Guarding the River of Time-Chapter 386 - 376: Placing Bets, Preparing for the Coming Great Chaos

Chapter 386: Chapter 376: Placing Bets, Preparing for the Coming Great Chaos

Zhang Ruocheng walked into the attic and brought out three neatly arranged large boxes, placing them in front of Su Mu.

"Elder, you have really helped me a great deal!"

"This is a small token of my appreciation; I hope you won’t find it lacking."

Despite his excitement, Zhang Ruocheng still referred to him as "Elder," because not calling him that felt awkward and disrespectful.

Having said that, Zhang Ruocheng opened one of the black boxes, and it glittered brightly inside.

Su Mu stood up and looked closely; it was filled with Space Rings, indeed, filled to the brim!

This large black box could hold at least a thousand Space Rings!

With a thought, Su Mu casually inspected one of the Space Rings and found that it was filled with an assortment of treasures, all of high quality and rarity.

He checked another Space Ring, which was filled with "Top-Grade Immortal Spirit Crystals," amounting to tens of thousands of pounds!

"Top-Grade Immortal Spirit Crystal" can only be born from the legendary "Top-Grade Dragon Crystal Divine Vein," and even in some Upper-Rank Immortal Realms, a single Top-Grade Immortal Spirit Crystal can exchange for many treasures; it’s absolute hard currency in All Heavens and Myriad Realms.

Just like the "Gold" of Blue Star, it is hard currency everywhere, never depreciating.

Let’s put it this way, in a Middle-Rank Immortal Realm, the production of Top-Grade Immortal Spirit Crystals over a hundred years would not exceed five hundred pounds!

Note, that’s the total over a full hundred years!

When Su Mu refines the Long River and makes a big splash in All Heavens and Myriad Realms, with just these several thousand pounds of Top-Grade Immortal Spirit Crystals alone, he could swiftly recruit troops and build a transcendent power!

Three large boxes, three thousand Space Rings, each filled with different top-grade treasures.

Is Zhang Ruocheng really not joking?

What great help did I provide?

Wasn’t it just helping him resolve a few "endgames"?

For me, it was a matter of minutes.

When it comes to chess skills, Su Mu believes he can’t find an opponent.

Because after every refinement of this river, his thought process and Divine Sense would transcend and evolve enormously, for playing chess fundamentally relies on thought capacity, the Power of Divine Sense, and deductive capability.

"Is this really for me?"

Su Mu inquired, feeling quite surprised inside, but his expression remained calm.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ruochen noticed Su Mu’s expression and felt somewhat apprehensive; could it be that the elder thinks he’s being too stingy?

But indeed, even though these treasures are his own accumulation, in the elder’s eyes, they might just be a pile of scrap metal.

"Elder, hold on, I have more to bring."

With that, Zhang Ruocheng turned around, ready to return to the attic to fetch more items.

Instantly, Su Mu quickly stopped him: "No need, it’s enough."

It turns out this Fellow Daoist Zhang is immensely wealthy, offering such vast resources and treasures as gifts; one can’t dampen his enthusiasm or disappoint his goodwill.

Well then... I shall reluctantly accept them.

Subsequently, Su Mu gently coughed and said, "Then I must thank Brother Zhang for his kindness."

With that, with a casual wave of his hand, he discreetly accepted all three large black boxes.

Seeing the elder accept his items, Zhang Ruocheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Compared to the help the elder provided, these treasures of his were nothing significant.

The Eight Great Star Systems have returned under his control, and the burden that had weighed on him for years was finally lifted.

...

Zhang Ruocheng is well aware that the current situation in All Heavens and Myriad Realms is dire, with everyone scrambling for territories.

All Heavens and Myriad Realms is like a gigantic cake, the more you occupy, the more leverage you have, and the more cards you can play.

Even though Zhang Ruocheng controls eighteen galaxy universes, dominating tens of thousands of worlds, in the entire scheme of All Heavens and Myriad Realms, it might not even constitute a ten-thousandth.

Because the hierarchy is far too severe, far too stratified.

Some supreme powers in All Heavens and Myriad Realms might claim a tenth of the "cake" all on their own!

Don’t be deceived by the vastness of All Heavens and Myriad Realms; in reality, most of it is in the hands of a few individuals, which is why Zhang Ruocheng sees himself as merely a "pawn" while Elder Su is the true chess master, qualified to play the grandest game of them all.

...

Zhang Ruochen has given so many treasures, trying every way possible to forge a good relationship with Elder Su.

In essence, it’s about ensuring a backup plan, finding a path for survival.

If the balance of All Heavens and Myriad Realms is completely overturned, the chessboard entirely collapses, the entire All Heavens and Myriad Realms will undergo a reshuffle. By then, even Zhang Ruocheng himself could not escape, forced to be engulfed in the "Great Chaos".

After all, Zhang Ruocheng is a significant figure in All Heavens and Myriad Realms, standing near the top of the pyramid.

Even if he wishes to hide, he can’t; the higher you stand, the greater the risks you face.

There’s only one way: "choose a side"!

Find a powerful ally to rely on.

Currently, Zhang Ruochen seems inclined to place his bets on Elder Su, especially after interacting with Elder Su, this feeling has grown stronger.

He must decide quickly; if he doesn’t clarify his position soon, when the chessboard of All Heavens and Myriad Realms collapses, and the "Great Chaos" arrives, it would be too late to choose a side!

Counting on his fingers, the supreme beings who could become "chess masters" in the entire All Heavens and Myriad Realms, including Elder Su, should not exceed ten people.

After all, Zhang Ruocheng’s realm is not high enough to see clearly; he only knows of ten.

.....

Since he accepted so many treasures from Zhang, Su Mu was not in a rush to leave; after all, accepting favors makes one inclined to stay.

The two chatted away until dusk.

During the conversation, Zhang Ruochen also asked about profound questions regarding cultivation realms.

These profound questions provoked deep thoughts in Su Mu, and eventually, he gave what he believed to be the correct answer, surprising Zhang Ruocheng, who was full of praise and exclamations.

While these interactions resolved Zhang Ruochen’s doubts, they also, inadvertently, greatly benefited Su Mu himself.

Every time Su Mu inquired about Zhang Ruocheng’s exact cultivation realm, he always hesitated, claiming his cultivation was too low to mention, shrouded in mystery.

Moreover, Zhang Ruochen would unintentionally pose some puzzling questions.

Such as whether he knew certain individuals, or if he had seen certain people over his years guarding the river.

The names he mentioned were entirely unfamiliar to Su Mu.

Though a bit enigmatic, his heart wasn’t bad, making him a friend worth making. After all, Su Mu, being a guardian of the river for so many years, rarely encountered a Daoist companion so enjoyable to converse with.

.....

"By the way, do you know an old man named ’Zero’?"

Su Mu thought of something and asked Zhang Ruocheng.