Chapter 265: Paying Tribute with One's Life (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)

Central State Imperial City.
Deep within Emperor Wan's secluded abode, the elegant courtyard door belonging to Gu Junlin was gently pushed open.
An old man with a withered appearance, roughly in his seventies, stepped into the courtyard with complex emotions.
First of all, we see the Tenth Prince Gu Junlin leisurely sitting on a wooden chair, flipping through an old book.
Gu Junlin is dressed casually, with black hair scattered, and his expression and temperament have not been affected by his banishment. He is still as carefree as ever.
“Master Song, are you back? Please have a seat...”
Gu Junlin put down the book in his hand and smiled, as if it was an ordinary visit between friends.
Song Gong's face showed a hint of complexity, let out a sigh, and was about to speak. Suddenly, his eyebrows twitched, as if sensing something, and he looked towards the side.
At this moment, a finely carved artificial mountain is placed in a large water tank. A plain-looking little turtle leisurely swims around in the water tank. Occasionally, it even sticks its head out and climbs onto the artificial mountain, as if taking a stroll and enjoying itself.
Song Gong sniffed a scent of seawater and fixed his gaze, only to find a large water tank that should not be present in Gu Jun's parting courtyard, filled with seawater.
There were various seaweeds, small fish, shrimps, and more, living freely in the water tank. If a small turtle were added, it would instantly create a sense of absurdity.
“十太子什么时侯有此兴致？开始豢养乌龟？？”
嵩公脑子里满是疑惑，但当此之际，并不是琢磨这些琐事的时侯。
He took a step forward, bowing deeply and said in a deep voice:
"Your Highness, this humble servant is honored to have witnessed Chen Fusheng's creation of Ling Shan and served as a guardian outside for fifty days. I have returned to report this!"
Gu Junlin nodded with a smile, motioning for Gong to sit down and said:
"Gong, you have worked hard!"
Gong looked around, his expression filled with resentment and worry, and said in a deep voice:
"This servant is not tired, but has caused great suffering to the Tenth Prince! If this servant had not left the Tenth Prince and went to Dong Tang... Then the Tenth Prince would not have met with a disaster in Zhongzhou..."
“老奴有罪！未能守护太子身边，辜负了大祭司的期望！”
顾君临却是笑着摆手：
“你我之间，何须谈什么罪不罪。即使当时你在我身边，我仍是要做那件事。此乃我行事之道，亦是必然之举。”
After Song Gong apologized again, Gu Junlin changed the topic and asked,
"Is everything going well at Fusheng Ling Mountain?"
Song Gong stared at Gu Junlin with deep resentment and replied,
"Tenth Prince, this humble servant feels that you care too much about this person! Although Chen Fusheng is indeed a talented individual and one of the most outstanding geniuses in the world... but if it were not for the Tenth Prince's 'private gift' of the Emperor's blood, he would certainly have difficulty creating his own Ling Mountain..."
"Although self-created Ling Shan has a resounding reputation and indeed remarkable achievements that are rarely seen in hundreds of years, it is still only a great consummate deity and has not reached the level of a small vehicle venerable, let alone be capable of claiming to ascend to become a terrestrial immortal!"
"Even a lowly servant like me knows that Prince Shi has high hopes for Chen Fusheng. But this person is not of royal blood and not loyal to the prince. He can only be considered a trusted friend..."
Speaking of this, Song Gong not only complained, but also looked very excited:
"The Tenth Prince fell out of favor because of this boy. He defied the temple and ended up being demoted! Not only was he abandoned by the Emperor, but also his position as the Crown Prince was taken away..."
Gu Junlin smiled and reached out his hand, interrupting Song Gong's excited words:
"This matter cannot be mentioned again. All the reasons were my own choice and have nothing to do with Chen Fusheng."
"How can it have nothing to do with him?" Song Gong, still filled with anger, blurted out: "If it weren't for that kid taking the blood of the Emperor, angering the temple..."
Gu Junlin's eyes slightly darkened, and Song Gong couldn't say a word.
Suddenly.
The little turtle next to him raised its head, glanced at Song Gong, and said:
"You're not allowed to mention Chen Fusheng again, I think he's a good person. If it weren't for Yin Entropy..."
Before the words came out, Gu Junlin looked at the little turtle and shook his head: "Brother Turtle, talking too much will lead to mistakes."
The little turtle immediately retracted its head and remained silent, diving into the water tank to play with the fish and shrimp.
In this small courtyard, it immediately appeared somewhat quiet.
Song Gong was already dumbfounded, staring in disbelief at the water tank.
It is not so unusual for a turtle to speak.
But for a turtle to speak, within the imperial city of Zhongzhou, mentioning the name of the present emperor, and speaking in a familiar tone, discussing matters as equals... that is truly extraordinary! It is beyond comprehension!
In addition, there was another surprising thing - Master Song had already ascended to the realm of terrestrial immortals. Since entering the secluded courtyard, he had not paid any attention to an ordinary little turtle.
But when this little turtle suddenly spoke, Master Song finally noticed its presence.
A talking turtle is naturally extraordinary. However, Master Song never realized the extraordinary nature of this turtle and regarded it as ordinary.
An entirely unknown "turtle," an extraordinary entity that can conceal the alertness of earthly immortals, completely astounded Master Song.
顾君临瞧了瞧嵩公的脸色，笑了笑，继续说道：
"Let's not talk about other subjects. I'm still wondering, is Fusheng Ling Shan safe? Has anything changed?"
Song Gong regained his composure and calmed his turbulent emotions, saying:
"All is well. Chen Fusheng, since he created the Ling Mountain half a month ago, has already completed his first sermon. In the opinion of this humble servant, it is quite similar to the ancient symbol magic inheritance 'Nine Cauldrons Symbol'..."
"Then, for some unknown reason, Chen Fusheng left Ling Mountain that he had created and his whereabouts were unknown. During this period, the old slave guarded outside the Ling Mountain and turned away anyone who had malicious intentions. There were also some onlookers who tried to spy on Ling Mountain, and the old slave observed quietly."
"Three days ago, the humble servant saw Chen Fusheng return to Ling Mountain. After calculating the time, it was possible to return to report to Prince Ten. Therefore, I returned to Zhongzhou..."
The smile on Gu Junlin's face deepened, and he continued to ask:
Is everything safe and sound?
Song Gong nodded: "There's been no disturbance."
Gu Junlin added: "Confirmed the success of preaching?"
"Confirmed. This kid indeed has exceptional talent. In less than half a month, he achieved the first preaching." Song Gong nodded again, though there was resentment, he still openly expressed admiration.
Sure!" "
Gu Junlin stood up and lightly clapped his hands, saying, "Good! Good!"
He repeated the word "good" three times, his usual composed demeanor replaced by an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement, evident in his expression.
Song Gong also felt that Gu Junlin's reaction was too exaggerated and frowned, saying,
"Just preaching... Prince Shi has done his best to help him. What's the point of just a successful preaching? What's so good about it..."
Gu Junlin laughed and turned his head to say seriously:
"Son Gong, you're wrong!"
"Firstly, for hundreds of years, no one has been able to create their own spiritual mountain. But Chen Fusheng did it! It's not because of any credit to me, but because he broke through a mysterious 'restraint' and achieved the creation of his own spiritual mountain with his own hands!"
“再然后，他在短短半月里，便完成第一个布道！这又与我无关，完全是他一人之力！”
说到这里，顾君临仿佛有许多感慨：
"Master Song, if I give you the blood of the Human Emperor, can you create your own Spirit Mountain? Can you achieve the feat of preaching and instantly ascending to the level of a Small Vehicle Grandmaster in just over ten days?"
Master Song remained silent and could only smile bitterly, shaking his head.
Previously, my mind was obscured by resentment, but now I realize that Songgong also had mixed feelings in his heart, and his resentment towards Chen Fusheng slowly dissipated.
However, as Songgong looked at Gu Junlin's uncontrollable excitement, he couldn't help but wonder:
"Chen Fusheng's achievements are indeed rare... but he is just a perfect divine general after all. No matter how high his talent is and how good his luck is, what can he achieve? Immortals, holy kings, and holy lords in the human realm are all desperately seeking the immortal realm. On the long road ahead, Chen Fusheng can only be considered to have advanced half a step in a journey of ten thousand miles!"
Gu Junlin shook his head, his eyes shining with excitement, and slowly said:
"If there are more Chen Fusheng in the mortal world, if there are more heroes taking such bold steps, then it will be my ultimate satisfaction even in death!"
"So, the good news you brought today is enough to make me make up my mind! To do one thing I will not regret and have no remorse about!!"
Song Gong was stunned when he heard this, not understanding what was going on. When he heard the phrase "die without regrets," he suddenly felt that Gu Junlin was acting strangely.
"Song Gong, I want to see the High Priest!" Gu Junlin turned his head and said firmly.
Song Gong's face changed, shaking his head immediately and saying:
"Impossible!"
"Tenth Prince, you are already guilty and have been confined. In a few days, it will be the Winter Great Sacrificial Ceremony of fifty years! Fortunately, you are the chief priest, with room for maneuver. Let's go to Shanhaiguan and fight for a glimmer of hope. We must regain the position of the Crown Prince!"
Song Gong's face was decisive, and he said in a deep voice:
"At this critical moment, you must not meet the High Priest privately!"
"If Zhao Yinzhen and those people find out, if those old ministers who condemn you find out, it will give them a handle! Adding more charges! I'm afraid you would lose your position as the main priest and won't even be able to go to Shanhaiguan!!"
Gu Junlin just smiled slightly and relaxed his tone:
"No problem, I will make the decision. I must see the High Priest, as any delay will hinder my great plans."
Although he spoke lightly, the meaning in his words was that refusal was not an option.
Song Gong has been watching Gu Junlin grow up since he was a child, serving as his trusted advisor and close confidant. He was personally chosen by the high priest and remains unwaveringly loyal to his master.
Although he disagrees with Gu Junlin's decision, Song Gong cannot defy him and can only sigh inwardly before slowly reaching out to tap his own heart.
In an instant, a drop of blood emerged.
Song Gong held the drop of blood, closed his eyes for a moment, and then exhaled a mist of blood, enveloping the drop of blood within.
He silently operated the secret technique and flicked his finger.
Heart and blood surge upwards, gradually spreading like blood mist.
It expands to a range about half of the body height, and Master Song suddenly opens his eyes and points out, lowly humming:
"The bridge of ministers' hearts, beneath your feet for thousands of miles."
Boom~~
In the mysterious light and shadow, the floating heart's blood diffuses, as if a visible "flying bridge" is built, and no one knows where it leads to, it is illusory and unpredictable, both real and fake.
Gu Junlin's face was calm, standing next to Master Song, with a slightly solemn look, staring at the illusion of the bridge of the heart's blood.
In the blink of an eye.
A hazy figure appeared gradually in the illusory distance of the heart.
This hazy figure, dressed in a white feather cloak, stood in a carefree posture, displaying a unique temperament.
It was indeed the great high priest who had appeared on the deserted Isle of the Great Wilderness.
"Greetings, great high priest!"
Son Gong and Gu Junlin both bowed in respect at the same time.
"Gu Junlin, given your current situation, the fact that you still want to see me must mean that you have something important to discuss. Speak up, but I am curious to see what your thoughts are..."
The high priest sat cross-legged, his voice drifting melodiously.
Upon hearing this, Gu Junlin laughed.
"The high priest understands my intentions!"
"High priest, I have made up my mind to go to Shanhaiguan and sacrifice myself to the pass!"
After hearing the words "sacrificing oneself to close the gate," Song Gong's face turned pale as ashes, staring at Gu Junlin in disbelief, and blurted out:
"You're out of your mind!!"
Even the ethereal High Priest, who was sitting in a meditative state, seemed to be moved and his melodious tone became solemn, saying on the spot:
"Have you thought it through? If you sacrifice yourself for the gate, you will definitely die!"
"Moreover, as a prince and the former crown prince, if your soul remains after death and is captured by the underworld, you might end up falling into the abyss of the 18 layers of hell, enduring torment and suffering for hundreds or thousands of years... You should be aware of the pain involved."
Song Gong's face twisted and trembled, staring at Gu Junlin.
However, Gu Junlin remained calm and smiled:
"If I sacrifice myself to close the portal and ensure everything goes smoothly, creating more small vehicle cultivators and producing more outstanding geniuses who can ascend to become immortals, then I will have no regrets even in death."
Song Gong's disciples were shaken by the performance and immediately turned their gaze towards the silent high priest at the Heart and Blood Bridge. They immediately prostrated themselves and said:
"O High Priest! The Tenth Prince has been demoted and may have suffered mental damage. We implore you to spare his life and not send him to his death so easily!"
The high priest with a hazy figure smiled upon hearing the words. And Gu Junlin, standing beside Gong Sun, also chuckled and quickly helped him up.
"I'm perfectly fine, not going crazy." Gu Junlin reassured Gong Sun, and then said seriously:
"Moreover, I have already discussed and deliberated on this matter with the high priest, and it was not a hasty decision."
"The decision was made long ago..." Sōng Gōng stared at Gù Jūnlín, realizing that the tenth prince had actually planned to sacrifice himself to close the gate a long time ago.
"Tai Zi... You..." Song Gong tightly grabbed Gu Junlin's arm, unable to speak anymore. The old minister, a powerful immortal in the earthly realm, unexpectedly shed tears uncontrollably, unable to control himself.
The so-called "sacrifice of oneself to save others" is something that Song Gong knows some insider information about.
Since the era of the "Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns," the human sovereigns have reigned over the mortal realm for over a hundred thousand years. The mortal realm still thrives, with countless generations inheriting and prospering.
But in this long and remote era, how could there be no waves?
In fact, since the establishment of the human realm, it has always been in a state of constant concern. Not only do we have to face the retaliation of the underworld warlocks, but we also have to be wary of the covetousness of the Heavenly Realm's spiritual treasures, and most importantly, we have to guard against the catastrophic calamities from beyond the domain.
Three thousand mountains are the gateway to the world, and the imperial palace of Zhongzhou, the Weiyang Palace, is the foundation of stability in the mortal realm for thousands of years. Over the years, countless heroes have died outside the unknown Ling Mountain Pass.
The so-called peaceful years are just someone else carrying a heavy load forward!
Throughout the eternity of time, the human realm has faced major crises time and time again. Even the three major mountain passes "Tai'a Pass," "Juque Pass," and "Shanhai Pass" have all been on the verge of being breached!
But in this world, there is always a group of people who do not question their life and death, one after another, blocking all dangers in front of the gate, guarding the last step that cannot be retreated from the human realm.
There may be the demise of hero souls, so there must be more heroes and heroes rising.
It is not easy for human cultivation. Most practitioners have reached the end of their cultivation when they promote to the perfect divine generals, and it is difficult for them to make further progress.
Every hundred years, in order to compensate for the difficulties and shortcomings in their cultivation, the Central Plains Royal Family selects a suitable prince to go to the Three Great Passes and perform the "sacrifice oneself to open the passes".
The so-called sacrifice oneself to open the passes means using the bloodline and imperial qi of the Royal Family as sacrificial offerings to open the Three Great Passes, and attract the Qi of fortune from the mortal world, creating a group of outstanding heroes and paving the way for breakthroughs in cultivation!
......