Chapter 1973: 20: Life Palace Fourteen Lines, Plans to Return to the Xuanhuang Realm

The door to the Memory Palace wouldn’t open. Was it my subconscious strengthening the memory seal? Or was there a mysterious force manipulating my fate? Did Qing Yu Zi imply that he hadn’t won either as a hint related to the Xuanhuang Realm? Zhao Xing opened his eyes and rubbed his temples, "Old Qing stayed in the Xuanhuang Realm for a long time. He told me to return there after the Transmission Building because, after the ’Battle of Cause and Effect,’ I’ve become like Tang Seng, and everyone wants a piece of me."

"But I can only trust his words by thirty percent!"

Zhao Xing certainly didn’t fully trust Qing Yu Zi. From the time he unearthed Old Qing’s treasure from the Xuanhuang Realm, Qing Yu Zi’s actions were far from transparent.

Initially, he disguised himself as an Origin Third Realm member of the Purple God Mansion; later, he transformed into a major figure in the Reincarnation Temple, using me to complete a resurrection ritual, stealing the Qi Fortune and treasures of the East Extending Ancient Clan, and becoming a god through deceit. To think of it, that guy even stole the Divine Extension Stele from the temple, framing the East Extending Ancient Clan.

It was based on the many treasures of the East Extending Ancient Clan and the re-deaths or reincarnations of thousands of Reincarnation Realm members that Qing Yu Zi became a god.

Reflecting on Qing Yu Zi’s journey to godhood, you could say he was highly skilled and daring, or that he was deep in his plans... but it certainly wasn’t honorable.

"After the Yuanhai Conference incident, Qing Yu Zi agreed to fulfill three of my wishes."

"My first request was a safe arrival in the Empire."

"The second request was for a Boundary-breaking Stone."

"The third request was to save my life once, to settle the cause and effect."

"But once in the Empire and entering the Primordial Realm, I never proactively contacted Qing Yu Zi."

"It wasn’t until I went to the Desolate Domain of the Empire Development Department on my way to serve as Sea Communication Envoy that I met Qing Yu Zi, though that was because he actively appeared in my dream, uninvited."

"First, he taught me the Reincarnation Technique, and then, even though he knew about the complications with Wei Tianchen, he ignored it. Not considering the intervention during the Transmission Realm time-space, looking only at the actual action, it was the people from the Empire’s Guluo River and Ancient Hill who saved me. Qing Yu Zi just said I wouldn’t die."

"Since he saw more than Wei Tianchen, Bo Wei, and even the Heavenly Master Mansion... doesn’t that mean he let Wei Tianchen carry away the Seven-Star Chest with the Desolate God Poison?"

To say Qing Yu Zi didn’t have the ability to stop Wei Tianchen first, Zhao Xing didn’t believe it, but that’s exactly what he did—watched Wei Tianchen take the Seven-Star Chest and let me get poisoned by the True Spirit Heavenly Poison.

So, Zhao Xing felt three parts fear, three parts admiration, three parts helplessness, and only one part trust towards Qing Yu Zi.

His trust in the Empire far surpassed his trust in Qing Yu Zi.

It was only out of helplessness that he got entangled with Qing Yu Zi.

"Within the three factions of the Reincarnation Temple, Qing Yu Zi belongs to the one that actively intervenes in the world. What exactly is he plotting?"

"However, no matter what he’s plotting, I need not fear him anymore." Zhao Xing chuckled.

In the Transmission Realm time-space, within the Divine Pattern Area of the Void Ancestor Molt Bone.

At that time, Zhao Xing had three choices upon facing the Void Ancestor Divine Patterns.

First, take some risk to learn, carrying the Secret Technique back with his own soul. Given that he could learn Fan Qianrou’s Heart Sealing Technique, protected by Qinghua Magical Power, Zhao Xing felt this had a high success rate.

Second, do nothing and return directly. As someone in the Life and Death Dao Domain Realm, there wasn’t much he could take out, and the Primordial Realm wouldn’t blame him anyway.

Third, have Qing Yu Zi’s Divine Statue bear the load.

On the surface, he had no choice, but he had long decided to use the third method.

The reasons were many, but the most important was distrust—to avoid being led by the nose.

"No matter what your plans or intentions, Qing Yu Zi, tricking me and letting Wei Tianchen run away, the first time I was too weak and could feel resentment but dared not express it."

"But if you do it again, do you really take me for a puppet?"

Zhao Xing was also unafraid if Qing Yu Zi was displeased.

First, he pretended to pray before acting, feigning lack of choice, essentially a probe.

Second, even if Qing Yu Zi discovered his dislike, there was still a scapegoat available.

Bo Wei had brainwashed him for three hundred years, and the soul listened clearly. He amplified this dislike accordingly, so if there was an issue, like being questioned by Qing Yu Zi... he could find a reason.

If he really did this, Bo Wei would have been very happy witnessing this scene!

"Bringing back information from the Transmission Realm may not require an exchange limit, but once Qing Yu Zi’s Divine Statue carries the information, it becomes an invaluable tangible treasure."

"Once the carrying is successful, Qing Yu Zi in the same time-space would surely be affected, deduced based on the understanding that I would be repelled by the Transmission Building’s rules."

Whether Wei Tianchen, Bo Wei, or Qing Yu Zi, they were all plotting against him... If he didn’t resist at all and just followed the path set by the Battle of Cause and Effect, how could he still be Mr. Zhao?

Thus, he conducted a silent and subtle resistance in this way.

How effective it was, Zhao Xing didn’t know, but what he did know was he had to do it.

"Giving the Divine Statue to Emperor Red Star, as a backup of sorts for this resistance."

He knew, as he grew stronger, he’d eventually face a major test, and eventually face a choice: Are you a person of the Reincarnation Temple represented by Qing Yu Zi, or a person of my Red Star Empire?

Continuing in an unclear relationship with Qing Yu Zi, fine during the honeymoon phase of cooperation, but suppose relations sour.