office mobile

Chapter 364: The Day of Judgment

However, there was no response from Elder Tianlao inside the array, and it remained eerily quiet.

"Junior Zhongshan requests an audience with Elder Tianlao!" Zhongshan called out again.

Inside the array, it remained quiet as before. Elder Tianlao either refused to see Zhongshan or simply disdained meeting him.

Zhongshan raised an eyebrow. He could guess Elder Tianlao\'s eccentric temperament. Moreover, his own identity didn\'t warrant much respect from Elder Tianlao, as even Da Xuan Wang didn\'t dare to display superiority in front of him.

Zhongshan waited for two hours, but still, Elder Tianlao did not emerge.

"Zhihuo, summon my 800,000 Zhong family soldiers, dig three feet into the ground, and tear down this array for me!" Zhongshan shouted loudly.

"Yes!" Zhihuo immediately responded.

"Who dares to dismantle my great array?" Finally, Elder Tianlao\'s voice of anger echoed from within the array.

Immediately, the white mist in the array churned. Obviously, Elder Tianlao was very angry. Zhongshan had annoyed him for two hours, yet he still wouldn\'t leave. Did he really intend to dismantle his grand array?

"Elder, I have offended you. It\'s just that you have ignored me all this time, and I have an urgent matter at hand. I had no choice but to resort to this!" Zhongshan said immediately.

"Hmph, a last resort? Come in!" Elder Tianlao\'s voice came from inside once again.

As soon as Elder Tianlao\'s voice fell, a passage suddenly appeared above the white mist.

Zhongshan quickly flew into the passage with Zhihuo, heading straight to the innermost part.

Inside, it was still a vast expanse of white fog, obscuring everything within, just like the mist on the ancient battlefield, capable of influencing one\'s senses.

The two flew through the white fog passage and soon reached the center. A black palace floated in mid-air.

"Heavenly Pulse Palace"

Above the palace plaque were the three characters "Heavenly Pulse Palace." According to Elder Tianlao\'s previous explanation, practitioners of Feng Shui were divided into Heaven, Earth, Human, Spirit, and Ghost, and Elder Tianlao should be one of the heirs of the Heavenly Pulse lineage.

The doors of the Heavenly Pulse Palace were wide open. Zhongshan and Zhihuo stepped inside, where a large compass lay on the ground of the main hall, surrounded by candles burning at the four corners.

Elder Tianlao leaned on his cane, coldly staring at Zhongshan.

"Zhongshan, pay respects to Elder!" Zhongshan immediately said.

"Zhihuo, pay respects to Elder!" Zhihuo also said immediately.

"You brat, no one dares to dismantle my grand array. You have quite the audacity!" Elder Tianlao said coldly.

"Junior dare not. It\'s just that His Majesty has ordered me to thoroughly investigate the case of Princess Qianyou. I had no choice but to offend Elder," Zhongshan said.

"Don\'t use ancient divine techniques to pressure me. Within the Great Luo Dynasty, no one can suppress me!" Elder Tianlao said.

"Yes, I understand that Elder had prepared to accept Yining as a disciple in the past. However, Yining was mysteriously killed later. Elder must have felt uneasy about this. Zhongshan came here only to ask Elder to help find the real culprit, clear Princess Qianyou\'s name, and let Yining rest in peace. Please calm your anger, Elder," Zhongshan earnestly pleaded.

"Innocent? Wasn\'t it Princess Qianyou who killed her?" Elder Tianlao said coldly.

"I believe Elder Tianlao must also know Princess Qianyou\'s character. She would never commit such a fratricide, and even if she wanted to, she wouldn\'t do it in a crowded place. Qianyou isn\'t that foolish. Besides, in the past, Elder Tianlao hadn\'t formally accepted Yining yet. Princess Qianyou must still have had a chance to be chosen again by Elder Tianlao. Yining is already dead. Only Qianyou is left. Elder has lost Yining. Do you want to lose Qianyou as well?" Zhongshan reasoned.

"Regardless of the truth, I will not accept Qianyou again. Even if she did not kill Yining, my words have never changed," Tianlao shook his head.

Watching this stubborn old man, Zhongshan raised an eyebrow.

"Elder, I have the Golden Cicada gifted by Jinshan, the Purple Wood Cotton Kasaya. I am willing to use this as a guarantee to exchange for a chance to clear Qianyou\'s name. If ultimately Qianyou is still found guilty, the Purple Wood Cotton Kasaya will return to you," Zhongshan said earnestly.

Zhongshan\'s offer was not due to the Kasaya\'s value and power, but because of Tianlao\'s previous astonishment. After forcing away Mud Bodhisattva, Tianlao had questioned Zhongshan, who then revealed the Kasaya. Tianlao had deeply inhaled and remarked, \'Golden Cicada? A Ninth-rank Spiritual Treasure, and he\'s really willing to part with it.\'

"He\'s really willing?" This statement and Tianlao\'s solemn tone had confirmed to Zhongshan that Tianlao cared deeply about the Kasaya. Tianlao couldn\'t possibly be unfamiliar with Ninth-rank Spiritual Treasures; Zhongshan was even certain that Tianlao possessed more than one. Yet, why did he still attach such significance to this particular Kasaya? It surely held some special meaning for Tianlao. He wanted it.

Sure enough, after Zhongshan finished speaking, Tianlao squinted his eyes at Zhongshan and then shook his head, saying, "Whether Qianyou is innocent or not is none of my concern."

Seeing Tianlao\'s expression, Zhongshan could only sigh inwardly. This Tianlao indeed knew how to push for more.

"Very well, regardless of the outcome, after the Day of Judgment, the Purple Wood Cotton Kasaya will belong to Elder," Zhongshan said.

"Hmm," Tianlao responded lightly, then continued, "I will not lie for you!"

"Understood. Junior believes that Qianyou is innocent, so there\'s no need for deception. However, I\'d like to ask first, can Elder summon Yining\'s soul?" Zhongshan asked seriously.

"Gu Shen Tong has already asked me. No, Yining\'s soul has not entered the Ghost City of the Underworld, so I cannot summon it," Tianlao shook his head.

"I see. Then on the day of judgment, I hope Elder can simulate Yining\'s soul in your \'Derived Realm.\' It doesn\'t need to speak; just look at her relatives for three breaths of time each. Afterward, Elder can \'send her off\' to the Underworld," Zhongshan proposed.

"Oh?" Tianlao looked slightly puzzled.

"After the Day of Judgment, the Purple Wood Cotton Kasaya will belong to Elder. I believe with my modest abilities, I will definitely not dare to go back on my word," Zhongshan said.

"Heh," Tianlao let out a disdainful chuckle.

Indeed, to play games of wits with Tianlao, Zhongshan\'s current strength was far from sufficient—

On the way back,

"General, are you really going to give the Purple Wood Cotton Kasaya to Tianlao?" Zhihuo asked reluctantly.

"Hehe, there are some things you don\'t know," Zhongshan shook his head and smiled.

In truth, although the Purple Wood Cotton Kasaya had helped Zhongshan several times, he had long wanted to give it away. Tianlao wasn\'t a good person, just as Jinshan wasn\'t. To give his own Purple Wood Cotton Kasaya?

It was like the Sacred Sword in Zhihuo\'s hand. Zhongshan was sure that every move he made these days was well known to the Emperor without the need for spies, thanks to the Sacred Sword. Similarly, the Purple Wood Cotton Kasaya was Jinshan\'s treasure from a past life. Would everything about Zhongshan be equally known to Jinshan?

However, in times of powerlessness, Zhongshan had always pretended to be ignorant. Those who pretended to be ignorant could live longer.

The deadline of one month has arrived.

During this month of publicity, Zhongshan\'s prestige in the Ancient Holy Capital has been rapidly increasing. In the Ancient Holy Capital, one can choose not to worship Zhongshan, feel jealous of him, or even ignore him, but absolutely cannot remain unaware of him. If you don\'t know Zhongshan, you might as well be a barbarian!

Not everyone worships Zhongshan, but there are always some who do. Their support may not determine the outcome of the trial, but Zhongshan\'s defense of Princess Qianyou has definitely bolstered his momentum.

This is an intangible thing, like two people in a fight where their martial strengths are equal, but one person\'s momentum overwhelms the other\'s, which often decides the winner.

At least, people are discussing it fervently, and numerous betting houses have opened up, claiming to support Zhongshan. These messages have reached the ears of the court officials. As a result, in the atmosphere of the court, the unequivocal support for Princess Qianyou has diminished, thereby reducing the pressure on Zhongshan.

Today is the Judgment Day. Countless gamblers are eagerly awaiting the outcome in the court.

On the court, the court officials have long been waiting.

Two rows of court officials are standing. On the left side, led by Grand Tutor Huan Tulong, and on the right side, led by Prime Minister Zheng Yi Wang, with King Daxuan in the center. The twelfth position is held by General Qitian, and behind him is Marquis Ma Zuirao.

On both sides of the court officials, there are a large number of members of the Gu Clan, all waiting for the trial to begin. Among them is also Grand Tutor Fan Yipin, the first counselor to King Daxuan.

Everyone stands silently, without speaking.

"His Majesty the Emperor arrives～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～" A eunuch\'s voice dragged on.

The space in front of the Dragon Throne slightly twisted, and His Majesty the Emperor, the ancient god of supernatural powers, appeared suddenly, wearing a purple dragon robe and a white jade flat heaven crown.

"Long live His Majesty the Emperor～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

The court officials bowed together.

Emperor Gushentong waved his sleeves, causing a gust of wind, and slowly sat down.

Outside the Ancient Holy Palace, under the Ancient Holy Mountain, Zhongshan stood with the Sacred Sword in his hand, quietly awaiting the summons of the Emperor. Standing beside Zhongshan were two other individuals whose identities Zhongshan had learned about from recent investigations.

One was dressed in a magnificent royal robe, exuding an aura of nobility, and giving off a warm and welcoming feeling that made people involuntarily want to get closer to him or even submit. He was the Third Prince of the Daxuan Dynasty, Gu Taizong, King Taizong!

The other was clad in armor, with a crown on his head longer than the Phoenix Wing Purple Gold Crown worn by General Qitian, exuding an aura of dominance and arrogance. His gaze seemed capable of making all things submit. He was the Fourth Prince of the Daxuan Dynasty, Gu Zhantian, King Zhantian!