Heart Survey

Chapter 2762 The Most Respected First
When the "Acala" of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss walked out of the Chongxuan family ancestral hall and closed that heavy door.

The candles in the ancestral hall had all gone out.

Only a few sticks of sandalwood incense in the burner still flickered. They could be faintly seen through the yellowed window paper.

The ancestral hall is surrounded by a high courtyard wall, and the hills are faintly visible, rising and falling into the distance in the darkness.

Guan Dongchan exhaled lightly, his breath turning white as frost. When he looked up, he saw Jiang Wuhua standing at the courtyard gate, dressed in the robes of a prince.

The purple robe exudes nobility, embroidered with a four-clawed divine dragon. Lifelike and vivid, it dwells on the chest, coldly observing.

He appeared more imposing than the unassuming Crown Prince Chang Le himself.

"Am I late?" Jiang Wuhua raised an eyebrow slightly.

"It's not late, it's not late." Guan Dongchan dusted off the corner of his clothes and walked forward with a smile: "It's not late since Your Highness has arrived."

The only real enemy that the entire Qing Shi Palace faction must face tonight is the current emperor.

The Crown Prince decided to confront the situation personally.

He took the bones as his children, and used the gods to carry out his teachings. He has already entered the Donghua Pavilion.

In the Blue Stone Palace's plan, all of this should proceed smoothly and without incident. On a peaceful night, the transfer of supreme power would be completed quietly.

In theory, no one would notice.

Huaying Palace was an exception, because it was a blood relative whom the Holy Prince truly cared about, and she also had the deepest understanding of Qing Shi Palace.

The shattering of the white bone statue into smoke represents the emperor's wrath within the Donghua Pavilion, and can also serve as a warning drum to cover up the dramatic changes of this long night.

Everything is darkest under the lamp.

The emperor is executing the Earl of Shuofang. Who would dare to peek at this?
The illustrious Daowu Tianzun of Linzi will stand quietly in the illusory and eternal Qing Shi Palace—if anyone could peel back the layers of tonight's events and see this, they would only think that the Huaying Palace Master, after achieving Daowu, went to the Qing Shi Palace to make some kind of declaration.

Besides, all the efforts that Qing Shi Palace made outside Dong Hua Pavilion were to make this night more peaceful.

The placement of the clappers at places like Wanghaitai, Guanxinglou, and Taimiao was nothing more than a way to quell the nation's turmoil and silently respond to the sound of the night watchman's clapper.

Even the wise and insightful Prime Minister Yan, and those with a past connection and a willingness to sacrifice their lifespan for a better future, like Chongxuan and Chuliang, used either appeasement or recruitment of these key figures in order to quickly stabilize the situation afterward…

The only place where a flaw might be revealed and a disturbance might occur is on Luocha Mingyuejing's side. More specifically, it's those fragrant beauties who infiltrated Linzi to open the door for Luocha Mingyuejing.

It's not that they weren't careful enough, but rather that their abilities and vision determined that they themselves were the loopholes.

In such a transformative upheaval involving the power of a hegemonic monarch, it is impossible for forces of this level to be the key.

Beyond verifying Hua Yinggong's choice, they primarily served to mislead the public.

Of course, it would be even better if you could catch some fish.

It was a great surprise to see Jiang Wuhua emerge from Chang Le Palace.

The only problem is...

This gentleman paid no heed to the trivial matters within the Fragrance Pavilion, nor was he swayed by the alluring beauties. Instead, he went directly to the Chongxuan clan's territory and decisively blocked their ancestral hall.

It's fair to say they came here specifically to take charge of Guan Dongchan.

Guan Dongchan did not believe that he had revealed any flaws beforehand.

As the sharpest blade under the Holy Prince's command, he had been sitting in meditation in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss until tonight, sheathed for years... waiting only for tonight to sing for the Holy Buddha.

Therefore, he made the judgment quite naturally—

Jiang Wuhua had already noticed the actions of Qing Shi Palace, and knew of Guan Dongchan's existence before tonight... At the same time, he had a profound insight into the situation of changing the cauldron tonight.

Only then could they accurately locate this place and immediately intercept his sharpest blade from the Green Stone Palace!

"Seven thieves. Explain yourself—"

Jiang Wuhua stood at the courtyard gate, holding the kitchen knife [Zhi Daguo] in his right hand and the small [Hua Mei] upside down in his left palm.

Even though this person was holding a knife, he didn't seem threatening at all.

Like a sky that is always gentle and drizzly.

But as soon as he spoke, the sky beyond the courtyard wall suddenly seemed to grow heavier. It was as if those simple words had dragged down the entire night.

He asked, "What have you done to the Marquis of Dingyuan of our Great Qi Empire?"

Guan Dongchan's eyes gleamed with gold as he silently gazed at Jiang Wuhua.

This was the first time he had examined the current crown prince as an opponent.

He managed to secure the crown prince's throne despite the challenges posed by Jiang Wuyou, Jiang Wuxie, and Jiang Wuqi. How could the current crown prince be mediocre?

He wanted the whole world to know that Jiang Wuhua was hiding his true abilities.

But everyone still underestimated Jiang Wuhua.

After a brief standoff, Guan Dongchan turned halfway to the side and made a 'please' gesture: "Want to know?"

He smiled and said, "Your Highness can go in and see for yourself."

The cold wind was like a knife, scraping past his temples. The chill seeped into his bones, and his clothes felt like iron. After all, he was a former duke, and his manners were impeccable.

The courtyard was solemn for a moment, and although it was late summer, it felt cold.

The thick clouds in the night sky also resembled a military formation of armor.

"Therefore, I will not refuse your invitation."

Jiang Wuhua straightened the crown prince's clothes slightly, then strode in with his head held high.

In this vast land of the East, is there any place where the Crown Prince cannot set foot?
But then the evening breeze suddenly swirled, swirling fallen leaves before him. Each leaf materialized into armor, standing as two imposing guardians of withered leaves, wielding the summer wind as their longswords and using the gentle flame as their eyes.

They stood in formation before the Crown Prince of Qi, serving as his ceremonial guards.

From the darkness outside the courtyard gate, a gentle voice rang out: "A son of a wealthy family should not sit under a dangerous roof."

The dark color, like water, gradually revealed a kind 'grandmother's face'.

He seemed so easy to talk to, like the kind of kind-hearted person who would "remove the veil from mosquitoes" to protect them.

But his faint traces finally became clear in the night.

His presence drove away the chill and brought summer back to summer.

Jiang Rumo, the Grand Chancellor of the Great Qi Kingdom, who never showed his true colors and was almost ignored by everyone, slowly walked up behind Jiang Wuhua: "Since the 'Seven Traitors' are right in front of you, how can Your Highness put yourself in danger?"

"As for the safety of Marquis Dingyuan..."

"I will go and investigate."

Jiang Rumo's few steps as he walked from the darkness into the courtyard were a testament to Jiang Wuhua's decades-long career as crown prince.

The current Crown Prince of Chang Le truly doesn't need to do anything. As long as he secures his position in the Eastern Palace, the Qi Kingdom will be right behind him. Today's court officials can all be considered his court officials.

Once the current emperor relinquishes power, he will be the only legitimate successor according to the established rites.

Both Huaying Palace and Yangxin Palace tacitly acknowledge his eligibility to vie for the throne, but since they are both on the path of "competing," he is already the crown prince.

Jiang Rumo had almost no presence, but as the Prime Minister of the Great Qi Kingdom, he could, to some extent, represent the stance of all civil officials.

Tonight, literature is the pillar, officials are the spine, and the Chang Le Palace is supported.

Therefore, Guan Dongchan's polite turn of the half-body revealed a sudden sharpness: "Prime Minister Jiang!"

He scrutinized the visitor: "What brings you here?"

"The way you ask that makes it sound like you've never served as an official in the State of Qi."

Jiang Rumo walked forward in the shadow of the Crown Prince of Changle, making his stance clear as he cleared the way for Changle Palace: "My salary and emolument come from the people's hard-earned money. The common people are easy to oppress, but Heaven is hard to deceive—officials are entrusted with the country and must be loyal to their duties. When the country is in need, can I, the Prime Minister, lie comfortably in bed? With my belly full and my belly bulging, can I really dream until dawn?"

"Without the emperor's order, the army in the capital region shall not move lightly."

"The Grand Marshal and the Marquis are away on a distant expedition... so we civil officials will have to trouble them."

He slowly stepped across the courtyard gate: "I've come to quell the rebellion."

Guan Dongchan opened his golden eyes wide, revealing a hint of anger.

He didn't mind being called "the Seven Thieves," because that was the current emperor's designation, and he respected the emperor.

He still addressed Jiang Wuhua as "Your Highness" because he acknowledged the prestige of the Jiang royal family.

The only word Jiang Rumo used, "betrayal," was something he couldn't accept.

"Back then, you weren't known for your talent, your political examination results were mediocre, your self-cultivation was average, and your writing was steady and reliable. Everyone said you were a kind old man."

Guan Dongchan looked at him: "These past few years have seen little turmoil, and the country has been relatively stable. Jiang Rumo, you're a very good paperhanger. You could just come out and patch up the window cracks after dawn... How could you do something as dramatic as turning the tide?"

"When the Duke of Loulan was in power, I was not even qualified to speak with him. Later, I died for the Seven Traitors, and I followed the crowd and wrote poems criticizing them. However, the words were just piled up and I don't even remember the content anymore. I never expected to meet him again on such an occasion as tonight."

Jiang Rumo let the spit dry on his face, and just smiled: "I accept your evaluation of me in its entirety—but the wind is too strong and too cold tonight, and it's no longer safe to stay indoors. As a paperhanger, I have no choice but to come out and take a look... to try and mend the sky."

At that time, he had already walked to the very center of the courtyard, or rather, the place where he stood naturally became the midpoint.

There was no sound coming from Donghua Pavilion, the Imperial Ancestral Temple was sealed off, and the National Protection Array had been activated... Under these circumstances, everyone had very limited ability to mobilize the nation's resources.

But the prime minister is the head of the civil officials and the key minister of the empire.

Every artery of the entire Great Qi Empire flows through him.

Qiuyang County is the fiefdom of the Chongxuan clan, which has been managed for generations. At the moment Jiang Rumo appeared, he took over its administration.

In this vast prefecture, the official atmosphere was surging and powerful, while the people's hearts were united and blazing.

But countless characters, as clear as his face in the darkness, leaped out of the water and plunged into his body.

Although he was alone, he was in harmony with the will of Heaven and Earth, and for a time he was on par with Guan Dongchan, holding his own.

He walked further forward, his steps measured and disciplined, weighing the state of Zen, just as a court official viewed Buddhism and held Pure Land accountable!
Guan Dongchan slowly turned around and finally stood blocking the entrance to the ancestral hall, forming a high wall. To his left was the inscription "Life is not difficult," and to his right was the inscription "The weight of the world."

"To be honest, when I woke up from my meditation, I heard that the current prime minister is you, Jiang Rumo."

"I think the emperor is indeed incompetent."

"He was blinded by his past martial arts skills and became increasingly arrogant, which is why he entrusted such an important position to someone like you who has no principles."

"He only needs a puppet to carry out the emperor's will, not a prime minister who can truly regulate yin and yang."

"He believed himself to be eternally wise and right, attributing all victories to himself and blaming all mistakes on others, and not tolerating any dissenting voices."

“I respect him, I admire him… but I’m also disappointed in him.”

At this point, Guan Dongchan grinned and said, "I am very pleased to see your sense of responsibility at this time, and to see your firm stance under the gentle breeze and fine rain. This allows His Majesty to continue to shine in my memory."

He raised his hand and made a feinting slash towards the sky: "You must hold on to the very last moment. Only then will you live up to the emperor's and the country's kindness, and only then will I believe that the sacrifices of the past were meaningful."

As the only Duke of the State during the Yuanfeng era, a title that was never held again after him, his military achievements during the Yuanfeng period were unmatched by any other military general; only the Emperor himself could surpass him.

Later, the military geniuses of the Great Qi Dynasty could only be described as similar, not surpassing.

Of course, he cannot fully explain everything he has done for it.

They had genuinely conquered the powerful Ming Dynasty, which is why they were granted Ming territory as their fiefdom.

Once Li Yiding succeeds in Donghua Pavilion, he will be the seal of authority that Crown Prince Qing Shi holds over the Hall of Military Affairs. His personal cultivation, military achievements, and seniority are more than enough to command respect.

At this moment, he raised his hand to wield the knife, finally bringing back the old name of Loulan to the East—repeating the title of the Duke of Loulan!
From Linzi, the capital of Qi, to Qiuyang County, there is only one Jichuan County in between.

As a strategically important military town, Jichuan County is most famous not for its surface scenery, but for the "Jichuan Underground City," which is located deep underground and surrounds the secondary gate of the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

The entire "Jichuan Underground City" was expanded based on the manuscript of Prince Jiang Wuliang of Qingshi.

For a long time, Song Yao, the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, has been the guardian of the "Jichuan Underground City".

He wasn't originally part of the Qing Shi Palace faction; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to secure his position as a Grand Councilor. However, through years of guarding the underground city, he gained a clearer understanding of the Qing Shi Crown Prince and a profound identification with the ideals of the Qing Shi Palace.

He took the initiative to approach the Qing Shi Palace, chanting Buddhist prayers in his heart, and received a response from the Buddha.

In a sense, the "Jichuan Underground City" is the "foundation of the royal enterprise" of the Qing Shi Palace.

Once the decision is made in Donghua Pavilion, Jichuan County and Jueming Island will be the first places in the vast Qi Kingdom to respond to the central government.

At this moment, Guan Dongchan wielded his sword across the sky, activating the power of the "Jichuan Underground City." Suddenly, a cold dragon tore through the sky above Jichuan County, the sky instantly turning white and then dark—

Therefore, the power of a prefecture is separated from that of a prefecture.

With a single stroke, Jichuan severed the connection between Linzi and Qiuyang County!
Jiang Rumo, still with a kind and gentle face, remained in the courtyard.

He certainly understood what this scene meant and immediately realized that something had changed at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Guan Dongchan told him to hold on until the very end, but the easygoing man chose to move forward.

He rolled up his sleeves and held the book in his hand.

The achievements of these years, those "steady and reliable" articles that Guan Dongchan praised, are all on yellowed bamboo slips, and then sent forward—

The sea of ​​suffering is divided into waves, and the pure land is fragmented.

A hundred words are not as good as silence; let us now use letters as our swords.

At this moment, Guan Dongchan simply lowered the raised palm strike.

A wrathful deity appeared in the void, with seven topknots on his head and braids hanging down to his left shoulder. His body tore through the sky as if bound by chains, and he carried karmic fire on his back as if bearing the burden of all living beings... He held a precept knife and slashed down!
This life has been filled with bloodshed and turmoil, all for the sake of Buddha's descent into heresy.

Fudo Myō-ō is the wrathful form of Zen.

The two withered leaf guardians crumbled in a gust of wind.

The chilling intent of the blade snapped off Jiang Rumo's beard and hair.

The boundless flames of karma consumed his writings.

Bang!

Just as the Ming King's sword suddenly slashed close, reaching Jiang Rumo's head, at the most fierce yet most vulnerable moment—a kitchen knife appeared, cleaving against the sword, their blades meeting at a narrow angle.

A long line of sparks flew in the air, drifting like a galaxy, while illusions appeared on both sides of the riverbank.

On the west bank stands a golden Buddha, offering salvation to all beings. On the east bank, countless homes are illuminated by lights, where families gather around stoves to eat.

Smoke from every chimney rises alongside incense!
"Prime Minister".

Jiang Wuhua took a step and was in front of Jiang Rumo. His stride was broad and dignified, exuding a sense of righteousness.

"The country is afflicted by misfortune, and I am the king of the world. Since Heaven is flawed, I am naturally responsible—you cannot always stand in my way."

"Without burning true fire, how can true gold be proven? Without shedding fish scales, how can dragon scales be made?"

He smiled naturally, gripped the short blade, and slashed repeatedly.

The cleaver is two feet three inches long, and the kitchen knife is eight inches long. The latter cuts the former, just like butchering a large fish on a chopping board, gutting and scaling it, the clanging sound even has a rhythm.

His features weren't particularly striking, but when he wielded the knife, there was a truly graceful and fluid beauty to them.

Guan Dongchan's eyes shone brightly: "Your Highness, your swordsmanship is superb! The strikes are precise and the cuts are powerful. Only someone with a deep understanding of national affairs and the people's livelihood could wield such a sword."

With a flick of his knife, he leaped up like a fish off a chopping board, transforming into a dragon.

The Buddha has Dharma protectors, namely the Eight Classes of Heavenly Dragons.

These dragons, though not displaying the nobility of imperial power, roam in the Pure Land of Zen, possessing the clarity of Brahma nature.

He forcefully broke through Jiang Wuhua's "chopping block," transforming his monk's knife into a dragon and slaying it—

Suddenly, in the boundless realm of Zen, the harmonious sounds of zither and lute filled the air.

Mandarin ducks fly together in front of Fudo Myoo.

The turbulent world comes like a surging tide.

But then a small eyebrow trimming razor stood at the crest of the tide, silently approaching. It touched the hilt of the monk's knife, pushing it back three inches!

The kitchen knife pressed down again, then the cleaver was pressed back onto the cutting board.

"Using the way of love to break the cycle of Buddhist practice..." Guan Dongchan's expression was ambiguous, a mix of praise and sarcasm: "Your Highness seems to have been prepared all along, harboring hostility towards Qing Shi Palace all along!"

"Don't judge the audacity of your Qing Shi Palace by my foresight. If nothing changes, preparation will always remain just preparation."

Jiang Wuhua calmly replied, "I have no intention of harming anyone, because the world belongs to me. I am wary of others, because I belong to the world!"

Guan Dongchan used a monk's knife to weigh an eyebrow trimmer, twirling and maneuvering it, laughing heartily: "Everyone says that there is a perfect couple in Chang Le Palace, a rare example of deep affection between husband and wife."

"Now it seems nothing special."

"Your Highness and Song Ning'er are a perfect couple, living in harmony and mutual respect... All their performances are not genuine; they are merely for the sake of repairing the sword!"

"Love and affection are merely your weapons for slandering Buddha; don't you invite condemnation?"

The kitchen knife was in the open, the eyebrow knife was in the dark. Jiang Wuhua held it upright in one hand and backwards in the other, barely managing to confine the monk's knife to the ground.

"The once-famous Duke of Loulan has become the Immovable King of today, clinging to the so-called paradise, and seems to have forgotten the mortal world."

"You are obsessed with an ideal existence, even in love, you are obsessed with such an ideal."

"Love is not such a pure thing."

"Love without reason does not exist."

“I love her because of her beauty, because of her respectable family background, because she is beneficial to my spiritual practice… What difference does it make whether I love her or not?”

"It's true that I love her."

"Love is real."

Jiang Wuhua spoke calmly, his right hand flashing with the sword, slashing the monk's knife like a lone boat on a raging sea. His left hand, however, moved swiftly, as tenderly as if drawing eyebrows for a wife, yet amidst the turbulent waves of the mortal world, he had already driven that "eyebrow-painting"... into the Ming King's monk's knife.

A blade embedded within a blade!
Guan Dongchan looked at the pierced monk's knife with some surprise, and finally sighed: "Love is indeed real."

“I acknowledge that Your Highness is not a substitute for the Blue Stone Palace.”

"You are another future."

He released his grip, allowing the wrathful deity's sword to shatter under the Prince of Chang Le's kitchen knife. Even the wrathful deity himself fell like sand.

A radiant light gradually emanated from him: "Unfortunately, there is only one possible future. I have already embarked on the most magnificent path. Now that we have strayed from this path, I must apologize to Your Highness!"

He loosened his fingers but then clenched them back into a fist and pushed them forward.

Jiang Rumo and Jiang Wuhua both saw the fist gathering, but they were unable to stop its birth.

If we can't stop it from appearing, we're destined not to stop it from moving forward.

This fearless, undaunted, and dauntless... the Great Bright Fist!
This fist, gathering its power in the east, suddenly shone forth, illuminating the entire Qiuyang County as if the autumn sun had risen high, instantly turning everything bright.

The sound of fists rang out loudly, like the first crowing of a rooster breaking through the long night.

One punch sent light scattering for miles.

But then I saw the brilliant light ripple, and two fingers came horizontally from the sea of ​​light, like a dragon scissors.

Two slender fingers, appearing stealthily without warning, suddenly appeared at the crucial moment, cutting through the light with the skill of slaying dragons.

Jiang Wuhua's "Governing a Great Country" strikes again, and "Painting Eyebrows" lightly rises once more.

Guan Dongchan's fist was deflected, but with just a glance, he knew the whole story.

"Jiang Xiangguo's ability to conceal his abilities is truly something I have never seen before in my life. No wonder he has been able to remain inconspicuous for so many years despite holding such a high position. His current cover-up is truly alarming."

He sighed, "Prime Minister Yan still loves to be cunning and ruthless, killing with a smile!"

Amidst the emanating literary aura surrounding Jiang Rumo, ripples of light appeared, and Yan Ping gradually materialized.

The only prime minister in the history of the Great Qi Empire whose great power was self-appointed...

The destruction of Yang State and the establishment of the Qi-Xia clan were both manifestations of his political wisdom.

Once these two matters were completed, he completely secluded himself in the Peach Garden of Bei County, no longer concerning himself with politics, and ushered in another peak in his cultivation.

At this moment, he used the Dragon Scissors to block the Great Bright Fist, assisting Crown Prince Chang Le to regain power, but he sighed softly: "So many years have passed, and you, Guan Dongchan, still like to point fingers."

"I, Yan Ping, may say a few words, but Ru Mo is used to laughing and scolding as he pleases... The current Crown Prince, however, is not for you to comment on."

"who do you think You Are?"

"You still think you have some kind of status?"

He looked at Ming Wang from behind Jiang Rumo, but his eyes were actually calm.

Guan Dongchan hissed, "I always thought that I had a pleasant working relationship with Prime Minister Yan and that we could work together for many more years. You're being far too distant... Is our old friendship no longer possible?"

"Your happiness is because I'm looking out for your feelings," Yan Ping said with a smile, seemingly joking yet also quite serious. "In the past, when generals and ministers were on good terms, it was all for the sake of the country. Now that neither of them is in court, it shows that they are truly at odds with me!"

It wasn't until this moment that the entire Chongxuan clan territory reacted. Signal arrows filled the sky, clan soldiers donned their armor, and figures flew in rapidly.

Yan Ping casually produced a warrant, and the surging Chongxuan clansmen retreated like a receding tide.

They lined up in the distance, forming an encirclement layer by layer.

As expected of a family of generals for generations, with three members holding high military rank. Even without their leader, they still demonstrated excellent military skills.

Jiang Wuhua, Jiang Rumo, Yan Ping.

Guan Dongchan has already experienced enough surprises tonight.

The East is full of outstanding talents, which gives him even more confidence in his life's work.

"Heroes are fearless."

"I will not ask you why you dare to stop me."

He walked alone towards the crowd: "I have only one question—since you decided to come out and stand on this side, why didn't you go to Donghua Pavilion, but came here instead?"

"I don't care if Dongchan's life or death is of any consequence to the Pure Land, but Donghua Pavilion truly determines the changes in the heavens."

"This is not a situation that military strategists would necessarily have to address."

Yan Ping remained silent.

Jiang Wuhua didn't need to speak.

Jiang Rumo said gently, "His Majesty has not uttered a word outside, and it is only because of him that it is possible."

"Just as the Qing Shi Palace was determined to resolve the crisis silently, thus preventing any damage to the nation's power in the short term."

"Who could love this country more than His Majesty?"

"So although we all came here by chance..."

He suppressed his usual smile: "I believe this is His Majesty's choice."

Do not harm the national dignity; let us settle this life or death in the Donghua Pavilion!

Guan Dongchan was walking forward with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, possessing the imposing presence to cut through mountains and rivers.

His killing intent was concentrated into armor, almost recreating the Loulan Duke who was invincible in every battle on the battlefield back then!

They were momentarily frozen in place.

At this moment, it seems like I'm recalling many things from the past.

He once accompanied the emperor, clad in armor.

He was once surrounded by the enemy and fought a bloody battle for three days and nights, but he never despaired for a moment, because he firmly believed that the Emperor of Great Qi would definitely come to kill him! Later, he indeed saw the purple flag.

Tonight, I've gazed at Linzi countless times; the purple flags still flutter, but it's not the same scenery as before.

He was stunned.

"If he comes to kill me, I will not resist."

Guan Dongchan said slowly, "Since I began to protect Buddhism, I have never hesitated to sweep away heretics. Only Your Majesty has made it so difficult for me to wield a sword."

He was a figure whose brilliance and grandeur could not be ignored, even from the side of the world!
The Immovable King raised his golden eyes, his body ablaze with karmic flames: "Jiang Rumo, Yan Ping, in response—I will not kill you tonight."

Jiang Rumo remained silent, but stepped forward, completely blocking the Crown Prince of Chang Le from view.

“Very well, Guan Dongchan. A gentleman’s word is his bond. I believe you will keep your promise.” Yan Ping smiled slightly, and though he had been standing behind Jiang Rumo, he stepped forward: “Since you won’t kill us—then we will kill you.”

A gentle breeze and light rain seeped into my dreams...

The courtyard is not peaceful.

……

……

In Jinghai County, the storm has subsided.

A pile of broken bones lay scattered on the ground.

A few tea leaves became damp on the broken porcelain shards.

Mr. Mo put his sword into the umbrella handle.

The warriors from Huaying Palace silently carried away their companion's body.

The refined and elegant young nobleman sat on the ground, stunned.

As the people inside filed out of the house, the sound of the wind outside the doors and windows gradually faded into the distance.

He suddenly snapped out of his daze, instinctively reaching out and grabbing the wrist of the person in front of him: "Xiuzhang!"

Liu Xiuzhang didn't speak, but just quietly watched his hand until he let go.

Her once soft, boneless, slender wrists are now so cold and hard, and you can feel the powerful beating of her heart.

Who would have thought that the delicate and frail Liu Xiuzhang would one day be associated with the word "strength"?

But her stunningly beautiful hidden dagger, which she used to break through the window, did indeed influence the course of the battle.

Yan Fu opened his mouth: "Xiuzhang..."

Liu Xiuzhang glanced at him indifferently: "Bao Xuanjing planted his seed around you and chose to harm you tonight, not because you are important. It was to influence Prime Minister Yan."

"Similarly, I came here on the orders of Huaying Palace to ensure that Prime Minister Yan is not affected."

"Young Master Yan, please don't misunderstand."

"Also, please address me as Miss Liu, or Master Liu, or even just my full name, 'Liu Xiuzhang'."

She turned and walked out, saying, "The Yan family is so powerful and wealthy; it's not good for people to gossip about us."

The evening breeze finally closed the door, interrupting Yan Fu's gaze upon the vast night.

This farewell was both light and heavy.

……

……

Bang!
Jiang Wuliang's golden Buddha body slammed into the bronze door once again.

The Emperor of Qi moved closer, leaning on his ceremonial sword, and pierced the Buddha's body, but the sword was firmly embedded in the bronze door—

Only the golden Buddha image left by Jiang Wuliang remained on the door, which was also shattered by a single sword strike.

The sword tip had already pierced through the door, and even the bright moon on the blue stone in the sky was now partially obscured.

The emperor slowly withdrew his longsword, and the bronze gate gradually healed. Like living flesh and blood, a heartbeat began to reappear.

Even this gate has reached the end of its lifespan...

But the emperor always managed to suppress Prince Qing Shi!
He suddenly turned around at the door, and with a vertical slash of his sword, he cut out a faint ray of light from the dust and mustard seed, bringing Jiang Wuliang, who was leaping through the endless world of dust, back to the mortal realm.

He raised his foot and kicked him, sending him crashing to the ground and leaving a long, deep groove that rang out with a series of clanging, bell-like sounds.

Is this all you've got?

The emperor sneered: "Is this all you've got?"

With a single glance from the Emperor, heaven and earth solidified. As the Emperor's boots stomped down, the golden brick ground cracked, the fissures seemingly bottomless, as if leading straight to the netherworld.

Jiang Wuliang's figure, which had been close to the ground, disappeared again, and the Buddha's shadow embedded in the ground was trampled into shattered light.

As the emperor lifted his boots, the cracks in the ground healed.

The entire Donghua Pavilion seemed to come alive!
Qi Tianzi remained expressionless, casually flicking his wrist, and with no turning back, he drew his sword—he walked forward, the sword tip flashing backward.

In the blink of an eye, time and space opened, and a golden Buddha descended.

A rumbling thunderclap sounded.

The seemingly light sword had already pierced the golden Buddha statue, splattering golden blood.

The rumbling thunder was the sound of the golden Buddha statue crumbling.

Jiang Wuliang had already shed his golden body and left, landing behind the white jade railing. He braced himself against it with his hand, breathing slightly heavily.

Only by truly standing on the opposite side of this man can one understand the true value of Ji Fengzhou's statement, "Jiang Shu has never suffered a defeat in his life."

He meditated in the Green Stone Palace for forty-four years, undoubtedly possessing the strength to ascend to sainthood. Moreover, he possessed the [Immeasurable Life], allowing him to completely abandon defense and focus solely on offense. He could use every move without regard for death, treating life-or-death tactics as the norm...

Theoretically, he is invincible when he transcends worldly limitations!
Yet he still suffered defeat after defeat in front of Jiang Shu, being completely overwhelmed and unable to stand up straight.

He knew everything; he understood what Jiang Shu was going to do... but he couldn't stop him!
As a wise and insightful person, he has endless means at his disposal, but no matter how he attacks, Jiang Shu can always defeat him with a single sword strike.

A Great Qi emperor who unleashes murderous intent and shows no mercy makes one forget his nobility and wisdom; all that remains is his overwhelming and boundless majesty.

This is a sword that carved out its dominance amidst bloodshed and carnage.

Jiang Wuliang had always known of its sharp edge.

But this was the first time I had faced it in a truly meaningful way.

"In my heart, you have always been the epitome of emperors, and I ask myself how much I could surpass you after I came to power."

“But you have reached the end of the road to becoming the Emperor of the Eastern Kingdom.”

"The future belongs to a broader imagination—"

As Jiang Wuliang spoke, he turned the white jade railing he was leaning on into a white jade halberd, and blocked the sword's edge with a horizontal movement: "Only with boundless joy can the Buddha Emperor achieve endless happiness and bring the country to a higher level!"

Eight illusory dragons appeared around him, and four guardian deities suddenly descended.

The Emperor of Qi, however, swept in with overwhelming force, turning white jade into dust with a single sword strike, and annihilating even the Heavenly King and Heavenly Dragon with another!

Qi Tianzi severed his eldest son's arm with a single sword stroke and wiped away the golden blood in the air with a wave of his hand.

"You are destined to live a long life, but that long life does not belong to you alone."

"Jiang Wuliang, this night is about to end."

"How will you face the vast land of the East, and its hundreds of millions of people?"

The tassels of the Emperor's crown swayed, and the Emperor saw Jiang Wuliang's face faintly visible through the gap in the curtain.

The severed arm was restored, and the Buddha's blood was replenished.

His blue robe was shrouded in golden light.

He clasped his hands together and said, "Father...please forgive me!"

Inside the Donghua Pavilion, the old monk struck the bell repeatedly.

The square outside Donghua Pavilion was bathed in bright sunlight, with only Qiu Ji standing quietly under the eaves.

He looked up at the moonlight on the blue stone, seeing it sometimes full and sometimes crescent, sometimes dark and sometimes bright.

The whole world seemed to have entered a dreamlike state, swaying and shaking.

In a fleeting moment, he saw a sudden burst of white light appear over Qiuyang County on the map of Qi. He listened intently to the sound of a rooster crowing... and the long night that had enveloped the entire Qi Kingdom was pierced by a glimmer of light.

He knew he couldn't wait any longer.

He clasped his hands together, bowed his head, and chanted: "Namo Amitabha Buddha of the West—'Now I go to the West to this world, to the Land of Bliss, a hundred trillion Buddha-lands, where the Buddha is named Amitabha. I wish to be reborn there and take refuge in him.'—May all sentient beings be reborn in the Land of Bliss!"

The eunuch's robes he wore, which were stained by the light, were momentarily stained by the light.

He was like a figure woven with light, shining alone at the entrance of Donghua Pavilion.

Then, from within the bright moonlit blue stone, a Zen chant resounded: "Namo Amitabha Buddha of the West—who has attained Buddhahood through ten kalpas, whose lifespan is now immeasurable, whose Dharma body and light pervade the entire Dharma realm, illuminating the blind and ignorant world, therefore I bow in reverence—may all sentient beings be reborn in the Land of Bliss!"

Throughout the vast world, countless pious voices echoed, one after another, their echoes reaching the past without end.

But then the chanting was heard: "Namo Amitabha Buddha of the Western Paradise, with utmost sincerity, take refuge in him—'His wisdom and light are immeasurable, therefore the Buddha is also called Immeasurable Light. All forms, though measurable, are illuminated by his light. Therefore, I bow to the true light.'—May we, together with all sentient beings, be reborn in the Land of Bliss!"

Finally, somewhere in Linzi, a red pill ascended to heaven.

It roared as it flew through the air, and amidst the booming sound, the palace unfolded, flanked by wings on both sides.

This palace is a blend of reality and illusion, stretching as far as the eye can see.

On the outside, it appears as a cluster of palaces; within, a vast world unfolds.

Jade palaces and pavilions, white walls of turquoise. A red phoenix soars swiftly, a purple mandarin duck glides serenely.

The music never ceases, and the joyful songs continue forever.

Men, women, young and old alike strolled among them, each finding their own enjoyment. Everyone laughed and chuckled, without a trace of sorrow.

This is the Palace of Ultimate Bliss, a celestial paradise on earth!
The Hengshi Immortal Palace from the Immortal Era is the oldest existing immortal palace in terms of actual operation. While Hong Junyan's Frosty Winter Immortal Palace was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, this palace alone has quietly flourished and enjoyed endless joy throughout the long years of obscurity.

It is also the final piece of the puzzle for the Western Paradise!
For a moment, it flew over the illusory image of Daowu Tianzun and into the bright moon over the blue stone.

Before the eternal illusion of the Blue Stone Palace, Jiang Wuyou stood guard at the gate, halberd drawn, hearing his brother's sigh and witnessing the silence of the palace gates. He believed that this long night would soon pass, and dawn would soon break.

But for some reason, she suddenly felt palpitations, sadness, and a metallic taste in her mouth.

Jiaowu Mountain, the birthplace of the Chu royal family, is the site of the rise of the Chu Kingdom.

For many years it has been sealed off, and it has not been decorated with wood and stone, nor has it been extensively built... The mountain has been desolate for a long time.

The years have passed, yet there stands a dilapidated temple, silently enduring wind and rain.

The temple's construction date and the person who erected it are unknown. It looks like it's been there for a long time, yet it also feels like it was built in recent years. The old and new are mixed together, creating a rather contradictory impression.

Sometimes it doesn't exist, and sometimes it stands clearly, so the incense in the temple burns intermittently.

The dilapidated temple was empty except for a clay Buddha statue that had been exposed to the elements for so long that the gold powder had long since faded and it had turned into a dark brown color.

The characters on the amulet were blurry, with faint traces of Sanskrit, but tonight they suddenly became clear, stating—

"World-Free King Buddha!"
Before Chu Liezong went to Mount Sumeru, he came to this mountain to meditate.

Sanfenxianglou has been operating in the Chu region for many years.

The Sanfenxiangqilou (Three Fragrant Pavilion) broke away from the State of Chu, yet it was not completely wiped out by Chu.

While leaving Chu, Sanfenxianglou also laid a pawn for Chu, helping Chu to wipe out Nandou Palace. Even Rakshasa Mingyuejing personally took action to eliminate Gao Zheng of Yue!
Because the Three-Part Fragrance Pavilion has always been under the control of Chu Liezong.

The cooperation between the State of Chu and the Three Fragrance Pavilion has ended, but the cooperation between Emperor Xiong Ji of Chu and Rakshasa Mingyue Jing continues.

Therefore, three parts of the fragrance of the pavilion were gathered.

Therefore, Xiong Ji entered Mount Sumeru as "eternity".

In the legends of the Amitabha Sutra, the Buddha Lokesvararaja... was the teacher of the monk Dharmakara, the previous incarnation of Amitabha Buddha!

From ancient times to the present, all share the same dream; the world reveres the immeasurable Buddha.

In Xiyue Nunnery, the memorial tablets of the "former Bodhisattvas" are lit up one after another.

In this temple where Abbess Dengyi had to leave the secular world, in this place occupied by the Heavenly Princess, but who is now trapped outside the heavens, there is also the sound of chanting: "Namo Amitabha Buddha of the West with utmost sincerity - the light of liberation is infinitely equal, hence the Buddha is also called Boundless Light. Those touched by the light are freed from existence and non-existence. Therefore, I bow to the equal enlightenment - may all sentient beings be reborn in the Land of Bliss!"

Far away at the Hanging Temple, the ill-fated master, known as the "Bodhisattva of Destiny," stood silently before the Buddha bell for a long time. Finally, he clasped his hands together, bowed his head, and said, "Namo... Amitabha!"

The World-Honored One has passed away.

Shakyamuni never heard of it again.

The central Buddha pays homage to the western Buddha.

When the three bells toll, the whole world resounds.

Inside the Donghua Pavilion, the Emperor of Daqi wielded his sword to kill the Buddha, causing Jiang Wuliang to be injured and his cultivation damaged time and time again, yet his recovery speed was getting faster and faster.

The Emperor's Sword annihilates the endless tides of light, yet the tides recede only to surge forth again, each one faster than the last.

Finally, the Donghua Pavilion was as bright as day!
When the Emperor of Qi once again pierced Jiang Wuliang's heart with his sword, he had already clasped his hands together and stopped retreating.

He allowed the sword energy to rage inside the Buddha's body.

He allowed the emperor to kill him and his Yongshou to fight.

"The Eastern Land on Earth, the Heavenly Paradise."

From this day forward.

He said, "I will handle all affairs of the world from the west."

“If you face west, you must worship me.”

“Facing east, I am in the eastern country, and thus I am also the Son of Heaven of the East.”

"Whether in the East or the West, regardless of time or place, he is called 'Immeasurable Buddha'!"

At this moment, I have transcended.

He is immeasurable light, immeasurable life, immeasurable... Amitabha!
His divine might and radiant light make him the most revered and supreme.

He will also become the Emperor of the Great Qi, the Emperor of the Eastern Kingdom, and rise to become the most powerful contender for the current Emperor of the Six Realms.

He has already become a Buddha, yet he still aspires to be an emperor.

Transcending to become an emperor is not about gaining power, but about putting on shackles.

Hundreds of millions of people, countless karmic connections, will drag you down into the mortal world!

Jiang Wuliang suffers the consequences of Hong Junyan's advice on dealing with detachment on the grasslands.

Therefore you must understand—

He must have an ideal far greater than His own eternity.

Therefore, one must give up eternal freedom.

The eternal Amitabha Buddha respectfully addressed the Emperor: "Your Majesty, please abdicate—we wish to honor you in the past."

The emperor looked into his eldest son's eyes, and into the clearly defined Western Paradise, and he understood everything.

But he only said: "Throughout history, no emperor has ever relinquished the power of Tai'a! I have never... been able to escape punishment!"

The verses appearing in the text are the original text of Master Tanluan's "Praise to Amitabha Buddha". I originally wanted to write it myself, but how to put it... it almost lacked that half-common, half-obscure, half-understood feeling.

See you all on Friday!
The event hosted by Yuewen has ended, but I'll definitely be able to repay the extra chapters before the end of the month.

But I estimate it will be the week after next.

……

I highly recommend the new fantasy novel "Borrowing a Sword" by the head of a kindergarten!
The day before yesterday, there was a gathering for drinks at the Yuewen event. Because I have a very low alcohol tolerance, he drank three bottles for me. Now I have to decline!

……

Thank you to reader "150813184814685" for becoming the leader of this book, the 971th leader of the Red Heart Patrol Alliance!
……