Seeing that the Desolate Empress had returned to normal, Zhou Xingdou breathed a sigh of relief and then gave some pointers:
"If you had toned it down by another 50%, you would have been charming without being vulgar."
Empress Huangtian really wanted to roll her eyes at Zhou Xingdou's words, but she held back and said calmly:
"Let's talk about it next time. Did you hear what I just said?"
Zhou Xingdou stopped pretending to be deaf and dumb. Seeing the reaction of the Desolate Empress, he cursed her inwardly as a 'madwoman,' but a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes. He then asked:
Where is a suitable cultivation technique for Tianzuo?
Since Empress Huangtian brought this up herself, she naturally had no reason to hide it:
"It is located in the Desolate Southern Refining Palace, not far from the Green Wood Palace."
At this point, Empress Huangtian frowned slightly and said:
"However, it already belongs to someone else. That person is a rogue cultivator, and so many years have passed, his cultivation has probably reached the initial stage."
Upon hearing that Nanlian Mansion was another rogue cultivator at the initial stage, Xiao Tianzuo, who had been quietly sitting in the corner, suddenly turned somewhat ugly and spoke up abruptly:
"Senior, you're not talking about Zhang Santian, the Heavenly King, are you?"
Empress Huangtian nodded, acknowledging Xiao Tianzuo's guess:
"Yes, his name is indeed Zhang Santian. He used to be called Zhang San, but he changed his name to Zhang Santian later. He probably got the title of Zhang Tianwang because of that technique."
Zhou Xingdou frowned slightly, not because the Heavenly King was so powerful, nor because he was at the Beginning Realm, but because this person was called Zhang San and then changed his name to Zhang Santian. This made him wonder if the people in this world were all mentally unstable.
Xiao Tianzuo's expression remained grim as he said:
"The Dao item that you mentioned is most suitable for me, senior. Could it be the secret technique of the Heavenly King, the one that made him famous, the Great Heavenly Palm Technique?"
"Yes, it is the Great Palm Heavenly Technique!"
After saying that, the Desolate Heaven Empress looked at Zhou Xingdou, seemingly waiting for his decision. Although Zhou Xingdou was not yet able to fight against the Refining Dao, Qing Yanjing was at least comparable to the peak of the Initial Realm.
As long as Zhou Xingdou lets Qing Yanjing take action, and with Zhou Xingdou's assistance, they have a good chance of dealing with Zhang Tianwang Zhang Santian.
Zhou Xingdou did not immediately agree, but instead stared intently at the Desolate Heaven Empress, his thoughts seemingly deep in thought.
Before the Desolate Empress could speak again, Xiao Tianzuo immediately shouted:
"Absolutely not!"
Xiao Tianzuo's urgent shout immediately drew everyone's attention to him.
Xiao Tianzuo immediately explained:
“Zhang Tianwang, the Heavenly King, was at the pinnacle of the Initial Realm, just one step away from entering the Dao End Realm. The Yin and Yang Generals under the Heavenly Venerable once came to the Desolate Heaven to capture him, but in that battle, the Yang General died and the Yin General hurriedly fled the Desolate Heaven.”
As he said this, fear appeared on Xiao Tianzuo's face:
"Those were the Yin and Yang Generals. Although they were only at the initial stage of cultivation, they could escape from a Heavenly Venerable at the Dao End level when they worked together, but they died at the hands of the Heavenly King."
Empress Huangtian was also stunned upon hearing this, and said in disbelief:
"How could that be? Before I died, Zhang San was just a nobody in the Dharma Body Realm. If I hadn't been busy with the power of the Heavenly Realm to enter the Dao Final Realm, I could have crushed him with a flick of my wrist!"
Zhou Xingdou frowned even more upon hearing this, then looked at Xiao Tianzuo and asked:
How did you know that?
Xiao Tianzuo let out a deep breath, a hint of pain flashing in his eyes, followed by a bitter smile:
"I was originally from Nanlian Prefecture. My hometown was destroyed in the battle, and all my relatives and friends died, so I fled to Qingmu Prefecture."
Xiao Tianzuo's tone was extremely calm, so calm that it seemed as if the matter he was talking about had nothing to do with him, but anyone could see the pain hidden in his heart.
Zhou Xingdou also looked at the Desolate Heaven Empress and saw that she also looked confused. He then realized that even she probably didn't know about Xiao Tianzuo's past. Their meeting probably happened after Xiao Tianzuo had already fled.
Moreover, if it weren't for the Empress of the Desolate Heaven setting her sights on the Heavenly King today, and Xiao Tianzuo being worried about Zhou Xingdou and the Empress of the Desolate Heaven taking risks, he would never have mentioned such past events. Instead, he would have kept them buried in his heart until he truly had the strength to take revenge himself.
As he spoke, Xiao Tianzuo raised his head and said with utmost seriousness:
"That's why I said it's absolutely impossible. The Heavenly King is too powerful. Even after Zhiyang died, the Heavenly Venerable did not avenge him. Instead, he reconciled with the Heavenly King."
"That's the Dao End of the Supreme Heaven Realm, an existence standing at the pinnacle of the entire world. Even the Heavenly King couldn't do anything to him. Master and seniors must not take any risks!"
Xiao Tianzuo's words were extremely firm. If he hadn't just promised Zhou Xingdou that he wouldn't kneel down casually, he probably would have already knelt down and kowtowed to calm Zhou Xingdou and the Desolate Heaven Empress down.
To be honest, Zhou Xingdou hadn't originally planned to target Zhang Tianwang, because Qing Yanjing would face a certain risk in dealing with his peak Initial Realm strength.
Zhou Xingdou did not want Qing Yanjing to die for him again. He originally planned to proceed slowly, first finding a suitable Heavenly Rank technique for Xiao Tianzuo. Given Xiao Tianzuo's status as the Son of the World, even if Zhou Xingdou did not intervene, Xiao Tianzuo would probably be able to obtain the Great Palm Heavenly Technique.
But now, hearing that Xiao Tianzuo still harbors such hatred for the Heavenly King, yet is earnestly advising his master not to take any risks, Zhou Xingdou is somewhat moved.
Empress Huangtian lowered her eyes. She understood the strength of the Supreme Celestial Venerable and the Yin-Yang Generals better than Zhou Xingdou and the others, and therefore understood the true value of this current Supreme Celestial Venerable.
As Xiao Tianzuo said, the risk was too great, making it seem unlikely to her as well.
"He's so strong now, maybe we should just let it go for now..."
"No! We absolutely cannot let this go!"
Zhou Xingdou's voice was cold as he interrupted the Desolate Empress.
Before the Desolate Heaven Empress could speak, Zhou Xingdou looked at her and immediately asked:
"What strength will you have recovered to in ten days?"
Although the Desolate Empress had doubts, she still answered:
"Ten days later? At most, he'll recover to the Heavenly Realm."
Zhou Xingdou's eyes surged with purple light as he exchanged a glance with his disciple and said:
"Ten days from now, I will let you take revenge yourself!"
Xiao Tianzuo's expression immediately changed to one of surprise, and he quickly stepped forward and said:
"Master, you absolutely mustn't! The risk is too great..."
But before Xiao Tianzuo could finish speaking, Zhou Xingdou had already vanished with a flick of his sleeve.
Xiao Tianzuo looked anxious and hurriedly looked at Qing Yanjing. Finally, he knelt down with a thud.
"Third Master's Wife, please persuade Master. I have absolutely no intention of belittling you, but the risk is too great right now, and I don't urgently need to change my cultivation technique..."
Qing Yanjing's face remained completely calm. She didn't frown at Zhou Xingdou's decision, nor was she troubled by Xiao Tianzuo's kneeling. She simply said:
“I can’t change what your master has decided. You just need to wait ten days to take your revenge.”
Xiao Tianzuo was extremely anxious, almost on the verge of tears, and filled with endless regret.
He understood that Zhou Xingdou made the decision because of his hatred. He regretted that he shouldn't have revealed what had happened in the past, but if he hadn't revealed it at the time, he would have violated the rules that Zhou Xingdou had set for him.
Sincerity must be genuine and cannot be deceived.
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