Chu Minghao smiled at the eunuch and said, “Please wait outside for a moment; we haven’t finished our meal yet.”
The eunuch paused slightly in his movements, then immediately obediently closed the door to the private room.
Chu Minghao looked at the table full of dishes and said with a smile to the three, “After talking for so long, I haven’t had a single bite to eat.”
After saying this, Chu Minghao picked up his bowl and began to eat heartily.
Although he wasn’t as crude as Yamadai, he wasn’t pretending to be reserved either; he genuinely gave off a feeling of sincerity.
Wu Pifu’s fondness for Chu Minghao grew, and Yamadai clearly felt the same.
He picked up a jar of wine, opened the clay seal, and poured a large bowl for himself, then poured a large bowl for Wu Pifu and Chu Minghao each, before gulping down his own.
Wu Pifu also began to eat heartily, his appetite substantial, and Chu Minghao matched him in this regard.
When they saw the wine bowls, they each raised them to drink, exchanged smiles, and resumed their meal.
Meanwhile, outside the private room, several eunuchs wore anxious expressions, while a few tall, armored men stood expressionless.
The leading strong man quietly asked the head eunuch, “Zhong Guiren, isn’t the Emperor in a hurry? Is it appropriate for us to do this…?”
The head eunuch glanced at the strong man, but since they seemed to have a good relationship, he whispered, “Exactly because of this, we cannot afford to be disrespectful; this one is an immortal!”
The leading strong man did not comment on the term “immortal,” but he did not say another word, merely standing like an iron tower behind the head eunuch.
Inside the private room, the three men were indulging in their meal, and while they wouldn’t say they were full, they at least enjoyed the flavors.
Chu Minghao took a sip of tea and smiled, saying, “The taste is truly excellent. You don’t know, I established three dream worlds for the Level Five Sanctuary. One era is in the mid-Third War, where we ate all sorts of two-headed cattle, roasted lizards, and giant earthworms.
Another era is in the mid-Jurassic period, where there was plenty of meat, but it was all tasteless. The last dream world has a very large deviation, but it’s not too polluted, so it’s considered baseline reality 0.7. That world is entirely covered in ice and snow; every time I enter, I can only eat ice…”
Wu Pifu laughed and said, “Then why didn’t you establish a sanctuary in a dream world like this one?”
Chu Minghao shook his head with a smile and said, “I want to break into baseline reality 0.6. The more dangerous, bizarre, and deviated the dream world is, the better the treasures it holds… I have to fight for it. There are tens of millions of maintenance personnel on Gaia, and over a billion citizens trapped in dream worlds. I must become stronger faster, to take on my responsibilities and obligations.”
Although Wu Pifu didn’t share such aspirations, he greatly admired this type of person and raised a bowl of wine to Chu Minghao in respect.
After Chu Minghao finished his drink, he said to the three, “Basically, I’ve said everything that can be said. What remains are some peripheral details, or things that cannot be said until your strength increases and you understand them yourselves. Now, let’s talk about establishing the sanctuary, shall we?”
The three all nodded, and Chu Minghao extended five fingers, saying, “There are five methods to establish a sanctuary. First, obtain ownership of a certain building or area. Second, form a force composed mostly of the original inhabitants of the dream world. Third, change the historical trajectory of the dream world or leave a record. Fourth, occupy two or three of the above three methods. Fifth… I won’t say the fifth.”
Xu Shilan said irritably, “Every time you mention something unpleasant, you refuse to say it. Do you know why I rejected you during the matchmaking? It’s because your indecisive nature really annoys me!”
Chu Minghao wasn’t angry; he just scratched his head and smiled foolishly for a moment.
Then he said seriously, “Alright, it’s not a big deal to say it. The last method to establish a sanctuary is to kill. The more you kill, the higher the level of the established sanctuary, and this last method is also known as the Blood Sanctuary… Purchasing, forces, events, special, and Blood Sanctuary, each has slightly different rewards and functions. Personally, I suggest that if you can create a special sanctuary, that’s best; if not, then aim for an event sanctuary.”
The three fell silent, contemplating the information about the Blood Sanctuary.
Chu Minghao said, “Now is a good opportunity. This should be an ancient feudal dynasty. I don’t know the specifics, but since it’s a feudal dynasty, superstitious rulers, nobles, and the religions relying on the first two are essential. The eunuchs and guards outside are sent by the rulers of this feudal dynasty, so how about we take this opportunity to establish a Level Two Special Sanctuary?”
Yamadai and Xu Shilan both nodded, but Wu Pifu couldn’t help but retort, “Wait, Yamadai is from the Third War era. I can understand in a chaotic world, but you two are clearly high-ranking citizens with power and influence. Don’t you read history?”
Chu Minghao shook his head and said, “There’s no way to read it… The Azure erased all past histories, leaving only the simplest records. So we only know the general names of the Eastern and Western feudal dynasties; we have no idea what specific histories they hold.”
“Is there such a thing!?”
Wu Pifu, Yamadai, and Xu Shilan exclaimed in surprise.
Chu Minghao looked at Xu Shilan with annoyance and said, “It’s fine for them, but why are you so surprised? The Thirteen Singularities Group’s predecessor once controlled everything of humanity after the Third War, the Azure; your ancestors even participated in the siege against the Azure. I don’t believe your family library doesn’t have records of that.”
Xu Shilan shrugged, and Chu Minghao continued, “Because of this, we really aren’t familiar with the history before the Third War… Brother Wu, it sounds like you’re quite familiar with history?”
Wu Pifu had nothing to hide and directly said, “I’m a future person frozen from the twenty-first century.”
Chu Minghao fell silent.
He looked at Wu Pifu with pity in his eyes, but he immediately smiled and said, “Don’t worry. If you really have the potential for a super brain, the hundreds of years of mental darkness can still be suppressed. Even if it doesn’t work, when I can return to Gaia, I can use the main brain’s share to help you suppress and dissolve it… How many days do you have left?”
Wu Pifu replied, “About one hundred sixty days.”
“One hundred sixty days…”
Chu Minghao thought for a moment and said, “You’d better practice some extraordinary techniques related to the mind, consciousness, and soul. These can greatly enhance your self-personality and delay the rate of mental darkness resurgence, prolonging the time as much as possible.”
Wu Pifu nodded in agreement, and Chu Minghao asked, “Since Brother Wu is familiar with this era, what should we do next?”
Wu Pifu began to ponder, and the other three looked at him.
After a moment, Wu Pifu smiled and said, “Didn’t someone come to invite us? Then we should just go. As for how to do it… with you here, it’s too simple; we just need to…”
“Immortal?”
In the palace, Zhao Zhi, along with a dozen officials in purple and scarlet robes, three princes, and the pale-faced national master Guo Jing, were all watching a scene.
A young man with a sword box on his back smiled in the image, patting the sword box.
In an instant, the world turned black and white, everything froze, and only a dazzling light like the blazing sun shone from the sword box.
In a flash, it disappeared, and the world returned to normal.
The Emperor’s Six Seals!
This was a crucial artifact of the Great Song, capable of commanding the clouds above and sealing the earth below, connecting the national fortune golden dragon, impervious to all evils, and untainted by all malice.
As long as the national fortune in Bianliang City remained intact, it could suppress beings with cultivation below three hundred years.
However, just now, the Emperor’s Six Seals rang simultaneously, and there were slight cracks appearing on the seals.
This left the head of the ancestral hall in shock, nearly losing his soul, and he immediately reported to Emperor Zhao Zhi.
This matter was of great importance, and Zhao Zhi hurriedly brought the officials and princes to the place where the Emperor’s Six Seals were kept, and from the seals, they saw such a scene.
Afterward, the national master Guo Jing returned with a pale face.
Although he said nothing, everyone saw that his hat was gone, his hair was disheveled, and recalling the figure that stood before the young man in the image, everyone could guess the cause and effect of the matter.
Zhao Zhi no longer remained gentle and sternly questioned Guo Jing about what had happened.
At this moment, Guo Jing was in a state of shock, having wandered between life and death.
His mind was in chaos, and facing the Emperor’s questioning, he could only admit that he encountered a terrifying true immortal.
In an instant, all his defensive measures were shattered.
If the other party hadn’t had any killing intent, he feared he wouldn’t even have a complete piece of flesh left now.
“The Sword Immortal… it must be the legendary Sword Immortal. Such means must be the supreme method of refining swords into threads among Sword Immortals.” Guo Jing said this with fear in his eyes.
Zhao Zhi and the officials exchanged glances.
Although they found it absurd and unbelievable, the facts were right before them, leaving them no choice but to believe.
One must know that all things in the world have a lifespan, even mountain spirits and fairies have lifespans, which is why there are rarely any beings with decades of cultivation.
Every hundred-year-old being is a great demon.
A cultivator like Guo Jing, with over thirty years of cultivation, was already one of the strongest in the world.
It was said that the Zhang Tianshi lineage had ancestors with over seventy years of cultivation, which was already peak level.
Yet this young man, with just one move, broke the seal of the Emperor’s Six Seals, even causing slight cracks to appear.
One could only wonder how much national fortune would be needed to mend it; this was at least four to five hundred years of cultivation, and who in the world could live to four or five hundred years?
Only an immortal could!
Zhao Zhi and the officials, along with the princes, repeatedly watched the scene recorded by the Emperor’s Six Seals.
The more they watched, the more they were filled with longing, especially Emperor Zhao Zhi, whose fervor reached a point where it seemed about to burst forth.
“Is there really an immortal? Is there really an immortal?”
At this moment, several eunuchs hurriedly ran into the hall and whispered something in Zhao Zhi’s ear.
Zhao Zhi’s face lit up with joy and said, “Why not invite the immortal to the Purple Chancellery? The banquet is ready!?”
The leading eunuch immediately nodded in agreement, and Zhao Zhi was about to speak to the officials when the eunuch anxiously added, “But the immortal is still outside the palace and hasn’t entered.”
Zhao Zhi grew anxious and said, “Why? Is it because I didn’t personally welcome him? I was afraid of disturbing the immortal’s presence; I’ll go, I’ll go.”
The officials and princes all secretly scoffed, thinking, what disturbance? It’s merely fear of death, not daring to confirm the immortal’s intentions, which is why they sent someone to invite him.
If he came, it would prove harmless to the Song.
The eunuch quickly said, “Your Majesty, it’s not like that. It’s that the immortal’s accompanying disciple, the one who just spied on the imperial princess, is unwilling. He said he was ambushed from a distance and is unwilling to come until he has fought the one who ambushed him to determine the outcome; otherwise, he won’t come to the palace!”
Zhao Zhi was taken aback, as were the officials and princes.
They truly hadn’t expected such a reason.
One purple-robed official, catching his breath, said, “I’ve seen mentions of this in strange tales of immortals. For mortals to become immortals, they must have a complete heart of Dao, without any deficiencies. Could it be that this disciple of the immortal… no, this immortal disciple is in the midst of refining his heart, and cannot afford to have any deficiencies in his heart of Dao?”
“Indeed, indeed!”
Zhao Zhi immediately nodded and looked at Guo Jing, saying, “National Master, can you go and compete with that immortal disciple?”
Guo Jing’s face changed drastically, and he was about to refuse when the eunuch added, “The immortal has said he will not make another move; he will allow his disciple to compete. However, if someone wins a move and tries to run, he is kind-hearted and cannot bear to see bloodshed; one must be more careful in the next life.”
Guo Jing was stunned for a moment, and after a long while, he finally understood the meaning of being more careful in the next life.
His expression turned into one of bitter melon, and after a few seconds of silence, the Emperor, officials, and princes all looked at him.
Guo Jing gritted his teeth and cupped his hands, saying, “I am willing to compete; please allow me to take out the Golden Strength Puppet and various refined magical tools from the Dao Hall. Otherwise, how can I compete with a blood warrior in close combat? That wouldn’t be fair to me!”
Zhao Zhi thought for a moment and felt that it was acceptable since there was an immortal overseeing the situation.
He smiled and nodded, saying, “Thank you, National Master. Please hurry, please hurry.”
Guo Jing left with a smile that seemed like he was about to cry, as if he were writing a will, bowing respectfully to the Emperor, every official, and every prince.
Since he became the national master, he had never been so respectful.
After dragging it out for at least a minute or two, Guo Jing finally slowly walked toward the Dao Hall.
Once Guo Jing left, Zhao Zhi pondered for a long time, then suddenly smiled and called over a eunuch, whispering in his ear, “Has Yongfu returned to the palace? She has been innocent and romantic since childhood, and loves these tales of immortals and strange beings the most. Let her go and watch the battle.”
The eunuch accepted the order and quickly left the palace.
At this moment, Princess Yongfu, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, was combing her long hair in front of a bronze mirror, but her mind was filled with thoughts of the boorish man she had seen today, especially the scene of him breaking through the wall.
As she thought about it, the girl suddenly smiled.
Her eyes… were strikingly similar to those of the little mute.
(End of Chapter)