Undying Life

Chapter 202: Countless Grains of Sand

At the Grand Banquet of the Giant Deer King, the initial conversations were filled with pleasantries and platitudes. The guests exchanged glowing compliments, each kingdom's representative speaking highly of their own realms and envisioning a grand future. It was a round of mutual flattery, with words as light as air and as free as the wind.

Princess Qianyou handled the situation with ease, navigating the social niceties with grace. Zhong Shan, on the other hand, chose to remain silent, using the opportunity to savor a piece of dragon liver from the feast.

As the dragon liver touched his tongue, it transformed into a surge of pure energy that coursed through his entire body. Zhong Shan felt an unparalleled sense of clarity and power, as if he had momentarily achieved a state of oneness with the universe, transcending the mundane and gazing down upon the world with a detached grandeur.

This sensation, though fleeting, left a profound impression on him. He glanced at the remaining dragon liver on his plate with a sense of awe. It was an extraordinary delicacy, more potent than a single Rebirth Pill, with a flavor that lingered, leaving him yearning for more. The feeling of unity with the cosmos was something he greatly anticipated experiencing again.

While the Giant Deer King, Crown Prince Han Jue, and Princess Qianyou continued their subtle verbal sparring, Zhong Shan indulged in the culinary delights before him. After the dragon liver, he reached for a strand of Phoenix Heart Silk.

Much like the dragon liver, the Phoenix Heart Silk melted into a wondrous energy the moment it entered his mouth, swirling around before slowly descending into his stomach. Zhong Shan felt as though his entire being had transformed into a blazing fireball, disintegrating into ashes, only to be reborn from the flames, experiencing a sensation akin to a phoenix's rebirth. Though it was merely an illusion, the feeling of rejuvenation and newfound vitality left him in a state of lingering appreciation.

As Zhong Shan reveled in the flavors and sensations of the feast, the dialogue among the leaders seemed to reach a conclusion.

"Princess Qianyou, Crown Prince Han Jue," the Giant Deer King began with a smile, "not long ago, a remarkable individual bestowed upon me a unique treasure. This treasure possesses a spirit of its own and seeks a worthy master. Unfortunately, it has remained unused in my domain, as it has yet to find such a person. On this auspicious occasion, I hope to discover the rightful owner among us."

"A treasure with a spirit that chooses its own master?" Crown Prince Han Jue exclaimed, snapping his folding fan shut in surprise.

Zhong Shan, his chopsticks holding a piece of Phoenix Heart Silk, paused. Indeed, the true spectacle was about to unfold. He glanced subtly at Princess Qianyou, who returned his look with a knowing gaze, both of them silently acknowledging the anticipation.

Zhong Shan continued to savor the Phoenix Heart Silk, keenly interested in how the Giant Deer King intended to stir up discord between the two kingdoms. What kind of treasure was this? The Grand Luo Heavenly Dynasty was not short of rare artifacts, so what caliber of treasure could the Giant Deer King possess?

"Princess Qianyou is very intrigued," she responded, mirroring Crown Prince Han Jue's expression of surprise and anticipation.

Observing Crown Prince Han Jue, Zhong Shan was inwardly impressed. The prince appeared clever and composed, yet his words seemed to be guided by the Giant Deer King, maintaining a delicate balance without appearing to lose ground. Outwardly, he seemed flawless, but to those with discerning eyes, there was a hint of decay beneath the surface. Was he truly as formidable as he appeared? At least to Zhong Shan, the prince seemed highly adept, particularly in diplomatic finesse.

The Giant Deer King clapped his hands twice, signaling the entrance of four attendants who carefully carried in a large frame, followed by two more attendants holding an oversized scroll.

Placing the scroll beside the frame, they slowly began to unroll it.

As the scroll unfurled, it emitted a dazzling golden light that immediately captured everyone's attention. The light flickered briefly before fading, revealing the scene depicted within the painting.

With a gentle smile, the Giant Deer King watched as Crown Prince Han Jue and Princess Qianyou turned their gazes toward the scroll, captivated by the unfolding mystery.

Within the painting was a vast desert, under a blazing sun. The boundless expanse of sand was so meticulously depicted that each individual grain seemed discernible. Zhong Shan's brow furrowed as a peculiar feeling washed over him, as if the scene in the painting was a real, tangible world.

"Is this the treasured artifact?" Crown Prince Han Jue asked, his eyes narrowing as he examined the scroll.

"Indeed, this is the artifact," the Giant Deer King replied with a smile. "The artifact possesses a sentient spirit that chooses its own master. Let us see who among us it will deem worthy."

"And how does one gain its approval?" Princess Qianyou inquired with a hint of curiosity.

"Does this world within the painting appear real to you?" the Giant Deer King asked suddenly.

"It does seem lifelike. Could it be that this painting is an actual world?" Han Jue asked in amazement.

"I do not know for certain, but the sage who brought this artifact to me claimed that each grain of sand in this painting is real. The key to unlocking this artifact lies in stating the exact number of grains. The number of grains serves as the activation incantation," explained the Giant Deer King.

"Is that so?" Princess Qianyou responded with mild surprise.

"The sage said that this painting was crafted over a hundred years. On the first day, he placed one grain of sand into the painting, on the second day, two grains, and so on, adding one more grain each day for a total of 36,550 days. While the grains form a complex pattern, they lie on a single plane, making them visible at a glance. A sweep with one's divine sense could encompass them all, but to count them accurately is not a matter of a few breaths. Princess Qianyou, Crown Prince Han Jue, do either of you think you can determine the exact number of grains in a single glance?" the Giant Deer King asked with a sly smile.

"Let us give it a try," Princess Qianyou agreed, nodding her head.

"You are both renowned for your extraordinary talents. It is said that Crown Prince Han Jue has an infallible memory and is unmatched in mental calculation in the Guang Emperor Dynasty, while Princess Qianyou's subordinate, Ah-Er, is also known for his perfect recall and unmatched counting ability. How about we see who can count the grains more accurately and quickly?" the Giant Deer King suggested, chuckling.

"Agreed," said Crown Prince Han Jue confidently.

"Very well," Princess Qianyou nodded in agreement.

"Ah-Er," Princess Qianyou called.

"Yes, Your Highness," Ah-Er responded, nodding and immediately focusing on the painting, beginning to count quickly.

Counting? Zhong Shan's eyes widened as he extended his divine sense over the painting. It was possible to count them this way, but such an endeavor would take an inordinate amount of time.

Observing the serious expression on Crown Prince Han Jue's face and Ah-Er's concentration, Zhong Shan frowned deeply. Were they really attempting to count the grains? Even with the aid of divine sense, it was a wasteful and extravagant use of their abilities.

Zhong Shan glanced at the Giant Deer King, who smiled back with an air of confidence, as if believing that this painting alone could sow discord between the two dynasties.

Princess Qianyou noticed Zhong Shan's perplexed expression.

"Sir, is there something amiss?" she asked softly, curious.

Zhong Shan looked at her, thought for a moment, then took out a pen and paper. While everyone was engrossed in the desert painting, he began to write quietly.

He handed the paper to Princess Qianyou, who looked at it with a slight frown. The paper bore only a sequence of nine numbers:

66796525

Princess Qianyou looked at the slip of paper in surprise, then at Zhong Shan, who had already resumed savoring his dragon liver and phoenix heart without another word.

She glanced at Zhong Shan, then back at the desert painting. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in her head, and a smile spread across her lips. Looking at Zhong Shan again, she felt a thrill of excitement. This time, Zhong Shan had taken the initiative.

"Your Majesty, I have counted the grains," Crown Prince Han Jue announced suddenly.

Hearing the prince's words, Zhong Shan nearly dropped his piece of dragon liver, his eyes widening as he looked at the prince in astonishment.

"Already counted? Not calculated, but counted? You've actually finished counting? That's over six hundred million grains! And you did it in such a short time?" Zhong Shan's thoughts raced as he observed the scene.

Crown Prince Han Jue, brimming with confidence, glanced at Ah-Er, who was still counting rapidly, beads of sweat forming on his brow. "We have our number as well," Princess Qianyou announced with a smile.

Ah-Er, feeling a bit embarrassed and still in the midst of counting, looked to Princess Qianyou in confusion. He hadn't finished yet. Ah-Da, standing beside him, gave him a gentle nudge, urging him to stop.

The Giant Deer King, taken aback, questioned, "Oh? It took me nearly two hours to count back then. Yet, both of you managed to finish in less than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn?"

"Why don't we just compare the numbers to find out?" Crown Prince Han Jue suggested confidently, though he cast a skeptical glance at Princess Qianyou.

"Very well. How about both Princess Qianyou and Crown Prince Han Jue write down their numbers, and we'll see if they match?" the Giant Deer King proposed with a hint of intrigue in his eyes.

"I've already written mine down. All that's left is for Crown Prince Han Jue to reveal his number for comparison," Princess Qianyou said, unfolding the slip of paper Zhong Shan had handed her earlier. She held it carefully, her demeanor radiating assurance.

"Oh?" The Giant Deer King looked surprised, glancing at the slip of paper in Princess Qianyou's hand and then at Zhong Shan, who was still calmly enjoying his meal. Zhong Shan's earlier, discreet actions had not gone unnoticed.

"Very well. The number of grains is six hundred and sixty-six million, seven hundred ninety-six thousand, nine hundred and twenty-five," Crown Prince Han Jue declared confidently, a hint of challenge in his eyes as he looked toward Princess Qianyou's side.

Zhong Shan continued eating unperturbed, while Ah-Er looked embarrassed and Ah-Da, who had seen the number Zhong Shan wrote, exuded confidence.

Princess Qianyou, holding the slip of paper, knew there was no way to alter the numbers in front of so many powerful individuals. She unfolded it slightly to reveal:

667,969,525

The numbers matched exactly.

Upon seeing the figures, Crown Prince Han Jue's brows furrowed. He knew that the slip of paper had been in Princess Qianyou's hand before he had finished counting. This meant that she had the number earlier than he did. How was that possible?

The Giant Deer King's pupils contracted as he looked toward Zhong Shan with a face full of astonishment.

"Princess, who is this person beside you? Did he count the grains just now?" The Giant Deer King's smile remained, but his eyes conveyed a deep seriousness.

With his name mentioned, Zhong Shan finally stopped eating, setting down his chopsticks and sitting upright, leaving the explanation to Princess Qianyou.

"Ah, the Giant Deer King has keen eyes. Yes, it was my advisor, Mr. Zhong Shan, who gave me the number. Actually, the Giant Deer King had already revealed the number of grains to us; there was no need for any further counting," Princess Qianyou said with a smile. She had understood Zhong Shan's method as soon as he handed her the slip of paper.