Zhenghao’s ambition

“What are you afraid of?”

This was tantamount to killing someone's spirit. He Zhenghao's cold sweat immediately flowed down upon hearing this.

“This humble one has absolutely no disloyal intentions, Lord Secret Envoy, please observe!” He immediately declared his stance.

“Think twice, and act accordingly!” Li Fan snorted coldly, then his phantom image shattered and vanished without a trace.

After a long while, He Zhenghao dared to straighten his bent body.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he let out a long breath. He then suddenly remembered his daughter was beside him, and couldn't help but cough, instantly recovering his composure.

Fortunately, He XinXin didn't notice her father's embarrassment. Instead, she patted her chest with her small hand and exclaimed, “Senior Li has such great power! He’s almost as powerful as those Combined Dao Immortals I’ve seen at home before. He really scared me to death.”

“Hmph hmph, that’s natural. Lord Secret Envoy is very likely a Chang…” He Zhenghao stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, feeling it was inappropriate.

Fortunately, his daughter didn't notice the meaning behind his words, so He Zhenghao changed the subject.

“What exactly did Lord Secret Envoy mean by his words just now?”

“He didn’t directly deny Xin Xin’s deduction result, only saying that he wouldn’t leave…”

A moment later, a hint of alarm flashed in He Zhenghao’s eyes.

“Could it be that a major change will really occur in Congyun Sea?”

He fell into deep thought for a moment.

Meanwhile, deep within Bu Zheng Hall, Li Fan, who had observed every subtle change in He Zhenghao’s expression, felt no ripples in his heart.

“Give up power and flee for your life? Or hold onto a glimmer of hope, unwilling to leave for power and wealth?”

“Fellow Daoist He, how will you choose?”

According to Li Fan's understanding of He Zhenghao, he would undoubtedly choose to stay in Congyun Sea. But he still hoped that He Zhenghao in this life could bring him some surprise.

No longer focusing on He Zhenghao, Li Fan used the Secretary-character Envoy Token to summon various institutional members of Congyun Sea.

“Lord Secret Envoy hasn't summoned us for a long time. Is there something urgent?”

“It's a bit strange, I haven't heard of any important tasks recently.”

Everyone discussed animatedly.

He Zhenghao, meanwhile, was still in a state of indecision, his expression wavering.

Seeing this, Gao Yuan showed a thoughtful expression. However, he didn't immediately inquire, but kept it in mind.

Soon after, when all the personnel had arrived, Li Fan leisurely appeared.

“Greetings, Lord Secret Envoy!” Everyone bowed.

“No need to be formal, please sit.” Li Fan’s face was amiable.

“I called you here today not for anything urgent. As you all know, although I am the Secretary-character Envoy of Congyun Immortal City, I have always been hands-off. The governance of Congyun Sea has never been neglected, and its overall ranking among all prefectures has even risen each year. Naturally, this is all thanks to your efforts.”

Li Fan paused, scanning everyone's expressions, then continued, “As the saying goes, ‘give a plum and get a peach in return.’ I recently deduced an Opportunity, and I thought I’d inform you all.”

Upon hearing this, the Cultivators present all brightened their eyes. What kind of person was Li Fan? Someone who wouldn't even bat an eye at hundreds of millions of contribution points.

The Opportunity he spoke of must be extraordinary! So they all looked at Li Fan with expectant eyes.

“I have deduced that soon, an Immortal Cave will rise from the Congyun Seabed. The Opportunity lies within this Immortal Cave!” Li Fan said in a deep voice.

As soon as these words were spoken, the Cultivators became somewhat restless.

“Of course, Opportunity always coexists with danger. As for whether you want to pursue it, that’s entirely up to your own choice.” Li Fan said the last sentence indifferently, showing a half-smile, and then disappeared from everyone’s sight.

After confirming that Li Fan had left, the hall immediately became boisterous.

“What exactly does Lord Secret Envoy mean by this? He called us all the way here just for such a simple sentence?”

“Strange! Truly strange!”

“An Immortal Cave at the bottom of the sea, perhaps an ancient Sect ruin? Hiss, something that can be called an Opportunity by Lord Secret Envoy and cause such a stir must be extraordinary!”

…

Everyone's faces were excited, and they discussed animatedly.

He Zhenghao, however, was filled with even more doubts and confusion.

“Fellow Daoist He, do you perhaps know some inside information?”

Just then, he suddenly heard Gao Yuan's voice transmission.

After pondering for a moment, He Zhenghao still briefly explained the recent events to Gao Yuan, wanting to hear his opinion.

“Congyun Sea is about to undergo a change?” Gao Yuan was initially startled, but remained calm.

“But Lord Secret Envoy said he himself would not leave. After questioning your intentions, he then announced the Immortal Cave Opportunity…”

Gao Yuan's mind raced, and he quickly began to think.

Before long, Gao Yuan's heart stirred, and he had a conclusion.

“So that’s it!”

“Brother Gao, please enlighten me!” He Zhenghao, as if finding a savior, quickly pressed.

“Lord Secret Envoy is using this Immortal Cave Opportunity to enlighten us. A change is happening in Congyun Sea, but Lord Secret Envoy is unwilling to leave. Why is this?”

“Because Opportunity and crisis coexist!” Gao Yuan said excitedly, “With the resources Lord Secret Envoy can now command, an Opportunity that he still values so highly…”

“I'm afraid it can only be that step to ascend to heaven…”

“heaven and earth spirit?”

He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan’s gazes met, thinking of the same thing.

“So that’s how it is…” He Zhenghao murmured to himself, as if everything now made sense.

“Lord Secret Envoy’s cultivation fell from the Chang Sheng Realm. To re-prove the Dao of Chang Sheng, he will likely still need to follow the steps of the New Law. For him, he certainly won't miss this chance to combine Dao. I’ve heard that when the heaven and earth spirit descends, it will inevitably stir up a storm of blood and gore. At that time, let alone us Golden Core cultivators, even Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation Cultivators may not be spared.”

“The heaven and earth spirit is about to descend, this matter cannot be spoken directly. Perhaps under the Heavenly Secret’s perception, new variables might arise. And as Lord Secret Envoy’s old subordinates, he cannot bear to see us perish in vain during the calamity. So he found an alternative way, using this method to enlighten us.”

…

He Zhenghao suddenly understood.

While his heart was filled with excitement, a certain inappropriate emotion also sprouted.

“heaven and earth spirit…”

He Zhenghao's eyes narrowed.

“Then Brother Gao, what are your thoughts?” After a while, he looked at Gao Yuan, whose expression was also constantly changing, and asked.

“Fellow Daoist He, have you ever heard a saying?” Gao Yuan looked at He Zhenghao.

“What?”

“No greater merit than following the Dragon!” Gao Yuan said softly.

“If Lord Secret Envoy successfully combines Dao, and we, his subordinates who remain steadfastly by his side…”

He Zhenghao listened, and the flame of ambition suddenly ignited in his heart as well.

Even, in the depths of his mind, a thought he dared not reveal even a fraction of surfaced.

The heaven and earth spirit belongs to the virtuous.

If Lord Secret Envoy fails to sacrifice the heaven and earth spirit, then perhaps, just perhaps, he might have a sliver of a chance?

One must know that in the history of Xuanhuang World, such things have not been unheard of.