Chen Jinzhao committed everything Ding Ling had said to memory.
If the opportunity arose in the future, he would definitely attempt to break through these realms and suppress these so-called Five Great Clans and Eight Noble Families!
Only by standing higher could one witness more magnificent vistas.
“Why did you tell me all this?” Chen Jinzhao asked again. Ding Ling chuckled, “Didn’t I answer that once before? I was simply looking for someone to talk to, and you were the one who could patiently listen to me pour my heart out.”
“We’re almost there.”
With Ding Ling’s reminder, Chen Jinzhao realized he had returned to the Xuan Tian Guan’s celestial prison.
His mood turned somber once more.
His father was already missing, and there was a high probability that he had died in some forgotten corner.
Wu Enchu’s dragon throne had been placed on the ground.
The old man, who once held immense power, was sleeping soundly, leaning against the throne. It was evident that as Wu Enchu aged, he spent most of his days asleep, this being the only way to prolong his life as much as possible.
Ding Ling stepped forward, placed his hand on Wu Enchu’s shoulder, and gently shook him. “Master, we have returned.”
Wu Enchu startled awake.
His dazed eyes quickly turned cold and distant. He said faintly, “When you get old, even sleep isn’t peaceful. Did you find Chen Yangfu?”
“No,” Ding Ling replied.
“The end of the cave leads to an underground river. If I recall correctly, this river should connect to the Arctic Ocean, so Chen Yangfu is likely in grave danger.”
Wu Enchu’s head began to ache at the news.
A living person had vanished without a trace!
He still had to face Chen Jinzhao’s interrogation, a prospect that almost made his sparse hair fall out.
“Chen Jinzhao, you know the situation now. Chen Yangfu was not killed by us; he escaped and disappeared on his own. This has no direct connection to Xuan Tian Guan. I advise you not to act rashly here.” Wu Enchu employed a combination of persuasion and threat, hoping Chen Jinzhao would quickly move past this matter and not disrupt his plans.
Chen Jinzhao replied expressionlessly, “Ridiculous. If you hadn’t imprisoned my father in the celestial prison, how could he have tunneled out? Ultimately, it’s Xuan Tian Guan’s fault! What, do you really think I wouldn’t dare to act against Xuan Tian Guan?”
Wu Enchu was inwardly furious.
Chen Jinzhao was merely an upstart, yet he dared to speak to him in such a manner!
Disrespectful!
Wu Enchu took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. “The deed is done. How do you wish to proceed? I’ll tell you this upfront: if you intend to act against Xuan Tian Guan, your secular dynasty might very well collapse as a result!”
“Is that so?” Chen Jinzhao appeared unconcerned.
Wu Enchu’s eyelids twitched violently.
The more he understood Chen Jinzhao, the more he realized Chen Jinzhao was adept at breaking rules and acted without any regard for logic.
Thinking this,
Wu Enchu softened his tone as much as possible. “Yes, this matter is inseparable from Xuan Tian Guan. Tell us directly what compensation you seek from us. As long as Xuan Tian Guan can provide it, we will not hesitate.”
Having said this, Wu Enchu began to breathe heavily.
Clearly, for an elderly man of his advanced age, a string of words had depleted his energy.
Chen Jinzhao knew that destroying Xuan Tian Guan was an unreasonable demand, so he stated directly, “I want all the data from your Divine Kingdom Pharmaceuticals, not a single piece missed!”
This was the result of Chen Jinzhao’s careful consideration.
Because Yu Mengzhi’s Gou Chen Pharmaceuticals had achieved breakthroughs, obtaining the data from Divine Kingdom Pharmaceuticals might lead to further advancements in this high-tech field, thereby elevating China’s strength.
In the future, dealing with the Five Great Clans and Eight Noble Families would be easier and more effortless.
“Impossible!” Wu Enchu flatly refused.
The data from the Divine Kingdom Research Institute was extremely precious. If it fell into Chen Jinzhao’s hands, unforeseen problems might arise.
“Choose another condition. This one is absolutely out of the question.”
Chen Jinzhao said no more. He turned and walked away in front of Wu Enchu. “Since you disagree, there’s nothing more to say. We’ll just have to go our separate ways. Do you really think I, Chen Jinzhao, am a pushover?”
Wu Enchu was confident that Chen Jinzhao needed him, so he did not rush to speak.
In his view,
Chen Jinzhao would definitely turn back and propose a less outrageous condition.
This was a psychological battle!
However,
What Wu Enchu did not expect was that Chen Jinzhao actually left, his footsteps not even faltering.
Wu Enchu was so enraged that his beard bristled.
His plan was only one step away from completion. It was not worth having a conflict with China at this juncture, so Wu Enchu ultimately had to compromise with Chen Jinzhao. “Stop! I think we can talk. You can have the data, but I have a small request: apart from Gou Chen Pharmaceuticals, no third party should know about this data!”
Chen Jinzhao turned back. “It’s a deal.”
“Chen Jinzhao, you’ve pushed me too hard!” Wu Enchu gritted out.
Little did he know, Chen Jinzhao had already learned Wu Enchu’s bottom line from Ding Ling. How could an old man desperate for immortality bear to see his plans foiled?
“However, you must give me three days. The data from our Divine Kingdom Research Institute needs to be backed up before it can be handed over to you,” Wu Enchu added.
Chen Jinzhao said calmly, “In three days, I will send someone to receive it. I hope you won’t play any tricks by then, or I guarantee that in three days, missiles will turn this area for a hundred miles into scorched earth!”
With those harsh words, Chen Jinzhao turned and left.
Wu Enchu stared at Chen Jinzhao’s retreating back, clenching his fists tightly.
Chen Jinzhao’s youth and pride made him feel envious!
“Just you wait. In a little while, I will possess a youthful body and even greater power!” Wu Enchu vowed inwardly. At that time, his ambitions would not be limited to Xuan Tian Guan, but to all of China!
At that moment!
He would definitely make Chen Jinzhao kneel at his feet and become his most loyal subordinate!
Chen Jinzhao left Xuan Tian Guan.
He searched the vast snowy plains for three days and three nights without finding any trace of Chen Yangfu. Thus, he could only send people to search in Russia and the Arctic Ocean while simultaneously arranging for the data from the Divine Kingdom Laboratory to be received from Xuan Tian Guan.
Seven days later.
Chen Jinzhao returned to the capital of China, disheartened.
Upon seeing his mother again, Chen Jinzhao noticed that Li Qiurong’s hair had already turned half white. He immediately knelt before Li Qiurong, his eyes reddened, and said, “Mom, we lost Dad! I searched for seven days and seven nights, but I couldn’t find any trace of him!”
Li Qiurong’s emotions did not fluctuate much.
She held a thermos cup in her hand, gazed towards the distant far north, and murmured, “He must still be alive somewhere, just temporarily forgotten the way home. One day, when he looks back, he will surely realize I am still here waiting for him!”
“For the first thirty years, he was the lighthouse on my life’s journey.”
“For the rest of my life, let me be his lighthouse, illuminating his way home!”