Eternal Saber

Chen Tang sprinted outside the city and soon caught up with the group led by the fat old man.

Seeing that Chen Tang had returned to the Capital City just for two chests of gold and silver treasures, everyone couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions.

For someone like Chen Tang, who is the Demon Monarch of Xiling, what a status that is.

The previous acts he committed, the Battle of Liangzhou, the Battle of Black Water Country, including today’s battle in Qianjing, which one of them didn’t shock the world?

Yet such a person ran to the Imperial Palace and walked out with two chests of treasure.

A lot of people seemed to think of something and subconsciously looked at the fat old man.

The fat old man felt uncomfortable being looked at by everyone, glared with his small eyes, and said loudly: "Why are you all staring at me? I was once the greatest thief in the world, but I never did anything so disgraceful!"

"That’s how he is, I didn’t teach him that!"

"Indeed, indeed."

Everyone quickly echoed.

Yuan Qingmu, however, felt delighted in his heart.

As long as he didn’t bring back a woman, Xiao Tang just carrying two chests of gold and silver treasures, so what?

This is not a problem at all.

The others were on horseback, and there was no place to put the two chests of treasures.

Chen Tang tied one chest with rope and placed it on the back of Little White Ape.

He originally wanted to strap one on Xue Tuan’Er as well, but Little White Ape didn’t want Xue Tuan’Er to be burdened and gestured that it could carry both chests.

"You’re tall and broad, bear some hardship."

Chen Tang entrusted both chests to Little White Ape.

"Where did you learn this from?"

The fat old man put on a stern face in front of everyone and scolded, "People say thieves leave empty-handed, but you’ve flagrantly caused a scene in the Capital City, robbing the execution grounds, how could you do such a disgraceful thing?"

"We hired several ships from the Boat Gang, and the fare hasn’t been paid yet."

Chen Tang said: "Besides, with such a large group of people sailing across the sea, we need some startup capital."

He didn’t feel embarrassed, just treated it as if he were scavenging corpses.

The group continued on their journey.

"Qing’Er, how is your father?"

On the road, Madam Lu said: "Over the years, I’ve been imprisoned by your uncle, without seeing the light of day, always worrying about you all."

Having just escaped danger, Madam Lu began to worry about Qin Xi.

Lu Qing fell silent.

"Did something happen to him?"

Madam Lu noticed Lu Qing’s unusual expression, her heart tightened, and she quickly asked.

Lu Qing was silent for a moment before saying: "Mother, just think of him as dead."

"What do you mean, he..."

Madam Lu frowned, about to say something, but stopped.

After a moment of silence, Madam Lu said: "He ultimately chose to leave, didn’t he?"

"Mother, how did you..."

Lu Qing was somewhat surprised.

Madam Lu said: "I’ve been with him for decades, how could I not understand him."

After speaking, Madam Lu was filled with melancholy and remained silent for a long time.

"The world is full of heartless people."

Yuan Qingmu sighed quietly, suddenly turning to Chen Tang, and asked: "Xiao Tang, how did you become the Demon Monarch of Xiling? Previously, I only heard that you made a name for yourself in Nanxia and were close to that Jade Flute Fairy."

"Cough, cough!"

Chen Tang lightly coughed twice.

Yuan Qingmu’s topic shift was too abrupt; the previous sentence lamented heartless people, and the next directly questioned him.

Chen Tang steadied himself and casually said: "Children of the Jianghu, when traveling, encounter difficulties, it’s inevitable to help each other. When I dove into the East Sea, narrowly escaping death, I drifted to the Hermit Continent, luckily meeting Miss Ye."

Yuan Qingmu blinked with envy, saying: "To meet an old friend in a foreign land, there must have been many interesting stories, tell me about them."

Chen Tang felt overwhelmed, sweating profusely.

Fortunately, between him and Ye Yushi, feelings were sparked, but propriety was maintained, without anything inappropriate happening.

Chen Tang briefly recounted his time on the Hermit Continent and later in Nanxia.

Of course, he didn’t mention the promise he made with Ye Yushi for a hundred years later.

He’s not foolish.

"It doesn’t sound like much."

Yuan Qingmu muttered.

Chen Tang exhaled lightly.

Yuan Qingmu pursued the question: "What’s the story with you being the Demon Monarch of Xiling?"

Chen Tang then briefly spoke about being captured by the Demon Venerable and escaping from the Demon Sect.

Of course, the entanglements with Luo Sha during the escape, he skimmed over.

Yuan Qingmu felt that something was off, pondering, and asked: "Listening to you, it seems like you’re not very familiar with the Xiling Saintess, but the way she looked at you was somewhat unusual."

"Really?"

Chen Tang played dumb.

Yuan Qingmu leaned in slightly, whispering: "Is there something you’re hiding from me about her? Confess honestly, I won’t be mad."

Not being mad would be strange.

Chen Tang thought to himself and, after some consideration, said: "Actually, it’s nothing much, just that in martial arts, I once engaged in deep discussions with the senior sister, sparring and interacting, with both of us gaining a lot."

That statement was indeed true.

After speaking, Chen Tang’s face remained calm, with no signs of nervousness.

Yuan Qingmu stared at Chen Tang for a while before bursting into laughter, saying: "Alright, I’ll let you go."

Chen Tang felt relieved.

Just then, it was even more exhausting than battling several Grandmasters.

The group rode their fast horses, traveling day and night, and finally arrived at an abandoned ferry in Yan State after a day’s journey.

Not far on the sea, seven large ships were anchored.

Seeing Chen Tang and the group appear, the seven ships slowly approached the shore.

Everyone dismounted.

Li Zhongmou asked: "Brother Chen, after this battle, I fear Daqian won’t hold out for long, with the heroes of Northern Divine Continent vying for dominance, do you really not want to stay here and make a name for yourself?"

"No."

Chen Tang shook his head and said, "One must have self-awareness. To contend for the world, I’m not capable of it."

Years ago, on the Snow Mountain, Emperor Wu often stared at the Three Thousand Snow Ridges, dazed and lost in thought.

Initially, Chen Tang didn’t know what Emperor Wu was thinking.

Later, he realized that there lay the spirits of countless Wu Dynasty soldiers who guarded the borders.

Contending for the world is not like fighting in the Jianghu.

War is exceptionally brutal.

Once you embark on this path, Chen Tang did not know how many of his friends would die on the battlefield.

How many of those around him would survive?

Emperor Wu was invincible back then, far more formidable than him.

Yet eventually, he was outmaneuvered, his efforts failed just short, the Wu Dynasty fell, and his family met tragic ends.

The Dao Sect never showed up.

This individual is the greatest hidden threat!

As long as the Dao Sect is not eradicated, regardless of who ultimately reigns supreme, they cannot escape being controlled by the Dao Sect.

Chen Tang does not want to end up like Emperor Wu, staring at the corpses of friends and family, grieving alone one day.

What he wants to do is prepare an escape for Yuan Qingmo, Mei Yingxue, and the others, to temporarily leave the Divine Land and depart from this abyssal whirlpool.

Before this, Chen Tang had asked Mei Yingxue about her thoughts.

Actually, after the Black Water King was slain by him, Mei Yingxue lost her aspirations, no longer wishing to lead One Plum through days of anxiety.

So, she almost agreed to Chen Tang’s proposal without hesitation.

Simultaneously, she gave the members of One Plum some time to consider.

If anyone wanted to cross the sea with her, they could board the ship together.

If anyone preferred to stay and pursue a career in the Divine Land, she wouldn’t insist.

Wei Qun, Wang Yanli, Chi Yun, and others stayed in Pingzhou, partly overseeing things, partly preparing for this.

On the decks of one of the seven large ships stood many people.

Close by, Chen Tang and the others could see clearly that these people were from One Plum, led by Wei Qun, Wang Yanli, and others.

"Eldest Master, besides the four of us, roughly a few hundred brothers choose to continue following you."

Wei Qun stepped off the ship and spoke to Mei Yingxue.

Leaving Pingzhou, One Plum had more than five thousand members left.

Now, only a few hundred had come.

Wang Yanli said, "The other brothers don’t necessarily not want to come with us, but leaving one’s homeland is tough; thinking about crossing the ocean, most brothers find it hard to accept."

"Moreover, with chaos approaching, many brothers wish to make a mark in the Divine Land."

Mei Yingxue nodded and said, "Hmm, everyone has their own aspirations."

Yuan Qingmo and others gradually boarded the ship.

In fact, he had long wished to leave the Imperial Court.

In Yuan Qingmo’s eyes, the Court is simply the world’s most filthy place.

Until today, he finally felt a sense of relief.

After Madam Lu and Lu Qing boarded, they looked back, recalling the decades spent here, a hint of longing and reluctance in their eyes.

But here had become the source of grief for the mother and daughter.

Leaving is good, starting a new life.

Of course, some chose to stay.

Like the fat old man, who only came to the Capital City to rescue people this time, naturally wouldn’t follow everyone to the Three Eastern Sea States.

Li Zhongmou, Li Shuhu, and the siblings Li Junqing would also not be boarding to leave.

After all, everything for the Li Family is in Liangzhou.

Changsun Ming also needed to stay in the Divine Land.

In the Daqian Nine Provinces, Yongzhou was within the Changsun Family’s sphere of influence; after today, he had to rush back to Yongzhou to handle the upcoming changes likely to occur in the Divine Land.

Liangzhou and Yongzhou shared borders.

At that time, if the Li Family and Changsun Family joined forces, they would become a formidable power in the Northern Divine Continent!

Those who were supposed to board had done so, and those who remained had made their decision.

Everyone bid farewell.

"Brother Chen, will we meet again in the future?"

Li Junqing looked at Chen Tang and softly asked.

"We probably will."

Chen Tang smiled slightly and said, "After settling them over there, I still have to come back."

Now, it’s uncertain what the outcome of the Transformation Realm battle in Qingzhou will be.

But regardless of victory or defeat, the Profound Celestial Sect won’t relent easily.

Through this battle, the Profound Celestial Sect Marshal suffered many casualties, but in fact, its foundation remained intact.

The core of Profound Celestial Sect is the Sect Leader and the two Protectors.

With these three still alive, the Profound Celestial Sect could launch a counterattack at any time!

Furthermore, there’s still the Dao Sect, who has never shown itself.

"Buzz!"

At this moment, a long howl came from the sea surface.

It was the sound of the East Sea Giant Demon.

Nearby, a colossal figure emerged on the sea, like a giant island, rushing towards here quickly!

Everyone on the ship was shocked and horrified.

"Change direction, fast, fast!"

"Hurry, hurry!"

The ship captain shouted loudly, the crew was in a flurry.

But the East Sea Giant Demon approached menacingly and quickly.

With the power of the East Sea Giant Demon, crashing like this would shatter all seven ships into fragments.

Despite everyone’s martial arts skills, once swallowed by the East Sea Giant Demon, their fate was grim.

At this instant, another roar sounded from the shore, resonating with the East Sea Giant Demon’s call.