System Granted Me Immortality; I Outlived Everyone

Chapter 36: Emperor Zuo’s Scheme; Chen Changsheng’s First Entry into the Xuanwu Pavilion

“Sir, why did you choose the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land?”

After the banquet concluded, Zuo Xinghe intercepted the strolling Chen Changsheng.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng clicked his tongue. “I already stated the reason.”

“Only the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land holds the slightest chance of aiding His Majesty in reversing the cycle of death. Nowhere else possesses this potential.”

“Sir, your reasoning within the hall was indeed flawless, but Xinghe believes you harbor other motives.”

Looking at the stubborn prince before him, Chen Changsheng scratched his head.

“I originally assumed you possessed some intellect, enough to see through the current board. To think you remain blind to it… I am rather disappointed.”

“What does Sir mean by this?”

“Let me ask you, who holds the supreme might within the Xuanwu Kingdom?”

“Naturally, it is my Imperial Father.”

“Then who understands the Xuanwu Kingdom best?”

“That is also my Imperial Father. Since he ascended the throne, the Xuanwu Kingdom has entered an era of unprecedented prosperity.”

“The kingdom’s borders have more than doubled. Every inch of that expanded territory was conquered by Imperial Father’s own hands.”

“He has measured every grain of earth within the Xuanwu Kingdom beneath his own feet. He is the one who comprehends this land best.”

“There you have it.” Chen Changsheng spread his hands. “His Majesty is the absolute pinnacle of the Xuanwu Kingdom, and its greatest surveyor.”

“Would a man like that truly remain ignorant of the one place capable of reversing his death?”

These words struck Zuo Xinghe like a physical blow.

“Sir… are you saying the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land was Imperial Father’s own intention?”

“Indeed.”

“As the eldest prince of the Xuanwu Kingdom, you know the imperial annals far better than I do.”

“His Majesty has walked this earth for two thousand three hundred years. Yet, for the first two thousand two hundred of those years, he took neither Dao companions nor sired any heirs.”

“Only within the twilight of this final century were you born, swiftly followed by eight younger brothers.”

“To abstain from worldly attachments for over two millennia, only to suddenly scatter seeds in one’s final hundred years… does this not reek of a man arranging his funeral affairs?”

“Reversing the cycle of death is a feat harder than scaling the Heavens. It is absolutely impossible to succeed with merely a few decades of hasty preparation.”

Hearing this, realization finally dawned on Zuo Xinghe.

“You mean to say, Imperial Father began laying his board a century ago?”

“Likely much earlier. For a ritual of this magnitude, one would need at least two or three centuries to merely forge the foundation.”

“His Majesty ordering you to hunt for a Dragon Hole was nothing but a grand test.”

“Entrusting the monumental task of reversing death to nine fledglings who haven’t even lived a hundred years? It is a colossal joke.”

Having delivered this truth, Chen Changsheng resumed his leisurely stroll.

Zuo Xinghe remained rooted in silence for a long moment before hurriedly chasing after Chen Changsheng’s shadow.

“Sir, could you attempt to dissuade Imperial Father? The Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land is a domain of primordial dread. The slightest misstep will bury the entire Xuanwu Kingdom.”

“How could I possibly sway His Majesty? I am merely an outsider. Such a heavy burden belongs to a son.”

“When we first arrived, I urged you to put on a show of grief for him. I had already deduced he would choose the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land.”

As they spoke, Chen Changsheng halted before a towering structure.

This was the sanctum holding the Xuanwu Kingdom’s martial lineages and ancient texts: the Xuanwu Pavilion.

Gazing up at the eaves that pierced the clouds, a sharp, hungry glint flashed in Chen Changsheng’s ancient eyes.

For a man who traded in the long flow of history, a repository of this depth was the ultimate earthly temptation.

“This must be the kingdom’s grand archive. Care to accompany me inside?”

Faced with this invitation, a deeply troubled Zuo Xinghe forced a stiff smile.

“Xinghe cannot follow Sir. Without Imperial Father’s explicit decree, even I am forbidden from casually stepping through those doors.”

“Furthermore, Sir must remember: you may only observe. You absolutely must not disturb the artifacts within.”

“If you carelessly trigger the wards, it is highly likely…”

Before Zuo Xinghe could finish his warning, a shadowy figure materialized like a ghost before them.

“His Majesty has decreed: Sir Changsheng may requisition any item he desires. None shall obstruct him.”

“Furthermore, Prince Xinghe is tasked with personally escorting Sir Changsheng through the imperial palace. You must ensure Sir Changsheng’s utmost satisfaction.”

Zuo Xinghe: ???

Requisition anything? Was Imperial Father making a jest?

Even courting a supreme talent did not warrant such boundless authority!

Could Chen Changsheng actually be Imperial Father’s illegitimate son? Why else would his trueblood heirs be denied such privilege?

“Many thanks to His Majesty!”

Chen Changsheng offered a cheerful, ringing laugh of thanks, then grabbed the paralyzed Zuo Xinghe and dragged him into the Xuanwu Pavilion.

…

The Xuanwu Pavilion.

Scanning the endless seas of ancient scrolls and jade slips, Chen Changsheng’s mouth practically watered with greed.

At this moment, Zuo Xinghe finally snapped out of his bewildered stupor.

He hesitated, his tone carefully probing. “Sir… your surname wouldn’t happen to be Zuo, would it?”

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng rolled his eyes, utterly speechless.

“Please spare me these absurd genealogical jests. My surname is Chen. There is absolutely no doubt about that.”

“I am not His Majesty’s bastard, nor am I your long-lost elder brother.”

While ruthlessly dismissing Zuo Xinghe’s imagination, Chen Changsheng began sifting through the pavilion’s collection.

Watching him work, Zuo Xinghe pressed further.

“If Sir is not of Imperial Father’s bloodline, why would he bestow upon you such heaven-defying grace?”

“Is it truly just because Sir deduced his hidden intent?”

As Zuo Xinghe threw out his questions, Chen Changsheng continued hoarding a massive pile of texts.

Suddenly, a colossal tome—the size of a small house—loomed before him.

“What is this volume?”

Though Chen Changsheng ignored his earlier question, Zuo Xinghe respectfully answered.

“These are the grand annals of the Xuanwu Kingdom. Every event since the kingdom’s violent founding is etched within those pages.”

“So this is the blood-stained history of your empire!”

“Now this is a burial good worth unearthing.”

With a thought, Chen Changsheng’s body slowly levitated, ascending until he hovered level with the massive tome.

The titanic book lay partially open. And the exposed pages, by sheer coincidence, documented the myth of the ancient bronze palace.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng pointed a finger at the dense calligraphy.

“This is where you first unearthed the clues of the ancient bronze palace, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Not long ago, I entered the pavilion to retrieve the Nine Revolutions Profound Art, hoping to use it to invite Sir out of seclusion.”

“I stumbled upon this thread entirely by chance.”

Chen Changsheng slowly nodded. “His Majesty truly exhausted his schemes just to dig me out of my grave!”

Zuo Xinghe: ???

What did that mean? When had his Imperial Father ever invited this undertaker?

Meeting Zuo Xinghe’s blank stare, Chen Changsheng let out a cold sigh.

“Why look at me like that? Do you truly believe you discovered the secrets of the ancient bronze palace by your own merit?”

“This tome is incredibly thick. Its contents span millennia. Yet the single page left conveniently open just so happens to record the exact relic I have been seeking.”

“Do you not find this coincidence a little too precise?”

Zuo Xinghe gasped. “Then who has been manipulating these shadows?”

“Who else could it be? Your Imperial Father, naturally!”

“For ten full years, you journeyed to my shop annually. Could the absolute ruler of this domain ignore such an abnormal pilgrimage from his eldest son?”

“Once His Majesty noted my existence, he naturally swept his gaze over my roots and calculated my value.”

“Perhaps driven by a dark curiosity, he gave you a gentle, invisible push… guaranteeing I would set foot in Chang’an City.”

“But Sir, you only spoke of the ancient bronze palace to me alone!”

“Correct. But the moment you began your investigation, the ripples were already visible!”

“To unearth ancient secrets, one must interrogate historians and plunder restricted archives. Within this cage called Chang’an, do you honestly believe you can breathe without His Majesty tracking the draft?”

Zuo Xinghe: “…”

I suddenly feel like an ignorant child wandering among ancient ghosts.

…