Heart Survey

Chapter 2811 The Tale of Subduing Demons
Compassion is showing pity for the weak, and understanding is showing mercy!

Qihen leaned against the emperor's throne, clapped his hands, and exclaimed, "Jiang Wang—you truly deserve to become a Buddha!"

Jiang Wang turned the book over without saying a word.

Compassion is not unique to the Buddha; how can we underestimate the power of meditation in this world? His path no longer needs to be judged by the Seven Hatreds.

Song Wanxi stood in a corner of the main hall, silently listening to everything.

The gates of the Emperor Demon Palace are never closed, yet all the noise and commotion remain undisturbed.

Seven regrets are leisurely, Jiang Wang is composed.

This earth-shattering, eternal transformation seems insignificant to the immortal chess player.

Her resolve to die for immortality vanished without a trace...

Today, the Demon Realm is bathed in radiant light, imbued with celestial energy, and teeming with vitality, flowing like the long river. It is truly a paradise on earth, a blessed and virtuous land.

However, if the demon realm does not make fundamental changes in the short term, these blessings will be like water without roots, and will eventually be swallowed up by the dried-up demon land.

Zhong Xuanyin had been holding his pen and knife still for a long time, stopping writing without putting the pen down.

He stood beside the dark, obscuring Jade Emperor Bell, watching the blurry "shadow" gradually become clearer and deeper, finally like a drop of thick ink falling into the golden-jade nectar.

Even a treasure from such a powerful celestial realm, ranking among the top ten in the world and among the strongest treasures throughout history, could not completely stop the invasion of the demon realm.

After all, all the grotto heavens are just branches of the mortal world, while the demon realm is a towering tree that is no less impressive than the mortal world.

As Jiang Wang turned to the next page of his book in the Emperor Demon Palace, Zhong Xuanyin, beside the Jade Emperor Bell, also turned to another chapter of his work.

From this moment on, this is his "work".

He wants to actively create, not just record.

This means that more aspects belonging to "Zhong Xuanyin" will be consciously or unconsciously reflected in the text.

He held a fine brush in his hand and gently touched the "black shadow," as if dipping it in ink.

With a well-thought-out plan in mind, a beautiful tapestry awaits to be woven.

He will use the invasion of the demon realm as ink for the new chapter, and everything he sees before him will be the material for the new chapter.

A moment later, his fingers began to tremble. The pen, which had not yet finished writing the "Book of Demon Slayers," was not yet able to handle such thick ink.

Behind him are layers of historical shadows, like strips of cloth being untied, as if a travel bag has been opened.

He was not a solitary recorder; behind him was an entire diligent academy.

Within the "historical baggage," a yellowed scroll slowly rises. It is weighty, rich, and full of stories.

Qin Ku Academy is most famous for three books. The first is, of course, "The Historical Sword Carves the Sea," which established Qin Ku Academy's reputation as "the best academy in the world" for a long time.

The second work is the "Commentary on the Teachings of the Sages," drafted by Mr. Song Qiushi, the founder of the academy, and passed down through nineteen generations of disciples. Without this classic work preserving the meaning of the scriptures, even with the later "Hundred Scriptures Seize the Gate," the revival of the School of the Sages would not have been so smooth.

The third part is the one that has just risen from my bag.

It is both the most famous contemporary novel, as evidenced by its provenance, and a treasured gem for novelists—

Zuo Zhiqin's Diligence

Cui Yigeng's serialized novel, "The Dream of Nanhua," in the magazine "Yixin," is also a derivative work of this novel.

There are many derivative works about it, and the widespread influence of these works in the modern world ultimately benefits Zuo Zhiqin's work itself, further elevating this sacred object of the novelist.

The path to Qin Ku Academy's re-establishment as the premier academy in the land was based on this book.

At this moment, it appeared behind Zhong Xuanyin, representing the support of Qin Ku Academy for Zhong Xuanyin, supporting him in completing this work.

He will personify the nine celestial palaces and rewrite a story about the demon realm.

The chapter that portrays the demon realm as the celestial realm was hindered by the harsh realities of life and failed to become actual history. However, it still has the potential to be realized in the creative works of novelists.

This is the second plan for reforming the Demon Realm, and also the "next page" that Jiang Wang turned in the Emperor Demon Palace.

The only difference is that the first plan was led by Yu Xi, while the second plan was led by Zhong Xuanyin.

The boundless sky of the demon realm has layers of light and deep darkness.

At the boundary between light and darkness, due to the opposing forces, a vortex of uncertain light and shadow is formed... like a deep eye.

The entire demon realm felt as if it were being "illuminated" at that moment.

There is clearly no light!
Yu Xi, who was still relentlessly pursuing Illusion Demon Lord and Hatred Demon Lord, twisted his teeth and smiled as he slapped Illusion Demon Lord twice.

He knew in his heart that Sima Heng in the "Confusion Chapter" had already cast his gaze directly at him.

This gaze does not mean that Sima Heng will interfere here now, but the work that Zhong Xuanyin completes at this moment will be witnessed by historians... no longer a sand painting in the wind that can be easily erased.

This means that the novel's chance of becoming immortal has been preserved.

The support that the Lord of Yujing gave him was clearly not as direct as the support that Sima Heng gave to Zhong Xuanyin.

Ultimately, it was somewhat regrettable that the process of transforming the Demon Realm into the Immortal Realm was not completed in his planned scheme... but it is something we can accept.

Who told him he couldn't move the "Nine Dragons Holding Up the Sun, Forever Guarding the Mountains and Rivers Seal"?

In fact, when the central emperor spoke, saying that the war against demons initiated by Yujing Mountain was supported by the Jing Kingdom... he did consider persuading the [Nine Dragons Holding the Sun, Forever Guarding Mountains and Rivers Seal] to act.

But the central emperor alone couldn't make this decision. And persuading six powerful emperors was simply impossible. So he simply kept quiet.

He clearly remembered the difference in power between him and Jiang Wang, who were both judges at the Yellow River Meeting.

Several emperors of powerful states were merely "too busy" to accept Jiang Wang's silent invitation. If he were to squeeze in and speak arrogantly, he might just get slapped in return.

While it is true that the emperor should not be insulted, there are also emperors like Tang Xianqi who say, "I don't care about this or that."

"Mr. Zhong, please put pen to paper. Do not rush the writing, but strive for a magnificent piece." Yu Xi rolled up his Taoist robe, lifted Lou Yue's robe, and used his whisk to pierce through the mask of the Illusionary Demon Lord. He then raised his hand and slapped him again: "With this old Taoist here, no villain can disturb us!"

Regardless of which plan is ultimately adopted, as long as the war against demons is won, his "initiative" will be indispensable.

For some reason, a short poem came to mind—

"Seeking completeness will never bring satisfaction; seeking perfection will never bring perfection."

"The full moon is remembered for its waning, and broken jade finds its sound in its shattered state."

You Qinxu, once known as the "First True Man of Central China," returned home after the disaster, his body broken and his path to enlightenment collapsed. Knowing there was no possibility of rising again, he left behind this verse...

You Que was born that year, hence the name.

That was in the year 3882 of the Dao calendar. Six years later, in the year 3888, was the Qi-Xia War, in which the Eastern Kingdom established its hegemonic status.

After ten years of lingering on, You Qinxu closed his eyes in despair in 3892.

Six years later at the Yellow River Meeting, You Que became famous in one battle and was known as "The Dragon Startled".

You Qinxu was from Yujing Mountain, and more specifically, he belonged to the Celestial Masters lineage he had migrated to.

That short verse was a sigh offered to him.

He understood You Qinxu's meaning, but was too ashamed to speak, and from then on, he kept his distance from the You family of Taiping.

When the Yizhen Dao was not yet extinct, he remained silent at Yin Xiaoheng's triumphant return ceremony, seeing everyone as an enemy.

After the destruction of the Yizhen Sect, there was no You Que left in the world. He looked at You Shirang, who had been accepted by the Imperial Party, and understood that it might be a better choice.

When the central government launched its campaign to unify the six realms, starting with Ning'an City in the demon realm, Sun Yin from the Kingdom of Equality came to the rescue—he wanted to say something. But it seemed that saying or doing anything was no longer appropriate.

Ultimately, the game was lost and the player finally found his voice.

Today he raises Mount Yujing here, aspiring to achieve lasting merit, yet he knows not whether he can...

A broken piece of jade can produce a single cry.

This war against demons has dragged on for so long that the demon realm is now riddled with holes, with flames of war ignited by humans everywhere, and even the Eternal Demon Palace is not at peace.

Leaving aside that transcendent demon who leisurely watches over the Demon Emperor's Palace, the demon race at present actually has little power to resist.

From the highest levels of the demon race to the mindless monsters below, everyone was being suppressed and beaten. Demons fled endlessly towards the heavens, much like the process of giants losing blood.

The enemy of the demon-slaying army is no longer the demon race, but this demon realm itself.

Under the leadership of renowned generals, the human army systematically maneuvered through the demonic lands, coordinating with the ongoing "cleansing" to wash away the stubborn old grime from this land.

Bunkers were destroyed and caves were filled in.

After another surge of lightning, looking down at the thin, veil-like demonic mist, Ju Kui opened his third eye between his eyebrows—

That lightning mark, imbued with the power of punishment, had long since accumulated energy during rounds of sweeping through the demon realm. Now, it suddenly erupted like divine retribution, its vertical pupil forming a long rift that tore through the sky.

A pillar of lightning briefly illuminated the demon realm!
Unlike King Qin Guang's "Eye of All Calamities," which emphasizes killing and warfare, Ju Kui's Heavenly Eye emphasizes punishment and authority, embodying rules and regulations.

This towering pillar of lightning instantly annihilated millions of demons, but then transformed into a wisp of lightning that flew to Zhong Xuanyin and landed on the bamboo slip in front of him.

The words, shaped like a lightning bolt, inspired this groundbreaking article.

The form that lightning takes is "God".

Dipped in the ink of the demonic source, receiving the transcendent gaze of historians, and supported by the sacred artifacts of novelists... the work about to be written was illuminated by lightning in this instant, making the bamboo slips resemble jade slips.

The criminal telegram was used as the thread connecting the book!

The basic structure and various self-consistent rules of this novel are built by Ju Kui.

In both the physical form and the content of this novel, the drama plays a crucial role in connecting the whole.

He didn't speak, but expressed himself with thunderous roars.

However, with Han Gui, the patriarch of the Fa, preceding him, and Wu Bingyi, the contemporary sage of the Fa, the majesty of the Fa shines so brightly today. Even a transcendent and supreme being would not treat him as a pawn to be manipulated at will.

Based on Legalism, it establishes its "credibility"; novelists imbue it with their fantastical and bizarre stories; and historians bear witness to its enduring legacy.

The stage is ready, the show is about to begin.

After a long pause, Zhong Xuanyin finally began to write, and then, following the lightning-shaped characters, he wrote down the word "demon".

After Feng Hou died, his remnant soul cultivated into the "Festival God". The Festival God joined forces with the Heavenly God and fought a great battle, and the "Azure Heaven God Lord" was born.

He is the strongest god throughout history, existing beyond all innate and acquired deities.

In that bygone era of history, the eternal heaven that He established was also the ultimate "divine realm" He envisioned, which, from the very beginning of its creation, had the purpose of suppressing the "demon realm".

"God" is the shape of lightning, representing the revelation sent from heaven, the light to look up to. "Demon" is the shape of a demon, representing the darkness that arises from within, the darkness to be slumped in.

In an era when mythology flourished, powerful deities interpreted "divine will" and wrote "divine will," thus defining "gods" and "demons."

God makes man see the height of the heavens, Demon makes man see the depth of the abyss. God says, "You can become," Demon says, "You have lost forever."

Zhong Xuanyin borrowed a stroke from history, imbuing it with the wisdom of mythology; "god" and "demon"—this is the beginning of the story.

The book says—

"The gods and demons were not yet finished, and chaos sank. All the heavens perished, falling into the abyss..."

With a stroke of the pen, he shakes the heavens; with a book, he opens up wonders for all ages!
The title engraved on the first bamboo slip underwent a subtle change at this moment. It went from "The Book of Demon Subduing"... to "The Romance of Demon Subduing"!
The Crimson Lotus floats in the air like a crimson sea, while the Palace of the War Gods stands majestically in the distance, constantly absorbing the murderous aura of the battlefield, like a living war beast.

The fiercer this war against demons rages, the more powerful the Bingxian Palace hovering here becomes. It sustains itself through war, growing stronger with each battle.

Eight thousand guards spread out in formation around Yan Shaofei, patrolling the Red Lotus Sea to capture and kill any "Ye" who had escaped.

At that moment, the gates of Bingxian Palace were suddenly flung open.

Luo Yuan, with his quiet and refined appearance, strode forward, fully armored. His aura was like that of a dragon and tiger, and the immortal runes on his armor formed a magnificent pattern.

At the 33rd Yellow River Tournament, he competed in martial arts but was unfortunately defeated by Lu Ye. After much reflection, he embarked on the path of immortal martial arts.

Behind him was a troop of soldiers who had never been seen in public.

Holding a bronze halberd, wearing a bronze short sword, and clad in bronze armor... he stands on auspicious clouds, his face adorned with celestial markings!

These are the celestial soldiers personally trained by Wu Xun in his capacity as the head of the Immortal Palace—not the warriors of the Immortal Palace era that had been shattered, but a type of soldier from the Wei Kingdom that was at the forefront of the times.

From a thousand to one, the elite were selected. They were tempered with martial arts medicine, their souls refined through military might, and their spirits strengthened by immortal formations. In the end, less than one in a hundred remained, and the army numbered no more than fifty thousand.

Not every soldier in this army can wield magical arts, but as a whole, these celestial warriors can activate celestial formations. They can generate immense magical power with minimal magical energy consumption.

When the State of Wei placed great emphasis on martial arts, it also had to consider what the state would rely on if martial arts did not flourish.

The Immortal Soldiers represent another future that the State of Wei is looking towards.

Martial arts have now flourished, and the path of immortality has also seen a revival, bringing immense wealth to the rulers and ministers of Wei.

Even the most optimistic predictions never imagined such a wonderful outcome.

When Wu Xun was sweeping through the Netherworld to train his troops, he would secretly bring ghosts into the Celestial Palace to hone his army. This clandestine operation was for the purpose of achieving extraordinary results when they one day contended for supremacy.

However, now that the journey of the Six Harmonies has begun, there is no need to keep it hidden any longer.

Before achieving hegemonic status, the State of Wei must demonstrate its promising future to attract the attention of opportunistic individuals.

The opportunity to showcase this army has always been there, but the most valuable moment is now.

Luo Yuan was given the authority to make "on-the-spot decisions," and he decided to invest this stake here. As one of the first seekers of the Dao at the Morning Enlightenment Heavenly Palace, he had absolute faith in the person who founded it.

No matter how outlandish the goal, if that person is driving it... then it will definitely be achieved.

So, in this novel, "The Legend of the Demon Slayer," which features the nine celestial palaces as the main characters, who is the true protagonist?
The immortal soldiers of the Bingxian Palace will add more drama to the story of Bingxian!
The Wei Kingdom's trump card was not revealed in the present world where the great war had just begun, but instead it was smashed on the gambling table of the Myriad Realms Desolate Tomb, giving this earth-shattering gamble an even more dazzling brilliance.

As the author of "The Legend of the Demon Slayer", Zhong Xuanyin thus had a wider range of story choices.

It's easy to start but hard to finish. Such a grand opening still needs some key material and some... luck in its evolution to achieve a complete ending.

Whether the characters can spark a connection, and how long their brilliance will last, is like life itself—you only know when you meet them.

He wrote furiously, waiting as the story unfolded.

Occasionally, when I look up from the vast sea of ​​texts, my gaze pierces through history and penetrates the heavens.

……

……

The four directions and the space above and below are called the universe; the past and the present are called the cosmos.

What distinguishes Jin Zhou Yu Zhou from other continents of Shen Xiao is that it carries more of the power of time. Within the infinite possibilities represented by the Shen Xiao world, it embodies the years deep within the Chaos Sea.

In fact, the most precious resource on this continent is the [Cosmic Light] that appears occasionally.

These rare treasures, often found only in the depths of the universe, will, under special circumstances, shimmer as celestial phenomena in the Golden Universe of Yu Continent.

As for what constitutes a "special destiny"... the forces occupying the Golden Universe Continent are still exploring it. However, there was already a [Cosmic Light] that appeared out of nowhere last year, becoming a gain for the Jing Kingdom.

The war in Jin Zhou Yu Continent remains at a stalemate. If nothing unexpected happens, this war will become a historical turning point for Jin Zhou Yu Continent. Perhaps one day in the future, it will be witnessed in a streak of "cosmic light" piercing the sky.

Although the Li Kingdom had three powerful rulers who disrupted the balance, Yongmo showed considerable resilience.

This battle formation, forged from steel and flesh, resembles a complex, intricately geared mechanical behemoth. Every missing piece on its body is a "part" that can be replaced at any time.

The warriors of Yong Kingdom, wielding the puppet armor, had their vital energy amplified even further by the armor. The surging military aura became a different kind of energy source from the elemental stones, allowing for smoother movement with the aid of the puppet formation.

Under Xi Xiangyi's almost flawless command, the Yong army flowed like water, relentlessly. Despite being militarily weaker than the Li army on paper, they were like "trying to cut water with a sword, but the water only flows more!"
Mi Yi, riding the Giant Spirit God, fought against Wei Qingpeng, but despite his weakened state, he did not retreat. The remaining Mo Xian rebuilt the Heavenly Crafting Array and resisted Guan Daoquan, though weakened, it did not collapse.

Meng Lingxiao was trapped in what seemed like an endless battle formation of puppet armor, and her movements were briefly slowed down.

"Isn't the current tycoon going to make his appearance yet?"

"Hiding behind his disciples, yet feeding the masses with his own firewood! Is this truly 'universal love'?"

He abandoned his nonchalant demeanor, becoming decisive and ruthless as he charged forward. His folding fan was now blank, then snow-capped mountains appeared and disappeared, followed by the gradual emergence of puppet armor, which appeared densely among the snow-capped peaks.

Snapped!
The folding fan snapped shut—a massive avalanche erupted from the fan surface, leaving a blank space in front of him!
The power of the Dao-Driving True Monarch is, after all, at the pinnacle of the extraordinary realm, and cannot be matched by sheer numbers. Only a top-tier military strategist with the cultivation of the Cave True Realm, commanding an army of 100,000 might be able to put up a fight against him.

However, Yong State did not have such a strong army, nor such a famous general.

From this day forward, there will be no more time to cultivate such renowned generals and such a powerful army.

At this moment, only Xi Xiangyi's appearance can change the course of the battle.

Once Xi Xiangyi, Yongmo's last trump card, appears, the war will be decided.

Meng Lingxiao is nearing the end!

In the vast void left by the missing puppet armor formation, a densely packed group of people emerged.

The "densely packed" place was mainly his clothes.

Inner garment, outer robe, wide robe... every inch of the fabric on his body was covered with his name!

Over the years, he has traveled all over the country and visited all the heavens. Many eyes have seen him and his "clothes of words"... "They are densely packed, like a swarm of ants."

The names on his clothes were originally those of his teammates whose bodies were left in Sanshan City, names that haunted him for the rest of his life. Later, many more innocent names were added... because of the Enlightened Reforms. The most poignant name he wrote was "Fu Baosong".

These are the names he believes he should bear.

At first, he only wanted to redeem himself; later, he wanted to save his country, his people, and all the common people of the world… But the further he went, the more powerless he felt. The higher he climbed, the more barren it became. The more he wanted to save, the more he witnessed being lost!
Despite his own limitations and the harsh realities of life, he has come this far.

Perhaps he should have died long ago from exhaustion and depletion of his energy.

But his supernatural power is called... [Eternal Life].

His teacher entrusted him with this supernatural power, making him bear everything, yet never revealing to him the solution to the suffering of the world. Perhaps because of that teacher, he himself never broke free.

He's here so abruptly, but strangely, it's as if he was meant to be here.

He also had a sword and a "peach branch" that he held upside down in his hand.

Then, a variety of transparent talismanic images of two people embracing rose up behind him. A surge of boundless vitality instantly rushed forth like a tidal wave.

Pulling Talisman - Life and Death Puppet!

The techniques that the former Grand Master Lu Maoguan used in the Ape Immortal Court were "rewritten" here.

Those who were wiped out by Meng Lingxiao, those warriors hidden in the puppet armor, had already tied their lives to Li Jianqiu. And at the moment of their death, they gave their last chance of life to Li Jianqiu.

Li Jianqiu alone could not have accomplished this. Behind it all lies Xixiangyi's precise allocation of energy, allowing the ever-renewing Li Jianqiu to become the "core" of the operation.

As if a spring breeze had blown, spring forests began to grow.

The chill from the snowfields temporarily stopped before the peach grove.

"Flowers bloom in the forest, and words hang on more branches. A lifetime of regrets, all that remains is longing."

Li Jianqiu, dressed in a robe with calligraphy on it, stood in front of Meng Lingxiao.

This large blank space was thus filled with a dense array of names.

Meng Lingxiao raised his eyes slightly: "Mr. Li, how did you get here? When we parted years ago, I never imagined that we would meet again with swords."

He had once personally recruited the other party, hence his statement.

The three heroes of the Enlightenment – ​​Dog, Dragon, and Tiger – once enjoyed considerable fame. Later, the Dragon returned to its rightful place, and the aquatic creatures rose to prominence. Only Dog and Tiger remained, still roaming the human world, possessing the virtue of "compassion," and gaining immense prestige.

That alone wouldn't be enough to warrant Meng Lingxiao's serious attention.

But amidst the power shifts in Zhuangguo, how did Li Jianqiu, Du Yehu, and even Song Qingyue manage to exit unscathed? He had to understand.

But... bringing Li Jianqiu, a god-level cultivator, here as a shield, Yong Kingdom has truly run out of ideas!

Do you really think that person would dare to defy the world and interfere in this journey of conquering the world?

Even the most eternal and supreme being will fall if entangled too much in the threads of mortal life.

"I am but a humble Li Jianqiu, and I dare not accept the title of 'Master' from the True Lord."

Li Jianqiu understood Meng Lingxiao's thoughts, and bowed respectfully: "I serve Yong for my ideals. If you should use the country to punish me, I will die without regret."

This battle has nothing to do with Jiang Wang; he came seeking the Dao and will not be involved in it. I believe Jiang Wang will respect and understand this.

Meng Lingxiao said "Oh," and then asked, "I've heard that the three heroes of Qiming advance and retreat together. Now that the dragon has swept through the demon land and the dog has risen in the peach grove, I wonder where the tiger is?"

“Du Yehu is currently in the Floating World, and what he sees now may not be the future. There, he has the support of the God Lord, and he wants to see the answer we have been seeking.” Li Jianqiu paused, then said seriously again, “Here, it’s just me.”

Du Yehu was a tough-looking but kind-hearted man who, throughout his many years of travel, also held the ideal of "serving the people of the world".

But his relationship with Jiang Wang was something he couldn't sever.

He was free to roam the world, and wherever he stood, he would be seen as Jiang Wang's attitude. He was not afraid of death, but he could not allow himself to become a tangible link in Jiang Wang's worldly affairs.

Ultimately, what mattered more to him than his ideals was the bond he formed with the "Five Heroes of Maple Forest".

Meng Lingxiao sighed: "Mr. Li has been searching for a good way to save the people of the world, and this is the answer that the Li Kingdom has always wanted to bring to the world."

He said sincerely, “The five kingdoms of the Northwest are united as one family, with no distinction between people from the past and those from the present, which shows the effectiveness of benevolent governance. Our dynasty treats all people fairly, ensuring that the elderly are cared for, the young are educated, and those with ambition can rise to the top. The Li Kingdom governs the Northwest as if it were governing the whole country... ushering in a new dawn for all people.”

Li Jianqiu pursed his lips. He could see the seriousness of this True Lord and feel the sincerity of this legendary figure from the snowy plains. But the other party's mindset was still stuck in the past.

From Meng Lingxiao's perspective, the Li Kingdom today was indeed a very good imperial regime. Hong Junyan was like a hyena to foreign powers, completely disregarding his own image and tearing apart any opportunity he could see. But domestically, he combined power and virtue, personally elevating the people of this harsh land to the position of "citizens of a great nation" they enjoy today.

If it weren't for Hong Junyan, which of the people in the former Northwest Five Kingdoms Alliance wouldn't have been considered inferior?
But times are changing. In Li Jianqiu's view today, Meng Lingxiao's demands on the monarch and the country are insufficient to match the title of "the dawn of the world".

"The virtue of the Li people is evident to all under heaven, and is not limited to the Li people. The medicines that are already available in the world cannot cure the unresolved diseases of the world."

Li Jianqiu said earnestly, “I have traveled to various countries and personally experienced the world, visiting villages and fields. In all the world, there are wise and foolish rulers, good and bad ministers, and different national policies, but none of them can solve the most fundamental problem—all imperial regimes are protecting the interests of the rulers, not the interests of the people.”

"Indeed, for a long time, the system that flourished in the era represented the interests of the human race and won many advantages for the human race. But as time rolls forward, the progressive system of the past may also become an obstacle in the new era."

"I am of limited knowledge and understanding, and I am at a loss to solve the calamities of the world. Only in Yong Kingdom did I see a glimmer of hope."

"If you examine the policies and decrees of Yong, you will see that they benefit the people and alleviate their suffering. The decrees originate from the people's livelihood, not from centralized power. They are not for the benefit of the powerful and wealthy, but for the prosperity of the world."

"Perhaps it hasn't completely solved the problem yet, and it's still in the process of exploration. But the direction it's heading is something I've been searching for but haven't seen."

As Li Jianqiu finished speaking, he gripped his longsword tightly, raised his eyes, and said, "If you truly hope to bring dawn to all the worlds, then why would you reach out and extinguish the light of that dawn?"

The king who once said, "The Great Yong Dynasty will last forever, and it need not be surnamed Han," is actually doing just that!
So he came to this city of squares to fight for the common dream.

Looking at Li Jianqiu like this, and seeing the names on his clothes, Meng Lingxiao sincerely called out, "Mr. Li!"

He said, "These are not actually your responsibility."

"Li Jianqiu is of limited talent and strength, and I am but a mantis trying to stop a chariot; I hope you will forgive my presumption—"

Li Jianqiu bowed slightly, then held his sword horizontally: "However, in this world, those who are capable will do it, and those who are determined will go forth. Now I shall go!"

This wasn't the first time he had realized his own powerlessness. But it wasn't the first time he had moved forward either.

It's a drop in the ocean, but we have the will to put out the fire!

Meng Lingxiao stopped talking, but took a step forward and placed her hand on Li Jianqiu's sword—thus, she pushed Li Jianqiu, sword and all, into the peach grove.

Leaves fluttered in the air, and the ground was covered in faded red. The thriving vitality withered in an instant.

However, the dense forest was gloomy, and a cold wind was blowing, rising as the flowers withered.

Even the death of peach blossoms and the withering of flowers form an array, and the dissipation of life forces the netherworld.

The dense forest seemed like another world, and when the trees swayed, the shadows within suddenly became clear, revealing the outline of a Yama's palace.

"To arbitrarily resort to arms against a virtuous nation is unjust!"

Accompanied by that echoing, stubborn, and self-absorbed recitation, a crowned figure bathed in divine light emerged from the solemn underworld: "Unjust wars...must not be waged!"

The current King of the Underworld, the [Non-Aggressive] Puppet Lord!
Throughout history, the [Non-Aggression] puppet ruler has been constantly collapsing and rebuilding, remaining confined to one palace and unable to leave, thus its influence cannot expand outwards.

Because His ideas do not align with the core interests of various countries at present.

Moreover, in this process of collapse and reconstruction, He is in fact continuously consuming Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, which is also a result that all parties intentionally saw.

Even King Qin Guang, who was free-spirited and did not belong to any party, did not want his superior to be too controlling.

Perhaps only King Yang Xuanze truly upholds the order of the underworld and protects Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, but even he cannot do it alone.

Yong Mo dared not utter a word about this.

But today, the [Non-Aggression] Puppet Lord has been released.

This was a joint decision by all the halls of the underworld. Except for Yama, the King of Hell representing the Qin Kingdom, all the Yama Kings of the various halls raised their hands to let him pass.

The attack by Li on Yong pushed Yong to the brink of disaster, but it also unleashed all of Yong's war potential.

They all believed that Yong could not survive, and they all hoped that the Li Kingdom would pay a greater price.

When this gentleman appeared, a dazzling light suddenly shone forth, and the magnificent peach grove resembled a temple.

"Today we cease hostilities—to wage war is a crime!"

[Non-Aggression] The Puppet Lord stepped out of the Underworld Palace and made a judgment.

The gears turned, the clear sound of the jar echoing—all words of the Mohist school. Behind him, countless runes formed chains of punishment, flamboyant and unrestrained. With an iron pen in his left hand and a sword in his right, he faced Meng Lingxiao, his presence overwhelming the gates of life and death.

However, at that very moment, a robe with its hem slightly curled appeared before the Underworld Palace.

The eternally unchanging silhouette of Eternal Winter Peak is like a shadow etched on the gates of the Underworld.

Having severed ties with fate and bid farewell to the bright moon, Fu Huan stepped out from this shadow and slapped someone across the face.

Frost clung to the peach branches throughout the forest, shattering the entirety of spring. The frost also crept onto the eyelashes of the [Non-Aggression] Puppet Lord. And the sword in his hand, the pen of certain death, had all turned to ice crystals… then, with a crisp sound, shattered into pieces!

"It's not time for puppets to be in charge yet!"

Fu Huan walked through the frost-covered peach grove, completely ignoring everyone on the battlefield, and simply slapped them again with his backhand—

They directly blasted the [Non-Aggression] Puppet Lord into the Underworld Palace.

With a thunderous crash as the gates of the Yama Palace slammed shut, he stomped down, as if the Yama Palace itself had been crushed in the polar heavens, sending the palace back to the mortal underworld!

As the shadows of the trees gradually faded, Meng Lingxiao, carrying the dying Li Jianqiu, had not yet spoken when Fu Huan had already passed by him.

He pressed his hand forward, and the distant city, which had just risen, had already frozen into an ice city.

His boots moved forward, stepping into the still fiercely fighting battlefield, and he reached out and grabbed again—

"Got you!"

Spacetime distortion!

Amidst the swirling snowflakes, in the distorted puppet world, a short-haired girl with painted face and a copper box on her back "squeezed" out.

Her overall control of the battlefield is the main reason why the Yong army has been able to hold out until now. However, this has also left the Puppet World with too many threads connecting it to the battlefield, which has led to Fu Huan's counter-invasion.

"What should I call you?" With victory already secured, Fu Huan wasn't in a hurry to make a move: "Xi Xiangyi or [Universal Love]?"

“Those are all me,” Xi Xiangyi said expressionlessly.

In her divine realm, there are many useless memories. She always remembers some scenes that lack puppet power value, reminding herself to continue living a life that suits the play, so that she doesn't get lost in the puppet world—including the way the Ape Immortal Court looked at her that day.

It wasn't until much later that she realized this.

That was a kind of pity.

The Ape Immortal Court had long foreseen her fate.

The Yuanxian Court that came alone with its halberd was the only dignity left for Yongmo in this era.

She could remember all the known experiences, and she should also know the inevitable ending.

History never changes; stories simply repeat themselves.

But why is she still here?

Why did I never think of leaving?

“You are the patriarch of the Mohist school, and now you have two choices,” Fu Huan said calmly. “First, lead the Mohist school to join the Li Kingdom, and the Li Kingdom will surely treat it as a prominent school and make it a public school. Second, the Mohist school’s legacy… will end from this day forward. Look at them again and give me your answer.”

There's no need to go see the play if it's suitable.

After losing her support, the solid defenses of the Yong army have been gradually thinned out.

The Li army, covering the mountains and plains, surged towards Fangyuan City like a tide.

The colossal city, which had soared and then been brought back to its former glory, still roared with the fury of yesteryear. Unfortunately, the eternally unyielding ice crystals were a "thick barrier" it could not break through.

This has nothing to do with courage or wisdom; it's a difference in the level of power. Right now, Jucheng doesn't even have a single extra bit of supreme power; it's simply unable to unleash its full kinetic energy.

It's astonishing that Yong Kingdom has run out of cards to play and has managed to hold on until now.

"Surrender, for everything you cherish," Fu Huan said slowly. "You won't regret the decision you made today."

With her short hair, Xi Xiangyi hovered in the air, looking exceptionally petite, yet also exceptionally serious: "What you want is not the Mohist school, but the Mohist school's mechanical arts. What you want is not Yongzhi, but the territory of Yong."

“There’s no difference.” Fu Huan said calmly, “Or rather, I’ll give you time later, and you can tell me about the differences slowly.”

Xi Xiangyi pursed her lips and remained silent.

"Who are you waiting for?" Fu Huan looked at her, then finally walked forward again: "Han Xu won't come. Even if he does, he can't persuade me."

Judging by the time, Mengdu should have already been occupied by the Qin people.

Even at its peak, with the entire nation's army concentrated in Mengdu, Yongmo could not withstand the Qin army's attack. With its main force already deployed in Shenxiao, Yongmo had virtually no chance of resistance.

This was a tacit agreement to divide the spoils. The Li Kingdom wanted to take over the Yong Kingdom as completely as possible because it would then have to face the challenge from the Jing Kingdom, which was a true war maniac.

But at that moment, another voice rang out—

"What a pity, Master Fu...you were wrong again!"

The ice covering the exterior of the city began to crack and pop.

The arrival of a Daoist True Monarch unleashed the full kinetic energy of the Great City!
Crackling sounds, crackling sounds.

Ice shards flew everywhere.

Han Xu, dressed in tattered imperial robes and carrying a blood-stained longsword, stood unsteadily on the city wall of Jucheng.

He drew his sword and faced Fu Huan with a victor's smile: "Three thousand nine hundred years ago you chose the wrong opponent, and I say... the same is true today! I have come!"

The last time Fangyuan City was at its wits' end, when even the Yong people themselves had given up hope, it was Han Xu who stepped forward, speaking with sharp words, and persuaded the Ape Immortal Court to retreat.

The people of Li had already considered him dead! But he still crossed over into the next world, becoming the emperor to maintain the dynasty.

how come?
Despite the resistance from the Jing people, the Li state's campaign against Fangyuan City proceeded smoothly.

On the contrary, Mengdu, which should have been taken away by the Qin people as payment and should have been the least likely to have any accidents, actually had an accident!?
How is Han Xu still alive? And how is he still able to stand on the city wall of Jucheng?
A massive avalanche was brewing in Fu Huan's heart, but she remained as solid as ice.

A flicker of emotion finally crossed those calm eyes. Yet he resolutely continued forward: "You've already solved the simple problem. Now you must prove the difficult one—how will you convince me not to kill you!"

"I'm not trying to persuade you, but you should have received the intelligence by now." Han Xu, unconcerned about his disheveled appearance, made a 'please' gesture.

Fu Huan held the light in his hand, only to see an urgent message from the front lines—

The Qin army was halted at Mengdu!
Wei Qiu, Earl of Yi'an of Qin, died in battle!
The Phoenix Sparrow Army was completely wiped out!
Crown Prince Ying Wu of Qin barely escaped with his life!
The messages came one after another, like shooting stars.

What happened? What exactly happened?

Prince Ying Wu of Xiaoshan, a brave and powerful warrior in the western border, is no less than the ruler of a great nation; he only lacks the final step of reaching the top. Earl Wei Qiu of Yi'an is a veteran of the battlefield, and his Phoenix Sparrow Army is one of the strongest armies in the land.

With such a formidable military force, they could even wage war against a powerful nation! Overthrowing Yong should have been effortless. How could they have been defeated like this?
Just as countless questions began to form in Fu Huan's mind, another urgent message arrived, striking him like a thunderbolt.

The urgent message contained only three words.

A person's name answers all his questions.

The urgent message read:

"Ji Fengzhou!"

It was as the Qin people thought, and it was also as the Qin people thought.

The central emperor did indeed personally lead the expedition, but he was not going to attack Yuan Yang; instead, he marched into the western border—

The Qin people plundered the western border as easily as slicing wheat with a sickle.

Especially at the start of the war against demons, when the world's forces converged on the demon land, and at the crucial moment when the Central Yuan Yang Dao Kingdom's orthodox war was drawing the attention of both Qi and Chu... they also pushed the Li Kingdom to attack Yong, thus restraining the Jing Kingdom.

This was a golden opportunity for the Qin state to reclaim its western borders, and the Qin army indeed surged forth like a torrent, subjugating all who passed through.

Mo Kingdom, Cheng Kingdom, Luo Kingdom...

The western states were easily defeated when Qin raised its banner. Even those that put up any resistance were crushed in one fell swoop.

The black marching arrows on the military map were practically blooming in all directions.

The only one worth paying attention to is the Yong Kingdom.

Ying Wu sent an envoy to accept the surrender of Mo and Cheng, used a flag general to annex Luo and Rui, and used a detachment to besiege Xin'an... while the main force went straight to Mengdu, intending to personally subdue the Yong Emperor, intimidate the western border, and achieve success in one fell swoop.

The brief window of opportunity was fleeting, and the key to the Qin victory lay in speed.

Ying Wu truly deserved the title of Crown Prince of Xiaoshan. He presided over the great cause of conquering the west and his military campaigns were as swift and decisive as lightning. Facing the powerful state of Yongmo, he was unstoppable, winning battle after battle.

But at the crucial moment of breaking through the enemy lines and destroying the city—

Ji Fengzhou led his troops out of Xin'an, broke through the city's siege, and marched north.

It turns out that when Ying Jianghong led his army south, this central emperor left Tianjing City alone and ruled Xin'an... He subdued the Senate on the spot and took control of the Zhuang Kingdom.

Yet, in the face of the Qin army's advance, they deliberately feigned weakness, allowing the entire territory to be lost, replacing the Dao flag with a black one, and only pushing Zhang Ren to the front, defending the capital in the name of the Senate.

He had completely deceived Ying Wu. By leaving a detachment to besiege the city as a precaution, he had already demonstrated his cautious military strategy and was determined not to make any mistakes.

However, while the Qin army was fighting fiercely in Yongtu, Ji Fengzhou lifted his cloth robe and stood up, showing his dignity as the emperor of the central government, and instantly changed the flag of Zhuangjing!
Who would have thought that the most esteemed emperor in the world today would be hiding in a small Daoist state, living in seclusion in Xin'an?

Who would have thought that the Jing Kingdom itself was riddled with problems, its legitimacy was wavering, and it was in turmoil from all sides... At this time, instead of yielding even a little, it chose its strongest opponent and took the initiative to confront the Western Qin, which was known as the "second strongest in the world"!

And it was the emperor himself who led the campaign!

Using the garrison of Xin'an City as its backbone, Ji Fengzhou marched north while gathering scattered soldiers defeated by the Qin army. Surprisingly, the further north he went, the stronger he became.

Ultimately, he personally led the Zhuang State army north to Yong, where they joined forces with the Yong army, which was rebelling against the Qin. At Suolong Pass, they annihilated the Qin army that had entered the country, winning a glorious victory that shook the world!

It was Fan Sinian, an experienced and shrewd strategist, who had long sought out Meng Cen, the Marquis of Changxin, who had been in seclusion for many years, to lead his army to be stationed within the territory of Luo Kingdom in preparation for any possible changes at Yujing Mountain.

He was the grandfather of Meng Yao, the commander of the "Great Wind" faction, and had always been the pillar of the Meng family.

Meng Cen risked his life to save Ying Wu, who was known as the "Prince of Xiaoshan," but he himself was left with a pair of arms, forever crippled by the Dao.

People suddenly realized—

This seems to be the first time in a long period of peace and prosperity that the central emperor has truly led an army into battle. Previous campaigns against [Ksitigarbha] were more a display of personal military prowess.

He will meet with the Qin emperor, who was the first to lead the imperial army northward, in the western border.

See you next Monday!