Chapter 1109 - 454: Emperor Zhaoning (Part 3)

Chapter 1109: Chapter 454: Emperor Zhaoning (Part 3)

If we set aside himself and An Rong, simply eliminating the other elders isn’t impossible, but it requires additional payment.

Emperor Zhaoning guessed Wu Chang’s intent and said:

"Sir, you misunderstand; stabilizing the realm requires more than just slaughter."

"I wish for you to assist me in obtaining absolute control over the Human Dao Destiny gathered by the grand array during the construction of the Ziwei Exorcism Array."

"If I can monopolize the Human Dao Destiny and infuse it into the Great Xuan Dynasty, the dynasty will remain unshakeable for a millennium, surpassing all hidden sects."

Wu Chang felt a sense of regret upon hearing this, as Emperor Zhaoning’s restrained approach seemed to indicate he wasn’t prepared to offer more money.

He asked, "What exactly does Peace entail?"

Emperor Zhaoning replied, "Earlier tonight, before your return, Tang Wuchang, the Sect Leader of Tang Sect, completed all trials at Kaiyang Immortal Mansion and, like you, obtained the Kaiyang Immortal Encounter, becoming the fourth Earth Immortal of the Human Alliance."

"With Lü Changgeng’s disposition, he certainly won’t miss this opportunity and will definitely have Tang Wuchang explore the Demon Realm again, using this occasion to ascertain the location of the Celestial Gate."

"I wish for you to join them and uncover what the Human Alliance has achieved within the Demon Realm. As for how to join, I will assist you in finding a way."

Just as he was feeling drowsy, Emperor Zhaoning handed him a pillow.

Wu Chang had been pondering how to have True Self meet the main body and thus involve Leng Shan and Sword Star in the group, but Emperor Zhaoning’s intervention resolved this issue.

He was about to agree when suddenly a prompt appeared before his eyes:

「Side Quest 1: Join the exploration team led by Tang Wuchang from the Tang Sect and head to the Demon Realm for investigation. No penalty for mission failure—accept the mission?」

「Note: This mission is a special task. Once successfully completed, the player’s faction will switch to the Great Xuan Royal Family, and the dungeon’s main quest will accordingly change. Regardless of acceptance, mission-related intelligence cannot be described to anyone in any manner.」

Wow, a side quest, and a continuous one at that.

Judging from the note’s contents, the first link of the mission seems more like a proof of allegiance. Completing the hidden side quest joins one into the Great Xuan Royal Family faction.

The world dungeon operates in a multiplayer competitive mode. Upon entering the dungeon, he didn’t notice a tendency towards faction division, thinking it would activate upon formal dungeon commencement.

Unexpectedly, completing the side quest is necessary to join the corresponding faction.

He triggered a side quest, not a hidden one, indicating the Great Xuan Royal Family is a major faction, not a hidden or special faction.

Should faction joining require such means, then Lü Changgeng’s group should also be an independent faction.

Yet, when Lü Changgeng approached his main body, no side quest prompt appeared for it, proving Lü Changgeng to be unreliable, intentionally keeping things from him and not truly accepting him.

Joining a force through a side quest is novel, but unexpectedly choosing different factions alters the main dungeon quest.

In previous multiplayer competitive modes, players aiming for the same goal varied by faction completion degree.

Main quest changes likely cause conflicts between players’ main quests, ensuring some players fail the main quest.

Following this reasoning, if certain players dismiss side quest narratives and miss force-related side quests, do players with initial main quests form a faction too?

"Sir, are you willing to help me?"

Emperor Zhaoning’s inquiry snapped Wu Chang back to attention.

He glanced at Emperor Zhaoning and the dragon qi radiating behind him, saying:

"For the sake of slaying demons and eliminating evils, I intend to probe the Demon Realm. It would be ideal to proceed along the same path."

The world dungeon contains two Plane Sons, his main body and True Self, planning bets on both sides from the start, with Emperor Zhaoning proactively approaching; refusal wasn’t an option.

Upon hearing Wu Chang’s response, excitement sparkled in Emperor Zhaoning’s gaze. Whether for the First Celestial Being or the holder of the Megrez Immortal Encounter, both were significant aids.

Though Wu Chang hadn’t completed the side quest and thus hadn’t joined the Great Xuan Royal Family faction, Emperor Zhaoning awarded him a waist badge engraved with the character "Xuan," appointing him as the first spy.

The first spy’s "Xuan" badge, while not akin to the "As if the Emperor were present," compels cooperation from all Great Xuan institutions, including the Taichang Temple, granting him significant status.

Balancing first spy against deacon privileges, Emperor Zhaoning had surely gained much.

The disparity in treatment means only a fool would side with the Human Alliance.

Before departing, Wu Chang consulted the eunuch escorting him about the locations of Great Xuan agencies, especially the cultivator intelligence bureau, Profound Inspection Bureau.

Leaving the Zhenyue Courtyard, he headed straight for the Profound Inspection Bureau.

Showing his badge, he initially scrutinized the intelligence on An Rong.

Profound Inspection Bureau vigilantly monitored the Human Alliance, sounding as though every word from the three Earth Immortals was documented.

However, Profound Inspection Bureau didn’t record information on An Rong’s poisoning, indicating a highly discreet and skillful perpetrator.

After An Rong, he queried Profound Inspection Bureau officials about the Celestial Being who explored Yuheng Immortal Mansion.

Profound Inspection Bureau officials reported the Celestial Being completing Yuheng Immortal Mansion trials arrived in Zhenyue City after Wu Chang.

He remarked, "The Second Celestial Being is distinctive, vividly recalling its features—"

He abruptly faltered, freezing momentarily before shamefully stating, "I don’t clearly recollect; I’ll dispatch someone for investigation."

Wu Chang’s role as the royal first spy, effectively the highest overseer of Profound Inspection Bureau, exposed the officials’ incompetence before a superior, prompting full mobilization for gathering intelligence on the Second Celestial Being.

Information was promptly collected, but results surprised Profound Inspection Bureau members.

Both Profound Inspection Bureau and Human Alliance, even Human Alliance cultivators conversing with the Second Celestial Being, exhibited vague recall, seeming to remember yet unable to clearly envision its features.

Squinting, Wu Chang halted Profound Inspection Bureau officials intending further investigations.

Sometimes an answerless investigation itself provides answers; at this point, he knew who breached Yuheng Immortal Mansion and claimed its immortal encounter.