Immortality Path: From the Blind Man at the Pharmacy
Chapter 280 - 159, 160. Once again, the True Martial Emperor Monarch, the Xiao Family comes across the sea (major Chapter - seeking subscriptions)_2

Chapter 280: 159, 160. Once again, the True Martial Emperor Monarch, the Xiao Family comes across the sea (major Chapter - seeking subscriptions)_2

His skin was slightly wrinkled, and even some age spots had appeared, but upon closer inspection, those age spots seemed to be fading away.

"You are very smart," Song Cheng praised. "We made no arrangement, yet you knew to wait here for me."

The elder named Qin Wanquan smiled and said, "When this old man saw Master on the street, I selfishly thought to wait in a place where it would be easy to meet you, and if Master did not come, it would merely mean waiting a bit longer."

Song Cheng said, "Go on."

Qin Wanquan respectfully obliged and said directly:

"Master, although I was originally at the Qi Realm, which allowed me to live three more sixty-year cycles, I had once suffered severe injuries, losing two of those cycles, and I weakened very quickly. Despite living for a hundred years, I made no progress...

Seeing that I was about to die of old age, I received a Pill from King Zhao, and now I have entered the Pseudo-Profound Realm. Though I cannot live the nine sixty-year cycles like a Noble Family Child, I have gained an additional two sixty-year cycles of life.

Today, the Emperor secretly summoned me to the palace with the intention of overthrowing King Zhao.

Regarding this, King Zhao had given instructions, so I pretended to comply outwardly while acting contrary in the shadows, ready to play this power struggle game with the Emperor..."

The Grand Tutor spoke as if torrents were falling from his mouth, telling Song Cheng everything about himself.

Regardless of whether Song Cheng wanted to know or not, he told him everything, leaving nothing unsaid.

He even revealed the Emperor’s "coup" plan in detail.

It was nothing more than gaining the loyalty of his confidants, showing weakness to the enemy, and then during an audience, hiding experts behind screens who, upon the signal of a smashed cup, would swarm forth to kill King Zhao.

Song Cheng listened in silence.

It was clear, the man in front of him was an old official of Dashang.

But even a high-ranking official of Dashang could not escape the constraints of his lifespan and was unable to break through the Qi Realm.

Indeed, there seemed to be an insurmountable chasm between the Qi Realm and the Mystic Realm.

If one was born with a Ghostly Soul, entry into the Mystic Realm was possible, otherwise... even a noble like Qin Wanquan could not cross over.

Everyone fears death, the more powerful they are, the more this holds true.

Thus, Grand Tutor Qin Wanquan, in pursuit of another hundred years or more of life, chose to collude with Zhao Hua.

Qin Wanquan was not the only one; quite a number of high-ranking elders in the Imperial Capital chose to take the Medicinal Human Pill to extend their lives, especially those in the Qi Realm.

Moving from Qi to Mystic was absolutely impossible.

If one could enter it through a Pill, it would have been a most coveted blessing.

Hearing Qin Wanquan’s explanation, Song Cheng roughly understood that there were quite a few Pseudo-Profound Realm experts in the Imperial Capital, serving as the pillars of various powers, but at this moment, they had all become Song Cheng’s Medicinal Humans.

And Medicinal Human, Medicinal Human... Isn’t it just another term for "Dependents"?

Song Cheng found it somewhat ironic.

He hadn’t done anything, yet inexplicably became the orchestrator behind the chaos of the Imperial Capital.

Thinking so, and then considering the perspective of the Emperor named Ji Qin, Song Cheng suddenly said, "Grand Tutor Qin, I’m not a part of this game, and I might not have a clear view. What do you think of this idea...?"

"Please speak, Master."

"You could advise the Emperor to indulge in sensuality and debauchery on the surface to fool King Zhao, while secretly he is gathering trusted allies, preparing to strike a fatal blow at King Zhao when he is careless... How does that sound?"

Qin Wanquan was stunned for a moment, thought it over, and applauded, "Brilliant... The Emperor indulging in wanton pleasures, while his confidants are our people. When the Emperor degrades himself, it is genuine degradation, showing the Emperor to be more incompetent by the hour, and King Zhao more sagacious. And as for us who suggested this plan, the Emperor will surely trust us even more, brilliant, truly brilliant."

Song Cheng said awkwardly, "You flatter me, Grand Tutor. Is it not overpraise?"

This idea was just a random thought he had.

He had simply read some novels before crossing over and saw that the protagonists in those novels would self-degrade, so he felt that "self-degradation" was quite suitable for the current Emperor...

But once he "self-degraded," there would be no washing clean again.

He, an outsider normally diligent and honest, staying home to practice cultivation without much scheming, now casually threw out an idea, and here the Grand Tutor heaped on such awkward praise; it made him a bit suspicious.

The two then discussed the details further.

...

...

Seeing the discussion was over, Qin Wanquan carefully inquired about Song Cheng’s identity. He wanted to understand who this Master was so that he could intentionally avoid mistakes in the future, thereby avoiding "the monk hits the gong" type of accidents.

After considering for a moment, Song Cheng silently followed Qin Wanquan into the Grand Tutor Mansion, and then, in the study, as Grand Tutor Qin ground the ink, he raised his brush and, visualizing his "Xuanwu Divine Soul," created an astonishingly lifelike portrait of a massive Xuanwu, then said, "This represents the True Martial Emperor Monarch, to be passed on to those like you in the Pseudo-Profound Realm but not to be told to anyone else, including King Zhao."

Qin Wanquan, looking at the immense turtle-serpent deity, his strong face revealing a hint of astonishment, respectfully accepted and said, "I had originally thought Master to be the Blade King from Northern Snow State..."

Song Cheng nodded but said nothing.

Qin Wanquan had just told him this.

"Controlling others through Medicinal Human methods" wasn’t anything new.

Zhao Hua’s control over the court was certainly achieved using Medicinal Human methods.

This was a fact nearly everyone knew.

And Zhao Hua’s options were only two: the Qi Family or the Su Family.

Most people actually believed Zhao Hua had chosen the Qi Family.

But in recent days, as many events gradually came to light, those in the know began to realize that Zhao Hua had chosen the Su Family, or more accurately, his sworn elder brother in the Northern Lands—Song Cheng.

Including the Emperor, at first, they all thought this.

And after understanding the situation, the Emperor even mocked in secret, saying, "Zhao Ni is muddled by power and greed, in the Qi Family’s sphere yet still favoring the Northern Lands; with this, perhaps there’s no need for Our hand, and he will already be deserted by all."

Clearly, most of Zhao Hua’s trusted confidants implanted in the Imperial Capital were at best at the "Physical" Realm, and moreover, they were originally at the Force Realm before suddenly becoming "Physical" Realm.