Chapter 286: Chapter 286: It’s Definitely a Rumor
Rumors, absolutely rumors. Which bastard spread them?
Chen Pingping’s expression darkened. "Who did you hear it from?"
"The three great dynasties!" Yang Qiuhua said. "There’s a basis for this."
"What basis?" Chen Pingping glared.
"Think about it... At that time, among the three great dynasties and the Purple Gold Divine Clan, only people from the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty possessed the fragmented Emperor Scripture and could control the Undying Furnace. However, that fellow tricked the Heavenly Dragon Prince en route, reached Heaven Capital first, and seized the initiative. Ultimately, upon entering Heaven Capital, he utilized the Emperor Scripture to take the Undying Furnace. As for his master, that was likely just a ruse."
"Why is that?"
"It was to dispel our suspicions, and undeniably, he succeeded," Yang Qiuhua said earnestly.
"..."
"A true mastermind, definitely a mastermind," Yang Qiuhua praised generously. "He laid out plans en route, secured the Emperor Scripture through deception, entered Heaven Capital to eliminate the Purple Gold Divine Clan, and took the Undying Furnace. Then, he used his ’master’ as a cover, claiming they both perished with the Undying Furnace to dispel everyone’s suspicions. After that, he could leave at his leisure. In reality, his master must have hidden away somewhere in Heaven Capital."
Yang Qiuhua spoke methodically, each point logical and reasonable.
If I weren’t the protagonist, I’d have believed it myself. Utter nonsense. Nothing of the sort ever happened.
I want to drag that rumor-monger out and give him several hundred slaps! How can anyone just spread such nonsense?
"So, the Undying Furnace is on Chen Pingping," Yang Qiuhua affirmed, his eyes darting around. He then lowered his voice and said, "This is an opportunity."
Setting aside the Undying Furnace’s significance for invading the Heaven Martial Continent, it was, in itself, a Heaven Tao Divine Weapon. Whoever could obtain it and comprehend the Tao within would find invincibility to be only a matter of time.
The Spirit Realm was in an uproar. Many great factions, powerful experts, even old masters practically with one foot in the grave, and countless young geniuses were stirred...
Everyone coveted this Divine Weapon.
Just as Yang Qiuhua said, this was an opportunity.
Chen Pingping felt a flicker of panic but nonchalantly put down the wine cup in his hand.
Yang Qiuhua blinked. "Want to go for a big score?"
"I think this might be a rumor," Chen Pingping couldn’t help but retort. "That fellow tricked the three great dynasties and eliminated the Purple Gold Divine Clan, so these major powers probably want to use the same tactic to get rid of him."
"It doesn’t matter," Yang Qiuhua shrugged. "The Ancient Dynasty has issued a bounty: kill Chen Pingping, and you’ll be rewarded with a fragmented Sacred Soldier and a set of Emperor Level Cultivation Skills. The Heavenly Dragon Dynasty has offered three years of cleansing in the Dragon Veins and ten years of Enlightenment in the Sacred Pond..."
Damn! That harsh?
Chen Pingping’s heart pounded.
Hmm? Why isn’t the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty mentioned?
He looked puzzled. "What about the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty?"
"Oh, they said that whoever kills Chen Pingping, even if it’s a pig, can freely choose a princess as their wife. They can also make three demands to the imperial higher-ups, even asking for the throne itself!" Yang Qiuhua suddenly grew excited. "The conditions are too tempting! Setting aside the throne, this generation of princesses is truly exquisite, each more captivating and beautiful than the last, like roses."
"..."
Chen Pingping’s expression stiffened.
He’d thought he had some friendly relations with the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty, that they wouldn’t put a bounty on him. He never imagined they’d even offer the throne.
They’re trying to rally the entire Spirit Realm to kill me!
It’s just one Heaven Tao Divine Weapon! Is all this really necessary?
HUM!
Suddenly, killing intent surged outside the door. A glint of cold light shot forth, ignoring space and distance, slashing toward the noodle shop.
Chen Pingping raised an eyebrow and glanced over.
Just then, Lin Yuexin made her move. Her fingertip swept through the air, unleashing a sword gleam entwined with strands of the Power of Laws, parrying the attack.
The cultivators inside the noodle shop all looked up, their faces etched with astonishment.
"The Supervisory Temple of the Ancient Dynasty has acted," Yang Qiuhua’s eyes widened, then a puzzled expression crossed his face. "Strange. They aren’t going after Chen Pingping but are attacking a noodle shop instead. What’s going on?"
"Exactly! Are they out of their minds?" Chen Pingping propped his chin. "Hmm, could it be... their target is that woman?"
"Who?"
"The one outside."
"She looks decent, and her figure isn’t bad. She’s just a bit dark-skinned," Yang Qiuhua shrugged.
Outside, Lin Yuexin’s expression was grim. She turned and shot him a glance.
Yang Qiuhua’s hairs immediately stood on end. He pulled Chen Pingping closer and whispered, "Something’s wrong. This young woman is a formidable Prince-level expert!"
He was starting to panic.
Chen Pingping smiled. "Relax, it’s nothing."
Young cultivators at the Prince-level were considered peerless geniuses. Ordinary geniuses, like Yang Qiuhua, were those whose cultivation stood at the Realm of Divine King.
Those below the Divine King level were just ordinary cultivators.
Within the three great imperial dynasties, there was hardly a peerless genius Yang Qiuhua didn’t know. But this was the Southern Land; suddenly encountering one made him wary.
This vast world, teeming with Sects, truly harbors hidden dragons and crouching tigers!
Yang Qiuhua lowered his voice. "It seems they really are here for her."
BANG!
Another attack, incredibly fierce, its Power Path sending shockwaves through the air and creating ripples.
A middle-aged man strode down Long Street, his face resolute, his expression cold. Gazing at Lin Yuexin’s small figure, he sneered, "You’re not good enough."
"Still, something’s off!" Yang Qiuhua added. "The people from the Supervisory Temple wouldn’t just show up here without reason. They should only have one target: Chen Pingping."
The three great imperial dynasties had always avoided making enemies with the Sects of the Southern Land, both sides maintaining their distance.
How could the Ancient Dynasty’s Supervisory Temple travel so far just to attack a woman? This was too absurd.
It must be Chen Pingping.
Yang Qiuhua’s breathing quickened. He scanned everyone in the noodle shop and said, "Chen Pingping might be here. We have to be careful."
"No way, right?" Chen Pingping feigned surprise. "They say that man has three heads and six arms, a green face with protruding fangs, is incredibly ugly, and stinks terribly. If he were here, we’d have noticed by now."
HUH?
Yang Qiuhua was taken aback. "Have you seen him?"
Chen Pingping shook his head. "No."
At this, a young man at the next table grew uneasy. "Is Chen Pingping really that hideous? Is he truly of the Human Clan?"
"Probably not!" someone else replied.
"Is Chen Pingping really here?"
"I suspect he might be hiding among us," an ordinary-looking woman in the corner suddenly spoke up.
Her words instantly silenced the room.
Chen Pingping is right here?
Kill him, and we can claim the rewards from the three great dynasties! As for the Undying Furnace... that’ll be up to fate!
Everyone exchanged glances, the atmosphere growing strangely tense.
Yang Qiuhua instinctively moved closer to Chen Pingping and whispered, "When Chen Pingping shows up, let’s team up and take him down."
Chen Pingping’s expression turned serious. "Alright. I don’t want to miss this Great Opportunity either." He then squinted, meticulously scanning the noodle shop, putting on a convincing show of searching for Chen Pingping.
"Huh? People from the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty are here too!" someone exclaimed. They had been watching the battle outside and saw an expert from the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty arrive.
His heart pounded; he was almost certain Chen Pingping was right here.