Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Chapter 1005 – The Darkness in Front of the Imperial City Is Torn Open

Using an array to break an array seemed like a simple idea, but it was actually a genius proposition, so genius that no cultivator had ever dared consider such a possibility.

Intrinsically, this was the most archetypical grinding with water, and also like two bronze mirrors polishing themselves by rubbing against each other.

A normal array would find it impossible to break this great sealing array, but this was because this bronze mirror was excessively smooth, its materials excessively unusual.

But the South Stream Temple sword array was different. This sword array had the hardest and sharpest surface, ideal for grinding things down.

However, even the South Stream Temple sword array would take some time to destroy the sealing array, as meticulous and cautious grinding was needed.

In terms of arrays, Xu Yourong was truly more talented than the vast majority of cultivators in the world, many times more formidable than even someone like Chen Changsheng. But Chen Changsheng was still the best choice for breaking the array. He alone could use the South Stream Temple sword array, and he also had an unfathomable patience.

His eyes were closed as he sat in front of the black cliff. From the pitch-black night to the morning light, he remained calm and serene, with not the slightest anxiety to be spied on his face.

Jin Yulu and Xiaode could see the sword intents filling the sky, and they could also see that the black cliff remained unchanged, so they found it impossible to remain as calm. If their spiritual senses had not been strong enough to sense that the sealing array was ever so slowly weakening, they might have been even more concerned. When they saw how Chen Changsheng remained calm throughout the entire process, even able to meditate while controlling the South Stream Temple sword array, they felt a deep admiration.

As the morning light flourished, Chen Changsheng opened his eyes. He took a look at the current state of the sealing array and then said, “I need to rest a while. What about the two of you?”

Jin Yulu and Xiaode had already been working for several days and nights without rest. Both of them were exhausted to the extreme, but neither intended to return with Chen Changsheng to White Emperor City. Only by keeping watch on this black cliff could they remain at ease, and they certainly did not want to be absent if the White Emperor happened to wake up.

Xiaode reminded Chen Changsheng, “If you really can break the array, then before you break it, you must pay attention to your safety.”

Jin Yulu added, “Logically, as long as the Empress is not crazy, she will not kill Your Holiness in front of the masses, but what we are doing has a high chance of forcing her into madness.”

Chen Changsheng understood this reasoning. Madam Mu assuredly knew what Jin Yulu and Xiaode were doing in the Starfall Mountains. She did not care primarily because the situation in White Emperor City was rather chaotic, leaving it inconvenient for her to divide her strength. More importantly, she was absolutely sure that no one on this continent had the ability to break the seal on the black cliff. But if she suddenly discovered that someone could break this seal, what would she do?

……

……

The dripping of water could pass through stone, but this required many years.

The South Stream Temple sword array could break the array imprisoning the White Emperor, and it probably would not need years, but it would require many days.

In the following days, Chen Changsheng resided in the Daoist Church of the Western Wastes. He would occasionally receive important demi-human representatives, but he spent most of the time resting.

Late in the night, Luoluo would help him enter the Imperial City, where he would use the secret passage to travel to the distant Starfall Mountains and use the South Stream Temple sword array to work on the seal.

No one besides figures like the Shi clan leader knew what he was doing. As a result, many people thought that in such a crucial moment, the Pope of the Human race, Chen Changsheng, was somewhat too quiet.

No one would treat this silence as weakness or surrender. The Human race was bound to demand an explanation for the deaths of Bie Yanghong and Wuqiong Bi, have the Demi-human race pay a price. In this moment, Chen Changsheng’s silence placed a massive pressure on White Emperor City.

Chen Changsheng was also feeling a massive pressure, because Madam Mu had also been quiet.

His movements were secretive and difficult to discover, but he was confident that Madam Mu knew what he was doing.

Why had Madam Mu been so quiet these last few days? Why had she not reacted?

Just because she was confident that no one could break this array she had constructed using the strength of the seas?

But a great deal of the sealing array had already been wiped away by his South Stream Temple sword array.

Just what was Madam Mu thinking?

On a certain night, Chen Changsheng, dressed in a black robe, walked to the silent Imperial City with this question still on his mind.

In a stone hall deep within the Imperial City, Madam Mu opened her eyes. It was impossible to see what sort of question was on her mind, as her eyes were utterly devoid of emotion.

The firm stones paving the ground were still scarred by the battle from several days ago—cracks and shallow holes covered the floor. The walls of the city were also somewhat mottled, so old that they seemed to have been eroded by the storms from the Western Sea for tens of thousands of years.

Chen Changsheng pulled his gaze away from the city walls and into the depths of the Imperial City.

In this Imperial City, there were many eunuchs, maids, and Beast Guards loyal to Luoluo.

As the factions took shape, Luoluo gained more and more supporters, making it easier and easier for him to enter the Imperial City.

But he still did not believe that Luoluo’s control over the Imperial City surpassed her mother’s.

He knew that Madam Mu was somewhere within these dark halls, watching him.

It was the same feeling he had felt every other time he had entered the Imperial City over the last few days.

It was a cold gaze peering at him from the darkness, bereft of emotion. It was impossible to tell what she was truly thinking.

He had spent the last few days anticipating her sudden appearance in the darkness, but this scene had still not taken place.

He abruptly felt Madam Mu’s gaze depart. What did this mean?

Was the recent silence and peace over the last few days about to come to an end?

Countless holes were suddenly punched in the darkness in front of the Imperial City.

It was countless helmets being raised, revealing the cold and bright eyes within.

Even the formless Qi of the world was disturbed, scattering the starlight falling from the night sky.

Several dozen demi-human experts walked out of the darkness and surrounded Chen Changsheng.

The attendants who were preparing to enter the palace with Chen Changsheng fled in terror.

The demi-human expert at the very front had a massive figure and exuded a terrifying pressure.

He was Xiang Qiu, the Xiang clan leader’s youngest son and the strongest of this generation of the Xiang clan. He had spent his childhood deep in the mountains, cultivating the secret techniques of his clan. He rarely returned to White Emperor City, much less appeared before the common people. When he appeared, he was an immovable mountain.

Chen Changsheng stood in the shadow of this mountain, silent and calm.

Xiang Qiu towered over him, his voice cold. “For Your Holiness the Pope to dress in disguise and enter the palace at night, what is your purpose?”

Before Chen Changsheng could speak, a young voice brimming with majesty spoke for him.

“Do I need to report to anyone when I invite Teacher into the palace?”

Luoluo walked out from the Imperial City, accompanied by several dozen eunuchs and palace maids, their footsteps resounding.

Soon after, even more footsteps came from behind, as well as the clomping of hooves. They gradually turned into a rain with faint booms of thunder.

More than one thousand elite demi-human soldiers rushed over from Heavensguard Pavilion like a tide. They pointed their forest of cold spears at those demi-human experts.

Xiang Qiu squinted at the Bear tribe leader standing at the front and asked, “You want to rebel?”

More and more footsteps and horse hooves could be heard in the darkness around the Imperial City as more and more demi-human soldiers gathered in this area.

It grew noisier and noisier in front of the Imperial City, but felt as if it was getting quieter and quieter.

Perhaps it was because the mood was getting increasingly tense, increasingly oppressive.

Deep within the Imperial City, no voice came out from the darkness.