Return to the Capital

The border between the Western Regions and Leizhou.

Xu Qi'an and Shenshu suddenly appeared, standing outside the border as they watched the dark red flesh and blood shrink back into the Western Regions and merge into the earth.

At this point, the Buddha's presence vanished without a trace.

At this moment, the two had completely removed the power of the Great Sun Samsara and returned to their original state, but both were completely naked.

"The Mahayana Dharma Church have already been established, yet the Buddha still possesses the Fate to devour the Western Regions?"

As Xu Qi'an spoke, he took out two robes and tossed one to Shenshu.

To avoid accidentally becoming Shenshu brothers with Shen Shu, in which case the Nine-Tailed Fox would have to call him Uncle Xu.

"It's related to the Shaman God Cult." Shenshu explained simply, then put on his robe and pondered:

"I practice Buddhism; I can go in and give it a try."

"That's crude," Xu Qi'an thought to himself, shaking his head.

"If you can use puppets to scout ahead, don't risk your own life."

After thinking it over, he still couldn't bear to use the Flood Dragon "Mo Yu" hidden in the Earth Book Fragment. Instead, he used spatial magic to capture a wild rabbit, crushed it, and implanted the Corpse Gu.

The reason for choosing Corpse Gu instead of Heart Gu for control is that Heart Gu can only share some vague senses, such as vision.

The sub-gu is a deeper level of Manipulation, with the puppet being like a clone.

This allows Xu Qi'an to better sense the Buddha's current state.

The rabbit hopped and skipped into the Western Regions. After only a few steps, the ground suddenly split open into a mouth. Just as the rabbit was about to be swallowed, it nimbly leaped high into the air, avoiding the gaping maw beneath it.

But the next moment, the leaping rabbit deliberately plunged headfirst into the gaping mouth of the ground.

Xu Qi'an's expression turned serious.

Shenshu glanced at him sideways, awaiting his analysis.

"I didn't perceive any restrictions or Manipulation; it was just a simple leap," Xu Qi'an said.

But the reality is that the rabbit, which had just leaped into the air, suddenly crashed into that mouth.

After a while, the two Half-Step Martial God suddenly realized something, and Xu Qi'an whispered:

"The Buddha changed the rules."

"He changed the rules of leaping to falling, yes, that should be it."

The only explanation for Half-Step Martial God being able to walk into the lion's den without sensing any restrictions or Manipulation is a change in the rules.

Such are the rules of heaven and earth.

Therefore, Xu Qi'an did not notice anything unusual.

"This is something even the Buddha could not do," Shenshu commented.

Even Confucian Sage can forcibly change the rules, but that's due to the special nature of the system, and they will face backlash afterward.

"Because in the Western Regions, Buddha is no longer Transcendent Rank, but rather the very essence of heaven and earth!" Xu Qi'an sighed.

The Superintendent right. The true purpose of the Transcendent Rank is to replace the Heavenly Dao and become the embodiment of the will of the Nine Provinces world.

If he had some doubts before, now he completely believed the Superintendent's words.

Shenshu thought for a moment, then took a step forward, unleashing a boundless and terrifying power that caused the heavens and earth to tremble and the elements to become disordered.

However, as these chaotic elements approached the Western Regions, they were all calmed down by an even more powerful force, and the martial arts domain supported by the Shenshu was kept outside the Western Regions.

This further illustrates that the Western Regions and the Nine Provinces world have become "separated," existing in the same space but belonging to different worlds.

"Is this the secret of the Great Calamity? Shenshu wants to devour the Nine Provinces and create a completely new world?" Shenshu looked at Xu Qi'an.

"It's not evolution, it's replacement!" Xu Qi'an said in a deep voice.

Shenshu gazed at the vast Western Regions before him, remained silent for a long time, and then slowly said:

"I see."

It was as if he had finally solved a long-standing mystery.

"What are your thoughts, Master?" Xu Qi'an asked, seizing the opportunity to probe.

"A calamity for all living beings," Shenshu commented.

He waited a while, and seeing that Shenshu did not continue, he asked:

"Master, I am already a half-step Martial God, and I have discovered many strange patterns within my body, like divine and demonic spiritual essence."

Shenshu:

"They possess the characteristic of immortality, which is the capital that allows Half-Step Martial God to dare to challenge Transcendent Rank Grade."

"I've studied them, and the only finding is that they are incomplete."

Xu Qi'an frowned:

"Incomplete?"

He didn't feel the lack.

Shenshu thought for a moment and analyzed:

"To be more precise, it's like a formation that's only been sketched out in its initial form; the details still need to be perfected."

Each "array pattern" is independent, but they lack connection with each other. They possess the property of immortality, but they are not a whole.

"Perhaps only by advancing to the Martial God can this formation truly take shape."

Each cell possesses the characteristic of immortality, yet it is independent. A thought struck Xu Qi'an:

"Is this why you were dismembered and sealed away by the Buddha?"

Countless cells represent countless patterns, but because they are independent of each other, they can be separated.

Shenshu nodded.

Xu Qi'an actively participated in the discussion:

"Then do you know how to advance to the Martial God?"

"Know!"

Shenshu's answer surprised Xu Qi'an. He said:

"If you perfect the 'array' on your body, you'll most likely become Martial God."

"Isn't that obvious? I know that too. I'm asking for specific methods, "Xu Qi'an said irritably.

How to improve the formation?

Shenshu looked at him and said expressionlessly:

"The Buddha just called you, the Gatekeeper."

Xu Qi'an explained:

"During my recent voyage, I met the Superintendent, who told me that Gatekeeper can only be born from the Martial Warrior System."

Shenshu scrutinized him:

"The purpose of the Superintendent's support is to train you to be Gatekeeper."

Xu Qi'an nodded.

Shenshu said:

"I am also Half-Step Martial God, but the Superintendent did not support me, but chose you instead."

"We can deduce the truth from the Superintendent's past schemes. You need to think clearly about two questions: First, why did he support you? Second, what did he leave behind for you?"

Had he kept something in reserve? Xu Qi'an subconsciously began to scrutinize Shenshu.

The latter frowned.

"I understand," Xu Qi'an said.

The answer is self-evident: it's Fate!

He became a pawn of the Superintendent because he was Xu Pingfeng's son, and Xu Pingfeng had stolen the National Fate of the Great Feng Dynasty.

So far, although the Superintendent has given him a lot of help, it has all been to help him level up and improve his strength, and all of this still revolves around Fate.

Shenshu judgment concludes:

"All you need to do is safeguard your Fate. Once you've secured your Fate, then you can explore how to advance to the Martial God."

At that moment, a flash of light appeared, and Sun Xuanji arrived with a group of Transcendent.

Seeing that Xu Qi'an and Shenshu did not recklessly start a battle, Yang Gong Jinlian the others breathed a sigh of relief.

Shenshu said calmly:

"Shenshu will not encroach on Leizhou for the time being. I will stay and guard the border. You may do as you please."

Xu Qi'an instructed Sun Xuanji to leave Shenshu several teleportation jade talismans and a few pages of Confucian School Words Become Law becoming law," intended to counter the spells of the Buddha's Dharma Idol forms. He then said:

"Contact me immediately if the Buddha returns."

It would take time for the Buddha to gradually conquer Leizhou, but it would only take him a very short time to travel from the capital to Leizhou.

Therefore, he was not afraid that the Buddha would take advantage of his return to the capital to seize Leizhou.

He then addressed the crowd:

"Let's go back to the capital first. We can talk about it later."

The Nine-Tailed Fox and Asuro glanced at the Western Regions, feeling unwilling, but since neither Shenshu nor Xu Qi'an had any intention of going deep into the Western Regions, they could only give up.

Xu Qi'an raised the large eyeball on his wrist and led the group of Transcendent away.

Diaochan was still on her way.

No, at this moment, the Flying Swallow Heroine was still waiting for Silver Gong Xu between the sky and the sea.

The sky is gradually turning light.

In the Imperial Study in the capital city.

Wang Zhenwen, who hadn't slept all night, looked exhausted, with puffy eye bags and bloodshot eyes.

Overwhelmed with anxiety, Huaiqing said softly:

"Minister Wang, please go and rest."

Wang Zhenwen shook his head and said:

"If you can't sleep, it's better not to sleep at all."

"No news at this moment is the best news."

If Leizhou cannot be defended, the situation will enter its worst stage, and then a real disaster will befall us.

Huaiqing didn't try to persuade him further, holding the Earth Book Fragment in his hand, lost in thought and remaining silent.

Wei Yuan and Zhao Shou were relatively calm. The former had experienced too many storms and waves, and even with a knife to his throat, he would not have much of an emotional change.

The latter possesses exceptional self-control; even when overwhelmed with anxiety, they show no sign of it on their face.

Zhao Shou thought for a moment and said:

"If Leizhou is lost, Your Majesty must first stabilize the court and the people's hearts, and then quickly summon Silver Gong Xu back to discuss how to hunt down the Jialuoshu and help him advance to the level of Half-Step Martial God."

"Once Xu Ningyan advances to the Half-Step Martial God, all difficulties will be easily resolved."

Huaiqing looked at Wei Yuan.

Wei Yuan shook his head and sighed:

"It's easier said than done. The Buddhist Order won't give us that opportunity. If they did, we'd be the ones who need to be careful."

Wang Zhenwen agreed with his old political rival's view, "At this stage, instead of considering helping Xu Ningyan advance to the Half-Step Martial God realm, it would be better to test the attitude of the Shaman God Cult and form an alliance with them. The Shaman God will need another two or three months to break the seal."

Although the Shaman God Cult helped the Buddha, as long as the two are in a competitive relationship, they can try to form an alliance.

Zhao Shou sneered:

"The Shaman God Cult is clearly planning to sit back and watch the two sides fight, then reap the benefits."

Wang Zhenwen countered sharply:

"As long as we convince the Shaman God Cult that we don't have the strength to mutually destroy Buddhist Order, the Shaman God Cult will naturally change its attitude."

"How humiliating!" Zhao Shou shook his head. "Moreover, this is tantamount to handing over our weaknesses to the Shaman God Cult, leaving us to be at their mercy, and it's just another round of peace talks."

The "peace talks" he referred to were the territorial concessions initiated by the Yunzhou rebels after the Superintendent was sealed away.

It's not hard to imagine that the Shaman God Cult would also make corresponding demands, annexing the territory of Great Feng without bloodshed, and would be even more outrageous than the Yunzhou rebels.

Wei Yuan commented:

"Drinking poison to quench thirst!"

Huaiqing waved his hand behind the large yellow silk case:

"The situation is still uncertain; it's too early to discuss these things."

She could only quell the argument with such words, but she also knew that if Leizhou were really annexed by Buddha, similar disputes would erupt again, and then all the civil and military officials would gather in the Golden Throne Hall to argue endlessly.

The prevailing view is probably that surrender or siding with the Shaman God Cult.

Martyrdom requires sentiment, and one cannot expect every official to have such awareness.

Moreover, rumors that "a woman becoming empress will bring disaster to the country and its people" will likely circulate among the common people. Thinking of this, Huaiqing wearily pinched the bridge of his nose.

Although she managed to secure her throne through her own skill and with the help of Wei Yuan, Xu Qi'an, and others, there was still criticism among lower-level officials, common people, and even Confucian scholars.

When the country is prosperous and the people are at peace, these criticisms are merely harmless complaints.

Once the country is in turmoil, the phrase "a woman becomes empress" will be amplified and used as a target for scapegoating.

She had finally managed to govern the country well, allowing the people who had suffered from natural disasters and wars to recuperate, but unexpectedly, one problem after another arose.

Only at this critical juncture does she remember that she is a woman and that she needs someone to rely on.

As the ruler of a country, the only man she could rely on and wanted to rely on was Xu Qi'an.

Currently, this source of support is still overseas and has lost contact.

However, it was precisely because he couldn't get in touch with him for so long that Huaiqing still held onto hope.

Maybe he'll return after advancing to the Half-Step Martial God; that man has never disappointed her.

Suddenly, Huaiqing sensed something and looked up.

Wei Yuan Zhao Shou were ahead of her.

A large group of people appeared without warning in the empty imperial study.

The man at the head of the group was handsome and wore an indigo robe. Just like before, he was none other than Xu Qi'an they had not seen for several months.

Behind him stood Transcendent experts such as Luo Yuheng, Asuro, the Nine-Tailed Fox, Daoist Jinlian.

Wei Yuan, Wang Zhenwen, Zhao Shou, and Huaiqing all stood up at the same time.

He's back? And he brought back the Transcendent powerhouse from Leizhou?

Huaiqing seemed to realize something, and then she heard her heart pounding wildly. She tried to maintain a calm expression, but her voice trembled slightly as she spoke:

"Has the Buddha retired?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhenwen, Wei Yuan, and Zhao Shou all stared at Xu Qi'an.

Xu Qi'an hummed in agreement.

Huaiqing pursed his lips, a hint of expectation mixed with caution, and tentatively asked:

You've advanced to the Half-Step Martial God?

Her breathless demeanor, filled with expectation and caution, made her look somewhat pitiful, like a girl asking her father if he had brought home her beloved doll.

Wang Zhenwen subconsciously clenched his fists, his sleeves trembling slightly.

Wei Yuan appeared calm, but he had never looked at a person with such focus before.

Zhao Shou couldn't help but hold his breath.

P. S.: I caught a cold today, so I took a nap after getting home before starting to write. I'll correct any typos later.