454: Two conditions

"What is it?" Zhao Tingzhi's brows furrowed sharply, an alarm bell ringing in his heart. He instinctively leaned forward, his body taut as a bowstring, his posture of vigilance clear.

Xiao Zhuo's lips parted slightly, slowly uttering four words.

His voice wasn't loud, but it struck like a thunderclap, echoing through the silent hall:

"Heaven-Opening Inheritance!"

Boom—

The four words seemed to possess substance, crashing into their ears with immense force. Feng Changge's pupils contracted sharply to pinpricks, the color draining from his face in an instant, leaving him as pale as paper!

Zhao Tingzhi, even more so, straightened his back abruptly, a ferocious Evil Qi that he could no longer suppress erupting like a dam-breaking flood!

It was as if a sleeping Vicious Beast had suddenly opened its eyes, its Divine Sense locking onto Xiao Zhuo like an iron chain.

The wine cups on the table trembled slightly, stirred by his Aura, ripples spreading out!

This reaction—it was exactly what he wanted!

Xiao Zhuo sneered inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged.

The mask of humble gentleness on Feng Changge's face shattered completely, replaced by an icy chill and sharpness, as if his reverse scale had been touched.

His voice was tight, almost one word at a time: "'Heaven-Opening Inheritance'... Junior, I've only heard a few legends and have never seen it with my own eyes! I wonder where Senior heard such absurd rumors, to actually believe... Junior would possess such an ethereal item?"

The smile had long vanished from Zhao Tingzhi's face, his bushy beard trembling slightly from his clenched jaw.

He stared intently at Xiao Zhuo, the Immortal Qi within him surging like a hidden tide, much like a volcano about to erupt, a dangerous Aura permeating the air.

"Your Highness need not be so nervous." Xiao Zhuo seemed utterly oblivious to the almost solidified killing intent, his tone still calm and composed.

His gaze shifted slightly, giving Zhao Tingzhi a meaningful glance.

The next instant, an invisible, formless, yet sharp as a heavenly blade, Divine Thought power silently pierced out!

Zhao Tingzhi's muscles tensed, his Divine Sense highly concentrated, guarding against any fluctuation of Immortal Qi—but he detected nothing, only feeling as if his Sea of Consciousness had been brutally struck by an invisible giant hammer!

"Ugh..."

With a suppressed grunt, the light in his eyes suddenly scattered, astonishment and disbelief frozen on his face.

His massive body swayed, then with a "thump," he heavily collapsed onto the table!

Cups and plates overturned, wine and dishes spilled, a scene of utter mess.

"Grandfather!" Feng Changge sprang up in alarm, crying out!

But Zhao Tingzhi had already fallen unconscious, his Sea of Consciousness completely sealed by a vast and unfathomable power, no longer reacting to his calls.

Witnessing his grandfather, a Quasi-Immortal, being silently incapacitated by the opponent's mere thought, utterly powerless to resist... Feng Changge felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet, instantly freezing his limbs and bones, as if his blood had congealed.

However, extreme fear, crushing his heart, instead gave rise to a desperate calmness.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his wildly beating heart, and slowly sat back down.

He tried to maintain his composure, but only his voice betrayed a hint of hoarseness: "Senior... truly impressive methods."

"Mere trifles, not worth mentioning. Your Highness need not mind it." Xiao Zhuo's tone was dismissive, as if he had merely brushed away a speck of dust.

Yet, this nonchalance was more unsettling than any ferocious threat.

It was clearly telling him: his life and death were at the opponent's whim.

The hall fell into a dead silence, only Feng Changge's slightly hurried breathing could be heard, and—

Drip.

Drop.

The spilled wine on Zhao Tingzhi's table was hitting the ground, sound by sound, also striking his heart.

Time seemed to stretch, every moment agonizing his nerves.

Thoughts raced through his mind, weighing pros and cons in an instant.

Finally, a hint of a lone wolf's determination flashed in his eyes.

"Since Senior has spoken to this point..." Feng Changge's voice was low, with a hoarseness that suggested he was staking everything, "Then Junior will no longer make futile attempts to conceal. The 'Heaven-Opening Inheritance'... Junior indeed possesses a portion of it."

His tone suddenly shifted, his gaze like a torch, fixed on Xiao Zhuo: "But this item is extraordinarily profound; Junior has obtained it until now, yet still hasn't comprehended even a fraction of it! If Senior desires it, it is not impossible... but, you must agree to two conditions from Junior!"

Xiao Zhuo's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained impassive, only raising an eyebrow slightly: "Your Highness, please speak."

"First!" Feng Changge's tone was decisive and unquestionable, "Please return the formation diagram to me!"

"Second!" His gaze was burning, alight with the madness of an all-or-nothing gamble, "Please, Senior, after my royal father ascends to Immortality, lend me a hand to seize the imperial throne!"

Without waiting for Xiao Zhuo's reply, he quickened his speech, like a gambler staking everything: "My royal father's ascension to Immortality is less than two months away; Senior need not wait too long! Furthermore—" He abruptly raised his hand and pointed to his forehead, his eyes resolute, "Senior need not bother with soul-searching techniques on me!"

"The memories concerning the specific location of the Legacy have already been sealed by Junior with a Divine Soul Restriction. With a single thought from me, it can be completely annihilated! At that time, even if Senior possesses heaven-defying abilities, you will surely gain nothing!"

Xiao Zhuo's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Feng Changge seized on this subtle change in expression, knowing that the other party was weighing the risks of forceful acquisition, and immediately pressed his advantage, his tone slightly softened but even more firm: "Senior Xiao, this is Junior's bottom line! The importance of that Legacy far surpasses the imperial throne! Although Junior has not fully comprehended it, I can still sense the supreme profundity it contains. How to choose, I ask Senior... to reconsider!"

Xiao Zhuo remained silent for a moment, not answering immediately.

A vast yet exquisitely precise Divine Sense spread out like an invisible tide, quietly probing towards Feng Changge's Sea of Consciousness.

Feng Changge's body suddenly stiffened, yet he did not resist. Instead, he strenuously gathered his mind, focusing all his consciousness tightly on the Restriction Seal deep within his Sea of Consciousness.

Like a trapped beast guarding its last Treasure Trove, every nerve was taut, ready to perish together at any moment.

Xiao Zhuo's Divine Sense slowly circulated and probed around the periphery of that Restriction.

The Restriction was indeed extremely strange and thorny; it was tightly linked to Feng Changge's Divine Soul, a single move affecting the whole body.

The moment of forceful breaking would be enough for the other party to detonate the Restriction, completely destroying the memories.

The atmosphere in the hall was so heavy it was almost suffocating.

Drip.

Drop.

The sound of wine falling to the ground was clearly audible, tapping at the silence.

Feng Changge completely held his breath, fine cold sweat beading on his forehead, awaiting the final judgment.

He knew he was gambling, staking his life and future.

But he felt—this gamble was worth it!

The Legacy was good, but if he had no life to enjoy it, it was mere empty talk.

Since the secret was out, it was better to use this to bind himself to this unfathomable young Quasi-Immortal.

With his help, the imperial throne was almost within reach!

He had a vague intuition: this seemingly young Quasi-Immortal before him, his terrifying degree, even far surpassed the Immortal Envoy who descended from the Immortal Dynasty... Time crawled slowly in the silence.

Every moment was a long agony.

Just as Feng Changge was almost crushed by this silent pressure—

"Good! This Seat agrees to you!"

Xiao Zhuo's voice was like a clear spring from the Nine Heavens, pouring down from above, instantly pulling Feng Changge back from the brink of suffocation.

He snapped back to his senses, an immense joy washing over his strained defenses like a tide, almost making him tremble uncontrollably.

The suppression, trepidation, and despair of these past days... all dissipated at this moment.

The plan to control the Wind Capital Grand Formation had been shattered, and his participation in the succession struggle would lead only to death, even implicating all the forces behind him to be purged by the Immortal Envoy—this had been a sharp blade hanging over his head.

But now... the formation diagram was about to return, and he had the help of this unfathomable Quasi-Immortal!

Success was already in sight!

A huge stone fell in his heart, an unprecedented sense of ease and ambition burning brightly in his eyes.