Chapter 793: Stirring Trouble
Main house of Wang Sheng's small courtyard, Fengdu City's fifth ring.
"Master!"
"Calm down. Whatever it is, just explain it slowly," Wang Sheng calmly replied while leisurely sipping a cup of tea that was unique to the Nether Realm.
Ling Sheng hurried in from outside. She quickly lowered her head in apology, gathered her thoughts, and reported, "I just heard people talking in the streets. They say Emperor Qinghua will soon arrive in Fengdu City to propose to Empress Houtu!"
"Pfft!" Wang Sheng sprayed out a mouthful of tea and sat there blankly for a long moment, his mind completely frozen. "Propose?!"
What the hell? Why would His Imperial Majesty suddenly make this kind of joke with Great Virtuous Houtu? How did this somehow turn into a marriage proposal? The whole thing sounds absurd!
Wang Sheng immediately stood up. "Come. Let's head outside and gather information ourselves, but be careful. This could be a trap aimed at us."
"Mm!"
Ling Sheng nodded at once.
Not long afterward, the master and servant left the courtyard together. Wang Sheng even properly locked the gate and activated the defensive arrays before bringing Ling Sheng out to wander the streets.
If not for the low-hanging sky and the baleful yin aura mixed within the primal qi, Wang Sheng could genuinely have mistaken this place for one of the great cities in the Immortal Saint Realm and the endless space.
Everywhere he looked, he found living cultivators.
There was no need to search for information intentionally either. After walking only a short distance down the street, they already heard discussions about Qinghua's proposal all around them.
Wang Sheng quickly figured out what this so-called proposal actually meant.
The Great Dao of Death would be joining hands with the Great Dao of Reincarnation to fully govern the death of all living beings while comprehending the Great Dao together. Mm... Though the phrasing sounds refined and indirect, they're still essentially going to become Daoist partners.
It makes no sense. It is unreasonable, illogical, and completely unlike His Imperial Majesty. Although we desperately want the Nether Realm's support right now, there is no need to send one of our top figures to use a honey trap—ahem. This feels somewhat disrespectful toward Empress Houtu.
Wang Sheng quickly noticed the inconsistencies hidden within the matter and silently began calculating the possibilities. Before long, he confirmed that the rumor was not entirely groundless.
He then returned to the courtyard with Ling Sheng. After carefully checking their surroundings and finding nothing suspicious, he entered the courtyard, activated layer after layer of arrays, and went indoors to think things over.
There have to be several possibilities behind all this. Is Feng Jiu intentionally stirring trouble? Is our side deliberately creating chaos so they can fish in troubled waters? Or has Emperor Qinghua truly developed the intention to join forces with Empress Houtu and used the Great Dao of Death and the Great Dao of Reincarnation together to resist the pressure from Feng Jiu's faction?
At the moment, none of these possibilities could be ruled out. The available information was far too limited; there was barely enough to analyze. For now, his only option was to wait and observe.
A few days later, Wang Sheng took Ling Sheng outside again and unexpectedly heard a development in the story.
The Nether Realm had publicly responded. According to them, Houtu had transformed herself into the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation and wished only to benefit all living beings. She did not want to become entangled in karmic ties, nor did she wish to involve herself in conflicts between factions. Simply put, Qinghua had been dealt the "nice guy" card.
The Nether Realm also took this opportunity to declare its position. They claimed they wished to remain neutral and had no desire to join any side.
Combined with the ongoing King of Hell selection, this was enough to prove that the Nether Realm had not pledged allegiance to anyone. They genuinely intended to stay neutral.
How should this situation be handled?
Several thoughts surfaced in Wang Sheng's mind, only for him to dismiss them one after another.
Just moments ago, he had considered using pressure tactics or framing schemes to force the Nether Realm into becoming their ally. However, doing those would be betraying his own principles. At that point, how would he differ from the Immortal Emperor, who was hiding in the shadows and endlessly plotting against others?
He still wanted to be a good person.
Several more days passed, and new rumors spread throughout Fengdu City once again.
Honestly, the whole thing was somewhat ridiculous. These so-called expert cultivators who had gathered from all across the endless space and the Immortal Saint Realm had suddenly become obsessed with gossip. One after another, they heightened their sense of hearing and eagerly listened for every little detail regarding the affairs of mighty experts.
Perhaps the private lives of powerful figures naturally attracted attention. It was basically the same principle as celebrities on Earth drawing endless interest toward their personal affairs.
More news about Qinghua had spread.
In three months, he would come to the Bridge of Helplessness and meet Houtu in person to discuss the matter face-to-face. The cultivators in the area naturally did not dare openly mock the situation, but most of them still sighed inwardly.
So this is how great powers pursue relationships. They are indeed different from us.
There was no talk of emotions; no discussion of feelings. Everything revolved around weighing benefits, matching Great Daos, and joining forces with one another.
The more Wang Sheng heard, the more confused he became.
The Black Emperor and a group of Primal-Era experts that he had recruited were currently hunting the young emperor. If Qinghua truly showed himself in Fengdu City, it would undoubtedly trigger a monstrous battle.
Qinghua wouldn't act so recklessly or make such a rushed decision.
The Lord of Death is not some brainless hothead. Unless he has achieved another breakthrough in cultivation and intends to use this matter to lure the enemy into action...
Having already reached his current level of cultivation, Wang Sheng understood better than anyone how difficult breakthroughs truly were. Someone as terrifyingly powerful as Qinghua could not possibly advance so easily.
If it were that easy to break through, then from ancient times until now, more would have become as powerful as Nuwa and the Three Pure Ones.
On a related note, the paths that Nuwa and the Three Pure Ones walked were fundamentally opposed to one another.
One sought transcendence. The others sought fusion with the Great Dao.
"How strange," Wang Sheng muttered as he clasped his hands behind his back and paced around the room.
The more he thought about it, the more confused he became. Something about this situation felt completely wrong.
Nevertheless, the developments that followed only grew more chaotic, making even Wang Sheng feel dizzy just trying to keep up.
First, the Black Emperor arrogantly spread word that if Qinghua dared enter the Nether Realm, then he would die there, and the Great Dao of Death would return to the Sea of Dao Laws.
It was obviously a provocation—not even a particularly clever one at that.
Yet shortly afterward, another message came from Qinghua's side. They declared that the Black Emperor was nothing more than someone else's dog. The wording was vicious enough to enrage the Black Emperor into repeatedly appearing throughout the Nether Realm.
Soon after, the Nether Realm itself stepped up once again. They advised both sides that if they truly intended to fight, they should remember that this place governed the reincarnation of countless living beings and should instead settle matters in the Immortal Saint Realm.
For more than a month afterward, the Black Emperor, Qinghua, and the Nether Realm continued exchanging words through rumors and public messages.
The Black Emperor and Qinghua had already escalated matters to the brink of war.
Meanwhile, the Nether Realm could only respond helplessly while strengthening the arrays protecting Fengdu City's inner districts and praying that the battle would not spread here.
Wang Sheng, who had been quietly watching the entire spectacle unfold from the sidelines, was completely baffled.
***
Inside the tall building only a dozen or so li away from Wang Sheng's location, the major figures of Wang Sheng's side had gathered once again for discussion.
"Star Deity Wenqu, now that we've built the stage, what do we do next?"
They had been the ones orchestrating all the public statements supposedly coming from Qinghua. Xu Zhongliang had devised a strategy that practically killed twelve birds with one stone. Taking advantage of the countless cultivators gathered in Fengdu City and the endless spread of rumors, they continuously released one piece of information after another. While confusing the public and muddying the truth, they were also subtly guiding everyone's attention.
Their most important objective was to expose the fact that a hidden faction was backing the Black Emperor.
The experts currently gathered in Fengdu City could not be said to make up a third of all the powerful cultivators in the world, but they certainly accounted for at least a tenth. After all, the Heavenly Immortal Realm was merely the minimum qualification required to even enter Fengdu City.
Xu Zhongliang smiled. "The next step is actually quite simple. One of His Imperial Majesty's incarnations is already hiding outside the city. Later, all we have to do is arrange for His Imperial Majesty to release a trace of his aura and lure the Black Emperor and his people into appearing. Once both sides clash, the plan can proceed naturally. At that point, we'll take advantage of the chaos to locate Fei Yu.
"Given Fei Yu's personality, if he hears that His Imperial Majesty is surrounded and under assault, he'll definitely move in secretly to help. Once he realizes it's only an incarnation, he'll naturally stop himself in time. Most likely, he'll blend into the crowd and continue watching from the shadows."
Wu Tianshou frowned from the side. "What if Feng Jiu's faction takes advantage of the situation as well?"
Still smiling, Xu Zhongliang answered, "There's certainly some risk, but it isn't too serious. Fei Yu is quite clever himself. He'll definitely disguise himself and leave us some sort of hint. Do you all still remember the item capable of severing heavenly fate?"
Inside the room, the crossdressed Chun Yangzi and the others all nodded at once.
Naturally, everyone involved in the three-hundred-year plan to fake the sacred spirit's death knew about the little wooden sword.
In fact, Chun Yangzi had even tricked Xu Zhongliang back then.
Wang Shan added, "We also have to consider the possibility of the Nether Realm sending experts to interfere."
"That would actually work out perfectly in our favor." Xu Zhongliang's lips remained curled up. "If the Nether Realm wants to stop the fight, then they'll inevitably have to favor one side. Otherwise, they'll offend both. That means there's an eighty percent chance the Nether Realm will simply stay out of it, close the gates to Fengdu City's inner districts, and avoid sending anyone out at all."
Chun Yangzi still looked uneasy. "Let's go through the entire plan once more in detail and make sure there are no flaws."
Xu Zhongliang immediately grew excited. "Alright!"
He called everyone over to sit at the round table and carefully explained every step of the upcoming plan.
Meanwhile, inside a nearby small courtyard, Wang Sheng could only rack his brains, think in every direction possible, and rely entirely on himself.
Ling Sheng also tried helping him think things through for a while, but she quickly gave up. After all, she came from a plant spirit. Her brain was simply too small.
***
Things seemed to gradually spiral out of control.
Every day, Wang Sheng found himself worrying about Qinghua's safety, thinking about Xu Zhongliang and the others, and constantly wondering about the true meaning behind this entire affair.
What he never imagined was that he himself was the main target that Xu Zhongliang and the others were trying to draw out.
That day, Wang Sheng brought Ling Sheng onto the streets again to gather information.
Before they had even walked far, they heard someone nearby exclaim, "Emperor Qinghua is coming to Fengdu City!"
"Based on the Immortal Saint Realm's time, they say he'll appear in seven days and challenge the Black Emperor."
"Why does this suddenly feel like he's fighting the Black Emperor over romance..."
"Quiet! Are you trying to die?"
Seven days? Haven't they previously said three months?
Wang Sheng frowned deeply. Ling Sheng, who was beside him, also looked troubled as she worried alongside her master.
Seven days...
His thoughts grew heavier and heavier. Eventually, Wang Sheng casually entered a teahouse-like establishment and sat down while pondering the matter in silence.
Ling Sheng quietly stood behind him, not daring to sit beside her master.
What exactly is His Imperial Majesty trying to do?
Just then, someone nearby asked, "Daoist Friend, may I sit here?"
Wang Sheng turned his head toward the person, his brows immediately knitting slightly.
