Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 272: Chapter 245: Obsession and Heart Demon

Zuo Yishan had been very clear, even giving Chen Che a precise figure: Divine Dao Cultivators had three times the lifespan of ordinary cultivators.

”You can learn about the Divine Dao, but I don’t recommend you walk this path.”

”Although you can advance your cultivation just by spreading your faith, and it seems faster and easier than the Immortal Dao, there are far too many problems later on. Even ordinary cultivators have regrets and grievances. How could a Divine Dao Cultivator, who bears the countless regrets and grievances of mortals, possibly avoid them?”

”My Divine Soul is already tainted. The consciousnesses within the Power of Faith devoured one another, transforming into my Heart Demons. To explain it in terms of mortal medicine, each Heart Demon is like a separate personality! And I have eighty-seven of them, each one stronger than my original self.”

Perhaps because Chen Che had shown too much interest in the Divine Dao, Zuo Yishan offered a lengthy warning.

”You all know the story of the latter half of my life. Even though I once reached the Half-Step Divinity Transformation realm, the power I can use now is limited to that of a Golden Core. If I exceed that limit, I will be replaced by my Heart Demons.”

Chen Che nodded. This was all recorded in the textbooks:

Due to the Calamity of Heaven’s Fall, Zuo Yishan had been gravely injured and was once possessed by his Heart Demons, becoming a great fiend who brought disaster to an entire region.

However, in consideration of his merits in resisting the Evil Cultivators, two great Divinity Transformation masters overruled the opposition, brought him back here, and sealed ninety percent of his cultivation, which was how they suppressed his Heart Demons. To atone for his mistakes, Zuo Yishan also decided to dedicate the rest of his life to education.

The textbooks on the Divine Dao used by the Four Great Daoist Schools, and indeed all those on the market, were basically all written by him alone.

”Thank you, Teacher Zuo.”

Filled with emotion, Chen Che walked out of the office. After reviewing the day’s lesson, he made his way to Hunzhou.

The entire Imperial Mausoleum was bustling with activity. Some were busy with Array Formation, others with preparing materials.

Clearly, Thousand Eyes True Master was preparing to venture to the Black Tortoise Calm Sea. No one could say how long the trip would take; it could be several months or even several decades. With all of the Primordial Sect’s Golden Core Cultivators being dispatched, it was impossible not to take some precautions.

Chen Che feigned a casual glance at the Thousand-Eyed Hall. The grand hall looked utterly ordinary, not at all like the bizarre place he had observed with his Divine Sense.

As he was pondering the reason, he suddenly caught sight of Sun Hao.

The other man saw him but didn’t say a word. He just narrowed his eyes, then flew out of the Imperial Mausoleum on his great serpent.

”Tributor Chen.”

Instead, it was Chen Yin, emerging from the Thousand-Eyed Hall, who stepped forward to greet him.

”Fellow Daoist Chen.”

Chen Che clasped his hands in salute.

Chen Yin was currently the oldest member of the Great Chen Royal Family, at the peak of Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer Great Perfection.

In the Imperial Mausoleum, he was equivalent to a steward, coordinating everything while also managing the entirety of Hunzhou.

”Tributor Sun has been coming and going at all hours recently. It seems he’s preparing for Core Formation, but he’s only at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer. Why is he so confident he’ll succeed?”

He glanced at Sun Hao’s departing figure, his tone tinged with a hint of confusion.

It was common knowledge that most cultivators in this world only began preparing for Core Formation when they reached the Eighth or Ninth Layer.

’So that’s how it is.’

Chen Che gave a slight nod, a look of understanding dawning on his face.

Although Chen Yin didn’t know, Chen Che did. Sun Hao had the Red Dragon Remnant Soul, his ’Personal Grandpa,’ who would surely guarantee his successful Core Formation.

”Tributor Chen?”

After glancing at Sun Hao, who had now completely disappeared into the distance, Chen Yin finally said, ”I haven’t had the chance to thank you for taking the trouble to teach my dull-witted descendant. I’ve arranged a small banquet today. I wonder if you would do me the honor of attending?”

’Another attempt to get on my good side?’

With the master nearby, the household slaves wouldn’t dare to act presumptuously. Even though Chen Yin was a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator, he wouldn’t dare to cause trouble openly.

So, after a moment’s thought, Chen Che agreed.

Though it was called a small banquet, it was anything but shabby. Creatures that flew in the sky, ran on the ground, were stewed in pots, and steeped in wine—none were below Tier Two. On the Earth Element Star, a meal like this alone would probably have earned him a life sentence.

However, as lavish as the dishes were, the way the Divine Dao Cultivator ate made the corner of Chen Che’s mouth twitch.

He watched as the other man took a slight sniff, and the entire aroma of a dish rose up and flowed into his seven orifices. It gave Chen Che, sitting at the same table, the uncanny feeling that he was eating offerings meant for the dead.

Afterwards, the topic shifted, and the man asked about Chen Che’s living situation in the Imperial Mausoleum.

He also mentioned that they would be strengthening the Spirit Gathering Array to increase the Spiritual Qi, and that if Chen Che needed anything, he should not hesitate to ask.

”He has no resources of his own, so he can only act as a Tribulation Cultivator. During the time he was searching for the Divine Statue, he took the opportunity to attack two Major Cultivators.”

After a few drinks, Chen Yin brought up Sun Hao again:

”Forgive my frankness, but have you had some sort of grudge with him?”

”He had his eye on my Beast Pet, but I refused him.”

Chen Che’s simple sentence said it all.

Perhaps Sun Hao believed he had never exposed his intentions, and that this was their only interaction. But Chen Che knew better. The man had been watching him for a long time and had never given up.

He was someone who clearly distinguished between kindness and hatred, and he had long since made a mental note of the man.

”A Beast Pet!”

Chen Yin’s eyes lit up with understanding. He nodded slightly and said meaningfully, ”A Beast Master’s obsession with a Beast Pet is no small matter. If they can’t obtain what they desire, they might find their thoughts blocked, and could even develop a Heart Demon.”

Chen Che’s brow twitched. He naturally understood the other man’s insinuation.

’He’s up to no good!’

After a moment of contemplation, he set down his chopsticks. ”Let’s not beat around the bush. Fellow Daoist Chen, if you want something, just say it. I’m not one for veiled words.”

When it came to scheming and mind games, he honestly couldn’t compare to members of the Royal Family, who had been playing with power and mastering the art of human relations since birth.

It wasn’t just him.

Even if you lined up every student from the Zhurong Daoist School, they probably still wouldn’t be a match.

’But everyone has their own advantages, right?’

”It’s not that I enjoy being mysterious; it’s just that what I need is not convenient to disclose. But rest assured, neither I, nor my clan, have any ill will toward you. We are simply hoping to form a good bond, for myself or for my descendants.”

With that, he raised his cup with both hands, once again showing his sincerity.

The small banquet continued for another hour, but the two of them never brought the matter up again.

’A good bond? With his status, he could easily befriend some Golden Core Loose Cultivators. What exactly is so inconvenient to disclose? Is he afraid of something?’

After the banquet ended, Chen Che returned to the Sacrificial Hall, still unable to stop pondering the matter.

There were many things that a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator would find inconvenient to disclose, but at the very least, it would have to involve the Golden Core realm.

’The Chen Royal Race is backed by Thousand Eyes, so how could they possibly fear other Golden Core cultivators? As household slaves, as long as they don’t bring the sky crashing down, Thousand Eyes will cover for them.’

Chen Che shook his head inwardly.

As the saying goes, ”Even a seventh-grade official at a prime minister’s gate wields influence.” Besides, Chen Yin’s own strength was considerable. With forty to fifty Divine Dao Cultivators and the entire might of Hunzhou at his command, not even an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator would be headstrong enough to challenge him.

Not to mention Thousand Eyes looming over them.

Unless...

Suddenly, an incredible thought sprang to mind.

’If that’s the case, then they are truly audacious beyond belief!’

He snapped his head up and looked toward the rear garden. The moment the thought emerged, even Chen Che himself was shocked by it.

’That’s right, it must be so. Chen Yin reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection four hundred years ago. Since then, several other members of the Great Chen Royal Family have also reached that stage. It’s not that he doesn’t want to break through, it’s that he can’t!’

’Because they don’t have enough Power of Faith, and Thousand Eyes would never share that power with his household slaves.’

’So for the household slaves, Foundation Establishment Great Perfection is the absolute limit...’

Having deduced the truth, the corner of Chen Che’s mouth twitched.

Even Lu Qinglian had reminded him to keep the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of subordinate families in check. As a Golden Core cultivator, how could Thousand Eyes not suppress these household slaves? But he had been suppressing them for too long, and now this pack of slaves had grown rebellious bones—they were having thoughts of devouring their master!

’No wonder he was being so secretive. He’s just laying the groundwork in advance. I’m definitely not getting involved in this,’ Chen Che thought to himself.

This was a Golden Core who was a contemporary of True Master Chixia and had continued his cultivation for a thousand years after death. His realm might not be as high as other True Masters, but he was definitely in the unfathomable category.

’I really want to try out the other Divine Statue...’

Chen Che only entertained the thought for a moment. Without wasting any time, he lit a stick of Divine Court Incense, sat down in a meditative posture, and began his cultivation.

...

”He’s not as good as Xuan Peng. Xuan Peng suppressed Hu Haiqing in a single exchange, and Hu Haiqing is a cultivator a full tier higher!”

「In the Marsh Forest」

Sun Hao’s eyes were bloodshot.

Even though the great python beneath him had defeated two Major Cultivators of the same tier on its own, his gaze was still filled with undisguised annoyance.

This great python was called a Wind-roaring Python.

Upon reaching adulthood, its strength could reach the Late-stage Golden Core realm. Even at the Foundation Establishment realm, it could summon wind and rain, far surpassing other Great Demons of the same tier. It was even rumored that its bloodline might originate from the Ancient Fierce Beast, Zhu Jiuyin. In terms of potential alone, it was no less than the Red Flame Snake that True Master Chilong possessed in his lifetime. Yet, Sun Hao was still fixated on Xuan Peng.

GULP~

Sensing its master’s gaze, the Wind-roaring Python’s scales bristled, and it hurriedly swallowed the two Major Cultivators.

It didn’t know why its master was growing more and more dissatisfied with it...

”How can a Wind-roaring Python possibly compare to Xuan Peng?” the Red Dragon Remnant Soul sneered.

”That is a Tier Four Great Demon, and a raptor at that—a hegemon of the skies. Demon Beasts of the same tier are merely its food. Even an adult Wind-roaring Python would have to hide if it saw Xuan Peng. But Xuan Peng probably wouldn’t even deign to give it a second glance.”

”If you seize it, who would you have to fear? Once it reaches adulthood, you could roam the world as you please. What would the Primordial Sect or the Star-Picking Sect matter then?”

”Tier Four.”

Sun Hao clenched his fists, his face filled with longing.

The Primordial Sect and the Star-Picking Sect?

They were the heavens looming over the cultivators of dozens of surrounding major prefectures!

”But... he’s not a stationary target. If I make a move and he sees things are going badly, won’t he just run?”

The man was also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, capable of moving freely. He would be impossible to surround.

Besides, he also had a Demon Beast like Xuan Peng.

”Then we’ll leave him with no way to escape!”

The form of the Red Dragon Remnant Soul materialized. He formed a Seal Technique, and a vast power surged into Sun Hao’s sea of consciousness.

”I will impart a technique to you...”

”...This.”

Sun Hao closed his eyes for a moment, then snapped them open.

However, the Red Dragon Remnant Soul didn’t answer, only saying languidly:

”Ah, Xuan Peng!”

He was just a remnant soul.

After death, his lingering obsession had not faded, and it had nearly become a Heart Demon itself.