Heart Survey

Chapter 2810, Page 1

“My brother Jiang Shu once made a pact with me—he would be the Yin Emperor, and I would be the Yang Emperor. The victor would rule the world, and the loser would be a sage. If we were evenly matched, we would divide the world.”

"Afterwards, the Emperor of the Underworld unfortunately passed away in the netherworld, and I was ashamed that I was unable to restore order in the mortal world. I sit alone as a chess player, and the world is desolate. Whenever I think of this, I cannot help but feel lost and bewildered."

"Fortunately, Qi has a hidden dragon, soaring to the heavens. He governs the great nation, balancing yin and yang. The sun rises in the east, its momentum unstoppable!"

"When the dragon awakens this summer, there will be a great struggle for time. The order of the heavens has been set, and there will be a change in the present world."

"For nearly four thousand years, the world has longed for Chang'an, but it has never come. How can those who claim to be the emperor and ruler of all people bear this in their hearts?"

"I wish to take Xingyue Plain as the boundary, divide the land according to the southern Xia, and separate the human world from the Great Qi. Perhaps this will be a wise plan that has been devised throughout history. In the north, south, west, and east, each will rely on its own means."

"In this way, we will not fail the old promises, nor will we be ashamed of those who come after us. We will not abandon the sages of the past, nor will we forsake the common people!"

In the height of summer, the Emperor's edict to awaken the dragon in summer truly roused the entire nation.

A man with a keen eye for aura stood at the Dragon Gate and gazed upon the world. He saw a multitude of dragons rising together and the wind and clouds gathering. Greatly alarmed, he coughed up blood, staining the sky with crimson clouds... After that, he carried a sword in his sleeve and secluded himself at home.

This person is Yao Fu.

Longmen Academy was closed from then on. The world-renowned "Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword Manual" finally met with the "Summer Solstice," which it could not encompass.

Jiang Wuhua was not greedy. His attitude toward the Southern Region was to "take what is rightfully his and not force anything," trying to pick up what was readily available rather than risking personal injury.

This can be seen from the snail-paced speed of Wang Yiwu and the "Eating Cattle" army. Junyi Bo, who was famous for his long-distance raids, built fortresses along the way and set up camps along the rivers. He devoted most of his energy to training the boy named "Lingzi".

Many years have passed, and the "conquest" that led to the conquest of Xia has been transformed into a solid highway.

The small kingdoms along the road still have ancestral temples, but like the local earth god temples along the road, they are more for display than for worship.

Arriving in the east to settle in Xia, they could reach it in a day or two. Wang Yi-wu's army hesitated during his march, but those in the know could see that the fortresses he established along the way were key points in a major military formation. Combined with his previous efforts in developing the southern Xia, he could control the southeast overnight, truly becoming a force to be reckoned with, his breath capable of summoning clouds, his power encompassing all directions—

But in the end, it was too stable and too lukewarm, making it difficult to touch the nerves of the Chu state.

Thus came the "Summer Awakening Dragon Edict," which brought Jing Qi's private dealings into the open, making the Li Kingdom feel the rain from all directions and making the Chu Kingdom sensitive again.

The Kingdom of Jing was more generous than the rulers and ministers of the Kingdom of Li had imagined.

They relinquished more than just the East China Sea.

The reason why some small states in the Eastern Regions were able to exist independently against the influence of the State of Qi was mostly due to the support of the State of Jing.

For example, the Shen Kingdom, where Jiang Rumo's ancestors lived, was backed by the Eastern King Valley. The reason why the Eastern King Valley could stand proudly in the Eastern Region was only partly because it used to rely on Diaohai Tower. The more important reason was that the Jing Kingdom had always been supporting it.

Ji Boyong's establishment of the Yuanyang Dali did indeed create enormous trouble for the central empire, which also gave the Qi state room to make exorbitant demands.

The central emperor directly wielded his sword and ceded the eastern region, a fertile territory that no emperor could afford to relinquish—unless the people of Qi were content with the status quo and the Qi emperor had no ambition to conquer the world.

If the Eastern Regions are truly unified, and the Eastern Seas are completely pacified, then the power of Qi will indeed rise like the sun in the east, soon to illuminate the world. This newly discovered territory in Southern Xia will be the sword Qi wields to dominate the world!

As Li Zhengshu, the chief scholar of Donghua Pavilion, said: "With this fertile land of ten thousand miles, we can cut off the long river by moving horizontally, reach the Central Plains by raising our hands, crush the land of Chu by pressing forward, and pierce the divine land with a single sword by going straight!"

So even though Qi knew that Jing needed Qi to step up and share the burden, it still swallowed this tempting bait.

After all, "Looking at the scenery, it is self-contained, which is of no benefit to Qi. Swallowing the south will strengthen us, and we will have a use for the one." (From Li Zhengshu's "Ping Nan Ce")
If the State of Jing were to collapse now, the State of Dali would rise from its corpse. The State of Chu, which has been strategizing for three thousand years, would reap the greatest reward. By placing its piece in the center, Chu would gain unparalleled prestige.

Ji Boyong sat in the Ghost Prison of Fengdu in the State of Chu for thousands of years, and it was a clear possibility that "the Canopy of the World" would swallow Yuan Yang.

Jing Mu, who had been firmly blocked in the northern region by the Jing Kingdom, will be completely freed from his shackles and will immediately head south to compete for hunting grounds.

Conversely, if Jing Kingdom were to be saved, the current situation in the Eastern Region, where people can eat meat with peace of mind, could continue.

Jing used the Qi target to divide the arrows, and Qi also needed Jing as the ever-burning torch to attract the pressure from the west of Xingyue Plain and the south of Nanxia.

……

The moment the "Summer Awakening Dragon Edict" was issued, the heated discussion in the Hall of Supreme Harmony about whether to send troops to meet Jing abruptly ceased.

Sending troops is no longer the issue; the question now is how many troops to send and which generals to appoint.

The Emperor of Great Chu, in the imperial court, pressed his hand to his sword; his magnificent crown and dragon robe, the sword that had secured the nation… shattered jade with a resounding crash.

"In the past, Jingwen's sword made the world submit, but Chu rose up in resistance!"

"The present remains the same. The present is even better than the past!"

"Today's victory surpasses that of the past, not only because of the emperor's divine might and invincible prowess, but also because of the achievements of the founding emperor and the wise policies of the late emperor. For 3,900 years, the Chu state has been built up through arduous pioneering efforts, with the land gradually accumulating strength. The path has already been paved by our predecessors! Even amidst wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, how could I possibly turn back?"

"Yuanyang Dali is the Phoenix Virtue Field. Wutong Zeyue is the Auspicious Nursery. These are all things that Chu cannot afford to lose."

"The ruler of Chu in the southern regions must be spared from wind and rain!"

He then headed north with the [Red Eagle], a renowned family with a history of three thousand years... Zuo Guangshu led the way.

……

What is Mother worried about?

In Shaoyuan, Zuo Guangshu, who was ordered to go to war, smiled as he looked at the orderly phoenix-patterned sleeping ants in the glazed flower garden. His tone was relaxed, as if he did not care about the approaching Jing army at all.

The armored general exuded heroic spirit, displaying not only his usual refined elegance but also his imposing presence.

Xiong Jingyu squatted there silently, busily feeding the ants.

He propped himself up on his knees, bending over awkwardly, and asked in an exceptionally gentle voice, "Are you worried that Taiyu might make a move this time?"

"Don't worry, I won't challenge him this time."

"If he appears on the battlefield, that is the Emperor of Li Kingdom's business... or perhaps the Fighting True Lord will use his Heavenly Might to overpower him."

"Although I have made a pact to reach the pinnacle, I will not go and die in vain if I have no chance of success even by a fraction."

“My son is different from Uncle Shaohua.”

"Shaohua Bo had avenged his great enemy and was eager to die. But his personal pride did not allow him to leave by suicide, and the teachings of the God of War also prevented him from easily giving up all his knowledge... That is why he challenged Taiyu with such a resolute attitude."

"I sought the sound in my dream, but I know that swords have no eyes, and I cannot bear to see my mother grieve any longer."

"Your Excellency Shaohua has a heart that seeks self-destruction, but I am attached to my family and friends and reluctant to leave this world."

"Furthermore..."

Zuo Guangshu finally extended his nailed hand, smiling gently as he tugged at his mother's sleeve: "If we really choose to challenge Taiyu now, it's only because Brother Jiang is here. At that time, he will inevitably ask Taiyu for a favor again—how could your son have that kind of face?"

Taiyu is known for being unconventional. Except for the occasional appearance of Jingguo or Daluoshan to lend a hand, he has always been very free-spirited.

Before Ji Zhaonan escaped death, no one expected that he would hold back.

But since he was willing to give face to the Demon-Slaying Heavenly Lord, Zuo Guangshu's current charge forward with shouts of killing was not without its own arrogance, which ultimately damaged his pride.

Even if the Grand Marshal knew this in the afterlife, he wouldn't be happy...

Only after hearing Jiang Wang's name did Xiong Jingyu release the poor ants.

She turned around, and Zuo Guangshu saw the tears streaming down her face. He panicked and cried out, "Mother..."

"This time it wasn't supposed to be your turn... Why did you volunteer?" Xiong Jingyu asked.

She's asked this question twice before, and this is the third time.

The first time I felt calm, the second time I felt anxious, and the third time I couldn't stop the tears.

Zuo Guangshu thought for a moment, then knelt down with his hands on his mother's shoulders to look her in the eye and said earnestly, "Mother, you see the necessity of this battle perfectly, so I won't go into details."

He needed to treat his mother as an elder with profound insights and a superior figure with exceptional vision, rather than a mother who could be dealt with perfunctorily and whose affection was merely superficial.

He will let her know the gains, losses, and risks of this trip, and tell her that it was the right decision.

"The Zuo Zhuan's protection of the nation is not limited to the present day, nor can it be stopped in the present day; this is the first point."

"Your Majesty's decision to send Yuan Yang to Li is a strategic move, not a case of 'a sword against a chariot.' This mission to aid Li will follow the same strategy. Therefore, the generals in command should be young and strong, not old and inexperienced, so that the nation has room to maneuver and will not be overthrown in battle. I ask you, within the entire nation, who is the young and strong general capable of leading a strong army to confront Jing Feng... who else but you?"

The State of Chu has many talented young people, but those who simultaneously meet the criteria for "strengthening the army" can only be found among the four powerful and influential families, which is their consistent responsibility. Although the Six Armies have now been brought under the control of the Chu court, the ties between these families cannot be erased even after ten or eight years.

The Wu family has no successor; Dou Zhao of the Dou family can no longer be classified as "still has room for maneuver," as she is capable of causing national upheaval, and Dou Mian's strength is far from sufficient; the only one from the Qu family who meets the criteria is Qu Shunhua, and Zuo Guangshu would never allow her to lead troops at the forefront.

Zuo Guangshu added, "Moreover, that [person without a term of imprisonment] is very close to His Majesty and has a prior agreement with the founding emperor. As a relative of the Great Chu royal family and the emperor's cousin, it is naturally easier for me to communicate with him."

It was precisely because of these reasons that young talents such as Xiang Bei, Zhong Liyan, Chu Yuzhi, and Zhuge Zuo all volunteered for the battle, but the emperor ultimately chose Zuo Guangshu.

Xiong Jingyu understood everything in her heart, and that was precisely why she was crying.

“My elder brother is still alive, and the current emperor is, after all, my own nephew. I can’t just give up this royal dignity anytime soon.”

She calmed herself down and slowly said, "But Guangshu..."

"Family ties are like the inner garment of royalty, something to be worn at all times, but not indispensable. The crown is heavier, and the dragon robe is more expensive."

"Outsiders dare not see it, nor can they uncover it, because it is an unpredictable selfishness. But we ourselves should not think that it would be a big deal if we didn't have it."

"In the royal narrative, it is never a key consideration—"

She reached out and stroked Zuo Guangshu's face. His handsome, refined face had shed its youthful naiveté and was beginning to show the responsibility of a father and elder brother. This filled her with pride, but also with worry.

She said, "You are our family's only consideration, but only one of Chu's considerations. You must remember this."

She would never have said that before.

After all, she was also a member of the Great Chu royal family, the eldest princess of the imperial family.

But shouldn't a wife who has lost her husband and a mother who has lost her son have the right to teach her only remaining son a little selfishness?

The Zuo family has already taught us a great deal about family and country!
In the glazed garden, the ants crawled like woven brocade on the phoenix-patterned balsam flowers, while the golden-feathered balsam flowers spread out like phoenix wings. The morning light outside the glazed garden, after reflecting the morning dew, inexplicably turned a bit chilly.

Even the few strands of hair that occasionally peeked out from the gaps in Zuo Guangshu's armor seemed meticulously sculpted. He lowered his head, gently supporting his mother, tenderly and carefully saying, "Mother, I understand everything you've said."

……

……

How could you possibly understand!?

Facing the rumbling chariot, Wei Qingpeng threw a punch, smashing the hundreds-of-meters-long steel chariot into a deflated iron disc.

The wind crossbow of the roaring dragon was still trembling, and the sword array of howling air clanged.

He gazed at the enemy's steel-clad ranks in the distance, gripped the Mo disciple who had been cursing the Emperor Li in his hand, and slowly crushed him to death.

"What a hero my Emperor is! He once faced Tang Yu head-on without backing down, his blood staining the icy plains, his long life withered away! All these years, he has fought and endured, endured and fought again, only to appear ridiculous, seeking only to make Li advance even a little—is it all just for his own sake?"

“I know…I know. You have ideals, you want to change the world, you represent new hope.”

"But we...did we come here without any awareness?"

"The ideals of the world are not just your family's!"

Iron Eagle, Bronze Bull, Steel Tiger, Stone Leopard... and the towering steel chariots.

In this overwhelming torrent of government agencies, Wei Qingpeng strode against the flow.

Many members of the Mohist school have died over the years. Two generations of great masters and seven true men.

The Yong Kingdom also lost its most dazzling prodigy among the younger generation.

The puppet dynasty, which crushed the fighting spirit of the sea tribe in the Divine Firmament War, was nearly annihilated by the battle halberds of the Ape Immortal Court.

This era did not give Yong Mo much time; only two years had passed since the fall of Shenxiao.

Although the State of Jing nominally recognized Yongmo and became the main driving force behind Yongmo's "placement on the table," in the past two years, the State of Jing has also been trying to bring Yongmo into its fold.

Even the Chu Kingdom, which tacitly allowed the city of Jucheng to remain suspended in the southern region, had long regarded the Mohists as something to be taken for granted. How could they be willing to unite the Mohists and become the ones fighting for meat at the table?

Of all the powerful nations in the world, none have launched a direct war like the Li Kingdom today, but their encirclement and plunder of Yongmo has never ceased.

Under Han Xu's leadership, the Yong Kingdom donated almost all of its most advanced mechanical technology free of charge, sharing it with the various human races through the Illusionary Realm, in exchange for relative peace.

This patched-up warship was navigating through such turbulent undercurrents.

How far can it go?
Therefore, the great powers all regarded Yongzheng as nothing more than food on their plates.

Qin used it to provoke the Li state, only considering the pressure from the Jing state, never thinking that the Li state wouldn't be willing to take it. The Li state mobilized all its resources for Shenxiao, sending out its entire force, also out of fear of interference from the Jing state.

However, the Battle of Le Yung was not as easily defeated as imagined.

From the moment they landed on the inland sea "Wilderness," the Le army was harassed by countless contraptions. From the mountains, from the forests, from the main roads, from a clump of mud... from a silent stone!

Mechanical creations are inanimate objects when they are not activated.

Nothing could evade detection better than them, because they posed no threat when the outpost passed by; they were truly ironclad vegetation.

Compared to these visible "opponents" that must be faced, what troubles Li Jun the most is actually that pervasive force that permeates the air, blends into the Yuan energy, and is omnipresent...

"hostility".

This hostility arose from the moment Lebanon declared war.

It appears in the passing wind, under every fluttering wine banner, behind every closed door... and in the eyes of different races.

It seems that neither a large part of the desolate swamp nor most of the Golden Universe Yu Continent welcomes them.

Fangyuan City, which swore "never to expand," has indeed not occupied an inch of territory or raised a flag outside in the past two years. It has not participated in any wars, but has been persistently using mechanical arts to change the world of Shenxiao.

Today, a large-scale natural settlement has formed around Fangyuan City.

Not to mention "all the myriad races of the heavens," more than three hundred races already live together here... They believe in the ideal of "jointly realizing the dream," live in accordance with the laws of Fangyuan City, and also devote themselves to the construction of Fangyuan City.

To avoid suspicion, Fangyuan City employs members of the Three Punishments Palace from Jing County to conduct necessary legal management outside the city. They follow established rules and act impartially.

In this world of Shenxiao, where infinite possibilities exist, travelers from all realms flock here, especially after the human race established its absolute dominance in the mortal realm. The number of alien races choosing to join Fangyuan City in Jinzhou Yuzhou is already among the largest, its allure rivaling that of any dominant power.

This is a prestige that cannot be ignored, and it is also the root cause of the blade's sluggishness today.

As the former Bishop of Touzai and now the commander of the army, how could Wei Qingpeng not understand how terrifying this "void of popular support" was?

This means that once the offensive of the Li Kingdom against Yong sinks, it may never be able to recover... because public opinion is a bottomless quagmire.

He was glad that the war was happening today; if it had been a few years later, he might not have been able to be certain of victory on the main battlefield.

"Old buddy...you're getting old too."

The heavy snow lion armor he was wearing was already tattered, so Wei Qingpeng simply tore off the junk iron that had lost its spirit!

The armor that once represented the pinnacle of its era, unlike the immortal treasures, has been abandoned by time. Even with the best craftsmen to restore it, it can never regain its former glory. It's all just a futile memory.

He's from the old era...

Because of belief. Belief in Hong Junyan's ideals, belief that the future of Xueyuan lies in today.

He was once a prodigy, the bravest warrior on the snowy plains. He fought his way out of the bitter cold, swallowing frost and iron, and became a peerless warrior, but he has been lying in an ice coffin for three thousand years!

The snowfields are so cold; closing your eyes under the ice is tantamount to death. The moment the coffin is closed, you're already prepared never to wake up again.

They were all people who had died once, and they came to this era with the determination to change the world.

How can you say that they don't belong to this era and are unworthy to lead the world?
They were just too late!

It's not that we've lost our ideals or lack courage.

Looking at everything new that Yong Mo had created, he felt somewhat ashamed. But his fists clenched even more resolutely.

Shouldn't the people of Le country enjoy these things?

They were trapped before, they are trapped now, and they will be trapped forever, forever confined to this bitterly cold land, forced to eat snow and grass.

Beyond the snowfields lies a fertile land, the beauty of a new era…

The "distant people" who have been frozen in the world for thousands of years have been waiting for this day. What their ancestors have longed for is for the snow lion to descend the mountain. Then this body, whose progress has been arduous since awakening, will descend the mountain in their place and help them embrace this day!

"You've blocked our way for far too long... Like a caged tiger, we'll fight back eventually! How many more years will this snowy plain intend to imprison us?"

The bald, giant man, shirtless, with muscles bulging like rolling hills and scars covering his body like chasms, smashed through a boulder wreathed in flames. He then grabbed a massive crossbow bolt forged from diamond and covered in intricate lightning runes.

It was like a spear, plunging into the earth with a thunderous roar!
Amidst the earth's mournful cries, snowflakes fell. Frost also settled on Wei Qingpeng's exposed wounds.

He roared, "Give me—a piece of sky!"

Frost spread from there.

A howling northwest wind swept across the frozen iron plains. Everything in sight was covered in ice crystals, and all the mechanical creations that couldn't escape slowed down in the harsh winter, and then froze.

Whether it's Wei Qingpeng or Meng Lingxiao, although they are "distant people" from different eras, the first thing they do upon waking up is to learn about the new era, and they have indeed integrated into today over the years.

Moreover, there is Guan Daoquan, the original ancestor of the Iron Kingdom, who has always kept up with the times.

In the Abyss of Yu, in the Demon Realm, and in the Divine Firmament, they have all displayed remarkable prowess in warfare. While they may not be comparable to the most outstanding generals of their time, they are undoubtedly formidable commanders and formidable warriors.

However, in the battle against Yongmo's mechanical battle formation, they did not gain a tactical command advantage—in terms of the strength of their troops, they were actually at a disadvantage!
Yongmo's different troop types—sea, air, and land—work seamlessly as a unified whole. His command of positions, formations, timing of advances and retreats, and overall coordination are all like that of a chess player who never makes a mistake.

The newly appointed Grand Master Xi Xiangyi does not understand war. She only remembers countless "battle examples" and deduces countless war scenes from the information constantly collected by billions of war puppets.

She was the "optimal choice" under a certain wartime order.

No one could defeat her battlefield command before the war options and war conditions that had already occurred.

This is the war as envisioned in the puppet world.

Realizing that victory was impossible within the limits, Wei Qingpeng threw himself into the game, using his unparalleled strength to break the stalemate and shatter the balance of the war.

The strength of Le and Yong lies in the accumulated war experience of two eras, as well as their undeniable high-level combat capabilities.

Wei Qingpeng, by acting as the spearhead, has already lost the battle of command. But he will win the war.

A large number of Li Kingdom troops collapsed onto the raised ice field, heading towards Fangyuan City like an avalanche.

The clouds on the horizon are also covered in frost!
The puppet bird of Yong Kingdom fell like hailstones.

Guan Daoquan, dressed in a fur coat and bare-armed, charged forward, stepping on the fallen puppet birds. Each step covered a thousand feet, and his iron-like body shattered the Yuan energy array in the sky, leaving behind deep rust marks.

A massive iron earring soared into the air, like a ring destined to be placed around Yong Mo's neck. The tadpole-like characters on the earring suddenly burst forth, coalescing into a swarm of Gu worms that blotted out the sun like a dark cloud.

The five northwestern kingdoms each possessed unique skills. Guan Daoquan was an iron will that held the front lines of the Jing Kingdom!
Wherever the swarm of Gu went, iron was emptied. Where Guan Daoquan passed, not a single bird remained.

"Fighting like this... is just too inelegant."

Meng Lingxiao spoke with a smile, but her eyes were cold. She held the folding fan at her waist in her hand, and in an instant, she unfurled it like a whirlwind.

The frigid ice plains cannot nurture poems as flowing as water. Even the once carefree wanderer had to abandon the dignity of a supreme warrior for the sake of victory in this war.

call--

A fierce wind swept across the sky, gathering from all directions towards Fangyuan City, causing the sky over Jinzhou Yuzhou to become a chaotic mess.

If someone in the Heavenly Realm were to view this battlefield, they would see it as a group of dragons vying for a pearl!
Now that Wei Qingpeng has launched his attack, let's break the deadlock with overwhelming force.

At this moment, the arrival of the three rulers is like three unstoppable blades, cutting the impregnable walls of Yong Kingdom to pieces.

If the Yong army is a cohesive giant, then the three supreme figures of the Li Kingdom are the scalpels used to sever their joints. At this moment, they are dismembering the Yong army's resistance with butcher-like ruthlessness.

However, a distant thunderclap rang out: "Long Qi! Where have you led me? Is this the Golden Universe Yu Continent? Why are there so many flies here!"

Murong Longqie, with a cold and aloof expression, was fully armored and exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay. He drove a war chariot shaped like a ferocious beast, parting the sea of ​​clouds as he approached.

The only one who could address him as "I" and shout such a title in front of him was none other than the Red Horse Guard General, his adoptive father, Murong Fenwu. Two unparalleled masters from one family, father and son fighting side-by-side, were enough to safeguard the interests of the Jing Kingdom in the Golden Universe Yu Continent.

The already frosty clouds began to ripple again because of this beast-like chariot.

"The stench from three thousand years ago is still so pungent today!"

From the metallic-gleaming carriage, a muscular hand reached out and grabbed—

The wind dragons surrounding Fangyuan City, having breached the outer defenses of the Fangyuan settlement and approaching the settlement outside the city, suddenly froze... as a giant hand formed from gathered energy grasped them in mid-air!
Guan Song, a Legalist disciple from the State of Jing who eventually entered the Palace of Punishments and devoted himself to studying legal texts, had already drawn his sword to face death, and in an instant, the sky cleared and the clouds parted. But before he could calm down, a stray arrow caught in the air, and his heart was once again in suspense.

A piercing scream echoed through the sky!
With his beard and hair bristling, the old Qin general Gan Bubing jumped directly down from the Heavenly Realm, unleashing a barrage of arrows that rained down like a storm.

Then, he threw down his bow, braving a hail of arrows and wielding his sword, and charged onto the chariot. Though old, his spirit was like a tiger's. Without uttering a word, he charged into the chariot and engaged Murong Fenwu in a caged battle.

Murong Longqie, who was driving the carriage, didn't even lift his eyelids. He simply put down the reins, casually hung up the curtains for them, and then picked up the large iron spear next to him.

The elegant Gan Chang'an arrived riding on flowing clouds, smiling and raising his hand: "Brother Long Qie, please enlighten me."

boom!
The iron spear crashed down like a mountain! Murong Long did not utter a word.

The war beasts pulling the chariot raised their heads and roared, their voices shaking the sky like the thunder of war drums.

The "classmates" from the 19th Yellow River Conference thus met again many years later.

This is a case of two families of generals facing each other, father and son facing grandfather and grandson.

How determined was the State of Jing to prevent the State of Li from being placed on the table? How determined was the State of Qin to push the State of Li to the table? The answers to these two questions must be verified with blood.

Both sides are testing each other's bottom line.

Ultimately, this war is a battle between Le Fa Yong and the Snowfield warriors for survival. No matter how much Qin Jing sacrifices, it's uncertain how much they will gain in return.

For the two hegemonic states, this was undoubtedly a correct move, but the final profit or loss would be subtly uncertain as the capital continued to accumulate.

It wasn't that Qin won by conquering Li and Yong, nor that Jing's trip was worthwhile simply because Yong achieved a great victory.

In the power struggles between hegemonic states, victory and defeat are always manifested through dynamic competition. Sometimes, even if one suffers a loss, as long as the other party loses even more, it can still be considered a victory.

"Tsk! Two unparalleled masters in one family, the Gan family is truly remarkable. Generation after generation, producing outstanding talents." In the void, the Milky Way flowed, and Huang Sheli, with his long, flowing robes, rolled up his trousers and walked across the river with a relaxed expression.

Standing on the shore like a reef, Qin Zhizhen spoke fluently about a topic they had discussed long ago: "If we're talking about two unparalleled masters from one family, it's still your Jing Kingdom that has the most, and their arrival is quite abrupt."

Gan Bubing was Gan Chang'an's great-great-grandfather, a veteran figure in the Qin military system.

The Huang family of Jing, including the father and daughter Huang Fu and Huang Sheli, the Zhongshan family of Yan Wen and Zhongshan Weisun, and the Murong family of Fenwu and Murong Longju, all had two outstanding members from the same family.

This is not a good thing for the stability of an empire.

The military government's power has grown too fast...

Currently, it is Tang Xianqi, the greatest warrior of all time, who can still maintain control of the situation. Once he steps down, or Huang Sheli advances further, the "military commander's" words may not be as effective as they are today.

The downside of the military empire lies in this: only the biggest military leader can secure a stable position in the imperial court.

This is also why people like Lin Guangming can receive substantial resource support. The Tang family needs more new blood to curb the greed of local military governments and balance domestic interests.

Huang Sheli looked up and glanced at him with some surprise.

“If you don’t move, I won’t move either,” Qin Zhizhen said.

Huang Sheli laughed: "What, you want to kill me if I touch you? Do you think you're Jiang Tianjun?"

It wasn't that Jiang Wang wanted to make a big show of it, but rather that the changes in the Myriad Realms Desolate Tomb had been the focus of attention throughout the heavens. If observation were restricted within the Emperor Demon Palace, unnecessary misunderstandings could easily arise—people might think that the two immortals had begun a life-or-death struggle. Then they might all rush in…

Therefore, it was Seven Hatred who took the initiative to let go of everything. He let the detached onlookers see that He was also just watching the show.

"I'm not kidding you," Qin Zhizhen said.

"I feel this is unfair," Huang Sheli raised an eyebrow. "Since when can you, Qin Zhizhen, replace me?"

"I don't like arguing." Qin Zhizhen drew his black knife: "—Come on."

On the banks of the Milky Way, clad in black as iron.

In the void, a Yama's Palace slowly descended. The waves calmed as if they were mirrors, as if time itself had been suppressed.

The control over space by [Refining Void] is not as absolute as the absolute authority over time by [Reverse Journey]. However, Qin Zhizhen, who possesses the supernatural power of [Yanluo Palace] and has ascended to the position of Lord of the Underworld, can definitely demonstrate the strongest Yanluo Palace.

"Forget it!" Huang Sheli smiled brightly, revealing her snow-white teeth. "Let them fight it out. We sisters won't let this ruin our friendship. We'll still be seeing each other often in the Taixu Pavilion, won't we?"

"Two brothers."

"Is it alright if we're siblings?"

"Brother and sister."

"Don't argue with me! I don't have much tolerance for your looks."

"--Come."

……

Unlike the two old colleagues' bickering that remained on paper, the sword light on Eternal Winter Peak had already sliced ​​half of the heavens!

Tang Wenxue and Xu Wang certainly didn't care about the wonders of the snowfield. At least they shared a consensus that civilians shouldn't be harmed indiscriminately, so they reluctantly kept the sword light within the Polar Heaven Palace.

Fu Huan ignored Tang Wenxue's knife from beginning to end; he simply got up and walked forward.

Xu Wang used the fleeting shadows of autumn to support the bright moon.

He walked away between the moonlight and the illusion.

"Wearing an old robe, I descended the snow-capped peak; from then on, there was little sunshine in the world."

He sighed with a hint of loneliness, a snowflake swirling up from the hem of his robe... The next step was already upon the heavens.

Tang Wenxue did not stop Fu Huan from leaving.

Countless fragments of cause and effect are reflected on the bright jade plate.

Her will is like the moon, unblemished by time and untouched by cause and effect. The threads of cause and effect throughout history cannot penetrate the circle of her blade.

Xu Wang did not approach with his knife, nor was he in a hurry. He simply smiled and said, "Fu Huan is gone, the frost flowers have withered, and the snow silk is torn in vain. How desolate the world is! Your Highness is not yet satisfied. After cutting the snow, will you still chisel the ice?"

"Cutting snow to reflect the image on paper, chiseling ice to catch fish. This is my ambition; what do you seek?"

Tang, however, walked forward, actively approaching those illusory lights of cause and effect, drawing closer to that world of karma: "What I seek is in the blue sky, but how far away is the blue sky?"

Her long hair billowed like a sword as she walked through the heavens, raising her hand to pluck the moon, turning it back into a blade in her palm: "What I reflect in the years, the years cannot be returned to."

Then, with a single stroke, he declared: "Those who have abandoned me!"

The bizarre and fantastical sights she encountered were all cleaved into streams of light. Countless intertwined threads of cause and effect floated on the water like tattered feathers.

Before her lay a frosty white road paved with the glint of blades, one side representing cause and the other effect, the cause and effect clearly distinct.

After Shenxiao, she has risen to such a level that her blade seems capable of cutting through everything like paper!
The barely perceptible "click" sounded like a jolt of lightning to their ears.

The ever-changing world of karma was caught by this blade of light, and the first crack appeared!
Xu Wang solemnly turned his hand over, reversing cause and effect to mend the rift, yet his hand still grasped the gleaming blade. "One must relinquish everything to become a king. Your Highness, even before donning the dragon robe, you already possess the countenance of an emperor!"

He praised, yet smiled, "If Your Highness succeeds to the throne, you can continue the Jing Kingdom's fortune for another hundred years, and await the next emperor to conquer. But the great struggle has arrived. Does the Jing Kingdom still have time? Even if the Jing Emperor believes it, and Your Highness believes it, do all the major military commands believe it?"

Tang Wenxue twisted the knife and cut her finger, breaking free of the finger cage, and then headed towards fate. This blade of light was too cold and detached; in the endless threads of cause and effect in the world, she was the only one of her kind.

She didn't engage in the linguistic trap of discussing the State of Jing, but instead acted outside of cause and effect, striking back with her own blade, attacking with attack: "Can those scoundrels who have hidden their teeth be considered equals? If the Qin people were truly so confident, Ying Wu himself would have come to kill the crown prince!"

His cold brows arched sharply, his expression naturally condescending: "What's the meaning of sending you, Xu Wang, out here?"

"You Qin people are always so cautious and timid; where is your ambition to unify the world?"

These words contained no murderous intent, yet Xu Wang, who was freely maneuvering through the web of cause and effect, suddenly caught a glimpse of an escaping thread of cause and effect in his eyes…

"Oh no!" He was shocked, but his face remained unchanged. He curled up as if he were about to fight to the death.

If the enemy retreats even a fraction, it creates a rift in cause and effect.

Tang Wenxue's gaze suddenly sharpened, no longer detached from cause and effect, but instead leaping onto the infinitely extending web of cause and effect, directly facing the Qin Marquis Zhen: "It seems... it's my turn to ask you to stay!"

Xu Wang clenched his five fingers together, and the endless web of cause and effect became the garment that bound Tang Wenxue.

Because of the celestial crown binding his long hair, he who was about to pounce and leave just a moment ago is now turning the tables and killing Tang Wenxue!

With his robes billowing, his divine eyes no longer gazed upon the vastness of cause and effect, but only upon his opponent before him: "Now I will slay Jing Chu here, and let the world see the spirit of the Qin people!"

……

……

"The nine celestial palaces have gathered once more, and a peerless celestial dynasty has been established in the demonic land."

"Who knows who has shaped the passage of time..."

"Time has passed..."

"I don't know..."

"Do not."

Zhong Xuanyin carved the words "The Book of Demon Slayers" with his pen, but he couldn't write the next sentence no matter what he tried.

Even the inscribed words are disappearing.

He sighed softly and paused writing.

The celestial realm allocation plan presented by his old colleague was perfect; at least he couldn't find any fault with it.

As the nominal initiator and de facto supreme commander of this war against demons, Yu Xi will bring the most core part of the celestial realm's harvest to Yujing Mountain.

Of course, Jing Kingdom's "support" must come with some reward.

Qin and Chu will each win a significant share of the Immortal Realm through their respective Palace of Destiny and Palace of Beast Taming.

As the frontline in suppressing demons throughout history, Jingmu is inherently capable of reaping rich rewards in the war against demons.

Jiang Wang will eventually hand over the share won by the Blissful Immortal Palace to the State of Qi.

Li Wei, on the other hand, can enjoy meat dishes at the table thanks to his Winter Fairy Palace and Soldier Fairy Palace.

Admittedly, he had some unpleasant past with Brother Hong, but in this upheaval concerning the future of humanity, he wouldn't deliberately kick Brother Hong away.

The remaining participants will share in the merits of vanquishing the demon, based on their achievements in battle.

Jiang Wang still holds the immortal realm shares of Cloud Peak Immortal Palace, Ruyi Immortal Palace, and Bafu Immortal Palace, which will be handed over to Taixu Pavilion for discussion. A feasible allocation plan will be put forward, and the shares will be allocated through Taixu Illusion.

The share of the Myriad Immortals Palace held by King Qin Guang will naturally be allocated by the Xuanming Palace. This is also the price for asking him to take action, allowing him to stand in the depths of thunder as the supreme being of the Myriad Immortals, as a final means of purging.

It must be said that this person raised prices significantly, but the prices were indeed worthwhile. Most of the time, as he himself said, he was a conscientious businessman who earned what he was supposed to earn.

In the entire distribution plan, Jiang Wang himself took nothing. He offered the Immortal Realm to the world, benefiting all living beings in this world.

But elevating the Demon Realm to the status of the Immortal Realm is itself a supreme achievement and a tremendous enhancement to his already perfected immortal arts. He will surely be able to advance further through this matter.

At his level, there's no need to worry about the smallest details; the overwhelming tide will naturally push him to where he belongs.

This plan has, to a large extent, united various forces in the world and taken into account all aspects.

Even so, this solution clearly cannot satisfy everyone.

Or perhaps... those who are qualified to enter and share the spoils are not all willing to see Jiang Wang move forward any further.

The fact that this character couldn't be written in one stroke is proof of that.

In Zhong Xuanyin's view, the meat-eaters present did not do their best.

It's not that these soldiers fighting on the battlefield in the demon realm didn't do their best. Rather, the forces behind them didn't provide the most crucial support.

In the wars of the present world, Asgard is, in fact, the loser.

The Celestial Emperor was defeated by Yi Zhen, the nine Celestial Palaces were destroyed, and the lineage of immortal arts was wiped out overnight.

Even though the immortal masters, immortal emperors, and all the immortals of that time displayed their unique abilities and left behind countless methods for preserving and passing down their traditions, it was only after a long period of time that these methods were revived in the new era of the Dao calendar.

It was thanks to the strong support of a protagonist of the era like Jiang Wang, the recognition of powerful figures like Emperor Hong Junyan, the military genius Yang Zhen, and the virtuous Marquis Xu Wang, and the schemes of the Jing Kingdom's Celestial Court that the constraints imposed by the Daoist sect were shaken, leading to where we are today.

The status of the Myriad Realms Desolate Tomb is equivalent to that of the mortal world.

Judging from the current situation... the concept of the Immortal Dynasty alone is not enough to replace the Demon, nor is it enough to permanently change the Desolate Tomb of Myriad Realms.

It also requires suppression in the present world.

Specifically, the "Nine Dragons Holding Up the Sun, Eternally Suppressing Mountains and Rivers Seal," which requires the joint efforts of six hegemonic emperors, is needed to propel the current overwhelming trend and suppress the fundamental nature of the Myriad Realms Desolate Tomb.

Although the Jade Emperor Bell is powerful, it is still quite difficult for it to withstand the pressure of this world, and it cannot be relied upon for long.

However, the world is currently engulfed in war, and all sides have "no choice" but to wage war.

No one remained silent.

But being busy is an answer in itself.

The lightning that cleansed the world plowed across the demonic land again and again.

The karmic fire of the Red Lotus continues to burn away karma, while the rain of the phoenixes continues to cleanse the world.

The long river, drawn by the aquatic creatures, still surges across the boundless demonic land.

The nine celestial palaces resonate throughout the ages, still sketching the glory of the supreme celestial dynasty.

But the towering, ninety-thousand-foot-tall Jade Emperor Bell phantom has gradually fallen silent. Under the fierce backlash of this world, even the golden-jade bell has begun to darken.

Inside the Emperor Demon Palace, Qi Hen showed a regretful expression: "What a pity... it's still a little short."

“It’s far from perfect,” Jiang Wang said without looking up.

"It seems like they don't really support you," Qihen said with a smile.

Song Wanxi gave a slight bow to Jiang Wang's back and wanted to leave the Emperor Demon Palace, but the dazzling immortal light was an unyielding curtain—this story had not yet reached the point where she had to sacrifice herself.

"The immortal realm is just a beautiful concept that may not be realized."

What reason is there to force others to take such a gamble?

"I have come to realize more and more that true compassion is not pity, but understanding the limitations of others."

"Wu Zhaixue, true ideals are like the bright moon hanging high; it's best to have someone support you, but it's also good to walk alone."

In the dim candlelight, Jiang Wang's lips appeared and disappeared, seemingly smiling.

He turned a page of the book so calmly and gently—

"Next page."

Thank you to reader "梦云饱嗝" for becoming the Alliance Leader of this book! This is the 1059th Alliance Leader of Red Heart Patrol!
……

Amidst the flames of war across the land, the rise and fall of dynasties, and the sorrow of countless nations, all are but a page in the annals of history.

……

See you on Friday.