Embers of Sword

Chapter 592 Chase
"North Sea?"

The moon disappeared from view, and the blazing light gradually faded.

A towering tree stands in the center of the world.

A gentle breeze blew by, and the leaves rustled. The Immortal Tree had come back to life. Its withered branches twisted and grew back, no longer gray and white. Its roots were intertwined and spread for miles. The ground emitted a faint glow and was filled with rich energy. However, the earth was now crimson, as if it had been soaked in blood.

Countless sheets of white paper, as white as snow, fell onto the red soil and were quickly soaked.

The blazing light between heaven and earth condensed into a single line.

It fell on the Holy Empress.

The Empress looked somewhat weary. Standing before the colossal tree, she reached out and stroked its revitalized trunk, seemingly becoming one with the Immortal Tree… Beneath her, waves of water engulfing the red earth slowly surged, creating shimmering surges. The Immortal Tree's trunk extended in four directions, three of which were already illuminated.

Four dragon veins.

Three have been obtained.

Now... only one last thing is missing.

Behind the Empress, two figures hung in the sky.

Lu Yuzhen was hidden in the snowstorm formed by countless scraps of paper. The towering, pure white saint had been torn in half, obviously damaged in the battle just now... He disappeared, leaving only a faint figure, with white paper "slowly" repairing the image.

On the other hand, two of the "Three Pure Ones Incarnations" of the Great Master Chongkan were shattered, leaving only one personality dharma body connected to the true self.

The scene of Yuan Jimu holding the precious mirror and talking with Yuwen Bo.

At this moment, it is clearly reflected in the void of the Moon Concealment Realm.

"Xie Xuanyi fled to the North Sea?"

Grand Master Chongkan had a gloomy expression.

Despite his serious injuries, he still declared resolutely: "This boy must not be allowed to live... If he escapes from Da Chu, he will surely cause disaster in the future!"

Say it.

Chongkan then rallied his spirits, lifted his sleeves, and clearly prepared to leave Moon Hidden Cave.

"Are you planning to go to Beihai to hunt down Xie Xuanyi?"

Lu Yuzhen, hidden in the storm of white paper, spoke softly. He had also suffered heavy losses, but his voice was much calmer and more composed.

"Beihai...besides Xie Xuanyi, there are two other people who also need to be killed!"

Chongkan took a deep breath, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

Chen Jingxuan, Tang Fengshu!
Although he broke free from the control of the [Mind Cage], it did not mean that he had really decided to let Tang Fengshu go... The reason he compromised earlier was because he was forced by the situation.

A person like Chongkan is used to having all variables firmly in his grasp.

For him, the most important part of this plan was to join forces with the Holy Empress to complete the final battle in which the Hidden Realm of the Moon subdues Qin Zu.

In a sense, Master Xuanzhi's act of climbing the mountain to challenge the enemy has already ruined this plan.

Although Chongkan was still confident of defeating Chen Jingxuan after his great battle with Xuanzhi, he was unsure what tricks this successor of Yan Xin, who had surpassed his master, had up his sleeve.

He didn't want to take such a pointless risk.

He preferred a stable situation rather than a desperate fight.

Everything is going well now.

Chen Jingxuan and Tang Fengshu left the capital and did not appear in this storm to cause trouble.

Now, it's time for my "final chapter".

Chen Jingxuan, Tang Fengshu, Xie Xuanyi...

These three outstanding individuals who emerged ten years ago should not be allowed to grow unchecked.

He wants to completely destroy it!

"..."

Lu Yuzhen wasn't too surprised by this reply.

He simply turned his gaze toward the Empress.

The woman standing before the giant tree did not turn to look at Chongkan, but instead spoke softly, saying two words: "Go."

Chongkan used his qi to leave Yueyin.

……

……

The entire [Moon Hidden Cave] has returned to tranquility.

Only two people remain in this world.

Lu Yuzhen was suspended beneath the heavens, while the Holy Empress stood upon the thick earth.

The great battle with Qin Zu left both him and Chong Kan severely injured. Fortunately, most of the power was blocked by the Holy Empress. This woman was indeed powerful. With the assistance of two Yang Gods, she managed to suppress Qin Zu... However, at this moment, the blazing light focused and condensed into an invisible barrier, blocking all information from the Holy Empress.

Even the divine sense of a top-tier Yang God could not land on her, sense her aura, or discern her face.

"He left already."

The Empress spoke again, her voice clear and cold, yet imposing.

"Ah."

Lu Yuzhen chuckled.

He stretched out his palm, and a drop of water floated in his palm.

This water droplet... in terms of color, aura, and vitality, is far more perfect than the one he previously gifted to the false saint of the Southern Frontier!
"Let me make this clear beforehand: I only have one drop of this quality of the Fountain of Immortality."

Lu Yuzhen said lazily, "If you were to use this drop of 'Fountain of Immortality' right now, facing Zhao Chunyang and Xiaoyaozi would probably be much more difficult..."

wow-

A thin ripple spread across the void.

This drop of pure white immortal spring descended from the sky, tracing a long, slender curve, and finally slowly landed in front of the Holy Empress.

hum!
The Empress took the water droplet, held it aloft in her palm, and silently examined it, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

"Three of the four dragon veins are now aligned."

Lu Yuzhen smiled and said, "Your injuries from the battle with 'Qin Zu' just now shouldn't be too serious... Why don't you keep this Fountain of Immortality and use it later?"

He paused slightly.

Lu Yuzhen narrowed her eyes.

He noticed an interesting detail.

The instant the Empress received the Undying Spring, the majestic, blazing light enveloping her briefly became disordered. A tiny fragment of white paper seized the opportunity to slip into the crevice and reach the Empress's feet. The blazing light opened and closed again, and in just a brief moment, the fragment of white paper that had slipped into the crevice was crushed and burned to ashes by the powerful Dao Domain.

but……

Every piece of white paper that fell from the Hidden Realm this month contained Lu Yuzhen's divine thoughts.

In that extremely brief moment.

Lu Yuzhen saw that the hand holding up the Fountain of Immortality was trembling.

To cultivate to this level.

His control over his own body has become almost perfect.

It seems that the Empress was more seriously injured than she had imagined in the battle with Qin Zu... Her current state is not as relaxed as she appears.

really.

After pondering for a moment, the Empress crushed the drop of the Fountain of Immortality.

Chi chi chi——

The water vapor dispersed.

Under the blazing light, no one could see that her trembling wrist gradually regained its steady state.

The blood seeping from the skin gradually dried up.

After counting the breaths.

The Empress's voice and demeanor returned to their usual leisurely pace.

"This Fountain of Immortality is far more wondrous than I imagined..."

The Empress Dowager flicked her sleeve.

She asked calmly, "How many of these Fountain of Immortality do you have left?"

This sounds like a very casual question.

But in reality, this problem is very dangerous.

"Miss."

Lu Yuzhen sighed softly: "As I said before... I only have one drop of this Fountain of Immortality."

The Empress remained silent. She simply turned away quietly and gazed calmly at the paper figure in the ceiling.

The void portal to the Hidden Moon Cave has long been closed.

Within this grotto-heaven, she could even fight Qin Zu, who was at the tenth level of the Yang God realm, let alone Lu Yuzhen, who was currently in a state of serious injury.
This place fell silent for a moment.

"You don't seem afraid I'll kill you?"

The Empress smiled, her voice relaxed but still carrying a sense of pressure.

Who in this world is not afraid of death?

Lu Yuzhen calmly replied, "If the Empress wanted to kill me... I certainly couldn't escape. But the Empress didn't do that, did she?"

White paper fell like a waterfall.

Lu Yuzhen slowly landed on the ground.

He did not use the Fountain of Immortality to heal himself in front of the Holy Empress.

Lu Yu truly has self-awareness.

If we kill him, we can retrieve a drop of the same quality of the Fountain of Immortality...

Based on the Holy Queen's style of conduct.

He was already dead at that moment.

To the Holy Empress, the vast majority of people and things in the world were merely pawns on a chessboard.

There is no good or evil, no right or wrong, only advantages and disadvantages.

"I do indeed retain some of the Spring of Immortality on my body, which I use to heal my injuries... If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may take it yourself."

The paper Taoist spread his arms and said sincerely, "But if you kill me, the Holy Empress will probably have to face Xiaoyaozi and Zhao Chunyang alone."

"interesting."

The Empress Dowager found it somewhat amusing: "You think you can help me deal with Xiaoyaozi and Zhao Chunyang?"

The tenth level of the Yang God realm...

It is almost the highest realm that all the genius cultivators in the past thousand years have been able to reach.

This realm connects the celestial and the human, and separates the mortal from the mundane.

"In terms of cultivation, I am indeed far behind."

Lu Yuzhen calmly said, "However... some things are best left to the outcome."

Qin Zu's battle is a good example of this.

"Next, I will head to the Great Jade Palace."

Saint said expressionlessly, "...I'd like to know how you can help me."

Zhao Chunyang is different from Qin Zu.

Not long ago, the two fought, which ended in a draw, with neither side gaining the upper hand.

But the Empress Dowager personally "watched" the battle.

In her view, Zhao Chunyang was even more troublesome than Qin Zu... This Great Sui Sect Master's swordsmanship had reached the divine level, and his Dao was perfect and flawless.

the most important is.

There was a very important reason why we were able to win that battle.

Qin Zu voluntarily gave up the home advantage of the Martial Fortune Dragon Vein and came to the Moon Concealment Realm. The Moon Concealment Realm was forged and melted by the Renshou Palace and completely transformed into part of the Holy Empress's Natal Cave Heaven.

A major power struggle.

Now, the situation is completely different.

The Holy Empress needs to personally attend to reclaim the fortune of the Great Jade Sword Palace.

Besides Zhao Chunyang, she also needs to be wary of Xiaoyaozi, who is in seclusion at Tianyuan Mountain... After taking away Qin Zuwu's Dragon Vein, she may be besieged by two top experts at any time.

Although the shrine suppressed the Taoist sect.

But how could Chongkan possibly suppress Xiaoyaozi within Tianyuan Mountain?
Whether or not Xiaoyaozi emerges from seclusion is not within anyone's control.

"If the Empress trusts me."

Lu Yuzhen smiled and said, "I do have a way, perhaps we can extract the lotus dragon vein from the Great Eagle Sword Palace..."

"what do you want?"

The Empress Dowager got straight to the point.

"Lu has already made a fortune from the campaign in southern Xinjiang."

Lu Yuzhen was a little shy, and coughed lightly with her fist clenched: "How could I dare to make any more requests?"

The Empress remained silent.

"Alright... I do have a favor to ask."

Lu Yuzhen smiled slightly and said, "After the four dragon veins were fully absorbed, the Great Chu Dynasty ushered in a period of great fortune. The Holy Empress, as a woman, ascended to the celestial realm and became a true immortal, making her the undisputed first person in a thousand years."

"……Um?"

The Empress raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat impatient.

"I want half of the Great Li Dynasty."

Lu Yuzhen's true intentions were revealed.

"Half of the Great Li?"

The Empress did not expect the paper elf to make such a request.

She squinted and looked at the person in front of her again.

Ten years ago.

Lu Yuzhen appeared out of nowhere, seemingly out of nowhere, in the southern borderlands.

At first, she sent the Tan Yiwei to investigate, wanting to find out the details of the "Paper Doll Path"... In the Holy Empress's mind, the greatest significance of the existence of this demonic land of the Southern Frontier was to maintain the distance from the Li Kingdom and complete the "balance" between the two countries. However, the appearance of the Paper Doll Path broke this balance, and the Tan Yiwei she sent out could not find out any useful details.

Just as the Empress's patience was about to run out.

Lu Yuzhen personally appeared in Da Chu.

This somewhat eccentric fellow offered up the "Fountain of Immortality" and guessed that he wanted to use the dragon vein to revive the "Immortal Tree." He even offered to join the plan and contribute his strength.

The Empress Dowager had always been wary of this man of unknown origin.

only……

Lu Yuzhen is indeed "useful".

"To be honest, the Crown Prince of Li Kingdom wants to cooperate with me to usurp the throne."

Lu Yuzhen spoke slowly, word by word: "Over the years, the Great Li Dynasty has become utterly corrupt, and the Zen Master has most likely passed away. If the Holy Empress attains enlightenment, destroying the Li Kingdom will be as easy as crushing dry leaves... I am not a fool; I know the principle of 'a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on.' This time, I offer my advice and serve her faithfully, not for anything else, but for my own good fortune. I hope that when the Holy Empress annexes the Great Li Dynasty in the future, she will bestow half of this fortune upon me, so that I too may glimpse the legendary 'realm of heaven and man.'"

"You have a good plan."

The Empress coldly said, "You also want to join the ranks of the celestial beings?"

"Everyone in this world has something to gain."

Lu Yuzhen smiled and said, "By then... the Holy Empress will have become a true immortal and ascended to heaven on a cloud. What will be worth worrying about in this mundane world?"

"If you can really bring back the last dragon vein for me, I can agree to this condition."

The Empress Dowager agreed.

next moment.

The Empress Dowager abruptly changed the subject and asked, "There's something I'm curious about... You seem to really want Xie Xuanyi to live, why?"

This question caught Lu Yuzhen completely off guard.

"what……"

The Paper Doll Daoist Master parted his lips slightly, somewhat taken aback.

"Don't think I don't know... you let him go in the south."

The saint said expressionlessly, "In just one day and one night, he slaughtered all three major sects. These people have all been taken under your command. Even if you didn't want to kill him, you didn't need to send all these Southern Border disciples to their deaths."

"That's really unfair to me."

Lu Yuzhen said helplessly, "The overall situation of the Moon Concealment Realm is of utmost importance. I really have no time to attend to those minor matters in the Southern Frontier. Those evil cultivators are dead, so be it. There's nothing to worry about."

"Is it?"

The Empress looked in the direction Chongkan had left and said meaningfully, "I saw that you tried to stop Chongkan when he was about to go to Beihai to kill someone. If you speak up now, it's not too late, and I can ask him to spare Xie Xuanyi's life."

"This humble Taoist priest...did not intend to stop you."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuzhen smiled calmly and said, "Some things are predetermined by cause and effect, and cannot be stopped, can they?"

(End of this chapter)