Volume One: Turmoil in Yan and Yun Chapter Seventy-Five: Undercurrents (VII)
Upon hearing the words of the Guardian of the Wind God, Feng Qi’s gaze grew more intense.
Such praise for a person’s talent was the highest possible; after all, Du Gu Feiyun was recognized as the strongest figure in history. Of course, perhaps that title should be taken with a grain of salt, for Du Gu Feiyun and Wei Sanmu had never truly faced each other in direct combat. Yet, regardless of the circumstances, both the Guardian of the Wind God and the imperial family held high hopes for Du Gu Zhe.
The question remained: how likely was it that he could reach the heights of the old emperor—how great was that possibility?
Unable to restrain himself, Feng Qi voiced his query.
The Guardian of the Wind God glanced at him, wondering if revealing the full extent—ten out of ten chances—would be too outrageous.
Though he did not receive an answer, Feng Qi read something in the guardian’s eyes, sensing that the odds were far from negligible.
This might explain why the Divine Emperor would place such a powerful protector at the crown prince’s side.
If Du Gu Zhe had a high chance of reaching Du Gu Feiyun’s level, Feng Qi could hardly be surprised that any powerful faction would spare no effort to nurture him.
Still, other questions lingered in his heart.
But they were not convenient to ask.
“Du Gu Feiyun’s success was the result of many factors,” the elder from the Blood Tears Pavilion suddenly interjected. “Aside from all else, there is no second Xuan Shen Empress in the world today.”
Feng Qi thought, could this old fellow be reading my mind?
The Guardian of the Wind God shot the elder a glance but remained silent.
The elder did not pursue the matter further, merely smiled and prepared to face death.
A rush of wind swept past.
The elder’s feet remained rooted, unmoving, as if grown from the earth itself. Above his feet, his body was instantly torn apart by the fierce wind.
Three feet of blood rose beneath the setting sun, and in the blink of an eye, he was buried beneath a mound of yellow earth.
Feng Qi blinked, thinking to himself: a master who had touched the Union of the Dao realm, gone just like that?
“To touch the Union of the Dao is not to become the Dao itself,” the Guardian of the Wind God murmured. “You are not the old emperor.”
Feng Qi fell silent, reflecting that it truly seemed the old emperor could duel with Dao-united beings even before he himself had reached that stage; perhaps the prophecy of his heavenly gift was not an exaggeration.
He glanced at Du Gu Zhe, pondering that if this man could reach the old emperor’s level, he would not have been suppressed for so long. Though the difference in strength over a day or a night was insignificant in the span of ages, who was the old emperor? He was undefeated from the birth of Primordial Harmony to his ascension.
Perhaps guessing Feng Qi’s thoughts, the Guardian of the Wind God quietly said, “When His Highness the Crown Prince was two years old, the old emperor personally imbued him with wisdom, imparting insights from every stage of his life. If all goes well, he will not encounter any so-called barrier before ascension.”
Feng Qi’s eyes narrowed.
Though he had never experienced such a barrier himself, it sounded like a great gift.
With the imperial family’s full support, Du Gu Zhe’s union with the Dao was all but assured.
Yet, even so, he could never match the old emperor.
But one question ran deeper.
This was surely the imperial family’s most secret intelligence; why would the Guardian of the Wind God let him know?
Moreover, two high-ranking members of the Pavilion of Freedom were present; though Zhou Xi Chen had fallen into a coma, Shui Dongliu was fully conscious!
He glanced covertly at Shui Dongliu and saw him frowning in thought.
“So, does this mean the current situation is still under His Majesty’s control?” he asked.
The Guardian of the Wind God replied, “If one were to name the wisest emperor in the history of the Divine Dynasty, many answers would arise. But if asked who is the most underestimated Divine Emperor, our present monarch would surely be the one.”
As one who had spent the most time with the Divine Emperor and was himself united with the Dao, the Guardian’s words carried weight.
“Then, may I trouble you to escort us for a time?” Feng Qi said.
The Guardian of the Wind God raised his brows. “Where to?”
“Wuyang, of course,” Feng Qi replied.
He shook his head. “It’s not possible at the moment.”
Feng Qi was surprised.
The Guardian of the Wind God explained, “The entire Central Continent is sealed. Not even I, nor even the old emperor resurrected, could enter now.”
Feng Qi frowned. “Does the Azure Garment Tower possess such ability?”
“Of course not,” the Guardian replied, “but Li Jingxing does.”
“Li Jingxing has... which means Dou Xiaotong must have a way to break it?”
...
...
“You know what consequences the Underworld’s emergence brings,” Dou Xiaotong said coldly, his voice even colder than his gaze.
Li Jingxing smiled lightly. “The Tower of Sealing the Underworld is a divine artifact beyond this world—it’s not so easily breached.”
Dou Xiaotong’s eyes remained sharp, as if ready to act at the slightest provocation. “It is not easily breached, true.”
The carriage curtain was lifted; Li Shouli stood by the door, silent.
Dou Xiaotong narrowed his eyes. “If the Tower of Sealing the Underworld is breached, your grand strategy will become nothing but a joke.”
Li Jingxing replied earnestly, “That would be fine as well.”
Dou Xiaotong frowned.
“If the tower can truly be breached, it would mean even I could miscalculate. If the heavens themselves can err, then perhaps the heavens are not so formidable after all,” Li Jingxing said with a light smile.
Dou Xiaotong was taken aback, sensing a deeper meaning in Li Jingxing’s words.
“Don’t tell me you don’t know what the black radiance sixteen years ago signified,” Li Jingxing said.
“Absolute evil,” Dou Xiaotong replied.
“Absolute evil is absolute malice,” Li Jingxing said.
Dou Xiaotong did not agree, but evil and malice were inseparable; he did not bother to argue.
He thought of something else. “So you plan to go to Tai Xuan Mountain?”
“If the Dao Sage hadn’t stopped me, I would have killed him on the spot,” Li Jingxing responded.
“Such pure evil would never let itself be destroyed so easily,” Dou Xiaotong said.
Even treasures of heaven and earth possessed some intelligence for self-preservation; how much more so the black radiance that inspired fear in both him and Li Jingxing?
Quite possibly, it would lure the powerful ones who discovered it to eliminate its own greatest enemy.
Li Jingxing replied seriously, “Better to kill mistakenly than to let it escape.”
“What if you kill the wrong one?” Dou Xiaotong said gravely. “What if you end up killing its enemy instead?”
Li Jingxing replied, “Whatever it is, its prime enemy will always be you and me, above all others.”
Dou Xiaotong scoffed. “So, mere mortal immortals?”
Li Jingxing shook his head, saying no more.
Li Shouli understood and reached out, inviting Dou Xiaotong to depart.
Dou Xiaotong had no desire to continue disputing with Li Jingxing.
The curtain stirred slightly.
Dou Xiaotong vanished.
In just a few breaths, he appeared before Feng Qi.
The Guardian of the Wind God asked, “What brings you here?”
Dou Xiaotong did not answer, merely looked at Feng Qi, who raised his brows.
“You are Feng Qi?” Dou Xiaotong asked.
“And you must be Dou Xiaotong?” Feng Qi responded.
Dou Xiaotong found Feng Qi’s expression amusing and raised his brows in turn.
The Guardian of the Wind God was somewhat surprised. “How did you know he was Dou Xiaotong?”
“Are there many in the Pavilion of Freedom with such abilities?” Feng Qi replied.
The Guardian was taken aback. “A hundred miles in a breath—Ink Splash can do that as well.”
“But if it were Ink Splash, even you would have sensed his presence beforehand,” Feng Qi said.
“And why is that?” the Guardian asked.
Feng Qi sighed. “Perhaps because you phrased it as a question?”
The Guardian realized Feng Qi did not wish to pursue the topic further and shook his head in resignation, then turned to Dou Xiaotong. “Do you know what happened in Wuyang?”
Dou Xiaotong nodded.
“Is there a solution?” the Guardian pressed.
“Yes,” Dou Xiaotong nodded again.
“Then shall we go?” the Guardian asked.
“No need,” Dou Xiaotong replied. “With His Majesty present, why return?”
The Guardian was puzzled, but before he could speak, Dou Xiaotong pointed to Feng Qi. “He can handle it—why trouble me?”
Feng Qi stroked his chin in thought. “The Star Signs chapter?”
Dou Xiaotong grinned. “Smart boy, you guessed it?”
Feng Qi spread his hands. “The Palace of Ji has abundant fortune; you and Li Jingxing have already claimed nine parts. If he adds the palace’s fortune, I can’t do anything.”
“So he did not add it,” Dou Xiaotong said.
Feng Qi acknowledged softly.
Dou Xiaotong speculated, “Perhaps this is a test he set for you?”
“What’s the purpose?” Feng Qi asked.
“To stand out above all others,” Dou Xiaotong replied.
Feng Qi paused, then said, “Usually, passing such trials comes with a reward, doesn’t it?”
“If you pass, perhaps he won’t want to kill your brother quite so much,” Dou Xiaotong said.
At these words, Feng Qi’s face grew suddenly cold.
...
...