Heart Survey

Chapter 2806 Yuanyang Dali
The Kingdom of Li is located in the southern region, and its national destiny is inherently associated with the element of fire. The summer solstice is the time when the yang energy of heaven and earth reaches its peak for the year, reaching its zenith. As the saying goes, "When the yang reaches its peak, the fire burns, and the old and new perish together." If we were to discuss the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of changing flags and rulers... this is the most ominous day.

But Ji Boyong chose this very day to accept the abdication and establish an imperial dynasty. His saying, "True gold is forged in the fire," meant that he would use the most intense flames to forge the most magnificent gold. He was determined to forge a great nation from the most perilous circumstances.

Of course, with the Jing Kingdom delegation already in Yi'an, and Lou Junlan clearly arriving with suspicions from the Imperial Party, Song Huai's plans in Li Kingdom could no longer be concealed...

Song Huai no longer intended to hide it.

On the very same day that Ji Boyong proclaimed himself emperor in Yi'an, the Eastern Celestial Master Song Huai personally raised the banner of justice on Penglai Island—

The sun and moon symbolize enlightenment, and the king's rule represents order. This banner, the "Bright Sun and Moon Banner," is shaped like the sun and moon, its gold gleaming. Hanging in the sky, it possesses a brilliance unseen in four thousand years. It stands alongside the "Heaven and Earth Dragon Banner" of the Jing Kingdom on Penglai Island, each displaying its own splendor.

This is already the most direct statement!
Penglai Island acknowledges Ji Boyong's legitimacy, recognizes Liguo as Daoguo, and is even willing to respect it as Daozongguo.

In the present context, Penglai Island respects Ji Yusu, who established the national system, and reveres his eldest son. In the long term, the Daoist sect supported more than just the Jing Kingdom in the new era; it was the Jing Kingdom that won the internal competition within the Daoist lineage, thus securing its central position.

If "Sui" was acceptable in the past, why can't "Li" be acceptable now?
If the Sheng Kingdom had been more ambitious back then, its flag could have flown over the sacred land of Taoism.

Having narrowly escaped being overthrown by the central government, Yujing Mountain's current stance is ambiguous. The Grand Master, Yu Xi, personally went to Baoxue Peak to discuss the matter of subduing demons with the newly ascended Transcendent One, whose title had yet to be determined. After all, given the connection of the "Ancient Demon-Slaying Covenant," no one could say anything.

The Western Celestial Master Xu Xuanyuan happened to return to Wan Kingdom. It is said that, in view of Xu Zhiyi's mediocre performance during his trip to Ning'an City, he gave him special training behind closed doors.

What the imperial faction feared most was actually Mount Daluo.

Not only because Mount Daluo remained unmoved during the various events that weakened the Daoist sect.

Furthermore, Ji Boyong was the crown prince chosen by Daluo Mountain back then, and he himself was the Daoist Master of Daluo Mountain. For a long time, he and Daluo Mountain were very close, inseparable.

He once represented Da Luo Shan; who will Da Luo Shan support today?
The reclusive Northern Celestial Master Wu Daoyou has yet to provide the world with an answer.

Grand Master Yu Zhaoluan was still unaware of the situation and could not express his opinion.

But having no attitude is itself an attitude.

After Boyong declared himself emperor, the landscape changed overnight. The three branches of the Daoist sect, which had already aligned themselves with the Jingguo Emperor's faction, suddenly became "transcendent and superior" again.

There was no choice before; many things had to be accepted with a heavy heart. Now that there's a legitimate option, we can renegotiate, argue, and even fight again!

With these three channels in place, all paths under heaven fall silent.

The first letter of surrender from the vassal state, accompanied by a letter from the central government, immediately stalled.

The "young emperor," who had been biding his time, was temporarily confined to his quarters for "disrespecting Prince Xun." Empress Dowager Sheng then took over the administration of the country from behind the curtain, and her governing strategies suddenly became more forceful.

While negotiating peace with the Mu Kingdom abroad and quelling border conflicts, the Jing Kingdom stationed heavy troops and built strong defensive fortifications on its southern border. It also increased exchanges with the Qingya Academy and actively built branch campuses within the country.

The imperial guards were out in force, slaughtering the surrender faction. Of course, none of them died because they advocated surrendering to Jing; they all deserved their fate, either for corruption or dereliction of duty.

The "young emperor" admired the central government, and Empress Dowager Sheng also supported him, but everything needed time.

Sheng Xuehuai, who was in charge of writing the surrender document, was drunk in brothels every day and would often forget what to say when he picked up his pen.

Dou Ningsun, the special envoy of the Central Committee who gained a great merit for nothing, is now sitting in the outer ceremonial hall in distress.

In the past, when Lüqiu Wenyue pleaded guilty and requested death in court, Emperor Jing highlighted the names of three promising young men. They were considered to have won the emperor's favor and were subsequently given special attention and training.

However, Qingdu Vice Minister Yan Yuchang died because his identity as a follower of the Yizhen Dao was exposed. Suining Commander Zang Ruogu joined the army to fight against the evil forces. Two years ago, he died in the Tianxi Wasteland from the counterattack of the demon race.

Only Dou Ningsun, who had once served as the Yunqi Commandant, remained, eager to serve his country, but his fortunes rose and fell rapidly in the Sheng Kingdom.

At first, he was filled with righteous indignation, openly rebuking the ruler, hoping to leave his name in history and bring honor to his family. Later, when the ruler requested to submit, he was overwhelmed by the immense glory of "surrendering to a kingdom on horseback," to the point of pinching his thigh until it turned purple, fearing it was all just a dream—

It really was all a dream!

You asked Sheng Xuehuai how the surrender document was coming along, and Sheng Xuehuai asked you who this surrender document should be sent to.

Because there are now two central empires, both of which are legitimate.

Sheng Guo's heart is with the Daoist sect, but Sheng Guo can't distinguish between them!
"The prosperous nation wishes to submit to the central government, but does not know the name of the central government... We are filled with trepidation as we pay homage, but ask which family we submit to?"

You can't ask anymore.

Behind Weidu stands Penglai Island, and Meng Wuyai, the prime minister of Shengguo, is the true immortal of Penglai Island.

Penglai Island's stance has been made clear by its flag.

If we insist on forcing the Sheng Kingdom to also fly the "Bright Sun and Moon Flag," then Dou Ningsun should count how many clansmen he has.

The Jing Kingdom's advance towards conquering all the vassal states of the world came to an abrupt halt on the summer solstice.

Admittedly, those small Daoist kingdoms can still be pacified by sending messages to Tianjing City.

For example, in the Western Kingdom of Zhuang, which is under the control of the "Elders' Council," the country has been obedient to the Zong Kingdom in recent years. If a letter of state is sent from Tianjing City, would the group of "Elders" led by Zhang Ren dare not respond?

The problem is... Zhuang Kingdom has always belonged to the Yujing Mountain lineage. Does it listen more to Tianjing City or to Yujing Mountain?
Those high-ranking officials, if they still had a brain, would never have wanted this issue to surface.

The books that can be circulated in Tianjing City can also be circulated in Yining City now!

Before resolving this issue concerning orthodoxy, forcibly promoting the unification of the Dao lineage would force all Daoist states to choose sides, effectively splitting the Daoist states.

For the same reason, Tianjing City will not provoke any Daoist lineage at this time. Even though Penglai Island has openly raised the flag of the Sun and Moon, the Eastern Celestial Master's Mansion in Tianjing City remains bustling with visitors.

Prince Dai, Ji Jinglu, even personally presented this year's birthday gift!

History has its own inherent trends, but in the boundless river of time, there are always some extraordinary entities that can stir up huge waves and even rewrite the course of the river.

Ji Boyong is clearly such a person.

Yesterday, the entire Jing Kingdom was eager to make its move, aiming its sword at the six directions. From the demon realm to the divine realm and then to the mortal world, its moves were intricate and omnipresent, and wherever the Jing banner pointed, all were subdued.

Ji Boyong donned the dragon robe, and the world seemed to turn upside down.

Anyone with eyes to see can see that the Jing Kingdom's four-thousand-year-old imperial rule has been shaken overnight.

Despite the central government's efforts over the years to reclaim power from the Daoist sects, the Daoist sects remain the foundation of the Jing Kingdom.

A "Central Crown Prince" who was deposed back then might not be enough, but with the recognition from Penglai Island, it is more than enough.

The title of "Central Crown Prince" represents the reason for arguing for legitimacy.

The support from Penglai Island means that it has a chance to win the battle for legitimacy.

Having waited for over three thousand years in the underground palace, it emerged with its sword aimed at the vital points of Tianjing.

The so-called journey of six directions, just as the horn was sounded, was already stillborn!
At this point, there is no other choice.

It's like a starving diner finally getting a fresh fish served, only to find a fishbone stuck in their throat on the first bite. Without removing that bone, there's no way to continue eating.

As long as the Kingdom of Li remains intact and Ji Boyong lives on, the Central Empire will never be able to clench its fist.

What Kejing Kingdom can see, all other countries in the world can see.

When the "Central Crown Prince" proclaimed himself emperor in Li, the happiest people were neither the people of the Central Empire nor the people of Li... but rather the "foreign envoys" who had gathered together in celebration.

The "pleasure" that Li Guo seeks is not merely carnal pleasure, and these envoys have experienced it firsthand today! There is nothing more satisfying than making Jing Guo suffer a setback.

On the summer solstice of the year 3946 in the Dao calendar, a grand feast of bliss was held in Yi'an City. The preparations for the feast were hasty, and the food and wine on the table were not particularly rare, with spiritual vegetables and fruits being scarce. However, everyone at the feast was all smiles, clinking glasses and enjoying themselves immensely.

The envoys from the powerful states of Qin, Chu, Qi, Mu, and Jing all arrived in Yi'an City on the very day Ji Boyong declared himself emperor… almost simultaneously. Despite having no prior communication, it was as if they had made a pre-arranged agreement.

The attendees were all heavyweight figures, either governing a region or commanding an army; in short, they all represented their respective courts…

They represent some of the world's strongest nations, and they have all established diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Rise!

The exchange of official credentials was a highly formal affair, allowing for the sharing of information and resources.

I used to know that such a country existed in the world, and I agreed that it existed.

Now we recognize its value in communication, and even acknowledge its status!

Taking the State of Qi as an example, the fact that it was willing to give the State of Li a second glance and invite its envoy to the Temple of the Holy Emperor was merely a side effect of countering the Central Empire and responding to the State of Jing's arrogance in Yanlao City... Yu Qiongzhi stayed in the outer temple the whole time and didn't even get to see Su Guanying.

This time, however, it was Ming Cheng, the military governor of Nanxia, ​​who personally brought gifts to offer congratulations. He even prepared a gift for Yu Qiongzhi, a bodhisattva officially named by the ruler of the country, which could help her achieve the path of joy.

Li Weiyong Song was also busy.

Compared to the establishment of titles by the major hegemonic powers, the countries below these hegemonic powers provided more direct material support.

After all, with the Jing Kingdom embarking on its conquest of the Six Kingdoms, they are the first to bear the brunt. Before the dragon and tiger clash, the cheetahs and wolves must be wiped out.

The state that supported Ji Boyong also rose to this level.

The State of Wei generously provided a batch of armor.

The Yong Kingdom directly sent a thousand puppet soldiers, claiming they were for the new emperor's ceremonial guard.

The Song Kingdom was heavily implicated in the Chen Yan Xun affair. To avoid suspicion, Emperor Zhao Hongyi of Song recuperated at Shushan for three years before returning. Furthermore, the fact that prodigies like Chen Si Wu sought death in the demon realm disheartened many.

Today, the State of Song has lost all its power and influence and can no longer compete with the State of Wei.

But Zhao Hongyi was still at the pinnacle, and the Confucian Temple of the Song State still revered the sage of Confucianism. Though the ancient tree was decayed, its remaining shade still lingered.

They donated a thousand loads of books and also gave away a lot of elixirs.

If we were to represent a nation through the lens of a person, then governing the country would be the protagonist, destined by fate, receiving alms from everyone from the very first appearance. On the very first day of establishing the temple, the national treasury was overflowing with gifts!

In this vast world, there is no place where no one is not a friend—except for the State of Jing.

King Le even wrote a letter in his own hand, addressing Ji Boyong as his virtuous nephew and proposing a state alliance with Li Guo as uncle and nephew. He also publicly declared to the world: "King Taizu was a peerless hero and my elder brother. Now that the Prince Yuan is abroad, suffering for a thousand years, how can I bear to see him! I will dedicate the rest of my life to protecting him!"

Of course, everything comes at a price.

The fact that all parties are arming the country at any cost reflects their immense expectations of it.

The world is awaiting a war.

Waiting for Emperor Jing of the current dynasty to attack his great-uncle, and for the central government to fight against Yuan Yang!
When Ji Boyong sat on the dragon throne, receiving congratulatory gifts from various states, this battle was already inevitable.

Even if Ji Fengzhou doesn't go south, Ji Boyong will go north.

Even if Ji Boyong wanted to stop, the states would push him northward!

He then slept with a spear as a pillow.

Ji Boyong, the "Central Crown Prince," was crowned Emperor of the State of Li, establishing the reign title "Yuanyang," and respectfully addressed the former ruler of the State of Li as "Auspicious and Wise King."

The Duan royal family members were also bestowed with titles and rewards, and were generous with their wealth and power.

For example, Duan Sigu, the top martial arts master in the Li Kingdom before Fan Wushu, was directly rewarded with a top-notch martial arts technique and given military power, allowing him to command the first cavalry force in the Li Kingdom, composed entirely of demonic horses and armor. Fan Wushu's apprentice, Duan Qifeng, was appointed "Imperial General," leading three thousand elite soldiers to serve as the emperor's personal guard.

When Boyong was in power, he disregarded all rules of power and factions, appointing people based solely on their abilities and using anyone who could do it, and he also built up a large army!
The ancestor, Qingyan, was regarded as the "Great Sage of the Central State".

Fan Wushu was appointed as the "Grand Commander of the Army and Cavalry of the Entire Country".

Yu Qiongzhi was regarded as "Pu Sao An Guo".

Chen Cuo was appointed as the "National Preceptor of Dali".

With this disciple by his side, Song Huai, though not among the court officials, has already established his position in the court of governing the country!
From this day forward, the many talented individuals of Penglai Island were also opened to the Kingdom of Li.

Furthermore, the Corpse Phoenix Jia Xuan flew over and, together with the Yuan Chu of Zeng Luo Li Kingdom, was bestowed the title of "Guardian Master of the Nation".

This represents the support of Huang Weizhen, the Daoist Master of the Mountain and Sea!
Thus, "Yuanyang Dali," this land of phoenixes, had become a powerful nation in the world.

If it weren't for its long period of weakness and short period of striving, resulting in a "big head and small body," it could have been compared with any other country.

……

……

"We are still missing a true master general."

"The so-called Yuanyang Dali is ready in every way and has already become a fat man. Now it only needs a top military strategist who can lead a million-strong army, unite the forces of all sides, temper and hone their skills in the war against Jing, and unleash the spirit and energy that Liguo has never shown in a thousand years, so as to completely forge this country into shape."

The void was serene and quiet, the high platform cold and still. Xu Wang sat cross-legged, before him stretched an endless sea of ​​karmic flowers... Colorful mist swirled above the sea of ​​flowers.

All the causes and effects related to Yuanyang Dali have taken root and blossomed here, constantly blooming and withering.

The vast majority of these were intelligence gathered by the Qin state's intelligence agencies, while some were directly obtained by him.

Because it involves the plans of the Mountain and Sea Dao Master, and powerful figures like Ji Boyong and Qing Yan, the current state of Li Kingdom remains shrouded in mystery.

Even Zhenhou Xu Wang was "seeing flowers through a fog".

"It's a pity Qi Xiao died."

"She died of old age in her old house in Linzi City, without any marks on her body... She had lived a long and healthy life without illness or disaster. The examination results of the chief physician of Qi State showed that she had exhausted herself and her body could not support that level of thinking. She walked to the end of her life alone while enjoying her military simulations."

"This level of cleanliness speaks volumes—what other force would be so eager to find her, given that they would go to such great lengths to enter Linzi and risk everything to do so?"

"Seeing the country today, I understand."

"Perhaps the Kingdom of Li is the battlefield prepared for her..."

Xu Wang sighed again: "What a pity."

It's said that a compassionate general cannot command an army, but extreme ruthlessness, reaching the level of Qi Xiao, is actually quite rare. She cares about nothing but victory and defeat. She's willing to sacrifice everything, including herself, for the sake of victory.

Raising an army in a small corner to resist the central government's great ambitions. Exhausting all military strategies, fighting to the death...

Qi Xiaotai is well-suited to governing the country today.

As a top-notch military strategist, he regretted not being able to witness Qi Xiao's final dance.

As the Marquis of Zhen of Qin, he regretted that the strength of the state was not "ideal" enough!
"A true dragon that once soared through the heavens may hide in the gutter for the sake of victory or defeat in war, but it is impossible for it to truly live in the gutter!"

The tall and imposing Crown Prince of Qin, just by standing there, gave people a feeling of vastness and boundless expanse.

The black python robes that he once wore are now embroidered with black dragons.

It was not an act of usurpation. Rather, after repeatedly rendering great service and having exhausted all other rewards, the emperor bestowed upon him a dragon-embroidered robe. He accepted it with a smile.

At this moment, he stood alone in the void, surrounded by meteorites, clearly the center of this place. He continued Xu Wang's topic: "Qi Xiao is a killer general, every strand of her hair carries a murderous aura. She must have refused the invitation from the Kingdom of Equality before she died. She must have made some arrangements before she died, to give the Kingdom of Equality a lesson that will never be forgotten."

"Given her physical limitations, this was undoubtedly a mortal's method. To avoid being discovered by those who invited her, this arrangement must have been initiated only after her death—there's bound to be some clues around this point. A specific person, someone with sufficient tacit understanding with her, could find the answer by entering that courtyard."

"If that Holy Emperor were still alive, he would surely seize the opportunity and uproot the Kingdom of Equality."

"Jiang Wuhua has too many problems to deal with, so he can only turn a blind eye."

"This has nothing to do with their talent, but with their circumstances."

"Jiang Shu and Ji Fengzhou are similar in some ways. They both aspire to bring order to the world and are confident that they can sweep away everything. Therefore, they regard sweeping away the Pingdeng Kingdom as their own responsibility and are not afraid of the consequences."

“Jiang Wuhua needs time. He would love to lock up the State of Qi and develop it for another ten years. He is absolutely unwilling to start a war now.”

Ying Wu spread his hands as if he had grasped this vast world: "Therefore, heroes must seize the moment and not let their guard down. Only by reflecting on themselves and striving for self-improvement, and being mindful of potential dangers even in times of peace, can they remain steadfast despite the vastness of the land. Having reached the summit, what is there to fear from the winds and clouds!"

The slender-faced Fan Sinian chuckled gently from the side, "Your Highness has this understanding. What difficulty is there in bringing order to the world?"

His amiable appearance makes it hard to associate him with his infamous and ruthless reputation.

The prime ministers of all great powers formulate policies for the country, regulate the world, and act with integrity, rarely venturing into shadowy departments to "avoid staining the national robes." Only he, the prime minister of Qin, personally reorganized the Zhenyu Division, creating a terrifying shadow that terrified the entire world.

Gan Bubing, as sturdy as an evergreen pine, stood on the city wall, his beard and hair fluttering: "Liqi is nothing but a Chu banner—Chu should be able to send a famous general to take command of the army under false pretenses, just like Cao Jie's substitution to kill Qi Hong."

"General, you may not know this," Xu Wang explained, "Although Li Guo may be called the banner of Chu today, Ji Boyong has never been a vassal of the Chu people. He has always had a cooperative relationship with Emperor Taizu of Chu. Shaking the central government now is a move for Chu, but once he dons the dragon robe, it will be his own path. If Li Guo were to hand over his military sword to Chu, then Yuan Yang would no longer be the central government, and Ji Boyong's claim to the throne would be meaningless."

"In other words, once the Jing army marches south, it will inevitably be Boyong who leads the army to fight back..." Deep in the void, there was an imperial court. On the throne, the Qin Emperor quietly lowered his crown: "Then Ji Fengzhou will definitely have to lead the expedition in person."

Qi Xiaogui believes that Ji Boyong has much more room to maneuver. Without a top-tier military strategist controlling the battlefield, Ji Boyong has absolutely no room for error with the talent pool currently available in the Li Kingdom.

Fan Sinian smiled, tucking his sleeves together: "After all, he is the Crown Prince of the Central Kingdom, and he has no shortage of titles. If the Emperor of Jing Kingdom does not witness this firsthand, he may face the danger of defection!"

It's not that Ji Fengzhou's control over the country was so poor that frontline generals would necessarily surrender if they encountered Ji Boyong.

Rather, it means that a qualified monarch will try to avoid testing the loyalty of his officials!
Ji Boyong, with the support of the Daoist sects within the country and the patronage of various nations, would be more qualified to succeed Ji Fengzhou if he were to die suddenly, than the current heirs of the Jing Kingdom. How could Ji Fengzhou be at ease unless he witnessed his own death?

"This is an opportunity that cannot be missed! Heaven has granted us this chance!" Ying Wu waved his hand and said, "Those thorns in our side can now be removed. The western border should have long ago been unified, with black banners flying everywhere!"

Emperor Qin did not express his opinion, but his voice was slightly deep: "Song Huai's public support for Ji Boyong this time... exposes many problems."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Fan Sinian immediately stepped forward to analyze: "When Ji Boyong cooperated with Emperor Taizu of Chu, Song Huai did not exist. After that, he was in a state of quiet contemplation, disappearing from the world. How could he and Song Huai have such a tacit understanding? Although they both belong to the Dao Kingdom, in terms of the kingdom, they are the imperial family and the Dao lineage, and in terms of the Dao, they are the Great Luo Mountain and Penglai Island. They are not on the same path."

"But more than three thousand years later, Ji Boyong emerged from the pass and declared himself emperor, and Song Huai immediately raised his banner in response, acknowledging the legitimacy! This is very interesting. There is no trust without a reason in this world, and the tacit understanding between them must exist in a third party... either the One True Path or the Equal Kingdom."

"From another perspective. Even if Song Huai and Ji Boyong were of one mind, or even if they hit it off immediately and gained mutual trust the moment Ji Boyong emerged from seclusion... Song Huai's best choice would not have been to state his position so quickly. He could have been ambiguous like Wu Daoyou, or kept quiet like Xu Xuanyuan, waiting for Ji Fengzhou to personally lead the campaign against Ji Boyong, and then raised his banner in the rear, catching Ji Fengzhou off guard! But he chose to make Ji Fengzhou alert now."

"The only explanation is that he had to choose sides to protect himself. Ji Fengzhou already suspects him, or is about to take action against him. He has already reached his current position, what danger could he possibly face within the Dao Kingdom? Those who do suspicious things will inevitably become suspects themselves. He must either join the True Dao or the Equal Kingdom."

"Furthermore, there is a third point—Song Huai is highly suspected in the death of Mr. Manjia!"

In the past, the Underworld Lord Wang Yao attacked and killed the human astrology master. Song Huai and Wang Xixu fought back fiercely. In the end, Wang Xixu and Wang Yao died together, and Song Huai returned to Penglai with serious injuries.

There has been no follow-up to this matter, nor can there be. During the Divine Firmament War, the void environment at the time left no clues. We can only accept whatever Song Huai says.

However, the Qin state never relaxed its suspicion of Song Huai.

The reason is simple—Song Huai's apparent near-saint level strength, combined with Wang Xixu's hidden strength, is not enough to kill the Underworld Lord Wang Yao.

Since the final result was that Wang Yao was executed, Song Huai must have been hiding something.

He is the Eastern Celestial Master of the Taoist sect, representing Penglai Island in the human world. He is stationed in Tianjing and often needs to demonstrate his power. In such situations, he remains deep and secretive, indicating that he has great ambitions.

If he could kill Wang Yao, he could kill Wang Xixu.

The fact that someone like Wang Xixu died suddenly on the Void Battlefield without sending back a single piece of information is itself an important piece of intelligence—someone had the resources to erase the battlefield information.

The Qin people's initial suspicion was that the Jing people were deliberately suppressing and weakening the Qin state in the racial war.

In the midst of a difficult battle, casually eliminating important figures from other countries, while violating the bottom line of humanity's shared hatred on the battlefield... it's not entirely surprising that the Jing Kingdom did such a thing.

After all, no intelligence could be transmitted at that time; it was an environment of absolute secrecy. If you were in their shoes, and the Qin people had the opportunity to easily eliminate an important figure from the Jing state, no one could say they wouldn't be tempted.

The Qin state's investigation had also focused on this area. If they could obtain concrete evidence, they could raise the banner of righteousness and use the momentum to deliver a major blow to the Jing state. Unfortunately, there had been no further progress.

In retrospect, perhaps we were heading in the wrong direction.

Considering Song Huai's sudden shift in allegiance, the events of that time seem to have a different explanation—Song Huai probably wasn't acting under Jing Guo's orders, but rather because Wang Xixu stumbled upon something, forcing him to reveal his strength. Wang Xixu was silenced.

Only in this way can we explain Jingguo's current suspicion of Song Huai, and Song Huai's clear support for Ji Boyong.

"The Prime Minister said that the tacit understanding between Song Huai and Ji Boyong does not lie between the two of them, but exists in the presence of a third party. At present, this third party is 'Li Guo' (the ruler of the state), and looking deeper, standing there is the Lord of the Mountain and Sea Sect!"

Gan Bubing frowned slightly: "The Lord of the Mountain and Sea could not possibly be related to Yizhen. Could it be that He belongs to the Kingdom of Equality?"

This void palace, pioneered by Qin Zhizhen and personally overseen by the Qin Emperor, connects all the heavens, bringing together the most powerful figures of the Qin Kingdom to exchange ideas. It can isolate them from all prying eyes in the myriad realms, so that even if they talk about transcendence, they will not be alerted.

As a veteran who has clashed with the Equal Kingdom many times, Gan Bubing has always been resentful about failing to capture and kill the Divine Hero back then... He is quite sensitive to news from the Equal Kingdom.

Xu Wang pondered for a moment and said, "How long has the Kingdom of Equality existed? The Lord of the Mountain and Sea is very young!"

Gan Bubing shook his head: "He may not be the creator of the Equal Kingdom, or even its leader, but he may still be a member of the Equal Kingdom. Don't forget that the Equal Kingdom is a hodgepodge, where everyone wears a mask of ideals and is not ranked by strength. Moreover, the death of the Lord of the Mountain and Sea was very mysterious, and we still haven't been able to get a complete clue."

"Don't rush to assign a position to the Lord of the Mountain and Sea. Back then, Qian Jinhua captured Huang Jinmo to facilitate the birth of the [Non-Aggression] Puppet Lord. Although a considerable price was paid, with all those involved dying, was that really enough for the immortals?"

"At the time, the Lord of the Mountain and Seas was busy killing the Nameless One. But after the Nameless One was killed and before He signed the contract, there was a period of blank time, enough for Him to make arbitrary changes."

Ying Wu waved his hand: "It's still hard to say whose will the Mohists are actually following today."

Gan Bubing was immediately filled with awe.

The flourishing of the national system inevitably brought the Jing Kingdom the most abundant resources, because it was the Jing Kingdom that initiated this era. This is also an important reason why, after the Shenxiao War, the Jing Kingdom was able to quickly reorganize its army and conquer all under heaven.

The Qin state established its hegemony for thousands of years and was able to share in the most succulent part of it, feasting on its richest delicacies.

Although the various states were constantly at war, with six powerful states vying for supremacy and Li and Wei emerging as latecomers, and countless dreams of heroism, at their core, they all aimed for the hegemony of a single family. "Yongmo" and "Yuanyang Dali" represented a new order within the imperial era.

The former prioritizes the people as the foundation of the nation, downplaying the state and the monarch, and aims for "the fulfillment of all heavenly dreams." The latter governs the country with reason and regulates the world with laws, requiring even emperors to follow the rules.

And behind both of these... there is an inexplicable connection with the Lord of the Mountain and Sea.

No wonder it is said that He can compete with Ji Furen; not only is He powerful, but His strategy is also far-reaching.

Xu Wang seemed thoughtful: "If the Daoist sect truly supported Ji Boyong, they wouldn't have watched him get crippled back then. The current ambiguous attitude of Mount Daluo is just a bargaining tactic. As for Penglai Island… putting aside Song Huai himself, what does the Great Luo Daoist have to do with them? Song Huai is taking advantage of Ji Zuo's absence to raise the banner on behalf of Penglai Island. Does the Penglai Daoist Master really want that? Perhaps the Dragon Buddha won't die this time—"

"Alright." The emperor tapped the armrest with his finger. "Don't touch Jade Capital Mountain. After all, we must respect the Lord of Jade Capital. After the Western Regions are unified, we can build a temple for Him. But places like Wan and Zhuang have no reason to exist."

"When attacking the manor, be gentle in your methods and respect the feelings of Martial Ancestor and Daoist Jiang."

Only now did he respond to Crown Prince Ying Wu's earlier words about 'pulling out the nail'.

Qin had indeed tolerated these spies that Jing had placed in the western border for far too long!

In their attitude towards the central empire, compared to Qi's determination to fight for every inch of land, Chu's refusal to submit to the south, Mu's confrontational approach, and Jing's tendency to resort to violence at the drop of a hat, the martial Qin people always clashed head-on with Jing at various grand gatherings of the states. However, in terms of actual geography, they isolated themselves in the westernmost region, focused on development, and ignored Jing's thorns in their side.

They never gave up challenging the authority of the Jing Kingdom, but they also always avoided actually going to war with the Jing Kingdom.

Fan Sinian silently noted it down. He could pay his respects at Fenglin, a place to condemn the former ruler's crimes, mourn the deceased, and pity the people of the present; he shouldn't cause any further disturbance. As for Sanshan City, Dou Yuemei could continue as the city lord, and that silly, chubby boy named Sun Xiaoyan could be given a bright future…

The Qin emperor then said, "Send someone from Chang'an to ask Hong Junyan if he wants Fangyuan City. Qin can withstand the pressure from Jing."

Ying Wu laughed: "Won't Mr. Hong eat too much after taking this bite? After all, it's been frozen for so many years, I'm worried about his stomach."

The Qin emperor said calmly, "That is a problem that the State of Jing needs to consider."

If the State of Li attacks Fangyuan City, the State of Qin will easily take over Mengdu.

The Qin state can withstand the pressure from the Jing state and let the Li state take Fangyuan City first, but that doesn't mean it should help them keep Fangyuan City!
In this way, if Yongmo's side still has any dangerous situations involving the Mountain and Sea Dao Lord's plans... it will be the Li Kingdom that has to wade in. They will also have to swallow the subsequent killing intent from the Military Court Empire.

Even if the Li Kingdom knew all this, it would have no choice but to make the choice.

Because they failed to achieve their goals in the Shenxiao War, while the Jing Kingdom gained greatly. Their path forward was blocked! Now, the Qin Kingdom is giving them a way out.

Gan Bubing, who had been stationed at the Great Wall for a long time, asked at this moment: "If the Jing Kingdom sends troops, and we also send troops at the same time... wouldn't that break the current tacit agreement?"

"What tacit understanding do we have?" the Qin emperor retorted. "Does the whole world oppose the Jing Kingdom?"

"The path of the Six Harmonies is one where only one victor emerges."

He gently raised his sleeve from his dragon throne: "Jing considers the world his enemy, but how can the Great Qin not be an enemy of the world as well!"

Since the emperor had already made his decision, Gan Bubing said no more, performed the military salute, and then disappeared.

Xu Wang walked into the sea of ​​flowers and disappeared at the end of their destiny. Fan Sinian took a step back and retreated into the shadows…

Soon, only the emperor, his ministers, and their sons remained in the empty palace.

There can only be one victor in the endeavor, and this applies even between father and son.

The Emperor of Qin looked at the heroic Crown Prince with a profound gaze: "Crown Prince, it seems I will have to fight for you again."

Ying Wu showed no sign of nervousness and said cheerfully, "You must take good care of yourself and do your best. If Father can unify the six kingdoms, I will guard them. If Father cannot unify the six kingdoms, I will bear the burden."

……

……

"In the past, Boyong joined forces with Xiong Yizhen to shatter Ji Furen's grand dream of unifying the world."

"Ji Furen forced Xiong Yizhen to his death, plundered the path of transcendence that Boyong had uniquely proven, and turned to walk towards eternity."

"More than three thousand years later, Boyong turned around and 'stole the country' again, continuing the path he initially sought as the 'Central Crown Prince'... which was also the path that Ji Furen longed for and could not let go of even after transcending it."

"It's the so-called 'Fu Ren stole the Dao, Boyong stole the country!'"

"These two brothers have a love-hate relationship; they're always at odds with each other."

On the snow-covered summit of Baoxue Peak, a Taoist priest with ruddy complexion and handsome features was sitting and eating grilled fish.

His Taoist robe was extremely luxurious, yet it was simply draped over the snow.

As he picked out the fish bones, he kept talking: "Master Jiang, no one can hear what I'm saying here, right?"

Jiang Wang looked at him with a smile: "You've said everything you should and shouldn't have said. Isn't it too late to ask now?"

"It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost." Yu Xi slowly savored the fish, enjoying it for a while, before saying, "If word gets out by accident, please try to salvage the situation."

Jiang Wang smiled slightly: "Then we'll have to silence Jing Er."

Yu Xi remained expressionless, simply putting the fish bone into his mouth and crunching it like a snack.

"Speak!" He picked up a snow-white handkerchief embroidered with gold thread and slowly wiped his mouth. "What brings you here, Daoist Master Jiang, with such an urgent summons?"

"Didn't you come of your own accord?" Jiang Wang feigned surprise, glancing at Ye Qingyu beside him before looking back at Yu Xi with a deeper smile: "The God of Wealth said you probably don't want to stay at Yujing Mountain right now. When I sent word, I only said I was grilling fish and asked how you were doing..."

Whether Yu Xi came to Baoxue Peak on his own initiative, or was forced to come due to pressure from Daoist Jiang, remains to be seen.

This is a very important question.

Yu Xi stopped arguing. He couldn't understand it anyway, and he couldn't win a fight.

Jiang Wang wouldn't let him "renege on his debt" so easily.

"The fish is delicious! The God of Wealth's grilled fish is truly unparalleled," he said.

He exclaimed again, "The weather is so nice!"

Ye Qingyu smiled, her eyes crinkling: "You should understand the principle that 'he who eats another's food is bound to him, and he who takes another's money is bound to him'..."

Yu Xi opened his mouth and spat out a whole fish. Not only was the flesh intact, but even the scales had gone back into place. The fish was even shaking its head and wagging its tail in the air. It was clearly alive!

"However, this humble Taoist priest abstains from meat and fish," he said with a smile. "I can only pretend to taste it, but I cannot actually eat it."

Who can practice Tai Chi with a Taoist priest?
Jiang Wang simply got straight to the point: "Jing will attack Li, Ji Fengzhou will fight Ji Boyong, and Emperor Wen of Da Jing will officially face off against the Lord of Shan Hai Dao... I can also do something I've been waiting to do for a long time."

Signing the Transcendence Agreement effectively bound his hands and feet, preventing him from participating in many things and forcing him to remain seated on the mountain in ascetic practice.

Indeed, this was exactly the kind of life he had always dreamed of, the kind where he could enjoy the pleasures of spiritual practice and had always hoped to practice undisturbed.

But in this turbulent and competitive world, simply shutting yourself away to cultivate yourself is useless.

Many world-changing events will be missed if you don't get involved. In the end, the closed door will inevitably be pushed open by external forces.

This is probably exactly what Ji Furen wanted.

Ji Furen's advantage lies in strategic planning, while Jiang Wang's advantage lies in disrupting the status quo. Forcing Jiang Wang to sign a contract is to drag him into the same field.

It's not that Jiang Wang is belittling himself. When it comes to playing chess, even if a hundred of him were tied together and racked their brains all day long... they still couldn't beat Ji Furen's casual moves.

Fortunately, the world is a game of chess, and when Ji Furen sat down in that position, there were naturally opponents who were worthy of him.

For Jiang Wang, now is the perfect time.

The timing was not only due to Ji Furen's predicament, but also to the Daoist Master of the Mountains and Seas...

Is the Master of the Mountain and Seas a friend?
That makes sense logically.

After all, Jiang's beloved senior brother is the son-in-law of the Mountain and Sea Dao Master. The Mountain and Sea Dao Master has always been friendly to him and even passed on the "Mountain and Sea Canon Divine Seal".

But if it involves the path of enlightenment, then there is no reason to explain it.

The Lord of Mountains and Seas did not appear at the Daydream Bridge that day. He did not wish for Jiang to be free from all constraints!
Yu Xi understood the meaning behind those words.

He reached out to warm himself by the fire, sighing contentedly, "Those who transcend are eternal and immortal, supreme yet unconstrained. What is Master Jiang doing now? Does he still need to wait?"

His ability to lead Yujing Mountain out of the pit left by Zong Dezhen, to regain control of the calamity-slaying and evil-expelling forces, and to ensure that Yujing Mountain still holds a high position and a prominent status today... all of this is enough to demonstrate his capabilities.

Without sufficient leverage, his attitude will always be futile.

Jiang Wang didn't say much, but simply took out a snow-white jade scroll and handed it over.

"...What is this?" Yu Xidun hesitated for a moment.

"The former Grand Master bestowed upon me the Ancient Demon-Slaying Covenant, entrusting me with the responsibility of ruling the world." Jiang Wang looked at him deeply: "Today, I return the favor with an eternal legacy!"

At this moment, he no longer referred to himself as a junior, but as "I".

Because he is a signatory to the Covenant of Transcendence, a universally recognized transcendent being, he is about to personally take the stage!
Yu Xi also put away his frivolousness, his expression calm and composed: "What achievements have you made?"

Jiang Wang pushed the "Ancient Demon-Slaying Covenant" forward: "Why not use it to vanquish demons?"

"Now that the Emperor Demon is dead, the God Demon is dead, the Immortal Demon is dead, the Illusion Demon is crippled, the Saint Demon is destroyed, the Blood Demon is sealed, the Hatred Demon is still too inexperienced, and the Ghost Dragon Demon Lord should retreat at the mere mention of my name... There is no one left in the Desolate Tomb of Myriad Realms who can transcend."

"If you enter the demon realm with this agreement, wouldn't that be like the blazing sun shining on snow!"

Yu Xi remained silent for a moment.

Even someone as knowledgeable as him was taken aback by this grand gesture.

Slaying demons is indeed an ancient achievement of the human race, a great deed that can be remembered forever.

From the time of the ancient human emperors to the present day... this goal exists in the heart of every human being.

If he can truly accomplish such a great feat, he will gain unparalleled prestige, surpassing all the great leaders of Yujing Mountain throughout history, unlike now, where there are still many doubts that he "picked up a bargain" or "was lucky".

"Truly a great achievement!" Yu Xi pondered for a long time, then said with shame, "Alas, I am but a scholar who studies the classics. I am good at discussing the Dao, but not at fighting magic."

Jiang Wang smiled slightly and clapped his hands.

With a serious expression, Ju Kui climbed the mountain. Zhong Xuanyin, with his flowing sleeves, plopped down beside him, casually picked up a grilled fish, and began to eat it with relish.

"Mr. Zhong will remember this matter."

"Mr. Ju will help you subdue the demon."

Jiang Wangyou casually offered the following conditions: "Yujing Mountain will certainly not lack any military supplies for eliminating disasters and vanquishing evil... However, the God of Wealth can also donate a portion, and in addition, [Cloud Dao Immortal Body] will also be going to the Demon Realm."

Ye Qingyu grilled the fish with a calm and collected demeanor.

Yu Xi thought for a moment, then said, "If it's the Seven Hates..."

"That's the one I've been waiting for."

Jiang Wang smiled as he peeled a fish and placed it on the grill: "It's my turn now."

Thank you to reader "Tonight I'm Going to Get a Foot Massage" for becoming the Alliance Leader of this book! This is the 1054th Alliance Leader of Red Heart Patrol!
……

See you on Friday.