Chapter 118

Chapter 118 A Solo Journey of Ten Thousand Miles

Once Long Chen returned home, he stayed by his parents side the entire time . Now that he was about to leave, Long Chen treasured this remaining time all the more .

There was one time when Long Chen and Chu Yao went to visit the imperial palace to see Chu Feng who was just blankly lost in thought when they arrived .

What, now that youre about to become Emperor, have you been crushed by the pressure? teased Long Chen .

Chu Feng was delighted to see the two of them come visit him . Brother Long, sister, how did you have time to come?

We came to see if this future emperor was goofing off, and as expected, we werent disappointed, laughed Chu Yao .

Chu Feng reddened slightly and somewhat unnaturally said, The entire empire is in chaos now . That mess is now all my problem, and now I cant even sleep well anymore .

Long Chen saw that Chu Fengs eyes were a bit redder than usual and knew that the pressure was getting to him . The best skill of a leader is to know how to use your people . Otherwise if you do everything personally, youll be tired to death . Since the start of time, all smart rulers have a couple skilled aides, while incapable rulers had disloyal officials . Its up to you to see through the good and bad in others . You must be perceptive and have a heart that is not easily deceived . In order to control everything, there are times when you must be ruthless and merciless .

Long Chens last words were said extremely darkly and seriously . Chu Yao and Chu Feng were both shook .

To be a ruler requires you to be ruthless . Not only must you be ruthless to others, you must also be ruthless to yourself . Otherwise it will be extremely difficult to maintain your position, solemnly said Long Chen .

Long Chen, Phoenix Cry is already calm and at peace now . The Grand Xia that was watching Phoenix Cry like a tiger watches its prey has already become a complete mess of internal discord . Phoenix Cry wont have any more enemies in the future, so why do you have to scare Chu Feng? Chu Yao grumbled .

Sister, brother Long is correct . To be a generations true ruler is to be ruthless to oneself . This generation of enemies has been swept clean by brother Long and uncle . But once this empire is passed onto my descendants, they will also have to face powerful enemies of their own . If I am not ruthless enough and simply lazily rule, I wont be a good example to the next generation, and Phoenix Cry will begin to decline starting from me . By the time it reaches my grandchildren, the entire empire will probably collapse . Brother Long, I understand! said Chu Feng .

I feel like calling me brother Long isnt the best appellation . If you address me as as your sisters husband, I will be much happier, smiled Long Chen .

Long Chen, you scoundrel! Chu Yao was naturally someone sensitive and shy . She swatted Long Chen and ran off with a red face .

Once Chu Yao left, Long Chen turned to Chu Feng and said, Your sister and I are about to leave Phoenix Cry . I came here in order to say farewell to you .

Pain flickered in Chu Fengs eyes . I already know . My sister and I have relied on each other for our entire lives . We were forced to play the fool just in order to survive . But now that we are finally free, we have to part . I know my sister loves you very much . I also know you will treasure her as much as you treasure your own life . So Im reassured .

Yup, dont worry . I wont let down Chu Yao, solemnly swore Long Chen .

When Chu Yao and Long Chen were just leaving the palace, they ran into fatty Yu . He was wearing court robes that made him seem extremely stylish .

Brother Long, I found you! Weve prepared a feast to send you off!

How do you guys know about that?Long Chen was stunned .

Do you even need to ask? Theres not a single person in the capital who doesnt know about it! Quick, lets go! You cant go back home until youre completely drunk!

Long Chen and Chu Yao arrived at the Heroic Assembly House . Shi Feng, Shou Hou, and all the others were already there . Seeing Long Chen arrive, they all stood up to greet him .

Long Chen, are you really leaving? Shi Feng was reluctant to part with him .

Long Chen nodded . I want to go see that wider and vaster sky . Shi Feng, how about you come take a look too?

Shi Fengs eyes brightened but that light faded quickly and he shook his head . Ah, forget about it . With just my little capabilities, its not even close to enough .

How are you so modest today? laughed Long Chen .

Haha, brother Long, Shi Feng isnt being modest . Hes just unwilling to leave the capital . Hes unwilling to part with a beauty, explained Shou Hou .

A beauty?

Long Chen, dont listen to their nonsense . Shi Feng actually turned red .

Brother Long, Shi Feng is your brother in the sense of friendship, but now youll have another relation too! mysteriously laughed another person .

What relation? Long Chen became increasingly curious .

Hehe, in the future, you two will be brother-in-laws! mischeiviously laughed fatty Yu .

Long Chen and Chu Yao were bother startled . They hadnt heard anything about this before .

Hehe, the crown prince has already played matchmaker for the second princess and Shi Feng . In just a short while, Shi Feng will be able to bring a beauty back home .

Long Chen and Chu Yao exchanged a glance . He could see the trace of astonishment and helplessness in the others eyes .

The first and second princesses werent on good terms with Chu Feng . But in order to pull in the talented Shi Feng in, Chu Feng had used the second princess as a bargaining chip .

This was something that a ruler had to be able to do and was completely normal, but Chu Yao still felt a bit uncomfortable inside .

Long Chen tightly held her hand beneath the table . Chu Feng understands how to protect himself . Isnt this a good thing? We can leave reassured .

Chu Yao nodded . Long Chen was right . If Chu Feng didnt understand such tactics, she would be even more worried .

Chu Yao suddenly smiled and looked at Long Chen . Long Chen, once Im in the Skywood Palace, you have to promise to visit me often . You cant let anyone else run off with me .

Long Chen indignantly said, Who dares run off with my wife? Ill knock some sense into their heads . Let me see just who isnt afraid!

Although she knew he was purposely putting on an act for her, Chu Yao still laughed, her eyes filled with warmth .

Knowing that Long Chen was soon leaving, everyone drank as much alcohol as they could hold . Long Chens capacity for alcohol was high, and in order to stay on the same level as everyone else, he drank directly from the jugs while they drank from cups .

That jug was huge, and everyone laughed heartily, occasionally also crying . Other than Shi Feng, everyone here had had a dreary past .

Now that Chu Feng was about to ascend the throne, these people who were friends with Long Chen were all favored and given illustrious statuses .

That was all bestowed upon them due to their relationship with Long Chen . They all know that once Long Chen left this time, they might never see him again in their whole lives . Once they were drunk, they were even less capable of controlling their emotions . Tears and laughters intermingled .

Long Chen was also like that . Thinking back to his many years of bitterness and the still unknown future before him, all he could do was drink as much as possible .

He knew that in the future he would step onto a path that he couldnt return from . That path would be filled with blood . Perhaps he would never again have a chance to drink like this and forget his worries .

Only once everyone had collapsed, completely drunk, did Long Chen carefully bring Chu Yao back home, doddering and stumbling the entire way .

Over the next few days, Long Chen never left his home, staying forever by his father and mothers side . But on the seventh day, news came from Tu Fangs side that they were prepared to leave .

They had finally figured out how to distribute the spirit stone mines resources as well as set up a couple people to oversee the whole matter .

In order to avoid affecting Phoenix Crys ordinary operations, they would extract the ore as fast as possible . It was estimated they would be able to finish mining within half a year . But as for how exactly the ore would be distributed, no outsiders knew .

But they were sure of one thing: the Blood Gathering Sect that had been trying to secretly monopolize the spirit stone mine, thus violating their agreement and causing the others sects to become infuriated with them, would be unable to obtain anything from the spirit stone mine .

On the outskirts of the capital were enormous Magical Beasts lined up side by side . Their auras were terrifying, and each of their roars shook the sky .

Long Chen, Chu Yao, Aman, and Little Snow were standing at the city gates . Long Tianxiao and Mrs . Long were standing atop the city walls . Mrs . Long was tearfully waving goodbye to Long Chen .

Chu Feng was wearing imperial robes . A golden crown rested upon his head . That crown should have only been worn after the official coronation, but Chu Feng had said that he wanted his sister to see what he would look like as Emperor .

Lets go . Hua Yu pulled away Chu Yao, bringing her atop a huge, bright sparrow . That bright sparrow spread its huge wings and flew high into the sky .

Chu Yaos tears streamed down . She continued waving her hand to Chu Feng until her figure completely disappeared into the horizon .

The others all stepped atop their own mounts, leaving one by one . In the end, only Tu Fangs Iron Winged Arrogant Eagle remained .

Tu Fang looked at Little Snow behind Long Chen and nodded . It really is unexpected you have a Scarlet Flame Snow Wolf as a companion . Then I dont have to be worried about you .

Hearing him say that, Long Chen immediately sensed something was off and said, Little Snow still hasnt matured and isnt that heavy . Your mount can definitely carry all of us .

Tu Fang shook his head . First of all, although my mount is a third rank Magical Beast and can hold all of us, a Magical Beast will not let other Magical Beasts climb on top their backs . That violates their natural instinct .

I am not a Beast Master and cannot completely enslave a Magical Beast . Thus I cannot let your Magical Beast come up .

Secondly, according to my Xuantian Monasterys customs, any disciples who wish to take the test to join must cross the wilderness on their own and reach the Xuantian Monastery within a set amount of time . This is also a part of the test .

Tu Fang saw that Long Chens expression was rather unsightly now and he hastily said, You dont have to be worried . Theres still more than a months time until the formal assessment . Thats more than enough time for you . Here is a map detailing how to get to the Xuantian Monastery .

So then the three of us will have to travel to the Xuantian Monastery on our own? Long Chen couldnt help feeling indignant . Then why did they have to wait for them to leave?

Not three, but two . Aman will go to the Xuantian Monastery with me . As for why, you already know .

Long Chen cursed inside . This was a bit too unfair wasnt it?! But he could only endure it .

Only when the Magical Beast had taken off and was high in the air did Aman suddenly ask, Wait, why isnt brother Long with us too?!

Tu Fang who was standing at the front of the Magical Beasts back stumbled and almost fell . He looked back at Aman with a disbelieving expression, not able to say anything for a long time .

Seeing that Tu Fang had already flown away on the Magical Beast, Long Chen rubbed Little Snows head and bitterly laughed, Looks like the two of us are just going to have to work for it .

Ao!!!

Huh? You dont want to lose to them? Thens let compete! Long Chen laughed and jumped aop Little Snows back . Little Snow roared and turned into a ray of snow white light that charged towards the distance .

Long Chen turned to look back at those figures on the city gate that were becoming increasingly small . When they finally faded away, he promised with a voice choked with emotion, Dad, mom, take care of yourselves . I will definitely return to see you again .

At the same time, his heart was filled with a yearning for the future . Oh outer world, Im finally coming . From now on, this world will now shake because of me, Long Chen!

.

Seeing Long Chens figure fade away, Mrs . Long fell into Long Tianxiaos embrace and burst into tears .

Its ok, our child has grown up . Its time for him to spread his wings and soar into the sky . Long Tianxiao comforted his wife .

He knew that Long Chens path would be filled with thorns and calamities . But as long as he didnt fall, he would definitely stand at the peak of the world one day .