CHAPTER 524: CHAPTER 524: GUIDING

No matter what, his feud with Xia Jiuyou was an internal conflict within Great Xia.

If he sought assistance from others, even if the feud was settled, it might lead to inviting a wolf into the house.

While Xia Jiuyou lived, he was like a pillar holding up the heavens for Great Xia.

With him alive, Great Chu would not dare to send troops down south.

Thus, the Great Xia Citizens would not be driven into displacement and reduced to servitude to others.

Therefore, even for revenge, he would wait until he possessed the strength to deter the Palace Mansion Realm Kings of Great Chu before he would act to kill Xia Jiuyou.

"Young Master Ling, you worry too much. I am not asking you to betray the common people of Great Xia, but rather to join Great Chu in dealing with Xia Jiuyou and eliminate the Great Xia Royal Family."

Chu Xinghe hurriedly explained.

"No need."

Ling Chen shook his head.

With his current strength, collaborating with Great Chu would be tantamount to seeking a tiger’s skin.

"Very well!"

Chu Xinghe smiled and said, "The doors of the Great Chu Royal Family are always open for you, Young Master. If you change your mind, you can contact the palace at any time."

Unable to recruit Ling Chen now does not mean it would be the same in the future.

Therefore, he would not turn hostile immediately because of this.

"Young Master Chu, I’m afraid you will be disappointed."

Ling Chen said with a smile.

Chu Xinghe shook his head and replied, "Is that so? Who can predict the future accurately?"

Ling Chen did not linger on this topic.

"Young Master Chu, I must continue onward."

Saying this, Ling Chen proceeded forward.

"Young Master Ling, let’s go together!"

Chu Xinghe, however, cheerfully moved closer to walk shoulder to shoulder with him.

Most of their fellow Cultivators from several great royal families chose to fly across the sea of fire.

Only he and a few others chose to walk.

Those who had been walking with him had run out of Spiritual Power and had already turned back.

Ling Chen had no choice but to continue with him.

Soon, two hours had passed.

In the distance, a palace faintly appeared.

"We’re almost there!"

Chu Xinghe exclaimed with joy.

Since advancing to the Spirit Sea Realm, he had rarely walked, usually soaring through the skies or riding in a Flying Divine Ship.

This time, it was the longest distance he had walked.

Ling Chen also looked forward.

At this moment, half of his Spiritual Power and half of his Divine Soul Telekinesis had been depleted. If he could not see the end soon, he might have to turn back.

Now, at last, he saw hope.

Both were extremely excited and marched forward together.

One hundred breaths later.

The two finally stepped out of the Endless Sea of Fire.

"Phew!"

Ling Chen felt a great relief.

He immediately took out the Communication Token to inform Ling Wu.

The point where they separated was about one-third of the way through the Endless Sea of Fire.

Chu Xinghe also contacted the Cultivators of the Chu Royal Family.

"Congratulations to both of you for crossing the sea of fire."

From the Void, a clear voice rang out.

Then, a figure emerged.

It was a breathtakingly beautiful woman dressed in a white gown, standing in the Void like an Immortal descending to the earth, her cold eyes carrying a hint of a smile.

"Greetings to Lord Emperor Yan!"

Ling Chen and Chu Xinghe quickly paid their respects.

This was someone who surpassed kings, an Emperor!

They had finally seen her true face.

"No need for such formalities!"

Emperor Yan spoke.

An invisible force helped both men to their feet.

"The first three individuals to cross the Endless Sea of Fire will gain the qualification to let one Cultivator pass the trial directly. You can use it or forfeit it."

Emperor Yan said with a smile.

"Pass the trial directly?"

Both of them were first stunned, then their faces brightened with surprise.

"You can take some time to think about it."

Emperor Yan said lightly.

Ling Chen, however, spoke up, "My lord, can we use this opportunity to help others cross the sea of fire?"

He hoped that both Ling Wu and Liu Qingcang could make it across.

But there was only one qualification.

This posed a problem.

Liu Qingcang had once saved him and also helped to save his father.

Therefore, he had to let Liu Qingcang come over.

But Ling Wu was his sister.

Moreover, she possessed the Ice and Fire Saint Body, whose potential exceeded that of Liu Qingcang.

He wished for Ling Wu to come over as well.

As for obtaining the King’s opportunity, he did not crave it.

Hearing this, Emperor Yan glanced at Ling Chen with a profound look and said indifferently, "Have you thought about whether such an option is included in the rules I stated?"

"I understand."

Ling Chen nodded emphatically.

A hint of surprise flashed across his eyes.

The rules previously stated by Lord Yan Huang only prohibited fighting and the consumption of Elixirs.

There was no prohibition against assisting others.

Most importantly, Lord Yan Huang said that a cultivator could be allowed to pass the trial directly.

Therefore, the trial did not imply a ban on helping others.

It even suggested an intention for them to assist one another.

"Youngster, let me remind you that bringing someone along will consume twice the Spiritual Power than going alone. Consider this yourself."

Lord Yan Huang said.

"Thank you, my lord!"

Ling Chen nodded emphatically again.

Crossing the entire Endless Sea of Fire only consumed a little over half of his Spiritual Power and Divine Soul Telekinesis.

And Ling Wu, having exhausted all her Spiritual Power, could probably make it two-thirds of the way.

The remaining one-third, with his Spiritual Power and Divine Soul Telekinesis, he could definitely bring someone across.

"My lord, I choose to let Liu Qingcang pass the trial."

Ling Chen gave Lord Yan Huang a respectful bow.

"Good!"

As the words fell,

A cultivator suddenly appeared here.

"Uncle Cang!"

Ling Chen looked towards the newcomer.

It was Liu Qingcang.

"Ling Chen?"

Liu Qingcang appeared baffled.

He knew Ling Chen had crossed the Endless Sea of Fire.

But he had no idea why he had appeared here, too?

And that he would see Ling Chen.

Ling Chen quickly explained the situation.

Liu Qingcang then understood.

"Ah, Young Master, how will Ling Wu come over?"

Liu Qingcang asked via telepathy.

Ling Chen letting himself pass the trial without giving the opportunity to Ling Wu made him feel rather guilty.

"Uncle Cang, don’t worry, I have a way."

Ling Chen said with a smile.

"This Ling Chen is truly a man of friendship and loyalty!"

Chu Xinghe thought to himself.

He was raised in the imperial family, schooled in the art of sovereignty since childhood.

Yet, he could not comprehend Ling Chen’s willingness to traverse the Endless Sea of Fire back and forth just to guide someone else.

This was the Emperor’s Inheritance!

One fewer person passing meant one fewer competitor.

However, seeing Liu Qingcang’s arrival, Chu Xinghe also selected one from the Great Chu Royal Family’s cultivators to pass the trial.

Against the combination of Ling Chen and Liu Qingcang, he might not be able to handle it alone.

"Uncle Cang, protect me."

Ling Chen immediately took an Elixir to restore his Spiritual Power and Divine Soul Telekinesis.

Liu Qingcang was powerful, and that was one reason he chose to have him pass.

"Alright!"

Liu Qingcang nodded.

Shortly after, Ling Chen restored his Spiritual Power and Divine Soul Telekinesis.

In about half an hour’s time.

"Uncle Cang, please wait here for a bit, I’ll go and guide Xiao Wu."

Ling Chen then re-entered the Endless Sea of Fire.

He had previously told Ling Wu to move,

And calculated that the two should approximately arrive at the same time.

Two hours later, Ling Chen returned with Ling Wu.

"Xiao Wu, take some rest. Where could Star Shura and the others get to if they exhausted all their Spiritual Power?"

Ling Chen asked.

"Roughly halfway."

Ling Wu answered.

Previously, Star Shura and others had tried.

They were only Super Spiritual Bodies after all.

Though their cultivation was strong and their Spiritual Power profound,

Contending with such flames was still somewhat strenuous.

"Understood."

Ling Chen nodded.

In the following time, Ling Chen continuously traversed back and forth across the Endless Sea of Fire. Apart from restoring his Spiritual Power and Divine Soul Telekinesis, the rest of his time was spent guiding others.

During this process, what Ling Chen didn’t know was that some substances from the flames had begun to seep into his body.

Meanwhile, throughout this period, Xia Biluo and the other three kings had also arrived.

Seeing so many arriving during the night, Chu Xinghe and others couldn’t sit still either.

They also started to bring over the cultivators they had brought.

"Alright."

Just as Ling Chen was about to enter the Endless Sea of Fire for the eleventh time, Lord Yan Huang spoke up.