Starting from the two realms, cultivating immortality by taming beasts

Chapter 656 Purple Palace Cave

"The True Venerable of the Purple Palace?" Jin Dan was greatly surprised.

"That's right, it seems you've also heard about that person's story, senior." Shen Yuxia nodded slightly and smiled.

"No, I've never heard of the Purple Palace True Venerable. I just think the name sounds quite imposing, so he's probably a powerful cultivator."

Upon hearing Jin Dan's words, Shen Yuxia's smile froze, and she immediately began to explain in a gentle voice.

Zi Que Zhen Zun was a renowned fifth-tier supreme array master from the Great Shang Dynasty 39,800 years ago, whose cultivation had reached the level of a giant in the cultivation world.

Even in the Shang Dynasty, where powerful cultivators emerged one after another, Zique Zhenzun was a legendary figure.

The reason is simple: the original name of the Purple Palace True Venerable was Zeng Tingsu. He came from a poor family and had a talent for magic in his youth. Therefore, he was valued by the Grand Historian Sima Gu, who took him in as a retainer and appointed him as the scribe of the Imperial Palace, responsible for managing the fragments of martial arts manuals collected from various places throughout the imperial dynasty.

It should be understood that in the Great Shang Dynasty, the position of clerk was merely a sinecure. There was no real power, nor any spiritual oil or water to be gained. The daily work was extremely tedious, consisting of registering, classifying, and archiving cultivation techniques, or copying cultivation techniques using jade slips. All the work involved were trivial tasks.

To put it bluntly, the only advantage a cultivator has when serving as a scribe is that they can freely browse through the cultivation manuals in the library from morning till night.

However, for the prodigies of powerful merchant families, spending all day reading low-level cultivation techniques in the library can only hone their basics, and they can't comprehend much of the path to immortality.

It wasn't until the emergence of the Purple Palace True Venerable Zeng Tingsu, who combined the strengths of many cultivation methods to create the Purple Palace Dao Scripture, and attained enlightenment and became a True Venerable God, that the position of scribe became a highly sought-after official post among the elites of various powerful clans.

"That's amazing?"

The golden-egg dragon raised its eyes slightly, its expression one of surprise.

A Nascent Soul True Monarch who could create a method, prove the Dao, and transform into a deity without consuming rare and precious herbs or elixirs was a talent so exceptional that he could probably be considered an immortal seed even in the Immortal Alliance.

"The law has no hierarchy, and can be unified."

Shen Yuxia sincerely exclaimed, "After creating the Purple Palace Dao Scripture, the Purple Palace True Venerable cultivated from the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm to a cultivation giant in just 15,000 years."

"So the perfectly round bead you're looking for contains the Purple Palace Dao Scripture?" Golden Egg guessed.

"While the Purple Palace Dao Scripture is indeed powerful, the Great Shang Dynasty possesses countless immortal techniques. A single Dao Scripture that combines the strengths of a hundred schools is not enough to tempt me."

Shen Yuxia made no attempt to conceal her arrogance, and said calmly, "What I want is the natal creation artifact refined by the Purple Palace True Venerable."

[Purple Palace Pearl]

"What's the use of this thing?" Golden Egg asked curiously.

"Senior need not know, the Purple Pearl is only useful to human cultivators, it is useless to demon lords and demon kings."

Shen Yuxia did not provide a detailed answer, but changed the subject, saying, "After the Purple Palace True Venerable failed to attain the Dao and refine the Void, he left behind cave dwellings and ruins in various parts of the Great Shang Dynasty, just to select suitable disciples."

"The Purple Pearl I desire is most likely hidden deep within the Purple Pearl Cave in the Misty River."

At this point, Shen Yuxia looked directly at the golden egg: "Jianjiangkou is a tributary of Wujiang. As the Dragon King of Jianjiangkou, you might be able to help me find the Purple Pearl by using the connection between Jianjiangkou and Wujiang."

"If I can find it successfully, I only want the bead. I will not take a single bit of the lineage of the Purple Palace True Venerable or the rare treasures he has accumulated throughout his life. I will offer them all to you, and I will also reward you handsomely."

Upon hearing this, Jin Dan became even more curious.

Shen Yuxia could disregard even the legacy of a cultivation giant, so what level of treasure is the Purple Pearl?

If it is truly precious and of great use to cultivators, it might be an opportunity for the Northern Martial Sect to acquire a valuable treasure.

"But I have only recently attained the Dao of Demon Lord and need time to settle down."

Jin Dan hesitated for a moment, then did not readily agree.

"It's alright, you can contact me anytime once you've figured it out, senior."

Shen Yuxia left behind a jade slip and gracefully departed.

After a long while, Chen Beiwu's figure suddenly appeared at the bottom of the murky water.

"What should we do?" Jin Dan looked at Chen Beiwu.

The Purple Pearl is an extraordinary treasure, as its name suggests; there's no need to give it away to others.

"Replacing the Dragon King of the Misty River is easier said than done," Chen Beiwu shook his head.

As far as he knew, all four major aquatic tribes in the Misty River had a Fifth Realm Demon Lord-level being in charge, whose strength was extraordinary.

Even if the Dragon King of the Misty River were to disappear, it would be difficult for the Golden Egg Demon Lord, with his early-stage cultivation, to suppress the four major aquatic tribes of the Misty River, let alone rule over it.

If he wasn't mistaken, even though Shen Yuxia came from a powerful family in Chaoge, the methods she used would most likely only allow the Golden Egg to have power similar to that of the Dragon King of the Misty River for a short period of time, rather than completely replacing him.

By then, even if the Golden Egg manages to find the Purple Pearl, it will become the target of everyone's criticism and a thorn in the side of the four great aquatic demon lords of the Misty River.

"Huh?" (Give up like this?)

Schiller opened his eyes wide, somewhat unwilling.

Putting aside how many rare and precious treasures the Dragon King of the Misty River could possess by ruling over a region of the river, the legacy of the Purple Palace True Venerable alone was enough to make Xue Le's heart flutter.

Who said we'd give up?

Chen Beiwu glanced at Xue Le: "I'm quite talented at finding things; I don't necessarily need the golden egg to become the Dragon King of the Misty River."

Judging from Shen Yuxia's reaction, the Dragon King of the River can roughly determine the Purple Pearl or the approximate location of the Purple Pearl Cave through his authority, but it is not a sure thing.

Otherwise, after the fall of the Purple Palace True Venerable, the Mist River Dragon King would probably have already used his power to ransack the former's cave and its heritage.

"Eek."

Zhiling nodded, agreeing with Beiwu's guess.

If the Purple Pearl were truly so easy to obtain, the Dragon King of the Misty River wouldn't have mysteriously disappeared for so many years without any reason.

Tie Dan barked softly, understanding what Zhi Ling wanted to express.

The disappearance of the Misty River Dragon King is most likely related to the Purple Palace Cave, which shows how dangerous it was.

Golden Egg and Schiller are only at the initial stage of the demon race, and the two of them alone may not be able to protect their master.

"It's always good to be cautious. If you really want to find the Purple Palace Cave, Golden Egg, it won't be too late once I've reached the fifth level of the Demon Lord realm," Aji suggested.

With the three demon lords joining forces, plus its past life's foundation, even though the Purple Palace Cave is fraught with danger and could trap the Misty River Dragon King, they can still buy Bei Wu time to activate the Ten Directions Gate, preventing him from falling into a life-or-death crisis.

"Okay."

Schiller was greedy, but not to the point of being blinded by greed.

Just then, Chen Beiwu frowned slightly, sensing what was happening at the Guanxian County government office.

Meanwhile, outside the Guanxian County Government Office.

As the light descended, a Nascent Soul True Monarch suddenly arrived, radiating an unparalleled and powerful aura.

Both Li Jin and Guang Yu were utterly shocked and rushed to the outside of the county government office to look at the newcomer.

hiss!"

Li Jin couldn't help but gasp inwardly.

As a county magistrate, he quickly determined from the man's clothing and the token at his waist that the man was a sixth-rank official in the prefecture, a position close to that of a prefectural commandant but far inferior to that of a prefectural governor.

However, most of the powerful individuals who can serve as state officials are close confidants of the governor, and their power cannot be determined by their rank. Even a prefect of a county would have to give them some face.

"snort."

The newcomer gave a soft snort, and Li Jin and Guang Yu were struck as if by a heavy blow, instinctively kneeling on the ground.

Upon seeing this, the newcomer's expression softened slightly, and a hint of arrogance flashed in his eyes.

If someone fails to bow to their superior, they should be punished.

"I am Zuo Yuping, an official of the prefecture, and I have come here on the orders of the prefect. Where is Chen Zi'ang, the magistrate of Guan County?"

Zuo Yuping spoke calmly, his voice carrying throughout the entire county government office.

"tread!"

"tread!"

"tread!"

Chen Beiwu (Mirror Image Clone) stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute to Zuo Yuping, and said, "Chen Zi'ang, the magistrate of Guanxian County, is here."

Zuo Yuping frowned slightly and took out a roll of golden silk from his storage ring.

A county magistrate is not like a county assistant or county lieutenant; he is not easy to discipline.

Although he was not satisfied with Chen Ziang's attitude, he would not risk offending a promising seventh-rank county magistrate for such a trivial matter.

"The Governor has decreed: A true Dragon King has been born in the Jianjiangkou water vein of Guanxian County. He is responsible for the confluence of the three waters and will be recorded in the sacrificial rites. Magistrate Chen Zi'ang of Guanxian County is hereby ordered to escort the Jianjiangkou Dragon King to the Chaoxi Prefecture for investiture, effective immediately."

After speaking, Zuo Yuping clasped his hands together with the golden silk and looked at Chen Ziang.

Chen Beiwu frowned slightly: "Are you sure Zuo Congshi isn't joking about ordering me to escort the Dragon King of Jianjiangkou to Chaoxi Prefecture?"

""

"The governor has given an order, how can you call this a joke?" Zuo Yuping's eyes remained unchanged as he unleashed the pressure of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

In an instant, the atmosphere froze. Li Jin and Guang Yu both looked at Chen Beiwu with incredulous expressions.

The newly appointed county magistrate, Chen Zi'ang, is truly audacious to even question the orders of a state governor.

This is understandable, though. Chen Zi'ang dared to submit a memorial to the emperor in Chaoge to report Princess Yinling, so adding another instance of disobeying a superior doesn't seem like much.

"Since it is an order from the governor, why won't you let me see the edict?" Chen Beiwu retorted.

"How dare you!"

Zuo Yuping roared angrily, his aura becoming even more powerful, but seeing Chen Ziang's calm expression, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.

A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator was able to disregard the pressure of a Nascent Soul True Monarch and remain unfazed even when Mount Tai collapsed before him.

With such magnanimity, this young man is no ordinary person.

Upon thinking of this, Zuo Yuping suppressed his anger and handed the proclamation to Chen Zi'ang.

Chen Beiwu glanced at it and shook his head: "This proclamation has neither the seal of the governor nor the seal of Minxin County. Is the Left Attendant perhaps trying to fool me?"

"Okay, okay."

Zuo Yuping never expected that this task would be so difficult.

Logically speaking, no county magistrate should question the edict issued by the governor, lest he disobey his superior.

Unexpectedly, he encountered a stubborn kid today.

"Magistrate Chen, do you know the consequences of disobeying orders?" Zuo Yuping's tone turned cold, causing the temperature of the world to plummet instantly.

"Does the Left Attendant know the consequences of falsely conveying the governor's edict?" Chen Beiwu responded with the same question.

Zuo Yuping took a deep breath, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

The title of "Prefectural Attendant" sounds prestigious, granting the governor the authority to oversee all affairs of the prefecture, but ultimately it is merely a "running errands" position, not a superior to the county magistrate of Guan County.

Even with Chen Zi'ang's hostile attitude, he couldn't possibly attack him in public, as that would undoubtedly be a provocation against the entire official system of the Great Shang Dynasty.

"He just left like that?"

Li Jin and Guang Yu exchanged a glance, increasingly amazed by the bravery of the new county magistrate.

"What are you all standing there for? Is there nothing to do in the county government office?"

Chen Beiwu glanced at the two men, then returned to the county government office.

"Huh?" (Why are you refusing?)

Golden Egg was a little confused.

This is clearly a good thing. With the governor of Dezhou personally bestowing the title of god, wouldn't its position as the Dragon King of Jianjiang Estuary be even more secure? The more fortune of the Shang Dynasty it can leverage, the easier it will be to swallow up Wujiang in the future.

"This matter is not as simple as you think," Chen Beiwu said in a deep voice. "Summoning you for no reason means you are most likely being targeted by the governor of Chaoxi Prefecture."

"9

The True Venerable One who has transformed into a deity can deduce the secrets of heaven and calculate all causes and effects.

Under the cover of the Nine Breaths of Chaos, Chen Beiwu was not afraid of his identity being exposed, but the connection between Chen Ziang and the Three Phases Dragon King would most likely not escape the divination of the Nascent Soul True Venerable.

Furthermore, given the warning sign from the Purple Gold Canopy position, Chen Beiwu would naturally suspect the governor's intentions in issuing the edict.

"Yes, indeed!"

Schiller wholeheartedly agreed.

If the governor of Chaoxi Prefecture were unaware of the relationship between Beiwu and the Golden Egg, he would never have rebelled against the Heavenly Gang and sent a Foundation Establishment cultivator to escort a Fifth Realm Demon Lord.

"Huh?" (What does that mean?)

Golden Egg was stunned.

"Although Governor Chaoxi is a True Venerable of the Heavenly Sect, he also knows the methods of the Earthly Sect and can confer titles upon gods and beasts."

Chen Beiwu explained simply: "If you were a Nascent Soul True Venerable, and a Fifth Realm Demon Venerable appeared in a small county under your command, would you ignore him and recruit him, or would you kill him outright?"

"Roar." (Of course, he'll be brought under his command.)

"Golden Egg said subconsciously."

How can one allow others to snore beside one's bed, unless they are one's own people?

"Huh?" (What should we do then? Should we strike first?)

A sudden idea flashed through Schiller's mind, and he began to set his sights on the governor's mansion.

"This is just a test, it's not as serious as you think," Chen Beiwu chuckled.

Although the governor is the ruler of a state and has great power, he is not so lawless as to bypass the official system of the Shang Dynasty and arbitrarily take action against the magistrate of a county. Some targeting is inevitable.

If it's a targeted attack within the rules, then we'll deal with it as it comes and see who has the better skills.

If it's revenge outside the rules, then don't blame him for overturning the chessboard and causing a scene. At worst, he can give up the positions of magistrate of Guanxian County and Jianjiang □, and reintegrate into the Great Shang Dynasty under a different identity.

Early the next morning.

Inside the governor's mansion, Zuo Yuping suddenly knelt down, his eyes filled with undisguised fear.

"Get up, I don't blame you."

Fang Jin closed his eyes slightly, knowing everything that had happened in Guanxian without needing to hear reports from his subordinates.

"What do you think of Chen Zi'ang?" Fang Jin asked with great interest.

Zuo Yuping rose respectfully and said, "He is arrogant and doesn't know when to advance or retreat. Sooner or later, he will die and his life will be over."

-

"Your assessment is too narrow," Fang Jin laughed. "To have such courage at such a young age, this child's future is limitless."

Zuo Yuping lowered his head, not daring to speak.

The more the governor praises him now, the stronger his opinion of Chen Zi'ang becomes.

The reason is simple: that private edict from the governor was actually a pledge of allegiance, to see if Chen Zi'ang was willing to join the governor's faction.

The result was that Chen Zi'ang refused to submit a pledge of loyalty, showing no respect for the governor.

"Jade that is not carved cannot become a vessel." Fang Jin glanced at Zuo Yuping and said calmly, "Spread the word that the remains of the Zique Zhenzun Cave in Jianjiangkou, Guanxian County, are about to be revealed, and that Chen Zi'ang, the magistrate of Guanxian County, is suspected of having some of the secrets of the Zique Cave."

"Yes."

Zuo Yuping bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Fang Jin closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

There was no need for him to lower himself; once the Purple Palace Cave was linked to Chen Zi'ang, someone would naturally be unable to resist taking action.

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