Chapter 034: Bloodline Curse

Wang Bo understood after hearing this.

A few days ago, the emperor had encountered a fierce ghost and been cursed. At that time, Yuan Tiangang should have been at a loss, so he hoped the emperor would personally descend to the underworld to seek the King of Hell's help in resolving this matter.

Presumably, the King of Hell, seeing that the other party was a human emperor, would grant him this favor.

But the emperor was clearly afraid.

Descending to the underworld was not something ordinary people could bear, even if the other party was an emperor. So the emperor came up with a plan, ordering his subordinates to go to the underworld to find the King of Hell.

Unfortunately, his subordinates were inadequate; they could not see the King of Hell, and descending to the underworld was like delivering their heads on a platter.

Even worse, the emperor's subordinates failed to summon the underworld's yin spirits, and the curse's power grew stronger, causing the emperor to go sleepless for days, mentally exhausted, with his three souls and seven spirits affected.

If this continued, the emperor might not last a few more days.

So the anxious Yuan Tiangang used his divination arts to find Wang Bo.

Wang Bo understood the whole story and did not feel contempt for the emperor; after all, the other party was human, and humans fear death, especially an emperor.

A gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall—many know this saying.

Avoiding harm and seeking benefit is human nature.

So Wang Bo did not think the emperor's thoughts and ideas were wrong, but since he had made a decision, he naturally had to bear the consequences.

The emperor clearly knew this too, and his gaze involuntarily shifted to Wang Bo. He said slowly, "Esteemed master, would you hear me out?"

Wang Bo thought for a moment and saw through the emperor's mind. "I understand the matter, and I know your thoughts. But let me ask you one thing: what makes you think I will help you?"

The emperor's expression showed slight displeasure, as if unaccustomed to being spoken to in such a manner, but fortunately he was a competent emperor and quickly suppressed this trace of resentment.

"I am willing to owe you a favor. In the future, if the esteemed master has any request, I will surely mobilize the entire nation to help you. Does the esteemed master find my decision satisfactory?"

Wang Bo couldn't help but laugh. Just as the emperor thought the matter was settled, he said slowly, "It's not that I look down on you, but you are insufficient. If I have a request or need help in the future, I would seek either the Tathagata Buddha or the Jade Emperor. You, a human emperor, cannot help me."

The emperor: ...

In plain words, you still look down on me, thinking that I, a human emperor, am useless.

If he weren't unsure of Wang Bo's depth, just these words alone would have made him furious, wanting to teach this man that a human emperor also has dignity.

But a small impatience ruins great plans; know the enemy and know yourself, and you will win every battle. Since he didn't know the other's measure, it was better to be cautious.

As for the Tathagata Buddha and the Jade Emperor, the emperor naturally didn't believe it all.

But if the other party had even one-tenth of the ability he claimed, the emperor had to endure.

Yuan Tiangang cupped his hands and said, "Your skill is profound. If you can truly help the emperor, I beg you to lend a hand."

Wang Bo said, "You and I made a fair exchange: you gave me the divination arts, and I helped you dispel the emperor's curse. But now you want to force me to catch the mastermind behind this. This..."

Yuan Tiangang said with a bitter smile, "I know this is somewhat difficult for you, but..."

"No, no, no, it's not difficult at all." Wang Bo shook his head. "What I actually want to say is, if you do this, you'll have to pay extra."

Yuan Tiangang: ...

The emperor immediately caught on and quickly said, "Sir, whatever amount you want, I will bear it all."

In recent years, under his rule, the Great Tang had enjoyed favorable weather. Although there were occasional demonic disturbances, the overall situation was good. If there was one thing they had plenty of, it was money.

Wang Bo waved his hand disdainfully and said, "Who wants your stinking money?"

The emperor closed his eyes and stood aside without a word, afraid that he might lose his temper and summon the guards to beat this man to death.

Of course, it was more likely that he would be beaten to death by the other party, so he had to stay calm.

Yuan Tiangang smiled bitterly and said, "I have already taught you my divination technique and my uncle's. I have nothing worthwhile left to offer."

Wang Bo said with a grin, "I know divination is your specialty, but I don't think that's all you've got, is it?"

Yuan Tiangang realized, "I do have a few decent spells in my possession. If you don't mind, sir, I would be happy to give them to you."

"Deal," Wang Bo said, clapping his hands.

Yuan Tiangang cupped his hands, "Please, sir, make your move."

"Easy, easy." Wang Bo picked up the black aura and began to calculate with his fingers, curious to know who could be cursing the emperor.

Seeing this, Yuan Tiangang's brows raised in surprise, because he saw that Wang Bo's calculation process was largely his own divination technique, but with elements of his uncle Yuan Shoucheng's technique mixed in.

He had only just received the divination techniques, yet he could already merge the two—it was simply incredible.

Even an immortal descending to the mortal world couldn't be this formidable.

After a moment, Wang Bo suddenly laughed, his gaze sweeping over the emperor. "Interesting, interesting. I thought it was some fierce ghost, so powerful, but it turns out it's your own doing."

The emperor's heart tightened, a chill running through him.

It was as if that glance had easily seen through his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.

Yuan Tiangang asked in confusion, "What does that mean?"

Wang Bo said, "The reason this fierce ghost can bypass the power of the human way and curse an emperor is not because the ghost is so powerful that it can ignore the human way, but because it is using a bloodline curse."

"What?!" Yuan Tiangang exclaimed, then smiled bitterly. "Your Majesty, you have truly ruined me."

If you had revealed this earlier, why would I have wasted my lifespan divining the heavenly secrets?

I even gave away my specialty.

Yuan Tiangang asked reluctantly, "Is Your Majesty truly afflicted by a bloodline curse?"

Wang Bo handed the black aura to Yuan Tiangang. "If you don't trust me, you can divine it yourself."

The emperor then asked, "What is a bloodline curse? Is it cursing me through my bloodline?"

Yuan Tiangang nodded. "Exactly."

The emperor's expression grew even darker.

Yuan Tiangang pleaded, "Since things have come to this, I beg Your Majesty to tell me the whole story."

The emperor was silent for a moment, sighed, and slowly began to speak.