Chapter 433: Emperor Secret, Transaction
In Ancient Saint City, Zhao Li didn't strike with full force. As he intentionally waited, Gu Yuan finally appeared. Decades later, two beings who were once evenly matched met again.
However, the atmosphere this time was less than harmonious. Though Zhao Li had no ill intentions, he was indeed coming with a purpose. Gu Yuan, while wary of Zhao Li, could not handle the situation lightly as it concerned the Gu Clan's reputation.
Gu Yuan was also a clever man. On one side was a powerful existence no weaker than himself, and on the other was the prestige accumulated by the Gu Clan over generations. Gu Yuan couldn't easily make a decision. After weighing things in his heart for a long time, he immediately revealed Zhao Li's identity upon arrival.
One reason was to tell those in the Gu Clan who the visitor was and for them to quickly abandon their unrealistic notions. The other was to tell outsiders that Zhao Li, in terms of both identity and Strength, was qualified to challenge the Gu Clan. As for others who wanted to follow suit, they should first consider if they had the capability.
As expected, his words spread, reaching everyone's ears and making them clearly aware of Zhao Li's identity!
The name Zhao Li had been circulating on the Continent for decades. While not everyone knew him, any force with a Dou Emperor level existence had more or less heard this name. Even if he wasn't in the Jianghu, his legend still existed in the Jianghu!
Consequently, everyone's gaze towards Zhao Li changed. If before it was curiosity and amusement, now it was awe and sudden realization, followed by a scrutiny of this legendary figure who had been rumored on the Continent for a long time but whose true face few had seen.
Zhao Li heard the displeasure in Gu Yuan's words, as if he was asking why he didn't announce his visit in advance, which would have prevented such an incident.
He had already witnessed the deep-seated arrogance in the hearts of people from these ancient families. While his unintentional actions were indeed inappropriate, the Gu Clan's overbearing behavior of immediately treating him as a provocateur, even harboring killing intent to establish their authority, was something that couldn't be changed in a short time.
He didn't act impulsively. The experience of the open and hidden struggles between dynasties and aristocratic families in the history of his previous life had taught him that these different strata needed to be managed carefully and without haste. Moreover...
Revolution shouldn't be led by him, but by the Mortals after their minds were enlightened. Only by letting them witness the power that Mortals could unleash would they become wary and lower their stance.
He pondered for a moment, forming a plan. Then, he pointed a finger. Centered around Gu Lie, the Space within a few meters around him, which had been in Imprisonment, was squeezed like a piece of jelly, turning into chunks of shredded flesh before finally disappearing.
Gu Lie felt his consciousness return to his body and quickly retreated. Only then did he notice that the high-ranking officials, including Gu Yuan, had appeared here at some point. It felt as though he had truly forgotten a period of Time.
He was only impulsive, not foolish. Not to mention that he already knew he wasn't Zhao Li's opponent, just the presence of Gu Yuan meant that this matter was no longer for him to handle. He bowed to Zhao Li from afar:
"Thank you, Senior, for showing mercy."
Strangely, he found that Zhao Li's face, which had been blurry before, was now extremely clear. He only needed to glance at it to remember it firmly, and he couldn't help but mutter in his heart:
How strange, why couldn't I see clearly before? If I had known it was him, I never would have attacked.
He hadn't forgotten that his current Strength was thanks to Zhao Li; otherwise, whether he could break through to Nine Star in this lifetime would still be an unknown.
Of course, Zhao Li wasn't deliberately doing something to hide his appearance. He had nothing to hide. It was simply because his Realm was fundamentally too far beyond these people. In front of them, Zhao Li had a characteristic similar to the myriad forms of beings; what they could see was only what they recognized.
Gu Lie, who hadn't known Zhao Li's identity before, subconsciously regarded him as a mysterious existence who dared to challenge the Gu Clan's dignity, which was why he felt blurry and couldn't see clearly.
Zhao Li nodded, then looked at Gu Yuan, saying with some emotion:
"Brother Gu, your Gu Clan truly has hidden dragons and crouching tigers. No wonder they are so overbearing."
Gu Yuan ignored Zhao Li's sarcastic tone and replied humbly:
"They are just some insignificant fellows. In front of Brother Zhao Li, weren't they easily suppressed?"
Then, not wanting to dwell on this, he changed the subject and got straight to the point, directly asking about Zhao Li's purpose for visiting:
"It's been decades since we last met, Brother Zhao Li. What brings you to visit my Gu Clan?"
His interactions with Zhao Li were mostly in the first few years after Zhao Li revealed his identity and Strength. Later, Zhao Li became reclusive in various parts of the Continent. The Gu Clan didn't have any suitable Medicinal Ingredients for a Transaction with Zhao Li for a while. The only interactions were polite exchanges between the Gu Clan and Great Li, which naturally didn't require his personal appearance. Hence, the contact between the two sides diminished. This was the first time Zhao Li had taken the initiative to visit.
Gu Yuan being so direct pleased Zhao Li, and he spoke astonishingly:
"It's nothing much. I just discovered some secrets about the Dou Di. I wonder if Brother Gu is interested? By the way, it's not about the situation where it's impossible to break through to Dou Di."
As if fearing that Gu Yuan would mistake the secret he discovered for the situation they had already speculated about - the Dou Qi Continent lacking Origin Qi and thus being unable to Become Emperor - Zhao Li added that last sentence.
Indeed, Gu Yuan initially thought Zhao Li had also discovered that the Dou Qi Continent lacked a special energy, making it impossible for a Dou Di to be born, and was somewhat dismissive. But with Zhao Li's addition, he instantly perked up, waved his hand to isolate the Space outside of the two of them, and said:
"Brother Zhao Li has come a long way. Please come to the Clan and sit for a while. I will host you properly."
This time, he wasn't being polite. Zhao Li's words, while meaning little to others, contained some other information in the ears of a Half-Emperor like him who had similar speculations, besides being a reminder.
Zhao Li's words, to Gu Yuan, essentially meant, 'I haven't been able to break through, and I've finally found a Method, but I'm not sure, and I need your help.'
After all, in Gu Yuan's view, if Zhao Li had truly found a feasible Method to break through to Dou Di, it wouldn't be his turn to share it with him.
Zhao Li agreed: "Alright, let's go."
Seeing this, Gu Yuan walked ahead, and Zhao Li followed. In a few strides, they had reached the center of the Ancient Realm, on the Mountain Peak where Gu Yuan resided year-round. Zhao Li could faintly sense a breath within the Space next to the Mountain Peak that seemed capable of igniting everything.
Zhao Li's heart stirred, and he immediately understood what it was. Then, he said with a slight regret:
"Is that where the Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame is located? Unfortunately, its Origin is no longer here."
In his perception, although there was vast energy within, they were like an army without a commander. While they looked imposing, there was a sense of disarray, and they had very little combat power.
Gu Yuan saw Zhao Li's gaze and remembered his Transaction with him at that time. His eyes flickered. Regarding Heavenly Flames, he seemed to have put off Zhao Li for a long time. Thus, he changed the subject:
"Brother Zhao Li, what is the Secret of the Dou Di you mentioned?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Li withdrew his gaze. After getting the Azure Lotus Seed, he no longer needed these Heavenly Flames to comprehend the special Rules contained within them as he did before; the Azure Lotus contained them all.
He sorted his thoughts and asked in return:
"For ten thousand years on the Dou Qi Continent, no Dou Di has been born except for Tuoshe Ancient Emperor. Do you know why this is?"
Gu Yuan thought of the empty feeling in his Soul after making progress, as if he had painstakingly dug a canal but couldn't manage to draw in Water no matter how hard he tried. He pondered for a moment, sighed deeply, and spoke his speculation:
"The Dou Qi Continent is missing a special energy. Without it, no matter how Brilliant and Talented you are, you cannot Become Emperor. Brother Xiao Xuan is truly a pity."
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