The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

Inside the Crown Prince's residence, Crown Prince Zheng Zhao slammed his fist on the table with a furious expression. "That dancer seduced Father and even gave birth to an illegitimate child. Now Father actually wants to make that young son the Crown Prince. Where does that leave me!"

“Your Highness, do not be anxious,” Zhao Qian, the Crown Prince’s trusted advisor, said in a low voice. “We can send someone to assassinate that dancer. Without her, the young boy is no threat.”

The crown prince gritted his teeth, "Fine, you'll handle this matter. Make sure it's done cleanly and efficiently!"

Unexpectedly, the assassination attempt ended in failure.

When the news reached the palace, King Zheng was furious and immediately deposed the crown prince, appointing his youngest son as the new crown prince.

The princelings were not going to give up, so they decided to launch a coup.

Inside the palace, shouts of battle shook the heavens and flames soared into the sky. In the end, the Crown Prince's faction only managed to kill the dancer, while the young prince was sent out of the palace by his confidants ahead of time.

Crown Prince Zheng Zhao hastily ascended the throne, but the young son's lineage, who had escaped the capital, would not let the matter rest. A fierce civil war broke out between the two sides, and the land of Zheng was engulfed in flames of war, causing immense suffering to the people.

On the Song side, upon learning that Zheng was embroiled in internal strife, the King of Song's eyes flashed with malice. "A golden opportunity has been presented to us! Issue my order: send the Confucian scholar Song Zhiwen with an army of 100,000 to invade Zheng!"

"Your Majesty, this matter requires further consideration."

In the imperial court, an old minister stepped forward to advise, "The Jixia Academy will probably not sit idly by."

King Song scoffed, "So what if it's the Jixia Academy? Twenty years ago, my father was poisoned in Zheng. This blood debt will be repaid today!"

Confucian scholar Song Zhiwen received the king's order, mustered an army of 100,000, and marched in a mighty procession toward the border of Zheng.

However, Yuan Tiangang of the Jixia Academy intervened.

Yuan Tiangang, one of the Seven Sages of Jixia Academy, was known for his eloquence.

He arrived alone at Song Zhiwen's military camp.

"General Song, attacking Zheng at this time is not a wise move."

Yuan Tiangang looked at Song Zhiwen with sincere eyes, "The State of Zheng is in chaos, but what have the people done wrong? This war will only bring devastation to the people."

Song Zhiwen said, "Mr. Yuan, I am a soldier and only obey the king's orders."

"His Majesty commands me to attack Zheng; I will certainly do my utmost."

"Does the general not know how many families will be torn apart once war breaks out?"

Yuan Tiangang continued to persuade, "The sword in the general's hand should not be pointed at innocent civilians."

Song Zhiwen was silent for a moment, then said, “Mr. Yuan, I understand what you mean.”

But the emperor's command is inviolable; I cannot disobey his decree.

Knowing he could not persuade Song Zhiwen, Yuan Tiangang had no choice but to go to Suiyang City to try to meet with the King of Song and persuade him to rescind his order.

In the Suiyang Palace, King Song sat high on his dragon throne, looking down at Yuan Tiangang. "Mr. Yuan, have you come here for matters concerning the State of Zheng?"

Yuan Tiangang bowed respectfully, "Indeed, Your Majesty."

The turmoil in Zheng was an internal affair; if Song were to rashly send troops, it would likely incur criticism from the entire nation.

The King of Song's face darkened. "Criticism? It would be unfilial not to avenge my father! What's wrong with me sending troops out of filial piety?"

"Your Majesty, under the guise of filial piety, has actually instigated war, plunging the people of both countries into misery. Is this the behavior of a wise ruler?"

Yuan Tiangang spoke frankly.

"Be bold!"

King Song slammed his hand on the dragon throne, "You are nothing but an old man from the Jixia Academy, yet you dare to be so disrespectful to me in the court!"

"If Your Majesty insists on sending troops, you will surely regret it later!"

Yuan Tiangang showed no fear.

The two argued vehemently in court, neither willing to yield, and ultimately Yuan Tiangang was expelled from the palace.

At this moment, in the Wind Chime Pavilion in Suiyang City, Song Zhiwen and Yu Youwei sat facing each other and talked late into the night.

Yu Youwei was an old acquaintance of Song Zhiwen. The two had known each other for many years and had a close relationship.

"Zhiwen, are you confident about this expedition?"

Yu Youwei looked at Song Zhiwen, her eyes filled with worry.

Song Zhiwen shook his head with a wry smile, "This war should never have happened."

But I cannot disobey the king's command; I have no choice but to obey.

"The state of Zheng is currently in turmoil, and the people are suffering terribly. If the state of Song were to send troops again, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Yu Youwei sighed softly.

Song Zhiwen nodded, "How could I not know?"

But His Majesty's mind is made up; all I can do is minimize casualties.

"Speaking of this conflict, the involvement of the Jixia Academy has made things even more troublesome."

Yu Youwei couldn't help but say, "I've heard that Yuan Tiangang's nephew, Yuan Zhe, is very active in the Qi Kingdom. There must be something more to this than meets the eye."

Song Zhiwen's gaze sharpened. "The Jixia Academy has always wanted to compete for the orthodox lineage in the northern border. Now, by supporting the State of Qi, it is simply to use Qi to check and balance the State of Song."

But when the war broke out and the people suffered, they turned a blind eye.

Yu Youwei comforted him, "Zhiwen, Yuan Tiangang is a wise man of the Jixia Academy. As you and I both know, he is always reasonable and will not make things difficult for you."

Song Zhiwen shook his head, "That's true, but after the war, the Jixia Academy probably won't let it go and will definitely settle accounts later."

As the two were talking, Yu Youwei's expression suddenly changed, and she looked out the window.

Song Zhiwen hurriedly asked, "Youwei, what's wrong?"

Yu Youwei guessed, "I sensed an unusual aura, something eerie. Could it be... related to this war?"

Song Zhiwen also walked to the window, but apart from the darkness, he saw nothing.

"Perhaps you are overthinking it. Suiyang City is heavily guarded; what could possibly happen?"

Yu Youwei shook her head, "I hope so."

At this moment, in the Qilian Mountains far away in Cangzhou County of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a torrential rain was pouring down, with large raindrops hitting the ground and splashing up layers of water.

Jiang Chuan, carrying a long sword, walked step by step toward Tang Zhizhi and Kongkong.

His eyes gleamed with an eerie golden light in the rain, exuding a chilling murderous intent.

"Jiang Chuan, what's wrong?"

Tang Zhizhi asked warily, his hand unconsciously gripping the hilt of his sword.

Jiang Chuan did not answer, but instead approached step by step, his aura becoming disordered.

Kongkong's expression changed drastically. "This is bad! It seems that Benefactor Bai has been controlled by something! Could it be that the soul weapon in his sea of ​​consciousness has awakened?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Jiang Chuan roared, brandishing his longsword and attacking the two of them.

Tang Zhizhi quickly raised his sword to defend, and with a clang, sparks flew everywhere.

"Kongkong, what exactly is going on?"

Tang Zhizhi asked anxiously.

While dodging Jiang Chuan's attacks, Kong Kong shouted, "The soul weapon in Bai's sea of ​​consciousness has probably temporarily suppressed his mind, causing him to lose his reason!"

Jiang Chuan's attacks were fierce, each sword strike carrying immense power.

Tang Zhizhi and Kongkong fought back with all their might, but gradually their strength began to wane.

Suddenly, Jiang Chuan clutched his head with both hands, his face contorted in pain, and let out a roar.

Within Jiang Chuan's sea of ​​consciousness, the dragon soul struggled frantically, but was firmly suppressed by a golden book and the phantom of a phoenix.

Jiang Chuan's body began to sway, and finally, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees, losing consciousness.

Tang Zhizhi and Kongkong rushed forward and suddenly saw that Jiang Chuan's face was pale and his breathing was weak.

Tang Zhizhi called out and shook him.

Kongkong reached out and checked Jiang Chuan's pulse. "He's alright, he's just unconscious."

"What's the matter?"

Tang Zhizhi asked anxiously.

Kongkong explained, "The soul artifact in Bai's sea of ​​consciousness is probably a living artifact spirit."

"It just awakened and suppressed Bai's consciousness, which is why he behaved abnormally."

Tang Zhizhi asked, "Then what do we do now? Jiang Chuan, he..." Kong Kong sighed, "If Benefactor Bai's cultivation could reach the Supreme Realm, perhaps he could control this soul weapon, but now..." Tang Zhizhi asked, "Isn't there any other way?"

Kongkong shook his head. "The most urgent thing is to leave the Qilian Mountains first."

Influenced by the river's energy, the demonic beasts in these mountains have begun to rampage, forming a beast tide. If we don't leave soon, we'll all be trapped here.

Tang Zhizhi looked around and saw that the figures of magical beasts could be seen in the rain in the mountains and forests, and their roars rose and fell.

"Okay, take Jiang Chuan with you first."

Kongkong carried Jiangchuan on his back and rode his magical artifact into the sky.

Tang Zhizhi followed closely behind on his sword.

At this moment, the Qilian Mountains suddenly began to shake violently, the mountains collapsed, and boulders rolled down.

"Oh no, there's an earthquake!" Tang Zhizhi shouted.

Huge, deep ravines had split open in the mountains, emanating a wild and untamed aura, as if some powerful creature was about to burst forth from the earth.

A beast tide erupted, and the beasts ran wildly through the mountains, their roars and howls mingling together, making one's eardrums ache.

"Come on!"

Kongkong carried the unconscious Jiang Chuan on his back and shouted loudly.

He rode his magical artifact and soared into the sky, with Tang Zhizhi following closely behind on his sword.

At this moment, a sudden earthquake struck the Qilian Mountains. The mountains shook, boulders rolled down, and huge deep ravines appeared in the mountains amidst the collapse and fissures.

The deep ravine exuded a wild and untamed aura, as if some terrifying ancient creature was about to be born.

The mountain road was muddy and difficult to traverse, and the monsters fled one after another, their blood quickly washed away by the rain.

Outside the Qilian Mountains, monsters rushed out of the forest and headed straight for Cang'er Town.

"Oh no, a beast tide is coming!"

In Cang'er Town, the people were terrified and fled in all directions.

A giant, monstrous beast strode into the town in a few steps, raised its hand, and houses collapsed with a crash, plunging Cang'er Town into chaos.

The righteous cultivators from the four sects stationed in Cang'er Town quickly assembled and stood ready in the torrential rain.

"Everyone, hold your ground and prepare for battle!"

A monk shouted.

The cultivators gripped their weapons, preparing for this bloody battle.

At the same time, a deafening cry rang out from deep within the Qilian Mountains.

A gigantic roc spread its wings and soared into the sky, blotting out the sun; it was a fifth-tier magical beast.

"This...this is a fifth-tier Peng bird!"

The cultivators from both the righteous and evil sides were dispersed by the terrifying aura released by the Peng bird.

Unable to dodge in time, Xue Xing, the head of the Sword Hall of the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect, and Xiao Ning of the Azure Nether Sword Sect instinctively swung their swords to attack.

"Look at the sword!"

Xue Xing shouted, his sword energy crisscrossing. Xiao Ning cooperated perfectly, and the power of their Sage Realm sword energy was astonishing.

The roc was struck, its feathers flying everywhere, its body covered in blood, and it fell to the ground with a mournful cry.

Xue Xing shouted, and he and Xiao Ning used their internal energy to escape from the heart of the mountains.

Jiang Chuan, Kong Kong, and Tang Zhizhi were swept into the deep mountains by the hurricane stirred up by the Peng bird and fell towards a cliff.

"Ah—" Tang Zhizhi exclaimed, trying to steady himself on his sword, but he was swept up by the gale and could not control himself.

Kongkong hugged Jiangchuan tightly and prayed silently.

Just as they were about to fall off the cliff, a mysterious force held them up.

"who is it?"

Kongkong asked warily.

"Don't panic, it's me."

A gentle voice rang out, and Chunyangzi, the leader of the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect, tore through space and emerged from the rift, appearing above the Qilian Mountains.

He looked at the huge cracks and ravines deep in the Qilian Mountains and thought, "A savage beast is about to be born, and the situation is critical."

Chunyangzi immediately ordered Xue Xing and Xiao Ning, "You two, quickly organize the disciples of the four sects to evacuate Qilian Mountain and set up a defensive line outside the mountain."

Then notify the garrison commander of Cangzhou Prefecture to urgently transmit the message to Haojing, instructing the garrison to spread out their battle lines and defend the city to the death!

"Yes!"

Xue Xing and Xiao Ning accepted the order and left.

Chunyangzi then went alone to the depths of the Qilian Mountains, where he saw a huge stone tablet rising from the ground, and beneath the stone tablet was a tortoise shell as large as a mountain.

“This is…” Chunyangzi exclaimed in surprise.

Soon, a savage behemoth appeared; it was a giant beast with a dragon's head and a turtle's body, carrying a stone tablet on its back.

Its appearance made the monsters in the Qilian Mountains even more frenzied, and the beast tide advanced at a faster pace.

"Hmph, humans, why do you disturb my peaceful slumber?"

The giant beast spoke, its voice booming like a bell.

Chunyangzi stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, "I am Chunyangzi, the sect leader of Yunhai Immortal Sect. My disciples did not mean to disturb you while we were eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path. We hope you will forgive us."

The giant beast glanced at Chunyangzi and said, "Hmph, Yunhai Immortal Sect, it does have some reputation."

I am a dragon turtle, slumbering here for a thousand years, never expecting to be awakened by you today.

"millennium?"

Chunyangzi cupped his hands and said, "Senior, you should know about the Silent Annihilation Sect and its sect leader Chisongzi from a thousand years ago. Senior Chisongzi's cultivation reached the seventh realm and he ascended to the Immortal Realm, which is truly admirable."

The dragon turtle snorted, "Hmph, the Silent Annihilation Sect has long since declined, and its mountain gate is nowhere to be found."

As for Chisongzi's ascension to the immortal realm, in my opinion, it's just a rumor.

In this world of the Nine Provinces, the seventh realm is already the limit; there are no true immortals here.

“Senior, you are mistaken,” a loud voice rang out, and it turned out that Master Yuantong had arrived.

He clasped his hands together and said, "The Buddha's teachings are boundless; how could there be no beings who transcend the seventh realm?"

The dragon turtle looked at Master Yuantong and said, "I have lived for thousands of years and have seen all of the land of Kyushu, but I have never seen an immortal above the seventh realm."

In my opinion, after the Buddha, no true Buddha has ever appeared in the world again, isn't that the same as what I said?

Seeing that the topic had changed, Chunyangzi quickly followed up, "Senior, many of the mythical beasts in the legends of the Nine Provinces have now disappeared. What is the reason for this?"

The dragon turtle said, "This is a heavenly secret and cannot be revealed."

Just then, Xiao Jing, the sect leader of the Azure Sword Sect, and Zhou An, the head of the Fire God Mountain Sect, arrived in a hurry.

As soon as they arrived, the dragon turtle suddenly attacked, its huge mouth opening wide.

A powerful suction force surged forth, and Chunyangzi and Master Yuantong, unable to dodge in time, were swallowed whole.

Then, the dragon turtle quickly burrowed underground and disappeared without a trace.

"not good!"

Xiao Jing shouted, but it was too late.

Zhou An's expression was grave. "This dragon turtle is too strange. Now that Chunyangzi and Master Yuantong have been swallowed, what should we do?"

Xiao Jing advised, "Don't rush to pursue them. The beast tide in the Qilian Mountains is still raging. The most urgent task is to deal with the beast tide and protect the people."

Xue Xing, witnessing Chunyangzi being swallowed, turned deathly pale with fright. "The sect leader..."

But with the beast tide surging, he could only suppress his emotions and continue to command the cultivators of the four righteous sects to resist.

After the dragon turtle disappeared underground, the magical beasts of Qilian Mountain, no longer intimidated by its power, went berserk and ran wildly once more.

The beast tide continued to advance out of the mountains.

The cultivators of the four righteous sects struggled to hold on, but faced with this frenzied beast tide, they were gradually becoming overwhelmed. (End of Chapter)