Bitter Realm: Have the Four Realms been united today?

Chapter 16 Wounds, Variables, and the Beginning

As if he had encountered some kind of problem, the boy's face showed more and more worry, and his brows furrowed more and more tightly.

"The injuries to the Soul Burial Emperor were likely caused by the power of the Sun God's essence. Mr. Yue's magic failed because I lack a destiny star."

"Mr. Yue said that the Soul Burial Emperor's injuries are difficult to heal because of interference from the power of origin. As long as that power is eliminated, he should be fine."

"But how am I supposed to explain this to them? I just told them yesterday that I knew nothing..."

Thinking about this gave Xuanming a headache, and he slowed down his movements even more.

Ding

A crisp sound of impact rang out.

Xuanming suddenly came to his senses and realized that the porridge in the bowl had been completely used up, leaving only a clean, empty white porcelain bowl.

He silently placed the bowls and spoons back on the tray, but his gaze unconsciously fell on the several untouched dishes next to him.

Not moving at all, isn't that too conspicuous?

Xuanming paused slightly, but eventually picked up his chopsticks again. As if completing some kind of ritual, he hurriedly picked up a few pieces and put them in his mouth, not even bothering to taste what they were like.

He barely managed to use three or four minutes before putting down his chopsticks, secretly letting out a sigh of relief.

That way... people probably won't think I don't like these dishes!

Xuanming lowered his eyes, as if he had finished a task, and gently pushed the tray to the edge of the table, clearing a clean mahogany tabletop in front of him.

Then, he closed his eyes and concentrated, as if sensing something.

Before long, an inconspicuous mark between his eyebrows gradually began to glow with a faint blue light. The light grew brighter and brighter until it transformed into a stream of light that leaped out and landed on the empty corner of the mahogany table.

The blue light dissipated, revealing a translucent flute.

The flute body is unadorned and smooth as jade. If it weren't for the few flute holes, one would almost think it was a piece of blue spiritual crystal nurtured by heaven and earth.

Xuanming opened his eyes, picked up the jade flute, and examined it closely.

"Just as Xiao Hengyi said, this power can be controlled by my consciousness."

"Why can't it be released directly through the body? Why must the power be extracted first and transformed into a medium in the outside world..."

"That's right. Xiao Hengyi said our bodies are too weak to withstand too much internal energy, so the internal energy we use naturally can't come into much contact with my body."

"When Mr. Yue performed the blood-drawing technique yesterday, his true energy was released directly from his body."

"It seems that cultivators in this world all directly draw upon their internal energy."

"No, I know absolutely nothing about these things, and I don't know if guessing like this is even right."

"I need to figure out how to ask questions without arousing their suspicion..."

Xuanming's fingers tightened slightly, his gaze still fixed on the flute, but his mind was racing.

Meanwhile, another completely different thought was also silently swirling and forming.

Inside Huan Chenbuwu's study, the crimson morning light cast the white-robed strategist's figure on the wall, creating a deep silhouette that appeared increasingly mysterious and terrifying.

The soft scratching of the brush tip across the rice paper was the only sound in the room, until a sudden cough interrupted the writing.

Yue Tianji covered his mouth and frowned, a hint of pain flashing across his face, but he quickly concealed it.

Ignoring the warning signals from his body, he continued to write on the paper.

"Heavenly Pavilion", "Ten Thousand Evils Alliance", "Godslayer Sect", "World Dust Spreads Martial Arts"... The characters are intertwined, and the sharp lines outline a complex chessboard, as if everything in the world is a chess piece that he can hold at his fingertips.

Only after the last stroke was completed did he gently place the wolf-hair brush on the jade brush mountain, the whole movement flowing smoothly and without the slightest ripple.

"Someone come here," he called out, his voice calm and even, yet carrying an aura of authority that commanded submission.

Upon hearing the sound, the soldiers guarding outside the study immediately bowed and quickly entered, clasping their hands in salute.

"What are your instructions, strategist?"

Yue Tianji did not look up, his gaze remaining fixed on the Xuan paper covered in messy lines. He merely touched the main character "Huan Chen Bu Wu" with his fingertip and said calmly:

"Go and invite the Soul Emperor to the council hall. He has important matters to discuss regarding the secrets of heaven."

"Yes!" The soldier accepted the order without the slightest hesitation, immediately turned around and retreated, his footsteps quickly fading into the distance in the corridor.

In the side room, Xuanming sat at the table, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the surface.

Across from him, a soldier was clearing away the leftover food from the table.

After a morning of experimentation, the boy was no longer so unfamiliar with the wisp of the sun god's primordial power within him, but he remained completely bewildered by the world itself.

He needs information, any information about the world.

Just then, the soldier, carrying his lunch bowl and chopsticks, stepped over the threshold with one foot, about to leave again.

Xuanming's fingers unconsciously clenched his sleeve.

Tell me! If you don't tell me now, you'll have to wait until tonight!

It's been delayed since this morning, we can't delay any longer, hurry up and tell us!

But how should I address him?

Sir? Sir? Or should I just say "you"?

Is it too offensive to say that?

No, stop calling me that!

He's leaving!

It's too late!!!

Xuanming practically forced himself to inhale, as if trying to break free from some invisible shackles, and a sound that was almost stuck in his throat finally burst out:

"Please...please wait!"

The moment the words left his mouth, he was startled to realize that they were dry and trembling.

The soldier carrying the tray stopped and turned around to ask respectfully:

"What are your orders, young master?"

Xuanming's gaze fell on the other person's dark armor, not daring to move it any further upwards, and he asked the question he had rehearsed and revised a thousand times in his mind:

"I...I wish to see Young Master Muyun. May I ask if you could convey my request?"

"Young Master Muyun?"

Upon hearing this, the soldier's face showed obvious confusion, as if he did not understand who the boy was talking about.

Upon seeing this, Xuanming's heart tightened, thinking he had remembered the name wrong, and he quickly added:

"It's that... Mr. Muyun, the one in the blue robe who assisted Mr. Yue in handling documents."

The soldier seemed to realize something, and the confusion on his face disappeared:

"The strategist is busy with military affairs and is currently unsure of his whereabouts. Please wait a moment, young master!"

A strategy document? So that's what the people who spread the war effort throughout the land called him?

Xuanming was slightly taken aback, silently memorizing the form of address, and said in a low voice, "Thank you for your trouble."

Watching the soldiers leave, Xuanming's anxiety lessened slightly, and he began to think about how to start the conversation when he met Muyun Zhishu.

On the other side of the training ground, Emperor Zanghun had just dismissed the messenger soldiers.

Upon hearing that Yue Tianji had important matters to discuss, a hint of surprise flashed in his crimson eyes, which quickly turned into absolute seriousness.

He understands the secrets of heaven, and unless it is of great importance, he would never send someone to invite him while he is practicing his skills.

He casually grabbed his outer robe and strode briskly towards the council chamber.

Before even stepping into the hall, the Soul Burial Emperor spotted the white-clad figure standing in the hall from afar.