Chapter 703: Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade, A Jade Pendant, Reminiscing The Past
Chu Kuangren left the barracks after his enrolment.
As for Emperor Jin Xuan, he had decided to enroll as a royal soldier. This was despite the fact that his Emperor status would have easily made him a deputy commander in any orthodoxies within the stronghold.
However, Emperor Jin Xuan insisted on becoming a royal soldier and starting from the bottom. Chu Kuangren did not pose further questions about his decision nor exchange many parting words with Emperor Jin Xuan.
After leaving the barracks, Chu Kuangren roamed around the main streets of the stronghold.
He retrieved a jade pendant and muttered, “Right, I’ve nearly forgotten about this pendant by the Seventh Tormentor. Perhaps this might lead to something worthwhile.”
The pendant was the Seventh Tormentor’s gift to Chu Kuangren.
The Seventh Tormentor had close ties with the commodore of Stronghold Seventeen. He had told Chu Kuangren he could seek the commodore’s help with this pendant in times of need.
Even though Chu Kuangren did not require help, he decided to pay the commodore a friendly visit.
He came to the command headquarters, which was located right at the center of Stronghold Seventeen and near to the barracks. Fleets of soldiers were stationed around the perimeter, and they were some of the best cultivators around.
The soldiers immediately a.s.sessed Chu Kuangren for threat as he approached the headquarters.
Chu Kuangren did not attempt to hide his intention. “My name’s Chu Kuangren. I’ve come to pay the commodore a visit. Would you please notify him?”
“Do you have an official invitation?”
“Not really, but I do have this jade pendant here. The commodore will understand once he sees it,” said Chu Kuangren as he revealed his pendant to the guard.
While the guard was hesitant, he still ended up taking the pendant. “Wait here for a moment.”
“Understood.”
The guard then walked into the headquarters with his pendant.
Before the guard could enter the main hall, he was halted by two other royal soldiers. One of them spoke, “The commodore is currently discussing his affairs with his commanders. No one’s allowed to enter for the moment.”
With that, the guard stood aside.
In the main hall of the command headquarters.
A middle-aged man in black robes was deliberating on several strategies in the war against the Blood Tribe with his commander. He was the commodore of Stronghold Seventeen, known to most as… Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade.
“The Chaos Emblem on Asteroid Seven of the Extraterritorial Region is almost fully formed. It seems like the Blood Tribe will strike at any moment.”
“Okay. Send forth some men to scout the area by then.”
“Recently, a small army of Blood Tribe soldiers attempted to infiltrate the stronghold but were intercepted by us in time. Their movements have grown stealthier these days.”
“Indeed. We must strengthen our defensive systems…”
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade spent more than an hour combing through their strategies before the commanders began to leave in succession. It was then when the guard finally entered.
“Commodore, a person who calls himself Chu Kuangren is here to see you. He said you’d understand when you see this pendant.”
The guard showed the pendant to Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade.
The commodore was immediately shocked by the sight of the pendant. “How long has he been waiting for?”
“More than an hour.”
“What? D*mn it. Why didn’t you come in earlier?”
“Commodore, you were discussing some crucial matters with the commanders. I wouldn’t dare to barge into the room like that,” the guard said helplessly.
Upon hearing that, Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade could not stay angry at him. Then, he nervously walked towards the headquarters entrance.
The commanders who had yet to leave were shocked by the commodore’s reaction.
“What kind of person could possibly make the commodore scurry on his feet?”
“Did the guard say… Chu Kuangren? The infamous Chu Kuangren who turned the Firmament Star upside down?”
“Hm. Even if it was Chu Kuangren, the commodore would not react so dramatically. Could there be any other reasons?”
“Is it because of that jade pendant?”
The commanders grew curious and deliberately slowed their footsteps just so they could witness the infamous Chu Kuangren.
Outside the headquarters, Chu Kuangren had been waiting for more than an hour.
He was frowning, his patience already running thin.
“Is the commodore refusing to meet me? That’s fine, but he should at least return the pendant to me,” Chu Kuangren murmured.
It was then when Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade hastily emerged from the headquarters and apologized. “Brother Chu, my apologies. I was discussing some affairs with my commanders. I’m sorry to have made you wait.”
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade said sincerely.
Chu Kuangren felt it would be rude to react, so he calmed himself and nodded. “No worries, commodore. If your schedule is tight, I can return some other day.”
“Hold on, Brother Chu. Nothing takes precedence over you now. Please, come in,” said Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade.
The royal soldiers nearby were dumbfounded.
Just like his name, Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade was rarely a.s.sociated with friendliness. In fact, as the commodore of this stronghold, Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade was stern in his governance and rarely wore a smile on his face. How could the unapproachable commodore be so friendly to a youngster?
The more the guards thought about it, the more clueless they were.
Was their commodore possessed?
“Well, in that case, I’m happy to oblige.”
Chu Kuangren hesitated for a moment before following the commodore’s lead into the headquarters.
He also b.u.mped into several commanders on his way into the headquarters, including the bearded and brute-looking commander he met previously.
“Brother Chu, we meet again.”
The brute laughed heartily and said.
“Indeed.”
Chu Kuangren nodded politely. Then, Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade introduced Chu Kuangren to the commanders of Stronghold Seventeen.
Chu Kuangren took a sweeping glance while the Omniscient Spirit began to a.n.a.lyze the commanders.
D*mn it.
All of them were cultivators of the Heavenly Imperial Realm.
“Brother Chu, where did you get this jade pendant from?”
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade took out the jade pendant and asked cautiously.
“It was a gift from the Seventh Tormentor.”
“Ah, my savior. Do you know where he is?”
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade lamented and asked.
“He’s guarding the G.o.ds Seal in Firmament Star.”
“I have long heard that the G.o.ds are beginning to make a mess. If it weren’t for the constant attacks by the Blood Tribe, I would’ve returned to Firmament Star to fight that battle with him.” Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade snorted.
Then, his expression s.h.i.+fted dramatically. “If I recall correctly, the Seventh Tormentor was heavily injured during the Great Panhuman Revolt. Although countless years have pa.s.sed, what a terrifying injury it was. Is he okay?”
“Judging from the current situation in Firmament Star, he should be able to manage it.”
Chu Kuangren was aware of the Seventh Tormentor’s injury.
It was an injury caused by one of the G.o.ds and incurable even by his superior healing techniques. However, with his remarkable abilities, the Seventh Tormentor would be able to suppress his injuries and heal.
Albeit the entire process would take a long time.
Then, Chu Kuangren had a brief exchange with Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade. From their conversations, Chu Kuangren learned that Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade had partic.i.p.ated in the Great Panhuman Revolt too. However, he was not an Emperor back then. Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade was just a dispensable infantry.
In one of the attacks against the G.o.ds, Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade nearly perished on the battlefield. If it were not for the Seventh Tormentor, he would be dead now.
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade would remember that moment for the rest of his life. The jade pendant was an accessory that the Seventh Tormentor always carried with him, and it was imbued with his unique aura.
It was the reason why Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade was so affectionate towards Chu Kuangren. The pendant was a token of friends.h.i.+p between Chu Kuangren and his savior.