Chapter 67: Chapter 65: Emperor Song? Is it possible that he just wants to retire?_1

"Stop speaking, someone’s coming."

While everyone was engulfed in deep admiration, suddenly a shout echoed from the crowd.

Almost immediately, the crowd in front of them parted, moving to either side of the street.

They left a broad path in the middle of the road.

Seeing this, everyone dared not delay.

They promptly divided into two sides, making way in the road.

Then, they tensely fixed their gaze towards the far end of the street, holding their breath in anticipation.

Chen Chang’an and others also followed the crowd’s movements, standing to one side of the road, gazing at the path ahead.

Shortly after, they saw a procession of people slowly making their way from one side of the street.

Leading the group were two individuals, one dressed in black and the other in white.

With serious and calm expressions, they walked ahead, leading their gaze forward.

Their cold demeanor and aura were forbidding to all, making people dare not meet their eyes directly.

Without a doubt, these two individuals were Emperor Song’s strongest direct subordinates, the ’Black-Faced Yan Luo’ [Black Impermanence] and the ’White-Face Garuda’ [White Impermanence].

The procession behind the two was magnificent.

First were four towering figures wearing masks and exuding a ghastly aura, followed them closely.

Then was a group of nearly a hundred Ghost Soldiers and Yin generals of Rebirth Hall, all garbed uniformly in black robes with ceremonial hats.

Every one of these Ghost Soldiers and Yin generals had a massive Dharma Aspect hovering behind them, emanating a chilling murderous air.

A Dharma Aspect, a status only a Great Cultivator of the Fourth Stage could possess!

At this moment, everyone once again realized what a truly powerful Sect was capable of.

Magnificent, intimidating, and unquestionably formidable!

Each of these Ghost Soldiers carried a red congratulatory gift in their hands, following behind Black and White Impermanence.

Their expressions and demeanor were utterly serious, creating an intense and repressive atmosphere.

As the procession passed before the crowd, everyone could feel a terrifying suffocating sensation penetrating their minds, making it almost impossible to breathe!

It was oppressive, too oppressive, oppressive and fearsome!

Eventually, they could only watch the procession from Rebirth Hall leave with a sense of profound respect.

"Phew~!"

"It’s finally over."

"That was really terrible, I thought I was going to drop dead for a moment."

Only when Black and White Impermanence and their entourage had moved some distance away, disappearing around a corner, did things start to change.

Next to them, Xuan Qingzi, lost in thought, murmured:

"As expected of the ’First of the Ten’, just their demeanor alone is incomparable to us."

Upon hearing this, the rest of them, including Li Zhiwan, nodded in agreement.

Undoubtedly, the spectacle they’d just witnessed was rather shocking.

However, while everyone was still reeling from the shock-

They failed to notice-

Mao Ruxue on the side didn’t look shocked at all.

On the contrary, she had a slight smile on her face, as though she was laughing at something funny.

"Junior sister, have you been enjoying some preserved fruit? You’re all smiles."

Chen Chang’an tapped the little girl’s forehead, then asked.

"Nope."

"Senior brother, I was just thinking how nice it would be if I could become the ’Earth Bodhisattva’." Mao Ruxue shook her head, then spoke longingly.

"Become ’Earth Bodhisattva’?" Upon hearing this, Chen Chang’an shook his head, saying:

"I guess that’s not very likely."

Subsequently, Chen Chang’an tapped the little girl’s forehead again and said:

"Look, I’ve given you so many good things and yet you haven’t even reached the Third Stage in your Cultivation."

"With your natural talent, forget about becoming an extraordinary woman like ’Earth Bodhisattva’, even surviving in a bloodthirsty place like Rebirth Hall seems highly unlikely."

"I’m still counting on you to collect my mortal remains after a hundred years. Don’t end up forcing your senior brother to collect yours, an old man burying a young girl."

"Hmph! Senior Brother, who told you that you need superior strength to survive in a place like Rebirth Hall..."

"Intelligence and persistence are also forms of strength!"

"Moreover, silly senior brother, who told you I haven’t reached the Third Stage yet?"

Upon listening to Chen Chang’an’s words, Mao Ruxue immediately began to argue back, but she didn’t voice the last sentence.

After finishing her speech, Mao Ruxue quietly observed her senior brother from within her heart.

My silly senior brother, you may have become a Great Scholar, but this time, I’m still in the upper atmosphere.

Was her failure to break through the Third Stage truly due to lack of talent?

Not at all!

In fact, in Cultivating both the Purple Sun Heart Sutra and the Bodhi Death Sutra, her progress was indeed minimal.

But, she wouldn’t tell Chen Chang’an that the cultivation techniques she was actually practicing were not limited to just these two.

Generally, she only practiced these two as a guise, but the techniques she was truly cultivating during her free time were two completely different ones.

Sorrow and Joy of Reincarnation Sutra! Yin Yang Secret Manual!

Furthermore, she was cultivating both simultaneously!

She had already made breakthroughs in these two techniques a month ago.

The current her was in fact a true Great Cultivator who was simultaneously practicing the path of the Dao and the Buddha in her cultivation.

However, she had used some means to hide all this, and had not revealed it.

As for becoming the Earth Bodhisattva?

Humph!

Oh my naive senior brother,

Unfortunately, I can’t reveal this. If I revealed my real identity, I’m afraid I would scare you to death.

Mao Ruxue just smiled and didn’t reply.

"That’s right, that’s right, our younger sect sister is the smartest,"

"Even managing to blend in smoothly at places like the Rebirth Hall..."

"But, let’s get going, the auction is about to start."

Chen Chang’an waved his hand, indicating he didn’t want to continue with the talk.

He pointed ahead and said,

"Oh, oh." Mao Ruxue nodded, then followed.

"Eh, wait a minute, how do you know that the Earth Bodhisattva is a girl?"

"I guessed."

The Heavenly Path Auction House was easy to find.

So after coming out, it didn’t take long for the group to arrive at the entrance of the auction house. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

As soon as Chen Chang’an handed in their invitation, a servant immediately led them into a private room.

The room was exquisite, with all kinds of facilities available.

On the table, some spirit fruits were placed.

These spirit fruits were not high-level, but neither were they bottom-tier.

To be precise, they were the kind which would be overlooked by high-ranked individuals but potentially could never be reached by less talented cultivators in their lifetime.

Before the auction officially started, Chen Chang’an sat in his seat, looked at Xuan Qingzi across from him, and asked curiously,

"Senior Brother Xuan Qingzi, I noticed earlier that when we passed by the Black and White Impermanence of the Rebirth Hall, you seemed to be in a dilemma."

"Did you encounter some trouble?"

"Junior Brother, ah, you’ve caught me in an embarrassing situation,"

Upon hearing Chen Chang’an’s words, Xuan Qingzi immediately let out a long sigh.

He went on to explain, "The reason I was like that was due to an assignment the Sect Master handed me yesterday..."

Then Xuan Qingzi slowly relayed Li Daoran’s worries before their departure and the fact that he had given him ten thousand Dao Source Stones.

"Ah, Junior Brother, I’m afraid I won’t be able to accomplish this task."

After saying this, Xuan Qingzi shook his head bitterly.

Characters like the Black and White Impermanence just weren’t people he could persuade.

"Senior Brother Xuan, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about with this matter,"

After hearing this, Chen Chang’an simply laughed.

"There’s nothing to worry about? Why?" Xuan Qingzi was puzzled.

Chen Chang’an smiled and said,

"Senior Brother, is it possible that he never wanted to dip his fingers into the world’s affairs in the first place?"

"Or maybe, his initial thought was merely to earn a basic living for himself so that he could prepare for his future in seclusion?"

In seclusion?

"I hope so."

Listening to Chen Chang’an’s words, Xuan Qingzi smiled bitterly again.

Considering Emperor Song’s temperament, he found it hard to imagine him having the motivation of ruling over everything.

As for seclusion?

He only debuted around a decade ago.

Even in a commoner’s lifetime, ten years is considered very short.

To someone as powerful as him, ten years may not even amount to a blink.

Ten years? He hasn’t even reached his peak in this life, so how could he possibly retreat into seclusion?

After a bitter smile, Xuan Qingzi stopped the topic and started to divert the conversation to other things. He knew there was no answer to this.

Seeing Xuan Qingzi’s reaction, Chen Chang’an wasn’t surprised. He guessed what Xuan Qingzi was thinking and just smiled without bringing it up again.