Chapter 209: Zhukun's Remark "Xiao Tiance is the Most Astonishing Person I Have Seen"
"Are you saying so, Dragon Emperor?"
In the Gu Clan's meeting hall, Zhukun's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed after Void Swallowing Flame finished speaking.
If these words had come from Hun Tiandi, Zhukun might not have believed them.
But coming from Void Swallowing Flame, he did.
The reason was simple: Void Swallowing Flame had the credibility to make such claims. As someone who had served Tuoshe Ancient Emperor for thousands of years, Void Swallowing Flame knowing certain secrets was expected. Especially when it came to the Essence of Emperor, which Zhukun had heard Tuoshe Ancient Emperor mention before.
That was also why Zhukun had been deceived and trapped outside the Ancient Emperor's Cave for millennia until Xiao Tiance had freed him.
In truth, if not for what Huang Min had done to provoke him, Zhukun would never have agreed to join the Four Clan Alliance formed by the Gu, Yan, and Lei Clans.
Zhukun was well aware that Xiao Tiance had already entered the Ancient Emperor's Cave and most likely taken the treasures inside, including the Incomplete Emperor Pill, which could significantly increase the chance of a Dou Sheng peak expert advancing to the Dou Di realm.
Pondering this, Zhukun frowned and shook his head. "I believe you. It's not surprising that you, who followed Tuoshe Ancient Emperor for so long, would know where the Essence of Emperor is.
"I also heard Tuoshe Ancient Emperor mention it before. He said he sealed five portions of the Essence of Emperor somewhere. However, why don't you share your plan?"
Zhukun was cautious. He kept the information about Xiao Tiance's visit to the Ancient Emperor's Cave to himself. He wanted to see if Void Swallowing Flame truly had a viable plan to obtain the Essence of Emperor or if he was simply bluffing.
His revelation caused quite a stir. Aside from Void Swallowing Flame, everyone else, including Hun Tiandi and Gu Yuan, looked at Zhukun in surprise.
"Dragon Emperor, you've met Tuoshe Ancient Emperor before?" Gu Yuan asked, astonished.
Zhukun was about to answer when Void Swallowing Flame spoke first.
"Yes, Tuoshe Ancient Emperor indeed interacted with the Dragon Emperor before his ascension.
"In the years leading up to his ascension, Tuoshe Ancient Emperor mentored the Dragon Emperor, resulting in a significant increase in the Dragon Emperor's strength. However, Tuoshe Ancient Emperor was cunning. He never fulfilled his promise to bring the Dragon Emperor to the upper realm.
"Like me, who was also promised ascension, the Dragon Emperor was ultimately deceived and trapped outside the Ancient Emperor's Cave for millennia.
"Before I escaped, I could often hear the Dragon Emperor cursing Tuoshe Ancient Emperor. And I must say, he cursed very well!"
That explanation confirmed Zhukun's connection to Tuoshe Ancient Emperor, but it also revealed that Void Swallowing Flame had an even closer relationship with the ancient emperor.
The revelation left everyone stunned.
"Humph!"
Zhukun snorted in frustration. He didn't appreciate Void Swallowing Flame recounting his humiliation. As one of the most brilliant experts of his time, Zhukun could have stood proudly atop the Dou Qi Continent. But one misstep led to his entrapment by Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's scheming for millennia.
The weight of the revelations silenced the room.
Finally, Gu Yuan broke the silence, looking at Void Swallowing Flame. "Void Swallowing Flame, I believe you know the location of the Essence of Emperor, and I'm willing to trust that.
"But let's be honest you currently have no way of obtaining it, correct?"
The question drew the attention of Yan Jin and Lei Ying, who both turned to Void Swallowing Flame.
Meeting their gazes, Void Swallowing Flame smiled and nodded. "It's true that we can't obtain the Essence of Emperor at this moment. But we've found a way.
"If I take our clan leader into the Ancient Emperor's Cave, he can become a Dou Di first. Once he attains the power of a Dou Di, he can retrieve the sealed Essence of Emperor left by Tuoshe Ancient Emperor."
Before anyone could react, Zhukun sighed and interjected, "If you're talking about the Incomplete Emperor Pill, you might as well forget about it."
"What?" Void Swallowing Flame and Hun Tiandi's faces filled with disbelief.
"You already know about the Incomplete Emperor Pill?"
"Humph, is there anything this emperor doesn't know?
"Though incomplete, the Incomplete Emperor Pill contains traces of the Essence of Emperor. With some refinement, it could become a genuine Emperor Pill. Consuming it would significantly increase the odds of becoming a Dou Di.
"If not for Tuoshe Ancient Emperor using this half finished product to lure me, I would never have been fooled into being trapped outside his cave for millennia."
Zhukun's face was grim as he explained.
Void Swallowing Flame's expression darkened as well. He knew Zhukun wasn't lying.
But he also knew that when he fled the Ancient Emperor's Cave, the Incomplete Emperor Pill was still inside. If not for it helping him escape, he wouldn't have been able to leave.
"That's impossible. Dragon Emperor, are you saying you've already obtained the Incomplete Emperor Pill?
"No, that's not possible. You couldn't have entered the Ancient Emperor's Cave.
"Even with your strength far exceeding mine, the restriction on the cave's entrance was so strong that even all of us combined couldn't break it.
"Unless you possess the complete Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade assembled from all eight fragments owned by the Dou Qi Continent's ancient clans."
As Void Swallowing Flame spoke, his expression changed. He suddenly realized something was wrong.
The restriction that had imprisoned Zhukun had been broken.
"Dragon Emperor, could it be that someone broke the restriction and entered the cave?"
Seeing Void Swallowing Flame's alarm, Zhukun sighed again. "Yes, someone broke the restriction and entered the cave.
"With his strength, taking the Incomplete Emperor Pill would have been effortless. So, unless I'm mistaken, the pill is already in his possession.
"If you're after that pill, I suggest you give up now."
"Damn it! The restriction was broken, and the pill was taken?"
Void Swallowing Flame clenched his fists, his voice tinged with frustration.
"That's impossible! One fragment of Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade has always been in the Soul Clan's possession, untouched by anyone else!"
"Without the complete Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, no one can open that door. Impossible, impossible!"
Void Swallowing Flame repeated, his voice filled with disbelief, quickly denying the possibility. For him, something he had coveted for thousands of years being taken away was unacceptable.
Beside him, Hun Tiandi's face was icy, his eyes burning with fury. He stared at Zhukun and asked in a deep voice, "Dragon Emperor, if you've escaped your imprisonment and someone has indeed entered the Ancient Emperor's Cave to retrieve the Incomplete Emperor Pill, was it you who took it?"
"Hah!"
Zhukun glanced around the room. The Dou Qi in everyone present began to stir restlessly, their intent clear if he admitted to taking the Incomplete Emperor Pill, the next moment would see all of them attacking him.
With a cold chuckle, Zhukun sighed. Though he had the strength to retreat unharmed, he understood that now was not the time for internal conflict.
"Ah!"
After a long sigh, Zhukun shook his head. "Although I pride myself on my strength and would have loved to take the Incomplete Emperor Pill, I must disappoint you all. The one who took it was Xiao Tiance of the Xiao Clan."
"Xiao Tiance?"
The group exclaimed in shock, their expressions shifting rapidly.
This name had been a constant presence in their discussions over the past few years. It was because of him that they were sitting here today, feeling stifled, fearful, and shocked.
"Impossible!
Without the Essence of Emperor, Xiao Tiance cannot become a Dou Di. Without being a Dou Di, entering the Ancient Emperor's Cave would require all eight pieces of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade.
Even if Xiao Tiance is powerful enough to gather the other seven pieces from the ancient clans, the piece held by the Soul Clan has always been in our possession. He could never have obtained it," Hun Tiandi said coldly.
"Our Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade has also always been with me. It has never been lost," Lei Ying added.
Zhukun observed their reactions and shook his head again, sighing deeply.
"In my lifetime, I have seen countless prodigies peak Nine Star Dou Shengs that I can count on both hands.
"Among all these people, the most brilliant and extraordinary is Xiao Tiance.
"I am well aware that Xiao Tiance did not have all eight pieces of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade. But what if I told you he didn't need them and instead used a special spiritual array to complete the missing pieces?"
"A... spiritual array?"
The two words struck like thunder. Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi's faces both changed dramatically.
Among those present, the two who knew the most about spiritual arrays were Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi.
Zhukun, of course, was excluded he had spent two years at the entrance of the Ancient Emperor's Cave alongside Xiao Tiance and had personally witnessed the extraordinary man deciphering the restrictions on the cave.
Gu Yuan's knowledge of spiritual arrays came from his long study of the Nine Tier Spirit Gathering Array in the Gu Clan. Despite understanding its structure, he had been unable to replicate it.
Hun Tiandi's understanding, on the other hand, stemmed from his near death experience at the hands of a spiritual array. Even during his years of recovery, he had spent time pondering the mysteries of spiritual arrays, though to no avail.
"How is that possible? He used a spiritual array to break through?" Hun Tiandi's voice was filled with disbelief.
"Indeed," Zhukun confirmed.
"I spent two years at the entrance to the Ancient Emperor's Cave with Xiao Tiance. His brilliance is unparalleled.
"He only had five pieces of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, insufficient to open the cave. Yet, he completed the missing pieces using a spiritual array.
"It was only after he broke the restriction on the cave's entrance that I was freed from my imprisonment.
"So, whether you believe me or not, I can assure you he did enter the cave. If it were you, wouldn't you have entered too?"
Of course, they would have. It was the Ancient Emperor's Cave, filled with treasures beyond imagination. Who could resist such temptation?
Silence.
The meeting hall fell deathly quiet, so still that one could hear a pin drop.
After a long pause, Void Swallowing Flame finally broke the silence. "If the Dragon Emperor is not lying, then the Incomplete Emperor Pill has indeed been taken by Xiao Tiance.
"Given his mastery of spiritual arrays, something none of us can replicate, it's highly likely he achieved this feat."
"It's not just likely. It's certain," Zhukun interjected firmly.
"My presence here proves as much.
"Additionally, Xiao Tiance once told me he is the only spiritual array master on the Dou Qi Continent.
"According to him, a spiritual array grandmaster's abilities correspond to the Dou Di level. In other words, even if Xiao Tiance is only a half step Dou Di, he can still wield the power of a true Dou Di."
His words plunged the meeting hall back into silence.
After a long pause, Hun Tiandi looked at Void Swallowing Flame and said, "Void Swallowing Flame, if Xiao Tiance has already taken the Incomplete Emperor Pill, then there's no point in continuing our struggle.
"Let's leave. We'll kill a few Xiao Clan members and then declare our surrender."
"Wait, Clan Leader!" Void Swallowing Flame quickly interjected.
"We're not at the end of our rope yet.
"Even if Xiao Tiance has the Incomplete Emperor Pill, I believe he is unaware that the most valuable treasure in the Ancient Emperor's Cave isn't the pill it's the Ancient Emperor's legacy."
He turned to Zhukun and said, "Dragon Emperor, surely you've heard Tuoshe Ancient Emperor mention this before? The true Ancient Emperor's legacy lies beneath the cave, directly beneath the Heavenly Flame Square."
Zhukun nodded. "Indeed. The old schemer mentioned it when he tricked me.
"If not for the allure of the Incomplete Emperor Pill and the Ancient Emperor's legacy, I wouldn't have fallen for his trap and been imprisoned for millennia."
(End of Chapter)
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