Secret Buyer-Chapter 288 - 222: My Present Is Owed to Many Backers—Nine Netherworld Emperor’s Shadow!

Chapter 288: Chapter 222: My Present Is Owed to Many Backers—Nine Netherworld Emperor’s Shadow!

The middle-aged man’s features were gentle, with no imposing air. He wore a plain robe, blending in perfectly with the bamboo forest.

The only incongruity was the small hole in his palm, still oozing blood.

The Golden Governor noticed Zhang Fusheng’s gaze and raised his hand nonchalantly, speaking calmly:

"That day, I overestimated myself, attempting to intercept the Merciful Arrow of the World Venerate, which was already an act of disrespect."

"So, I deliberately left the wound unhealed, as a self-reminder and as a mark of respect to the World Venerate."

Zhang Fusheng sat down heavily on the wooden chair, and the young messenger took his leave with courtesy.

"Zhang Fusheng, at your service, Governor." He cupped his hands with composure.

"My surname is Su, and I am called Su Qiansuan."

The Golden Governor’s smile was like the breeze of spring, as he gently waved his hand, revealing a chessboard on the stone table, along with two cups of warm tea.

"Please enjoy the tea." Su Qiansuan gestured with a light hand.

Zhang Fusheng picked up the jade cup, sipped the tea silently; it was calming tea, yet not the usual kind.

The tea went down, turning into a clear stream, immediately reaching all parts of his body, clearing his mind and easing his entire being. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Zhang Fusheng set down the tea cup and observed the bubble-like worlds, stacked and squeezed together in a peculiar sight.

He soon found the waiting area, right at the center of dozens of bubble worlds,

and looking around, outside the dozens of bubble worlds was an indescribable abyss, uncrossable and untouchable,

except to the west, where there was a special bubble world with the only path leading further outside.

Roughly speaking, it’s the gateway of the Golden Province—Hangu City.

"Leaving Hangu City, you can reach the World Plateau."

Su Qiansuan spoke with a smile:

"You can think of it as another waiting area, a higher-level one. From the World Plateau, you can go to any province or the capital."

"The World Plateau is also the only transfer hub of the home star, you must pass through it no matter where you go."

Zhang Fusheng retracted his gaze. Since the Governor was not in a hurry, neither was he. So he asked curiously:

"What kind of mighty force twisted a planet into such a state, divided into these independent bubble worlds?"

The Golden Governor placed a white stone on the chessboard, casually saying:

"It was the work of a very powerful divine spirit. Besides, the home star was not initially a planet, but a massive piece of land floating in space."

Zhang Fusheng was stunned and placed a black stone in the corner of the chessboard:

"Why do it? Why divide the home star?"

Su Qiansuan slightly raised his eyebrow, wondering why this guy played black so far away?

He replied:

"The official claim is to prevent cultists from running amok, causing too much harm. But in truth, it’s to delay the early descent of different dimensions."

Zhang Fusheng placed another black stone beside the previous one.

His eyes shining, eager to learn:

"What does this mean? I hope you can enlighten me, Governor."

Su Qiansuan slightly frowned, not understanding Zhang Fusheng’s play, this guy... doesn’t know how to play chess?

He continued to explain patiently:

"The Divine Realm is not entirely our spiritual world. More importantly, it serves as special soil bearing different dimensions."

"Every cultivator who forms a Divine Realm must anchor at least one scene of different dimensions within it."

"Over time, these scenes will eventually be fully anchored."

Zhang Fusheng was startled; he had long suspected there was something off about the Divine Realm, considering its might seemed overly extravagant,

including the matter of Refining Illusion into Reality, which should not belong to the Six Realms of the Human Path,

and even ordinary immortals and buddhas should not manage it—yet with the Divine Realm, even a Grandmaster could refine illusion into truth.

Su Qiansuan placed the third white stone:

"After the home star was divided, everyone effectively remained in different small worlds."

"With forty-nine provinces on the home star, each province having eighty-one cities, plus the capital and some scattered cities, that’s four thousand small worlds."

He gazed peacefully at the young man before him and said:

"Thus, people’s Divine Realms would not resonate simultaneously. Originally, once three-tenths of the scenes were anchored, the different dimensions would fully descend. Now it requires nearly seven-tenths."

Zhang Fusheng placed the third black stone in realization.

The Divine Realm acts as fertile ground for different dimensions, but when people reside in unconnected small worlds,

the difficulty for different dimensions to descend greatly increases.

"How much has been anchored now?"

He asked, puzzled.

"About forty percent, roughly forty percent of the scenes from different dimensions have been anchored."

As he spoke, Su Qiansuan placed the fourth stone, dominating the star position, while Zhang Fusheng placed his fourth stone as well.

However, his stones were lined up together in a row.

Su Qiansuan increasingly could not understand his method of play.

With chess observing one’s conduct, this person’s actions are truly unpredictable.

Su Qiansuan placed the fifth stone, now controlling all four star positions, with his fifth piece aggressively occupying the center of the board.

He believed he had already secured victory.

Even if the opponent was replaced by Old Master, he would still win this match.

"I won."

Zhang Fusheng placed his fifth stone, aligning five pieces in a row, and he beamed with a radiant smile:

"Since I’ve won the game, Governor, why not just get to the main point?"

Su Qiansuan’s eyelids twitched. After a long silence, he asked:

"You were playing five-in-a-row chess?"

Zhang Fusheng nodded matter-of-factly:

"What else?"

He regretfully said:

"I initially wanted to show the Governor my three-three kill chess formation that I had practiced for years..."

Su Qiansuan ground his teeth, sinking back into a deathly silence.

For quite some time.

He took another deep breath, waved his hand, and the chessboard suddenly vanished,

Su Qiansuan laughed lightly:

"Director Zhang sure plays a good game of chess..."

He emphasized the words ’good game’ heavily, then abruptly changed the subject:

"Is the World Venerate doing well?"

Here it comes.

Zhang Fusheng’s heart skipped a beat; it turned out the purpose of this Golden Governor, this Su Qiansuan, in seeking him, was indeed related to the World Venerate!

He pondered for a moment and nodded:

"Still well."

Su Qiansuan narrowed his eyes slightly, speaking as if casually:

"Ever since the Plague God descended, I’ve been here, witnessing many things."

"For example... you once escaped from here, using the name of the Ancestor of Land Immortals to thoroughly intimidate that Plague God."

Zhang Fusheng’s expression did not change at all.

Su Qiansuan continued:

"For instance, once there was a peculiar set of ancient bones that smuggled itself into Jiangzhou, conversed with the God of Plague, and eventually received divine favor, gaining authority over pestilence, becoming the Plague Ghost leader."

"Interestingly, those bones also seem to be you."

Zhang Fusheng took a sip of high-grade Calming Tea, letting its refreshing essence flow through his body, and asked,

"What exactly does Lord Su wish to say?"

Su Qiansuan acted as if he hadn’t heard the question, smiled, and said,

"And the Ten Thousand Feet Bull Demon, that’s also you, right? With the blessing of the World Venerate, a single arrow caused thirty-three cities to pale in comparison, a show of immense power."

Zhang Fusheng put down the teacup,

"All of them are me."

His tone was very calm, as if there was some kind of confidence within him.

Su Qiansuan gazed at the young man for a long time,

"Nowadays, in the Golden Province, all the religious sects, except the Celestial Principle Sect, more or less erect some statues of the World Venerate, ordering some Cultists to offer worship."

"The Eastern and Western Sects call it Celestial World Venerate, the Mandala Sect calls it Merciful World Venerate."

"And as for the Ancient Saint Sect and the Pantheon?"

"They respectively call the World Venerate Holy World Venerate and High World Venerate."

Zhang Fusheng laughed,

"These titles are rather confusing."

"Indeed they are."

Su Qiansuan nodded affirmatively,

"After all, a true god that doesn’t belong to any sect. Most crucially, this god’s true body has already descended somewhere; everyone wants to draw it into their own sect...But I’m very curious, what is the true divine name of the World Venerate?"

He stared intently at Zhang Fusheng.

Zhang Fusheng replied calmly, almost nonchalantly,

"It’s the World Venerate."

Su Qiansuan pressed on,

"May I visit the World Venerate?"

"The World Venerate does not wish to see you."

"Then where is the World Venerate?"

"Everywhere."

The two continued their exchange, and Zhang Fusheng’s responses were very carefree, almost nonsensical, which Su Qiansuan naturally noticed,

He did not get angry, but sighed lightly,

"Director Zhang, do you not trust me?"

Zhang Fusheng looked up at the Golden Governor, then extended his hand, pointing to the Jiangzhou Heaven and Earth below.

"Millions of wronged souls."

Su Qiansuan was silent for a moment,

"In front of the common people, some small sacrifices are necessary and worthwhile."

Zhang Fusheng chuckled softly, not answering directly.

The laughter was particularly piercing.

Su Qiansuan lowered his eyelids and said calmly,

"The Golden Province must secede, the Federation must fall; to overthrow the Federation, even if it means millions of lives."

"Even hundreds of billions, trillions."

"It would still be worth it."

No expression could be seen on Zhang Fusheng’s face at all,

"I witnessed, with my own eyes, one person after another curling up and collapsing, their bodies exploding, growing tumors of flesh and blood; even the Evil Cult did not intend to go this far."

Su Qiansuan leaned back, closed his eyes, and repeated,

"Some sacrifices are worth it."

Zhang Fusheng fell silent.

For a long time.

He asked lightly,

"Governor, you are saying in front of me that you want the Golden Province to secede, to rebel, to overthrow the Federation..."

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll report this to the Federation?"

Su Qiansuan kept his eyes closed,

"Precisely because of this, I wish to meet the World Venerate. I have reviewed Director Zhang’s record; the first eighteen years were quite unremarkable, then suddenly, there was a meteoric rise."

"Is it because of...the High Heaven Association?"

"Or is it due to the favor of the World Venerate?"

"Or perhaps both?"

He interrogated, almost aggressively.

The Golden Governor’s aura was indeed restrained, clearly having no oppressive presence,

Yet Zhang Fusheng felt immense pressure, heavily weighing on his heart, his entire body’s skin tingling.

It wasn’t that Su Qiansuan was deliberately trying to suppress him,

It’s purely that their life levels were vastly different...Innate Limit, theoretically able to destroy hundreds of miles with a single strike,

While a Celestial Human Limit could shatter planets with a punch, a single thought tearing thousands of miles of land apart.

Divine Spirit?

Their power is unfathomable.

At this moment,

Su Qiansuan saw this young man, favored by the World Venerate and shrouded in mysteries, suddenly lift his head and meet his gaze.

The young man said calmly,

"Since I became a Martial Artist, it’s only been three months, three months ago I was an ordinary person, now I am Innate."

"Open, a Grotto Heaven."

A Grotto Heaven emerged behind him, emitting a thunderous sound.

"Accumulate, four thousand three hundred years of spiritual accumulation."

A vast sea-like Spiritual Power surged forth, swirling behind him, the space subtly twisting, forming a vortex.

Su Qiansuan squinted, yet was not surprised, knowing that if a Divine Spirit fully extended its care, alongside the mysterious High Heaven Association,

reaching this stage wouldn’t be strange.

It is said that in the High Heaven Association, you can trade not just for lifespan and items but also for cultivation time.

But who are all present in the High Heaven Association?

He wasn’t sure.

As thoughts turned, Su Qiansuan noticed the youth sigh one last time,

"Of course, everything about me is due to the High Heaven Association, due to the favor from the World Venerate, and also the pity of the Central Pole Sect Leader."

Central Pole Sect Leader?

Su Qiansuan was startled, puzzled, as he saw Zhang Fusheng stretch out his hand, the fingers striking a mysterious rhythm against the air, communicating with some unknown existence.

In that instant,

The void was knocked open a crack, seemingly leading to immeasurable depths, pure Death Qi gushing downward, extremely eerie Qi quietly flowing out, cascading down in a waterfall.

In the crevice,

He glimpsed the Imperial Palace and the Emperor’s Shadow seated within.

The Emperor’s Shadow opened its eyes, gazing distantly at them.