My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 361 - 261 The Great Yan Emperor speaks of the
Chapter 361: Chapter 261: The Great Yan Emperor speaks of the Swordsman
Chapter 361: Chapter 261: The Great Yan Emperor speaks of the Swordsman
“`
Zhao Zhiwu spoke in a low voice, “Do you think after I spread this message, will people in the world believe it or not?”
An Jing, upon hearing this, suddenly had an epiphany.
The battle of Yujing City, it now seemed, was a conspiracy between Zhao Zhiwu and Lv Guoyong. Everyone thought that Zhao Zhiwu had suffered greatly from breaking his shackles, given his discord with Lv Guoyong and the disintegration of the court. This had led several Five Qi Grandmasters to convene in Yujing City, plotting for the Dragon Locking Well and the control of Yujing City.
Although there were some twists that allowed the Earth Vein Spirit to break free and brought great benefits to Zongzheng Huachun, it also resulted in the death of many experts. Two top experts from Outer Heaven Island, who had always been ‘indifferent to the world’, were killed, and one Five Qi Grandmaster from Zhao Country also perished.
If the plan had gone perfectly, all those Five Qi Grandmasters might have fallen in Yujing City, and Yan Country would have reaped unimaginable benefits. Although Zhao Zhiwu had barely broken through to the Great Grandmaster level with the excessive use of his Essence Blood, relying on the remaining power, he might even have accomplished what Zongzheng Huachun had yearned for.
But the fact is, things often do not go as people plan.
Now, after such scheming, the news that the Great Yan Emperor had suffered another heavy blow was circulating, looking as real as it could be. But would the people of the world believe it? Doubts were bound to arise, and by the time they did, the overall situation in Yujing City might already be decided.
What is empty becomes solid, and what is solid becomes empty.
An Jing said, “Your Majesty is wise.”
“There’s no need for flattery. Wisdom or not is not for those of the present to say; it will be left for posterity.”
Zhao Zhiwu took a deep breath and said, “It’s just that I don’t know if there will be a later generation.”
Zhao Zhiwu’s words were tinged with a touch of melancholy.
Posterity—what if there is no one left after?
An Jing pondered for a moment and said, “Does Your Majesty speak of the evil spirit Qi?”
“Exactly.”
Zhao Zhiwu nodded slightly, “Once the evil spirit Qi fully contaminates the Earth Vein Spirit, if the seal breaks, then the energy between heaven and earth will be nothing but evil spirits Qi. At that time, not to mention the common folk, even Grandmasters will be affected. They will either be assimilated by the evil spirit Qi, turning into evil spirits, or have their minds soaked, becoming a murderous puppet.”
The dangers of the evil spirits Qi were now being glimpsed.
Perhaps the release of the Earth Vein Spirit would bring great benefits for a short time, but in the end, it could bring disaster to the whole world. Now, with the world full of covetous eyes, it seems that the truth would not be contained forever.
An Jing glanced at Zhao Zhiwu. Although this Great Yan Emperor might have ascended to the throne through usurpation, and perhaps all he did was to maintain the rule of the Great Yan Dynasty, what he was doing at the moment was indeed benefiting countless ordinary people.
Once the evil spirit Qi completely saturates the world, perhaps transcendent Grandmasters like Xi Hafu and Buddha can use various methods to control the evil spirit Qi and prevent assimilation into evil spirits, but ordinary people would undoubtedly suffer as they had no power to resist the Qi of evil spirits. After all, the common people are the majority, and their power is fundamentally nonexistent against the evil spirit Qi.
Even for those like Xi Hafu who can control the evil spirit Qi, what will they ultimately become—human, or evil spirit?
Is this evolution?
Or destruction?
An Jing did not know, but at this moment, sealing the Earth Vein Spirit was absolutely the right thing to do.
Zhao Zhiwu took a light breath and stood up, “They will make their move again, and by then, it will have to be left to you.”
“Your Majesty exaggerates,” said An Jing, clasping his fists. “Your Majesty has just broken through to the Great Grandmaster; it is the perfect time to broaden your horizons.”
Zhao Zhiwu waved his hand and spoke indifferently, “I know my body best. Breaking through to the Great Grandmaster has drained a lot of my Essence Blood, and being severely injured by that undying Qian Qiu, the fateful day is not far off.”
At this moment, his demeanor revealed a trace of weariness, starkly different from when An Jing first saw Zhao Zhiwu.
Speaking thus, Zhao Zhiwu walked towards the outside of the hall.
“`
An Jing was greatly moved; an emperor who could face death with equanimity was not a common occurrence.
Fearing death more than actually dying was an even more tormenting state of mind.
And through the ages, those who could regard death with detachment were no ordinary individuals.
After all, life and death were paramount concerns in one’s existence.
At this moment, the sky was clear, the azure horizon unfurled before him, and golden shards of sunlight sprinkled upon the ground.
Zhao Zhiwu said, “You and the State Preceptor are bound to have a contest, but I hope you both understand who the real enemy is.”
An Jing smiled, “Your Majesty, rest assured, I am very clear about it.”
In An Jing’s mind, Zongzheng Huachun and Xiao Qianqiu were fundamentally different.
Their contest was merely a dispute over doctrinal inheritance and had not escalated to a life-or-death struggle.
Zhao Zhiwu spoke softly, “Xiao Qianqiu has the poise of the founding patriarch of the Mystical Sect, Xi Hafu’s strength is like that of the ‘Buddha’ reincarnated, and Zongzheng Huachun has even received a wisp of Earth Vein Spirit’s intent by his side, with immeasurable prospects. There are so many masters emerging in this world; it truly is lively.”
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At this, a hint of ruddiness appeared on his face.
So many remarkable individuals had converged in such a prosperous era, an era so coveted. Yet he, a figure of such stature, could only make a small splash in this era and not contend with these masters—a fact he found regrettable.
An Jing nodded, “Yes, there are also the likes of Qian Qiu, those old monsters who might emerge.”
Only a world undergoing unprecedented changes could give rise to so many experts.
Turning his head to look at An Jing, Zhao Zhiwu said, “Among all these experts, the one I hold in highest regard is you, and not just because you are young.”
His eyes showed a trace of admiration, the very reason why he had chosen to summon An Jing last.
An Jing asked, puzzled, “Because of what?”
“Because your heart is patient enough.”
Zhao Zhiwu said, “For a master of such high caliber to be able to keep his composure, to live in Yu State City unnoticed by anyone, even the numerous experts of the Demon Sect are unaware, just how formidable is this temperament?”
An Jing said, “……”
If it weren’t for the Earth Book, where would An Jing have found the patience to remain so inconspicuous for so long?
“Come over here and take a look, today really is clear and sunny weather.”
Zhao Zhiwu gazed at the sky, his body gradually bending.
Looking at Zhao Zhiwu’s back, An Jing felt that at this moment he was not the renowned Great Grandmaster, the Human Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty, but an old man who had seen through the vicissitudes of the human world.
An Jing stepped forward to Zhao Zhiwu’s side and looked at the resplendent sunshine, “It is a clear and fine day indeed.”
Suddenly, Zhao Zhiwu asked, “What do you think of Xuening?”
An Jing was taken aback momentarily and responded, “The Princess is very good.”
Zhao Zhiwu asked, “In what way is she good?”
An Jing looked at Zhao Zhiwu and remained silent.
“Hahahaha!”
“`
Zhao Zhiwu patted An Jing on the shoulder and burst into laughter.
The two of them just stood there under the sun, no longer speaking.
That day, the sun was bright; cicadas sang loudly throughout the summer, and a gentle breeze blew by, bringing a touch of coolness.
Some people would forget this rather unremarkable day, but others would remember it forever.
……
Yujing City, within Fulu Square.
At this time, the streets were bustling with people and traffic—a lively scene.
In the heart of the street was an antique shop, facing south with its back to the north, and its shelves were filled with artifacts from the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Great Qin Dynasty, and even older ones.
However, at this moment, the shop was quiet and sparsely visited.
The backyard, on the other hand, was lively with several Jianghu masters sitting in the great hall; these people possessed profound Inner Strength, and two of them even carried True Qi, evidently having reached the Grandmaster Realm.
Seated at the head was a man dressed in splendid attire, his face as handsome as jade, his charisma undeniable, with the hint of a smile on his lips, giving off a cultivated, elegant air.
This man was none other than Crown Prince Zhao Chongyin.
One man stood up, clasped his fist, and said, “Your Highness, rest assured, we will all obey your orders and will certainly not have divided loyalties.”
The speaker, who carried an Iron Spine Whip at his waist and had a ferocious scar splitting his left eyebrow, exuded an aura of viciousness and cruelty.
This man was known in the Jianghu as Jiang Ming, a notorious villain whose infamy spread wide over twenty years ago; he committed all sorts of evil deeds. After offending He Chen, the Peak Master of Zhenyi Sect’s Sky-reaching Peak, and fearing the might of the Zhenyi Sect, he eventually vanished from the Jianghu.
Some said that he was killed by the Zhenyi Sect, others that he had left Great Yan to live in seclusion in Zhao Country; the details were known to few.
When he re-emerged in the Jianghu, he had, with the help of a wisp of consciousness from the Earth Vein Spirit, reached the Grandmaster Realm and was immediately recruited by Crown Prince Zhao Chongyin, becoming one of the most valued among his subordinates.
Originally, Zhao Chongyin had planned to take complete control of the Five Gangs Alliance, to insert his own top fighters, and to make it a pivotal force in the Jianghu. But who could have imagined that the Demon Sect would absorb the entire alliance overnight, rendering all of his prior actions tantamount to making a wedding dress for the Demon Sect.
However, this also allowed many of his top fighters to continue hiding and not reveal themselves.
Zhao Chongyin nodded slightly, “Do not worry, as long as I ascend to be Emperor, all of you will have the merit of supporting the dragon.”
“We are naturally willing to serve the Crown Prince to the utmost.”
“Upon your word, we would ascend the knife-laden mountains and descend into the sea of flames without a frown,” they said unanimously.
……..
Everyone was greatly moved by Zhao Chongyin’s words and began to offer their eager flattery.
Zhao Chongyin briefly inquired about some matters and then had everyone depart.
Watching everyone leave, Bai Jing whispered to the side, “Your Highness, these are nothing but a rabble. Even Jiang Ming and Zhang Xing are no more than novices in the Grandmaster Realm; they can hardly stir up any trouble in Yujing City today.”
Now in Yujing City were the likes of Xiao Qianqiu from the Zhenyi Sect, Luo Chongyang, and even ‘Hua’ of the transformation rank Hua Lian, as well as Tianyi Bodhisattva and Fa Wu from the Buddhist sect. Even the Demon Sect’s Ghost Swordsman and the Human Sect’s leader Li Fuzhou had brazenly arrived in Yujing City, along with numerous spies and other masters in hiding.
Compared to the aforementioned top experts, the strength of these men was simply not enough.
“They are indeed just a rabble,”
Zhao Chongyin said indifferently, “If we were to place our hopes on them, it would be better to rely on dogs.”
“`
Bai Jing asked, “What does His Highness the Crown Prince mean?”
Zhao Chongyin picked up the brush and began dipping it in the ink, “Even though I hold military power over the Pingyang Guard, I still have to consider every angle. After all, there are too many masters in Yujing City now, one wrong move could mean total defeat. Xiao Qianqiu is unfathomably strong, and he has personally said he would support me with all his might. But setting aside whether he is a match for the Ghost Swordsman or not, what if he suddenly goes back on his word? What then? Therefore, I must lay down a hidden piece on the chessboard.”
Bai Jing nodded. She had long known that Zhao Chongyin had a hidden move, but even she had never been told of this extremely secret chess piece.
Zhao Chongyin began to write on a piece of white paper, speaking as he wrote, “Among those in Yujing City, the royal family experts all obey my father the Emperor. It’s hard to get their support, so I must look elsewhere.”
Hearing this, Bai Jing was greatly shocked, “Could it be Zhao Country’s Black Ice Platform!?”
“Black Ice Platform!?”
Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Zhao Chongyin’s eyes, then he said, “Even if I, Zhao Chongyin, were to die, I would absolutely not stoop to allying with the Black Ice Platform like Zhao Mengtai did.”
He naturally despised the Black Ice Platform, and moreover, he was the Crown Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty.
He could understand when Zhao Mengtai wanted to kill him, but what he hated most was not that Zhao Mengtai wanted to kill him, but that Zhao Mengtai actually colluded with Houjin to do it.
And now, he seemed to stand in the same position as Zhao Mengtai once did, but in his heart, he would never choose to fraternize with rebels.
How could a Crown Prince betray his country!?
Bai Jing let out a sigh of relief, then asked, “Then from where is Your Highness acquiring the support of these masters? Could it be the Buddhist sect?”
Compared to Xiao Qianqiu, the masters of the Buddhist sect hadn’t said they would fully support him. From Fa Wu’s attitude, they seemed to not intend to get involved in this affair.
Knowing that if Zhao Zhiwu really sent down an imperial decree at this last moment, it would certainly be extremely unfavorable for Zhao Chongyin. The fact that the Buddhist sect wasn’t getting involved was already quite good—they at least wouldn’t stand against him.
Could it be that His Highness the Crown Prince has persuaded the Buddhist masters?
“Neither,” Zhao Chongyin said deliberately, “It’s the Heavenly Prison.”
“Heavenly Prison!?”
Hearing this, Bai Jing’s heart gave a start.
The Great Yan Heavenly Prison was a forbidden place, holding many masters. Even the great wizards of the Southern Barbarians and the Second Qi Grandmaster Li Fuzhou were only placed on the outskirts of the Great Yan Heavenly Prison. Just how fearsome might the strength of those deep within the Heavenly Prison be?
Moreover, with the great changes happening in heaven and earth right now, could the strength of these masters have increased?
A cold smile emerged on Zhao Chongyin’s lips, “The people in the Heavenly Prison are already all mine. Moreover, I entered the depths of the Heavenly Prison several months ago and have spoken with each of the masters inside. I offered them freedom, but in return, they must serve me for three years.”
“They are so desperate to escape the Heavenly Prison, three years is nothing — they’d be willing to serve me for an entire lifetime.”
Bai Jing thought of something upon hearing this, suppressing the excitement in her heart and anxiously said, “Your Highness, what if they turn on you?”
“Don’t worry, I naturally have my means to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
A fleeting sharpness glinted in Zhao Chongyin’s eyes as he said, “Now, I just need to wait for the storm to rise again. I really want to see if my father the Emperor truly intends to force me onto the very path he took. I am growing more and more eager to find out.”
With that, Zhao Chongyin made the final stroke.
The line above read, “In a thousand years, successes and failures turn to dust; what’s left for the world to speak of a man’s deeds?”
……
