CHAPTER 76: CHAPTER 76: PAWN

Everyone thought that within ten days or half a month at most, a Secret Spirit Egg would descend amidst the secret phenomenon of the Secret God.

However, with each passing day, a month had already gone by, and there was still no significant change in the secret phenomenon of the Secret God, let alone the descent of a Secret Divine Egg.

"Is this Secret God having a difficult birth?" Duan Shulin sat at the entrance of the tent, propping his chin and gazing at the sky, uttering words of complaint.

He had been waiting with impatience, as previously, when a Secret God gave birth, a Secret Spirit Egg would descend in just about half a month at most. But this time, a month had passed, and there was still no movement.

"Could it be because the Nether Lotus was taken?" Chen Guan said casually.

He wasn’t in a hurry at all. Over these days, he had ascended by one level, and was now at Level 7. His primordial energy cap reached an astonishing 64, allowing him to unleash the Profound Nether Yin Fire Palm—a Secret Skill that greatly consumes primordial energy—three times consecutively, which was unimaginable for other cultivators at the First Awakening.

Secret Skills like the Blood Hand Seal, Chen Guan could use freely, as their energy consumption was not as fast as the recovery speed of the Secret Technique of One.

"There have been incidents before where Secret Divine Treasures were taken; otherwise, no one would know the secrets of the Secret Divine Treasures. I haven’t heard it would affect the Secret God’s childbirth." Duan Shulin was uncertain, but felt the possibility was low.

Chen Guan had limited knowledge about the Secret God’s childbirth, so he said nothing more and continued cultivating the Secret Technique of One. If he could ascend one more level before the Secret God’s childbirth, it would naturally be the best.

Unfortunately, after reaching Level 7, Chen Guan found that the alien elemental energy he absorbed from heaven and earth no longer imparted the previous sense of fullness. No matter how much he absorbed, he always felt inexplicably empty.

This situation was normal; cultivating any Secret Technique would encounter such a scenario because the body absorbs a large amount of energy for enhancement. The higher the body’s enhancement degree, the greater the resistance to energy, which is one reason for the increasing difficulty of level ascension in later stages.

Once this situation arises, it would be impossible to quickly ascend levels like before. Either spend a lot of time accumulating energy or find another path, massively plundering energy into the body.

"It’s been stifling for a month, I can’t stand it, I’m going out for a walk." Duan Shulin got up and looked at Chen Guan.

"Go on your own, I have to practice." Chen Guan had no intention of going out, so Duan Shulin had to go out alone.

Just two minutes after Duan Shulin left, someone suddenly lifted the tent flap and walked in.

Chen Guan originally thought it was Ji Nanhong, as no one else would come here.

But when he opened his eyes, he found the newcomer had a tall figure, clad in golden armor like a female Golden Saint. It was Xiu Yingmei.

"What are you doing here?" Chen Guan frowned at Xiu Yingmei.

The tent was not very high, and Xiu Yingmei, being too tall—over one meter eighty—did not want to bend over and simply sat cross-legged. Her eyes, sharp as a knife, scrutinized Chen Guan recklessly.

"Are you called Chen Guan?" Xiu Yingmei noticed upon closer examination that Chen Guan’s facial features were quite good, even giving people a somewhat amiable feeling, like the boy-next-door one had a crush on in childhood innocence. Her tone subconsciously softened a bit compared to usual.

It was only slightly softer than usual, definitely not considered gentle.

"Yes, do you have any advice?" Chen Guan was on guard, unsure of her intentions.

So blatantly, was she here to kill him or teach him a lesson? Chen Guan felt that Xiu Yingmei would not be so foolish.

"Do you know that Ji Nanhong wants your life?" Xiu Yingmei’s words immediately made Chen Guan frown.

"What do you mean?" Chen Guan’s brain worked quickly, and he immediately grasped Xiu Yingmei’s implication but pretended not to know and asked.

"It’s pathetic, being used without knowing it, possibly being sold and even helping to count the money." Xiu Yingmei’s tone carried a hint of pity and sarcasm.

"If you have something to say, say it directly; if not, please leave." Chen Guan said expressionlessly.

"You think because Ji Nanhong favors you, you can climb to power by holding the Ji Family’s thigh? The reality is probably more cruel than you can imagine."

"Ji Nanhong is merely using you. Ji Junzhang is seriously ill, his days are numbered, and he only had Ji Nanhong as a daughter in his eight hundred years. There are no other relatives to inherit the family business. Once Ji Junzhang passes, Ji Nanhong will be the target of all. Without someone to assist her, she absolutely cannot hold onto the family business left by Ji Junzhang."

Xiu Yingmei looked at Chen Guan meaningfully, then continued, "The Celestial Court Army is a crucial bargaining chip for the Ancestral Court to maintain its authority, arguably the biggest chip."

"Ji Junzhang could hold this position for over eight hundred years not only because of his hard-earned strength but also because he was one of the most trusted by the Chief Judge, serving as a left-hand man."

"Of course, apart from Ji Junzhang, the Chief Judge couldn’t find anyone more suitable, so Ji Junzhang could hold this position continuously. It’s still the same now, with the Ten Great Families eyeing the Celestial Court Army covetously, but the Chief Judge will never let the Celestial Court Army fall into the hands of the Ten Great Families, so the options are very limited."

"For Ji Nanhong to vie for the position of Celestial Court Army commander, she must meet two conditions: one, loyal to the Chief Judge like Ji Junzhang; and two, she must have the ability to control the Celestial Court Army. Whether she can control the Celestial Court Army depends on Ji Junzhang’s arrangements and whether those cultivated by Ji Junzhang can continue to show allegiance to Ji Nanhong after his death."

"To win the Chief Judge’s trust, Ji Nanhong must show her stance, which includes her marriage."

"She can’t choose to marry anyone related to the Ten Great Families. Among the remaining choices, our Xiu Family is the best choice because we are also loyal supporters of the Chief Judge, and the Celestial Court Army in our hands won’t change anything for the Chief Judge."

"For Ji Nanhong, this result is hard to accept because she is an ambitious woman, wanting to control the Celestial Court Army like Ji Junzhang. Naturally, she can’t accept becoming a vassal by marrying my elder brother. Therefore, she found someone like you with no background or status to make one last gamble, hoping the Chief Judge would, for the sake of Ji Junzhang’s many years of service to the Ancestral Court, make her the true master of the Celestial Court Army."

"Greed blinded her eyes. The Chief Judge seeks stability and would not gamble such an important chip as the Celestial Court Army. Ji Nanhong is too young and too weak; the Chief Judge would never entrust the Celestial Court Army to her alone. If she insists on being willful, even if our Xiu Family doesn’t intervene, the Chief Judge won’t allow her to continue her mischief. What do you think the final outcome will be?"

"Are you saying the Chief Judge will eliminate me, possibly even Ji Nanhong?" Chen Guan understood Xiu Yingmei’s meaning.

"If you can see it, how could Ji Nanhong not know with her intelligence? She pulled you in to take your life for a gamble. If successful, your benefits would be very limited, just a pawn that lost its value, unable to truly seize the Ji Family’s business or become the master of the Celestial Court Army, possibly confined by Ji Nanhong as an ornament. If you fail, your life is forfeit, and no one can save you, with almost zero chance of success." Xiu Yingmei’s words were piercingly candid.