Heart Survey

Chapter 2726 In those days, when I was young and wearing thin spring clothes

Jishan is not as stifling as Shangqiu.

The climate is dry and harsh; the sky seems to hang like a golden hedgehog, and the sun shines directly on you. Climbing up here, it gets cold again; if you seek shelter from the sun even slightly, the wind carries frost.

After seven years of hard work here, the young master's delicate skin had long since faded, replaced by a tanned complexion.

Wen Yong still doesn't feel comfortable here.

It wasn't because of the climate, nor was it because I missed the warm and soft beauty of Baihua Street.

Rather, it's the taut string within the body, vibrating with a need for rest—

Living on the edge of the civilized basin, one can only replace sleep with cultivation. One must carry a sword whether walking, sitting, or lying down, and fighting is the only thing one sees when one opens one's eyes.

Only during the monthly rotation and rest period, when this garrison returned to Zhenge City behind Jishan, could they sleep peacefully for one night and soothe their wounds and exhaustion.

The war between humans and demons has lasted for so many years, and the 100,000 mountains surrounding the Civilization Basin, with their various strange passes and dangerous chokepoints, have long been a quagmire of flesh and blood.

The most intense battlefields were the "two rivers, three passes, and four mountains".

The so-called "two waters" are "Choulongdu" and "Xianhai".

The three gates are "Rusty Buddha", "Drowning Moon", and "Mysterious Shrine".

The four mountains are "鸫", "献", "覆", and "冀".

Compared to the two rivers and three passes scattered haphazardly along the long border, the four mountains are located more "properly," situated in the southeast, northwest, and four other directions of the Civilization Basin.

Both humans and demons relied on this to build a long and perilous defensive line. And both knew that only after the line was breached would a more intense war begin.

The city of Zhenge, which faces the battlefield of Jishan, is said to be "ready for battle every day," with intense fighting every day. However, because the True Lord of Battle personally guarded this place two years ago, everyone can sleep soundly through the night even though they sleep with their weapons at their pillows.

"Ah Yong! Let's go!"

The voice of comrade Mu Qinghuai could be heard from afar.

"Oh, I'm here!" Wen Yong responded, half-squatting in the ravine.

His hands, once used to pluck flowers and nurture jade, were now rough and calloused, almost blending into the rocks as they touched the ground. Without haste, he pressed down the final mudra, then sprang to his feet and flew towards the golden flag fluttering in the air.

Three thousand feet down the mountain, a black shrine floats within the mountain, like a fish in water.

From time to time, a dark divine light would appear on the shrine, like the scales of a swimming fish.

The golden feathered flag fluttering in the sky is the symbol of the Zhenge Legion.

The battlefield at Jishan was mainly fought by the Chu army, and the main force was located where the Divine Phoenix Banner appeared.

The "Pillow and Spear Army" sounds impressive, but it is just a mixed force from various factions. Most of them only practiced some military formations that are common to the demon realm, and how to advance and retreat in formation to improve their survivability on the battlefield.

Of course, the fact that this army has survived in the perilous battlefields of races means that its combat strength is far superior to that of the armies of nations that have enjoyed long periods of peace.

Wen Yong had long since left the Yin family and came to the demon realm in his own name, relying on his sword to make a living and earn a future on the Jishan battlefield.

Joining the Pillow Armor Legion, fighting for seven years, and winning the military rank of "Golden Feather Banner Commander" is already the upper limit of development that ordinary cultivators can imagine for those without sect or country.

But only he himself knew that his path was not just here—it was also on that shrine in the mountainside.

Ten years ago, the Yellow River Grand Judge ascended to sainthood in a single battle and faced life and death three times, forever etching the four words "Peak of Champion" into extraordinary history. From then on, discussions of the "Invincible True Lord" could never avoid mentioning this name.

Ten years ago, after suffering a crushing defeat at the Yellow River Meeting, he knelt in the mud and encountered a strange man in bronze armor.

The bronze-armored man gave him a shrine, left him the method of cultivation, and demanded that he... not return to Song before the bronze-armored man died.

Frankly speaking, this constraint is very strange—he doesn't even know who the bronze-armored man is, so how can he know whether the man is alive or dead, or where the boundary is?
Therefore, he naturally broke the contract—without knowing whether the bronze-armored man was alive or dead, he secretly sneaked back to the State of Song.

Because he discovered that the shrine was a living thing.

More accurately... it is a shrine forged from living people!
He sneaked back to Shangqiu and sought help from his cousin Yin Wenhua, but Yin Wenhua turned around and imprisoned him in the Zhao Xu Wang Prison, which was nine hundred feet underground in Shangqiu City. It was originally the place where Emperor Taizu of Song imprisoned his crown prince, and later became the highest-level prison in Song.

This prison is located at the confluence of the dragon veins of the Song Dynasty, with Feng Yuan as its pillar and the nation's power as its lock. Those who can be imprisoned here are either members of the imperial family or ringleaders of heinous crimes of treason.

Wen Yong never imagined that he deserved to be imprisoned in such a place.

He suffered the consequences of his breach of promise in prison; his will weakened, his blood collapsed, and his soul entered the shrine.

It was only at this moment that he realized—

This shrine comes from Yan Chunhui, the selfless demon who dragged the entire Song Kingdom into the abyss!
For many years, the State of Song kept a low profile, but at the Yellow River Conference in 3933, it made an unprecedentedly bold bet, and also tasted the bitter fruit of defeat.

Yan Chunhui's death directly caused the State of Song to lose all of its gains from that Yellow River Conference, and it continued to pay the price in the following years.

The entire Chen family, including Chen Siwu, became part of the price to pay, a consequence of the name "Chen Yanxun".

The Dark Shrine that Wen Yong obtained was the first of the eight demons born in the Valley of No Return—the Soul-Eating Demon.

Yan Chunhui transformed the original eighth demon into a living shrine, hoping that if he failed and died on the Guanhe Terrace, his soul could return to this shrine and rise again as a god.

Yin Wenhua imprisoned him in the "Zhao Xu Wang Prison" to use the royal aura of the Zhao Song dynasty to block Yan Chunhui's path to return home and cut off his escape route.

Having spent twenty-one years strolling through Shangqiu, admiring its flowers, it wasn't until he was huddled in the darkness of the Zhao Ruins Prison that Wen Yong realized the world was nothing like he had imagined. Beneath the past splendor, he had never truly delved into the power structure of the Song Dynasty, never truly understood the unspoken secrets of this nation—

If he could achieve success step by step at the Yellow River Gathering in the 3933rd year of the Dao calendar, or even reach that point and become a figure like his cousin Yin Wenhua... but that was impossible after all.

Those who were in charge of the Song state at that time did not take Yin Wenyong into consideration when making their decisions.

Wen Yong certainly understood that the suppression of the Dark Shrine was inextricably linked to the Song Emperor's orders. He also clearly understood who the strange, bronze-armored man who gave him the Dark Shrine was...

Therefore, he knew that even his suspicions about the shrine and his broken promise to sneak back to Shangqiu were within the copper-armored man's expectations.

This also includes the aftermath of the breach of contract—the Dark Shrine failed to receive Yan Chunhui's soul. The original Soul-Eating Demon's will was still immersed in the dream of becoming a god as bright as the sun, but it perished because it did not receive any feedback from Yan Chunhui... With the help of the backlash of the oath, his soul fell into the shrine and happened to inherit it.

He's nothing but a pathetic wretch whose every move is precisely predicted.

When the story on the Guanhe Terrace came to an end, the Song Emperor was "imbued" at the Wenhua Tree Terrace, and the Zhenhe Zhenjun used a white sun stele to complete the grandest curtain call in the 3933rd year of the Dao calendar... As expected, a "surprising" loophole appeared in the [Zhaoxu King's Prison].

Wen Yong understood that this was his last chance—if he could escape from prison and prove his abilities, he would still be qualified to be a pawn. If he couldn't even seize this opportunity, he would only become a hidden part of history, just like the deceased Chen family members.

He tried his best and eventually escaped from prison.

Today, it's hard to describe my feelings towards the State of Song. To say I "love" it is perhaps no longer possible. To say I "hate" it seems inappropriate.

After abandoning his surname and wandering the world alone, he realized that there are not so many things in the world that are taken for granted, and that not everyone has a chance. His cousin Yin Wenhua gave him a chance, and Chen Siwu, whose face was covered by bronze armor, also gave him a chance.

He learned to be content during times of poverty.

“Ah Yong, you’re always finding a place to hide and slack off all the time… We won’t say anything to you, but don’t let the bookkeeper see you!” The tall and thin Mu Qinghuai said with a smile as he turned around.

The golden flags on the horizon resembled the sun, and the rainbow-like light gathering from different directions resembled a school of fish swimming upstream. These were all elite cultivators of the "Golden Feather Commander" under the Pillow-and-Spear Legion.

In order to better cope with the battlefield of the demon realm, all cultivators above the Soaring Dragon Realm in the Pillow Armor Army are concentrated under the command of the "Golden Feather Supervisor".

As fellow members of the Golden Feather Banner, Wen Yong and Mu Qinghuai had always been on good terms.

He looked up in surprise: "The Master of Accounting? Isn't he always shouting 'Nanyue will be the best,' trying to snatch the mountain? What's he doing here in Jishan?"

The bookkeeper was none other than Zhongli Yan, a renowned figure in the Southern Region and a master of martial arts.

Two years ago, the account book that this great master had hidden under his bed was discovered by Zhongli Zhaojia, who, though retired from the military, could never stay idle. Opening the account book, he found it filled with treasonous words, such as "Old thief, don't be old," and "At the bedside of a long-term sick person, give him three punches..."

The old and new heads of the Zhongli family fought a great battle, which resulted in the expansion of Xiangudu's territory.

The outcome was unknown, with both Zhongli family heads claiming victory.

After this battle, Zhongli Yan earned the nickname "Master of Accounting".

Mu Qinghuai laughed gleefully: "With True Lord Fenghua presiding over Xianshan, and the younger generation having Ji Sansi and Bao Xuanjing showing their talents, how could he possibly steal the spotlight?"

"Furthermore, when he shouted 'I will be the champion of Nanyue' and left in such a grand manner, wasn't it because he was kicked away by the Fighting True Lord at Jishan?"

Mu Qinghuai, 39 years old this year, was born in a small southern country named "Xuan". Tracing back three generations, there were no extraordinary cultivators, so it can be said that he had no background to speak of.

Fortunately, his family had some wealth, accumulated over three generations, enough to purchase a Meridian Opening Pill. He practiced diligently day and night, strengthening his body, and successfully opened his meridians.

Such a cultivator might be addressed as "Master" by ordinary people, but he would still be at the very bottom of the hierarchy in the extraordinary world.

His cultivation was originally unlikely to yield results, but he caught the opportune moment when the Land of Illusion became famous throughout the world. He successfully entered the Land of Illusion Academy, cultivated the Mysterious Chapter of the Land of Illusion, and made rapid progress all the way.

In addition, a few years ago, I mastered the Solitary Flying Sword technique through the Taixu Scroll quest!
Of course, it's not that unparalleled, peerless sword manual, but just one of the flying sword techniques under the "Only My Flying Sword" school.

Even so, he has already become the most powerful captain in the Golden Feather Guard.

Since the last Yellow River Conference, the art of flying swords has reappeared in the world.

In the Realm of Illusion, there are two systematic flying sword techniques: the Selfless Flying Sword and the Sole Self Flying Sword. It is said that Zhenhe Zhenjun obtained the Eternal Sword Token by personally going to the Eternal Twilight of Tianma Plain.

In the Qi Kingdom, a martial arts school called "Selfless Flying Sword" is also gaining popularity in the Eastern Region with Chen Zeqing's support.

Similar to flying swords, but with even greater momentum, are immortal techniques that have been lost for a long time!

Now, the State of Chu has opened up the inheritance of "Beast Taming Immortal Techniques", the State of Li is promoting "Winter Immortal Techniques", the State of Wei's "Military Immortal Techniques" are renowned, and the State of Yun's "Ruyi Immortal Techniques" are also thriving.

The Marquis of Qin opened the Palace of Destiny and selected talented individuals from Xianyang to widely teach them the "Art of Destiny".

Within the illusory realm of Taixu, the renowned Demon-Slaying Heavenly Lord has opened up three major immortal art systems: "Lingxiao," "Shanfu," and "Ehuo." Those with the right affinity can approach, and those who have achieved sufficient merit will receive their due rewards.

If someone goes to the underworld and is fortunate enough to visit the Xuanming Palace and complete the corresponding task, King Qin Guang, who holds the power of life and death, will not hesitate to teach them the "Ten Thousand Immortals Technique".

Even the Sanfenxiang Tower has claimed to be the "orthodox lineage of the Blissful Immortal Palace" and has begun to pass on the "Blissful Immortal Arts".

However, their former leader, Rakshasa Mingyuejing, emptied the True Yang Cauldrons in various places and disappeared from the world after the battle at Xiyue Garden in Sheng Kingdom.

Not only can outsiders not find her, but even the Sanfenxiangqi Tower cannot find its owner.

This massive organization, which broke away from the State of Chu and once spread throughout the world, was nearly dismantled.

At the critical moment of crisis, "Flawless Immortal" Ye Lan'er stepped forward to take over the organization. She danced among the mortals and barely managed to maintain the plaque of the Fragrant Pavilion, but its prestige was far less than before. The branch pavilions were only retained in some famous cities of major countries.

The vast majority of the branch buildings were swallowed up by powerful figures from all over the country, rebranded, and lost their original "fragrance".

A thousand years of painstaking effort, fragrance filling the world; yet, a wrong step leads to a mountain collapsing overnight!
Of course, many people don't care about this once-famous place of pleasure. What is truly worth noting is... the inheritance of the nine immortal palaces that once disappeared from the mortal world, only the Hegemon's Immortal Technique has not reappeared.

The era of immortal arts has almost returned!
Looking back at the rise of this golden age of immortal arts, it can be said that it was entirely driven by the Demon-Subduing Heavenly Lord.

It's no wonder that the Demon-Slaying Heavenly Lord doesn't claim to be an "Immortal Emperor," but the title of "Contemporary Immortal Emperor" is becoming increasingly prominent.

Mu Qinghuai, who hails from the Xuan Kingdom, naturally feels close to the Jing Kingdom and the Nan Dou Palace. It's normal for him to have some dissatisfaction with Zhongli Yan of the Chu Kingdom. Of course, there's no question of resentment; he has no right to resent the youngest martial arts master in the Chu Kingdom.

However, when discussing Zhong Liyan's humiliation, a sense of schadenfreude inevitably arises. Privately gossiping about those important figures is a way of satisfying one's urges.

"Watch your mouth! You'd better watch what you say! Be careful not to get it on your tab!" Wen Yong joked in a good mood.

Mu Qinghuai laughed heartily.

"What are you laughing at so happily?" A voice suddenly fell into my ear.

Even more violent than the sound was a figure clad in armor and carrying a sword, who barbarically stormed into view, cutting off everyone's sight.

Mu Qinghuai's loud laughter, choked in his throat, turned into a quacking sound like a duck.

Everyone avoided eye contact, and even the golden flag fluttering in the air seemed to bow its head!

The newcomer had sharp, eagle-like eyes, and his magnificent armor accentuated his physique. His meticulously trimmed beard gave him a refined and dignified air. Unfortunately, the moment he opened his mouth, his entire demeanor changed…

"This color isn't nice either~"

He looked at the golden-feathered flag with his hands behind his back, serious and thoughtful: "Change it to black, it will be more imposing and better suit my temperament."

No one spoke.

He had never taken off his dark black armor with gilded finish since the day he was appointed General Wuwei.

Everyone felt as if they were seeing Jia in person.

He turned his head to look at Mu Qinghuai, whose face was beaming with smiles that crinkled at the corners of his eyes: "In the race war, the overall situation must be taken into account. Although I, the general, will soon take charge of the Jishan battlefield and be stationed in Zhenge City... I will not hold it against you. So what if you disrespected General Wuwei! By the way, judging from your military rank, you have been here for a long time. Do you have any good places to recommend? I mean, the kind of places suitable for exiling criminals."

Mu Qinghuai just smiled, as if she didn't understand.

Zhong Liyan patted him on the shoulder, very considerately: "Find a good place yourself."

Then she raised her eyes and glanced at Wen Yong: "You too."

Moon Young-jung, who was pretending to be a wooden stake with his head down, stood there motionless, silent, and not even breathing. Suddenly being touched, he was somewhat overwhelmed...

I didn't say anything!

General Zhongli had already traversed the void and headed towards Zhenge City. His aura and blood-red smoke rose into the sky, swirling like a pillar supporting the heavens. His voice boomed like a drum: "I am the master of Xian Valley, the Martial Might General of Chu, the one who has opened the twenty-seventh level of martial arts with his sword, the youngest martial arts master of this era, the Flame Martial Grandmaster, the invincible True Monarch Zhongli Yan!"

The renowned heavy sword, [Nanyue], moved like an iron peak, leaving a trail for miles: "You brat, you are unworthy of your position, jealous of talent and ability, and you openly attacked this general on the battlefield—today it's time to settle old scores!"

Wen Yong suddenly realized!
So, why has this accounting general returned to Jishan again...?

He had already broken through the twenty-seventh level of martial arts and become the sixth martial arts master of his time!
Does this mean he's confident enough to challenge the Fighting True Lord?

Just as Wen Yong was making a plan, he heard a cold laugh that tore through the sky and almost ripped apart his ears—

"What Yanwu?"

The voice was arrogant and domineering, with an infinitely rising momentum, forever releasing pride and ego.

"The martial arts path has just been opened, even the most worthless and insignificant can find their way..."

In the bright, golden sky, a network of crisscrossing gaps, like a spiderweb, suddenly appeared. The all-pervasive flashes of light, like flowing waves, pierced through these gaps!
His voice followed the flash of the blade: "Rolling around in the mud, is that considered clearing a path?!"

Wen Yong shrank his neck.

These words should only be spoken by Dou Zhao... He shouldn't even hear them, because if he did, they might be taken to his notes.

As for infighting on racial battlefields... it's hard to say about other places, but on the Jishan battlefield, these two are always killing each other, and everyone is pretty much used to it.

The sword light flashed like a waterfall, sweeping across the sky. Even the imposing peak of Mount Heng was unstoppable, charging straight into the crevice in the heavens!
Under the golden banner, everyone eagerly awaited the grand performance.

In order to prepare for the Divine Firmament War in advance, the human race launched a massive military training campaign as soon as the Yellow River Conference concluded three years ago.

Every nation and sect sent its young prodigies to the racial battlefield. Most of the veteran generals who had previously held the fort were rotated out to rest and recuperate from old ailments.

Those who are called prodigies have all had experience in racial battlefields in the past, but they mostly went it alone, aiming to hone their combat skills and find their way between life and death. Now, they mostly form legions, either leading an army or guarding a city, with victory in war as their primary goal.

The movements of Zhongli Yan, Dou Zhao, Chong Xuanzun, and others all reflect this grand strategy.

The borderlands, the demon realm, the Yu Abyss... all have new blood, and there is no day without war.

Once the war potential of the human race is unleashed, it will be like a landslide and a torrent, and all the alien races that face the human race will find it difficult to breathe in the past few years.

"It's over, it's over..."

No sooner had Zhongli Yan left than Mu Qinghuai frowned and sighed, "What should we do!"

Wen Yong, unjustly caught in the crossfire, was also furious: "Your mouth really should be sewn shut!"

Even so, they all understood that Zhong Liyan had already reached this level and wouldn't really target them for such a trivial matter.

So the other members of the "Golden Feather Commander" group just gloated and made a few sarcastic remarks; no one was really worried about them.

Of course, given that bookkeeper's wicked nature... he's capable of intimidating someone every time he sees them.

"I was just about to go to Xuankan Pass..." Wen Yong asked, "Brother Mu, would you like to come along?"

After seven years of fighting, his Dark Shrine had been nearly exhausted on the Jishan battlefield; it was time to move it to a new place.

Xuankan Pass is a battlefield of gods, where a large number of demon gods gather. If one can gain something there, it will surely be of great benefit to the cultivation of the shrine.

"It's not like we have to run away overnight, is it?" Mu Qinghuai was a little reluctant to give up all the years of hard work on the Jishan battlefield. He was a captain here, after all. If he went to Xuankan Pass, he didn't know if he could fill the vacancy.

He curled his lip: "Does the Accounting Master really think he can set up a flag here? He's just a newly ascended peak expert, how dare he compare to the Battle Master?"

"You still dare to talk!" Wen Yong quickly covered his mouth: "Do you really think he's so magnanimous!?"

"Let's go, let's go to the quartermaster and exchange all the merits from the past few years, and replenish the healing medicine, the latest killing techniques and so on." Mu Qinghuai thought about it and also felt that it was not a good thing to be targeted by General Zhongli, so he waved his hand and said, "I'll go with you."

"Good brother!" Wen Yong embraced him and flew towards Zhenge City.

As Mu Qinghuai flew, he said, "By the way, those of us who make flying swords are quite frail. We're still missing a defensive technique. If you have any extra merit points, could you help me get one?"

Wen Yong glanced at him sideways: "Do you have any extra money? Give it to me if you have any."

As the two laughed and joked, they arrived at the city and saw a composed figure walking out of the city.

He was dressed in simple martial arts attire, moving with a swift, breezy air. His features were very youthful, yet he possessed a profound and unassuming demeanor.

Mu Qinghuai was still rambling on when Wen Yong grabbed him and made way for him.

This person is Lu Ye!

The uncrowned king of the previous Yellow River Conference, Yu Xianyu, the pride of Jing Kingdom, was on par with him. The latter was already the first general of the Dou'e Army and was qualified to take command of this powerful army when the commander-in-chief left!
After the Yellow River Conference, ten years of military training culminated in the formation of the Great Jing Warriors. Last year, their battle in the Demon Realm shocked the world. The [Battle Against Calamity] banner once again flies high in the mortal realm... They are listed among the [Jing Ten Armors].

The once precious and valuable Daishan King has become the "King of the Mountains" who "rules for all mountains under heaven"!

As a disciple of the Prince of Dai, Yu Xianyu is both literate and martial, excelling in military training, running a large business, and possessing superb swordsmanship! He is clearly a leading figure among the younger generation of the Jing Kingdom.

Lu Ye, who is as famous as Xianyu, has no illustrious family background, but in recent years he has fought his way through all directions, and has managed to secure a place for Weiguo in the demon realm.

Let that small, insignificant country shine once more on the battlefield of races.

It almost brings back to life the glory days of Mei Xingju's era.

One came from a distinguished family, carrying on the legacy and forging a new path; the other rose from the ranks, shouldering heavy burdens. Their duel temporarily ended on the River-Viewing Platform. The outcome of their contest may still require the test of time.

But no matter who walks here, Wen Yong knows that his position is on the side of the road.

It is valuable for a person to know themselves. But knowing oneself is a painful process.

Lu Ye stopped in his tracks: "Wen Yong?"

Wen Yong was somewhat surprised, and secretly nervous, but he smiled and asked, "You know me?"

Lu Ye pays great attention to detail when he speaks, and he always gives people a sense of sincerity: "On the Guanhe Terrace, who isn't a spectator? Your fight with Xiong Wen was very exciting. Your analysis and application of the Thirteen Swords of Fog Mountain showed originality."

Wen Yong's smile became much more genuine: "I can't compare to a master like you... Let me introduce you, this is my friend Mu Qinghuai."

Mu Qinghuai quickly stepped forward and performed the proper greeting.

Wen Yong also turned to the side respectfully: "This is the most renowned martial arts prodigy in the world today, Governor Lu Ye."

Lu Ye's current official title is Grand Commander of the Weiguo Cavalry, hence his title.

"What I admire most about Governor Lu is not his undefeated glory on the River Viewing Platform, but his choice after the Yellow River Gathering. At that time, the State of Wei was attacked by the State of Pingdeng, and a shocking case of the extermination of the supernatural occurred. Instead of going to the Baiyujing Restaurant to seek the protection of the Demon-Slaying Heavenly Lord, he returned to the State of Wei, where the supernatural was in decline, to protect the country and his family, and to promote the Dantian Martial Arts."

Wen Yong said sincerely, "He is responsible to the country and beneficial to the military; he is truly an unparalleled hero!"

"Where have I not received the protection of the Demon-Subduing Heavenly Lord?" Lu Ye shook his head and sighed. "That White Sun Stele is not only erected at the River-Viewing Platform, and the Demon-Subduing Heavenly Lord's protection is not limited to Baiyujing."

"To be honest, if it weren't for the Demon-Slaying Heavenly Lord standing at the summit, his monument standing tall... I wouldn't dare to go back to Wei Kingdom."

At the height of the Yellow River Conference, a tragedy struck the State of Wei. Merchants who had been doing business in Wei fled en masse, and the people of Wei fled en masse… To this day, the population of Wei has not recovered to its size ten years ago. The unrest among the people is evident.

It was only after the Three Punishments Palace uncovered evidence of the crimes committed by the Kingdom of Equality, the Kingdom of Jing cleared itself of suspicion, and the Heavenly Lord of Demon Slayer killed the chief villain, that the hearts of the people were somewhat at ease.

Lu Ye's generous and open attitude is very appealing.

Mu Qinghuai admired him inwardly, but showed respect on his face: "Commander Lu is of inestimable worth, and I imagine he would only act when there is something to be done. We brothers have been fighting here for many years, and I wonder if there is anything we can do to help?"

Weiguo has a territory in the demon realm! Lu Ye won the right to expand it at the Yellow River Conference and also used his fists to reap the rewards.

But frankly speaking, that territory is only held up by Lu Ye alone, so he won't easily move on.

"My dantian martial arts are progressing rapidly, the Weiguo Iron Cavalry is taking shape, and the defense line of Ning'an City is basically stable. I can finally break free and do some things I've been wanting to do for a long time..."

Lu Ye looked at Wen Yong: "Song Guochen, a man of upright character, whom I respect. He sacrificed his life on the battlefield of Jishan seven years ago, and the whole world mourned him. I have long wanted to come and pay my respects—Brother Wen, would you mind pointing me in the right direction?"

Wen Yong finally understood why Lu Ye had called him back!
Ten years ago, that unparalleled event selected the most dazzling talents of the past decade.

The profound impact of that Yellow River meeting on the present world has, over the past decade, spread like ripples on a calm lake... a wind sweeping across the land.

The river flows on and on, and today's newcomers are climbing the steps, while those who were climbing yesterday have already lost their new names. There will always be some who fail to keep up with the times, either sinking into the mud and rocks or stranded on the riverbank.

Those born in the years of Chen, Si, and Wu, who are proficient in all six arts, are the unfortunate ones.

Seven years ago, the day before the Song Emperor awakened at the Book Mountain, Chen Siwu, the contemporary master who had silently guarded the Song Kingdom for three years and widely spread the Six Arts, left all his knowledge in Shangqiu. Afterwards, he left the country alone and came to the Demon Realm... He fought a bloody battle on the Jishan battlefield without retreating, and was finally killed by He Menghuai, a true demon who came from the ancient Nanshan Mountain and is now ranked third on the Demon Realm's Heavenly Ranking.

This is also why Wen Yong came here.

The Darkest Shrine leads to a vast path to the Yang God!

That might also be one of the conditions Yan Chunhui promised to the Song Kingdom: if successful, he would offer Song a Yang God; if unsuccessful, it would be the path for his own divine descent.

At first, Wen Yong didn't understand why Chen Si Wu didn't keep the Dark Shrine himself, until that day... Chen Si Wu drew his bow and fell on Ji Mountain.

This upright gentleman, upon admitting that he had an illegitimate son named "Chen Yanxun," already harbored a death wish.

Whether Emperor Song ascended the mountain of books to recuperate from his injuries or to avoid disaster is now impossible to discuss.

Zhao Hongyi was, after all, the legitimate emperor of a great nation. His affair with the egoless demon Yan Chunhui was, like that of Emperor Li Hongjunyan, ended with a mere three cups of wine as punishment.

Standing in such a position, possessing such power and authority, it is already extremely difficult for someone to be punished with a wine; it was only after the Demon-Subduing Heavenly Lord debated life and death three times that he attained this!
Chen, Si, and Wu silently bore all of it.

It is said that before he died, he didn't say anything else, only shouting, "I am Chen Si Wu!"

Wen Yong looked back and saw that this prodigy whom he had looked up to since childhood was almost a Confucian gentleman who had stepped out of the classics. He was disciplined in his conduct and upright in his actions. He truly used his blood to illustrate the saying: "He does not change his name when he goes out, he does not change his surname when he sits, he does not change his face when he is alive, and he does not change his expression when he dies."

Unfortunately, he was upright and righteous throughout his life, but he yielded for his country.

He doesn't claim his innocence, but his innocence remains in the world.

"Thirteen hundred li away, there is a nameless mountain a hundred feet high, covered with bamboo forests." Wen Yong pointed into the distance: "There are no graves or remains at Chen, Si, or Wu, only blood spilled in the forest. I offer my prayers every year, only a cup of wine."

He took out a flask of wine from his bosom: "The sight of this place always brings me sorrow, so I will not accompany the Governor. This is the 'Bitter Wine' that Chen Siwu loved to drink most in his lifetime. If the Governor smells this bitter fragrance... then he has arrived at his destination."

Lu Ye accepted the wine, said "Thank you!", and then ascended into the air.

"Such a person! He might very well become a Martial Lord in the future!" Looking at the back of that figure with the majestic peaks and distant scenery, Mu Qinghuai still felt regretful: "What a great opportunity! Why didn't you see him off and deepen your relationship?"

"He is the moon in the sky, and you and I are just dust on earth. We are already friends after we met. If we get too close, it will inevitably expose my ugly side!"

Wen Yong waved his hand and entered the city gate: "Let's go. Xuankan Pass is where we should go. Demon blood is the glory we can win."

What he didn't say was that his Dark Shrine was of dubious origin and couldn't be brought into the light. He didn't intend to let anyone know about it until he truly mastered the shrine and gained power equivalent to that of a true god.

He especially felt that he could not hide anything from Lu Ye.

Moreover, seven years later, Lu Ye suddenly wanted to go and pay homage to Chen Siwu. Rather than admiring Chen Siwu's character, it seemed more like he was going to confirm some answer.

That answer was dangerous, and Wen Yong knew he wasn't qualified to get close to it.

……

……

Lu Ye, who is twenty-seven years old this year, is already a martial arts expert at the twenty-third level of martial arts, and is only one step away from reaching the level of true understanding.

“Those who are under thirty years old and have attained the Dao Realm can be called peerless geniuses.”

He was confident that he could earn this honor.

Ning'an City belongs to the "Rusty Buddha" battlefield. Its actual location is on the edge of the entire battlefield, and the pressure it bears is very scattered, so it is at peace.

The opponents on the Rust Buddha battlefield were mainly demonic monks from the Black Lotus Temple. Their incessant chanting and rampant blooming epiphyllum flowers adorned the area as if it were a pure land.

Of course, the flesh and blood fill the ground, making the soil fertile, which is why the flowers are so beautiful.

This was his first time visiting Jishan, and his only impression was that it was "fierce"—the vast Jishan mountain range resembled a fierce eagle spreading its wings to pounce.

The fighting that took place on the entire Jishan battlefield seemed even fiercer than that on the Xiufo battlefield.

Lu Ye walked alone on the mountain ridge, as if treading on a knife's edge. Occasionally, he would look into the distance and see life withering like flowers, the heat of summer meeting autumn's end.

The epic battle taking place in the sky is exceptionally exciting, with dazzling lights and shadows.

But at my current level, I can't see anything special about it, let alone learn anything... After a glance, I just pass by.

Hurriedly walking.

He arrived at the nameless hill, saw the lush bamboo forest, and smelled a slightly bitter aroma of wine amidst the strong smell of blood.

This is part of the main battlefield, and it has changed hands repeatedly in past wars, never truly belonging to any one side.

Wen Yong only said that he comes to pay respects every year... which means he has always been on the front lines of the fiercest battle.

Despite having his spot taken by Chen Yanxun, who was transformed from Yan Chun, and being driven out of the main competition by Xiong Wen, who was manipulated by the Pingdeng Kingdom, this unlucky young master of the Yin family, who is not particularly talented, is also growing in his own way.

How vast is the world! How many people are there?

The sound of footsteps on dry branches was crisp, but Lu Ye didn't mind making noise, nor did he care that a group of demon soldiers were rapidly approaching from the other side of the mountain.

Of course, he also heard the shouts of the human troops behind him—"Brothers! Move this way!"

He paused as the bamboo leaves fell, as if he could see that day, with the Confucian gentleman in his robes and hat standing tall like a bamboo, not retreating an inch... while arrows fell on the demon general, flying like rain.

Of course, I also saw bamboo branches leaning and leaves scattered all over the ground.

Suddenly, I felt that the demons on the other side of the mountain and the people on this side of the mountain were like two acres of crops, falling down one after another, and growing up again one after another.

His fist... seemed ready to burst out.

At some point, everything fell silent.

The dappled sunlight filtering through the trees intertwined to form checkerboard lines.

He stood in a world of bamboo-colored chessboards, feeling both vastness and insignificance.

"It's finally here."

A woman of exceptional beauty, with a jade pipe in her mouth, leans against the bamboo with her arms crossed... Her jade-like skin and the green bamboo complement each other beautifully.

She raised her beautiful, world-weary eyes, her voice languid: "I thought we would meet... a long time from now."

Lu Ye slightly shifted his feet to maintain his stance, his hands slightly outstretched, making loose fists: "Zhao Zi?"

Zhao Ziru raised her chin slightly and lowered her beautiful eyes, giving off a scrutinizing air: "Or you could add the word 'aunt' to it."

Lu Ye looked at her: "Zhao Ziyi?"

Zhao Zi did not speak, but the smoke from the jade pipe was swirling, indicating that things were not entirely peaceful.

“If you want to kill me, do it as soon as possible.” Lu Ye said slowly, “After all, this is a battlefield of races, and powerful figures pass by from time to time… If True Monarch Douzhan or True Monarch Yanwu notices, it probably won’t be good for you.”

“Thank you for your concern… but it’s not necessary.” Zhao Zi smiled slightly, casually sizing him up: “I want to know why you’re here. I want to hear it from you yourself.”

Lu Ye was very frank: "I want to feel the lingering emotions of Chen Si Wu before his death. I want to know whether he sought death to preserve his integrity, or whether he had no choice but to die because of some hidden reason."

Zhao Zi exhaled a puff of blue smoke: "As expected, that supernatural power has blossomed..."

Lu Ye's eyes dimmed slightly, but he forced a smile and said, "It seems you know me very well."

Zhao Zi did not respond, but only asked, "Do you have an answer now?"

“I’ve got it. I’m certain that Chen, Si, and Wu died within the entire cycle, their will to die as firm as iron.” Lu Ye chewed on the bitterness in his heart: “But you also told me about some hidden result.”

Zhao Zijing's eyes remained calm: "We have all seen what you have done over the past ten years—this day was bound to come sooner or later, and you have worked very hard to push the process forward."

Lu Ye grinned, his expression for that instant unreadable—it was hard to tell whether he was crying or laughing.

But he quickly composed himself, with an unusual calm.

"The reason I came to find Tatsumi no Go..."

Lu Ye said, "Wu Si is Zhang Shaowu, Zheng Wu is Lou Mingbi. I thought Chen Si Wu was Zhou Chen."

Zhao Zi remained noncommittal, only saying, "On the darkest shrine, there is a secret account of Yan Chun's return journey. Chen Siwu indeed obtained this information from King Zhao."

“During the Yellow River Meeting, you didn’t seem to know who Yan Chunhui was, which is why Xiong Wen made that move. But judging from the time when you received the information and took action at Chen, Si, and Wu… it seems that King Zhao knew the answer much earlier?” Lu Ye seized on the contradiction and therefore concluded that Zhao Zi was not sincere.

But Zhao Zi calmly said, “The Kingdom of Equality is not a specific person, but a deformed and complex entity. Some people hope that Yan Chunhui will succeed, some people are willing to give Yan Chunhui a chance... some people don’t care, and some people are unwilling. We live under a common ideal. As long as the ultimate goal is the same, the twists and turns of the process can be tolerated, and it is not unacceptable to go astray for a short time.”

The world's greatest scourge, the organization universally hated after the tragedy in Weiguo... has no unified will whatsoever!
That's a ridiculous answer.

Yet it perfectly explains so many issues.

Lu Ye did not find the organization weak; on the contrary, he was intimidated by it. He sensed a primal, frenzied power... He shook his head: "It's truly astonishing that such an organization could survive."

"Because people's pursuit of equality will always exist. But reality offers no hope—"

Zhao Ziping said calmly, "Of course I am not an idealist. This is just my paraphrase of an answer."

Lu Ye looked at her, his young eyes now filled with an unrealistic hope. He asked, "So, did my grandfather also pursue equality?"

Zhao Zi remained silent for a moment.

Silence is the answer.

The young martial arts prodigy finally raised his fist, pressing the empty fist against his heart: "In my heart... there is a seed of life and death, which bloomed into a flower of life and death on the day I opened the twenty-first level of my spine."

"That day I didn't know whether I should be happy or not. Because that flower of life and death told me that the most important person in my life... had not died."

He looked at Zhao Zi: "Of the twelve guardians of the Kingdom of Equality, which one is my grandfather?"

"Who is Uncle Yi?"

He then asked, "Did you give me the Meridian Opening Pill?"

Finally, he asked, "Who am I?"

“You have too many questions.” Zhao Zi slowly took a drag of his cigarette.

She had little affection for this world, but seemed to have an unusual patience for Lu Ye. So she replied, "As I said before, the Equal Kingdom is a complex whole. We have different teams gathered around different goals."

"For example, Sun Yin, Qian Chou, and I joined forces to kill Yin Xiaoheng because he was our common enemy."

"As for the matter of defending the country, it was Shenxia and Feng Shen who were in charge, and of course I was also in the know. Feng Shen provided the list of extraordinary people, Shenxia took action personally, and I watched from the sidelines."

She exhaled the smoke from her mouth: "Oh. Feng Shen is Wei Huai."

The chessboard pieces faded away one by one, revealing the bamboo forest once more, bathing in sunlight again, and the approach of human and demon races once more.

Lu Ye was there.

He thought he shouldn't have walked so fast.

He thought he had climbed too high.

Jishan is so cold!

The sun felt like cold needles pricking my skin.

Thank you for waiting, we'll continue on Friday.

……

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