Chapter 861: Recruitment

Chapter 861: Allurement

One of the eleven who obtained the Red Star fragments; the sole emperor of this era, transcending the Fourteen Divine Paths...

Back in the Era Archive, if Chen Ling's archive hadn't expired precisely then, Ying Fu would likely have hunted him to death. It was only by actively unleashing Mocking Calamity that he barely escaped.

Even though he had only met him once, Chen Ling could never forget those deep, sharp eyes, nor the unique, suppressive imperial aura that emanated from Ying Fu.

Chen Ling knew that the Ying Fu he encountered in the Era Archive was from the future. Now, it seemed he was about to witness the birth of an emperor...

If nothing went wrong, Ying Fu was currently inside the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury!

Moreover, he probably hadn't officially become emperor yet, or had just done so... In any case, the current Ying Fu was like a newly formed infant, without any "vassals" or abilities from other Divine Paths. At most, he would be a Tier 3.

Now was the best time to kill Ying Fu.

Chen Ling changed direction and headed directly towards the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury, which hung suspended in the air.

“No... Red Heart, what are you doing?” Jian Changsheng's heart sank at the sight. “Don't tell me you're going to join this excitement...”

“Yes,” Chen Ling nodded straightforwardly.

“Are you going to seize the emperor's position?” Sun Bumian asked in surprise. “If so, you can give up... We all possess Divine Paths; it's impossible for us to become emperor. It will only choose ordinary people who don't belong to the Fourteen Divine Paths.”

“I'm not planning to seize the emperor's position...” Chen Ling said calmly,

“I'm going to kill the emperor.”

Audience Expectation: 3Current Expectation: 41

Jian Changsheng's mouth twitched. He silently gave Chen Ling a thumbs-up from behind...

As expected of you, Red Heart 6!

“You're going to assassinate an emperor in the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury?” Sun Bumian was shocked. “Even putting aside whether you can succeed, even if the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury has fallen into disrepair, it's not somewhere just anyone can enter, right...”

“I want to try.”

Chen Ling's tone was so calm it drove Jian Changsheng and Sun Bumian crazy.

In their eyes, Chen Ling had completely lost his mind. They were supposed to be leisurely heading towards the Boundless Domain; everything was fine... Even if the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury emerged along the way, it had nothing to do with them. They could just hide and watch the show.

The birth of an emperor should be a concern for the Human Domain. What were they, a group of Twilight Society rebels, doing getting involved?

But they weren't Chen Ling, nor did they possess the Emperor's Mandate... They couldn't feel the ancient treasury's call, nor his murderous intent towards the emperor.

One era, one dominion—there should not be two emperors.

Perhaps from the moment Chen Ling drew the Emperor's Mandate, he and Ying Fu were destined to meet and kill each other, driven by fate, until one perished...

But Sun Bumian didn't want to go to the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury. His life principle had always been self-preservation: if he didn't invite trouble, trouble wouldn't invite him...

Seeing Chen Ling's determination, he simply used his fortune-telling ability, counting on his fingers:

“Red Heart, with the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury emerging, the Human Domain can't just stand by. It's going to be chaotic there, so why should we get involved in this mess... Besides, there's a sign of great misfortune ahead.”

Sun Bumian earnestly tried to dissuade him, while Jian Changsheng nodded vigorously like a pecking chick.

“Then you two can go to the Boundless Domain first,” Chen Ling said without looking back.

Sun Bumian and Jian Changsheng were stunned. Perhaps it was an illusion, but as the large red theatrical robe moved further away, the wind in the Grey Realm seemed to grow harsher... With Chen Ling gone, their protective umbrella in the Grey Realm would vanish.

Sun Bumian silently calculated the fortune of the two of them crossing the Grey Realm by themselves...

Hmm, certain death.

“I suddenly feel that the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury is quite interesting,” Sun Bumian coughed theatrically, quickly catching up to Chen Ling. “I've never been there before, so I'll go take a look with you this time.”

“With Brother Reliable here, I feel very safe,” Jian Changsheng chimed in.

Chen Ling: ...

The three figures headed directly towards the distant, brilliant light and shadow.

Meanwhile.

At the entrance of the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury.

Two figures appeared silently out of thin air, one behind the other.

Bai Ye looked around. This appeared to be the very bottom of a pyramid, with a stone platform extending outwards. Ninety-nine towering dragon-coiled pillars stood upon it, exuding an inexplicable sense of grandeur and tragedy beneath the lead-grey sky.

“It truly is the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury,” Mo Lian remarked in surprise, examining the surrounding colossal pillars. “What a pity, this place has already become a ruin, and the dragons carved on the pillars are all fragmented...”

“The Imperial Divine Path has been in decline for hundreds of years; it's quite remarkable that any part of it remains,” Bai Ye said calmly.

“So, the residual power within this ancient treasury must be quite weak, then?”

Hearing this, Bai Ye turned his head to look at him. “What are you planning?”

“Don't forget, we are Thief Sages... Isn't this Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury essentially a colossal imperial tomb, gathering all emperors throughout history?” Mo Lian seemed a little excited.

An imperial tomb and thieves... Indeed, Mo Lian's idea was certainly reasonable for the Divine Path of Thieves.

Bai Ye gazed at the magnificent ancient treasury before him, a faint smile playing on his lips. “...You're right, this is certainly more interesting than killing people.”

As Red Heart Q of the Twilight Society, Bai Ye was naturally not one to follow conventional rules. With such an Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury, full of unknowns and surprises, before him, it was impossible for him to be completely unmoved.

Bai Ye proceeded directly along the dragon-coiled pillars. A magnificent stone gate stood at the end of the stone platform, serving as the entrance to the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury.

Mo Lian's peripheral vision caught something underfoot. As if sensing something, his fingertips lightly brushed the residual dust on the ground.

“Someone has been here, and quite a few... It must be those kids.”

“They probably triggered the emergence of the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury,” Bai Ye mused. “It seems there's someone among them who has an affinity with the Imperial Dao.”

“Interesting... Then let's steal their fortune and kill them while we're at it. That way, we'll have something to report to the King when we return.”

Without another word, Mo Lian stepped forward and pushed with all his might, but no matter how much force he exerted, the stone gate didn't budge.

He was a Tier 7 Thief Sage, after all. While not specialized in strength, such a gate shouldn't have been completely immovable... Just then, Bai Ye spoke unhurriedly:

“How could deceased emperors allow thieves to enter their tombs through the main entrance? Mo Lian, I think you're getting rusty in your old age.”

“...Hmph.”

Mo Lian slowly stood up, lightly tapping his black cane on the ground. As the sound echoed in his ears, he seemed to pinpoint something, his gaze sharply fixed on a certain spot above the ancient treasury...

“The weakness is there.”