Chapter 80: Prince Zhongqing, Bound in the Clouds
"Fourth Senior Sister, who is that exiled prince you ntioned?"
After a mont of contemplation, Qin ran couldn't help but ask.
"It's the sa person you're thinking of," Shi Siling replied, clearly seeing through Qin ran's thoughts. "The Second Prince of the Golden Feather Divine Dynasty, Shang Zhongqing."
Shang Zhongqing!
The mont this na appeared, Qin ran's brows furrowed.
The Second Prince of the Golden Feather Divine Dynasty. At his birth, a Golden-Feathered Roc had soared through the nine heavens, and he was deeply favored by the old Divine Emperor. Later, this person displayed astonishing talent, cultivating at an incredible pace. As a prince, he earned the title of a peerless genius.
"If I rember correctly, according to the rumors back then, this Shang Zhongqing was the prince destined to inherit the Golden Feather throne. How could he have been exiled by the Divine Dynasty?" Qin ran asked incredulously.
Shi Siling said coldly, "He killed his elder brother, killed his younger brother, and killed his mother."
What?
Qin ran's eyes widened.
Shi Siling continued indifferently, "This person was always extrely cruel by nature, a born killer. He was just very good at hiding it back then, so outsiders didn't know. I personally witnessed his exile. At that ti, countless commoners of the entire Golden Feather Divine Dynasty ca out to curse him."
"This..." Qin ran pursed her lips. While shocked, she also felt confused.
After all, back in the day, this person was highly praised by the outside world. Terms like exceptionally talented, respectful to teachers, virtuous, kind-hearted, and benevolent—many such rumors were once attached to him. Who would have thought that suddenly... this person's reputation could change so drastically?
"I had also heard before that this prince fled to Cloud Firmant City. Out of pity, the Golden Feather Divine Emperor ultimately did not pursue him to the end. Now it seems that the Lingbao Pavilion must be the foundation established by this Second Prince."
"If that's really the case, ran, you don't need to dwell too much on the Lingbao Pavilion's evaluation. Soone who could be driven out by his own father is inherently short-sighted and lacking in vision." Shi Siling didn't forget to comfort Qin ran.
Qin ran nodded, feeling sowhat emotional. "I just didn't expect the change to be so great. Back then, Gu Xiu once said that although this person was skilled in scheming and strategy, he was still a proper gentleman. Who would have thought..."
"What's so hard to understand about that?" Shi Siling smiled. "I actually think this is normal."
"Ah?"
"Junior Sister, aren't you clearer than I am about what kind of person Gu Xiu is? Back then, he also disguised himself. Speaking of which, they are quite alike. That they could beco friends back then was probably because birds of a feather flock together."
"This..." Qin ran lowered her gaze, her heart filled with complexity.
Shi Siling didn't pay attention to Qin ran's unusual reaction. "I once heard you say sothing, ran: 'Draw a circle on the ground to beco a prison, separating us; sever emotions and cut ties, never to et again.'"
"I think that phrase is very well said!"
"With such people, we really should sever our karma as soon as possible. Otherwise, who knows when we might beco like Shang Zhongqing and end up harming our Azure Mystic Sacred Land instead."
After saying a few more words, Shi Siling got up to leave. However, before departing, she offered one last comfort.
"Don't worry too much about the Lingbao Pavilion's matters. A dignified prince engaging in rchant trade—it simply shas the title of Divine Dynasty Prince. Such a person is just trash; don't let a few insults from trash upset you."
"As for the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, I think there's even less need to worry. Since they don't want our talismans, we'll just use them ourselves anyway. It doesn't earn many Spirit Stones to begin with; no need to lower our own worth. Cultivating oneself is key."
To all this, Qin ran naturally nodded.
But after Shi Siling left, as if guided by so unseen force, Qin ran took out a book of poetry.
She glanced at a corner of the title page where three characters were written: Gifted by Gu Xiu.
She opened it to a certain page and looked at a particular passage.
In youth I boasted of my soaring pen.
Now spring blossoms have all fallen,
My heart filled with desolation.
As she read on, Qin ran felt uncomfortable inside. She abruptly closed the poetry book and then tore it into pieces with one hand, throwing the confetti into a corner nearby. With a cold and stern expression, she whispered:
From now on, our sounds and dust each fade quietly,
Spring mountains like dark brows,
Grass like mist.
"Gu Xiu... Not killing you is already rembering the past. Do not disturb my heart again!"
The scene unfolding at the Azure Mystic Sacred Land was unknown to Gu Xiu at this mont.
Or perhaps, even if he knew, it would not cause the slightest ripple.
At this mont, Gu Xiu, wearing the face of a middle-aged goateed rogue cultivator, sat with an utterly calm expression in the lakeside pavilion of an Eastern City mansion.
Across from him sat a man radiating fierce murderous aura and frenzied energy.
This man stared fixedly at Gu Xiu, as if he could transform at any mont into a beast choosing its prey, ready to devour him whole.
Just one glance made it clear: this man was an utterly unrestrained madman.
However, facing this intensely oppressive gaze, Gu Xiu remained completely calm.
Only inwardly did he sigh slightly.
Although he had seen Shang Zhongqing in that glimpse spanning ten thousand years, seeing him in person still evoked so emotion.
He had changed greatly from his forr self.
"You just said your surna is Jia?" Shang Zhongqing asked coldly.
Gu Xiu nodded, giving the na belonging to this face. "Jia Yi."
"Jia Yi?" Shang Zhongqing stared at Gu Xiu. "You have quite so nerve. Knowing full well about our competition between the Lingbao Pavilion and the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, you still dare to interfere?"
"Business is about mutual benefit; it can't be called interference. If conditions are sufficient, we can cooperate with the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, and naturally, we can also cooperate with your Lingbao Pavilion," Gu Xiu replied flatly.
"Oh?" Shang Zhongqing raised an eyebrow. "Who are 'you people'?"
"That cannot be said."
"Since it cannot be said, can I perform a Soul Search then?"
"You won't."
Shang Zhongqing sneered. "You think I'm just a paper tiger?"
"That's not it." Gu Xiu shook his head. "It's just... this is your only chance to make contact with us. If you miss it, you will never have another opportunity in this lifeti."
Shang Zhongqing smiled disdainfully. "You think I'm afraid?"
"It's not so much about fear; it's more that you might miss the chance to escape Cloud Firmant City," Gu Xiu said, giving Shang Zhongqing a deep look.
Upon hearing these words, Shang Zhongqing's pupils contracted slightly.
Gu Xiu continued.
"Very few know that the Second Prince of the Golden Feather Divine Dynasty ca to Cloud Firmant City. Even fewer know that this Second Prince did not co voluntarily, but was trapped here, unable to take half a step beyond the city walls."
A surge of killing intent erged instantly as Gu Xiu finished speaking.
Gu Xiu was right.
Shang Zhongqing was in Cloud Firmant City not by choice, but forcibly bound here, unable to leave even half a step!
As for this killing intent, Gu Xiu acted as if he didn't notice it at all. He continued speaking calmly.
"Cooperate with us, and you have a chance to break free from these bonds. But if you refuse..."
"What happens if I refuse?"
"If you refuse... for us, it rely ans losing one potential partner. But for Fellow Daoist Shang... you will lose everything."
"What big talk!" Shang Zhongqing sneered.
"Whether it's big talk or not... I believe Fellow Daoist Shang understands better than I do."
Gu Xiu shook his head, his gaze once again turning deep as he looked at Shang Zhongqing.
"It's been so long... Fellow Daoist Shang must have already noticed the abnormality in your body?"
This ti, genuine shock appeared in Shang Zhongqing's eyes.
"Although you left the Golden Feather Divine Dynasty many years ago... so people do not wish for you to remain alive. Cloud Firmant City is not just a cage trapping you; it is also a millstone grinding you down bit by bit."
"You understand this... yet are powerless against it. You can only desperately gather resources within Cloud Firmant City to prolong your own life. That's why you beca so anxious when we cooperated with the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion."
At this point, Gu Xiu asked, "Is what I'm saying correct?"
From beginning to end, Gu Xiu's tone remained exceptionally steady—so steady it seed unlike that of a Qi Condensation cultivator.
Yet precisely these words, spoken in such a steady tone, made Shang Zhongqing completely lose his composure.
Because everything Gu Xiu said... was true!
Back then he was forced to leave the Divine Dynasty, bearing curses from all sides. He even willingly allowed himself to be trapped in Cloud Firmant City, thinking it was an end.
Yet he never imagined soone still wouldn't let him go—they had tampered with things within this cage itself.
His ti... was running out!
"How do you know all this?"
Shang Zhongqing stared fixedly at Gu Xiu; his Divine Sense had already thoroughly probed Gu Xiu inside and out multiple tis.
Facing all this probing calmly, Gu Xiu responded simply.
"We... might be stronger than Fellow Daoist Shang imagines."
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