Chapter 141: A World for Two

Wen Zhong patted Jiang Yuan with a look of annoyance upon hearing this.

"Quit with that sarcastic tone of yours!"

Jiang Yuan chuckled, "Is it not that I am concerned for the Grand Preceptor’s lifelong affairs?"

"There is no need for you to worry about my personal matters," Wen Zhong replied calmly.

"There must be some sort of history between you and Lady Shiji, right?" Jiang Yuan asked with a mischievous grin.

Only in front of the Grand Preceptor would Jiang Yuan ever display such childish behavior.

Wen Zhong pushed aside Jiang Yuan’s leaning head. "Don't let your imagination run wild. By rank and generation, Shiji is technically my aunt-master."

Wen Zhong was a third-generation disciple of the Chan Sect, while Shiji was a disciple of the Grandmaster of Heaven. By this reckoning, Wen Zhong was indeed a generation below Shiji. However, in this era, who really cared about seniority? Strength was the only true currency. Take Yang Jian, for instance; although he was a disciple of Guangchengzi—one of the Twelve Golden Immortals—his future achievements would likely surpass most of the Twelve. Who would still bother bringing up seniority?

"I see. So it is merely a relationship between an aunt-master and her nephew," Jiang Yuan said, as if suddenly enlightened.

Wen Zhong stared at him in silence. How was this kid acting so erratic and mocking? Seeing that Wen Zhong would no longer engage with him, Jiang Yuan stopped seeking trouble, fearing he might get a beating if he kept talking.

Jiang Yuan remained at the military camp, waiting for Bai Ze to emerge. As it turned out, Bai Ze did not take as long as Jiang Yuan had expected; he emerged the very next day after entering the Heavenly Abyss, looking deeply troubled.

The first thing Jiang Yuan did upon seeing Bai Ze was to ask about the secrets at the bottom of the Heavenly Abyss. Bai Ze only looked at Jiang Yuan with a complex expression and shook his head silently. It seemed there truly was some unspeakable secret hidden at the bottom of the Abyss.

"Did Senior Shennong tell you not to reveal it to me?" Jiang Yuan asked, frowning.

"It was not the instruction of Senior Shennong, but rather that I, Bai, feel there is no need for the Human Emperor to know these things at this time," Bai Ze replied softly. He felt a sense of shock mixed with admiration. Was this the fearless spirit of the generations of Human Emperors?

"Can you really not tell me?" Jiang Yuan asked, feeling unwilling to let it go.

Bai Ze shook his head again. "It is not that I cannot tell you, but that there is no need. Even if you knew, Human Emperor, there is nothing you could do at this moment. When you reach the level of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in the future, you will understand without anyone needing to explain it to you."

This is ridiculous... Jiang Yuan was momentarily speechless. Was this not just playing games? Everyone treated this secret like a treasure, nearly driving Jiang Yuan mad with frustration.

"Since Senior Bai Ze has returned, let us prepare to depart. I shall go call the Grand Preceptor," Jiang Yuan finally gave up on pressing for answers. It was not that he did not want to know, but Bai Ze was at the Semi-Saint realm; he simply could not beat the information out of him.

Before long, Jiang Yuan brought Wen Zhong outside the garrison. The moment Wen Zhong saw Bai Ze, he recognized his identity.

"Senior Bai Ze," Wen Zhong greeted him.

"Just call me Bai Ze, Grand Preceptor. You are a senior respected even by the Human Emperor, and since I am currently working for the Human Emperor, it would be inappropriate for you to address me as 'Senior'," Bai Ze said with a gentle smile.

Wen Zhong smiled faintly. He did not feel particularly nervous in the presence of the Demon Saint; he had even met the Grandmaster of Heaven once, brought by the Holy Mother of the Golden Spirit when she took him as a disciple. Still, the necessary reverence could not be lacking, as he was only at the Great Luo Golden Immortal stage, while Bai Ze was a Semi-Saint. Moreover, Bai Ze was indeed much older than him, despite his youthful appearance, so the title was well-deserved.

"Does the Demon Saint Bai Ze know our destination for this trip?" Wen Zhong asked. He wanted to see if the Demon Saint was truly as legendary for knowing the mysteries of the heavens and earth as rumors suggested. Surely he could calculate this much?

Bai Ze smiled lightly. "Our first stop should be to seek out Lady Shiji, should it not?"

Wen Zhong was stunned. He calculated it that quickly? Remarkable!

"And the second destination?" Wen Zhong asked again.

This time, Bai Ze shook his head. "I do not know, as the Human Emperor has not told me. I presume the Grand Preceptor has not told the Human Emperor either."

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan suppressed a laugh, and Wen Zhong instantly realized that Bai Ze had not used any supernatural abilities at all.

"Since the Demon Saint Bai Ze knows our destination, could you lead the way? The speed of the King and myself is limited; to save time, I must trouble you," Wen Zhong said calmly.

Bai Ze smiled. It seemed Wen Zhong still had not abandoned his attempt to test him. He did not mind, however. As the Grand Preceptor of the Shang Dynasty, it was only natural for Wen Zhong to be wary of an outsider. Any rational person would know that a Demon Saint like himself would have ulterior motives for serving the Shang Dynasty, let alone someone as sharp as Wen Zhong. Yet, Bai Ze had never hidden his intentions; he simply believed that the Human Emperor could help him achieve Sainthood. Therefore, he chose to assist the Shang. He would grasp at any opportunity to become a Saint.

"Since the Grand Preceptor has asked, I shall not refuse," Bai Ze replied, showing no anger at Wen Zhong's testing. These things were understandable. Since Wen Zhong wanted to test him, he would remain composed.

With that, Bai Ze gave a light wave of his hand. In an instant, the three of them arrived at a barren mountain peak that looked somewhat like a human skull. A cave with a tightly sealed stone door sat within the mountain.

Wen Zhong had not expected a Semi-Saint’s speed to be this formidable. Although Skull Mountain was not far from the Eastern Barbarian border, it shouldn't have been reachable in the blink of an eye. Wen Zhong could only marvel at the supernatural power; truly worthy of a Semi-Saint. He decided he would cause less trouble for such a being in the future—he was not someone to be trifled with.

"If I am not mistaken, this is Skull Mountain, where Lady Shiji resides, and that sealed cave is the White Bone Cave," Bai Ze said with a smile.

Wen Zhong was thoroughly impressed. "Can the Demon Saint Bai Ze truly know everything?"

"The Grand Preceptor exaggerates. There is much I do not know, but I am fortunate to possess a decent innate talent," Bai Ze replied with a modest shake of his head.

Jiang Yuan, however, was more interested in the White Bone Cave, wondering if there was a White Bone Demoness inside. He recalled that in his past life, it was because of this White Bone Demoness that his master, the Tang Monk, nearly had a falling out with his disciple.

"Grand Preceptor, should we go straight in?" Jiang Yuan asked.

Wen Zhong gave him a side-eye. "We are here to seek help, not to fight. Can you not be more civilized?"

Jiang Yuan looked at Wen Zhong with a meaningful expression. If this didn't prove there was something between the Grand Preceptor and Shiji, he would eat his hat. He didn't think the Grand Preceptor was a civilized man at all; the usually fiery-tempered Wen Zhong only acted like this when he was about to see Shiji.

"Then the Grand Preceptor should go knock on the door. The King and the Demon Saint will wait here for your good news." Jiang Yuan decided to give Wen Zhong and Lady Shiji some private space, creating a world for just the two of them.