World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 525 - 272: Meeting with Zuo Qiu! Fang Qingshu is in a difficult situation! (Important)

Chapter 525: 272: Meeting with Zuo Qiu! Fang Qingshu is in a difficult situation! (Important)

Rou Ran City, within the Ashi Liren Mansion.

Suo Lun had just received the message sent by Zhen Yan Princess via flying pigeon.

The text was written in a top-secret cipher agreed upon by Suo Lun and Zhi Yan, which only the two of them could decipher.

After reading the secret letter, Suo Lun was shocked.

He knew that Zuo Qiu might be an important figure, but had he realized just how important?

He was actually eight hundred years old and was indeed the founder of the Taoist School. Just a few decades ago he had become the State Preceptor of the Flame Empire.

He was the first, and perhaps the only one who confirmed that the Dragon Emperor was not dead. His life’s mission was to find and save the Dragon Emperor.

The existence of this man was indeed the world’s top secret.

Moreover, he could potentially have a revolutionary effect on the rule of the Dragon Temple.

So, he died.

He was betrayed by the ruler of the current Flame Empire to the Dragon Temple, and then burnt alive.

Zuo Qiu was considered the ruler’s life-saving benefactor, yet he was still betrayed.

Why he chose to support the ruler of the Flame Empire, Suo Lun could guess.

The Dragon Emperor united the Human World and established the Flame Dragon Empire.

And although the current Flame Empire had almost no relation to the Flame Dragon Empire of a few thousand years ago, the rulers of every generation of the Flame Empire loudly claimed to inherit the legacy of the Flame Dragon Empire.

Therefore, Zuo Qiu turned to the Flame Empire in hopes of leveraging its power to pursue his great endeavor of finding and saving the Dragon Emperor.

In his view, the people of the Flame Empire were supposed to inherit the will of the Dragon Emperor, unify the Human Kingdoms, and suppress the Dragon Temple.

But as it turned out, he was ultimately betrayed by the ruler of the Flame Empire.

Suo Lun even could assert that Zuo Qiu could be regarded as the Dragon Temple’s foremost enemy over the past few centuries.

...

Now the question arose, if the real Zuo Qiu was already dead, then who was this Fake Zuo Qiu around Ashimo?

Suo Lun closed his eyes and pondered.

Then, he quickly had the answer!

This Fake Zuo Qiu was either a member of the Dragon Temple or a successor of Zuo Qiu himself.

Why say so?

Because only the Dragon Temple and the ruler of the Flame Empire knew that the real Zuo Qiu was already dead.

After Zuo Qiu’s death, all his Taoist documents fell into the hands of the Dragon Temple.

And this Fake Zuo Qiu by Ashimo’s side is a very formidable character.

Firstly, it was he who discovered the treasure land of Ashimo’s Dragon Emperor Ruins Fortress and designed and constructed it himself.

The site of the Dragon Emperor Ruins was in itself top secret. It was known either by those who were deeply versed in the study of the Dragon Emperor or by the Dragon Temple.

Secondly, the Relic Castle was truly filled with the natural power of the Tao.

After entering, Suo Lun also felt refreshed, and even every breath of air made him feel light and elevated.

And Ashimo, though in his sixties or seventies, appeared to be no more than forty and his hair had turned completely black.

All this was the result of Fake Zuo Qiu’s Taoist skills.

Meaning, this Fake Zuo Qiu also possessed a certain degree of Taoist knowledge and not an insignificant level of mastery.

So where did his Taoist skills come from?

They either came from the Dragon Temple, or he was the true successor to Zuo Qiu!

...

What was the purpose of this Fake Zuo Qiu lurking by Ashimo’s side for so many years?

If even the Fake Zuo Qiu was a person of great importance, it certainly had to be for something tremendously significant to have him remain by Ashimo’s side for years.

Suo Lun racked his brains but could not figure out why Ashimo could be of such significance.

True, he was the greatest lord of the Rage Wave Kingdom, a prominent monarch among the Human Kingdoms in the past few decades.

But in the eyes of both the Dragon Temple and the successor of Zuo Qiu, Ashimo hardly counted as a remarkable figure.

Suo Lun fell into deep thought.

If he were Zuo Qiu’s successor, then his goal could only be one: to inherit his master’s will, find and save the Dragon Emperor.

But could Ashimo really shoulder such a mission? It didn’t seem likely at all.

After failing with the Flame Empire, Zuo Qiu’s successor should have gone to the East Li Kingdom.

The kings of East Li had always been very cold towards the Dragon Temple, and the Dragon Temple’s influence within East Li territory was extremely weak.

Moreover, an ancestor of the East Li’s King was once a confidant of the Dragon Emperor. Why would he approach Ashimo?

Then, if this Fake Zuo Qiu was a member of the Dragon Temple, for what purpose would he be infiltrating Ashimo’s side?

The only thing Suo Lun could think of was Ashi Luo using demon blood, which undoubtedly represented a rebellion against the Dragon faith and the Anti-Dragon Power.

It was a grave accusation, even a capital crime, enough to prompt the Tribunal of the Dragon Temple to act.

However, this was not enough to prompt the Dragon Temple to specifically send someone to remain by Ashimo’s side for several years.

What exactly was this Fake Zuo Qiu after?

Suo Lun was baffled, but without a doubt, this Fake Zuo Qiu, whether a successor of Zuo Qiu or an undercover agent of the Dragon Temple, must be after something tremendously important.

In Rou Ran City, a shocking grand scheme was unfolding, and it seemed as if Suo Lun had inadvertently entered this tremendous plot.

...

At that moment, suddenly a female Samurai walked in and handed Suo Lun a letter, "Sir, there’s a letter for you."

A letter for him?

Suo Lun took the letter, opened it, and saw written inside, "Sir, please come to the Fragrant Pavilion for a gathering to discuss the matter of eliminating Ashi Luo. You may bring any expert with you, but do not bring any Ashi Liren."

There was no signature on the letter, and Suo Lun did not recognize the handwriting.