Gu Xuanji spoke gravely.
Looking at the other party’s expression, Shen Changqing couldn’t quite distinguish between truth and pretense. Moreover, since Emperor Qin was fully aware of the risks of attacking Great Zhou, he could retreat now; there was no need to truly engage Great Zhou in a life-or-death struggle. Besides, considering Emperor Qin’s rumored personality, and the current directive for Dongfang Zhao to prioritize him, he always felt sothing was amiss. To put it bluntly, if he were Emperor Qin’s son, there would be a reason for such actions. Without blood ties or any special relationship, for the Emperor to act this way was sowhat incomprehensible. Could it be that Emperor Qin truly valued his strength and harbored such great expectations for him, without fearing that he would seize control of Great Qin’s power upon his return?
With doubt in his heart, Shen Changqing did not speak out directly but rely changed the subject.
"Is Great Zhou truly fraught with such danger?"
"What I worry about is not Great Zhou, but the Demon Evil Clan behind it. The few Great Demons at Zhou Pass have thoroughly convinced that the Demon Evil Clan will undoubtedly support Great Zhou with all their strength. Or rather, the Demon Evil Clan will not easily relinquish the power Great Zhou represents. Now that Great Qin has captured most of Great Zhou’s territory, yet every city is abandoned, this is utterly inexplicable. I suspect that the disappearance of those civilians is not as simple as it seems."
Gu Xuanji’s expression showed a hint of weariness. Although he had long prepared himself, facing such a dilemma now still placed considerable pressure on him. He paused, then continued, "Among the Demon Evil Clan, what I fear the most is the Demon Saint lurking in the shadows. Ever since I gravely wounded it in the Capital City a hundred years ago, that Demon Saint has vanished without a trace. However, I am certain that Demon Saint will not spare Great Qin. It has always been waiting in the dark, biding its ti for an opportunity for revenge."
At this, Gu Xuanji sighed inwardly. Great Qin now had no way out. Great Liang and Dayue, although allies on the surface, each had their own sches. If there was a chance to overthrow Great Qin and strengthen themselves, he believed, neither power would hesitate. Similarly, if there were a chance to annihilate those powers and strengthen itself, Great Qin would not let it slip by either. To put it simply, alliances between nations are based on the premise of equality and the absence of conflicting interests. Once there is an imbalance in strength or a conflict of interest, the so-called alliance ceases to exist. Thus, the reason Great Liang and Dayue are sending troops into Great Zhou at this critical juncture is precisely this.
"As for Great Liang and Dayue wanting to ddle at this ti, the reason I don’t hinder them is that I want them to alleviate so of the pressure on Great Qin. In any case, I will reiterate: if the situation becos untenable, Defender Shen, prioritize your own safety. Great Qin today can afford to lose , it can afford to lose others, but it cannot afford to lose a top-tier powerhouse like you."
Gu Xuanji’s expression was serious. Now, he wasn’t as inscrutable as when he faced the court officials.
"I don’t quite understand Your Majesty’s words," Shen Changqing said, feigning confusion.
Gu Xuanji shook his head. "There’s no need to overthink it. What I speak is the truth. In today’s world, power is valued above all. Great Qin’s dominance for over three hundred years is not dependent on the people’s hearts or anything else, but on having strong individuals to secure the realm. A hundred years ago, the ones who could safeguard Great Qin were Dongfang Zhao and myself. A hundred years later, the only one who can safeguard Great Qin is you, Shen Changqing. The path of the Emperor and that of the Defender Envoy both have great limitations. However, you, a Martial Artist, have directly entered the realm of Great Grandmasters and possess strength comparable to that of top-tier Great Demons. With a bit more ti, advancing further to match a Demon Saint would not be an issue. Therefore, after this battle, I will offer you an enormous opportunity that will allow you to advance further. When that ti cos, I hope you can ensure the safety and stability of Great Qin!"
Shen Changqing fell into silence.
If what Gu Xuanji said was true, then he was essentially making arrangents for after his demise. However, he did not imdiately agree. Although he often broke promises, that was only towards enemies. Towards his own people, he felt he was quite trustworthy. It was precisely because of this that he did not lightly consent. As for the enormous opportunity Gu Xuanji ntioned, he also couldn’t imdiately figure out what kind of opportunity it would be—one that would significantly enhance his strength. Within Great Qin, he couldn’t think of anything more useful to him than all the Demon Evils from the Demon Sealing Tower.
"At this ti, I cannot give you an answer." Shen Changqing shook his head.
Gu Xuanji smiled. "If you had agreed imdiately, I would have doubted your sincerity. But your words now have made trust you much more. Don’t worry, what I will give you surely won’t disappoint you."
The room fell silent.
After a while, Shen Changqing cupped his fists. "Then I shall take my leave."
"Hm." Gu Xuanji nodded.
After Shen Changqing rose and departed, Gu Xuanji turned to Dongfang Zhao. "Do you think Shen Changqing can be entrusted with this?"
"I cannot answer Your Majesty’s question, but there’s one thing I do understand. Currently, he is the only one in the Demon-Subduing Division who is up to the task. After all, in this world, it ultimately cos down to individual martial force. With sufficient strength, all worries will naturally vanish." A smile touched Dongfang Zhao’s lips.
Gu Xuanji nodded in agreent. "You’re right. In this world, it all cos down to individual martial force. It’s said that in a river, the new waves push the old. We were considered the ’new waves’ a hundred years ago; now, a century later, we’ve beco the old waves being pushed aside."
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