Self-Destruction

The Trumpet Flower God never expected that what she had been pondering but could not find would be revealed by someone in a single sentence by fortuitous opportunity.

You search high and low without finding it, only to have it come to you effortlessly.

So that's it... the problem I couldn't find after all that talking and self-examination...

In the end, it all boils down to nothing more than 'cowardice'.

I see, I see.

After countless years of cultivation, all I seek in the end is the four words "So that's how it is".

For thousands of years, she has been scheming and harboring deep-seated inner demons, doing countless things for the sake of cultivation resources and for various matters related to the Flower Goddess rank. Countless memories have surfaced in her mind.

Her Dao heart was shaken.

What followed was a disruption in his cultivation level.

A near-cataclysmic shockwave spread out!

A fifth-rank cultivator's cultivation level fluctuates greatly; even in Chang'an, flattening dozens of miles of land would be an easy task!

The fifth-rank Confucian scholar's expression changed, and he immediately made his move.

A divine image suddenly appeared, surging with righteous energy, and countless characters flew out, all of which were from the Book of Documents.

This should be the scripture studied by this Confucian scholar.

Among the Four Books and Five Classics, Confucian scholars usually choose one as their "fundamental scripture," which is the basis of their cultivation. When studying Confucian scholars, one usually starts with their fundamental scripture.

But then this fifth-rank official made a move, and his Dharma image, several tens of feet tall, protected everyone present.

The Book of Documents (尚书) is named after the word "Shang" (上), meaning "Upper Heaven." It signifies that Heaven displays its written symbols and issues regulations, just as Heaven moves.

But then countless strange phenomena appeared all around—

There are phantom images of Fuxi, Shennong, and Xuanyuan, called the "Three Tombs," but they are vague and their faces are not visible.

Then, phantoms of Shaohao, Zhuanxu, Gaoxin, Tang, and Yu appeared, known as the "Five Classics," wielding Law Treasure, cutting through thorns and brambles, and resisting disaster.

Furthermore, the eight trigrams interact, each generating its own principle, resulting in 1,520 strategies that resonate throughout the world, hence the name "Suo" (索), which is called the Eight Trigrams.

There is also the Records of the Nine Provinces, which states that everything in the nine provinces, what the land produces, and what the climate is suitable for, all gather here to form a Fengshui Map, becoming the backdrop for many unusual phenomena, and is called the 'Nine Hills'.

The mound is known from the texts of the tomb and the classics, and the tomb and classics are connected, so they are explained together!

"'Being able to read the Three Tombs, Five Classics, Eight Cords, and Nine Hills' means that it is the legacy of the emperors of the past..." Li Qi thought to himself.

When he was protected within, through his True Knowledge Dao Charm and his own knowledge, he immediately recognized everything that this Dharma image represented.

The Book of Documents is actually a history book.

This book, which governs the Shangshu, uses its own human body as a microcosm to carry 'history'. With the weight of Human Path history, its power is naturally terrifying. Although it is not used for attack, it can still easily withstand the shockwave caused by the scattered cultivation of the Flower Goddess.

Countless silhouettes and figures from history books appeared one after another. Although these phantoms had no faces, they were all different and powerful, firmly blocking the pressure and defense of the Trumpet Flower God.

Just then, the Dharma image calmly said, "Don't worry, this is the Upper Garden."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the array formation in the Upper Garden suddenly appeared.

It wasn't as flashy as the previous Dharma form, nor did it have many strange phenomena and illusions, but it simply and casually suppressed the Trumpet Flower God.

As the lock appeared, with a soft hum, the expanding microcosm of the Trumpet Flower God was directly shattered by the lock made of runes!

Li Qi gasped.

Damn, this is going to be a disgrace!

Even that fifth-rank Confucian scholar frowned.

This injury is too severe...

"Something's not right. The formation in the Upper Garden wouldn't normally exert such a huge force. What did the Trumpet Flower God of the Cloudy Peak do?" the fifth-rank Confucian scholar said solemnly.

Before he could use Technique Method to enhance his eyesight, he couldn't see what was happening inside, but the Trumpet Flower God... seemed to be doing something that had disturbed the Upper Garden's formation.

Li Qi, on the other hand, activated all his senses.

True Knowledge Dao Charm, your entire information flow perspective will be unlocked!

Li Qi could clearly see that something inside was bursting forth with intense destructive power.

"Wait, she's inside, destroying the very essence of a world—Senior, stop her! She's trying to demolish the foundation of the Upper Garden!" Li Qi shouted, raising his voice!

Upon hearing this, the image of the fifth-rank Confucian scholar suddenly expanded, growing from tens of feet to two or three miles high!

But his appearance was that of a scholar in a Confucian robe and turban, with a solemn demeanor. He held a copy of the Book of Documents in his hands, and carried a flowing river of history on his shoulders, which surrounded his body. His imposing presence was as great as the Azure Heaven!

Countless scenes have emerged throughout the long river of history.

There were people working together to control the floods, heroes standing up to confront the Innate Spirits, and scholars educating the people.

There are wars and disasters, and there are times of peace and prosperity. Countless scenes, one after another from history, flow through it like water.

Then, the Dharma image raised its hand, and the entire river of history was directly suppressed!

What is meant by 'the long river of history'?

A poem says: The mighty Yangtze River flows eastward, its waves washing away the heroes of the past.

The long river of history possesses such grandeur and power that no matter who a person is, they will all become insignificant specks in the scenes depicted by this great river.

The fifth rank is not enough to unleash the full power of the Minister and the History Department, but to everyone present, it is an irresistible and unstoppable force.

Human Path history, refined over time, has transformed into the endless Yangtze River, pressing down as if to crush the Trumpet Flower God into dust!

Things have come to this point. I don't know what madness the Trumpet Flower God has gone mad, but she actually wants to dismantle the formation of the Upper Garden. She deserves to die!

What a fool! Does she really think no one can deal with her?

The Imperial Garden Formation and the full-force attack of the fifth-rank Confucian scholar!

Li Qi frowned below.

In that case, the Trumpet Flower God... will she die?

Almost everyone thinks so.

However, in the next moment, a hole was forcibly torn open in that long river of history!

"What's going on!?"

The fifth-rank Confucian scholar was immediately taken aback.

Li Qi was also stunned.

Neither of them was surprised by the resistance of the Trumpet Flower God; it was only natural for Trumpet Flower God to resist.

The reason for their surprise was—

The formation in the Imperial Garden has switched sides.

That fifth-rank Confucian scholar is much stronger than the Trumpet Flower God. As a member of the orthodox Confucian school, he is far more powerful than the Flower Goddess who is not good at fighting. Confucianism is not some powerless Dao Lineage.

They had to learn mathematics, literature, rites, music, horsemanship, and archery, and were very well-versed in martial virtue.

Moreover, according to rumors, the Confucian sage, who was of the highest rank in the world, actually practiced martial arts as well, and his rank was not low, but he never showed it.

Of course, rumors are just rumors and not worth mentioning, but the fact that such news can be spread is itself a signal.

Anyway, Confucianism is much more powerful than the Flower Goddess.

But no matter how skilled they are, they can't defeat the Shangyuan Formation.

The Shangyuan formation that had turned against them directly repelled the Confucian cultivator who was trying to suppress the Trumpet Flower God. His Dharma form shattered inch by inch, and he was sent flying backward.

Fortunately, the formation doesn't kill people; otherwise, this counterattack alone would have killed this fifth-rank expert on the spot.

Such a strong counterattack produced a deafening roar!

Fortunately, the other parts of the formation reacted in time and activated immediately, with layer upon layer of protection opening up to completely neutralize the shockwaves; otherwise, there would have been heavy casualties.

After all, this is Chang'an; everything is in perfect order.

Most of the others had already fled or retreated. The only fifth-rank Confucian scholar who was capable of dealing with the Trumpet Flower God was also knocked away, leaving only Li Qi in the center of the battlefield.

However, Li Qi did not leave, because in his view, everything had stopped.

The battle seemed to be over. The Trumpet Flower God did not continue to attack, and the formation in the Upper Garden had clearly weakened.

The Trumpet Flower God seems to have succeeded, and... with the assistance of the Upper Garden Formation.

Why?

How could the Shangyuan Formation suddenly turn against them and help the Trumpet Flower God do something so self-destructive?

Although the Trumpet Flower God was not powerful enough to destroy the entire Shangyuan Formation, digging up a foundation like that was a huge blow to the integrity of the formation, and it would be very difficult to repair.

Li Qi couldn't understand why.

Moreover, with this incident, hasn't the Trumpet Flower God lost all her efforts? Is she going to abandon her centuries-long dream?

Regardless of whether Wen wins or loses, this incident alone is enough to keep her in the Ministry of Justice prison for hundreds of years, making any talk of her return impossible.

However, at that moment, he suddenly sensed a familiar presence.

This aura immediately dispelled all of Li Qi's confusion.

That was the aura of Zhong Minglou.

However... Zhong Minglou did not appear alone, but appeared together with another being.

"This fragrance..." Li Qi took a deep breath and immediately felt his head and mind filled with a floral scent.

Elegant, noble, aloof yet approachable, almost without flaws, yet seemingly conveying a sense of aloofness.

The fact that the person was so far away was not something the other party revealed on their own initiative, but rather something that made the observer subconsciously feel ashamed and inferior, unconsciously generating the thought 'I am not worthy,' and finally leaving in disappointment.

It smells so good, and it looks so beautiful.

Li Qi couldn't help but sigh.

But since it was only a faint fragrance, it wasn't enough to make Li Qi lose his composure, so he persisted in looking towards the source of the fragrance.

But the fifth-rank Confucian scholar who had been knocked away had already taken the initiative to move towards the source of the fragrance.

To have this feeling... there's only one person in the world he can think of.

"Junior Fu Yuelong greets the Peony Flower God!"

Li Qi was shocked; just as he had guessed.

The one who has arrived is none other than the Queen of Flowers, the foremost goddess of flowers!

Peony Flower God!

As the smoke of battle gradually dissipated, Li Qi was finally able to witness the face of the most revered flower goddess of the Imperial Garden.

But when he looked up, he was even more astonished to see Zhong Minglou standing right next to the Peony Flower God!

This charlatan went out and hooked up with the Peony Flower God!? Did he know this would happen all along? Just how much of the future did this charlatan see? How many things did he predict?

Li Qi was utterly shocked.

Wait a minute! So, the commotion in the Imperial Garden formation was caused by the Peony Flower God acting behind the scenes?

Li Qi stood there, stunned.

But the others weren't stunned.

But then they saw the onlookers who had fled earlier, as well as the other participants in the literary gathering, bowing and paying their respects to the Peony Flower God.

Even though this being is very kind, even if you remove those strange titles, she is a genuine powerful being with a very high rank, said to have reached the third grade.

Not to mention, she is the leader among the Flower Goddesses and a frequent visitor to the Human Emperor's Palace. There is probably no one in the world who has visited the Human Emperor's Palace more times than her.

She could even enter the emperor's inner palace.

What's even more intriguing is that many years ago, a woman became the human emperor. At that time, the Peony Flower God was banished from Chang'an to Luoyang, and was even ordered to burn the peonies. She suffered a much worse fate than the Trumpet Flower God.

However, after the next emperor ascended the throne, the peony was able to return to the Imperial Garden.

The rumors surrounding this incident have been widely circulated, but the truth remains unknown to outsiders.

Moreover, these rumors have not diminished Peony's fame or earned her a reputation for debauchery; on the contrary, they have only enhanced her reputation, and various legends about her continue to circulate despite repeated bans.

The appearance of such a legendary flower goddess naturally attracted countless eyes, and even many powerful figures outside the Imperial Garden turned their attention to her.

Li Qi also realized what was happening and immediately looked over, scanning the Peony Flower God and Zhong Minglou, trying to find some clues.

However, once his eyes were fixed on it, he couldn't look away.

So... so beautiful.

How could such a face exist in this world?!

This was a face that Li Qi could never have imagined.

Her hair was adorned with vibrant colors, her form was elegant and pure, and her steps were graceful and dignified.

It is rich and abundant, dazzling and radiant.

Her face was as radiant as the morning glow, her demeanor elegant and graceful, a beauty as exquisite as a fairy.

Her appearance was graceful and she possessed all kinds of beauty, which were almost indescribable.

Even the Trumpet Flower God and the rabbit paled in comparison to her; just one glance was enough to make one fall into a trance.

Fortunately, this was just a simple appearance, without any Technique Method involved, so Li Qi was still able to force himself to look away and turn to look at Zhong Minglou.

Zhong Minglou nodded slightly to Li Qi, then lowered his voice and said a few words to the Peony Flower God.

But then the Peony Flower God nodded and said, "Gentlemen, something has happened in the Imperial Garden today, and it is inconvenient to entertain guests. Please leave for the next day."

The sound was clear and pleasant, and there was also a faint floral fragrance.

Many people felt immense regret upon hearing this.

Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do, so he could only agree and then turn around and leave.

Although we don't know what happened, the Peony Flower God herself spoke up. Do you really dare to stay and watch the show?

Just as Li Qi was about to leave, he heard the voice of the Peony Flower God in his ear. "Young master, please stay. I'm afraid you will need to step in to handle the aftermath."

Upon hearing this, Li Qi stopped in his tracks, remained silent, and simply cupped his hands to indicate that he understood.

As he spoke, he retreated with the crowd, circled around outside, and then returned to the same spot.

This way, it won't attract attention. After all, if everyone else leaves and I stay, it means that this matter is related to Li Qi, and it will definitely cause some trouble in the future.

If someone still notices this, there's nothing that can be done, but that person probably isn't too stupid and will definitely pretend not to see it.

After going around in circles, we returned to the same spot.

The first thing that catches the eye is a Trumpet Flower.

Is this... unable to even maintain a human form?

The Trumpet Flower God... Why? Why would she make such a choice?

(I'll try to add an extra chapter this week. Do you guys have a chance to get 1,000 monthly votes this month?)