Book 08 Chapter 034: The Recent State of Earth
Book 08 Chapter 034: The Recent State of Earth
The nameless hall, Borderless Heavenly Capital:
Gu Hai and Long Zhanguo sat together. As they puffed on cigarettes, they discussed the current situation of Earth.
“The Qian Nation Conglomerate?” Gu Hai laughed. “Gold shines wherever it goes. Spaceships? Save a few for me!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll save the best for you!” Long Zhanguo assured him, smiling.
“But about what you said earlier,” Long Zhanguo said gravely, “Sa might really be on his way to the Six Paths Immortal Firmament. Laozi and Siddhārtha tried probing.”
“I understand. Time is of the essence!” Gu Hai acknowledged.
“By the way, you said just now you’re planning something with Laozi and the others?” Gu Hai inquired curiously.
“The Host God Space Program. We’re cultivating unparalleled experts on Earth,” Long Zhanguo replied earnestly.
“Oh? But Earth isn’t suitable for cultivation. Wait, did you say ‘Host God Space’?” Gu Hai said with a shocked expression.
“Yes. Using the same method for establishing the immortal realm, we’ve created many independent spaces, replicating film, novel, and anime worlds, to conduct full-scale simulations. We’re constantly selecting batches of people from Earth to enter the Host God Space. They’re sent into different worlds to complete missions. If they fail, they die or get erased. If they succeed, they earn mission points, which can be exchanged for enchanted treasures, weapons, cultivation techniques, secret arts, immortal equipment, immortal pills, bloodlines, and more, all to strengthen them!” Long Zhanguo explained.
“Isn’t this from the infinity genre novels? Are you the host god? Training them through battle? Are these worlds challenging enough?” Gu Hai asked in astonishment.
“Although Earthlings are weak, their imagination is extraordinary. The worlds of Immortal and The Emperor of the Immortal Realm are the hardest. They’re two novels with elements somewhat similar to the Six Paths Immortal Firmament. Those who emerge from them are now elites!” Long Zhanguo recalled.
[TL Note: Immortal and The Emperor of the Immortal Realm are both novels written by Guan Qi (Watching Chess), the author of this novel. The Emperor of the Immortal Realm is the sequel to Immortal. Here are their Novelupdates pages: https://www.novelupdates.com/series/immortal/ and https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-emperor-of-the-immortal-realm/.]
“How effective is it?” Gu Hai asked out of curiosity.
“Many on Earth have enormous potential. Now, we have a group of capable people. Perhaps in the future, they’ll join our battlefield!” Long Zhanguo said with some anticipation.
“Indeed, a great plan!” Gu Hai exclaimed, nodding in approval.
“Zang Yulian is about to give birth. It’s going to be a boy, according to Laozi. How about you name him?” Long Zhanguo grinned.
Zang Yulian? Give birth?
Gu Hai’s heart skipped a beat in a surge of excitement.
“When?” he demanded, clenching his fist as he gazed at Long Zhanguo.
“Don’t worry about that. Laozi and Siddhārtha said it’s best not to distract you with your son for now. There will be chances for you to see him in the future. We’ll take good care of him, and when he’s older, I’ll send him to the Host God Space. You brought my son to the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm; how could I not take good care of your son?” Long Zhanguo said, still smiling.
“I have letters here for Yulian and Supreme Wa. Please deliver them. I’ll name my son Gu Taiji!” Gu Hai handed over two letters.
Long Zhanguo accepted them and nodded. “Rest assured. I’ll deliver them.”
“Thank you!” Gu Hai said, nodding in gratitude.
“Earlier, that was your clone that left the Six Paths Immortal Firmament with Ji Dihong’s clone, right?” Long Zhanguo inquired.
“Yes. If I’m not mistaken, Ji Dihong’s clone is the Xuanyuan Sword!” Gu Hai replied seriously.
“The Xuanyuan Sword is the sword of the Heavenly Dao; be careful!”
“Indeed, I can’t handle it on the Divine Continent. However, it is now in the void, out of its element. Don’t worry; I’m prepared!” Gu Hai reassured him.
“Since that is the case, it’s time for me to return. As for your side…” Long Zhanguo frowned slightly.
“I know it’s dangerous here, but danger is motivation, isn’t it?” Gu Hai laughed.
Long Zhanguo nodded in agreement. “That’s true; you’ve never had a moment’s peace!”
“Hahahaha!” Gu Hai guffawed.
With a wave of his hand, the Life Trapper Saber appeared in his palm.
Whoosh!
An entrance to the Sa’s Immortal Firmament suddenly formed.
Long Zhanguo nodded and did not linger any longer, stepping into the passageway and disappearing.
Buzz!
Space trembled, and that hole vanished.
Gu Hai coughed twice and entered the Gu’s Immortal Firmament.
His injuries had yet to heal completely. It was time to treat them, now that most matters had been settled.
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Meanwhile, the Han Imperial Dynasty’s military campaign did not cease.
The four factions had no power to turn the tide.
Sima Changkong’s diplomatic delegation was successful, and the leaders of the three sects quickly agreed to surrender. The emperor of the imperial dynasty took two days to think before finally compromising.
They had no choice but to surrender; resistance was futile. It was already generous of the Han Imperial Dynasty to send people for negotiations.
Since even the sect masters and the emperor were willing to submit to the Han Imperial Dynasty, the citizens of the four factions had little to dispute. Only a few felt resentment, but even that soon dispersed.
Like before, the officials from the former factions were arranged to manage other territories, balancing the transition.
Thus, the Han Imperial Dynasty’s Nation Suppression Army swiftly took four hundred cities. Experts no longer dared challenge the Han Nation.
Factions that had previously surrendered cities to the Huang Heavenly Dynasty now panicked and wrote official letters offering five cities to the Han Imperial Dynasty as a gesture of neutrality. The letters were sent straight to the emperor’s study, waiting for Gu Hai to go through them.
The Han Imperial Dynasty now controlled two thousand four hundred cities, becoming the largest nation in the world, yet it remained an imperial dynasty. Everyone wondered what it was waiting for and why it still had not advanced to a heavenly dynasty.
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A valley in the Divine Continent’s west:
Boom!
A thunderous explosion resounded.
A powerful gust of wind swept into the sky, pulling up the surrounding rocks.
“Hah! Hahahaha! Already the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm? Wind-attributed zombie ancestor! I love this!” Long Aotian’s excited voice echoed in the valley.
Long Aotian felt elated as a wild wind suddenly raged around him.
However, something jarred him. Memories surged into his mind like a torrential outpouring.
Instantly, memories of his past life filled his mind.
Buzz!
The wind quieted. A trace of fury appeared on Long Aotian’s face as he remembered his past identity as Dijiang and the scene where Jiangchen had suppressed and killed him.
That furious expression lingered on Long Aotian’s face for a while before he shook his head, throwing off the memory.
“No, in this life, I am Long Aotian, not Dijiang. The hatred of the past is gone. Veritable Lord granted me rebirth, and I must not defy Veritable Lord again!” Long Aotian shook his head once more.
He pushed aside the fury in his heart and took several deep breaths to calm himself.
Once he achieved equanimity, he rushed to the sky, heading straight for Spirit Mountain.
Whoosh!
Long Aotian landed at Deity Seizing Hall’s entrance.
There, Jiangchen was sunbathing and enjoying his tea.
He turned his head and looked at Long Aotian curiously.
Long Aotian knelt on one knee. “This subordinate salutes Veritable Lord in humbleness and deference!”
“Did you get the wind-attributed zombie ancestor seed?” Jiangchen asked, slightly surprised.
“Yes!” Long Aotian answered respectfully.
“Tell me about the situation then!” Jiangchen said, clearly interested.
In Jiangchen’s mind, Long Aotian could not have won against Gu Hai, especially with Gu Hai’s Tenth Cycle. He knew Gu Hai’s strength.
Long Aotian did not hide anything, recounting everything that had happened.
“It was a gift from Gu Hai?” Jiangchen frowned, betraying a trace of astonishment.
“Yes!” Long Aotian said, feeling somewhat nervous.
Jiangchen sipped his tea and smiled lightly. “It seems you owe Gu Hai a big favor!”
“This subordinate dare not!” Long Aotian replied, anxious.
Jiangchen just smiled, not saying anything more.
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Borderless Heavenly Capital:
Many events transpired in the Divine Continent over the month, but Gu Hai stayed in the Gu’s Immortal Firmament. Outside, it was one month, but inside, it was three hundred years.
Gu Hai’s injuries had finally healed.
He stepped out of the Gu’s Immortal Firmament, followed by Long Shenying.
Long Shenying appeared incredibly composed as if all his previous sharpness had completely disappeared.
“Did you break through?” Gu Hai asked.
“Yes. Thank you, Your Reverence!” Long Shenying replied gratefully.
“For now, do not reveal this to others. Familiarize yourself with your strength!” Gu Hai instructed.
“Yes, Your Reverence!” Long Shenying answered.
Gu Hai nodded and led Long Shenying out of the nameless hall.
Outside, a crowd of officials waited.
Gu Hai dealt with some state affairs, then spent two days in his study before going to accompany Chen Xianer and Long Wanqing.
Many were curious about the result of the battle in the void, but no one asked since Gu Hai did not mention it.
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The void:
The skeleton Gu Hai and Ji Dihong’s Xuanyuan Sword clone had become utterly lost.
Over the past few days, the Xuanyuan Sword clone’s strength weakened rapidly. Normally, this wouldn’t have happened so quickly, but the skeleton Gu Hai kept battling it, requiring it to expend a great deal of energy each time.
In the Divine Continent, one could quickly replenish energy from the world with just a breath, but here, there was only consumption and no replenishment.
The Xuanyuan Sword clone’s strength dwindled, while the skeleton Gu Hai’s strength did not change. The Xuanyuan Sword clone slowly realized something was wrong.
“Something’s not right. Why aren’t you weakening? You should have consumed nearly everything by now!” the Xuanyuan Sword clone exclaimed.
“Ji Dihong, or should I say Xuanyuan Sword clone? Isn’t your discovery a little too late?” the skeleton Gu Hai sneered.
“Huh?” The Xuanyuan Sword clone’s expression changed.
“Earlier, you were chasing to kill me. Now, it’s my turn!” the skeleton Gu Hai said coldly.
The skeleton Gu Hai swung the Life Killer Saber again, and a red light shot out, carrying a tremendous destructive force. The Xuanyuan Sword clone’s expression changed, and it quickly blocked with a manifested sword.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The two once again battled in the void. The Xuanyuan Sword clone knew it was in trouble, now weaker than the skeleton Gu Hai. Continuing the fight meant certain defeat.
Should I flee?
However, the two were already lost in the void. How was it to flee? Which was the right direction?
“You’re a clone of Gu Hai, right? Even if you win, what then? Without direction, you cannot return, you will be lost here forever!” the Xuanyuan Sword clone shouted angrily.
“How do you know I can’t go back?” the skeleton Gu Hai sneered.
Long Wanyu had taught him how to find his way. As long as he was not too far out, he could still find the way back.
The roles reversed, and it was now the skeleton Gu Hai’s turn to attack.