Chapter Seven: So Peace Is the Hardest to Attain

Wu Yue alternated between standing and sitting, unable to stay still—restlessness was his truest state at the moment. Before him lay the Minor Primordial Duality Array; its name sounded impressive, but in truth, it merely served to keep out insects, dust, and dampness. This was merely one of the seventeen great arrays aboard the Fortune.

Although Old Liu still wore a face as if Wu Yue owed him five million, his words lukewarm at best, his actions toward Wu Yue were sincere. Otherwise, a core formation like the Minor Primordial Duality Array would never be entrusted to an outsider. Any discerning eye could see that Old Liu was grooming his son-in-law. There were those on board who resented this “lucky” youth, others who sought to build ties in advance, and naturally, some who leapt out in anger—those who considered themselves veterans of the ship.

There were two ways to win such people over: one was to outshine them in their own field; the other was Wu Yue’s chosen path. Faced with a brawny, brutish fellow, Wu Yue didn’t hesitate to use his fists. For three days, he beat the man every time they met. Afterward, this supposed expert of the Fortune would greet Wu Yue with a forced, humble grin whenever they crossed paths. After all, he had opened his meridians; beating up a mortal was child’s play.

Yet now, Wu Yue’s face was clouded with gloom, his mood irritable. Ever since Old Liu had announced they would rest two days at Taoming Island, Wu Yue had been beset by a powerful sense of unease. There was only an hour left until they reached Taoming Island; Wu Yue could already hear the cheers of the crew. But his anxiety only intensified.

After a moment’s hesitation, Wu Yue took out the Thirty-Six Stratagems. He still held high hopes for this item, though it seemed he’d have to use it now instead of saving it to surprise the main villain later.

The book, Thirty-Six Stratagems, could pierce through plots and reveal information depending on the gap in cultivation level. (Single-use item.)

He opened to the first page—blank. Wu Yue focused his mind and inscribed the name “Chen Jishan.” The book began to stir, as if an invisible hand were turning the pages.

On the second page, four large characters appeared: “Break Magic with Might.”

Wu Yue frowned. He understood the phrase, but what did it have to do with him? Could it mean the threat wasn’t from Chen Jishan?

Just then, the book turned another page, displaying the words: “Ancient Teleportation Array.” Wu Yue’s pupils contracted. He knew a thing or two about ancient teleportation arrays; while there were still some in the Primordial World, every activation consumed resources of astronomical value, and they could only transmit one or two people at most, who had to be able to withstand the immense force of teleportation... A suspicion began to form in his mind.

The book tried to turn again, but seemed to meet resistance; the fourth page simply wouldn’t turn. Sensing this, Wu Yue had a flash of inspiration. He focused, willing the page to flip...

It worked. The Thirty-Six Stratagems laboriously turned another page. There were two and a half characters: “Great Plan.” The third character should have been “Gate,” but only half appeared. Wu Yue strained his mind; just as the third character was about to come clear, the Thirty-Six Stratagems exploded!

A splitting pain shot through Wu Yue’s head, as if thunder were crashing in his skull. His vision darkened and a mouthful of blood escaped uncontrollably.

At that moment, far away atop a bamboo loft, an old man with snow-white hair and beard sat cross-legged, murmuring, “What masterful stratagem—reading the signs from a single leaf... But you’ve run up against me, Guardian of the Spring. Is it fortune or misfortune?”

Back with Wu Yue, it was a long while before he recovered, his face ghastly pale. The exploded Thirty-Six Stratagems left no trace—not even a scrap of paper. Though he didn’t fully understand what had happened, Wu Yue was now certain his unease stemmed from Chen Jishan.

Most likely, Chen Jishan had used an ancient teleportation array to get ahead of him. As for how his movements had been discovered, it probably had to do with that so-called “Great Plan Gate.”

While Wu Yue was still racking his brains for a solution, a sudden knock sounded at the door. Old Liu’s voice followed: “We’re about to dock. Once ashore, spend some time with An’an. These days, since I had you guarding this place, my daughter’s given me the cold shoulder more than once. Fathers, eh...”

Storerooms for array placements like this were usually called “strategy holds” at sea, and there was an unspoken rule: only one person was allowed inside at a time. So Old Liu didn’t come in; he just cursed under his breath as he walked away.

Oh, right—An’an. Wu Yue took a deep breath, producing from his hand an object no longer than a finger. It resembled a sniper bullet, but its power...

Lightweight nuclear warhead, TH-A31.

A nuclear-class weapon from the late twenty-second century.

This was the reward for completing his first mission—making Chen Jishan feel pain, with greater pain yielding better rewards. What kind of agony must Chen Jishan have suffered to justify such a prize? Wu Yue could only guess. Yet it was obvious the ring had cut corners again. For a device supposedly intended to help its host become a god, shouldn’t it have rewarded him with a superior technique or a supreme bloodline instead of... well, this?

Still, Wu Yue had no time to ponder it further. If push came to shove, he’d just have to see if he could blow Chen Jishan to bits. At worst, they’d perish together. Lure Chen Jishan close, then—well, a nuke is a nuke... Turns out I’m not that afraid of death after all. At this thought, his anxiety lessened considerably.

It’s just death, after all. Wu Yue’s face twisted in a complicated expression—half smile, half grimace, perhaps even tinged with anger. All I ever wanted was a peaceful life.

At that moment, Wu Yue distinctly felt a jolt—the ship must have docked.

***

Aboard the ship.

The Fortune, about to make landfall, was alive with joy. Though everyone was long accustomed to the endless sea, the longing for solid ground only grew with time.

But their delighted faces soon turned to shock, for the scene before their eyes was beyond belief!

A colossal ship blocked their way, and a man stood at its prow. The Fortune, poised to dock, could not move an inch!

The man wore a wide white robe, appearing young. His face was cold and indifferent—it was Chen Jishan.

“Hand over Yue Ziqing!” Chen Jishan spoke lightly, yet his voice filled the entire Fortune.

“I am Chen Jifeng. May I ask when our Crystal Palace has offended you, Daoist friend?” said a man in a gilt apricot-yellow robe, bowing low.

“Crystal Palace, is it?” Chen Jishan cast a glance at Chen Jifeng.

That single look struck Chen Jifeng like a thunderbolt, sending him stumbling back several steps, blood streaming from all seven orifices!

“Yue Ziqing, you have ten breaths’ time. If not, the ship will be destroyed and all aboard, and any connected to you, will be executed,” Chen Jishan declared again. “Today, you will die without question.”

Chen Jishan stood alone at the prow, gazing down on all below, godlike in his majesty.

So it is that peace is the hardest thing to attain.