Chapter 650 - 443: Rupture (Part 2)

This man was a guard transferred from Zongshan by the Chunyu Clan after they learned of Chunyu Hua’s defeat in the duel. On the surface, it seemed like a show of support from the main clan, but everyone understood he was both a guard and a spy sent to observe Chunyu Hua.

"Very well. I understand. I’ll leave this place in your care, Commander Xu."

"It is my duty. Say no more."

After the brief exchange, Hao Shi walked to the very center of the mobile palace, into the great hall where Chunyu Hua was.

The first thing he saw was a visibly drunk Chunyu Hua with his arms around two Golden Core Female Cultivator sisters named Jin Zhi and Yu Ye. These two had once been Qi Cultivation Female Cultivators possessing special Dao Bodies. After Chunyu Hua took a liking to them, he had them brought to him to jointly study the Triple Cultivation Dao.

Lavished with Chunyu Hua’s resources and aided by a fortuitous opportunity, they both eventually reached the Golden Core Realm, becoming a celebrated tale for a time.

However, Golden Core Cultivators made this way possessed pathetic combat strength. Their only real skill was in the bedroom, forcing them to depend on Chunyu Hua. If they were let loose in the White Mountain Territory, they would likely be abducted by powerful men and kept as collectibles within days.

"Jun Feng, you’re here. Quick, sit down. Have a few drinks with me."

Hao Shi, whom Chunyu Hua had called Jun Feng, frowned at Chunyu Hua’s debauched appearance. He took a step forward and spoke.

"Young Master, you cannot drink anymore. It is late; you should get some rest."

Chunyu Hua waved his hands repeatedly, struggling to free himself from the embrace of the two female cultivators beside him. He then picked up two wine goblets, stepped down from the Jade Couch, and walked over to Hao Shi, handing one to him.

"Drink. This is my command. What, are you not even going to listen to me now?"

A flicker of self-mockery flashed in Hao Shi’s eyes. He took the goblet and drained it in one gulp, then quietly watched Chunyu Hua.

Seeing Hao Shi down the Spirit Wine, Chunyu Hua bent over, laughing loudly. He stumbled back to his Jade Couch and pointed a finger at Hao Shi.

"Du Junfeng, I rescued you from a deserted island in the Outer Sea all those years ago. If it weren’t for me, you’d have been long dead. It’s been one hundred and thirty years, and I’ve trusted you completely all this time. I never asked about your past, but now I just want to know... is the name Du Junfeng your real name?"

Hao Shi was silent. After a long moment, he finally nodded.

Seeing this, Chunyu Hua raised his goblet high. "I question the moon on a clear breeze, yet consign my worries to the passing years... The name ’Hao’ represents the vast, boundless sky, while ’Shi’ means to serve and attend. Back when I first left the Chunyu Clan, I was arrogant and knew nothing of the world, so I copied a scene from an opera, rescued you, and gave you the name Hao Shi. Thinking about it now, it’s ridiculous. What right did I have to give a servant a name like ’Hao Shi’?"

His expression turning dejected, Chunyu Hua drank the wine in his cup and continued muttering to himself, "Back then, you were only at Foundation Establishment. In terms of Cultivation Techniques, you were my inferior. In terms of talent, you were also my inferior. And in terms of resources, you were even more inferior to me. So I really want to know, how, over all these years, did your cultivation level surpass mine—a direct descendant of a Divinity Transformation Lineage—to reach the late-stage Golden Core?"

This was a question Hao Shi could not answer, but Chunyu Hua provided his own.

"It’s because you went behind my back and joined a secret organization. In this organization, you received unimaginable rewards. So now you should be able to understand why I brought the mobile palace here today."

Hao Shi’s expression finally changed. He hurriedly knelt in submission. Having his deepest secret exposed by Chunyu Hua left him at a complete loss. ’Only three people were there that day,’ he thought. ’How could Chunyu Hua possibly know?’

CLANG!

The goblet fell from Chunyu Hua’s hand. Then, a large group of guards rushed in from outside the hall. These guards were all clad in heavy armor, with gleaming runes that resonated with one another, pulsing rhythmically like a single, shared breath.

The Spiritual Light from each guard’s armor linked together, forming an even larger Array. The core of this Array converged on the leader at the very front—the same Commander Xu who had greeted Hao Shi earlier.

BOOM!

The great doors of the mobile palace slammed shut. The Tier Three High-Grade Array set up on the palace suddenly activated. While Hao Shi found himself restricted, everyone else received buffs of varying degrees. About half of the Array’s enhancements converged on Commander Xu.

At this moment, Commander Xu, bolstered by so many enhancements, felt his Magical Power swell to the peak of the Golden Core Perfection Realm. But in Hao Shi’s eyes, this spectacle was something he simply ignored.

His gaze remained fixed on Chunyu Hua’s face. "I did join a secret organization, but I swear I have never done a single thing to wrong you."

"Oh? So when your superior ordered you to bewitch me and control me, that wasn’t real either?"

A mocking smile played on Chunyu Hua’s lips. Seeing it, Hao Shi knew with painful clarity that Chunyu Hua no longer had even a shred of trust in him.

Hao Shi closed his eyes in anguish. "My initial reason for joining that organization was simply to improve my cultivation so I could better protect you. Whether you believe me or not, that was my original intention."

"So I’ve wronged you, then? In that case, I’ll give you a chance. Destroy your own meridians and become a mortal. Then, we’ll be even."

After Chunyu Hua spoke these words, a dead silence fell over the hall. At this moment, everyone’s gaze was fixed on Hao Shi.

But after a few breaths, Hao Shi slowly rose to his feet, a powerful aura erupting from his body.

"I am a Cultivator, too! I am also one who seeks immortality! What is wrong with pursuing a higher realm?

I have never done anything to wrong you, so why treat me this way? Young Master Hua, I am grateful that you saved my life back then, but I have risked life and limb for you for so many years—I have long since repaid that debt! With my current realm, I should have been granted my freedom long ago. Have you ever heard of a Nascent Soul Cultivator serving as someone’s slave?"

At this, the expressions of everyone present changed. The aura emanating from Hao Shi was even more powerful than that of Commander Xu, who had gathered the strength of over a hundred guards.

This was a level beyond what the Golden Core Perfection Realm could achieve. This Hao Shi had actually touched the edge of the Nascent Soul Realm.

"You’ve been hiding your realm all this time? And you still claim you have no treacherous intentions?"

Commander Xu, at the back, was under immense pressure. He gritted his teeth and roared, but unexpectedly, Hao Shi—no, he should be called Du Junfeng—laughed and shot back:

"How could a sparrow understand the ambition of a swan? A real man is born between heaven and earth; how could he be content to remain subservient forever? You’re also at the Golden Core Realm. Are you really going to be a guard for your entire life? If you don’t have the courage to break free, I doubt you’ll ever see the scenery of the Nascent Soul Realm."

"You...! Stop trying to sow discord! With Elder Ya here, you won’t make it out of this mobile palace!"

Commander Xu’s aura had already weakened considerably, but the mention of Elder Ya boosted everyone’s morale. ’That’s right,’ they thought. ’No matter how strong Du Junfeng is, could he possibly defeat Elder Ya, a Nascent Soul Cultivator?’

"Elder Ya? Haha! None of you understand what a Nascent Soul Cultivator truly values. Is it magical treasures? Elixir Pills? Cultivation Techniques? No! It’s the possibility of advancing even further! Therefore, Elder Ya will not be making an appearance today."

BANG!

After the loud noise, Fang Qingyuan’s voice rang out:

"You seem pretty confident. Arrogant, too. But Elder Ya isn’t showing up because I told him not to. I’m going to kill you with my own two hands!"

Fang Qingyuan kicked open the gate of the mobile palace, the force of the blow shaking the vast hall three times over. He then retracted his throbbing toes, and with a deadpan expression, stepped into the hall with Qiqi and the others.

"It’s you!?"

Du Junfeng recognized Fang Qingyuan. He looked on in disbelief, glancing back at Chunyu Hua and then at Fang Qingyuan, unable to comprehend why these two enemies were now gathered here together.

It wasn’t just Du Junfeng; everyone present, except for Chunyu Hua, wore a look of utter shock.

Furthermore, Fang Qingyuan’s earlier words were packed with an enormous amount of information, shattering their understanding of the situation. ’What did he mean, Elder Ya wasn’t appearing on his say-so? Could he actually command Elder Ya?’

"See? I told you. He’s not the type to willingly die for you. How about it? You believe me now, right? Alright, let’s hurry up. Everyone’s getting impatient. Let’s get this started!"