Ascending to Godhood: I Can Foresee All Futures

Chapter 263: Chapter 156: Double Happiness

It was no exaggeration to say that given the grade of Evil Qi he had condensed, using such a Spiritual Object for Refining Gang was actually something of a waste. He never expected the Taiping Dao to be so magnanimous.

However, this was also a good thing for him.

If he could use it for Refining Gang, his foundations would become even more profound.

It would also increase his chances of breaking through to the Profound Mastery realm in the future.

He immediately ordered his men to present the prepared Elemental Crystals.

Since they were asking to purchase it, the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance would not try to skimp on the payment. After all, the matter they were about to discuss was too significant. If they took this small advantage, the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance would be put on the back foot.

"Young Master Zhou, you are too kind. As long as I can reach an agreement with your father this time, what is a mere Profound Sun Treasure Pearl?" Xu Yuanju refused the payment, even offering to give it to him as a greeting gift.

As the two were arguing, a Taiping Daoist Follower suddenly burst in from outside the ship’s cabin and said in a grave voice:

"Mr. Xu, a small boat is approaching. It seems to be heading for us."

"Hm? Who is it?"

Xu Yuanju’s gaze sharpened. He seemed to be asking a question, but his eyes were actually scanning Zhou Chengzong.

’Could the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance be planning to double-cross us?’

"It’s unclear right now. We can only make out a man and a woman..."

Listening to the follower’s explanation, Xu Yuanju looked at Zhou Chengzong with a false smile.

"Young Master Zhou, could this be something the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance arranged?"

"Absolutely not."

Zhou Chengzong denied it at once. His expression turned grim as he glanced at the steward beside him and gave a cold order:

"Steward Yan, go and probe their identities. If their cultivation is high, drive them away. If they’re just ordinary people out for a pleasure cruise, kill them."

The Innate Realm steward did not dare to delay.

"Yes, Young Master."

...

On the river’s surface, Chen Sheng stood on a small boat, chatting and laughing with Sun Yuzhi beside him. She, however, didn’t seem very interested, only nodding occasionally with a rather cold demeanor.

But a closer look would reveal a faint blush on Sun Yuzhi’s ears. The small boat moved on its own, without oars, secretly propelled by her.

"Chen Sheng, you’ve been getting more and more audacious lately."

Sun Yuzhi snorted, expressing her displeasure.

She didn’t know why—perhaps because she had been too indulgent—but Chen Sheng’s demeanor had changed drastically from his initial deference. He was even teasing her with the kind of jokes one could hardly bring themselves to repeat. If it had been anyone else, Sun Yuzhi would have made them understand just how sharp her Spirit Sword was.

"You jest, Vice Envoy. I just feel that since we’ve made this rare trip out, it would be far too boring to be so tense the whole time. If I have caused any offense, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

Chen Sheng explained with a chuckle.

But his gaze never left the merchant ship idling on the river.

Others might not know, but he knew with perfect clarity that on that merchant ship, rebels from the Taiping Dao and water bandits from the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance were meeting to trade the Profound Sun Treasure Pearl.

The reason he had brought Sun Yuzhi along this time was for backup.

Because the Celestial Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil had given him a new prompt.

A Profound Gang Martial Master was on the merchant ship.

Although he was confident in his current strength, he wasn’t so arrogant as to disregard everyone. Getting ambushed would not be a good thing for him.

’After all, the Profound Sun Treasure Pearl isn’t in my hands yet.’

"Hmph, you..."

Sun Yuzhi was about to rebuke him when suddenly, a figure shot out from the merchant ship ahead, Flying through the air. The figure headed straight for their small boat, radiating an extraordinary and powerful aura.

’Something’s wrong.’

Sun Yuzhi’s sharp senses immediately told her something was wrong.

Even in the Prefecture City, Innate Martial Masters weren’t a common sight, let alone in the counties below. Under normal circumstances, it was extremely rare for an Innate Martial Master to be stationed in a county.

After all, the counties were poor. Anyone with even the slightest Martial Dao ambition would go to the Prefecture City to train.

This led to a rather interesting phenomenon.

Within the counties, Innate masters were extremely rare, and any who appeared were likely just passing through. Near the Prefecture City, however, one could occasionally sense experts of the Innate Realm on the move.

So how could the sudden appearance of an Innate master on the Qinglin River not put her on guard?

The recent ambush by the White Tiger Hall had kept her on high alert. But what she found puzzling was that the other party hadn’t sent a true expert, only a Chaoyuan Martial Master at the early stage of the Innate Realm.

Steward Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering in the wind. He looked down imposingly at the man and woman on the small boat. The man looked somewhat familiar, but the woman was a complete stranger.

In his perception, the man in black robes had some fluctuations of qi and blood, but he couldn’t sense any aura from the woman in green at all. He immediately dismissed her and said coldly:

"Get the hell out of here, now! Or I’ll make sure you two lovebirds die toge—"

SWISH!

Before Steward Yan could finish his sentence, Chen Sheng drew his saber without a word. A dark gleam flashed. The steward’s heart seized with terror, and he hurriedly raised his Protective True Qi.

To his horror, however, his powerful Protective True Qi was utterly fragile before that cold, dark saber light. With a loud BANG, Steward Yan’s Protective True Qi shattered in an instant.

And the momentum of the slash did not diminish.

The next moment, Steward Yan was sliced in two, his blood arcing through the air.

On the merchant ship, Zhou Chengzong and the others, who had been watching the situation, could no longer sit still. They all revealed themselves, and in the blink of an eye, a series of powerful auras erupted.

At a glance, nearly seven Innate Martial Masters had appeared.

Three of them were from the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance.

The other four were Taiping Daoist Followers.

Sun Yuzhi had been about to say that Chen Sheng was being impulsive, but seeing this scene, her gaze immediately turned much more solemn. It was obvious that something was very wrong.

However, she was hardly panicked.

The Innate masters who had appeared were, in the end, just Innate masters.

And while Innate Martial Masters might be considered experts to others, in her eyes, they were no more than clay chickens and pottery dogs. She immediately steadied her mind and began to scan her surroundings.

She searched to see if any other experts were hiding in the shadows.

Chen Sheng?!

The moment Zhou Chengzong appeared, he sized up the man in black and recognized him, his gaze narrowing.

Chen Sheng had ruined many of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance’s plans. Although Zhou Chengzong had never met him face-to-face, he had seen a portrait of him and thus recognized him at a glance. The woman in the green dress beside him, however, seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

He felt like he had seen her portrait somewhere before, but something didn’t quite match up.

He immediately sent a voice transmission to Mr. Xu, who was beside him, explaining the situation with Chen Sheng and warning him not to be careless.

In this situation, at this moment, Zhou Chengzong felt not the slightest bit of contempt. Instead, a growing sense of unease crept over him. After a moment’s thought, he stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said:

"Are you Deputy Captain Chen of the Jingwu Bureau? I am Zhou Yuanjiao. I have long heard of your great name."

Zhou Chengzong had more than one identity within Ning’an Prefecture. Zhou Yuanjiao, ninth of the Ning’an Ten Heroes, was his alias, and it carried some prestige in the Ning’an Martial World.

With the situation unclear, he didn’t dare to be careless.

"Zhou Yuanjiao..."

Sun Yuzhi’s eyes flickered, a hint of surprise in them.

She had heard of this name before. He was considered one of the top young talents, though his identity was mysterious and his background unknown. Otherwise, the Government Office would have tried to recruit a talent like him.

But when Chen Sheng heard this name, a smile spread across his face.

’His so-called alias... it’s completely transparent to me.’

’This time, it’s truly a double blessing.’

’Capturing the Young Master of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance would be a huge merit.’

"I was just having a small gathering with some friends. Is there some misunderstanding?"

Zhou Chengzong said, pointing to the pool of blood on the water’s surface.

"There’s no misunderstanding. But it is quite a coincidence to run into Young Master Zhou here, face-to-face. Heh, will you surrender willingly? Or must I take you into custody?"

Chen Sheng sized up the other man, chuckled softly, and slowly placed his hand on the hilt of his saber.

"I do not know what Deputy Captain Chen means by that."

Zhou Chengzong cursed inwardly, his heart tightening.

’Could Chen Sheng know my true identity?’

’But that’s impossible.’

’The Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance’s meeting with the Taiping Dao is a top secret even within the Alliance, known only to a few high-ranking members. Besides, if Chen Sheng knew about this in advance, he wouldn’t have come with just one woman.’

’Unless... this woman is no ordinary person?’

Zhou Chengzong didn’t dare to be careless. He studied the woman in green seriously. The more he looked, the more familiar she seemed, yet he just couldn’t recall where he had seen her before.

A deep sense of apprehension filled his heart.

Chen Sheng ignored Zhou Chengzong, turning instead to explain to Sun Yuzhi:

"Vice Envoy, Zhou Yuanjiao is just an alias! This man’s true identity is the Young Master of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, Zhou Chengzong!"

—

The next Chapter will be out shortly, it’s not finished yet.