Eunuch Li did not leave. Instead, he remained within Dragon Arising Temple and disguised himself as an old Taoist priest. Jiang Changsheng naturally had a use for keeping him, though that use would have to wait until the future.
Inside the room, Jiang Changsheng opened the box and discovered that it contained a piece of white bone.
Black mist seeped out from the bone and gathered before Jiang Changsheng into a humanoid figure. It wore purple robes and a Bronze Mask, with long hair coiled beneath its crown. It was mysterious beyond measure, and judging by its build, it closely resembled Jiang Yuan in his prime.
Punishment Head!
Jiang Changsheng sensed its aura and found that it had actually reached the God Heart Realm. The extent of its True Qi was not inferior to Tian Shan Ji Que's in the slightest.
Punishment Head clasped his fists. "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
His voice was hoarse, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
"I am no longer the Crown Prince, nor will I ever be again. Jiang Yuan has already passed away. Later, I will hand you over to Prince Wei. You should know about this, right?" Jiang Changsheng said.
Punishment Head nodded.
Jiang Changsheng suddenly raised his hand and struck at Punishment Head with his palm. Punishment Head had no time to react before the Reincarnation Mark was planted within him.
Punishment Head retreated to the door as though he had teleported there. In a deep voice, he asked, "Changsheng Taoist Priest, what is the meaning of this?"
Jiang Changsheng smiled. "Just a little trick. Though you have Jiang Yuan's orders, he is dead after all. I cannot gamble on it. You are an evil spirit soul body. Serve Prince Wei faithfully. Once the great undertaking is complete, perhaps I will grant you an immense opportunity."
Punishment Head fell silent for a moment. "What opportunity? What opportunity could possibly move my heart?"
"True transformation into human form? Or Body Seizing and becoming a real person?"
Jiang Changsheng smiled, and Punishment Head's entire body shuddered.
The demons and evil spirits of this world were all formed from beasts, wandering ghosts, and lone souls. There were no cultivation methods in the world. They could only absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy through their natural gifts, or imitate martial arts cultivation, but neither method could change their essence.
At most, evil spirits could possess humans, and even then, they could not remain in possession for long.
Thinking of Jiang Changsheng's many miraculous abilities and his unfathomable cultivation, Punishment Head could not help but waver.
Perhaps he truly could do it?
Punishment Head stepped before Jiang Changsheng, dropped to one knee, and said, "The late emperor is gone. From this day onward, Punishment Head shall honor you above all else. I am willing to obey your commands and assist Prince Wei."
Those words got straight to the bottom of things. He knew who the true master was.
Jiang Changsheng smiled in satisfaction. "Cultivate for now."
Punishment Head turned into black mist and dispersed, burrowing into the white bone.
Jiang Changsheng placed the box before the windowsill, making it easier for him to absorb the essence of the sun and moon.
Life returned to peace.
Wang Chen spent every day by the Empress's side, accompanying her through her final days. Yet she never told Wang Chen of her relationship with Jiang Changsheng.
As long as she could see Jiang Changsheng every day, the Empress was content.
Jiang Changsheng had wanted to refine some life-extending pills for her, but she refused.
Though Jiang Yuan had wronged her, she had always loved that man deeply. Now that Jiang Changsheng had grown up, she had no more attachments in this world.
April.
The Empress met Yang Che alone. After they spoke for an hour, Yang Che left. That very night, she passed away.
Jiang Changsheng buried her on the hillside behind the courtyard. Wang Chen and Eunuch Li joined him in paying their respects.
Both parents in this life had lived out their natural spans. Before dying, they had even recognized one another. There truly were no regrets left.
Parting through life and death gave Jiang Changsheng many more realizations.
The path to longevity did not hold only anticipation; it was also accompanied by sorrow. Yet compared to the pursuit of immortality, such sorrow amounted to little. Besides, he had not truly been familiar with his parents in this life.
He was already forty-four this year. Adding in his previous life, he could be considered an old man, though his state of mind remained very young.
Only by becoming strong enough could one experience fewer of life's vicissitudes.
Wang Chen could not help saying gratefully, "Thank you, Taoist Priest. If the Empress Dowager had remained in the imperial palace, I fear..."
Jiang Changsheng waved his hand and turned to leave.
Eunuch Li shook his head and laughed before following him away. He did not expose Jiang Changsheng's relationship with the Empress either. Unless Jiang Changsheng wished it, he was willing to carry this secret with him into the underworld.
In the Golden Luan Hall, the new emperor, Jiang Yu, sat upon the dragon throne. He looked down upon the civil and military officials filling the court, his spirit soaring to the heavens.
The emperor's seat truly was intoxicating.
An old eunuch standing diagonally below him glanced at Jiang Yu. Feeling that gaze, Jiang Yu finally spoke. "Gu Han and the Jin Dynasty are eyeing us like tigers eyeing their prey. Great Jing and Gu Han have already reached the point of either you die or I die. Great Jing now faces a crisis unprecedented in history. Do any of you have a good strategy?"
The entire court fell silent. No one dared to speak.
Whoever spoke would be marching to their death.
Their hearts were full of resentment. Great Jing and Gu Han had originally lived in peace, but Jing Martial Ancestor had insisted on attacking Gu Han in order to become an emperor for the ages. Now the two dynasties had become irreconcilable enemies, each wishing to wipe the other out completely, with no possibility of peace talks.
Jing Martial Ancestor had made a mistake, and the Current Emperor had done the same. He had buried half of Great Jing's military strength. Famine now ravaged every region, and the people could scarcely survive. The Jin Dynasty was even more sinister, taking the chance to draw Gu Han to its side. Every diplomatic official Great Jing sent suffered humiliation. The Jin Dynasty had declared that it would flatten Great Jing within five years.
Faced with threats from two dynasties, no general dared step forward.
Someone stood out and said, "Great Jing's fiercest general is still Prince Qin. Your Majesty, why not grant Prince Qin the authority to recruit troops?"
Jiang Yu glanced at him, frightening him into immediately falling silent.
Ever since Jiang Yu suffered his crushing defeat, Jiang Yu had forbidden him from recruiting soldiers. He had even refused to let Jiang Yu return when the late emperor passed away. Now Jiang Yu guarded a city at the Northern Border, struggling bitterly like a trapped beast.
Jiang Yu slowly said, "I have a plan that can resolve the peril facing our realm."
The civil and military officials raised their heads and looked at him, their eyes filled with curiosity.
With matters having reached this state, how could it still be resolved?
"Change the dynasty's name to Chu, and draw the Chu People in to defend the land of the Thirteen Provinces together." Jiang Yu swept his gaze over everyone in the hall as he spoke slowly.
The moment those words fell, the entire hall erupted.
"Nonsense! How is this any different from defecting to the enemy?"
An old minister stepped forward and cursed furiously. The other ministers no longer cared about fear and began cursing as well.
They had long wondered why Jiang Yu kept promoting Chu People, but they had never imagined that Jiang Yu intended to restore Chu!
It was utterly absurd!
Looking through all of ancient and modern times, it had never happened before!
If this succeeded, Great Jing would be nailed forever to history's pillar of shame!
"Absurd! Your Majesty, have you gone mad?"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"Restore Chu? What are Great Jing's people supposed to think?"
"Your Majesty, why not simply propose surrendering to the Jin Dynasty?"
"Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous! Your Majesty, who gave you such a brilliant strategy? He truly is a genius without equal through the ages!"
The ministers were enraged. They even forgot the emperor's majesty, and all manner of harsh words drilled into Jiang Yu's ears, making his expression turn incomparably ugly.
He had never expected the civil and military officials, usually so cowardly, to dare insult him like this.
"Presumptuous! You truly are tired of living! Do you want to be beheaded? Do you want your nine clans implicated?"
Jiang Yu rose to his feet and roared. True Qi surged forth, making everyone's hearts and souls tremble in fear.
The prime minister of the Department of State Affairs knelt down and shouted, "I beg Your Majesty to cast aside this delusion! Otherwise, even if we die, we shall resist!"
"I beg Your Majesty to cast aside this delusion!"
The vast majority of civil and military officials knelt one after another. Only those officials who were Chu People remained standing.
Jiang Yu's expression turned icy to the extreme, his eyes brimming with killing intent.
In the first year of Zhenyu, May, news of the emperor's desire to restore Chu spread across the world. Though the ministers suppressed it, the proposal left the people of the realm deeply disappointed in him, and curses filled the streets.
Within Dragon Arising Temple.
"Father is completely insane! How could he say something so absurd?"
Fifteen-year-old Jiang Ziyu cursed furiously. He sat beside Jiang Changsheng, and the two looked like biological brothers. The only difference was the birthmark between Jiang Ziyu's brows, which made him seem even more handsome and imposing.
Xu Tianji secretly studied the master and disciple, muttering inwardly, Why are they looking more and more alike?
Wang Chen noticed it too. Normally, it was difficult to tell, but when Jiang Ziyu became angry, his bearing was strikingly similar to Jiang Changsheng's when facing a Peerless Expert.
Jiang Ziyu looked at Jiang Changsheng and said, "Master, I want to raise troops and suppress the Northern Border. As long as we defeat Gu Han and the Jin Dynasty, Father will surely stop talking about restoring Chu."
His martial arts had now reached great accomplishment. Though he had not reached the Heaven-reaching Realm, among those in the Spirit Sense Realm, the Peerless Experts, he was also among the best. In addition, the Yang and Chen families were building momentum for him, so he was full of confidence.
"Wait until Ping'an reaches the Heaven-reaching Realm, then raise your banner," Jiang Changsheng said.
Jiang Ziyu could not help looking toward Ping'an. Ping'an was playing with the White Dragon in the courtyard. The White Dragon, as strong as a dragon, was being held and swung around by him until it was dizzy and disoriented.
Ping'an was not especially handsome, but his features were sharply defined, and he radiated heroic vigor. Together with his powerful physique, he looked like a fierce general capable of facing ten thousand enemies alone.
Jiang Ziyu frowned. He also understood the importance of a Heaven-reaching Realm expert.
Without Ping'an, he had no confidence in dealing with Gu Han's and the Jin Dynasty's Grandmasters.
"Then we shall wait a little longer."
Jiang Ziyu said gloomily, secretly swearing that once he raised his banner, he would sweep away all the filth under heaven.
Jiang Changsheng called Ping'an over. Though Ping'an was foolish, he obeyed Jiang Changsheng's every word. Jiang Changsheng was the one he listened to most.
"Today, I will begin teaching you the Mystic Sect Dharma Form."
The moment Jiang Changsheng spoke, everyone else turned to look.
The ten-year period had ended. Xu Tianji, who had originally planned to descend the mountain, was now intrigued as well. The Mystic Sect Dharma Form—it was the ultimate art he had dreamed of day and night.
But how could he get the Taoist Priest to teach it to him?
Xu Tianji fell into a dilemma.
In the second year of Zhenyu, the emperor established his son Jiang Zihan as Crown Prince. The Crown Prince led an army of one hundred thousand on an expedition to the Northern Border, high-spirited and eager to prove himself.
June.
Ping'an finally reached the Heaven-reaching Realm. Jiang Ziyu bade farewell to Jiang Changsheng with him, and the two descended the mountain. Before they left, Jiang Changsheng bestowed Punishment Head upon Jiang Ziyu. Now he had a God Heart Realm expert under his command as well.
Jiang Changsheng stood before the mountain gate and watched the two brothers descend. Wang Chen, Huang Chuan, Wan Li, and the others stood behind him, along with the other disciples. After so many years together, Jiang Ziyu had become close with every disciple in the temple. Naturally, they were reluctant to see him head to the battlefield, though they also hoped he would carve out a resounding reputation.
Xu Tianji could not help asking, "Taoist Priest, if I assist Prince Wei, then once he succeeds, will you teach me the Mystic Sect Dharma Form?"
After struggling for a year, this was the only method he could think of.
Jiang Changsheng gazed at the mountain path and softly said, "Yes."
Xu Tianji was overjoyed. He immediately bowed in thanks to Jiang Changsheng, then rushed down the mountain.
"Your Highness Prince Wei, wait for me!"
"Why are you coming?"
"I'll help you conquer the realm."
"Didn't you say you would wait until I ascended the throne?"
"I'm afraid I won't live to see that day."
"Get lost. When the time comes, I'll make sure you charge at the front."
Jiang Ziyu's and Xu Tianji's laughing curses echoed along the mountain path.
Wang Chen sighed emotionally. "Prince Wei no longer lacks fierce generals under his command. As for strategists, the descendants of the Chen and Yang families can fill those roles."
With such a lineup, he could see hope.
But even if Prince Wei turned the tide, how would he ascend the throne?
Would he win the Son of Heaven's favor, or force him?
Wang Chen could not help looking at Jiang Changsheng. The side of his face made Wang Chen feel that the latter was far more likely.
Jiang Changsheng remaining in the capital was the greatest threat to the Current Emperor, yet the Son of Heaven still did not know it!
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