Destiny is ashes

Chapter 1159 Tribulation (36)

"I am grateful for the kindness of my family and I should do my part for the family. I was born into a family, so naturally I should also contribute to the family."

Yuan Chengliang said earnestly, "So when needed, I am willing to give my life for the family, to anger some people, to befriend some people... to bring some people pleasure, and to quell the anger of others."

"If it is fate, my brother and I can both die."

“Die…” King Zhong looked at him, raised his eyebrows, picked up his wine cup, and toasted the other man: “I didn’t expect you to be so prepared to die.”

“Of course.” Yuan Chengliang straightened his back, his tone full of pride. “Our family has sheltered us from the wind and rain for 30,000 years without changing. So, if we were to face the storms stirred up by destiny, it would be easy for some high-ranking members to die and for us to kneel down and admit defeat.”

King Zhong smiled and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, praising, "You are also loyal."

“Of course we are loyal,” Yuan Chengliang answered without hesitation, then his tone shifted, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes as he looked again toward the execution platform: “If I could, I would also like Old Gu to die, but there was no need for such a grand execution…”

"But in the end, it's said that Gu Yunzhi has a very bad relationship with his granddaughter. Killing him might even please Lord Tianming."

As he spoke, he comforted himself: "Then Gu Yeqi, following Lord Tianming, might never return to Dachen."

"Who says it isn't?"

King Zhong smiled, neither affirming nor denying.

He knew, and the four great families also knew, that Gu Yunzhi, who possessed the 'Southern Dipper Inheritance,' was the only bloodline that could potentially replace the four great families.

Because Gu Yunzhi made such a gamble decades ago, his family bloodline was destined to end.

Gu Yunzhi's trip to the capital this time was originally a game of strategy, with all parties trying to communicate about Gu Yunzhi's sudden appearance and the fact that his bloodline had not been severed.

Although the exchange has not yet begun, the answer has already been reached—Gu Yeqi must remain outside of Dachen forever, and stay in the Mingjing Sect forever.

The blood of the Gu family can never return to Dachen.

If this cannot be achieved, the four great families will not compromise.

Who would have thought that the granaries Gu Yunzhi brought would actually do something that directly clashed with the four great families... This was certainly troublesome, but it was also an excuse.

The Yuan family is using the laws of Da Chen to kill troublesome people; they're even planning to hide behind Da Chen!

"Even now, he still believes in Da Chen. He is indeed... loyal."

With a sigh, the Prince of Zhong turned his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the Yuan family's palace, fixed on the emerging dawn on the distant horizon.

The light grew brighter, gradually illuminating the entire capital city.

The light shone on the throne.

"Your Majesty, what do you think?"

As the light climbed up his cheeks, Grand Tutor Hong slowly spoke, breaking the silence.

His voice was old but steady: "General Gu's life is in your hands."

"He is not only not guilty of a crime deserving of death, he is practically innocent."

“If you stop us now and take this opportunity to suppress the four great families, you can regain some power. This will not only make you more friendly with that chosen one, but you can also demote us and take back our power.”

He bowed slightly, his posture humble: "Faced with the majesty of the imperial court, we are ultimately just subjects."

A soft laugh came from the throne.

"Grand Tutor, you couldn't hold back any longer?" Xuan Mingyu's voice rang out, tinged with amusement. "You're being so direct with your probing. It seems you know something, so you're too lazy to pretend anymore." "Just a while ago," Grand Tutor Hong straightened up, no longer concealing the glint in his eyes, "I had a conversation with the Shangxuan Sect."

“We know… that a destiny will surely emerge in the Northern Xuan Sacrifice Continent.”

He paused, then said, word by word, "In fact, it's not just destiny."

He stopped talking.

Xuan Mingyu remained silent for a while.

"Your Majesty," Grand Tutor Hong's voice rang out again after a moment of silence, "If you were the Mandate of Heaven, what would you do in this situation?"

“If,” Xuan Mingyu said quietly, “if I am the chosen one.”

"While you were performing, my men had already begun removing some key ley lines. Although the Imperial Court's technology looks impressive, it is actually quite hollow in the face of destiny."

Grand Tutor Hong scanned the area with his divine sense, and his expression changed slightly.

He sensed that the access permissions of several hidden central points of the Divine Capital Earth Vein Array had been quietly altered at some point.

The official seals of those low-ranking officials who were killed were stolen, impersonated, and are constantly being replicated and multiplied, filling and occupying the access ports of other officials.

The Heavenly Officials of the Great Chen Dynasty are not without such technology, but they are definitely not as smooth and fluid as this... Of course, even if the technical strength is similar, the direction of refinement is different. The array formations of the Huai Xu Realm are absolutely inferior to the technology of the Tian Yuan Realm in terms of refinement and professional information decryption.

"So, how did you help Anjing?" Grand Tutor Hong asked in a deep voice, "How did he intend to sabotage it?"

Xuan Mingyu looked at the Grand Tutor in surprise, as if he had heard an unbelievable question: "Why are you asking me? How would I know what An Jing is going to do?"

"And why do you think I would help An Jing?"

"Because you are destiny."

The old Grand Tutor stared intently at the Emperor: "Although I don't know how you managed to carry out your plans without our surveillance, that's the truth."

“You have been stirring up trouble all along, and we have not stopped you because we are allies in essence. If we want to stop the Holy Ancestor, you should do the same.”

“But we are fundamentally different. You want to destroy everything, we want change.”

"So, when An Jing comes, you will definitely help him, using his power to break free from your shackles and gain freedom and power... We all know this, everyone knows this."

"Just like Gu Yunzhi wants to use the power of destiny to take revenge on us, just like the Yuan family wants to use the power of destiny to weaken the imperial court, just like we also want to use the power of destiny to deal with the Holy Ancestor, and just like you, wanting to use the power of destiny to deal with us."

"Heaven is the greatest force; who doesn't rely on the will of Heaven? The mandate of Heaven has arrived at this point; existence itself is the greatest change, upheaval, and opportunity."

As he said this, Grand Tutor Hong slowly closed his eyes: "The Shangxuan Sect shared information with us, so we know everything."

"So, Your Majesty, tell me, what exactly do you want to destroy? Or perhaps..."

"everything?"

Silence. Surprise. Realization.

Then, a sound rang out.

"You...you all think I am some kind of destiny?"

(End of this chapter)