!" Dark Emperor replied respectfully.

Stepping forward, Dark Emperor unwrapped the cloth bag, revealing the Immortal Trapping Sword, and gently placed it on Zhong Shan's desk.

Looking at the Immortal Trapping Sword, Zhong Shan nodded. "Dark Emperor, among the ministers of Great Zheng, your cultivation speed is the only one that can keep up with mine. The world praises Emperor Xuanzha for his extraordinary talent, but I believe your talent is no less than his. You defeated Ye Qingcheng, who was at the eleventh level of the Heaven Extreme Realm and wielded the Immortal Trapping Sword?"

"Thank you for the praise, Your Majesty. I owe my rapid progress to my master. My constitution is suited to his lineage, allowing me to forcibly harness the power of the stars of the night, which greatly facilitates my cultivation," Dark Emperor explained honestly.

"Hmm, before the Great Opening, you must increase your cultivation to the peak of the mortal realm. At that time, accompany me in the Yang Realm to face the gods and Buddhas!" Zhong Shan said solemnly.

"Yes!" Dark Emperor responded.

Despite the dangers in the Yang Realm, Dark Emperor had no complaints about staying there—

In the Yin Realm, south of Changjing, by an isolated seaside.

On the beach, two white figures stood—a man and a woman, Emperor Xuanzha and Xianxian.

"Grandfather, what are you saying?" Xianxian's eyes widened in anger.

"After the Great Opening, I want to do my own thing. I'm leaving the wolves of this world in your hands," Emperor Xuanzha said, shaking his head.

"Grandfather, how can you do this? What's wrong with Zhong Shan? Why do you want to betray him?" Xianxian asked anxiously.

"Betrayal? There's no betrayal between him and me. The wolves are the national beasts of Great Zheng, but I'm not his subordinate, and currently, there's no conflict of interest," Emperor Xuanzha said with a frown.

"But you're leaving us, why? Am I not good enough?" Xianxian asked, looking pitiful.

"It's not that you're not good enough. You'll always be my best granddaughter, but you're too playful," Emperor Xuanzha said, shaking his head.

"How am I playful?" Xianxian protested.

"Look at you. You're still only at the Emperor Extreme Realm."

"What's wrong with the Emperor Extreme Realm? At my age, it's already impressive! And soon, I'll break through to the Heaven Extreme Realm. Who in the wolf clan has cultivated faster than me?" Xianxian said stubbornly.

"Then why didn't Zhong Shan let you participate in the last battle?"

"That's because, because...!" Xianxian pouted.

"Zhong Shan has the worst innate talent I've ever seen, but he's diligent and focused. No matter the means or methods, he has raised his strength to the ninth level of the Heaven Extreme Realm. And you? You have better talent than me, yet you still haven't broken through to the Heaven Extreme Realm!"

"I..."

"Grandfather is leaving. You need to work harder from now on!" Emperor Xuanzha said, patting Xianxian's head.

"Grandfather, don't go! Xianxian doesn't want to leave you. Even though we were once separated by life and death, I could still visit you anytime. But if you leave now, Xianxian won't be able to find you," Xianxian said, tears streaming down her face.

In Tianyuan Pavilion, Zhong Shan dismissed the ministers and sent the empresses away, then sat alone for three or four hours. His mind was filled with images of Wei Kui'er.

Around midnight, Zhong Shan finally moved. Taking a light breath, he said, "You're here?"

"Your servant, Dark Emperor, greets Your Majesty!" A faint figure suddenly appeared in the study, carrying a cloth bag on his back.

"Dark Emperor? Was everything successful?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Yes. When Ye Qingcheng attempted to escape, I caught up with him and killed him. I have brought the Immortal Trapping Sword for Your Majesty!" Dark Emperor replied respectfully.

Stepping forward, Dark Emperor unwrapped the cloth bag, revealing the Immortal Trapping Sword, and gently placed it on Zhong Shan's desk.

Looking at the Immortal Trapping Sword, Zhong Shan nodded. "Dark Emperor, among the ministers of Great Zheng, your cultivation speed is the only one that can keep up with mine. The world praises Emperor Xuanzha for his extraordinary talent, but I believe your talent is no less than his. You defeated Ye Qingcheng, who was at the eleventh level of the Heaven Extreme Realm and wielded the Immortal Trapping Sword?"

"Thank you for the praise, Your Majesty. I owe my rapid progress to my master. My constitution is suited to his lineage, allowing me to forcibly harness the power of the stars of the night, which greatly facilitates my cultivation," Dark Emperor explained honestly.

"Hmm, before the Great Opening, you must increase your cultivation to the peak of the mortal realm. At that time, accompany me in the Yang Realm to face the gods and Buddhas!" Zhong Shan said solemnly.

"Yes!" Dark Emperor responded.

Despite the dangers in the Yang Realm, Dark Emperor had no complaints about staying there—

In the Yin Realm, south of Changjing, by an isolated seaside.

On the beach, two white figures stood—a man and a woman, Emperor Xuanzha and Xianxian.

"Grandfather, what are you saying?" Xianxian's eyes widened in anger.

"After the Great Opening, I want to do my own thing. I'm leaving the wolves of this world in your hands," Emperor Xuanzha said, shaking his head.

"Grandfather, how can you do this? What's wrong with Zhong Shan? Why do you want to betray him?" Xianxian asked anxiously.

"Betrayal? There's no betrayal between him and me. The wolves are the national beasts of Great Zheng, but I'm not his subordinate, and currently, there's no conflict of interest," Emperor Xuanzha said with a frown.

"But you're leaving us, why? Am I not good enough?" Xianxian asked, looking pitiful.

"It's not that you're not good enough. You'll always be my best granddaughter, but you're too playful," Emperor Xuanzha said, shaking his head.

"How am I playful?" Xianxian protested.

"Look at you. You're still only at the Emperor Extreme Realm."

"What's wrong with the Emperor Extreme Realm? At my age, it's already impressive! And soon, I'll break through to the Heaven Extreme Realm. Who in the wolf clan has cultivated faster than me?" Xianxian said stubbornly.

"Then why didn't Zhong Shan let you participate in the last battle?"

"That's because, because...!" Xianxian pouted.

"Zhong Shan has the worst innate talent I've ever seen, but he's diligent and focused. No matter the means or methods, he has raised his strength to the ninth level of the Heaven Extreme Realm. And you? You have better talent than me, yet you still haven't broken through to the Heaven Extreme Realm!"

"I..."

"Grandfather is leaving. You need to work harder from now on!" Emperor Xuanzha said, patting Xianxian's head.

"Grandfather, don't go! Xianxian doesn't want to leave you. Even though we were once separated by life and death, I could still visit you anytime. But if you leave now, Xianxian won't be able to find you," Xianxian said, tears streaming down her face.

"I've worked hard for the wolf clan for thousands of years, and now I want to do something I enjoy. I will come back. After I enter the Holy Realm of Shitian and travel the vast world, I will return!" The former coldness of Emperor Xuanzha was long gone; now he spoke like a gentle grandfather persuading his granddaughter.

"No, I feel that if you leave, you will never come back. Grandfather, let me go with you!" Xianxian bit her lip.

"You don't want to stay by Zhong Shan's side?" Emperor Xuanzha asked with a smile.

Xianxian hesitated for a moment, then finally said, "I want to be with you more!"

Taking a deep breath, Emperor Xuanzha shook his head. "No, it will be very dangerous where I'm going. I'd be more at ease if you stayed with Zhong Shan. Although he will face pressure from various forces, Zhong Shan's ability to navigate those waters is unparalleled. He can protect you without a doubt!"

"But, Grandfather, I—" Xianxian's tears flowed uncontrollably.

"Don't cry. You need to work hard. Think about the last battle—when Zhong Shan needed help the most, you couldn't be there. Instead, you had to stay in the Yin Realm, protected by Zhong Shan. Does that make you feel satisfied?" Emperor Xuanzha asked.

"No, it actually made me feel awful. I will work hard from now on!" Xianxian said, holding back her tears.

"Good. Remember, our wolf clan has always been made of heroes, proud and unyielding. We don't have the innate talents of dragons and phoenixes, but we have our will. We're not afraid of hardship or exhaustion. We can adapt to any environment and surpass all other beasts!"

"Yes!" Xianxian nodded resolutely.

"Even after I leave, I will be blessing you from afar."

"I won't let you down!" Xianxian vowed, holding back her tears—

In the Yang Realm, beneath the Lingxiao Heavenly Court.

Another year's imperial examination began.

Shui Jing and Shui Wuhen supervised the examination.

Looking at the sea of candidates, Shui Wuhen sighed, "Eight million examinees, truly unbelievable. I never imagined seeing such a scene in my dreams."

Shui Jing, fanning himself lightly, smiled at the vast crowd. "Zhao Suoxiang and Lin Xiao's armies are advancing westward. Shenzhou will soon be unified. Many of the selected officials will be sent to the west."

"Eight million candidates, and only eight hundred will be chosen. Yet, they still fight fiercely for the positions," Shui Wuhen remarked with a sigh.

"Wuhen, you were personally trained by His Majesty, correct?" Shui Jing asked while fanning himself.

"Yes, I owe my achievements to His Majesty. All my skills were taught by him or by those he appointed to teach me. I will be grateful to His Majesty for my entire life," Shui Wuhen said, bowing deeply towards the Lingxiao Heavenly Court.

"His Majesty values you highly because you have exceptional qualities. I can't see them, but no one can surpass His Majesty in judging people. He saw something in you that we might not notice. Do you know what that is?" Shui Jing asked with curiosity.

"I don't know either."

"Yes, none of us can see it, but His Majesty can, and that's enough. Perhaps your qualities will only show in critical moments. I envy you," Shui Jing said with a smile.

"Don't tease me, Shui Jing. Although I've been trained by His Majesty, my wisdom, tactics, military skills, and overall vision are not as good as yours. I envy you," Shui Wuhen said modestly.

"Didn't you just wonder why people fight so hard for a position with such slim chances? Have you ever heard this saying?" Shui Jing asked.

"'A day in Heaven is a year on Earth!'" Shui Jing said confidently.

"A day in Heaven is a year on Earth?" Shui Wuhen frowned slightly.

"Yes. Now, only His Majesty fully understands this. Once the heavens open, our Great Zheng's court will be the 'Heaven,' and the common people's realm will be the 'Earth.'" Shui Jing smiled, fanning himself.

"Oh?"

"Cultivating in 'Heaven' for a day is equivalent to cultivating in 'Earth' for a year or even more! This is why everyone envies 'Heaven.' Decades of cultivation in Heaven can surpass thousands of years of cultivation on Earth. This is why they are fighting so fiercely for these positions." Shui Jing explained with a smile.

"A day in Heaven is a year on Earth!" Shui Wuhen nodded in understanding.

"Who doesn't desire longevity? Only by joining our court, under the protection of its luck and fortune, can one's cultivation speed increase, breaking through more levels in a shorter time and extending their lifespan. Joining our court makes it easier to achieve immortality!" Shui Jing continued to smile.

"The abundant fortune truly drives people mad!"

"This is just the beginning!" Shui Jing smiled, fanning himself.

As they spoke, a terrifying aura suddenly spread from the direction of the Lingxiao Heavenly Court, pressing down in all directions. With a loud crack, the sky turned a deep purple, extending endlessly into the distance.

Eight million examinees stopped writing, staring in shock at the eerie purple sky.

"His Majesty has broken through again!" Shui Wuhen exclaimed in astonishment.

"Yes," Shui Jing nodded in admiration.

Other key figures of Great Zheng also looked toward the Lingxiao Heavenly Court. Each minister gazed at the palace with deep reverence and admiration.

His Majesty had broken through again. Another breakthrough? It wouldn't be long before the heavens opened. They needed to accelerate their cultivation because the higher their strength at the time of the opening, the greater the rewards they would receive.

Zhong Shan had broken through. The Eight Extremes Heavenly Tail had swallowed the shattered Immortal Beheading Gourd and the Immortal Trapping Sword, two peerless treasures, causing Zhong Shan's cultivation to surge rapidly.

He reached the tenth level of the Heaven Extreme Realm!

He reached the eleventh level of the Heaven Extreme Realm!

Only when he reached the eleventh level of the Heaven Extreme Realm did his cultivation's upward momentum stop. He was just a tiny step away from the peak of the mortal realm.

Although it was slightly disappointing, Zhong Shan was still very satisfied. With the four Immortal Swords gathered, the four tails of the Eight Extremes Heavenly Tail now carried the aura of these peerless swords. The Immortal Swords had now truly become history, even their sword souls completely dissipated.

For the final level, Zhong Shan planned to break through using his own cultivation efforts.

The accumulation of the court's fortune had increased Zhong Shan's cultivation speed to four hundred times the normal rate.

Twenty-five years of cultivation was equivalent to ten thousand years for an ordinary person. However, even this increase in speed was uncertain in terms of how long it would take Zhong Shan to advance that final level.