68: You can be my bodyguard.

Li Changsheng nodded and said, "Alright, this bead is called the flame emperor pearl. It is a supreme treasure of the Flame Emperor, a great emperor magic treasure, and a pseudo-Immortal Artifact. It was left behind after the Flame Emperor ascended to the Immortal Realm and contains the Flame Emperor's Legacy, making it the same Rank as the great desolate pagoda."

"What?"

Zhang Wangu stood up instantly.

"Is what you're saying true?"

Li Changsheng shook his head and said, "Old man, I know what you're thinking. Don't try to snatch it; you won't be able to anyway. Treasures conceal themselves. I gave you the chance, but you didn't cherish it, so you can't blame me."

"Yesterday, I had already placed the flame emperor pearl in your hands. If you had recognized it then and snatched it away, I really wouldn't have been able to do anything. But now, you can't take it."

Zhang Wangu said, enunciating every word, "That's not necessarily true."

"Just based on your Golden Core Late Stage cultivation?"

Li Changsheng shook his head and said, "Plus my summoned creature."

"Furthermore, this treasure has already been refined by me."

"The flame emperor pearl is a supreme auxiliary treasure. Once it encounters danger, it will defend itself. In other words, if you try to snatch the flame emperor pearl, it will appear and protect me."

"Is that so? Then I'll have to try."

As Zhang Wangu spoke, he reached out a palm toward Li Changsheng to seize him.

"Damn, old man, you're actually doing it!"

Li Changsheng's reaction was fast enough.

Fortunately, he Cultivates the Indestructible Immortal Art and his Soul has been immortalized, allowing him to perceive the future in advance. The moment Zhang Wangu's intent flickered and he prepared to move, Li Changsheng sensed it beforehand.

This was the capital of his confidence.

Even if you are a Tribulation Crossing Cultivator, if I want to dodge, I can dodge.

But what if he dodged?

There would be a second move.

Even with advanced perception, it would be too late to dodge then.

Besides...

This old man might seem normally jovial, eating meat and drinking wine with him, fishing and chatting when there's nothing else to do, and even wiping out the Blood River Demonic Sect while letting the Primordial Immortal Sect go, but he was no good person.

He was as cunning as they come.

If Li Changsheng didn't show off some capital that would make him wary...

He really would resort to force to snatch it.

The flame emperor pearl.

Li Changsheng could have hidden it.

But he couldn't hide it for long.

At the time, Zhang Wangu hadn't noticed it.

But he would surely realize it after the fact.

In the next moment...

The flame emperor pearl flew out and appeared above his head, protecting him with a barrier of light.

Zhang Wangu's attack instantly struck the light barrier.

Thump.

Li Changsheng only felt a slight tremor through his body, as if nothing had happened. In other words, Zhang Wangu's attack had failed.

Furthermore, a rebounding force surged toward Zhang Wangu.

Zhang Wangu's body involuntarily retreated two or three steps.

He stared blankly at the flame emperor pearl hovering above Li Changsheng's head.

"The flame emperor pearl has indeed recognized you as its master."

"To think I searched everywhere for the great desolate pagoda, only for a treasure equal to it to appear right before my eyes without me recognizing it."

"Hehehe."

"Kid, you win."

"If it were anyone else, I would have snatched it long ago. But you... you also have a summoned slave who is a Tribulation Crossing Cultivator."

"Kid, who exactly are you?"

Li Changsheng said, "Old man, I really didn't lie to you. I truly come from the Immortal Realm, and my father is an Immortal Emperor. If you don't believe me, what can I do?"

"Sigh, why does no one believe the truth?"

"Forget it, fishing, fishing."

Saying that...

Li Changsheng took out his white jade fishing rod and began to fish.

Zhang Wangu gave Li Changsheng a deep look.

He sighed, then sat back down and said, "Kid, do you think I can survive the Six-Nine Lightning Tribulation?"

"Yes,"

Li Changsheng said.

Zhang Wangu shook his head and said, "The Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, and Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation—how difficult they are. Do you know that in a million years, there have been no less than eight hundred to a thousand Tribulation Crossing Cultivators? But how many have survived the three great Heavenly Tribulations to become Land Immortals and be called Great Emperors?"

"I don't know," Li Changsheng said, shaking his head.

Zhang Wangu looked at Li Changsheng coldly and said, "Twelve people."

"Also known as the Twelve Great Emperors."

"Only by surviving the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation can one undergo Fusion of the Soul and the Heavenly Heart to become a supreme Great Emperor and then undergo Ascension to the Immortal Realm."

"Surviving the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation has already exhausted my foundation and luck. To survive the Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation is incredibly difficult. It just so happens that I learned of the news regarding the great desolate pagoda, which is why I hoped to find it and obtain the Legacy of the Great Desolation Immortal to survive the Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation."

Li Changsheng said, "Old man, maybe I can help you."

Zhang Wangu's eyes lit up as he said, "Could it be you intend to give me the flame emperor pearl?"

Li Changsheng shook his head and said, "Forget about the flame emperor pearl. I naturally have other ways, but why should I help you?"

Zhang Wangu said, "If you help me survive the Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, I can take action for you three times. How about that?"

Li Changsheng said, "No thanks, I have my own summoned creature. It seems I really don't need you to act."

Zhang Wangu said, "State your conditions then."

Li Changsheng smiled and said, "I want you to follow me at all times and take action for me when I am in danger to protect my safety, until the moment you undergo Immortal Ascension."

Zhang Wangu said, "You want me to be your bodyguard."

Li Changsheng said, "You can understand it that way. You be my bodyguard, and I guarantee your Immortal Ascension. Old man, you actually aren't losing out at all."

"Hahahaha."

Zhang Wangu said, "Just based on you, a Golden Core Cultivator? With what? To guarantee my Immortal Ascension?"

Li Changsheng said, "Didn't I say I come from the Immortal Realm and my father is an Immortal Emperor?"

Zhang Wangu said, "Guess if I believe you?"

Li Changsheng said, "What does it matter whether you believe it or not? The result is what's most important."

"Besides, can't you just stay by my side for the time being and see how I help you survive the Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation?"

"Fine, you win, kid," Zhang Wangu said.

Li Changsheng was instantly overjoyed.

Obtaining Li Kongkong as a contracted creature earlier had already left him with no more worries.

Now, adding Zhang Wangu, this Tribulation Crossing Cultivator, he could practically walk sideways anywhere.

Sect Head Dao Xuan...

If he wanted to kill him, he must be dreaming.

Killing him would be as easy as crushing an ant.

Having obtained Zhang Wangu's promise, Li Changsheng was in a great mood.

He immediately began fishing.

Just then, Ji Lingyue came running over in a hurry.

"Senior Brother, I have big news for you!"

"Go ahead, what news is worth you being so excited?" Li Changsheng asked.

Ji Lingyue said mysteriously, "Senior Brother, do you know? It seems our Sect Head Dao Xuan is injured."

"For a grand Sect Head to be injured is a total humiliation for the Primordial Immortal Sect, so he's been trying to hide it. If it weren't for a Disciple serving him seeing it, no one would know. And his injury isn't an internal one; he was given a black eye!"

"I reckon the person who hit him did it on purpose just to make him look foolish."

Li Changsheng said irritably, "Well now, you really are a traitor. Our Primordial Immortal Sect's Sect Head was beaten, and you're actually gloating."