Ch 139: The Ghost Emperor’s Edict!

Sang Qing’s jaw was clenched shut, his mind made up; he would absolutely not exchange another word with Chu Qing!

Chu Qing didn’t seem to mind, pouring himself a cup of tea and swirling it gently.

Just as they fell silent, a creak sounded, and the door was opened.

Wen Fusheng entered from outside. He had been listening outside for a while, and now, looking at Chu Qing, his expression was one of suspicion.

This kid is truly a bad seed.

The rotten kind.

Chu Qing spread his hands:

“He doesn’t intend to speak to me anymore; now it’s the Villa Master’s turn.

Let me see how powerful the Soul Piercing Finger is.”

“Let’s see.”

Wen Fusheng came to Sang Qing’s side and softly said:

“If you can’t take it anymore, just say something. As long as you speak honestly, you won’t have to endure this pain.”

Sang Qing opened his eyes, glanced at Wen Fusheng, and sneered:

“Bah!”

Wen Fusheng was experienced in the Martial World; this didn’t faze him in the least.

He immediately smiled, extended a finger, and touched Sang Qing’s forehead.

The next moment, Sang Qing, who had been sneering, suddenly widened his eyes, feeling as if thousands of steel needles and iron awls were piercing his soul.

Intense and irresistible pain surged through his limbs and bones.

Chu Qing saw Wen Fusheng’s finger land, Sang Qing’s eyes widening instantly, followed by blood flowing from his seven orifices, his whole body trembling incessantly.

He couldn’t help but praise:

“Excellent methods, but take it easy; don’t kill him.”

“Don’t worry, the Soul Piercing Finger can make one suffer unbearable pain, but killing someone with it is not easy.”

Wen Fusheng said:

“Nine times out of ten, they become madmen.”

“…Then it’s better to just die.”

Chu Qing picked up his teacup and took a sip, waiting quietly.

But the wait wasn’t long; after a moment, Sang Qing’s trembling voice spoke:

“Stop… stop…”

Wen Fusheng readily complied; as soon as he heard him speak, he removed his finger.

Sang Qing at this moment looked as if he had just been pulled out of water, drenched in sweat.

He looked at Wen Fusheng tremblingly, as if looking at the living Yama.

Finally, he took a deep breath:

“What do you… want to know?”

“The layout of Celestial Mechanism Valley.”

Chu Qing said:

“The more detail the better.”

“…The external mechanisms cannot kill, only injure.

There are channels under the Heavenly Mechanism Tower that draw blood, collecting it into a pool… the Heavenly Demon Robe is placed in the pool.

Treasures are placed inside the Heavenly Mechanism Tower, leading those who enter the valley to engage in mutual slaughter.

On the ceiling of the first floor’s mezzanine, Yellow Springs Powder is hidden. When they are both exhausted, the second floor’s mechanism can be used to drop the ceiling, scattering the Yellow Springs Powder to eliminate the escaped fish.

Currently, in the valley besides Tomb King and Shi Ye, there are three… three puppet corpses!

And, and… two hundred Heavenly Evil Cult disciples.”

At this moment, Sang Qing revealed everything he knew without reservation.

“Is this the truth?”

Chu Qing looked at him quietly.

Sang Qing glanced at Wen Fusheng, his face full of fear:

“I… I only ask for a quick death.”

“What are puppet corpses?”

Wen Fusheng interjected.

“Those… those are playthings the Play King gave to our King.

They are made from corpses of the dead.

Each one is exceptionally powerful, fearless of death, and unafraid of injury.

If they fight with all their might, they can unleash immense power.”

Chu Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly, remembering the earlier Dong Xingzhi.

This perfectly normal person, clearly dead, yet rose again…

Although his body was incomplete, his cultivation base remained undiminished.

At that time, the First Elder of Flying Cloud Valley, Hou Wenjing, the Iron-Armed Ape, underestimated Dong Xingzhi, the walking corpse. He thought that one punch would severely injure him, but unexpectedly, not only was he unaffected by his injuries, but he also reached out and directly severed Hou Wenjing’s arms.

This gave the disciple from Listening Waves Pavilion the chance to strike.

Poor Hou Wenjing, a man of great renown, finally died at the hands of an unknown nobody.

Could it be that Dong Xingzhi was a puppet corpse?

Thinking of this, Chu Qing asked:

“Regarding that Play King, how much do you know?”

“The Play King… I don’t know much.”

Sang Qing thought for a moment and said:

“I only know that the Twelve Holy Kings each have their own strengths.

The Play King is fond of play, delighting in the games of the world.

His martial art is called 【Puppet Show】, but the specifics of how it’s used are unknown.

Also… he has a kind personality and is said to have excellent relationships with many of the Twelve Holy Kings.”

Chu Qing nodded and asked again:

“Then regarding your Tomb King, Zang Hansheng, you should have a considerable understanding, right?”

Sang Qing’s pupils contracted slightly, and cold sweat suddenly appeared on his forehead.

But he seemed to think of something and suddenly laughed:

“The Tomb King… the Tomb King is unfathomable.

Even those close to him don’t know what martial arts he practices or what skills he possesses.

What’s more, we haven’t even… even seen his face.”

“If I’m not mistaken, you and Shi Ye are his guards.

Guards don’t know their master’s true face; do you think I’d believe that?”

“…If you don’t believe it, there’s nothing I can do.

It’s just that the Twelve Holy Kings are all extraordinary; we so-called guards are merely tools for them to achieve their purposes.

How could they let us know too much?”

These words weren’t entirely unconvincing, but as a result, things seemed to become a bit more complicated.

If even Sang Qing didn’t know Zang Hansheng’s true face, then the person in Celestial Mechanism Valley… was it really the Tomb King himself?

If this person were merely a substitute, where would I go to find the real Tomb King to kill?

Chu Qing looked at the quest prompt again.

【Trigger Quest: Kill Order!（Kill Two Guards, One King）】

【Accept Quest！？】

“It doesn’t seem to clearly mention the three words Zang Hansheng…

Since the Old Beggar’s words were true, he should be referring to the Two Guards, One King in Celestial Mechanism Valley.

At least, the Two Guards, One King as he perceives them.

As for whether it’s the real Zang Hansheng, can we be a little lenient on this point?”

Chu Qing stroked his chin, momentarily hesitant.

This system is too hard to figure out.

Earlier, he felt he had grasped a pattern, only to be slapped in the face.

Now, this idea seems even more idealistic; I don’t know if the system will accept it…

“But it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t accept it. The Heavenly Evil Cult is ambitious; one day, we will have a great battle with them.

Even if I can’t kill this Zang Hansheng today, sooner or later, I will be his enemy.

I can kill him then and complete the quest; after all… the quest has no deadline.”

Thinking this, Chu Qing put his worries aside and chose to accept the quest.

【Quest: Kill Order!】

【Current Progress: Zero.】

【Quest Reward One: Choose one from the optional Martial Arts Treasure Boxes.】

【Quest Reward Two: One Treasure Box Upgrade Chance.】

【Currently Available Treasure Boxes: None.】

At first glance, it seemed no different from last time.

But Chu Qing took a closer look and immediately noticed the difference.

“Two rewards?

Treasure Box upgrade… in other words, I can use this opportunity to improve the level of the martial art I obtain?

Although it’s still random, all the random ones are good things?”

Chu Qing felt his breathing quicken.

His system has always been rudimentary, casually done in some aspects.

But when it comes to triggered quests, it’s really quite tricky.

The previous Kill Order only allowed for the selection of one Martial Arts Treasure Box.

This time, there’s an extra reward.

I just don’t know if killing the ‘Two Guards, One King’ in Celestial Mechanism Valley will complete this quest.

If not, I’ll probably have to do more running around for it.

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Wen Fusheng ask:

“Where did you put the things from Celestial Mechanism Valley?”

This question was vague; Chu Qing knew that Wen Fusheng mainly wanted to know where the Earth Character Scroll of the Unchanging Heavenly Book was.

He needed it to save Wenrou’s life.

Sang Qing looked at Wen Fusheng with a strange expression:

“I didn’t expect the Luochenshan Villa Master to covet the Celestial Mechanism Recluse’s treasures…

I don’t know where those things are now.

However, after taking them out, I arranged for people to send them to Little Cold Valley.”

“Little Cold Valley?”

Wen Fusheng frowned:

“Little Cold Valley in Beiling?”

The entire Southern Territory is divided into north and south by the Celestial Pass.

North of the Celestial Pass is called Beiling.

And south of the Celestial Pass is called Nanling.

As for why it’s not called Nanling and Beiling, Chu Qing didn’t know… it’s always been called that way.

The Celestial Pass is mysterious and profound, a branch of the Heavenly Profound Mountain.

Tianyi Sect, one of the Five Sects, is located beneath the Celestial Pass.

It seems to guard the gate of the Celestial Pass.

The Celestial Pass is not impassable; north and south are not cut off, but for many years, few people have been able to cross the Celestial Pass.

There are also many rumors about that area.

The biggest legend is that Ghost Emperor Modo’s Ghost Emperor’s Palace is deep within the Celestial Pass.

However, many know of this place, but few go there.

No one would rashly go to the Ghost Emperor’s Palace to face Ghost Emperor Modo…

However, Chu Qing’s trip was to Lingbei Tianyin Mansion, and he would inevitably have to go to the Celestial Pass.

Wen Fusheng’s face turned ugly.

Chu Qing noticed the change in his expression and asked:

“What’s wrong?”

Wen Fusheng shook his head without answering, but brought out writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone and said to Sang Qing:

“Explain the layout of Celestial Mechanism Valley clearly; you tell me, and I’ll draw it.”

“…Okay.”

Sang Qing completely gave up resistance; Wen Fusheng asked him anything, and he answered everything.

Only after he had finished speaking did Wen Fusheng hand the finished drawing to Chu Qing:

“When are we going?”

“Now.”

Chu Qing glanced at the sky:

“This matter… cannot be delayed.”

Wen Fusheng nodded:

“I’ll make some preparations; let’s leave immediately… Siye!”

Siye pushed open the door and entered.

“Keep an eye on this person; there must be no mistakes.”

“Yes.”

Siye bowed in response.

Sang Qing was furious:

“You… you promised me that as long as I told you everything, you would give me a quick death!”

“It’s better to live miserably than to die well. Just bear with it for now; when it’s your time to die, I will definitely give you a quick death.”

Chu Qing waved his hand at him, telling him to relax.

“…”

Sang Qing didn’t know whether to be grateful or to curse.

Such comfort was better than nothing.

Only after they left the courtyard did Wen Fusheng stop.

Chu Qing guessed what he was thinking and said:

“You aren’t planning on having me run a trip to Little Cold Valley, are you?”

“…”

Wen Fusheng’s musing was interrupted by Chu Qing, and he glared at him unhappily:

“You have designs on my daughter; what’s wrong with helping me run a trip to Little Cold Valley?”

“When did I have designs on her? No, when have I ever had designs on her?”

Chu Qing’s face darkened.

“Without designs on her, you still hang around her. The Old Man saw it; you still dare to act innocent?”

Wen Fusheng snorted:

“I’m telling you, after taking advantage of my daughter, you can’t just leave.

If you have the guts, marry her, and I’ll respect you as a man!”

“…”

Chu Qing almost rolled his eyes to the heavens; he was too lazy to argue with him about this:

“Is there some difficulty you have, that you can’t go?”

Wen Fusheng exhaled, remained silent for a while, and took out a token from his sleeve, handing it to Chu Qing.

Chu Qing only glanced at it, and his pupils constricted slightly:

“Ghost Emperor’s Order?”

“The Two Gangs, Three Halls, Five Sects, and One Villa, while they are the largest factions in Nanling.

However, looking at the entire Southern Territory, the supreme being is still that Ghost Emperor Modo.

Three years ago, someone gave me this token.

They told me that within these few years, I must not leave Nanling; this is the Ghost Emperor’s Edict.

As for when this order will be lifted, that person didn’t say.”

Wen Fusheng looked at Chu Qing:

“This token, I’m afraid, isn’t just something I received; the Two Gangs, Three Halls, Five Sects, and One Villa have all received this edict.

Therefore, for the past three years, people from various factions have never crossed the Celestial Pass.”

Chu Qing stroked his chin:

“Three years ago again?”

Three years ago… the Heavenly Evil Cult began its actions.

Three years ago… Ghost Emperor Modo issued an edict to the leaders of the various factions.

This matter is probably no coincidence.

The struggle between the Heavenly Evil Cult and the Three Emperors, Five Emperors should have begun three years ago.

However, these things are unknown to ordinary people, and even someone like Wen Fusheng is unaware of them.

Chu Qing suddenly remembered the rumors he had heard these days…

Mysterious Emperor Shang Qiu Yu disappeared, Ghost Emperor Modo went south.

The Three Emperors, Five Emperors, who had been inactive for many years, seemed to have undergone subtle changes.

Then he remembered the Old Beggar again.

Although he speculated that the Old Beggar wasn’t Shang Qiu Yu, this person must be related to Shang Qiu Yu.

Combining this with his previous statement that if the Three Emperors, Five Emperors were to act, it would cause many more deaths in the Martial World…

This made Chu Qing suspect that from three years ago, the Heavenly Evil Cult’s existence had already been known to the Three Emperors, Five Emperors.

And from then on, they had already begun an unknown struggle.

Thinking this, Chu Qing was about to speak when he suddenly heard the sound of clothes breaking through the wind.

He and Wen Fusheng simultaneously looked towards the source of the sound, and saw Si Chen, dressed in white, appearing before them with a serious expression:

“Villa Master, Third Young Master.

The situation is not good… rumors about Celestial Mechanism Valley’s location have suddenly spread within the villa… those people can’t hold back any longer.”

Chu Qing and Wen Fusheng looked at each other and spoke at the same time:

“Fast reaction!”