Chapter 2688 - 34: All Under Heaven Is an Illusion, Eternal Life Is True_2

Chu Zicheng had clearly been sorting this out in his mind for a long time, and now he spoke calmly and at length, orderly and unhurried: "The matter of chasing Zhang Linchuan for ten thousand miles and exterminating the Church of Lifeless further shows that Jiang Wang’s influence has grown to a terrifying extent. With just one public denunciation, the whole world responded! The Church of Lifeless had already spread across the land, its roots sunk for ten thousand miles, yet it was wiped out in a single night!

Compared to his cultivation, this kind of influence is the more frightening thing.

Could Zhuang Gaoxian afford to wait?

Please look at today’s Hell World—how many powers have come because of Jiang Wang’s death, how many True Men, how many True Monarchs? If Jiang Wang had not died today, one day in the future these people might well be standing on the ruins of Zhuang Country!"

"According to what you say, Zhuang Gaoxian indeed had a motive to act." The Daoist sitting facing the wall sighed. "But after The gate of all demons, to plot against a Human Race genius is undoubtedly a profanation of the Ancient Human Race Common Pact... does he really dare do this?"

Chu Zicheng said softly, "The Ancient Demon Slaying Alliance is also supposed to be sacred and inviolable, is it not."

The Daoist whose form was only a blurred silhouette was momentarily speechless.

Though after the last failed trial it was Du Ruhui who ascended Jade Capital Mountain stripped bare to receive the lash, anyone with clear eyes knew where Zhuang Gaoxian’s responsibility lay. This enlightened ruler and his worthy minister had always been of one heart; how could Du Ruhui possibly have done such a great deed behind Zhuang Gaoxian’s back?

It was only because Zhuang Gaoxian, as the ruler of a nation and a King of a Daoist Vassal State, could not be allowed by Jinguo to lose face and authority in public, that they cooperated in glossing the matter over.

Compared with the Human Race Common Pact after The gate of all demons, it is truly hard to say which carries more weight, that or the Ancient Demon Slaying Alliance.

Zhuang Gaoxian was able to wield the Ancient Demon Slaying Alliance as a weapon, slandering Jiang Wang for Communicating with Demons... so what is so strange about his risking violation of the Human Race Common Pact after The gate of all demons?

Chu Zicheng added, "Thus, beyond motive, the courage is also accounted for."

There was a faint, almost indiscernible excitement in his voice.

Because what he was investigating was such a major case—

It involved Zhuang Gaoxian, the Dongzhen King who revitalized Zhuang Country; it involved the youngest Military-Merit Marquis of the Hegemony Country Eastern Qi; it involved the public virtue of the world and the Human Race Common Pact! Once this case was brought to light, it was bound to attract the attention of the entire world.

And he, Chu Zicheng, having teased out the threads and found the truth, would naturally become famous in a single stroke!

Cracking such a grand case—Cultivation Techniques, Prime Stones, position—would they not all be his for the taking?

Who would believe that he, born in a small country like Ji Country, having come all this way with no background at all, could weave such a brilliant future for himself?

The voice of the Daoist whose form was only a blurred silhouette interrupted Chu Zicheng’s daydream: "But how was it done? The motive and the courage you describe are both very reasonable, but Zhuang Gaoxian is, after all, a ruler of a nation—he cannot move lightly, let alone come to the world beyond The gate of all demons to take such a risk. More importantly... Jiang Wang is already Marquis Wu’an of Qi Country, high in rank and power, and would certainly receive Qi Country’s attention and protection. On what basis could Zhuang Gaoxian grasp his movements and prepare in advance against him? This does not make sense. Whether it is Xiu Yuan or Ji Zhaonan, they could not possibly be under Zhuang Gaoxian’s control."

Chu Zicheng said respectfully, "You of course would not fail to think of the answer; it is only that you have fallen into a conceptual trap. Why would Zhuang Gaoxian need to grasp Jiang Wang’s movements? With the universally acknowledged duty of God Arrives laid upon the Various Countries, Jiang Wang would inevitably enter the world beyond The gate of all demons to fulfill his duty—and that day would not be far off. After all, he is a young State Marquis under the gaze of the world; if he delayed fulfilling his duty too long, it would surely invite gossip. Jiang Wang has no need to delay, and from his conduct all along, he is not a man who shrinks from danger...

Therefore, if Zhuang Gaoxian wished to target Jiang Wang, he only needed to enter the world beyond The gate of all demons in advance and wait."

The Daoist sitting facing the wall gave another soft sigh.

Chu Zicheng continued, "As it happens, there is a man in Zhuang Country named Qiao Jingzong, one of the so‑called Xin’an Eight Talents. He came to the Hell World at the beginning of the year and has been stationed in High Ridge City, developing his power there... You must also have noticed that the time when he entered the Hell World coincides precisely with the period when Jiang Wang won unparalleled military merit on the Qi Xia battlefield and was enfeoffed as a State Marquis by military merit!"

"Qiao Jingzong?" the Daoist asked.

Chu Zicheng said, "High Ridge City is not far from Iron Rock City; for a True Man of the Age, this distance may be completely disregarded. Although I do not know how he found such a perfect target for borrowing a body as Mei Xuelin, for the revitalizing lord of Zhuang Country, this surely was not difficult.

If he had always been watching the various cities of Qi Country in the Civilization Basin, then it would not be hard for him to obtain at the first moment the news of Jiang Wang’s descent into the Hell World.

With one who schemes intentionally against one who is unprepared, with a Dongzhen plotting God Arrives, in the Hell World there are far too many opportunities.

He did not necessarily have to make his move at Frost Wind Valley; it is just that Frost Wind Valley happened to present a superb opportunity... Ji Zhaonan leading Jiang Wang in a bloody battle at Frost Wind Valley.

So he decided on the spot, found a way to conceal himself, silently slipped out of High Ridge City, then directed the already‑controlled Mei Xuelin to blend into General Wang Kun’s troops and, under the name of reinforcements, proceed to Frost Wind Valley. At the most critical moment, he buried Marquis Wu’an of Qi Country in a single stroke."

"If this is the true course of events, then indeed all the details fit..." The Daoist asked again, "You believe Qiao Jingzong is Zhuang Gaoxian?"

Chu Zicheng said with confidence, "Though I do not know how he accomplished it, there is no second person in all Zhuang Country who can reach True Man‑level combat strength."

"I have also checked the intelligence of the present world. From the beginning of the year until now, the Lord Zhuang has indeed held audience five times, but in all five he merely sat there and uttered a few words; he never took action. Which is to say... it need not have been the True One."