Chapter 2588: Focusing on the Weakest Link

The familiar coldness coming from her tenth son made Xihe’s heart sink. Her rational self had known that the youth before her was likely to be a fake, but she still harbored a sliver of hope. There was no need to go very far to deceive someone who had lost everything like her—all one had to do was to show her a glimmer of hope, and she would fool herself.

The youth glared at Zu An coldly. “I spent countless years meticulously setting up my grand plan, but it was all nearly ruined because of you. You should take pride in that.”

“Grand plan my ass! It’s just your greed. In order to construct this vile formation, you even killed your own sons, yet you have the cheek to appear self-righteous,” Zu An spat in disdain.

“A mere ant like you would never understand!” Emperor Jun sneered. “For the sake of eliminating the vile Shamans, sacrifices are inevitable. Once the Shamans have been vanquished, we will have a new world. They will exist eternally in a new form in that new world. Isn’t that much better?”

“You lunatic! You're out of your mind!” Xihe cursed.

“Xihe, you are a disappointment. You are the Sun Goddess, the wife of the next Celestial Emperor. How could you hook up with a mere mortal human? Your lack of shame is appalling!” Emperor Jun coldly glared at her. “However, I’ll magnanimously grant you another chance. Return to my side, and I won’t pursue this matter.”

Xihe seethed with anger. “Do you think it’s possible for anything to remain between us after you killed my sons?”

“They are only dead now,” Emperor Jun calmly replied. “Once I achieve Sainthood, it’ll be a walk in the park to revive them. There’s no need to fuss over the temporary.”

“You can revive them?” Xihe’s eyes lit up. She had schemed for many years, even going as far as to return to the past, all to rescue her sons from their miserable fate. If Emperor Jun could revive the Golden Crows after achieving Sainthood, his proposal would be worth considering.

“Of course. Do you think a saint wouldn’t be capable of that?” Emperor Jun replied proudly.

“I don’t think you’d be capable of that,” Zu An suddenly interjected.

Emperor Jun narrowed his eyes. “A summer worm will never know of winter. What does an ant like you know about the capabilities of a saint?”

“There is a good example from not long ago. When Zhulong’s son, Yayu, died, Celestial Emperor Zhuanxu immediately bestowed him with an immortal medicine to revive him. However, upon revival, Yayu turned into a witless monster. Does that count as bringing someone back to life?” Zu An had figured things out, allowing him to speak in a composed but confident manner.

“Hmph! Zhuanxu has yet to reach Sainthood. Just because he can’t do it doesn’t mean I can’t do it after reaching Sainthood,” Emperor Jun impatiently replied.

“Immortal medicines are naturally-formed resources harnessing the universe’s origin dao. Zhuanxu and Zhulong were unable to revive Yayu even when using such a medicine; I doubt you’d be able to do it as a saint,” Zu An sneered. “The crux to reviving the Golden Crows doesn’t lie in Sainthood, but something else.”

“What is it?” Xihe was both taken aback and elated. Zu An seemed to be suggesting that he had a way to save her sons.

“How can you trust that gigolo’s words?” Emperor Jun scoffed. “This is a feat that even Zhuanxu failed at. Even I’d have to reach Sainthood to perform this miracle, but that ant claims he can do it?”

It was as if a bucket of cold water was poured over Xihe.

He’s right. Zu An isn't weak by any means, but there are stronger experts in the Celestial Court. If even the Celestial Court’s deities could only rescue a walking corpse, what can he possibly do?

“The immortal medicine failed to properly revive Yayu because this world doesn’t have the netherworld and the Six Paths of Reincarnation. The souls of the deceased are prone to dissipating into the void. Zhuanxu and Zhulong only managed to rescue Yayu’s body and not his soul.” Zu An turned to Emperor Jun and continued, “Even if you reach Sainthood, the most you can do is to reforge the Golden Crows’ bodies. You won’t be able to do a thing about their souls.”

“Netherworld, Six Paths of Reincarnation...” Emperor Jun frowned. “What nonsense is that?”

Xihe, however, had heard about the Six Paths of Reincarnation in the future. Looking at Zu An, she solemnly asked, “Will you be able to save my sons?”

“I can give it a try, but I can’t guarantee it.” Zu An didn’t want to deceive her.

But his hesitant answer brought a relieved smile to Xihe’s face. “I trust you. I’m grateful to you for helping me. I have mentally prepared for failure.”

Emperor Jun was infuriated. “Xihe, you used to be a smart woman. How can you fall for that gigolo’s nonsense?! Have you truly fallen in love with that human?”

The Goddess of Wu Mountain’s gaze swiftly alternated among Emperor Jun, Zu An, and Xihe; she was making full use of her front row seat to relish in this drama.

Xihe’s ears flushed in anger. “He might only be a mortal human, but he’s a hundred times better than a beast who murders his sons!”

Zu An interjected, “Xihe, don’t let him sway your feelings. He’s only saying so much to buy time.” He turned to Emperor Jun and continued, “I bet your main body is busy fighting the Shamans. This body only contains a sliver of your soul, so you aren’t confident you can deal with us. That’s why you’re saying so much to secure Xihe’s aid.”

Emperor Jun’s eyes narrowed. “I should have killed you a long time ago, bastard!”

You have successfully troll

ed

Emperor Jun

for +444... +444... +444...

“It’s high time we settle our score!” Zu An stood up. Now that the Five Directions Demon Suppression Formation had activated the celestial palace’s cleansing power, there was no need for them to continue maintaining it.

“You’re courting death!” Now that his ploy was exposed, Emperor Jun couldn’t hold himself back anymore. He unfurled his wings and unleashed his feathers as a barrage of golden arrows at Xihe, Zu An, and the Goddess of Wu Mountain.

Zu An opened his arms wide and manifested a massive black hole to swallow the barrage of golden arrows. Despite stopping the attack, he narrowed his eyes as he realized that he had lost track of Emperor Jun.

The next moment, he sensed Emperor Jun standing right next to the Goddess of Wu Mountain, brandishing a whip of golden light to sever her neck. Alarmed, Zu An quickly used his position swap to take her position.

Emperor Jun smirked. He had anticipated Zu An’s reaction. Golden light gushed forth from his hands, instantly transforming into a cage to imprison Zu An. At the same time, he shot two beams of golden light from his eyes at Zu An.

Emperor Jun had long since realized that the Goddess of Wu Mountain was the weakest link of the trio. Whenever he attacked her, Zu An would have no choice but to rush to her rescue. This created chances for him to lay traps for Zu An. This was the same move that would have taken Zu An’s life earlier if not for Zhulong’s timely intervention. But Zhulong wasn't here to save him this time.

Just then, a figure appeared in front of him to take Emperor Jun’s two beams of golden light.

Xihe spurted a mouthful of fresh blood. It was fortunate that she, as the Sun Goddess, had an exceptionally resilient constitution and the Celestial Court’s divine jurisdiction. It also helped that Emperor Jun hesitated at the sight of her and held back a little. Otherwise, she could have been reduced to ashes. Still, suffering another blow in her already weakened state pushed her to the verge of death.

Emperor Jun was infuriated. How could his wife sacrifice herself for another man?!

You have successfully trolle

d

Emperor Jun

for +999... +999... +999...

The silver lining to Xihe’s incapacitation was that she could no longer aid Zu An. There was no need for him to hold back anymore. As long as he exploited these two women well, it would be a walk in the park for him to kill Zu An.

As he once again charged at the Goddess of Wu Mountain, viciousness flashed through his eyes.

Zu An understood what Emperor Jun was up to. Such a battle was too disadvantageous to him, so he decided to use his ‘Fragrant Barf’ ability to draw Emperor Jun’s aggro. The latter immediately halted his attack and glared at him with raging eyes.

“Let’s have a proper duel as men instead. It’s pathetic seeing a future Celestial Emperor desperately attacking women over and over again,” Zu An sneered.

“I’ll kill you!” Emperor Jun knew that Zu An was taunting him, but for some reason, he couldn’t control his emotions at all. The only thought he had in mind was to kill Zu An right away.

Fearing that the shockwaves from their clashes would injure the two ladies, Zu An morphed into a rainbow and departed from the celestial palace. Emperor Jun followed him as a surge of golden light.