90: Chapter 89 Taking the Initiative

Great Yan calendar, September 15th. Five days after Shen Gongbao's escape.

Autumn in Huadu had deepened. The wind grew colder by the day, cutting against the face like a knife. Pedestrians on the streets grew fewer, and even merchants huddled in their shops, unwilling to come out. But the basement level of the Crown Princes Mansion was livelier than usual.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan sat in the main seat, a new secret report sent by Zhao Gao spread out before him. The report came from the Southern Border—someone had discovered Ancient Ruins deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains. The ruins were surrounded by thick black mist, and not a single blade of grass grew for a hundred miles around. The local barbarians said it was the "Pool of Calamity" left behind by an evil god. For thirty thousand years, no one had dared to approach.

"Pool of Calamity?" Crown Prince Xiao Xuan looked up at Jiang Ziya.

Jiang Ziya remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Your Highness, I have heard of this place. In ancient times, the evil god was defeated by the Heavenly Emperor, and its blood flowed into the mortal world, forming the Pool of Calamity. The power within the pool is the Power of Calamity. Shen Gongbao needs a massive amount of the Power of Calamity to achieve a Breakthrough to the Heavenly Emperor Realm. He will definitely go there."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan frowned. "If he goes there and absorbs the power of the Pool of Calamity, he can achieve a Breakthrough to the Heavenly Emperor Realm?"

Jiang Ziya shook his head. "It won't be that fast. The power of the Pool of Calamity is too strong; he needs time to absorb it. At least three months, at most half a year. But if he succeeds—"

He didn't finish, but everyone knew the consequences. If Shen Gongbao achieved a Breakthrough to the Heavenly Emperor Realm, Great Hua would be finished.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stood up and walked to the map of the territory. Southern Border, Hundred Thousand Mountains, Pool of Calamity. It was a place he had never been, one that few even knew about.

"Pass down the order," he turned around, "In three days, I will personally go to the Southern Border. Master Jiang, General Xiang Yu, General Li Yuanba, General Zhao Yun, Yang Jian, and Nezha will accompany me. The others will stay to guard Huadu."

Zhang Liang was startled. "Your Highness, you are leading a campaign in person again?"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded. "As long as Shen Gongbao is not eliminated, Great Hua will never know peace. I can wait no longer."

Zhang Liang was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Your Highness, I have a request."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan said, "Speak."

Zhang Liang said, "I will go with you."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan looked at him. "Zi Fang, you don't know how to fight."

Zhang Liang smiled. "Your Highness, I may not know how to fight, but I know how to calculate. Shen Gongbao is too cunning; Your Highness needs someone who can plan."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan was silent for a moment, then also smiled. "Very well. You shall come with me."

After the meeting adjourned, Crown Prince Xiao Xuan sat alone in the main seat, closing his eyes as his consciousness sank into his mind. That light screen, which only he could see, floated quietly.

[System Notification: Current luck value: 1500/1000. A summon can be performed. Summon immediately?]

In these three months, the four directions had been pacified, countless had surrendered, and his luck value had risen from 900 to 1500. He had not summoned because he was waiting for the right moment. Now, the time had come.

"Summon."

A golden light screen lit up in his mind. A figure stepped out from the Void Realm. The man was burly, shirtless, with muscles knotted like the roots of an old tree. He had no head; his nipples were his eyes, and his navel was his mouth. In one hand he held a shield and axe, and in the other, a shield. Standing there, he was like a mountain, like a piece of the heavens. His aura was as vast as the sea, slightly weaker than Jiang Ziya's but much stronger than Crown Prince Xiao Xuan's. Heavenly God Realm Middle Stage.

The next moment, lines of text appeared on the light screen:

[Summoned Character: Xing Tian]

[Courtesy Name: None]

[Era: Ancient]

[Realm: Heavenly God Realm Middle Stage]

[Position: God of War]

[Abilities: Dance of the Ganqu, Undying Body, Surging Battle Intent, Xing Tian Dances with the Ganqu]

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan looked at the headless figure before him, his heart jolting. Xing Tian, the ancient God of War. He had fought the Heavenly Emperor for divinity and was beheaded; he then used his nipples as eyes and his navel as a mouth, wielding his shield and axe in dance. He was the symbol of unyielding spirit in Huaxia mythology.

Xing Tian knelt on one knee, a muffled voice coming from his navel: "Xing Tian greets the Lord."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan helped him up. "Rise."

Xing Tian stood up, his gaze (nipples) sweeping over the weapon racks in the hall. He paused for a moment on the tiger-headed coiling dragon halberd, then on the twin hammers, and finally landed on the zhutian sword. A flash of Battle Intent flickered in his nipple-eyes.

"A fine sword," he murmured.

Footsteps came from outside. Jiang Ziya pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Xing Tian, his pupils constricted slightly. "Xing Tian? You—how did you get here?"

Xing Tian looked at him, laughter emanating from his navel. "Jiang Ziya, long time no see."

Jiang Ziya was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "Long time no see."

The two looked at each other with no hostility, only the sentiment of old friends reuniting. Watching this, Crown Prince Xiao Xuan suddenly felt a strange sensation. Jiang Ziya was from the Era of the Investiture of the Gods, while Xing Tian was from the ancient era. They shouldn't have known each other. But in this world, they did. Because of the summoning, they had crossed time and space.

Three days later. Southern Border, Hundred Thousand Mountains. Crown Prince Xiao Xuan took eight people—Jiang Ziya, Zhang Liang, General Xiang Yu, General Li Yuanba, General Zhao Yun, Yang Jian, Nezha, and Xing Tian—and entered this land he had never set foot upon.

The mountains were high and the forests dense, blotting out the sun. There were no paths underfoot, only thorns and venomous snakes. The air was filled with the smell of decay, mixed with miasma that made one dizzy. But Crown Prince Xiao Xuan did not stop. Because he knew Shen Gongbao was just ahead.

After walking for three days, a valley appeared ahead. The valley was filled with black mist, and not a single blade of grass grew. At the entrance of the valley stood a stone tablet carved with two ancient seal characters—Forbidden Ground.

Jiang Ziya looked at the stone tablet and fell silent for a moment. "Your Highness, this is the Pool of Calamity. I can sense that Shen Gongbao is inside."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded and drew the zhutian sword. The heavenly emperor seal at his waist glowed, its golden light dispelling the surrounding darkness.

" Walk."

The eight people followed him into the valley.

Deep within the valley was a pool of black water. The water did not flow, resembling a black mirror. In the center of the pool sat a person cross-legged—Shen Gongbao. His eyes were closed, and black mist rose from the pool, continuously surging into his body. His aura was climbing, and the Bottleneck of the Heavenly God Realm Perfection was loosening.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stood by the pool, looking at him. "Shen Gongbao, you have nowhere left to run."

Shen Gongbao opened his eyes, looked at Crown Prince Xiao Xuan, and suddenly smiled. "Crown Prince Xiao Xuan, you've finally come. I've been waiting for you for three days."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan's brow quirked. Shen Gongbao continued, "Did you think I didn't know you would come? I intentionally leaked the news just to lure you here. This is my home turf."

He stood up, black mist swirling around him. His aura had already touched the threshold of the Heavenly Emperor Realm. He was only one step away from a Breakthrough.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan gripped the zhutian sword tightly, and the heavenly emperor seal shone with brilliant golden light. "So what?"

Shen Gongbao gave a cold laugh and struck out with a palm. The black mist transformed into a giant Dragon, lunging toward Crown Prince Xiao Xuan. This full-strength strike of the Heavenly God Realm Perfection was even stronger than the one in Huadu. Xing Tian stepped in front of Crown Prince Xiao Xuan and swung his shield and axe; the black mist Dragon was sliced in two, dissipating into the air. Xing Tian was pushed back five steps, while Shen Gongbao was pushed back one.

Shen Gongbao's expression changed. "Xing Tian? Why are you here?"

Xing Tian didn't answer, simply raising his shield and axe and charging again. The two clashed, black mist and golden light intertwining as the entire valley trembled. General Xiang Yu, General Li Yuanba, General Zhao Yun, Yang Jian, and Nezha attacked Shen Gongbao from different directions. Facing six opponents at once, Shen Gongbao actually didn't fall into a disadvantage.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan didn't move. He stood there, holding the zhutian sword, the heavenly emperor seal glowing at his waist. He was waiting—waiting for an opportunity. Just like last time.

Jiang Ziya didn't move either. He stood beside Crown Prince Xiao Xuan, his fishing rod held horizontally in his hand, his eyes fixed on Shen Gongbao's every move.

"Your Highness," he whispered, "Shen Gongbao has absorbed the power of the Pool of Calamity and is stronger than before. I cannot kill him."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded. "I know. But I can wound him."

He charged forward. The zhutian sword turned into a streak of golden light, piercing straight toward Shen Gongbao's chest. Shen Gongbao struck Xing Tian away and dodged the sword with a side-step. But Crown Prince Xiao Xuan's second strike had already arrived, aimed at his shoulder. Shen Gongbao dodged again, but the third strike went for his abdomen, and he couldn't evade it. The tip of the sword pierced his belly, and blood gushed out.

Shen Gongbao screamed in pain and sent Crown Prince Xiao Xuan flying with a palm strike. Crown Prince Xiao Xuan crashed against a stone wall, spitting out blood, but he did not fall. He stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and smiled.

"Shen Gongbao, you're injured again."

Shen Gongbao clutched his abdomen, his face ashen. He looked down at the wound, then at Crown Prince Xiao Xuan. This young man managed to wound him every time. Though the wounds weren't heavy, they were painful. He had lived for tens of thousands of years and had never felt such pain.

"Xiao Xuan, you're looking for death!" he roared, the black mist transforming into countless sharp swords that shot toward Crown Prince Xiao Xuan. Jiang Ziya stepped in front of Crown Prince Xiao Xuan and swung his fishing rod, a golden light shield enveloping them both. The sharp swords struck the golden light and shattered one after another.

Shen Gongbao gritted his teeth, turned, and fled. He jumped into the Pool of Calamity, wrapped in black mist, and sank to the bottom. The pool water returned to its calm state, as if nothing had happened.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan walked to the edge of the pool and looked down at the black water.

"He escaped." Jiang Ziya walked to his side.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded. "But he can't run for long. He's injured and needs time to recover."

He turned around and looked out of the valley. The sky was darkening, and the setting sun dyed the entire sky blood-red.

"Pass down the order. From today onwards, the Great Hua Army will guard the valley exit. No one is allowed to enter or leave. I will trap him here until he comes out."

Zhang Liang cupped his hands. "Understood!"

That night, Crown Prince Xiao Xuan sat on a rock outside the valley, gazing at the stars in the sky. Xing Tian walked over and sat down beside him.

"Your Highness, are you not afraid that Shen Gongbao will achieve a Breakthrough to the Heavenly Emperor Realm?"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan shook his head. "I'm not afraid. He won't be able to."

Xing Tian was startled. Crown Prince Xiao Xuan continued, "Because his heart is not at peace. He hates me, he hates Master Jiang, he hates everyone. His mind is in turmoil. Someone with a troubled mind cannot achieve a Breakthrough."

Xing Tian was silent for a long time, then smiled. "Your Highness, you are even more formidable than I thought."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan also smiled. "Xing Tian, Master Jiang has said those words many times."

Xing Tian shook his head. "I am not Jiang Ziya. I speak from the heart."

The two looked at each other and laughed at the same time. Their laughter echoed through the valley, carrying far, far away.