Chapter 70 - 66: Zhao Ci’s Insufficient Firepower Phobia

Chapter 70: Chapter 66: Zhao Ci’s Insufficient Firepower Phobia

Leaving Wangshu Palace, Zhao Ci felt completely refreshed and invigorated.

To be honest, even after the Gongdan Conference ended, he hadn’t been certain he could hold onto the technique. At most, he’d given himself a sixty percent chance.

He never expected that after all the twists and turns, he’d actually reached the most ideal outcome.

The technique was still in his hands.

He had revealed his identity to Gu Xiangzhu, but they hadn’t become enemies.

Zhao Huan was sitting on high, observing from a distance, but wasn’t deeply involved. He wouldn’t suspect anything for the time being. If Zhao Ci and Gu Xiangzhu cooperated seamlessly, they might even be able to keep him in the dark indefinitely.

It was simply perfect.

There was even an unexpected bonus. After all, the success rate of the Celestial Demon Body Refining Secret Technique wasn’t high, yet Gu Xiangzhu had managed to arrange it for him just like that.

The First-Layered Flesh Soul, plus the Celestial Demon Body, didn’t give him the feeling of a complete rebirth.

But he could feel its raw, tangible power!

He was confident that below the Physical Body Realm, his strength was unrivaled.

The only pain in the ass was that he couldn’t easily unleash his full strength. His bones and sinews might not be able to handle it. If he used some extreme moves and unleashed his full power, he wasn’t sure if he’d end up with torn tendons and broken bones.

’Still, maybe I can actually build something with that woman.’

Zhao Ci silently came to a conclusion. This wasn’t, of course, because he completely trusted Gu Xiangzhu.

How could he trust a Demoness from the Demon Sect whose true background was a mystery and who hadn’t even shown all her cards?

But she was, at the very least, more trustworthy than Zhao Huan.

Although she seemed to have some intention of turning him into a puppet, it hadn’t been directly reflected in her wishes. Besides, given her current situation, that wouldn’t be a wise choice. As long as she wanted to stay in the palace, she would never do something like that.

In summary,

Her only principle was her career.

To put it in two words: she’s rational.

At least he could figure out her code of conduct. She wasn’t like Zhao Huan, who would choose to carve out your Waizi regardless of whether you did a good or bad job.

His current cultivation path seemed to be a wide, open road stretching out before him.

But in this world, unless your cultivation reached the absolute peak, it was just as difficult to make an enemy of an entire nation.

Moreover, Zhao Huan had replaced so many of his internal organs. Aside from the Kidney Water Divine Treasure, all his other Divine Patterns had been swapped for top-tier ones. His current strength, if not number one in the world, was at least among the handful at the very top of the pyramid.

If he didn’t find a major power to cooperate with, he would likely never escape the emperor’s clutches.

The Demon Sect could trade with Zhao Huan on equal terms, which meant they at least had some ability to contend with him.

Besides, he’d heard some rumors about the Demon Monarch.

That was another top-tier powerhouse.

If he could win over Gu Xiangzhu and get the entire Demon Sect’s resources at his disposal, then...

’Don’t get ahead of yourself!’

Zhao Ci shook his head, temporarily pushing the fantastical idea to the back of his mind.

’They’re the Demon Sect, not a bunch of saints.’

’Especially Gu Xiangzhu—that woman herself admits she’s part of the Demon Sect.’

’She knows she’s wicked.’

’People like that are the hardest to deal with.’

’But what if... I use the ultimate move: a marriage alliance?’

’She’s a fake Imperial Consort anyway, and has no real relationship with Old Deng.’

’He’s not married, she’s not married.’

’What relationship is more secure than one forged by marriage?’

’She might be a bit older, but her looks, figure, and aura are decent. Especially those... It wouldn’t be a huge sacrifice on my part.’

’Forget it!’

’Sharing a bed with a Demoness from the Demon Sect is the same as leaving my most vulnerable side exposed to her.’

’I must never underestimate the depths of human depravity!’

’On second thought, I shouldn’t let her have it so easy!’

Zhao Ci shook his head, trying to force the amorous images from the previous night out of his mind.

’I should go find Ninth Uncle first!’

The carriage headed north.

When Zhao Ci arrived, Xiang Yunzhan wasn’t home.

He waited in the main hall for quite a while before he saw his uncle return, completely drunk.

"Yo! You’re here early, kid?"

Xiang Yunzhan rubbed his throbbing, dizzy head and plopped down carelessly across from Zhao Ci.

...

Zhao Ci winced. "Uncle, did you just come from the Imperial Palace?"

Xiang Yunzhan grabbed the teapot from the table, poured himself a bowl of cold, day-old tea, and GULPED it down. Wiping the droplets from his beard, he asked, "How’d you know? His Majesty was overjoyed after seeing how impressive you were yesterday. He insisted on having me over to the Imperial Palace for drinks."

Zhao Ci was speechless.

His heart sank.

He had thought Xiang Yunzhan was reliable; even his wishes showed that he genuinely had Zhao Ci’s best interests at heart.

’But this... he just gets drunk like that?’

’If I managed to get past Old Deng and that woman, only to be tripped up by Xiang Yunzhan, that would be a real pain in the ass.’

He asked in a low voice, "Did Father Emperor ask about me having you forge things for me recently?"

"He did!"

"And what did you say?"

"I just said I only forged a spear for you!"

Xiang Yunzhan’s brows furrowed, and he started grumbling, "I was wondering why you looked so sour just now. So you were suspecting me? Damn it, I’ve been around the block! You think I’d go back on my word? If you don’t trust me, then don’t even bother coming here anymore."

[Xiang Yunzhan’s Current Wish]: This kid is a born scoundrel. Just looking at him is annoying. I wish he’d just hurry up and get lost. Wish Fulfillment Reward: Enlightenment Value +1, Annoying Talisman.

"No, no, no, my mistake! I shouldn’t have said that!"

Zhao Ci secretly breathed a sigh of relief. ’This uncle of mine really is reliable!’

’He just has a short fuse. You can’t question his integrity in the slightest.’

He quickly put on an apologetic smile. "I was just thinking, Father Emperor is the ruler of a nation. If he were to interrogate you..."

Xiang Yunzhan snorted. "Just because he’s the ruler of a nation, I have to listen to him? Eighteen years ago, it was because I listened to him that I failed to protect Lao Ba and bring them back."