Undying Life

Chapter 218: Heart of the Strong

In the Sky City, within the Western Garden Palace.

Zhongshan, Qianyou, Shuijing, Ada, A'er, and Gulin gathered once again. After over six months of investigation, Zhongshan's route had been mostly planned out, and they had obtained some topographic images, which Zhongshan was now explaining to everyone.

Although six months had passed, Gulin's resentment towards Zhongshan had faded somewhat, but there was still a hint of coldness in his eyes.

After the explanation, Princess Qianyou suddenly spoke, "Master, do you know that three days ago, Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva has arrived?"

"Arrived?" Zhongshan puzzled.

"Yes, he is currently resting in a serene temple to the east of the Sky City, recuperating and adjusting his own aura to its peak. In a month, he will officially battle Emperor Nalan." Princess Qianyou said.

"Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva?" Zhongshan frowned, contemplating.

"The one accompanying him is the Enlightened Arhat we encountered at the Phantom Spring last time," Mr. Shuijing said.

"Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva, isn't he from the Holy Land of Pure Bliss?" Zhongshan asked with a furrowed brow once again.

"Of course, I told you last time," Gulin sneered beside him.

Zhongshan paid it no mind, and neither did the others.

"Holy Land of Pure Bliss? It seems like the next month might not be peaceful," Zhongshan sighed lightly.

"Not peaceful? What do you mean?" Gulin frowned.

"Your Highness, when Crown Prince Daguang Juetai was still alive, there were conspiracies against us. Now that there's a holy land involved, won't it provoke even more conspiracies?" Mr. Shuijing explained.

"What? Someone wants to harm us?" Gulin exclaimed immediately.

"Yes," Mr. Shuijing said with concern.

"Who? What should we do?" Gulin immediately became worried.

Gulin still remembered the situation at Wuhu back then, it was a total massacre. Even though they found a scapegoat later, a slight misstep could lead to being nowhere to be buried.

"Prepare to face difficulties, but remain unmoved like a mountain. Do not covet or resent, focus on ourselves, and dissolve external forces until a month later when we leave the Sky City," Mr. Shuijing said.

Half a month later, there was still half a month left before Nalan Piaoxue's bloody grand birthday celebration.

In the imperial palace, in a secluded hall, Nalan Piaoxue, the King of Julu, and Yi Yan met once again.

"Your Majesty, Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva has been here for almost twenty days," the King of Julu smiled.

"I know, I have already sensed his aura. Although separated by a city, I can feel his aura increasing day by day. In half a month, it will surely reach its peak, and it will be the battle I have longed for," Nalan Piaoxue said, slightly excited.

"Your Majesty, I have a plan that can ensure the prosperity of the empire for a thousand years and assist Your Majesty in achieving victory," Yi Yan once again advised.

"Oh?" Nalan Piaoxue was surprised. The King of Julu also frowned and looked at Yi Yan.

"Only by seizing the opportunity while Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva's momentum has not yet reached its peak, can I lead and create conflicts between Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva and Princess Qianyou and her group. Then, by framing Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva for the murder of Princess Qianyou and her group, chaos will ensue in Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva's aura. Your Majesty will surely achieve great victory. Furthermore, in the eyes of outsiders, Princess Qianyou and her group will have died at the hands of Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva, causing conflict between the Great Luo Dynasty and the Pure Bliss Land. When the four great empires besiege the Great Luo Dynasty, the Pure Bliss Land will surely take advantage of the situation to attack, and then I will manipulate the situation to deepen the conflict between the Pure Bliss Land and the Great Luo Dynasty, intensifying the struggle until countless strong individuals from the Pure Bliss Land enter the fray. At that time, with the four great empires and the Pure Bliss Land attacking the Great Luo Dynasty together, the downfall of the Great Luo Dynasty will be inevitable. The east of the Divine Land will only have empires left, and the empire will be prosperous for a thousand years!" Yi Yan exclaimed excitedly.

At this moment, Yi Yan's face was flushed with excitement. Once this plan was accomplished, the prosperity of the empire for a thousand years would be ensured. Every word Yi Yan spoke made the King of Julu's heart skip a beat, and the wine in his hand trembled and spilled. Poisonous schemes! Calculated plots! Moreover, Yi Yan's gaze stretched far ahead, envisioning the battlefield long into the future. This grand commander's vision was truly far-reaching.

"No!" Nalan Piaoxue immediately refuted.

"Your Majesty!" Yi Yan exclaimed, his eyes filled with incomprehension.

"Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva came to battle only after much effort on my part. I want to use this battle with him to make a breakthrough, to temper myself, and reach even higher realms. During this period, there can be no mistakes, and Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva cannot be disturbed. I don't want to face a weakened Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva. I want to face him at his peak," Nalan Piaoxue stated immediately.

"Your Majesty, Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva is just one strong individual, but Your Majesty is the ruler of a dynasty, a battle with one strong individual can be arranged again in the future, but if the dynasty is lost, it will never return," Yi Yan spoke with deep sincerity.

"Yi Yan, you don't understand," Nalan Piaoxue suddenly said.

"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty," Yi Yan asked immediately.

"You don't understand the heart of the strong. What my grandfather pursued, what my father pursued, and what I pursue, is not the prosperity of the empire, but immortality, to become immortal. Only by constantly breaking through, growing in the process, can I ascend higher and withstand the heavenly might, achieving immortality. I have prepared for years for this opportunity to face Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva. If I miss this battle, it's like throwing a punch into thin air, exerting force but causing internal injury," Nalan Piaoxue said solemnly.

"Your Majesty, the life and death of the empire depend entirely on your decision. Once the Great Luo Dynasty is destroyed, with Your Majesty's talent, you can continuously seek strong opponents to battle. At that time, there will be no worries. Now, if there is any danger..." Yi Yan advised once again.

"On the path to immortality, no opportunity can be missed. If I miss this battle, I may lose the chance for immortality. Yi Yan, stop talking about it. I have made up my mind, absolutely not," Nalan Piaoxue said firmly.

Looking at Emperor Nalan, Yi Yan stared with wide eyes, his eyes red. Such a good opportunity, and it's being abandoned again? Abandoned again? Yi Yan's face was now flushed with anger. You can wait, but can I still wait?

At this moment, the King of Julu spoke sarcastically, "Grand Commander, last time you disobeyed the emperor's order, His Majesty didn't pursue it, but this time, don't take matters into your own hands again!"

"Pfft~"

Enraged, Yi Yan was so provoked by the King of Julu's last sentence that he spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with resentment. Why was he working so hard for the empire here? What was it all for?

"Yi Yan," Nalan Piaoxue immediately stepped forward to support Yi Yan.

Although Yi Yan disobeyed the emperor's order, his contributions to the empire were undeniable. Nalan Piaoxue still didn't want Yi Yan to die.

After spitting out a mouthful of blood, Yi Yan slowly released Nalan Piaoxue's support. "I'm feeling unwell, I'll go back first."

"Sigh, alright, you've worked hard, Yi Yan," Nalan Piaoxue sighed softly.

Meanwhile, the King of Julu beside him kept sneering.

A palace attendant arrived and escorted Yi Yan away. Watching Yi Yan leave, Nalan Piaoxue furrowed his brow, while the King of Julu had approached behind him.

"King of Julu, what do you think?" Nalan Piaoxue frowned.

"I think, although the Grand Commander has agreed to Your Majesty's request, he may still continue to plot against Princess Qianyou. The Grand Commander now..." the King of Julu stopped halfway through his sentence.

"What about now?" Nalan Piaoxue asked.

"I cannot say, Your Majesty," the King of Julu replied.

"Speak! You are forgiven!" Nalan Piaoxue said sternly.

"Yes, the Grand Commander's power is now rivaling Your Majesty's. He is disobeying the emperor's orders, and once disobedient, there may be a second time. Who is the true ruler of the empire in this case, I am worried..." the King of Julu immediately advised.

"That's enough!" Nalan Piaoxue interrupted immediately.

"Yes," the King of Julu fell silent.

After a moment of silence, Nalan Piaoxue took a deep breath and said, "Yi Yan is also working to fulfill the wishes of the late emperor. Although his methods are somewhat extreme, ultimately, it's for the empire. Besides, his health..."

As Nalan Piaoxue spoke, his brows furrowed, clearly showing his annoyance at Yi Yan's lack of respect for the emperor. But Yi Yan had worked hard for the empire his whole life, and now he was facing imminent death. Nalan Piaoxue couldn't bring himself to be too harsh.

"Yes, but what about Princess Qianyou and Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva?" the King of Julu worriedly asked.

"Although Yi Yan has agreed, we still need to be cautious. You gather strong individuals to protect Princess Qianyou and her group. As for Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva, you don't need to worry. Besides me, there's no one in the entire Sky City who can threaten him," Nalan Piaoxue said.

"Yes," the King of Julu immediately agreed.

"For the last half month, there must be no mistakes. I'll be in seclusion this time, so don't disturb me anymore. The battle in half a month is crucial," Nalan Piaoxue said.

"I obey," the King of Julu immediately replied—

At the Grand Commander's Mansion.

General Tie Xue anxiously watched the pavilion not far away, where the Grand Commander had been sitting motionless for three days since returning from the palace, watching the fish in the pond. Please, let nothing happen!

"Tie Xue," Yi Yan suddenly spoke up.

Yi Yan's words seemed to pour into General Tie Xue's ears like divine music. Tie Xue quickly ran over and appeared in the pavilion in an instant.

"Grand Commander," Tie Xue immediately responded.

"Prepare a grand feast. I want to entertain Princess Qianyou and Enlightened Arhat," Yi Yan said with narrowed eyes.