الشطرنج الخالد - Book 08 Chapter 033

Book 08 Chapter 033: Chat with Long Zhanguo

Xuanyuan City:

Ji Dihong reached out, and a dense fog enveloped the city. After issuing orders to his officials, he returned to Xuanyuan Palace Hall alone.

The doors of the hall closed with a thunderous noise before the officials could recover from their excitement.

“Mister Cangjie, was His Holy Eminence in seclusion all this time?” Emperor Kong asked curiously.

Cangjie nodded with a bitter smile. “Forgive me, Lord Kong, but His Holy Eminence instructed me to.”

“But…but we just came out of Xuanyuan Palace Hall. Why…?” Emperor Kong stammered, bewildered.

“His Holy Eminence has always been in Xuanyuan Palace Hall; we just couldn’t see him,” Cangjie replied, shaking his head.

“What about earlier, when His Holy Eminence entered the void? What’s going on with that?” Emperor Kong continued, still confused.

Cangjie shook his head again, offering no explanation.

Xuanyuan Palace Hall:

Ji Dihong slowly ascended to the throne.

As he sat on it, his face flushed red.

“Chiyou? Your world devouring is quite stubborn. Even now, it refuses to submit!” Ji Dihong said coldly.

“Submit? The shaman race’s five main lines of inheritance can’t be blended. Since you’ve mastered divine Dao plundering, you can forget about refining my world devouring!” a weak voice responded from Ji Dihong’s forehead.

“Others may fail, but that doesn’t mean I—Ji Dihong—will. I will fuse and refine this remnant will of yours. Then I’ll control everything about you!” Ji Dihong retorted.

“Remnant will? My souls have already been extinguished. This remnant will is useless to me. Whether you refine it or not matters little. However, I heard everything outside earlier. My good brother and that younger sister of mine will avenge me. Just wait for your death. Ha! Hahaha!” the weak voice laughed.

“They are still no match for me!” Ji Dihong snapped.

“Not your match? How did your recent battle turn out?” Chiyou’s remnant will countered coldly.

“I admit, Gu Hai has some skills. He took three parts of your corpse! But that’s only because I didn’t intervene. Besides, the battle in the void is not yet decided!” Ji Dihong said.

“Your clone? The Xuanyuan Sword clone? Indeed, it’s powerful. However, no matter how strong it is, how does it compare to Long Zhanguo? He was much stronger than you, but he still died at Gu Hai’s hands. Can your Xuanyuan Sword guarantee victory?” Chiyou’s remnant will taunted.

“It’s not the same!” Ji Dihong snapped.

“We’ll see!” Chiyou’s remnant will retorted coldly.

“Humph!” Ji Dihong snorted and silenced the voice of Chiyou’s remnant will.

——

Borderless Heavenly Capital:

Gu Hai spent time calming the citizens. They understood that the Han Imperial Dynasty had to face some dangers because they wanted to grow stronger, but fortunately, everything was under control, and they were not overly frightened.

“Lady Houtu, my apologies!” Gu Hai said with a slight smile.

With a wave of his hand, he brought out the severely wounded Houqing in front of everyone.

“Meow! Houqing? What happened to you?” Mao Tianyun exclaimed, wide-eyed.

The nearby Ensnaring Performance, Purple Subtlety, and Longevity gathered around.

“His zombie ancestor seed was plucked out?” Longevity exclaimed in astonishment.

“This troublemaker finally can’t cause any more trouble!” Purple Subtlety laughed.

“It’s just some wounds. He’ll be fine with some rest. At least he won’t lose his life!” Ensnaring Performance said, unconcerned.

Lady Houtu looked at Houqing without blaming Gu Hai. After a careful examination, she said, “The zombie ancestor seed is finally gone!”

“Yes, it looks like Houqing’s cultivation is now only at the early stage of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm at best!” Long Wanyu agreed.

“Thank goodness! Thank you, Imperial Emperor Gu!” Lady Houtu bowed to Gu Hai in gratitude.

Beside her, the despondent Houqing stared in astonishment at Lady Houtu upon seeing her bow to Gu Hai. “Elder Sister, did you…did you ask Gu Hai to take my zombie ancestor seed, reducing me to a cripple?”

Wide-eyed with disbelief and anger, he thought, I’m your own younger brother! How could you treat me like this?

Gu Hai replied calmly, “If it weren’t for Lady Houtu’s sake, you would be dead, not merely crippled.”

“Huh?” Houqing’s face froze, then twisted into a bitter expression.

“Lady Houtu, take him away to heal his wounds. From now on, Houqing is in your care,” Gu Hai said solemnly.

“Alright. Thank you, Imperial Emperor Gu!” Lady Houtu replied gratefully.

“Lady Houtu, you’re too formal. You’ve also helped me a great deal,” Gu Hai said, shaking his head.

“Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Just take Houqing, this unlucky fellow, and heal him!” Long Wanyu interjected.

“Alright!” Lady Houtu said with a smile.

Several people brought Houqing away for treatment. At this moment, he did not want to speak, his heart full of despair.

Hence, Houqing left.

Mo Yike asked Gu Hai, “Your Reverence, our Nation Suppression Army has captured most of the territories of the four factions. Now that their leaders have awakened from mind control and speak of retreating, should our army advance or withdraw?”

“Although the four factions’ leaders have awakened, we must capture these four factions,” Gu Hai responded firmly.

“Oh?” The other officials appeared shocked.

However, Mo Yike nodded, comprehending Gu Hai’s intentions. “This official understands Your Reverence’s stance.”

Chen Tianshan’s brow furrowed as he asked, “But, Your Reverence, the leaders of the four factions are already open to negotiations. Previously, they didn’t know; they were forced into this, weren’t they? They were controlled into conspiring with the Huang Heavenly Dynasty against our nation. If we send our troops again, will we…?”

Mo Yike shook his head and explained, “No, it does not matter whether they did it intentionally or not. The Nation Suppression Army’s purpose isn’t to expand our territory but to demonstrate the might of the Han Imperial Dynasty. We’re not to be trifled with or targeted by just anyone. If they oppose the Han Imperial Dynasty, we must suppress them. That’s the power of a great nation! While the leaders of the four factions were mind-controlled, and we may sympathize with their plight, we have no obligation to shoulder their losses. We can’t change the strategy of our Han Nation!”

Chen Tianshan’s eyes brightened with realization. “To make an example out of them? Annihilate the four factions to intimidate all the factions in the world? Make them understand the consequences of opposing the Han Imperial Dynasty? Force those allied with the Huang Heavenly Dynasty to reconsider?”

Gu Hai nodded and added, “We must take control of all four factions, but give them the option of surrendering to demonstrate our sympathy.”

“Yes, Your Reverence is benevolent!” Mo Yike responded gravely.

Gu Hai then took the time to soothe the officials present.

Kong Xuan and the Mosquito Daoist returned to the battlefield, but their return at this point was meaningless. The battle was nearly over.

The generals of the Huang Heavenly Dynasty had retreated. The four great factions had sought aid from their neighbors but to no avail.

Having witnessed the strength of the Han Imperial Dynasty, most faction leaders were extremely wary and refused to challenge it.

The Han Imperial Dynasty was like an enraged dragon, ready to swallow anyone who dared approach with dreams of slaying the dragon.

The fate of the four factions was clear.

Compassion was almost nonexistent in this war. The virtuous did not control wealth; the compassionate did not control armies. No one believed the Han Imperial Dynasty would back down.

No one dared to intervene in the battle between the Huang Nation and the Han Nation. If they were not careful, their sect or nation could get wiped out.

The best option was to stay out of it. That way, neither side had an excuse to attack.

After calming his officials and ensuring the well-being of Chen Xianer and Long Wanqing, Gu Hai felt more relaxed. The two women knew Gu Hai still had some work to do, so they did not linger, returning to their residences.

Gu Hai gave some brief instructions and then headed to the unnamed hall.

Creak!

The doors of the hall swung open, and Gu Hai stepped in. Many craned their necks to see inside, but the doors slammed shut, leaving them with a collective sigh.

Long Zhanguo sat in the hall as if waiting.

“Chairman Long, thank you for your assistance this time!” Gu Hai said with a smile.

“Sit down. You’ve grown faster than I imagined! Already challenging Ji Dihong?” Long Zhanguo laughed.

Gu Hai acted casually, quickly taking a seat.

Even without Long Zhanguo’s invitation, he nonchalantly picked up the cigarette box the Unrestrained Heavenly Demon had not touched and took out a cigarette.

“Use a lighter. The smell will be stronger.” Long Zhanguo proffered a lighter.

“There’s no need. I have some.” Gu Hai smiled.

Then Gu Hai took out a box of matches with a flip of his hand.

Whoosh!

The match ignited, and a small flame lit the cigarette. Gu Hai shook his hand, extinguishing the match, before savoring this familiar taste he had not tasted for decades.

“How is it?” Long Zhanguo asked.

“The tobacco is rich and fragrant. Did you make it yourself?” Gu Hai asked as he looked at Long Zhanguo.

“The cigarettes on Earth were too coarse for my taste, so I had some tobacco grown in the immortal realm!” Long Zhanguo replied, nodding.

“When I first arrived here, I also made my own,” Gu Hai revealed, exhaling a cloud of smoke. “But later, I quit because I wanted to cultivate longevity.”

“Earth is indeed a strange place. Everyone knows that smoking is harmful to health, yet most people can’t give it up!” Long Zhanguo exclaimed.

“That’s because they’re not really smoking the cigarette; they’re smoking ‘loneliness’!” Gu Hai said, smiling.

“Hahahaha!” Long Zhanguo burst into hearty laughter.

“Yes, Earth was both utterly strange and fascinating when I was there! My eldest son hasn’t troubled you too much, has he?” he inquired.

“Long Shenying?” Gu Hai waved his hand.

Buzz!

A scene within the Gu’s Immortal Firmament appeared in front, showing Long Shenying seated cross-legged, black bone wings sprouting from his back, surrounded by a formidable aura.

“I saw you defeat Houqing earlier. Is Shenying refining the zombie ancestor seed? The wind-attributed one?” Long Zhanguo asked in a deep voice.

“No, it was of the earth attribute,” Gu Hai corrected, shaking his head.

“Oh?”

“I gave the wind-attributed one to your eldest grandson, Long Aotian!” Gu Hai explained, not hiding anything about the events on Eight Trigram Mountain.

“My clan might not have many successors, but it is blessed with many reincarnated beings. Given time, my descendants will surely surpass those of Jiang Lianshan!” Long Zhanguo said, laughing.

“Indeed. There are the reincarnations of Yinyue, Dijiang, and even Heaven Cang. If you wait a few more years, Jiang Lianshan’s descendants will definitely be no match for yours!” Gu Hai agreed, smiling.