Undying Life

Chapter 816: The Secret of the Primordial Coffin Nails

"After Wang Chen arrived, what happened?" Zhong Shan inquired.

"The sea of blood surged violently. The Blood God's technique proved to be as fearsome as its reputation in the vast world. Amidst the chaos of the blood sea, Wang Chen launched a surprise attack on the Human Sovereign and later exterminated the remaining four or five of his subordinates!" Mr. Shi explained.

"Wang Chen is that powerful?" Zhao Suoxiang asked from the side.

"Wang Chen's individual strength is not that great, but within his sea of blood, he possesses numerous powerful Blood Gods. Their combined assault caught the Human Sovereign and his men off guard," Mr. Shi said, taking a deep breath.

"What does he want? Is he after the Saint's corpse?"

"No, his initial target was this!" Mr. Shi said, producing an ancient black nail from his hand, covered in mysterious runes.

"Coffin nail?" Zhao Suoxiang frowned.

"Yes, these are coffin nails. There are ten in total. I managed to acquire three of them; they are truly peerless treasures!" Mr. Shi said.

"Peerless treasures?"

Zhong Shan nodded. Indeed, as he had guessed before, nails capable of containing a Saint's corpse could not be ordinary nails. After all, a Saint's corpse is far beyond the control of even divine artifacts, yet these ten coffin nails had succeeded.

Zhong Shan did not know who forged these nails, but in this world, they were no less significant than any of the legendary Ten Treasures of Antiquity.

Nails to Contain a Saint's Corpse!

"So, did you also take action at that time?" Zhong Shan asked Mr. Shi.

"Yes. When the coffin lid was opened, the heavens mourned, and tears of rain fell from the sky. Endless 'habitual air' surged into the coffin like a tsunami. I knew at that moment that the corpse transformation could not be stopped. As the corpse energy grew stronger, I realized that the coffin could no longer contain the Saint's body, so I took action secretly, but unfortunately, I only obtained three coffin nails!" Mr. Shi said with a shake of his head.

"Oh? Only three? What about the remaining seven?"

"The Human Sovereign acquired two, and Wang Chen got five of the Saint's coffin nails!" Mr. Shi sighed slightly.

"And then?" Zhong Shan asked.

"After the division of the coffin nails, the Human Sovereign quickly closed the coffin and fled the Changsheng Realm with it. Wang Chen pursued closely behind, and I followed as well," Mr. Shi said.

"You came out?"

"I did not dare to touch the Saint's corpse, but the Human Sovereign and Wang Chen fought fiercely over it. I, along with Shui Jing, Tian Lao, and the others, quickly retreated, leaving the battlefield to the two of them. Although they fought, thankfully, they did not show any disrespect to the Saint's corpse; otherwise, the heavens would have struck them with lightning," Mr. Shi recalled.

"The Human Sovereign was deeply concealed, and Wang Chen even more so!" Yi Yan remarked from the side.

"Indeed, their contest was evenly matched. At that moment, the surrounding space began to tremble slightly and then violently swayed. It was as if the Changsheng Realm was shaking intensely, connected by a tremendous force to some distant place, and then Wang Chen and the Human Sovereign's battle ceased!" Mr. Shi said.

"Uh?"

"It was Kong Xuan arriving. From an immeasurable distance away, Kong Xuan sensed the Changsheng Realm and attempted to forcefully move closer!" Mr. Shi explained.

"How marvelous!" Zhong Shan marveled.

"The Human Sovereign and Wang Chen noticed, but even more terrifying events occurred afterward," Mr. Shi continued.

"What happened?"

"When the Human Sovereign emerged with the purple giant coffin, the lid had already closed, and the heavenly mourning had ceased. But then, the mourning started again, still as sorrowful as before, but now with a deep sense of gravity," Mr. Shi said.

"The lid was closed, and yet there was heavenly mourning? Does that mean the purple giant coffin is no longer effective? Is the corpse transformation about to be completed?" Yi Yan's pupils contracted.

"Yes, the purple giant coffin suddenly began to float eerily, rising steadily. It then aimed at the ascension passage opened by the Human Sovereign and started to fly upwards on its own, attempting to leave the small world," Mr. Shi said gravely.

"The corpse transformation is complete?"

"I don't know!" Mr. Shi shook his head.

"How can you not know? Isn't this your area of expertise?" Zhao Suoxiang asked anxiously.

"I study corpses, but I've never dealt with a Saint's corpse. At the level of a Saint's corpse, I can only make educated guesses based on experience; I can't be certain. At that time, the purple giant coffin shot up, gaining speed rapidly, surrounded by countless death auras. Even the Human Sovereign and Wang Chen, who tried to seize it, were repelled by the powerful corpse energy. They both chased the purple giant coffin out of this realm!" Mr. Shi said, frowning.

"Wang Chen, a mere mortal, can leave the small world?" Yi Yan frowned.

"The Blood God's technique protected him, allowing him to pass through the ascension passage. And at that moment, Kong Xuan also arrived at the last second. Seeing the purple giant coffin fly out, Kong Xuan waved his sleeve and rolled up the Longevity Realm, chasing after it. However, just as he was about to leave the small world, he noticed us," Mr. Shi said.

"Oh?"

"At the moment of departure, Kong Xuan glanced at me and threw something, saying it was for you, Your Majesty!" Shui Jing suddenly spoke up.

"Oh?" Zhong Shan showed a hint of surprise.

Shui Jing took out a cyan jade slip and gently placed it in front of Zhong Shan.

"After Kong Xuan threw this item, he also left this realm the moment the ascension passage closed. The Human Sovereign, Wang Chen, Kong Xuan, and the Saint's corpse all left this realm!" Shui Jing said.

A cyan jade slip? Zhong Shan picked it up with a hint of doubt.

A message from Kong Xuan to him? What could it be?

The ministers all looked at Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan grasped the jade slip, carefully removing a small restriction and began to comprehend it. The ministers waited in silence.

As Zhong Shan read the jade slip, his expression suddenly changed as if he had learned some earth-shattering news.

A bead of cold sweat appeared on Zhong Shan's forehead, and his eyes flashed with regret. An intense feeling of resentment filled the entire study.

The ministers were puzzled and worried. What could Kong Xuan have said to make the emperor react this way? What could shake the emperor so deeply?

"Pa!"

In a fit of rage, Zhong Shan crushed the jade slip, but instead of being destroyed, it released a wisp of cyan smoke.

"Zhong Shan, I can no longer manage the affairs of the small world, but I am deeply discontented. I, Kong Xuan, have fallen twice at the hands of a mere mortal like you. I am unwilling to accept this. However, I will not let you have it easy. Are you filled with resentment after reading this message? I want you to spend your remaining days in torment!" Kong Xuan's voice echoed from the cyan smoke.

This was Kong Xuan's message, but even this brief message gave the ministers a sense of foreboding.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

"Roarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"

Zhong Shan roared in rage and frustration.

The ministers dared not intervene, and Zhong Shan's furious roar from Tianyuan Pavilion immediately alarmed the empresses in the harem, prompting them to rush over.

"Zhong Shan, what happened?" Tian Ling'er cried out as she rushed in.

"Husband, are you alright?" Bao'er hurried over as well.

Gu Qianyou and Bei Qingsi looked at Zhong Shan with deep concern.

At this moment, Zhong Shan's eyes were bloodshot, filled with intense anger.

Under the soothing presence of the four women, Zhong Shan slowly suppressed the frustration boiling inside him. Everyone watched him with worry. Zhong Shan sat down, closed his eyes to calm his rage, and after a while, his expression softened slightly. Suddenly, a strange smile appeared on his previously angry face.

The ministers were puzzled. What happened to the emperor?

"Yi Yan, listen to my command!" Zhong Shan suddenly opened his eyes and said.

"I am here!" Yi Yan immediately responded.

"I have a task for you. From the palace of Kong Lietian, from the beginning of the battle to now, you must control everyone within the palace," Zhong Shan commanded solemnly.

"Yes, but what else should I do?" Yi Yan asked.

"Kong Lietian must have retreated to the palace in the end. Additionally, reports say there was a loud noise in the palace that day. I want you to control everyone and find out the final whereabouts of the Primordial Banner. Do not overlook any details; I need the exact departure route of the Primordial Banner!" Zhong Shan said firmly.

"Yes!"

"Alright, you are all dismissed for now," Zhong Shan said.

"Yes!" the ministers responded in unison and retreated, leaving only the four empresses behind.

"Husband, what happened just now?" Bao'er asked.

The other three women also looked at Zhong Shan.

"Just now, Kong Xuan gave me a jade slip containing information about the Primordial Banner. Kui'er's fate is likely still intact, and it is within the Primordial Banner!" Zhong Shan revealed, his face showing strong joy.

"Really?"

"Yes, I have been inside the Primordial Banner, and it is as Kong Xuan described. However, to unleash the full power of the Primordial Banner, twelve celestial pillars must be formed. These pillars require the fates of women born in yin years, yin months, yin days, and yin hours. The twelve celestial pillars are crucial. Although Kong Lietian hasn't formed the twelve celestial pillars, he must have carefully preserved the fates of these women. Whether Kui'er's soul remains or not, her fate is still there. This is good news, but the bad news is that I missed the chance to seize the Primordial Banner!" Zhong Shan's expression turned deeply resentful once more.

"Husband, don't be disheartened. No matter what, this is good news. With good news, more will follow. Missing the Primordial Banner now doesn't mean you won't encounter it again in the future. Don't fall into Kong Xuan's trap; he wants to torment you," Bao'er softly comforted him.

Taking a deep breath, Zhong Shan nodded, "Rest assured, I am filled with hatred, but I am not the same as before. I won't fall into Kong Xuan's trap; he underestimates me!"

"Really?" Bao'er was still a bit unsure.

Gently patting Bao'er's hand, Zhong Shan assured, "Kong Xuan's provocation won't torment me; instead, it will motivate me."

"That's good to hear!" The women all breathed a sigh of relief.

After sending the women away, Zhong Shan sat alone in his study. He remained there for three to four hours. During this time, his mind was not preoccupied with benefits or future plans. There was only one image in his mind—Wei Kui'er.