Undying Life

Chapter 696: Chapter 696: Coercing Nu Qinghui

After chatting with Huan Ji for a while, Zhongshan left the secret chamber and headed towards the library pavilion, Tianyuan Ge. Mud Bodhisattva, Wang Ku, Shui Jing, Yi Yan, Ling Er, Bao Er, and Bei Qingsi were all waiting in Tianyuan Ge.

Interrogating Nu Qinghui was unavoidable, but Zhongshan knew he had to settle matters concerning Da Guo first.

"Zhongshan, are you alright?" Tian Ling'er was the first to rush up and check Zhongshan's condition.

Bao Er and Bei Qingsi also looked at Zhongshan with concern.

"I'm perfectly fine!" Zhongshan replied with a smile.

"You're lying. I saw it that day—your left shoulder was injured, and your right hand was covered in blood!" Tears welled up in Tian Ling'er's eyes.

Bao Er pulled Tian Ling'er towards Zhongshan. "That day, Ling'er cried non-stop when she saw you injured. Are you really okay?"

Bao Er's eyes were filled with worry, while Bei Qingsi, though silent, showed her concern through her gaze.

"I'm completely fine now, aren't I? Look at my palm, where's the injury?" Zhongshan reassured them.

"But..." Bei Qingsi still worried.

"Wait for me at Bao Er's palace. Tonight, I'll let you check, alright?" Zhongshan smiled.

Upon hearing Zhongshan's words, the three women blushed slightly and nodded.

After seeing off the three women, Zhongshan turned to the remaining four.

"Mud Bodhisattva, Wang Ku, how did the investigation into Changsheng Realm go?" Zhongshan asked solemnly.

"We couldn't delve deep. The heritage of Changsheng Realm is truly profound!" Mud Bodhisattva shook his head with a sigh.

"Oh?"

"After probing Changsheng Realm, we ventured slightly inward but were soon detected by a strong presence there. A five-colored divine light flashed, and we dared not linger, immediately retreating!" Mud Bodhisattva sighed again.

"A five-colored divine light?" Zhongshan squinted. Facing Kong Lie Tian on Phoenix Island, he had once displayed a three-colored divine light. Now, someone in Changsheng Realm could produce a five-colored divine light?

"Yes, it's similar to the legendary divine light of Kong Hou, the strong elder of the Peacock Clan from thousands of years ago, but even stronger! When the five-colored divine light appeared, the heavens and earth changed!" Mud Bodhisattva said in a deep voice.

"There really is such an extraordinary figure. Did he not pursue you at that time?" Zhongshan wondered.

"No!" Mud Bodhisattva shook his head.

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"I feel like he's recuperating," suddenly said Wang Ku.

"Oh?"

"Just a feeling—he's powerful but seemingly unable to leave Changsheng Realm, likely because he's recuperating or for some other reason," speculated Wang Ku.

"Hmm." Zhongshan nodded.

Perhaps that person who took away the Swords of Extermination, Imprisonment, and Eternal Extermination that day was him. Changsheng Realm actually harbors such an old monster?

"Your Majesty, the battle a few days ago has made Your Majesty famous throughout the world. Countless talents are now preparing to participate in our country's imperial examinations because of Your Majesty's battle, marveling at how you single-handedly repelled the four Great Heavenly Boundaries. It's truly incredible. Before this, many speculated that Da Guo would perish in this disaster!" Shui Jing chuckled beside him.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Of course, Your Majesty's single-handed retreat of all four Great Heavenly Boundaries is simply unbelievable. Previously, people speculated that our Da Guo might perish in this calamity!" Shui Jing sighed.

"Perish in this calamity? Haha, it was close, mainly because Divine Raven Daojun was too stingy!" Zhongshan shook his head.

Divine Raven Daojun was too stingy? The crowd hesitated for a moment, then nodded one after another. Yeah, too stingy. In the underworld, in order to stir up a family, Zhongshan gathered nearly five Great Heavenly Boundaries, five Earth Immortals, one Heavenly Ghost, and even Xuan Yuan and Yin Luo. Excluding Zhongshan himself, this is at least thirteen Great Heavenly Boundaries.

Divine Raven Daojun made such a big fuss, yet only brought seven? This is the Yang Realm, where the strong are more numerous than in the Yin Realm, and only this few came. If it's not stinginess, what is it?

"It was Divine Raven Daojun who underestimated His Majesty. Underestimating His Majesty means paying the price!" Yi Yan sighed.

Zhongshan's development was incredibly rapid, so much so that describing it as monstrous might not be an exaggeration. His pace was so fast that it was hard to keep up with his thinking. Seven? Divine Raven Daojun dared to lead seven Heavenly Boundaries to storm an imperial court and enter a holy land, yet who would have thought that the seven Heavenly Boundaries would suffer a major setback in a small empire?

"Alright, enough about him. What's the situation on your side?" Zhongshan turned to Shui Jing and Yi Yan.

"The four invading empires are now in chaos. With the support of the Da Rong Commerce Guild, they will be completely pacified within half a year," Shui Jing reported.

"Good."

"The Great Devouring Plan has caused instability among the remaining twenty empires. Loyalty to rulers and ministers is in disarray. In the next six months, with our efforts, surely more than half of these empires will collapse. Of course, some wise emperors might see through it all," Yi Yan sighed.

"Indeed. Out of twenty-four empires, four are already in our hands. For the remaining twenty, if in half a year we can take twelve, I will be very satisfied," Zhongshan remarked.

"Your Majesty need not worry. With the Da Rong Commerce Guild providing 'Scenic Jade Tablets,' the rulers of the fallen empires will surely welcome us to take over their cities," Yi Yan said with a smile.

"I trust you with this," Zhongshan nodded.

After dealing with state affairs, Zhongshan headed to the Hall of Longevity. As he approached, the ministers bowed deeply.

"Long live His Majesty, long live, long live!"

Like a contagion, the call of 'long live' echoed outside the palace among the common people.

"Long live His Majesty, long live, long live!"

The people's cheers were a heartfelt expression of reverence for Zhongshan, who had become a spiritual pillar for them. The unity of Da Guo was growing stronger by the day.

Seeing the ministers bowing and hearing the thunderous cheers from outside, Zhongshan felt elated.

"You may all retire. We will convene tomorrow morning," Zhongshan addressed the ministers who had been waiting.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The ministers responded in unison and dispersed.

After dismissing the ministers, Zhongshan waved his hand, and all the guards around left as well.

Only then did Zhongshan step into the Hall of Longevity.

Inside the hall, there were only two people: Nu Qinghui and Emperor Xuan Sha. Emperor Xuan Sha looked at Zhongshan with satisfaction, while Nu Qinghui, devoid of any nervousness, gazed at Zhongshan with a peculiar expression.

"I've restrained her with a special technique. She cannot perform any spells and is now like an ordinary person," Emperor Xuan Sha said.

"Thank you," Zhongshan replied.

"Hmm," Emperor Xuan Sha nodded.

"You can start the interrogation. I'll take my leave," Emperor Xuan Sha said.

"Alright," Zhongshan nodded.

In the blink of an eye, Emperor Xuan Sha vanished, leaving only Zhongshan and Nu Qinghui in the grand hall.

Neither spoke a word as Nu Qinghui gazed at Zhongshan, who began to circle around her slowly. Zhongshan intended to exert pressure on her, but Nu Qinghui remained eerily calm.

Seeing his efforts to unsettle her fail, Zhongshan stepped forward and stared directly into Nu Qinghui's eyes.

"An extraordinary figure," he remarked nonchalantly, "Just with this body alone, you can incite desire in countless men."

Nu Qinghui remained silent as Zhongshan reached out and removed her veil.

Her eyes widened, but Zhongshan continued, "A peerless beauty, the finest in the world! Even women would be captivated by you, a supreme enchantress. If there were a contest for the most beautiful woman in the world, you would be the undisputed winner!"

Nu Qinghui looked at Zhongshan with a trace of confusion, unsure of his intentions.

Zhongshan threw her veil to the ground, his gaze turning cold. "But beneath that unmatched beauty lies a heart as venomous as a serpent's!" he snapped.

"Thank you for the compliment!" Nu Qinghui replied, completely unfazed.

Zhongshan squinted at her, "In the past, at the Frozen Empire, I spared you because of Zi Xun and Nian Youyou, yet you remain unrepentant and dare to offend me again?"

"I'm a bad woman," Nu Qinghui said with a smile.

That smile was like a hundred flowers blooming, captivating even Zhongshan, despite his resolve. It was undeniable that her beauty had the power to enchant the masses.

"Tell me, what is the blue light you injected into me?" Zhongshan asked sternly.

Nu Qinghui merely smiled and remained silent.

"I'm not one of your admirers who will show you mercy! If you don't speak, don't blame me for resorting to extreme measures," Zhongshan warned.

"Extreme measures?" Nu Qinghui looked at Zhongshan with curiosity, but he detected a flicker of panic in her calm gaze.

Zhongshan smiled faintly and began to scrutinize Nu Qinghui from head to toe. His unabashed gaze made her increasingly uneasy. Her breath quickened, causing her ample chest to heave noticeably.

Satisfied with her reaction, Zhongshan continued to stare until their eyes met. He saw a flash of panic in her eyes.

"I'll count to three. If you still refuse to speak, you'll have only yourself to blame," Zhongshan said sternly.

The vagueness of his threat only intensified the fear it invoked.

"One!"

Nu Qinghui frowned.

"Two!"

Nu Qinghui's eyes tightened, but she bit her lip and remained silent.

"Three!"

As Zhongshan finished counting, Nu Qinghui involuntarily stepped back.

"You still won't talk? Then don't blame me!" Zhongshan stepped forward, and Nu Qinghui took another step back in retreat.

Just as Zhongshan was about to take action, a voice he did not wish to hear rang out from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～!" came the distant voice of Liu Wushuang.

Zhongshan's brow furrowed as he looked towards the source of the interruption, while Nu Qinghui breathed a sigh of relief.

"What is it?" Zhongshan asked sharply.

Perhaps sensing the anger in his tone, Liu Wushuang did not dare approach. "The other day, Zi Xun arrived again and requests an audience with Your Majesty!" she called from a distance.

Zhongshan glanced at Nu Qinghui and, after a moment of thought, responded, "Let her in! And once she's inside, everyone else withdraw a thousand feet from the Hall of Longevity and activate the isolation array! No one is to disturb us!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"