“Chu Kuangren is within the palace compound, cancel the operation!”
“Get everyone to retreat.”
“Damn it, with Chu Kuangren in the palace, our plan to assassinate the Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler has failed. Everyone, fall back.”
“With Chu Kuangren around, there’s no way we’ll succeed.”
In a tower within the palace, Chu Kuangren was smirking at the quiet streets before him.
“Looks like these people do have some common sense in them after all.”
The number of people who were keen on stopping the Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler was no less than those who previously attempted to stop Honourable Xuan Qi.
However, with Chu Kuangren standing there, there was no way anyone would dare to act rashly.
It was a rather smooth-sailing journey for the Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler’s ascension.
Boom!
As magical clouds formed in the distance, a surge of powerful Daoist Rhymes spread across the realm. Although it did not resemble the level of a Sage, it did come incredibly close to it.
The Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler had successfully ascended into a Boundary Sage.
“Long live the Ruler!”
“Long live the Ruler!”
Upon noticing the conjuration, the million-men strong army was overwhelmed with excitement as they cheered at the top of their lungs.
Chu Kuangren caressed his ears. “Now that’s loud.”
However, he was happy for the Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler’s successful ascension.
The next day, the Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler proceeded to throw an appreciation party for the army’s generals. Naturally, Chu Kuangren was also invited to the event.
In the palace grand hall.
As the banquet hit a high note, countless glasses were clinked against one another.
The Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler was blushing from all the drinks he had taken. He was in an extremely good mood.
“Come, this glass is dedicated to all of you beloved officials!”
“Thank you, Ruler!”
The crowd finished the glass in one shot.
“For the second glass, I shall dedicate it to my son-in-law. If it wasn’t for your Thundersoother Rods and medicinal pills, this ascension trial would surely not have gone so smoothly. Come, let’s drink to that.”
“Father, you’re giving me too much credit.”
When the banquet ended, the Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler kept Chu Kuangren with him.
“Kuangren, now that I’ve become a Boundary Sage, I intend to be like your teacher and go in seclusion and stay behind the scenes.”
“Eh? What about the Royal Azure Dynasty then?”
“This is what I plan to discuss with you. What do you think about having Linglong take over as the Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler?!”
The Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler looked at Chu Kuangren with bright eyes.
Chu Kuangren was astonished. He had never thought the Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler would make such a decision.
“Although having a female ruler isn’t unprecedented in the Royal Azure Dynasty’s history, it’s still considered a rare occurrence. Have you thought this out?”
“As long as she’s capable, her gender doesn’t matter.”
“Did you make such a decision because of me?”
“Ha! That is only a part of the reason. More importantly, I feel that Linglong is more suited to take over my throne.”
Although Chu Kuangren’s relationship with Princess Linglong did play a role in the Ruler’s decision, what made it clear for him was Princess Linglong’s abilities.
In the past few years, the demeanor, attitude, and skills that Princess Linglong exhibited were the most remarkable amongst all the princes and princesses.
Not even Gu Changge could rival her abilities.
“I see.”
Chu Kuangren contemplated. “Does Linglong know about this?”
“I’ve yet to tell her, but I’m sure she’ll agree to it. After all, she’s an ambitious and tactical woman. I’m sure you’re clear about this.”
“That of course.”
Chu Kuangren smiled gently.
Chu Kuangren may not have spent much time with Princess Linglong, but they’ve known each other for years. Chu Kuangren was clear just what kind of a person Princess Linglong was.
She was a career-driven woman with remarkable capabilities and ambitions. It would be very improbable for Princess Linglong to reject becoming the queen.
“I’ll have her shadow after me for some time before I progressively transfer all the administrative works to her. Once she’s officially crowned, I shall rescind my kingship and begin to build the foundations to Sagehood behind the scene.”
“Okay, I understand.”
“Don’t you have any concerns about this?” asked the Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler curiously.
“What’s there to be concerned about? When Princess Linglong is queen, it brings no harm to me. What more, if this is what Princess Linglong wants, I’ll pledge my full support for her.” Chu Kuangren smiled brightly.
He was aware that the Royal Azure Dynasty Ruler was concerned if Chu Kuangren would dislike his partner being too influential.
However, Chu Kuangren did not even have a shred of such a thought.
A man appearing weak after a woman rose to power?
There was no such thing for Chu Kuangren.
No matter how powerful Princess Linglong would become once she was crowned the queen, Chu Kuangren would always remind Princess Linglong that they belonged to each other.
…
After staying in the Royal Azure Dynasty for a few days, Chu Kuangren finally left.
Before continuing to wander around, he first paid a visit to the Ancient Battlefield.
Ever since Chu Kuangren obliterated much of the tormented souls in the Ancient Battlefield, their numbers had yet to recover.
As a result, many adventurers had come to visit this place.
Of course, the Core Area of the Ancient Battlefield remained a forbidden area that no one dared step foot in.
However, at that moment, Chu Kuangren was standing at the boundary of the Core Area.
He retrieved the jade talisman that was given to him by the White-Robed General.
It was Chu Kuangren’s arrangement with the White-Robed General that he would display the jade talisman in the Ancient Battlefield should he wished to see the White-Robed General.
The White-Robed General would follow its aura to Chu Kuangren’s location.
Not long after.
A white figure appeared in a far corner of Chu Kuangren’s vision.
The figure was dressed in white robes, armed with a long spear and his face was concealed by a mask. It was none other than the mysterious White-Robed General.
“Why did you want to see me?”
The White-Robed General asked.
“Take a look at this.” Chu Kuangren retrieved another jade talisman that was identical to the one given by the White-Robed General.
It was the jade talisman that Chu Kuangren had gotten from Lou Yun. It was said to be an item that was passed down by generations before her.
It was also quite possibly an item that belonged to the Lou Kingdom’s princess.
The White-Robed General jumped at the sight of the jade talisman and immediately rushed to grab it for a closer look.
“This is it. This is Ah Yu’s talisman.”
The Ah Yu whom the White-Robed General was referring to was precisely the former princess of the Lou Kingdom.
“Have you found our descendant?”
The White-Robed General was incredulous.
It had only been a few days since he last met Chu Kuangren.
The White-Robed General had expected Chu Kuangren to take more than a millennium to locate his descendants. Yet within a few short days, Chu Kuangren had retrieved Ah Yu’s jade talisman and brought it to him.
Such efficiency was ridiculous.
“That’s right.” Chu Kuangren nodded.
“How are they doing?”
The White-Robed General asked. For a cultivator of the Sage Ruler Realm, the White-Robed General was feeling incredibly uneasy at that moment as he was fearful that Chu Kuangren might bring any bad news.
“Rest assured, both the mother and her daughter are well taken care of.”
“Mother and daughter?”
“That’s right.”
Chu Kuangren narrated the entire story of Lou Yun and Shang Qingxue to the White-Robed General.
Only then did the White-Robed General breathe a sigh of relief.
The White-Robed General looked far in the direction of Shang clan and solemnly said to Chu Kuangren, “Thank you so much!”
“Not a problem. It is my pleasure for helping you, Senior.”
The White-Robed General did not say anything else and instead, he retrieved a strand of innate ferocious qi to Chu Kuangren. He said, “This is an innate ferocious qi that I’ve gotten from a tormented soul. You should have it.”
“In that case, I’ll take it.”
With a smile, Chu Kuangren immediately received the innate ferocious qi, absorbing its power while his Infallible Tormented Body grew even more.
“Shang Qingxue is joining the Black Heaven Sect, right?”
“Yes. Barring any unexpected circumstances, she should’ve passed the entry test by now and officially enrolled into the Black Heaven Sect.”
Two days before, Chu Kuangren had already transmitted a message to Elder Ruyan to pay more attention to Shang Qingxue.
After all, her forefather was the White-Robed General, a Sage Ruler Ancestor who was still in this world. It was more appropriate to do a favor for her.
“In that case, I shall leave Qingxue in your good hands.”
“Not a problem.”
“If there are no other issues, I shall take my leave now.”
The White-Robed General hung the jade talisman that Chu Kuangren brought around his neck and turned back into the Core Area.
“We should go too.”
Chu Kuangren then left along with Lan Yu.
All of a sudden, Chu Kuangren received a transmission message from Elder Ruyan. When he finished reading the message, Chu Kuangren was startled. “Sky-Pride Championship?”