A Game Hard to End

Danqiuzi sighed softly:

"The Confucian School remains unmoved because they have no need to intervene. They are the court's 'Way,' and the court is their 'sword.' When Nanzhao falls into chaos and the court's army presses in, the Confucian School can then openly promote its teachings in the Miao Frontier and Wu kingdoms, using the guise of rites and laws to actually incorporate them into the Confucian system. At that time, the traditions of the Witch Department and the Wu kingdom, which were either broken or scattered, will all be incorporated into the Confucian School educational system."

"So those Witch Department and witch kingdoms only seek self-preservation," Qizhenzi continued. "They know better than anyone that in this game, they are neither players nor pieces, but merely footnotes on the chessboard that can be erased at any time. They can only survive in the cracks, holding onto whatever they can."

"The Yuanfu is different," Danqiuzi said. "What the Yuanfu wants is to maintain its position in the Witchcraft Dao world. They are not afraid of the imperial court, nor are they afraid of the Confucian School. What truly frightens them is the infiltration of the Immortal Dao into the Witchcraft Dao. The Confucian School wants to incorporate the Witchcraft Dao Witchcraft Dao, Immortal Dao the Witchcraft Dao path wants to swallow it up. If the Witch Department and witch kingdoms fall apart, the Yuanfu's position in the world will also collapse. That's why the Yuanfu went to Biyou to seek Mo Chen's methods, using the Geng Wood method to stir up trouble, just so that they could free up their hands in the Witchcraft Dao."

"The Witch Hall is more clear-headed than the Yuanfu," Qizhenzi said. "The Witch Hall only wants to live in seclusion. They are older than the Yuanfu and have witnessed more rise and fall. They know that no matter who wins—the imperial court, the Confucian School, or the Mysterious Gate — the Witch Hall's lineage cannot be preserved. Therefore, the Witch Hall's attitude is the most decisive; even if it means relocating from the Southern Frontier, they will preserve their own heritage. They don't even want to watch this game; they only want to play it."

"Leave?" Danqiuzi sneered. "Can they leave? The chaos in Nanzhao has spread to the Southern Frontier and Miao Frontier. The Witch Hall is caught in the middle. If they want to leave, someone has to be willing to let them go. If the Mysterious Gate doesn't let them leave, the imperial court doesn't let them leave, and the Confucian School doesn't let them leave, where can they go?"

"So the Witch Hall is also waiting," Qizhenzi said, "Waiting for an opportunity to withdraw unscathed. This opportunity may come when the Proclaiming Earth rebels and all sides are too busy to help themselves."

Danqiuzi paused for a moment, then changed the subject:

"And the king? What is your opinion, senior?"

Qizhenzi did not answer immediately, but pondered for a long time before speaking:

"The king is the most pitiful. The Nanzhao has a long history, and the king considers his people as the foundation of his enlightenment. This is both his foundation and his shackles. The more his people die, the more his Dao Path is damaged. He genuinely wants more people to survive. This desire alone is enough to distinguish him from those who play the game of the established order. But he cannot act, nor dare he act. If he personally intervenes to protect his people, it would be tantamount to making enemies of the imperial court, the Confucian School, the Mysterious Gate, and the Demonic Dao path. He can only wait, wait for a way that can satisfy both his people and his lineage. If such a way exists, it would be an immense blessing; if not, the Nanzhao Kingdom's fate will end in his hands."

"So the king tacitly Su Yao to kill Zheng Qingci, and tacitly allowed Cang Lan, Mo Yan, and Zhao Shouzhi to intercept him, all because he wanted to use others to preserve Nanzhao's life," Danqiuzi sighed. "First, he tacitly approved Proclaiming Earth's journey south, and then he was willing to alienate the Witch Department and Wu Kingdom, who were on good terms with Nanzhao, just to suppress Mo Chen. He was caught in a dilemma, facing difficulties at every turn. This king is truly..."

He did not continue.

Danqiuzi also let out a long sigh:

"He is True Lord. All the other Purple Mansion here are but pawns on a chessboard before the king. Although you and I are much better off, the king's thoughts and considerations are beyond the comprehension of us mere Loose Immortal of Divine Core and Heavenly Immortal beings."

Qizhenzi nodded and changed the subject:

"The Demonic Dao is much simpler. They don't care about lineage, territory, or incense offerings. What they want is chaos. The more chaotic Nanzhao is, the happier they are. The four Demonic Dao thrive in this chaos, especially the Blood Qi lineage, which dared to block me in the Great Void. This shows that they also have powerful figures behind them, and they have long been secretly colluding with one of the parties in this game."

He paused, then sneered:

"It's probably the Confucian School."

Danqiuzi nodded:

"Not only is the internal strife within the Chan (Monk Mao Chan School Buddhist School Tubo in infighting. The waters of Nanzhao are becoming increasingly murky. While neither side can spare much energy, they are not blind and are slowly beginning to tilt in this direction. If the Chan School enters the fray, it's likely aiming for the Human Dao offerings following the uprising in Proclaiming Earth. If the Monk Mao enter, they're targeting the followers of the Witch Department and the Wu kingdom. Both sides have their own agendas, but neither will easily intervene. They want to observe and see if Proclaiming Earth's cause can succeed, and just how chaotic this turmoil will become."

"So, the current situation is," Qizhenzi said slowly, "The imperial court and the Confucian School have joined forces, one destroying the other; the three schools of the Mysterious Gate have joined hands to revive the orthodox tradition and vie for power; the Witch Department and the Wu Kingdom are each seeking survival, with the Yuanfu protecting the Witchcraft Dao and the Witch Hall seeking a way out; the king is struggling to hold on and waiting for change; Demonic Dao demonic path is taking advantage of the chaos; Buddhist School is engaged in internal strife and watching closely. More than ten forces are making their moves and have their own plans."

"Exactly." Danqiuzi nodded. "But the most ingenious part of this game is that everyone tacitly pushed Nanzhao into chaos, yet no one knows whether the chaos can be contained after Proclaiming Earth's uprising."

"Are you afraid you won't be able to stop it?" Qizhenzi asked.

"I'm afraid," Danqiuzi said softly. "The Turbid Chaos of the Ten Directions, and chaos pervades all. If the chessboard is shattered, the chess pieces will have no meaning."

Qizhenzi did not respond.

In the distance, on the land of Nanzhao, various calamities still lurked like ferocious beasts. The miasma of Geng Wood was as heavy as a swamp, the flames of Radiant Fire soared into the sky like rage, the sharp energy of Geng Metal tore through the sky, the Great Yang's killing light fell like divine punishment, and the plague spread silently, leaving thousands of miles of barren land and tens of thousands of miles of mourning.

"Ultimately, the current cooperation between Yuqing, Shangqing, and Taiqing is nothing more than each getting what they need." Qizhenzi finally broke the silence. "Yuqing wants to promote the Immortal Path, so it needs to establish its lineage in Nanzhao. Shangqing wants to promote the Divine Path, so it needs to bring the Divine Path back into its proper order in the sequence of Heaven and Earth. Taiqing wants to reclaim the power of Taiyin and Taiyang, so it needs to use this matter to seize back the Yin-Yang power controlled by Yuanfu Yanggong. The three families have different goals, but they are all working hard on the same chessboard. With Nanzhao in chaos and Xuantu moving south, the old pattern has been completely shattered, giving each family an opportunity to take advantage."

After they finished speaking, the two remained silent for a long time, both looking down at the turbid and chaotic land beneath their feet.

"The Turbid Chaos of the Ten Directions..."

Qizhenzi murmured softly, as if sighing, or perhaps talking to himself. After all, the original plan was for Su Yao to kill only one person, but Su Yao killed them all, which led to this spiritual atmosphere. Otherwise, if there was only one of the three elements— Balmy Wind, Kan Water, or Geng Metal— it wouldn't be this spiritual atmosphere.

A moment later, the Wu Earth shone brightly, and Qizhenzi disappeared into the Great Void.

Then, Danqiuzi followed suit, transforming into Purple Qi and dissipating.

Outside Golden Ao Mountain, the water level of Cibi Lake is getting lower and lower, and various disasters are coming one after another on the land of Nanzhao.

A song goes:

The Five Virtues have changed, and the Nine Paths have come to a temporary halt.

The Geng Wood breaks, the Radiant Fire extinguishes, Geng Metal is gathered.

Earth Witch Autumn.

The Fragrant Wind stirs the Kan Water, Human Dao disperses, Confucianism rises, the imperial court stirs, the Witch Hall flee, and the Yuanfu plots.

Blood Qi surged in the shadows, the Demonic Dao had long been watching, and the battle raged at the gate of emptiness.

Look at the land of Nanzhao, Turbid Chaos of the Ten Directions.

The mournful cries of birds echo for miles; when will they cease?

The mountains and rivers are half old, and the golden goblet is leaking.

Enter the Mysterious Gate, and immortals and gods will battle.

The Witch Department was terrified; the common people suffered, their lives hanging by a thread.

From whom can I ask?

Before Longchuan falls, Proclaiming Earth awaits; the plan has already been formulated.

When the True Lord turns, rebellions rise, and the old nation is restored.

Even the most magnificent palaces of the Three Pure Ones might not be able to hold them back.

Sighing at the foot of Golden Ao Mountain, the water is shallow and the moon hangs like a hook.

The game is difficult to end.