Book 16: Chapter 45: A Question

After many years of battles, following the death of Purgatory Mountain Patriarch in front of Thousand Leaf Pass, Green Luan Academy and Purgatory Mountain’s battle came to an end with Green Luan Academy’s victory.

Zhang Ping and Lin Xi’s battle, from a certain perspective, was a Green Luan Academy civil war.

Now that all of the cultivators of the world were directly dragged into this calamity, apart from those Purgatory Mountain members who were devout believers that Zhang Ping was precisely the reincarnated devil of Sky Devil Prison Plains, no other cultivator could ensure that they were going to live.

…

“I said that I would make you change your mind.”

The rumbling sounds of something heavy crushing down and a cold voice simultaneously entered the True Dragon Mountain palace the Imperial Princess was locked up in.

More than ten Purgatory Mountain red robed Divine Adjudicators whose faces produced bits of blue and black color pulled a heavy giant imperial carriage, bringing it before the Imperial Princess.

In the giant imperial carriage was a new throne. It was completely made from various damaged, and even broken soul weapons.

These soul weapons were joined together in a simple manner through a type of special Purgatory Mountain black and red metal. Their original appearance were preserved, the broken ends and runes releasing a strange radiance, making this throne appear exceptionally cold and sinister.

Zhang Ping sat down on the sinister metal throne. His head was slightly lowered as he looked at Changsun Muyue who didn’t understand the meaning of his previous words.

“Is this some type of consolation for your mind? No matter what kind of throne it is, it cannot hide the reality that you don’t dare separate from that armor. If I am not mistaken, if that armor is not on this throne, then it is in your carriage.” While looking at Zhang Ping who was examining herself, Changsun Mujue said this in an emotionless and harsh manner.

Zhang Ping looked at her thin lips while slowly saying, “Yunqin’s assessment of you has always been cold, I believe that this is also true in reality. You should understand that as long as you obey me and come out, tidy up the royal court, then there wouldn’t be so many people opposed to the current cabinet’s orders. Every day you do not stand on my side is another day many people will rebel and many people will die. Since you can endure so many people dying because of your will, then I want to see if you can still endure it after watching them die with your own eyes.”

Changsun Muyue picked up something from Zhang Ping’s words. Her expression immediately became incomparably pale, her breathing almost stopping as she looked behind Zhang Ping’s imperial carriage.

There was a bloody aura wafting about. The sound of chains clanking and footsteps could be heard.

“Imperial Princess!”

The instant they saw Changsun Muyue, these Yunqin officials who had already suffered indescribable torture all knelt down, all of them so moved they couldn’t control themselves.

Changsun Muyue saw these people’s faces clearly.

When she saw these people’s wounds and thought about the things they did for Yunqin, she immediately clutched her throat to prevent herself from uttering any sounds of weakness.

“Quite the touching scene, ain’t it?”

Zhang Ping looked at Changsun Muyue and these Yunqin officials who weren’t willing to submit with completely emotionless eyes, saying indifferently, “The ones all of you should be hating bitterly are Green Luan Academy and Lin Xi. It was Green Luan Academy who taught me how to doubt, made me learn to rebel. Also Lin Xi, the many stories he told me have also allowed me to become different from all these people who kneel when they see you. I recall that he has told me about an iron throne story. I felt like it was quite a good story, so I made this type of throne for him to look at. That is why this world ought to not have a Green Luan Academy, not have Principal Zhang or Lin Xi. Yunqin doesn’t need them at all, it shouldn’t want the existence of Green Luan Academy and Lin Xi. All of you should stand together with me.”

“Enough!”

Changsun Muyue cut off Zhang Ping’s words with a fierce shout. “You already treated them like this, yet you still want us to stand with you?”

“Over the years, don’t tell me that the number of those who were imprisoned or died because of your Central Continent Imperial City’s shady businesses, persecution and failed death remonstrations was small?” Zhang Ping said apathetically. “I merely do not wish to be as hypocritical as all of you.”

After saying this, Zhang Ping waved his hand lightly.

A chain flew out from the sleeves of one of the Purgatory Mountain Divine Adjudicators, wrapping around the neck of a Yunqin official. After just a single twist, this Yunqin official’s head flew, scalding hot blood splattering everywhere with chi chi sounds.

Waves of anger and cursing erupted like a tide.

All of the other Yunqin officials wanted to charge at Zhang Ping, but all of them were firmly held back by those Purgatory Mountain Divine Adjudicators’ chains.

Changsun Muyue didn’t utter a single sound. Her thin lips were bitten until bright red blood trickled out.

“I will kill them one by one in front of you.”

Zhang Ping looked at her with a ridiculing expression, saying gently, “I will continue to kill them until you change your mind. Also, let me be so kind as to remind you that the number of people that will die here isn’t merely the officials in front of your eyes. There are also countless other people they are linked to.”

“Your majesty, you absolutely must not let him have his way!”

An extremely furious voice sounded, this voice rather hoarse, as if there was a lot of sand stuck in his throat. Just the voice alone allowed one to imagine just how much torture this man already went through.

“Wang Buping, I know that you are Imperial Censor Jiang’s student, I also know that you used to be Lin Xi’s friend, that you do not fear death. However, I can tell you that you are also an extremely important person in Central Continent City. As long as you can step out, there will also be many people who will listen to you. That is why I will leave you alive, ensure that you are the last one killed. I will wait until you change your mind. However, if even all of the people beside you are killed and you still don’t change your mind, then I will kill her.”

Zhang Ping looked at this bleeding young official. He reached out a finger, pointing it at Changsun Muyue. “Her life and death is also in your hands.”

“What you said is correct. My nature has always been cold and harsh, which is why I feel like I won’t obey you because of their lives and deaths.” Changsun Muyue’s ice-cold and trembling voice sounded. Her eyes seemed to be burning as she stared at Zhang Ping. “Even if you kill all of them, even if you kill me, I still won’t change my opinion.”

Zhang Ping looked at Changsun Muyue expressionlessly, as if he wanted to see a flower bloom on her incredibly pale face.

…

While Zhang Ping thought that he had still underestimated Changsun Muyue, beginning to think over his following plans, Wen Xuanyu was currently lying in a pile of firewood.

Firewood made from rice paddy sticks was extremely soft. Many children from the southern provinces also liked to jump into the firewood and play hide and seek, or perhaps fantasize that they were in a different world, fantasize an exciting story that belonged to themselves.

However, Wen Xuanyu wasn’t feeling anything like comfort. His body felt as if countless scorching red iron threads were moving within, the pain so intense it was as if countless needles were stabbing at his brain. From time to time, he wanted to scream out.

This type of pain made it hard for him to even enter meditation cultivation, preventing him from replenishing and recovering soul force.

While struggling to adjust his breathing, attempting to enter meditation cultivation, many scenes appeared in his head.

He thought about how he, Lin Xi, and Gao Yanan all similarly became Green Luan Academy’s heaven’s choice. He thought about how he was so arrogant he refused to accept the academy’s assignment. He thought about how an academy student like Zhang Ping was someone who he didn’t even care to pay any attention to. Then, he thought about the scene of Autumn Sacrifice, recalled how he lived within Yunqin like a homeless refugee, thought back to the tragedy that happened by the lotus pond. He thought about how he wanted to kill that Purgatory Mountain Divine Adjudicator, but wasn’t a match for him at all. He was instead seriously injured, barely making it out alive.

He was always extremely outstanding. Even when he was in Green Luan Academy, he was extremely outstanding. After that Autumn Sacrifice, he had always cultivated earnestly, yet who would have thought that even a random Purgatory Mountain Divine Adjudicator under Zhang Ping could defeat him!

His ego was once again pulverized to pieces. He also understood that the cultivation methods obtained from Sky Devil Prison Plains were too powerful compared to those of the present world. Perhaps any random method bestowed to a devoted Divine Adjudicator could compare to a top level secret technique from Thousand Devil Nest.

However, these scenes faded away one after another, only the bloody scene by that lakeside gazebo clearer. When he thought about that kind middle-aged scholar’s hot congee and ginger soup, he didn’t want to fall into depravity here.

“There is definitely a way to beat him.” He said assuredly to himself.

…

“There is definitely a way to beat him.” Not long after Mu Shanzi left in the night, Lin Xi also said this to Nangong Weiyang, Qin Xiyue and the others.

After leaving Central Continent City, Lin Xi rarely spoke. However, after hearing his conversation with Mu Shanzi, everyone understood that the Lin Xi who they trusted and relied on was back.

“What are your plans?” Nangong Weiyang was always an extremely direct person, which was why she directly looked at Lin Xi and asked this.

“Zhang Ping said many things to me during our conversation. At the same time, he concealed many things.” Lin Xi looked at everyone, slowly and clearly saying, “Have you all noticed something? Regardless of whether it is the previous Purgatory Mountain Patriarch or the current Zhang Ping, both of them don’t seem to care about Tangcang’s threat at all.”

“They should understand clearly that Tangcang has Nangong Mo[1]. Vice Principal Xia believed that in the future, Nangong Mo’s achievements will be even greater than his own.” After releasing a light cough, Lin Xi continued, “Even if Purgatory Mountain Patriarch and Zhang Ping feel that Nangong Mo is inferior to Li Ku, that he doesn’t have a chance of becoming a Sacred Master any time soon, Tangcang has Sanskrit Temple, this even more powerful existence. Even our Green Luan Academy has tried endless methods to obtain Sanskrit Temple’s cultivation methods. Moreover, regardless of whether it was during the battle when Senior Gu Xinyin killed Tangcang Imperial Uncle Xiao Xiang or the later Jadefall City battle, Sanskrit Temple’s people have always displayed terrifying power. However, why is it that regardless of whether it is Purgatory Mountain Patriarch or Zhang Ping, they only viewed Green Luan Academy as the greatest enemy, they don’t seem to consider Sanskrit Temple a threat at all?”

Nangong Weiyang frowned, nodding her head. “Someone like Purgatory Mountain Patriarch definitely wouldn’t only consider Yunqin, but rather the entire world.”

1. Tangcang Ancient Country’s spy who remained in Green Luan Academy for ten years

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