207: Each with his own hidden agenda, life and death

After leaving the West Mountain Bunker, Prince Zhennan returned to the Zhennan Royal Family.

He arrived at the abandoned backyard, which had been ordered sealed by the fake Prince Zhennan, forbidding anyone to approach.

Withered vines, old trees, and crows, with broken leaves fluttering, yet the fish in the pond were surprisingly active.

Near the pond, he moved aside a rockery, revealing an underground passage wide enough for three people to walk abreast.

Deep inside, there were mountains of gold and silver, various Heaven And Earth Treasures, and scattered Spirit Stones.

A Formation was emitting light, surrounded by red, yellow, and blue, this was the Wind Fire Reversal Formation, where the two Qi of wind and fire were endless, wind aiding fire and fire aiding wind, with infinite power.

This was a top-tier Formation passed down from his ancestors; it only required a Golden Core Realm expert above the seventh level to control it to suppress a Divine Power Realm expert at the first level, and even a Divine Power Realm expert at the third level would not be without the power to resist.

However, this Formation consumed an enormous amount of energy, requiring Spirit Stones as the energy source; each hour it was activated consumed one Spirit Stone, making it impossible to keep it on constantly.

Moreover, if a Divine Power Realm expert was encountered, the consumption would only double.

His Zhennan Royal Family had less than two hundred of these rare Spirit Stones, so he had to conserve them.

“Grand Elder Jinkui, this King needs to go into seclusion to Breakthrough to the Transcendent Realm, please help me look after the Zhennan Royal Family!”

Prince Zhennan looked into the Formation, where three cushions were placed, with a bearded old man and two beautiful maidservants seated to his left and right.

“Is there trouble? Do you need me to make a move?”

Grand Elder Jinkui’s eyes were divine, and his voice was deep and powerful, showing no signs of age.

“There might be… Chu Jiang…”

Prince Zhennan briefly explained the threat and activated the Wind Fire Reversal Formation, instructing him to control it.

His eyelids had been twitching violently, so for the sake of caution, it was best to activate the Formation.

The three of them all came from the Golden Serpent Valley, one of the four valleys in the west.

They were also one of the financial backers behind Prince Zhennan; since the barbarians were untrustworthy, how could he put all his eggs in one basket?

These forces, each stronger than the Zhennan Royal Family, all chose him, simply to use his banner.

A King, and one whose ancestors had established illustrious military achievements for Great Chu.

Now in decline, he was precisely their target for investment.

The most important thing was that he was easy to control.

The various parties were in a relationship of mutual exploitation, each taking what they needed.

Who would have the last laugh?

It was still too early to tell.

He had a premonition that as long as they withstood this wave of attacks, they would win.

Then he would write to the imperial court, asking why someone would attack the Zhennan Royal Family, putting pressure on those arrogant Confucian officials.

Whether it was killing a Marquis or killing a King, it was a huge matter.

Without an imperial decree, it was tantamount to rebellion.

Unforgivable for ten crimes.

He did not believe that Chu Jiang could still live.

After all.

Those pedantic Confucian officials valued rules more than anything.

“This person does have some strength, but if he dares to break into this Wind Fire Reversal Formation, he will surely die!”

With his Golden Core Realm at the ninth level, controlling this Formation, its power was boundless, killing a Golden Core Realm expert was as easy as taking something from his pocket.

His Golden Serpent Valley supported Prince Zhennan also because they wanted a share when the Dynasty collapsed.

It wasn't just them.

The powerful figures in the imperial court were also secretly supporting local kings and marquises.

Prince Zhennan nodded.

He then exited the underground passage.

Arriving at his secluded cultivation place.

He took out a large blue water bead, his eyes chilling:

Chu Emperor, you still want to use my Zhennan Royal Family as Chu Jiang’s whetstone, but soon I will show you how this King will break his teeth.

No… it will be his life!

…

Earth Fiend Hall, Gate of Life and Death.

Outside.

Several branch hall masters of Earth Fiend Hall were eagerly waiting.

The Gate of Life and Death was the only path for Earth Fiend Hall to select its Hall Master; there were no backdoors.

Each time, one hundred people entered, but only one person could walk out alive from the Gate of Life and Death and become one of the candidates for the seventy-two stars of Earth Fiend Hall.

Inside the Gate of Life and Death, it was extremely cruel; only those who successfully broke through would understand its terror.

Various unpredictable checkpoints tested a person's abilities in all aspects.

Several people hoped that the person they recommended could stand out from the Gate of Life and Death.

Bang!

The gate of the Gate of Life and Death opened, and a blood-soaked figure walked out from inside, his eyes fierce like a wolf’s.

He held a sword in one hand, and in the other, he carried a bloody head, with slightly warm brain matter continuously dripping.

One of the Earth Fiend Hall branch hall masters shook his head; the head that this person was carrying was that of the one he valued most.

Truly a waste.

“Master, are you alright?”

Two beautiful women, with worried expressions, hurried forward to help him.

“Tianji Star was captured, his vision is as sharp as ever.”

“Human Dog Number Seven, you have passed the Gate of Life and Death, from now on you are one of the seventy-two star candidates!”

An examining Elder said in a deep voice.

If Chu Jiang were here, he would surely recognize him.

This person was Gu Jian, the long-lost remnant of the Sword King Sect.

“Why did you bring the examiner’s head out?”

“Reporting to Elder, this person repeatedly put me in life-or-death situations within the Gate of Life and Death, and repeatedly ganged up with others to ambush me. I devoured him alive, and I want to use his head as a wine vessel. Please grant my request, Elder!”

Gu Jian said coldly, bowing to the examining Elder.

The examining Elder laughed heartily, praising, “As expected of a seeded contestant who fought his way out of a hundred elites, this Elder grants your request!”

His Earth Fiend Hall wanted this kind of madness; only through ruthlessness could great achievements be made.

Gu Jian had never forgotten his hatred; the will that supported him to survive the Gate of Life and Death was revenge, mad revenge, to tear Chu Jiang into ten thousand pieces and devour him alive still wouldn't appease his hatred.

“Chu Jiang, this time I want you dead!”

His face was contorted, his eyes bloodshot, and he let out a low growl.

“Slow down, don’t be impulsive. You are still young; it’s not too late to seek revenge after you become a true one of the seventy-two stars!”

A branch hall master advised.

Everyone else, including the examining Elder, also nodded.

Gu Jian was stunned.

“Hall Master, Elder, Chu Jiang is merely a Grandmaster at the Peak. What do I have to fear? Now I can defeat him with just one hand!”

He said disdainfully. After the trial of the Gate of Life and Death, his strength had undergone earth-shattering changes; in just a few months, he had already Breakthrough to Great Grandmaster.

He was merely half a step away from Peerless Grandmaster.

He would be able to Breakthrough within half a month.

“Human Dog Number Seven, Chu Jiang’s strength is no longer comparable to when you entered the Gate of Life and Death.”

“You are progressing, and he is progressing too!”

The examining Elder sighed. Gu Jian’s progress in strength had already surpassed several seeded contestants, but compared to Chu Jiang’s terrifying rate of advancement, it was still far inferior.

“Did he Breakthrough to Peerless Grandmaster?”

Gu Jian’s eyes turned cold. This Chu Jiang was indeed powerful. He joined Earth Fiend Hall and achieved what he had today only after various opportunities within the Gate of Life and Death.

He was actually faster than himself.

But it was only Peerless Grandmaster; in a few days, once he Breakthrough, he could be annihilated with a flip of the hand.

Several branch hall masters shook their heads.

“Hm?”

“Could it be that he Breakthrough to Peerless Grandmaster!”

Gu Jian’s eyes flashed with cold light. To become someone on the same level as Tianji Hall Master in such a short time was truly Heaven-Defying.

But it wasn't as if there was no chance to catch up.

He looked around and, finding no sign of Tianji Star, asked with a puzzled expression:

“By the way, where did Tianji Hall Master go?”