Chapter 697: Reviving Gu Shentong?

Zi Xun had arrived? Zhongshan frowned slightly, recalling what Zi Xun had said before she left last time.

"Nu Qinghui intends to deal with you. Don't fall into her hands!"

At that time, was Zi Xun referring to the blue light? Did Zi Xun already know about it? Nu Qinghui was stubborn and refused to reveal anything, but perhaps Zi Xun could shed some light on the matter.

Turning to look at Nu Qinghui, Zhongshan noticed that her expression changed when she heard Zi Xun was coming. She bit her lip and a flash of panic crossed her eyes.

Soon, Zhongshan saw a large isolation array envelop the exterior of the Hall of Longevity. Zi Xun must have entered.

Regarding the blue light that had entered his body, Zhongshan hadn't sought help from anyone—not Emperor Xuan Sha, Mud Bodhisattva, Wang Ku, or Nangong Sheng. They might not have been able to detect it, but Zhongshan couldn't allow anyone to examine his body. As an emperor, his body was too precious to be probed casually—not because of his status, but due to the secrets and trust issues involved. Any problem with his body was destined to be resolved by himself alone.

At the entrance of the Hall of Longevity, Zi Xun stepped inside.

The moment she entered, Zi Xun saw Nu Qinghui. The two women locked eyes, and Zi Xun's brows furrowed as she glared angrily at Nu Qinghui.

Nu Qinghui lowered her head in apparent shame, but soon replaced it with a determined gaze, facing Zi Xun again.

"You really did it?" Zi Xun demanded, glaring at Nu Qinghui with anger.

Zhongshan frowned, remaining silent as he watched Nu Qinghui.

"Xun'er!"

"Don't call me Xun'er! My mother is dead, and you have nothing to do with me!" Zi Xun retorted angrily, her face turning slightly red.

Zi Xun was clearly agitated, more so than ever before.

Nu Qinghui's eyes showed a hint of grievance, evoking pity. However, the two people in the hall did not soften their hearts because of her expression.

Biting her lip as if she were about to draw blood, Nu Qinghui's aggrieved eyes grew more complex before suddenly flashing with a hint of madness.

"You know what I'm doing. Don't you want him to come back?" Nu Qinghui shouted stubbornly.

"Gu Shentong is dead. Truly dead, body and soul destroyed. How can he come back?" Zi Xun retorted furiously.

Gu Shentong? Zhongshan's pupils contracted. Reviving Gu Shentong? He suddenly realized the terrifying potential of that blue light.

"He will come back. As long as there's a trace of his remnant thought, he can be restored!" Nu Qinghui shook her head.

"A remnant thought? You know it's just a remnant thought. Gu Shentong's soul is gone. What use is a remnant thought? Even if you recreate Gu Shentong from a remnant thought, would that still be Gu Shentong?" Zi Xun asked coldly.

"I don't care. I just want him alive!" Nu Qinghui suddenly shouted, her voice hoarse with emotion. Her previous timidity transformed into sheer hatred.

After her outburst, Nu Qinghui's eyes turned red. A mix of helplessness and stubbornness exploded in her gaze.

"You're insane! You've gone mad!" Zi Xun yelled, exasperated.

At this moment, Zhongshan turned to Nu Qinghui and asked, "The blue light you injected into me, is it Gu Shentong's remnant thought?"

Nu Qinghui looked at Zhongshan, her eyes becoming somewhat hazy and manic. "Haha, yes, it's his remnant thought. You can't find it. You can't fight it. Even if it's just a remnant thought, you can't resist it. As you grow, it grows. When you reach the Heavenly Boundaries, it will be able to consume your spirit, devour your divine sense, and take everything from you. Then, you will become Gu Shentong. You will be Gu Shentong! Hahaha!"

Nu Qinghui's laughter carried a trace of sorrow, as if she knew deep down that Gu Shentong was truly dead, and the revived Gu Shentong would never be the same. Yet, her stubbornness compelled her to convince herself that the reborn one would indeed be Gu Shentong.

"You crazy woman!" Zi Xun shouted.

Zi Xun's eyes were red, filled with a heart-wrenching sadness, as if tears could burst forth at any moment.

"Crazy? Am I crazy? Or is the whole world crazy? Haha!" Nu Qinghui's face showed a bitter smile.

"Why did you choose him? Wasn't it supposed to be Gu Zhengyi? Why Zhongshan all of a sudden? Why?" Zi Xun demanded, her voice frantic.

"Gu Zhengyi? Gu Zhengyi?" Nu Qinghui's brows furrowed.

"Why? Tell me!" Zi Xun yelled, her confusion evident.

Shaking her head, Nu Qinghui smiled faintly, "Gu Zhengyi? It was supposed to be him. He resembles Gu Shentong so much, almost a replica. But then I realized Zhongshan resembles Gu Shentong even more. Not in bloodline, appearance, habits, or nature, but in an indescribable essence. An 'intent'. Yes, that's it—an 'intent'. They are the most alike. Only by reviving Gu Shentong through Zhongshan can the true Gu Shentong be brought back. The resemblance is uncanny!"

"That still wouldn't be Gu Shentong!" Zi Xun cried out, her frustration mounting.

Zhongshan, who had been silently listening, felt a surge of suppressed anger. He coldly glared at Nu Qinghui.

"He is Gu Shentong!" Nu Qinghui screamed hysterically. At this moment, she was desperately trying to convince herself that the man before her would become Gu Shentong, that he was indeed Gu Shentong.

"Enough!" Zhongshan roared.

Both women looked at Zhongshan, who was seething with anger. Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his rage and turned to Zi Xun.

"Is there any way to extract Gu Shentong's remnant thought?" Zhongshan asked.

Zi Xun bit her lip, her mind a tangled mess. She turned and glared fiercely at Nu Qinghui.

"Take out Gu Shentong's remnant thought! Take it out!" Zi Xun shouted, her voice hoarse and desperate.

"It's impossible. No one can do it. Not even immortals. Gu Shentong's remnant thought has taken root in Zhongshan's body. No one can extract it. You know how formidable Gu Shentong is. Who can force him out? Hahaha, it's impossible. Impossible!" Nu Qinghui cried out, her emotional instability evident.

Nu Qinghui was deeply wounded by her emotions, her mood swinging wildly.

"You crazy woman! Madwoman! Lunatic!" Zi Xun screamed, her own emotions becoming unstable.

Both women were fighting for the men they loved, driven by the same feeling—love. Originally, they were like celestial beings, looking down on the mortal world. But now, entangled in their emotions, they clashed fiercely.

"Zi Xun, don't waste your efforts. It's impossible. The situation can't be changed unless Gu Shentong voluntarily extinguishes himself. Do you think that's possible? How many times have you and Zhongshan met? Find someone else. There are many men in the world. You don't need to..." Nu Qinghui's tone shifted to one of appeasement.

"Why don't you find someone else?" Zi Xun screamed hysterically, her eyes red, tears welling up.

"It's too late to say anything now!" Nu Qinghui said stubbornly.

"I hate you. I hate you so much!" Zi Xun screamed once more, her voice filled with despair.

After shouting, Zi Xun turned and ran out of the hall, leaving behind two sparkling tears that fell from the sky.

Nu Qinghui reached out and caught the falling tears, freezing them into beads of ice in her hand. Watching Zi Xun's departing figure, a deep sense of loss flashed through Nu Qinghui's eyes. A fleeting expression of longing for Zi Xun's forgiveness appeared on her face.

At this moment, Zhongshan sat on the dragon throne, eyes closed, his brows deeply furrowed. His thumbs massaged his temples. Gu Shentong voluntarily extinguishing himself? Was that even possible? Gu Shentong was so similar to him. Having a chance at life again, would he give it up? Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Even if Gu Shentong turned into a fool, he wouldn't abandon such an opportunity.

Nu Qinghui, deeply crestfallen, carefully put away Zi Xun's two tears and looked up stubbornly at Zhongshan.

"You've already learned what you wanted to know. Enjoy your remaining time," Nu Qinghui said calmly.

Zhongshan's eyes snapped open, shooting out a cold light.

Seeing the cold light in Zhongshan's eyes, Nu Qinghui felt a sudden panic but forced herself to remain calm. "You can't defeat Gu Shentong. No one can," she insisted.

"Oh? How do you know I can't defeat Gu Shentong? The victor is yet to be determined!" A fierce light flashed in Zhongshan's eyes.

"What do you plan to do with me? Kill me?" Nu Qinghui suddenly laughed.

At that moment, Nu Qinghui seemed to put life and death aside. As long as Gu Shentong could live, what did her own death matter?

Watching Nu Qinghui, Zhongshan's eyelids twitched. He looked outward, pointed a finger, and a blue light shot out. The isolation array outside the Hall of Longevity was suddenly removed.

"Liu Wushuang!" Zhongshan called out.

"Here, Your Majesty!" Liu Wushuang quickly rushed into the hall.

"Take Nu Qinghui to the celestial prison, Cell Number One. No one is allowed to visit, and guards must not come within a hundred feet!" Zhongshan ordered sternly.

Liu Wushuang glanced at Nu Qinghui in confusion. At this moment, Nu Qinghui had picked up her veil and put it back on.

"Yes!" Liu Wushuang responded immediately.

Everything felt eerie. Liu Wushuang didn't know what had happened, but as it was the emperor's private matter, he dared not ask further.

Nu Qinghui, seemingly cooperative, left with Liu Wushuang, heading to the celestial prison.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Zhongshan closed his eyes and remained silent for a while before slowly getting up. After adjusting his mood, Zhongshan left the Hall of Longevity and walked towards Bao'er's palace in the harem. The three women were still waiting there.

"I just saw Zi Xun flying away in tears. What happened? And why did you imprison Nu Qinghui?" Bao'er asked worriedly.

"Yes, did you bully Zi Xun?" Tian Ling'er inquired.

Bei Qingsi, however, smiled slightly. Compared to others' emotions, as long as Zhongshan was fine, she was content.

"It's nothing. Just some matters to handle. Didn't you all want to check if I was injured? Come on, let's go inside and check," Zhongshan said with a smile.

Not wanting to worry the three women, Zhongshan kept the matter to himself.

"Okay!" The three women immediately agreed, surrounding Zhongshan as they entered the palace.

Beneath his exterior, Zhongshan's heart held a firm resolve: "Gu Shentong? Let's see who is truly stronger!"