After Chu Feng, Zi Ling, Zhang Tianyi, and Jiang Wushang agreed to join the Four Seas Academy together in the future, they became even closer, sharing everything with one another and finding their conversations increasingly engaging.
Over the following days, Jiang Wushang visited Chu Feng and the others every single day, taking them on tours of the surroundings, exchanging insights on martial cultivation, and even bringing them to the Jiang Dynasty's Martial Arts Library so they could pick out whatever techniques and Mystic Arts they liked.
Unfortunately, Chu Feng, Zi Ling, and Zhang Tianyi already possessed powerful techniques and Mystic Arts of their own, so they merely browsed without actually selecting anything to cultivate. Still, no matter what, they kept this kindness locked away in their hearts.
After spending a full month in the Jiang Dynasty, the Demonic Monkey King and Gu Tianchen finally appeared, and Chu Feng at last learned what they had been discussing during their long absence.
At this moment, the Demonic Monkey King sat alone with Chu Feng in a room and told him everything they had been doing over those days.
"So the Jiang Dynasty wants to invite you, Brother Monkey, and Senior Gu Tianchen to help open the Imperial Burial in Qingzhou?" Chu Feng was somewhat surprised, though it was not entirely unexpected.
"So you already know about the Imperial Burial, kid. The secret technique you possess must be connected to it as well, right?" The Demonic Monkey King grinned at Chu Feng, seeming to have already figured out where his secret technique came from.
"To be honest, I did obtain my secret technique from the Imperial Burial. And as far as I know, the burial has a total of four entrances. One secret technique still hasn't surfaced." Chu Feng hid nothing and spoke candidly.
"That's right, one more secret technique is still hidden. It should be concealed somewhere in the Vermilion Bird Mountain Range," the Demonic Monkey King said.
"Brother Monkey, how do you know all of this?" Chu Feng was quite surprised. He hadn't expected the Demonic Monkey King to have gathered so much intelligence.
"Heh, kid, if even you know about this, think about it more carefully. The Jiang Dynasty—a power that has dominated the Nine Provinces Continent for thousands of years—wouldn't know about the Imperial Burial? You don't think they know more about its secrets than you do?" the Demonic Monkey King chuckled.
"But if the Jiang Dynasty has known about the Imperial Burial for so long, why haven't they made a move? Instead, they let me reap the benefits inside," Chu Feng asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Heh heh, the Jiang Dynasty has certainly visited the Imperial Burial before, but they came away empty-handed. This sort of thing depends on destiny. Even if they could crack the burial's mechanisms, they might not earn the recognition of the secret techniques."
"Besides, the Imperial Burial is no trivial matter. With the Jiang Dynasty's current strength, they can't fully open it. Even going all out, they'd only manage to scrape together a tiny bit—and at a cost, no less."
"That's why they've been hesitant and left the burial untouched. They've been waiting for someone in their ranks to reach the Martial Lord realm before attempting it again. But despite all these years, no one has been able to step into that realm."
"Now, even though they still aren't fully prepared, an opportunity has finally arrived—and you are that opportunity," the Demonic Monkey King said.
"Me?" Chu Feng's pupils contracted sharply, and his astonishment only deepened.
"That's right. You carry two secret techniques, which means you've entered at least two of the Imperial Burial's entrances. Given how weak your cultivation was at the time, being able to enter the burial twice and walk out unscathed—defies all logic."
"So you are the one destined for the Imperial Burial. With your help, perhaps we can obtain something valuable inside."
"In fact, the Emperor of the Jiang Dynasty rushed to the Spirit World Alliance that day partly to defuse the war, but also to protect you and bring you back to the Jiang Dynasty," the Demonic Monkey King explained.
"They did it to save me?" Chu Feng frowned slightly, realizing he had been in the Jiang Dynasty's sights for longer than he'd imagined. He couldn't tell whether this was a blessing or a curse.
"In any case, the Jiang Dynasty is preparing to mobilize its strongest forces to open the Imperial Burial, and the entrance they'll use is the one in the Vermilion Bird Mountain Range."
"Gu Tianchen and I will take part in this opening, and you, kid, are an indispensable part of the operation," the Demonic Monkey King said.
"If the Imperial Burial is so terrifying that even the Jiang Dynasty doesn't dare act rashly, what can I possibly do?" Chu Feng asked.
"You don't need to do anything—just follow us. The people of the Jiang Dynasty will do everything in their power to protect you."
"Besides, you've been inside the burial before, so you should know there are boundless rewards in there. Honestly, someone at your level doesn't really qualify to claim a share."
"But because you've got luck on your side—whatever the means—you earned the recognition of two secret techniques inside the burial, and that's what earned you this chance."
"In short, this is a good thing. Once the Jiang Dynasty has made all its preparations, just come with us. If things really go south, I'll grab you and bolt. With a Purple-Robed Spirit World Master like me watching your back, I guarantee you'll be fine."
The Demonic Monkey King spoke with characteristic nonchalance, but in its blood-red eyes, a flicker of anticipation burned. Clearly, the allure of the Imperial Burial was something no one could resist.
Hearing this, Chu Feng could only nod. Now was hardly the time to argue. Besides, he had always wanted to find fortune inside the Imperial Burial. With the Jiang Dynasty committing its full strength to open it, this was undoubtedly an opportunity—and Chu Feng was more than willing to go along.
"Oh right, Chu Feng—keep this." Without warning, the Demonic Monkey King tossed a Universe Bag to Chu Feng.
"What is this?!" Chu Feng probed it curiously, and the moment he did, his expression changed dramatically, shock flooding his face.
"Brother Monkey, this is way too valuable—I can't accept it…" Inside the Universe Bag were a full thirty thousand high-grade Spirit Medicines. Their value was equivalent to thirty million Mystic Pearls. The Demonic Monkey King had handed over every last bit of the wealth he'd demanded from the five major powers and given it all to Chu Feng.
"I can no longer break through using cultivation resources. If I do, my future potential will be capped, and I'll probably never reach the Martial Lord realm in my life. That would be unbearable. I received guidance from that esteemed senior, after all. If I can't reach the Martial Lord realm, I'd be letting that senior down completely."
"Besides, I originally claimed these resources on your behalf, so just take them. Your Azure Dragon Sect needs to be rebuilt, and these medicines will help you do that." The Demonic Monkey King shrugged it off with a laugh.
"Brother Monkey, I…" Looking at the Demonic Monkey King like this, Chu Feng was overwhelmed with emotion. He recalled how he had once distrusted the creature and even forced it to swallow a poison pill. Now, seeing everything the Demonic Monkey King had done for him, Chu Feng was consumed with guilt.