SFS Chapter 17: The Method to Become an Immortal? I don't know it either.
Chapter 17: The Method to Become an Immortal? I don't know it either.
Shi Gong sat upright at the head of the table, his face calm and composed.
His gaze swept over the several seemingly respectful but actually self-serving faces before him, and he remained silent for a long time.
Although I knew perfectly well what these guys were up to.
After a moment's thought, he finally nodded almost imperceptibly and agreed to hand Zou Yun over to them.
After all, he was also afraid of Zou Yun's condition!
Seeing that Master Shi tacitly agreed, the several masters exchanged knowing glances and whispered among themselves about how to distribute the spoils...
Bah! How did they treat Zou Yun's hysteria, and how did they arrange the order to take turns creating momentum for themselves, as the atmosphere in the room gradually became peaceful?
"Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened—"
Urgent shouts came from the front yard, and a pale-faced, panting young Taoist priest suddenly stumbled in.
"What's the panic? Calm down," Shi Gong said in a deep voice, his brows furrowed slightly.
"That's right, you're Master Wang's apprentice, aren't you?"
Another sorcerer, stroking his beard, immediately chimed in, glancing at the person opposite him out of the corner of his eye, "To be on the safe side, I think the order of Master Wang should be slightly lowered."
"you--!"
Before he could finish speaking, an elderly man with long eyebrows sitting opposite him was already furious and slammed his fist on the table.
This person was the Master Wang he mentioned.
Master Wang first gave the good-for-nothing disciple a cold glare, then turned to him angrily and said, "Liu Qingsong, I've tolerated you for a long time. Don't make a fuss about it here."
At this point, he let out a heavy, cold snort, his words like knives, piercing the other person's sore spot.
"Hmph, you always liked to follow Lu Sheng around like a lapdog. What? He's running away without even telling you?!"
"Wang Chunsheng, you!!!" Liu Fangshi's face flushed red instantly, and he could no longer hold back.
These words were so ruthless that even the usually composed Master Shi at the head of the table twitched slightly at the corner of his mouth, as if struck by a blow.
"Oh, you two masters, let's not argue here and ruin our harmony."
"Exactly, exactly, harmony comes first!"
"However... Master Wang's apprentice is indeed... cough cough, a bit too impetuous. Master Liu is the same; why bring it up in front of everyone?"
"Heh, to put it bluntly, it's all because Master Wang's rank is higher than Master Liu's..."
The other Fang masters, seemingly eager for a good show, were actually subtly stirring up trouble, hoping the two would immediately break off their relationship and start fighting.
If these two start fighting, then there will be two fewer people to share the pie when it comes to "treating" Master Zou. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
The room was instantly filled with noise and heated arguments.
The crowd completely forgot about the little sorcerer who had brought the news, and no one paid him any attention.
Seeing that everyone was completely ignoring the impending doom he had brought, the Taoist priest who delivered the message was covered in cold sweat and his eyes were filled with panic.
He could no longer care about anything else, and with all his might, he shouted loudly.
"Just now, His Majesty sent someone to... to invite Grand Master Zou Yun over!!!"
"What?!?!"
"hiss--!"
"Heaven has forsaken me!"
Upon hearing this news, the several sorcerers in the hall nearly fainted; their previous scheme had been completely shattered.
"Is this calamity something we can't escape?"
Some people's legs went weak and they almost collapsed to the ground; some beat their chests and stamped their feet, as if they could already see their tragic future; and some even sang loudly in a daze.
The lyrics seem to express a lament for one's own fate.
As for the few remaining rational people, they could no longer care about anything else and hurriedly bid farewell to Master Shi.
They fled like startled birds, scattering in all directions to find a way out.
Meanwhile, outside the royal palace!
The eaves, silhouetted against the setting sun, cast heavy shadows. The black-armored guards standing on either side of the palace gate, like cold statues, exuded a chilling aura.
Zou Yun had changed into a simple and clean robe, with wide sleeves hanging down to cover his tightly clenched hands.
He stood silently at the foot of the palace steps, letting the breeze brush against his clothes.
At this moment, Zou Yun was quietly waiting for Ying Zheng's summons.
"Grand Master, His Majesty requests your presence!"
He didn't have to wait long. The heavy palace doors slid open a crack, and Zhao Gao, the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office, peeked out with a fawning smile on his face.
He bowed deeply, adopting an extremely humble posture, and personally stepped forward to lead Zou Yun into the vast and unsettling hall.
The hall was dimly lit, with only a few bronze palace lamps casting a dim yellow glow.
The entire vast space was cut into fragments of interwoven light and shadow.
The air seemed to freeze, filled with a suffocating pressure.
Ying Zheng knelt alone on the imperial throne, his figure appearing exceptionally tall in the flickering candlelight.
On the wooden table in front of him lay the sword that had cut Zou Yun in half that day.
Ying Zheng acted as if he hadn't seen Zou Yun as he stepped into the hall. He suddenly reached out and gripped the sword hilt with his five fingers like iron clamps.
"Zzzzt!"
He suddenly drew the sword, and a sharp sword light burst forth, causing Ying Zheng to subconsciously squint his eyes and the temperature in the hall to drop sharply.
Time flowed slowly in the suffocating silence.
After a long silence, Ying Zheng finally spoke.
"Master Zou, could you grant me the art of transcending death and achieving immortality?!"
The oppressive atmosphere inside the hall instantly surged, almost solidifying, pressing heavily on everyone's hearts.
At the same time, an invisible killing intent spread out, as if if Zou Yun uttered a single word of dissent, the sharp sword would immediately cleave him in two, separating his head from his body.
However, Zou Yun, who had already rehearsed the scenario a thousand times in his mind, remained calm and undisturbed, like a deep well.
With a calm expression, he bowed deeply towards the throne.
After the ceremony, Zou Yun did not back down. Instead, he stepped forward, met the piercing gaze, and spoke loudly.
"cannot!"
The clear, melodious voice echoed throughout the main hall.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Gao, who was standing to the side, shuddered violently.
He looked up in alarm, glancing quickly at Ying Zheng, whose expression was strangely calm.
As if burned, Zhao Gao quickly lowered his head, wishing he could shrink his entire body into the shadows, not daring to make the slightest sound.
Knowing Ying Zheng well, he knew that at this moment, His Majesty was furious to the extreme.
quiet!
The air in the entire hall seemed to freeze completely at that moment, and the faint flickering of the candlelight had disappeared, leaving only a chilling silence.
"Oh?"
A cold glint flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes, and the knuckles gripping the sword turned slightly white.
Unexpectedly, he did not immediately fly into a rage. Although he felt intense displeasure and murderous intent churning within him, he forcibly suppressed it.
But the more he acted this way, the lower Zhao Gao's head drooped.
Ying Zheng tried his best to maintain the composure befitting an emperor, but his voice was even deeper as he pressed Zou Yun for an answer, "Why is that?"
Then, as if he had thought of something, the corners of his tense lips slowly curved upwards into a subtle arc.
The smile carried a seductive allure that seemed to see right through people, and the voice was deliberately slowed and softened, as if whispering in one's ear.
"Indeed, it was my oversight! All the rare treasures within the four seas, and the fame and fortune in the imperial court, are all at Master Zou's disposal..."
Ying Zheng leaned slightly forward, emphasizing each word as he clearly enunciated, "I... took everything from the Zou army!"
These words are like poison coated in honey, enough to drive most people in the world mad.
To be honest, Zou Yun was no saint, and he too felt a sudden pang of fear when faced with temptation.
However, the prerequisite is that he truly understands the so-called method of immortality.
So, instead of feeling happy upon hearing these tempting words, Zou Yun felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that the main event was about to begin.
He immediately bowed deeply, his head bowed to the ground, his posture extremely humble.
His voice, deliberately feigning fear and helplessness, protested, "Your Majesty, it's not that I'm unwilling, but that I truly cannot!!!"
Ying Zheng's brows furrowed suddenly, his sharp gaze fixed on the slightly frightened Zou Yun. Doubts grew wildly in his heart like vines, and he couldn't help but blurt out.
What does this mean?
"Very good, keep it up!"
A glint of shrewdness flashed beneath Zou Yun's lowered eyelids.
So far, Ying Zheng's reactions, whether it was his suppressed anger or his current questioning, were exactly what he had expected.
This gave him more confidence in handling the situation ahead.