Gu Mo reached out, and the sarira flew into his hand.
At that moment,
Gu Mo could clearly sense that the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror's "Origin Qi" had entered the sarira.
Yet the strange thing was that the sarira's substance was not on the same level as "Origin Qi." At most, it was equivalent to those divine weapons and precious blades circulating in the martial world.
In theory, this sarira could not possibly seal "Origin Qi." In reality, though, it was indeed not a seal—the "Origin Qi" was simply staying obediently inside the sarira.
"What is going on?" Gu Mo was somewhat puzzled.
Gu Chundong, beside him, asked, "Brother, what is it?"
Gu Mo then briefly explained to Gu Chundong how the "Origin Qi" had entered the sarira.
Gu Chundong knew about Origin Qi.
Last year in Mobei, after Gu Mo learned of the concept of "Origin Qi," he had explained it to Gu Chundong when he returned.
Gu Mo's Law Qi was also a type of "Origin Qi." He could explain the concepts involved clearly, so Gu Chundong naturally understood the significance of Origin Qi.
Hearing Gu Mo's confusion, Gu Chundong said, "Brother, isn't that pretty easy to understand?"
"How so?" Gu Mo asked.
Looking at the sarira, Gu Chundong said, "Think about it. Why has the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror always remained at the Great Bright Light Temple, and why does it actively seek out Buddha Children? Although Buddha Children are merely trays for the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror, there must be something on them that attracts it.
"And this sarira was left behind when a Buddha Child passed away in meditation. It must retain the traits that Buddha Child possessed in life. It might not hold much attraction for the complete Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror, but it is perfectly normal for it to attract this tiny fragment of the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror Origin Qi!"
Gu Mo nodded slightly. "What you said really makes sense. This is indeed a direction worth considering and researching. But what I am wondering now is whether Dharma Master Liansheng insisted on giving me this sarira because he saw what would happen today, or because he saw something that would happen in the future."
Gu Chundong said, "Aren't you planning to visit the Great Bright Light Temple in the second half of the year? You can just ask Dharma Master Liansheng then."
"Mm."
Gu Mo nodded, put away the sarira, and turned to leave. The group escorted Princess Chengyang Li Li back to the Princess Mansion.
Afterward, Su Ziyou led people to take over this place, while Ye Jinglan hurried away to mobilize the Imperial City Division to maintain order tonight.
After all, although he did not understand why clay figurines could look exactly like real people, it did not stop him from guessing that many people in Chang'an City would "encounter ghosts" tonight. It would certainly cause enormous panic and unrest.
Although Ye Jinglan was the Ministry of Justice Vice Minister, he was about to be transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Golden Guard as Great General and was already handling the transition. Thus, during this period, to ensure the Succession Ceremony went smoothly, he was overseeing public security in Chang'an City.
And in truth,
it did not exceed Ye Jinglan's expectations. Ghost incidents broke out in many parts of Chang'an City, turning the once-quiet deep night clamorous and causing no small amount of chaos.
Everywhere, people were terrified out of their wits, crying for their fathers and mothers. Whether in ordinary neighborhoods or the residences of nobles and high officials, even within the Imperial Palace, people suddenly turned into clay figurines. Even Emperor Gan was disturbed.
Fortunately, Ye Jinglan reacted swiftly and quickly brought the chaos under control before it could spread further. Still, this night was predestined to be sleepless for many, a nightmare that would haunt them for life.
Meanwhile, at Honglu Temple.
Chu Kingdom's Eldest Princess Xiao Ziyin was awakened by the commotion. Realizing this was no ordinary disturbance, she immediately got out of bed, threw on an outer robe, and walked to the door. "What happened? Why is it so noisy?"
The maidservant on night watch at the door hurriedly said, "Reporting to Your Highness, it is said... that ghosts are causing trouble!"
Xiao Ziyin frowned, opened the door, and asked doubtfully, "What do you mean, ghosts causing trouble?"
The maidservant was about to speak when hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard. A person carrying a lantern rushed in—it was Chen Zhaorong, Xiao Ziyin's personal Female Official.
Chen Zhaorong walked before Xiao Ziyin, bowed, and saluted. "Your Highness, the Great Compassion Divine Monk requests that you go see him."
Xiao Ziyin asked, "What is it?"
Chen Zhaorong's expression was grave. "The Great Compassion Divine Monk... may be about to pass away in meditation."
Xiao Ziyin's heart jolted, and she immediately set off. As she walked, she asked, "What exactly happened? Wasn't he perfectly fine during the day? Why is he suddenly about to pass away in meditation?"
For no reason, Xiao Ziyin felt somewhat irritated, while also genuinely distressed. It was not because she had any emotional bond with Dharma Master Dabie, but because Chu Kingdom had invested far too much in him.
Chu Kingdom had already suffered a severe loss by exchanging more than a thousand cavalry prisoners for Dharma Master Dabie. Their original plan had been for Dharma Master Dabie to die in prison, but Gan Country's court had played them, leaving them to swallow a bitter loss.
Still, though they had taken a loss, they had at least recovered Dharma Master Dabie and could use this favor to gain goodwill and favors from Chu Kingdom's Buddhist Faction. But if the Great Compassion Divine Monk died immediately after leaving prison, it would be like drawing water with a bamboo basket—nothing but emptiness. They would have paid the price of the exchange yet gained no favor in return, wasting all their efforts. There might even be conspiracy theories emerging back home.
Seeing Xiao Ziyin's poor expression, Chen Zhaorong quickly recounted everything from beginning to end. "Just now, ghosts caused trouble at Honglu Temple... no, more accurately, ghosts are causing trouble throughout Chang'an City. In many places, people suddenly turned into puddles of mud. Some became mud entirely, some had only bones left, some had half a head remaining... It was horrifying. Two people at Honglu Temple were affected—one had only a leg left, while the other had only a head left. Both suddenly turned into mud.
"The Great Compassion Divine Monk was the first witness to discover those two people at Honglu Temple turning into mud. Then he returned to his room, sorted through and packed up his belongings, and had me invite you over, saying that he was about to pass away in meditation."
Xiao Ziyin asked doubtfully, "Was he frightened?"
"Doesn't seem like it," Chen Zhaorong said. "The Great Compassion Divine Monk looked calm to me. Not only did he not seem frightened, he instead seemed as though a heavy burden had been lifted. Since leaving prison at noon today, he had constantly been preoccupied, repeatedly saying that his sins were grave. But now, he seemed to have let go."
Xiao Ziyin frowned. She deeply understood that Between Life and Death lay a great terror. Dharma Master Dabie's reaction truly matched the behavior of someone at the end of life.
Very soon,
Xiao Ziyin arrived at the courtyard where Dharma Master Dabie was staying. From far away, she heard him chanting scriptures while tapping a wooden fish.
Entering the courtyard, she saw Dharma Master Dabie seated cross-legged on the floor of the main hall. An Oil Lamp burned at his side, and a wooden fish lay before him as he tapped it softly.
"Divine Monk!" Xiao Ziyin entered the room and cupped her hands in salute.
Dharma Master Dabie set down the wooden mallet but remained seated cross-legged. Pressing his palms together, he said calmly, "I deeply apologize for troubling Your Highness to come here in the middle of the night. But this humble monk is about to pass away in meditation, and there are some matters I wish to entrust to Your Highness."
Xiao Ziyin said, "Divine Monk, you are in good health, and the seal on your dantian has now been removed. You will recover before long. How could you possibly pass away in meditation?"
Dharma Master Dabie replied unhurriedly, "Your Highness, for the past twenty years, this humble monk did not know himself. I believed myself to be Dabie, but only now do I understand cause and effect and recognize my true self."
Xiao Ziyin asked doubtfully, "What does that mean? Divine Monk, are you not the Great Compassion Divine Monk?"
Dharma Master Dabie shook his head slightly. "This humble monk is Dabie, but Dabie is not this humble monk. The cause and effect involved cannot be explained in a few words. Today, however, the Shackles have been undone, and naturally, the time has come for this humble monk to return to where he belongs.
"Still, this humble monk feels guilty. I caused Her Highness the Princess and His Majesty the Emperor to expend effort and pay a price, yet I was unable to offer even the slightest return. Therefore, before passing away in meditation, I wish to leave Your Highness with a few instructions."
Xiao Ziyin cupped her hands. "Divine Monk, please speak."
Dharma Master Dabie said, "First, Beyond the Heavens must not be trusted completely. Inner Demons truly exist, yet Beyond the Heavens did not tell the truth.
"Second, a few days ago in prison, I met a young benefactor named Gu Mo, said to be the Current Number One Under Heaven. The moment Benefactor Gu saw this humble monk, he could see through my cause and effect. This shows that Benefactor Gu's realm has already surpassed the Human World Peak. Unless there is a foolproof plan, do not offend him."
Xiao Ziyin's expression changed slightly. "Divine Monk, do you mean that Gu Mo may have already reached the Ascension Realm?"
Dharma Master Dabie said slowly, "It is certain."
Xiao Ziyin's expression turned exceptionally grave.
Dharma Master Dabie continued, "One final matter. After I die, please send my body to the Great Bright Light Temple. Also, remember this well: you must tell Liansheng that one's allotted fate is determined by Heaven. Do not force what cannot be forced. Know that seeing is a cause, hearing is a cause, acting is a cause; neither hearing nor asking, neither caring nor attending, is also a cause. Amid the meetings and crossings within it all, weigh it for yourself."
Once he finished speaking, Dharma Master Dabie gently closed his eyes. Then his head drooped, his breath ceased, and he passed away in meditation.
Xiao Ziyin rose to her feet, pressed her palms together, and bowed toward Dharma Master Dabie. Then she walked outside.
Chen Zhaorong, waiting at the door, immediately came forward and asked, "Your Highness? The Great Compassion Divine Monk, he..."
"He has passed away in meditation," Xiao Ziyin said evenly. "But the things he said just now were rather mystical and rambling. I do not quite understand why he suddenly released the sorrow in his heart and passed away in meditation. Still, that is not so important. What matters are his final instructions."
Xiao Ziyin then recounted the three instructions Dharma Master Dabie had left behind.
After hearing them, Chen Zhaorong began to analyze the matter. "At noon yesterday, when the Great Compassion Divine Monk first came out, he said while recounting the events of the past twenty years that he had lost a portion of his memories.
"Now that he was able, at the end, to confirm that Inner Demons truly exist, it means he should have recovered those memories. The Great Compassion Divine Monk of twenty years ago likely encountered an Inner Demon. He must have suffered a Cultivation Deviation and, in one moment of error, killed several thousand people of Gan Country. Knowing his sins were grave, he did not resist. Otherwise, Gan Country's court could never have captured the Great Compassion Divine Monk."
Xiao Ziyin nodded slightly. "Since the Great Compassion Divine Monk could confirm that Inner Demons truly exist, it means that twenty years ago, he had likely already wielded the power of the Ascension Realm and encountered an Inner Demon. Gan Country truly could not have had the ability to capture a cultivator who wielded Ascension Realm power."
Chen Zhaorong said, "Therefore, his third instruction, telling Liansheng not to force matters, likely concerns ascension. The Great Bright Light Temple should possess a method for breaking through to ascension. He was likely worried that Dharma Master Liansheng would walk his old path."
Xiao Ziyin nodded slightly. "If that is the case, once I return, I truly need to have a proper talk with Dharma Master Liansheng. The Great Compassion Divine Monk of those years nearly brought chaos to Chang'an City. Now Dharma Master Liansheng is in our Chu Kingdom. He must not act recklessly!"
Chen Zhaorong cupped her hands. "Your Highness is farsighted. This is indeed a major hidden danger."
Xiao Ziyin said in a deep voice, "But if we are speaking of threats, Gu Mo remains the greater one. According to the Great Compassion Divine Monk, it can now be confirmed that Gu Mo has reached the Ascension Realm. We had suspected it before, but now that it is truly confirmed, I still cannot suppress the fear in my heart."
Chen Zhaorong asked softly, "Your Highness, the Ascension Realm is only a thin line above the top Great Grandmasters on the Martial Arts Ranking. Is it truly such a great threat?"
Xiao Ziyin nodded slightly. "Someone as powerful as Su Qianqiu, or Jiang Ruoxu in his day, or Gu Mo when he slaughtered his way through the Worship Moon Sect and the Imperial Palace in Jiang Kingdom—no matter how powerful they were, they were ultimately still human. They would be suppressed by Battle Qi and restrained by human nature. Though powerful, they were not beyond a nation's ability to deal with.
"But the Ascension Realm is different. They have already disregarded Battle Qi. Theoretically, they are like the Immortals of legend; the power of the human world cannot even harm them. You have never seen an Ascension Realm cultivator, but I have seen those two Divine Envoys from Beyond the Heavens. In the human world, Ascension Realm cultivators are practically Undying and Unperishing.
"And Gu Mo appears to be an Ascension Realm cultivator without any restrictions at all. So long as he does not enter our Great Chu imperial city and clash with the two Esteemed Ones, I cannot think of any way to suppress him. Whether it is an army of a hundred thousand or an army of a million, before him, they may as well not exist. Tell me, is that not an enormous threat?"
Chen Zhaorong's heart sank. "Then what do we do?"
Xiao Ziyin spread her hands helplessly. "What else can I do? I knew long ago that Gu Mo would surely become Great Chu's greatest threat. I have been writing letters to that girl Gu Chundong every few days, trying to get close to her, hoping to become her sister-in-law.
"But that girl keeps talking about marrying a sister-in-law, marrying a sister-in-law, yet after all this time she has not convinced Gu Mo to take a wife. What can I do? I cannot defeat him, and the Honey Trap is useless... Hmm, wait. I heard that there is now an extraordinarily beautiful woman beside Gu Mo, called Red Clothes. Some busybodies are even spreading word that she ought to be the Number One Under Heaven in beauty. Yet Gu Mo actually uses such a beautiful woman as a maidservant. It is simply outrageous!"
As she spoke, Xiao Ziyin sighed. "The Honey Trap cannot be used. If we take the emotional route, we are people of Chu Kingdom, naturally inferior to Gan Country in that regard. What is more, the Gan Country emperor and all the civil and military officials are now treating Gu Mo like an honored ancestor. We have not the slightest advantage.
"Forget it. Inform the emperor that Gu Mo is already an Ascension Realm cultivator. Let him have his own headache. I cannot think of any solution."
Chen Zhaorong sighed. "This subordinate will prepare a secret letter to inform His Majesty at once."
As she walked, Xiao Ziyin added, "Secure the Great Compassion Divine Monk's body. Now that Gu Mo is in Chang'an City, tell all our people to stay obediently put and do nothing at all. We do not understand the Ascension Realm, nor do we know what methods its cultivators possess. So everyone should remain quiet!"
Chang'an City was plunged into the ghost incident. Though the court forcefully suppressed it, the results were limited. After all, that night's ghost incidents were not one or two cases, but more than three hundred, appearing across every part of Chang'an City.
For a time, all kinds of rumors sprang up throughout the city. Many even pointed directly at the approaching Succession Ceremony, claiming that Prince Jin Li Zhongqing, who was about to become Crown Prince, lacked virtue and that Heaven had sent down calamity as punishment.
Once these rumors emerged, the court naturally suppressed them with a heavy hand, arresting and punishing people fiercely. Chang'an City instantly became so tense that even the rustling wind and the cry of a crane could send people into alarm.
However, no rumors arose within the Imperial Court. This was because, at Morning Court the very next day, Gu Mo personally appeared in the court hall and explained to all officials that evil cultivators were causing trouble.
As for how many of all officials believed him and how many did not, it did not matter. Since no one questioned Gu Mo to his face, it was equivalent to everyone tacitly accepting his explanation.
As long as there was no turmoil in the Imperial Court, rumors were merely street talk and could not stir up much of a storm. Under the court's Iron Blood suppression, the ghost incident passed within only a few days.
At this time,
a secret letter sent from Chang'an City had already arrived in the Imperial Palace of Chu Kingdom's capital, appearing before Chu Emperor Xiao Zhaolin.
Within the Imperial Study,
Xiao Zhaolin accepted the secret letter from Night Owl, leader of the shadow guards, opened it, and read it. Very quickly, his expression grew solemn. Then he rose and left the Imperial Study, arriving at an inconspicuous pavilion somewhere within the imperial city.
Xiao Zhaolin came to the door, knocked lightly, and said respectfully, "Esteemed Ones, this disciple Xiao Zhaolin requests an audience."
The door then opened on its own.
Inside were only plain tables and chairs.
But the moment Xiao Zhaolin stepped inside, the scene of the imperial city outside the door was suddenly cut off by a layer of gentle radiance. Beyond the door was not the sight visible from outside, but a valley shrouded in pale green mist. Brilliant blue water flowed between jagged strange rocks, while ancient plum trees bearing jade-colored blossoms lined the stream. When petals drifted down, they condensed into fine light spots in midair, as though someone had crushed the Milky Way and scattered it among the grass and trees.
Though he had come here many times, Xiao Zhaolin still found it wondrous.
That pavilion had originally been nothing more than an ordinary pavilion. Even now, it was still nothing more than an ordinary pavilion. Yet that was what one saw when entering of one's own accord. If one entered by invitation, one would discover that the instant one stepped into the pavilion, one entered this mysterious valley.
Just as when he had first wandered in by mistake years ago.
He walked forward and soon heard the sound of flowing water. It was a small stream. In the middle of the stream lay an enormous blue stone, where two old men sat on opposite sides with a chessboard between them, playing chess.
This game had been ongoing for several years already.
When Xiao Zhaolin first came here, these two had already been playing chess in this place. Eight years had now passed, yet the game remained unfinished.
The old man on the left wore a coarse hemp robe, his long silver-white beard hanging to his knees. Every strand of hair seemed wet with Morning Dew. He held a black jade chess piece, and whenever he placed one, clear qin music spread from the board. This man was called Master Chen.
The old man on the right wore a moon-white daoist robe, with only a Bamboo Hairpin binding his hair. He stared at the chessboard with deeply furrowed brows. He was known as Master Qiu.
"This disciple pays respects to the two Esteemed Ones."
In the eyes of the world, Xiao Zhaolin was a mighty and domineering Young Supreme, decisive in action and looking down upon the world. Yet before these two old men, he was extremely respectful.
For these two, like the Goddess who had aided Chu Kingdom's Founding Emperor in founding the nation one hundred and ninety years ago, had come from Beyond the Heavens. Answering Heaven's mandate, they had descended to help Chu Kingdom Unify the World.
Over the years, Chu Kingdom had developed rapidly. This could not be separated from Emperor Xiao Zhaolin's wisdom and martial prowess, but Xiao Zhaolin also could not do without the help of these two Divine Envoys.
Master Qiu asked, "Has Your Majesty encountered some trouble, to visit us so suddenly?"
Xiao Zhaolin nodded slightly. "Esteemed Ones, an Ascension Realm cultivator has appeared in Gan Country. This disciple fears that the war may take an unexpected turn!"
Master Qiu and Master Chen were both slightly stunned. They set down their Chess Pieces, exchanged glances, and each saw confusion in the other's eyes.
Then Master Chen gave a light laugh. "Brother Qiu, you are deeply versed in the way of Heaven's mandate. Take a look and see whether Gan Country's mandate of this age has changed."
At once,
Master Qiu picked up a chess piece and set it on the board. Then he stared at the board for a long time, frowning deeply. "Strange. Heaven's mandate has not changed. Gan Country's national fortune has already reached its end. It should not be able to nurture an Ascension Realm cultivator."
Master Chen looked toward Xiao Zhaolin and asked, "Your Majesty, is this information accurate?"
Xiao Zhaolin nodded. "Absolutely true. That person is the Current Number One Under Heaven, Gu Mo."
Master Qiu said in a deep voice, "So it is this man. Then it is not so strange. His fate is rather peculiar. Originally, he possessed a fate of mediocrity, but it suddenly changed greatly later on. He should have awakened his Awakened Past Life Memories and become a Calamity-Responding Person, after which his fate turned vague and unclear.
"Theoretically, given Gan Country's current national fortune, not only should it be unable to produce an ascender, even the Number One Under Heaven should not have appeared in Gan Country. But this man's fate is special. He is not within the Current Great Trend. It is not strange that he has reached the Ascension Realm!"
Xiao Zhaolin cupped his hands. "Esteemed Ones, this disciple does not care about fate or destiny. What this disciple fears now is that Gu Mo will ruin this disciple's path to Unify the World. I ask the two Esteemed Ones to teach me!"
Master Chen waved a hand. "Your Majesty may rest assured. Heaven's mandate in this age lies with Chu. Unifying the world is the great trend, and no one can change it. You need not worry. As for Gu Mo, we naturally have a way to deal with him."
Xiao Zhaolin said, "Esteemed Ones, this disciple is truly worried. As emperor, facing such circumstances leaves this disciple greatly lacking in a sense of security. Therefore, this disciple boldly asks the two Esteemed Ones to bestow a method upon me and help this disciple break through to the Ascension Realm!"
"That would be improper," Master Qiu said with a wave of his hand. "Your Majesty, an ascender is one who breaks free of Heaven's mandate. Therefore, from ancient times to the present, no emperor has ever reached the Ascension Realm. An emperor bears Heaven's mandate, carries national fortune and the fate of the Nine-Five. It is impossible for him to reach the Ascension Realm. Should he do so, there would be an incalculable price to pay."
Master Chen also said, "Your Majesty, your cultivation has already reached the Human World Peak. Across the entire world, those who can be your match number no more than the fingers on one hand. As for the exception that is Gu Mo, Master Qiu and I will handle him. You need not worry about anything. Simply govern the affairs of state well."
Xiao Zhaolin said no more and bowed. "This disciple understands. This disciple takes his leave."
Master Chen nodded slightly, then resumed his game with Master Qiu.
Xiao Zhaolin slowly departed.
After Xiao Zhaolin left,
Master Chen and Master Qiu, who had been calmly playing chess, both put down their Chess Pieces. Their faces no longer held that composed expression. Master Qiu in particular tossed his piece into the chess bowl and said angrily, "What is the Inner Demon doing? Why has an Ascension Realm cultivator appeared? Is it deliberately making things difficult for us?"
Master Chen hurriedly soothed him. "Brother Qiu, do not be hasty. Neither of us has ever offended the Inner Demon. Its indulgence of an ascender remaining in the human world is likely venting its dissatisfaction. Back then, God promised it nine hundred years of free grazing, yet now it is being told to return after only seven hundred years. It must surely be dissatisfied."
Master Qiu snapped, "What does its dissatisfaction have to do with us? We are merely following orders as well. Does it not know how greatly allowing an ascender to remain in the human world affects us? We do not dare reveal ourselves casually. If we become tainted with Human World Power, we will not be able to return. Is it trying to harm us?"
Master Chen thought for a moment. "Do not panic, do not panic. I will find time to contact the Inner Demon and ask what is happening. Perhaps it is a misunderstanding?"
Master Qiu sneered. "What misunderstanding could there be? Could it be that this Gu Mo is so powerful that even the Inner Demon does not dare provoke him? He is only an Ascension Realm cultivator. The Inner Demon could crush him to death with one finger. What misunderstanding could there possibly be?"
Master Chen hurriedly said, "Let us ask first. If it truly intends to torment us, then even if we must risk God's punishment, we will report it. If it refuses to let us live well, we will not let it live well either!"
"Fine, ask it!" Master Qiu eased slightly, then added, "Brother Chen, Xiao Zhaolin did not come to us today merely to mention the Ascension Realm cultivator. I think he was probing us. He likely knows something!"
Master Chen said, "That is normal. This child is extraordinarily gifted and an Innate Sage, born with Double Pupils. He can glimpse many secrets. It was only a matter of time before he discovered that we had tampered with his cultivation method, leaving him unable to reach the Ascension Realm. Today, his probing intent was very obvious."
Master Qiu said, "That boy is probably dissatisfied in his heart. Will he go seek out that... what was his name... that Number One Under Heaven..."
"Gu Mo."
"Right," Master Qiu said. "Do you think he might secretly seek cooperation with Gu Mo?"
"He will not," Master Chen said. "Xiao Zhaolin is very proud. He could not possibly lower his head before Gu Mo. After all, his lofty ambition is to Unify the World and make everyone submit to him. He will not seek cooperation with Gu Mo. He will only find a way to break through himself, then defeat Gu Mo openly and honorably."
Master Qiu said, "Then he has no chance. Even if he truly finds a way to restore his cultivation method, with national fortune wrapped around him, he still cannot reach the Ascension Realm. Vast national fortune is the heavy burden of a nation. Bearing an entire nation upon one's body, how can one ascend?
"That boy likely only believes we have restricted him. He will not believe our claim that emperors cannot ascend."
Master Chen pondered for a moment. "It does not matter. He is the most suitable emperor for us to support, but he is not someone we must support. If he truly refuses to obey, we can replace him with another emperor. It would merely waste another ten or twenty years!"
Elsewhere,
when Xiao Zhaolin stepped out of the valley, he appeared outside that inconspicuous pavilion in the imperial city. The door that had been open was now closed.
He stood before the door, the light in his pupils turning profoundly deep. After remaining silent for a long while, he slowly turned and left.
Not long afterward,
Night Owl, leader of the shadow guards, appeared beside Xiao Zhaolin and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, what did the two Esteemed Ones say?"
Xiao Zhaolin said in a deep voice, "They still refuse to let me reach the Ascension Realm."
Night Owl said softly, "Why is that? With the heaven-reaching, earth-piercing abilities of the two Esteemed Ones, helping you break through to the Ascension Realm should not be difficult, should it?"
Xiao Zhaolin gave a smile that did not reach his eyes. "They refuse to let me reach the Ascension Realm. It is not that I am incapable of reaching the Ascension Realm. Do you understand?"
Night Owl froze slightly, then exclaimed, "Your Majesty, you mean...?"
"Exactly what I said." Xiao Zhaolin said coldly, "I simply do not know whether they truly fear that the Ascension Realm will affect the Mandate of Heaven, or whether they fear that this so-called Mandate of Heaven will no longer obey their command."
Night Owl was greatly alarmed. "Your Majesty, please watch your words..."
Xiao Zhaolin said nothing more. Waving a hand, he said, "Leave for now. I wish to be alone. Do not let anyone disturb me!"
Afterward,
Xiao Zhaolin returned to the Imperial Study and pulled a book from the shelves. It was nothing more than an ordinary history book.
Yet as Xiao Zhaolin leafed through it, he suddenly fell asleep with his head on the desk. His consciousness entered a dream, and he appeared within a dojo. A Young Daoist was expounding the Dao, and Xiao Zhaolin was the only listener.
The Young Daoist walked to Xiao Zhaolin's side and said, "Since you came to see me of your own accord, it seems you have thought it through."
As he spoke, an aged yellowed book appeared in the Young Daoist's hand. Four large characters were written across its cover—Great Sun Demonic Art.
Xiao Zhaolin said, "I still wish to know: what price must be paid to cultivate the Great Sun Demonic Art?"
The Young Daoist said, "I do not know. I am only a Book Spirit. From the moment I was born, I had only one mission: to seek out an Innate Sage." As he spoke, the Young Daoist smiled faintly and asked, "What do you desire?"
Xiao Zhaolin said, "I wish to Unify the World, be Invincible Under Heaven, and surpass the Ascension Realm."
The Young Daoist said nothing more. He merely smiled and handed the aged yellowed book to Xiao Zhaolin.
Xiao Zhaolin hesitated.
This was not the first time he had seen the legendary Great Sun Demonic Art. But he had never believed in the good fortune of pies falling from the sky. He had guessed that cultivating the Great Sun Demonic Art would surely demand some unique price, which was why he had never accepted it.
But now...
"Gu Mo, Gu Mo, you truly have driven me into a corner with no choice. One day, I will defeat you fair and square and vent today's grievance!"
At once,
Xiao Zhaolin accepted the Great Sun Demonic Art and began reading it. Though it appeared to be a thick volume, it actually contained only thirty-six pages.
The instant Xiao Zhaolin finished reading it,
he suddenly awoke from the dream. A cultivation manual called the Great Sun Demonic Art had appeared in his mind.
Before you continue