Chapter 725: You Are Not Gu Shentong
"Nothing is impossible. So what if I was a mortal? Can't a mortal enter from the outside? Can't a mortal start cultivating at the age of eighty? Hahaha, Gu Shentong, despite all your calculations, you never considered that before I was twenty-five, I wasn't even from this realm! Hahaha!" Zhong Shan laughed triumphantly.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! You, a mere mortal, it's simply impossible!" Gu Shentong's consciousness roared in anger.
"Nothing is impossible. Did you think you were the only one making calculations? Did you think I didn't prepare for this day?" Zhong Shan said coldly.
"What do you mean?"
"Decades ago, when Nu Qinghui implanted you in my body, I started preparing. The method I devised was risky, but it doesn't mean I was helpless. Unfortunately for you, that method is unnecessary now because you are not Gu Shentong. To deal with you, there's no need to take risks!" Zhong Shan sneered.
"I am Gu Shentong!"
"Gu Shentong is your original body, but you will never replace him. At least, I can see the fundamental difference between you and Gu Shentong!" Zhong Shan said solemnly.
"What difference? Why am I not him?"
"Perhaps your true body, the real Gu Shentong, kept something from you."
"Oh?"
"Let me ask you, why did Gu Shentong choose six people for you to possess instead of just any mortal? Why only choose from these six?" Zhong Shan asked sternly.
"Because you are the most like me!"
"Yes, we are very much like Gu Shentong. But why do you need to devour us? You say you are Gu Shentong. If you have your own consciousness, isn't that enough? Why devour people who are similar to Gu Shentong?" Zhong Shan sneered.
"Why? Why? …!" Gu Shentong's remnant seemed confused.
"Because you are merely a vessel for memories. You are not Gu Shentong. Even if you devoured one of us, you would only become more like Gu Shentong. We would lose our memories and gain Gu Shentong's past memories, but our personalities would remain ours. We would not become Gu Shentong, and you will never become Gu Shentong," Zhong Shan shouted.
Hearing Zhong Shan's words, Gu Shentong's remnant fell silent.
"Impossible, impossible…!" Gu Shentong's remnant murmured.
"Impossible? Haha, let me give you an example of how you and Gu Shentong are fundamentally different!" Zhong Shan sneered.
"Speak!" the remnant yelled.
"Regarding this sordid matter today, I believe if it were the real Gu Shentong, he would never have acted like a petty villain as you did. You are just a memory vessel. You don't have the grand vision of Gu Shentong. The true Gu Shentong had the spirit of a creator, a vision you can never comprehend. You lack Gu Shentong's 'will'." Zhong Shan said gravely.
"Impossible! Then why did he leave me with this consciousness? Why?" the remnant shouted.
After a long silence, Zhong Shan spoke calmly, "I think I understand now. I finally understand why Gu Shentong left you. I underestimated him. He didn't hope for resurrection; he genuinely put all his effort into his great undertaking."
"Why? Why did he leave me? Why?" the remnant couldn't understand.
"Deep emotions have always left nothing but regret!" Zhong Shan sighed.
"What do you mean?"
"Gu Shentong indeed made a resolute decision to create the world, fully aware of the potential failure. If he failed, he would turn to dust, his existence completely obliterated. Therefore, he left you behind. He wanted to recreate an incredibly realistic 'Gu Shentong,' not to continue his great work or dominate the world, but merely to accompany Nu Qinghui after his death, so she wouldn't be heartbroken and devastated forever," Zhong Shan said wistfully.
"Are you saying my existence is merely to provide Nu Qinghui with psychological comfort? That I'm just a relic left behind by Gu Shentong? Impossible, impossible!" the remnant muttered.
"What else could it be? You lack so much—you don't even have a basic personality, just memories. Even if you could devour me, it would only mean that I, Zhong Shan, would lose my past memories and gain some of Gu Shentong's memories," Zhong Shan said sternly.
"Impossible, impossible!" the remnant could not accept this reality.
"Alright, then think about it yourself. Are your memories of Gu Shentong complete?" Zhong Shan asked.
"I have all of Gu Shentong's memories!" the remnant shouted immediately.
"Then tell me, do you know about Lady Kong?" Zhong Shan asked with a sudden smile.
Lady Kong. Although Zhong Shan knew little about her, he was aware that she was another emotional tribulation in Gu Shentong's heart.
"Lady Kong?" the remnant seemed to be deep in thought.
"Gu Shentong destroyed the Elysium Pure Land because of Lady Kong. If you don't know about her, what more is there to say?" Zhong Shan laughed.
"Lady Kong, Lady Kong. I will remember, I just have too many memories. I will definitely remember!" the remnant kept shouting.
"Gu Shentong cannot be replaced. He lives on in everyone's hearts, while you are merely a memory vessel, just a crystal of memories, a relic," Zhong Shan continued to strike at the remnant.
Regardless, Zhong Shan had to use the most venomous words to attack. The more chaotic Gu Shentong's remnant's thoughts became, the easier it would be to deal with him.
The remnant fell into extreme confusion, struggling against Zhong Shan's words. Why? Why is this happening? Am I Gu Shentong or not?
Zhong Shan ignored Gu Shentong's remnant because it no longer posed a threat. Once he broke through to the Heavenly Extreme Realm, it would be the remnant's end.
Outside his body, the soft form exuding a faint fragrance slowly released Zhong Shan and moved away. A pure yin energy entered Zhong Shan's body through their recent dual cultivation.
The barrier broke. Zhong Shan knew he was starting to break through.
At that moment, Zhong Shan felt two 'water droplets' fall on his cheek, followed by the faint sound of someone dressing.
Zhong Shan was breaking through, and the Heavenly Extreme Realm breakthrough made him lose all awareness of what was happening on his skin.
"Boom ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!"
A sudden clap of thunder echoed in the sky above the Heavenly Court of Lingxiao.
The thunder was so unexpected that everyone in the Heavenly Court was shocked. It was incredibly loud, causing the hearts of everyone in the vast Heavenly Court to skip a beat.
In the Wolf God Hall, Di Xuansha looked up at the sky. In the imperial capital, Wang Ku, Yi Yan, Zhong Tian, Ni Pusa, Yin Luori—all of the key officials of Great Zhen—looked up at the sky with narrowed eyes.
A clap of thunder? Why did it boom in the sky above the Heavenly Court of Lingxiao?
Above the sea of clouds of fortune, the nineteen-clawed fortune golden dragon suddenly rose and roared excitedly at the source of the thunder.
"Roar!"
A dragon's roar, devoid of anger, brimming with excitement and joy, eerily reverberated throughout the Lingxiao Heavenly Court. This roar mysteriously spread to all the cities of the Great Zhen Imperial Dynasty. In every city, the sound of a dragon's roar suddenly echoed in the sky.
In the Great Zhen Imperial Dynasty, all the people in the cities paused and looked up at the sky in amazement.
Although those in distant cities couldn't see the Lingxiao Heavenly Court, the excitement transmitted through the dragon's roar touched the hearts of everyone in Great Zhen.
Excitement?
"His Majesty has broken through! His Majesty has reached the Heavenly Extreme Realm, the final realm of mortals!" An insightful individual suddenly shouted, his voice trembling with excitement.
His Majesty has reached the Heavenly Extreme Realm? The final realm of mortals? The last realm?
Upon hearing this conclusion, the citizens of Great Zhen displayed expressions of joy.
"Long live His Majesty, long live, long live forever!"
At this moment, Zhong Shan finally secured the reality of being hailed for eternity, truly achieving the lifespan of ten thousand years.
As the first person shouted, the entire populace of the city joined in.
"Long live His Majesty, long live, long live forever!"
"Long live His Majesty, long live, long live forever!"
The vast scene across the Great Zhen Imperial Dynasty and the lands of the Divine Province was one of countless cities simultaneously celebrating Zhong Shan's eternal life and the prosperity of the Great Zhen Imperial Dynasty. Zhong Shan's breakthrough was a celebration for all!
The majestic clamor soared to the heavens.
In the Lingxiao Heavenly Court, the sea of fortune clouds churned incessantly, and the sea of merit clouds surged wildly.
"Long live His Majesty, long live, long live forever!"
Above the Lingxiao Heavenly Court, countless citizens knelt in continuous worship. With His Majesty reaching the Heavenly Extreme Realm, Great Zhen was poised to ascend to new heights.
Outside the secret chamber where Zhong Shan resided, the empresses, Di Xuansha, Wang Ku, Ni Pusa, Zhong Tian, and others waited patiently.
Everyone knew what this moment meant, and everyone's heart was filled with excitement.
In the sky, after the thunderous sound, there was:
"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!"
The sky above split open with numerous fissures. It seemed as if the heavens themselves were shattering. But within the fissures was not darkness, but an infinite outpouring of purple light, accompanied by endless lightning raining down.
"Roar!"
The nineteen-clawed fortune golden dragon roared again, its feet acting like lightning rods, attracting all the lightning to protect the entire Lingxiao Heavenly Court.
This was the formation of Zhong Shan's "Heaven," a Heaven belonging solely to Zhong Shan. The former imitation of Heaven's thunder was no longer needed. A true Emperor's Heaven had formed. The Heaven of the Emperor, the Heaven of Great Zhen.