Chapter 597 - 43: 4 Emperors Abdicate, Purple Cloud Palace Reopens

Chapter 597: Chapter 43: 4 Emperors Abdicate, Purple Cloud Palace Reopens

"You’re saying..."

The Emperor of Shu looked thoughtful, recalling his first meeting with that personage—the Deserted Mountain Daoist Temple, the journey to the Underworld, and the words that followed.

"If you ever come to rule a land, you must erect the [Profound Bird Platform]."

’Could it be...’

’But the problem is, isn’t that personage right here in the Imperial Palace?’

’Why have this person deliver the message?’

Liu Bei spoke up, voicing his doubts. Cao Cao acted decisively, leading the group to the rear hall to find [Hongjun Daoist].

They knocked, but there was no answer.

Pushing the door open, they found an anomaly of Time swirling within the rear hall. A figure formed purely from Time and Years sat cross-legged inside. They called out to it, but received no response!

"Is that the Hongjun Daoist?"

Yang Jian asked, puzzled. Lu Xiuyuan and Lin Youwei, who had followed him in, remained silent. The scene before them was beyond their comprehension—a person made of Time and Years?

The Three Emperors bowed to the time-distorted Hongjun Daoist and asked their questions.

It was as if they received an answer, yet at the same time, received nothing at all. It seemed the Hongjun Daoist had responded, and yet, it seemed he had not.

Yan Huang’s thoughts raced. Seemingly having thought of something, he turned to ask Cao Cao a few things about [Hongjun Daoist].

Cao Cao didn’t hesitate and revealed everything that had happened back then.

"The Heaven-Smashing Palm of the Primordial Buddha?" Wang Zhiyao asked in astonishment.

"He fought the Buddha Mother?" Yan Huang’s eyes widened.

"Zhang Daoling’s senior martial brother?" Yang Jian sucked in a sharp breath.

Others might not know, but he knew perfectly well. That Zhang Daoling was the Ancestral Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, and even more, a Registered Disciple of the Taishang Lineage!

In the Taishang Lineage, only two people would dare call themselves Zhang Daoling’s senior martial brother.

’And if this person calling himself Lu Xiuyuan is truly *that* Lu Xiuyuan...’

Yang Jian snapped his head to the side, staring at Lu Xiuyuan as he asked:

"You said you ascended from another realm? Which realm?"

Lu Xiuyuan was silent for a moment before shaking his head again.

"I cannot say."

Lu Xuan’s instructions had been very clear: Do not mention [Lu Xuan], do not mention [Profound Clarity]...

If he spoke those two names without any means of concealment, it was very likely the vigilant Buddha Mother would notice.

Everyone was now a little alarmed and uncertain, but Yang Erlang and Yan Huang seemed to have faintly guessed something.

Yang Erlang asked again:

"Besides the matter of abdication, were there any other words you were meant to deliver?"

"No more words, but there is something he wants me to do. As for what that is..."

Lu Xiuyuan shook his head again.

"I cannot say."

Yang Jian’s heart pounded. A guess had already formed in his mind. After Junior Martial Uncle Profound Clarity was shackled, his other identity, Profound Yellow, had also entered secluded cultivation unto death.

And now this Hongjun Daoist had also fallen into a strange state. Combined with the account from the man before him...

’That’s it!’

’This incredibly mysterious Hongjun Daoist... is probably also Junior Martial Uncle Lu!’

Yang Jian made a snap decision:

"We’ll do as he says. Construct the three platforms. Fifty-nine years from now, the Three Emperors will abdicate!"

"Agreed!" The Three Emperors had no objections and nodded in unison.

They too had vaguely guessed something, but Liu Bei mused,

"If we build three platforms together, won’t it arouse suspicion in the North?"

Grave expressions appeared on everyone’s faces. Just then, a Daoist arrived, reaching the Imperial Palace in a single step.

Zhang Jiao walked into the great hall. Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, he gave a slight bow and spoke immediately:

"In the North, Yuan Shao has suddenly begun constructing a Golden Platform. He claims he wants to build the First Divine Platform in the world, using it to enfeoff generals and rally troops, in preparation to march south one day. The other lords found this suspicious and sent me to inform you..."

The people in the hall fell silent.

Zhang Jiao was taken aback and asked:

"Everyone, why the silence?"

After a long moment, Yang Erlang sighed softly.

"So that’s how it is."

A smile appeared on Liu Bei’s face, his eyes shining brightly.

"Yuan Shao wants to build the world’s First Divine Platform, but we can’t let him have his way. I will also build a platform to outdo him! I’ll use it to enfeoff my high generals!"

"Same here!" Sun Jian said with a smile. "I’ll also build a divine platform, and I’ll definitely outdo Yuan Shao. Hmm, let’s make it for observing the Stars of the Celestial Sphere!"

Cao Cao chuckled as well, a look of relief on his face. ’The four of them from all those years ago... none of them have really changed at all...’

He looked toward the North, said ’Big Brother’ in his heart, and then announced,

"How could I be left out? I must outdo that Yuan Shao as well!"

Liu Bei glanced over with a smile and asked,

"Second Brother, what will your platform be used for?"

Cao Cao pondered for a long while, then gave a bashful smile.

"I have my own clever use for it!"

.........

After catching up with Yan Huang and the others, Lu Xiuyuan returned to the residence Emperor Wei had arranged for him, still feeling a bit dazed.

"This place... is actually the Ancient Times..."

He murmured in shock, feeling that the world was truly unpredictable. He had actually become a person from history.

Just then, the Demon Sect Saintess brought him some hot water. After he washed his face, she asked gently,

"My lord, what exactly happened today? And why were there so many things you ’cannot say’? Can’t you tell me about it?"

Lu Xiuyuan gently caressed the Demon Sect Saintess’s cheek, kissed her forehead, and said softly,

"I can’t say for now. In any case, it’s nothing bad, so don’t worry."

The Demon Sect Saintess whined playfully,

"Mr. Lu!"

"I really can’t say. Mainly because I can’t explain it clearly myself."

Lu Xiuyuan gave another bitter smile and gently hugged the girl.

"Xiaoxi, although I don’t know the specifics, this matter is definitely of great importance..."

Lin Xi pouted, nodded faintly, and then asked thoughtfully,

"So, Mr. Lu, is the world we ascended to related to the person who sent you to the Lower Realm twenty-four years ago?"

Lu Xiuyuan froze, a little taken aback.

"Don’t you already know that?"

"I was so scared and worried today that my mind has gone all fuzzy. I can’t remember clearly." A faint smile appeared on Lin Xi’s face, her gaze profound.

The two slept together. In the dead of night, a wisp of Lin Xi’s consciousness slowly drifted away, connecting with the mind of an unknown being without causing the slightest ripple.