Upon hearing this question, Zhao Feng smiled.
"By joining Great Qin, I can give you a true and rightful place in this world. Moreover, I will provide you with resources to support your path, granting you a chance to reach the peak of the immortal road."
Zhao Feng looked directly at Guigu Zi and spoke loudly.
"How can you guarantee that?"
Guigu Zi chuckled.
Zhao Feng didn't waste any more words.
He rose into the air.
The Tianwen Sword appeared in his hand.
"With my strength."
"Senior Guigu, let's fight!"
Zhao Feng laughed heartily.
A surge of powerful energy erupted from him, carrying an overwhelming aura of martial dominance.
"In our battle long ago, you didn't go all out, and neither did I."
"I hope you won't disappoint me this time." Guigu Zi also laughed, his old face brimming with battle spirit.
Then, he ascended into the sky.
A sword appeared in his hand.
It was no ordinary weapon, but an immortal-tier artifact.
"Fight!"
Zhao Feng shouted.
With sword in hand, he charged at Guigu Zi.
With a single step forward
Only Zhao Feng's afterimage remained in the void.
A sword strike descended.
A thousand zhang (meters) of space was torn apart, and the void cracked open.
Guigu Zi smiled, meeting the strike with his sword.
Two sword lights clashed.
Boom! Boom!
A terrifying force spread outward, creating an apocalyptic scene in the void.
Energy waves surged.
Even the surrounding mountains trembled.
In the next instant
The two figures moved closer at incredible speed.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
They collided repeatedly.
To Wei Liao, it looked as if two entire worlds were colliding.
Guigu Zi unleashed his immortal power to its fullest.
Zhao Feng activated his martial true essence completely.
Every clash caused ripples in the void, like volcanic eruptions.
Each sword strike carried the might to annihilate a city of hundreds of thousands.
This was the power of true experts.
The pinnacle of mortal strength.
"Martial Divine Ability!"
"Domain of Killing Intent!"
Zhao Feng shouted.
His divine ability was unleashed.
A blood-red aura instantly expanded, covering a vast area of thousands of zhang.
Guigu Zi had no time to react before he was trapped inside this domain.
"What is this?"
Guigu Zi's expression turned serious.
The entire sky and void were shrouded in an eerie, blood-red light.
Zhao Feng's figure had vanished from his sight.
Yet, through spiritual perception, Zhao Feng seemed to be everywhere in this space.
"Senior Guigu."
"This is my divine ability Killing Dao Domain."
"I was born on the battlefield, forged in blood."
"This divine ability is my creation."
Zhao Feng's voice echoed like a ghostly whisper within the domain.
In the next instant
"Ten Thousand Swords Return to One!"
Zhao Feng roared.
The blood-red killing intent throughout the domain surged.
In an instant
Countless blood-colored sword shadows appeared in the air.
A storm of ten thousand sword shadows rained down upon Guigu Zi.
Each sword carried a terrifying force.
"What an incredible ability!"
"Your strength has far surpassed what it was before."
Guigu Zi laughed.
He unleashed his immortal power to the limit, forming layer upon layer of defensive barriers.
Then
The immortal sword in his hand left his grip.
Under his command, the sword transformed into dozens of sword phantoms, surrounding him protectively.
The ten thousand blood-colored swords rained down furiously.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The immense force clashed violently.
But despite Guigu Zi's full-powered defense, countless blood swords still shattered his barriers.
Even the sword phantoms around him dimmed.
"Gather!"
"Strike!"
High above, Zhao Feng bellowed.
The thousands of scattered sword shadows converged
They fused into a single, hundred-zhang-long blood-colored giant sword, radiating a terrifying power that seemed capable of splitting heaven and earth.
The gigantic blood-red sword came crashing down toward Guigu Zi.
Boom!
A single slash.
"This is bad." Guigu Zi's expression changed.
A peerless force descended upon him.
The sword phantoms around him shattered instantly.
Before he could react
The immortal sword he commanded dimmed completely.
Boom!
The blood-red giant sword struck again
Stopping just above Guigu Zi's head.
Seeing this
Guigu Zi merely smiled.
"In such a short time, your strength has already surpassed mine."
"I concede."
As Guigu Zi Conceded
With Guigu Zi admitting defeat, the Killing Dao Domain and the blood-red giant sword instantly dissipated, transforming into scattered energy across the sky.
If not for the lingering cracks in the void, it would have seemed as if the battle had never happened.
Zhao Feng's figure reappeared in the sky.
"Senior Guigu."
"You never truly unleashed your full strength."
"After all these years, your injuries have yet to fully heal," Zhao Feng remarked.
"Injuries to one's foundation are never easy to recover from," Guigu Zi responded with a helpless smile.
"If one were to receive the blessing of fortune energy, perhaps recovery would be possible," Zhao Feng suggested with a grin.
"You've truly mastered the power of fortune?" Guigu Zi asked in surprise.
"Let's discuss it below," Zhao Feng replied, smiling as he descended toward the peak of Guigu Mountain.
Guigu Zi followed.
At the mountain's peak, Wei Liao stood in complete shock.
Clearly
The battle he had just witnessed left him utterly astonished.
"So this… is what a battle between immortals and gods looks like?"
"I never imagined my teacher was an immortal, and that His Highness the Crown Prince is also one…" Wei Liao thought to himself, overwhelmed.
"In the Immortal Realm, the power of fortune is something that all immortals and gods desire."
"Whether an ordinary immortal or a legendary Golden Immortal, all seek fortune to greatly enhance their cultivation."
"However, fortune is elusive and intangible not something ordinary immortals can grasp," Guigu Zi said slowly.
"The Dao of Fortune is indeed profound."
"But I have already mastered it," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
With a wave of his hand
A royal decree appeared.
"My father has already merged with Great Qin's national fortune, controlling its destiny."
"This decree was issued by him. As long as Senior Guigu joins Great Qin and accepts the imperial appointment, the national fortune of Great Qin will bless you."
"Whether or not you accept it is up to you," Zhao Feng said, handing over the decree.
Guigu Zi's eyes fell upon it.
Even though an ordinary mortal might not perceive anything unusual about the decree, Guigu Zi could sense it as a powerful national fortune radiating from the scroll.
"Teacher."
"Great Qin is no longer just an ordinary mortal nation."
"If you seize this opportunity, your injuries will undoubtedly heal, and your cultivation will advance tremendously in the future," Wei Liao urged.
He, too, hoped his teacher would join Great Qin and serve its cause.
"If I accept this decree… will the fortune of Shenzhou still reject me?"
Guigu Zi gazed down from the peak of Guigu Mountain.
It was as if the entire Shenzhou was under his watchful eyes.
He had not left Guigu for many years.
"It will no longer reject you," Zhao Feng assured him with a smile.
"Very well."
Guigu Zi smiled and reached for the decree.
"I accept."
"From this day forth, I am willing to serve Great Qin as its minister."
As Guigu Zi's words fell, the decree in his hand unfolded.
At that moment
A golden imperial edict imbued with national fortune manifested in the sky.
"By My Imperial Decree."
"Guigu Zi, a man of great strength and unparalleled wisdom, shall be appointed as the National Advisor of Great Qin and shall receive the blessing of our national fortune."
From the void
Accompanied by this decree, a majestic and solemn voice echoed the voice of Ying Zheng.
"Your subject accepts the decree!" Guigu Zi bowed deeply.
In the next moment
A mystical black bird appeared in the sky.
It descended, carrying an overwhelming pressure and an immense aura of national fortune.
A powerful force of fortune energy poured down upon Guigu Zi.
As the fortune merged with him
His immortal energy began circulating on its own.
Boom!
Boom!
A surge of immortal power radiated from Guigu Zi.
The entire Guigu Mountain trembled violently.
This continued for a long moment.
When the energy finally settled
A look of shock and awe appeared on Guigu Zi's face.
"The power of fortune… is this strong?"
"I've been severely injured for a thousand years, yet under this fortune energy, more than half of my injuries have healed!"
"And with this fortune still lingering, I will fully recover soon!" Guigu Zi exclaimed in excitement.
"Such is the wondrous effect of fortune energy," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
"And not just now once you fully recover, it will also greatly enhance your cultivation."
"No wonder immortals and gods fight over fortune. With benefits like this, who wouldn't desire it?" Guigu Zi marveled.
"In the future"
"As Great Qin's National Advisor, you will come to understand even greater mysteries of national fortune."
"But before that, it is only fitting that you receive a treasure just as all ministers of Great Qin do," Zhao Feng said with a knowing smile.
With a wave of his hand,
The Heavenly Profound Mirror appeared before Guiguzi.
"A congenital spiritual treasure? No… it already possesses the radiance of one, though still at the acquired level it seems to be in the process of transformation."
Seeing the mirror before him, Guiguzi was once again astonished.
Congenital spiritual treasures…
Guiguzi had only heard of their legendary existence. As a mere Heavenly Immortal, he was far from being considered a powerhouse in the Immortal Realm. Owning a celestial-grade immortal artifact was already a rarity, and a divine-grade artifact was a distant dream.
If he were to possess a congenital spiritual treasure, it would undoubtedly make him a target of greed and plunder.
"Master Guigu, touch it with your hand," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
Guiguzi reached out and touched the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
At that moment
An identical sub-mirror separated from the main mirror and floated before him.
"What… what is this?" Guiguzi asked in confusion.
"The Heavenly Profound Mirror connects all of Great Qin."
"It allows for limitless communication, instant transmission of objects across great distances, and even the creation of a cultivation space that accelerates one's training."
"You will come to understand its full potential in time," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
Hearing this, Guiguzi's expression was filled with curiosity. He immediately grasped the sub-mirror, and in the next moment, a radiant light emerged as the mirror fused into his being.
"The treasures in the Crown Prince's possession are truly astonishing," Guiguzi remarked in awe.
"But going forward, aside from those the Crown Prince deeply trusts, this treasure must never be revealed."
"In the Immortal Realm, the strong prey upon the weak. They kill to seize resources, and even more so to claim precious artifacts."
"A treasure of this caliber will surely draw the attention of powerful beings," Guiguzi warned with a grave expression.
"Don't worry," Zhao Feng replied with a calm smile.
The Heavenly Profound Mirror was indeed a top-tier artifact for aiding in governance.
But to Zhao Feng, he possessed treasures of even greater value
A Minor World!
The World Tree!
Their potential was limitless.
Of course, as Guiguzi had pointed out, the Heavenly Profound Mirror was transforming.
After Zhao Feng gathered national fortune and established the Qin Imperial Dynasty, he had his father issue an imperial decree, conferring the Heavenly Profound Mirror as the nation's sacred artifact. With the blessing of Great Qin's fortune, it was now evolving from an acquired treasure into a congenital spiritual treasure.
"Today's visit,"
"Beyond inviting Master Guigu to serve Great Qin, there is another matter," Zhao Feng said, his expression turning serious.
"Please speak, Your Highness," Guiguzi responded with a smile.
Having now pledged himself to Great Qin and personally experiencing its national fortune restoring his injuries, he naturally understood the decorum of serving as a minister.
"Are there still immortals beyond the Divine Continent?"
Zhao Feng's tone was solemn.
"As for the origins of the Divine Continent, I do not know. But I do understand the separation of the mortal and immortal realms."
"Long ago, there was a great Human Emperor who, with immense power and fortune, severed the Celestial Pillar and divided the immortal and mortal worlds."
"The Divine Continent, and even the lands beyond it, became the mortal realm. Immortals above the Heavenly Immortal stage could no longer descend to the mortal world."
"As for how I was able to enter the Divine Continent… perhaps it was mere coincidence. I do not know how I bypassed the divide between immortals and mortals."
"As for whether there are immortals beyond the Divine Continent, I cannot say. Ever since I arrived here, I have been confined within this valley," Guiguzi replied with a hint of helplessness.
He had long wished to leave, but he had been unable to do so.
"Master Guigu,"
"There is something else I am curious about."
"Please ask, Your Highness," Guiguzi responded immediately.
"In ancient times, immortals and mortals coexisted in the same world."
"But after the Human Emperor severed the Celestial Pillar and divided the realms, where did the immortals who originally lived in the Divine Continent go?" Zhao Feng asked.
"That, I do not know. After all, I am merely a Heavenly Immortal. Only those who experienced that era firsthand would have the answer," Guiguzi shook his head.
"Master Guigu,"
"I will be direct."
"Just now"
Zhao Feng proceeded to recount the events surrounding Xu Fu and Penglai Immortal Island in full detail.
Hearing this, Guiguzi's expression grew grave.
"Xu Fu?"
"You said his name was Xu Fu?"
Guiguzi's face showed a hint of surprise.
"Could it be that Xu Fu is your disciple, Master Guigu?" Zhao Feng asked in surprise.
In his previous life, there were records suggesting that Xu Fu was a disciple of Guiguzi.
"Xu Fu did have an aptitude for cultivation. He once visited Ghost Valley, and I accepted him as a named disciple, passing down some techniques to him."
"I never expected him to be involved with the so-called Penglai Immortals," Guiguzi said, his expression darkening.
"Xu Fu has long since deviated from the righteous path. He practices demonic cultivation, feeds on human flesh and blood, and has become nothing more than a puppet for this so-called 'Immortal Envoy,'" Zhao Feng said grimly.
"I understand."
"A mere named disciple since he has chosen this path, his death is of no consequence."
"However,"
"The mention of an 'Immortal Envoy' cannot be taken lightly."
"Even though the mortal and immortal realms are divided, the immortals have never given up on the Divine Continent. They have constantly sought ways to re-enter, to seize its fortune, and to devour its living beings as sustenance."
"And from what Xu Fu said 'A thousand years from now, the mortal world will return to the Immortal Realm' This may not be mere empty words," Guiguzi said with utmost seriousness.
"Could it be… that the mortal world was originally a part of the Immortal Realm?"
"And that the Human Emperor, through his divine power, severed a portion of it to create the mortal world while cutting off the path between immortals and mortals?" Zhao Feng speculated internally.
However, he did not voice this thought. It was merely his conjecture.
"If we find Penglai and this so-called 'Immortal Envoy,' we may uncover more about the Immortal Realm."
"Master Guigu, to ensure absolute success, you shall accompany me," Zhao Feng declared.
"Very well," Guiguzi nodded.
Then,
He turned toward the depths of Ghost Valley.
"Disciples, emerge from seclusion!"
Guiguzi called out in a powerful voice.
In response
From the depths of the valley, countless streaks of light surged forth, each radiating a powerful immortal aura.
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