Chapter 1007
[The Imperial Seal of the State]
"Have there been any unusual movements from the Golden-Eyed Demon Kingdom during this period?" Song Changsheng asked Song Qingxi, putting down the jade slip in his hand as if he had suddenly remembered something.
Song Qingxi shook her head slightly and said, "There is no obvious action, but the more it is like this, the more suspicious I find it. It is too calm. According to the information I found out before, the demons in the Golden Eye Demon Kingdom were showing signs of gathering, but now they have suddenly dispersed."
This feels like a tactic to mislead us. Beast tides lack stealth and are too easy to anticipate; the best solution to break this stalemate is to concentrate elite forces and strike at the weak points of our defenses.
"If I were the leader of the demon race, I would first gather a beast tide to attract attention, and at the same time, gather a large number of demon kings to launch a feint attack."
Once the defenses are successfully breached, the southwestern battlefield can be divided into two parts. With the help of an inside agent, these parts can be divided, encircled, and then eliminated one by one. This is the most efficient approach.
But now they have dispersed the beast tide, which means they probably don't intend to make a move anytime soon.
"It seems they're determined to break through this time; they're so patient." Song Changsheng sighed softly.
His constant actions during this period were all aimed at putting pressure on the demon race and luring them to make their move prematurely.
The video that is now widely circulated outside was actually "leaked" by him. The purpose of this was to demonstrate his own strength. He knew that only by making the demon race feel threatened by him could they possibly interrupt the original plan and take action ahead of schedule.
Clearly, the pressure he's applying isn't enough, or rather, the demon race has more concerns, namely the Myriad Manifestations Palace.
"We still have to wait for news from the Palace of Ten Thousand Elephants."
Song Changsheng still doesn't know what method Wanxiang Palace will use to get Kongsang Lifeng and the others to take action.
This step is crucial and cannot be delayed. If it is delayed any longer and all parties are fully prepared, his plan to lure the enemy out will be meaningless.
"Once the space teleportation arrays of all realms are completed, I will spread the news that I am about to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. If the demon race is not in a hurry, I do not believe that other forces will not be in a hurry."
"If the demon race doesn't move, then I'll wipe out their spies one by one!" Song Changsheng said in a cold tone.
"Should we put some pressure on the Thunder King Palace and the Gu Immortal Sect first?"
"No need for now. Let's wait until the space teleportation arrays in various places are completed before making a decision. Don't let them push us too far and disrupt the construction progress of the teleportation arrays. Let's keep an eye on them for now."
"understood."
"By the way, have the results of the election for the three vice leaders been announced?"
"The results are already out. In the south, it's Wutian Zhenren from the Tianmai Sect; in the north, it's that Human King from the Daxiao Immortal Dynasty; and in the east, it's Changqing Zhenren from the Yujian Sect. There's no controversy about the first two, but there's a lot of controversy about the east."
The Imperial Sword Sect's strength is only average in the East, and even Master Changqing is not the strongest.
However, the strongest Wanlong Chamber of Commerce was a neutral force, and Chairman Peng, who could command respect, was in seclusion. Most of the powerful figures in the Chamber of Commerce were guest elders or elders from other clans, and they had very limited real power. Even if they became the vice leader, it would be difficult to win over the masses. In the end, they could only reluctantly choose Master Changqing.
Fortunately, the east wasn't the front line; otherwise, even resource coordination alone wouldn't have been handled well.
Song Changsheng couldn't help but reach out and pinch his slightly swollen brow, saying, "At least a choice has been made. As long as Siying doesn't clash with her, there won't be any problems."
In the early days of the Southwest Alliance, the differences between the nine cultivation worlds were not just geographical. He was exhausted during this period, with a multitude of problems before him, leaving him with no extra energy to deal with them.
For him, as long as there's a result, that's enough; there's always a process of adjustment.
"Keep a close eye on the movements of the demon race. I'll contact the Myriad Manifestations Palace to see if there are any other options."
"Yes, sir." Song Qingxi respectfully withdrew.
Song Changsheng took out the [Myriad Manifestations Token] and contacted Yi Tianzheng directly. The other party's response was only one sentence: "Preparing, do not worry."
Upon hearing this, his curiosity intensified. What on earth was going on that was being done so mysteriously?
He didn't doubt the abilities of the True Lords of the Myriad Manifestations Palace; he just hoped that day would come sooner, because every extra day of delay would give the enemy more time to prepare.
In the dead of night, just as Song Changsheng was staring at the defense map of the Southwest Nine Borders along the river looking for any oversights, a jade pendant at his waist shattered without warning.
Looking at the cracks on the surface of the jade pendant, Song Changsheng frowned: "This is a jade pendant left by Yunhe. How could it suddenly break?"
"When he left this jade pendant, he said he would use it to notify me if necessary. Could it be that Yunhe and the others have returned?"
Thinking of this, he flashed away from the General Affairs Hall and came into the air. His vast divine sense spread out all over the sky and soon found their traces in a dense forest outside Cangmang Peak.
At that time, Xu Yunhe and Xia Wanyun were hiding in the dark night, constantly on guard against any movement around them, just like birds startled by a bow.
Song Changsheng's figure appeared before them like a ghost, and the space melted and healed like ice and snow, without making a sound throughout the entire process.
His sudden appearance startled Xu Yunhe, who almost drew his sword, but fortunately he reacted in time and did not make a sound.
"Why are you so nervous? Is someone chasing you?" Song Changsheng frowned slightly.
He was initially quite happy to see the couple return safely, but their condition was clearly not right.
"They are from the Shadow Pavilion."
"Is that matter from back then still unresolved?"
"It was supposed to be over, but then it was targeted by other people in the Shadow Pavilion, whose power was even greater, and there were many Golden Core cultivators among the pursuers."
"What exactly happened?" Song Changsheng frowned even more. How could this never end?
"I was targeted. I used the power of that thing to save Yunhe. At the time, I was prepared to die together with him, so I didn't think much about it."
We survived by chance and lived in hiding for a while. After sneaking back to Daqi, those people lost track of us. We lived on Cangmang Peak for a period of time, and we thought the matter was over, so we let our guard down.
After leaving Cangmang Peak that day, our first stop was the cultivation world of Lu Kingdom, where we unexpectedly ran into the people of the Shadow Pavilion again.
My husband's strength has improved considerably; those people were no match for him at all, and he inflicted a crushing defeat on them.
Perhaps out of resentment, the news was reported, and an elder of the Shadow Pavilion personally ordered a hunt for us, wanting to retrieve the magical artifact that had been inside my body.
To evade pursuit, we crossed the Hengduan Mountains and entered the Western Continent, where we spent some time in the desert.
Xu Yunhe continued, "There, we met the master I mentioned to you. He restored my wife's meridians, allowing her to embark on the path of immortality again. But the price was that we had to retrieve something for him. He said that Miaoyin would face a great calamity in the future, and if we could retrieve this item, he could help resolve it. So we came back."
That place is extremely dangerous. Before we go, we plan to see Miaoyin first. We wonder where she is now, and if it's convenient for her?"
"The world is so vast, how could there be such a coincidence? Didn't you ever suspect that person's identity?"
Finding someone in the vast cultivation world without any means of contact is like looking for a needle in a haystack, which is why Song Changsheng was not optimistic about them from the beginning.
They actually did run into it, and it happened in the vast, sparsely populated desert. He absolutely refused to believe there wasn't something strange about it.
"That master is not only a highly skilled physician, but also a diviner who can see through the secrets of heaven. He claims to be from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, and he was waiting for us in the desert."
"The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion!" Song Changsheng's heart sank. He had long suspected that no one but a Heavenly Secrets Master could accurately locate them in a place like the desert.
Being targeted by a divination master is not a good thing. Ordinary people would avoid it like the plague, but Xu Yunhe and his wife ran right into it. He even wondered if they had been tricked.
"He wants you to find something."
Upon hearing this, Xu Yunhe said in a deep voice, "It is a compass located in the abyss. It is said to have been left behind by a powerful figure from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion."
"The Abyss? You're going to the Abyss!" Song Changsheng's tone changed.
Despite Song Qingxing's two survivals from the abyss, he actually only circled the surface twice, and only did so with the help of a map.
The dangers inside are beyond the imagination of ordinary people. The two of them were only at the Purple Mansion level. If they rushed in like that, there would be almost no chance of survival. No wonder they wanted to see the child before leaving.
"Is it absolutely necessary to go?"
Xu Yunhe shook his head with a bitter expression and said, "This is cause and effect, and there is no way to avoid it. We are already pawns in this game."
At this point, he took out a uniquely shaped box from his pocket and said, "To be honest, you're about to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, while I'm still stuck in the Purple Mansion stage."
I heard that you facilitated the Nine Realms Alliance. I guess you must have some plans. It's a pity that our cultivation levels are too low to be of any help to you, not to mention that we have a group of pursuers behind us.
I obtained this item by chance in a previously hidden place in the desert; I hope it will be of some help to you.
"What is this?" Song Changsheng looked at the wooden box, and a strange feeling welled up in his heart. He hadn't felt this way in a long time.
"Actually, I'm not entirely sure. I've consulted some ancient books, and if I'm not mistaken, it should be a fragment of the Imperial Seal of a certain immortal dynasty."
"Fragments of the Imperial Seal of the State?"
Song Changsheng was suddenly startled. He quickly waved his sleeve and set up a barrier. When he opened the box, he saw a jade fragment lying quietly on a well-cut red cloth.
The fragment is small, with only one corner, and is about one-third the size of a normal-sized seal.
It looked dull and lifeless, and no one could possibly associate it with the legendary treasure of human destiny, the Imperial Seal of the State. No wonder Xu Yunhe lacked confidence.
If he hadn't witnessed its extraordinary nature firsthand, he would have thought it was just an ordinary fragment.
He couldn't tell the difference, but Song Changsheng, who had dealt with the power of destiny for many years, recognized it at a glance. It was a fragment of the Imperial Seal of the State. He had only felt the extremely powerful Daoist aura on the Chengyuan Sword.
It's no wonder his heart fluttered; back in the treasure vault of the Dragon Clan, it was precisely this feeling that allowed him to retrieve a fragment of the Human King Sword.
The reason why the fragments appear ordinary is simply because they have not received the nourishment of the power of human fortune for many years.
"What kind of ruins could contain fragments of the Imperial Seal of the State?"
"It is said that the owner of the ruins was a Golden Core swordsman from the desert. He was not very famous. I found this fragment by chance. He probably didn't value it much during his lifetime and placed it very casually."
When I first opened this box, a golden light shot into the sky, and I heard a high-pitched dragon roar. Otherwise, I would not have bothered to consult the ancient books.
It is said that this item can protect a cultivator's luck. On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes; I hope this helps you.
Song Changsheng reached out and patted his shoulder, saying solemnly, "You've done me a huge favor."
The King of Men's Sword excels at killing, but the Imperial Seal of the State is the best vessel for condensing and passing on destiny. Although it is only a small piece, it is enough for the Song family and even the Southwest Alliance at present.
With it suppressing the fortune, he no longer needs to worry about using the [King of Men] sword affecting the family's fortune.
"It's good that it's useful; it would be a waste to keep it on me."
"Is Miaoyin on the mountain right now?" Xia Wanyun couldn't help but ask.
"Miaoyin has been in the East Sea all these years, staying by Yuechan's side to cultivate. This child is well-behaved and sensible, and she is also willing to endure hardship in cultivation. Now she is preparing to break through to the Purple Mansion stage."
If you want to see her, you can go directly via the spatial teleportation array, which will also give you a chance to shake off your pursuers.
"We've come this far over the years. If they chase us, we can just hide. Anyway, we're heading to the Abyss. If they have the guts to keep chasing us, so be it. The main concern is that we'll implicate you."
"I didn't want to come here, but... this might be the last time we see each other. I can't help but feel emotional. Please forgive me." Xu Yunhe said with a tone full of guilt.
Song Changsheng said with displeasure, "You even gave me a fragment of the Imperial Seal of the State, yet you still say such formal things."
It's been many years since we last met, and Yin'er has missed you all very much. Now that you're back, it's only natural that we should go and see you. Otherwise, wouldn't it be too cruel for her?
Although the abyss is dangerous, it's not without chance of survival. You two should go to the East Sea and spend some quality time with Yin'er. When you return, I'll explain the ins and outs to you in detail.
With tears welling in his eyes, Xu Yunhe shook his head and said, "There's no need for a gathering. It's enough to catch a glimpse from afar."
We...aren't good parents. Since we can't be with her often, why should we disturb her wonderful life now?
Seeing this, Song Changsheng felt a mix of emotions, caught in the web of fate, unable to control his own destiny.
Is it really that difficult for an ordinary person to live a peaceful and stable life?
...(End of this chapter)