The Year of Jiazi

The seventh year of Yongning, the year of Jiazi.

On the 28th of March, it snowed heavily.

The sky and earth were one color, the cold snow covered the fields, the withered branches were covered in white, and there was no sound.

Ye Capital.

A Dao City spanning nearly ten million miles, inhabited by people comparable to those of several superior Ruin Realm.

now.

A figure dressed in plain clothes stood in the void, slender with snow-white eyebrows and eyes.

He looked down at the old capital, now silent in the white expanse, his eyes devoid of sorrow or joy.

Her lips parted slightly, and a soft, melodious tune flowed out, unaccompanied by any stringed instruments, only her clear voice piercing through the snow:

"Eeya~ The magnificent myriad laws... Wei Wu, Jun Zhou Clearing Snow..."

The clear and simple opera singing, set against the backdrop of heavy snow, sounded exceptionally desolate.

On the Ye Capital, the armored soldiers guarding the city looked up, exchanged bewildered glances, and were momentarily unable to react.

This tune... sings of the past dynasties, the Former Wei dynasty.

"A handsome young man, clever and resourceful, was accompanied by the Emperor's smile. But a single day, the emperor's reign was overthrown, and for a thousand years, his lonely soul was buried in the snow—"

The last word "" is dragged out extremely long, as if crying or laughing, floating endlessly in the snow.

In the Ye Capital, countless withered eyes gazed at the sky, and countless aged lips moved silently.

However, this is now a taboo subject, where even the name is forbidden to be mentioned.

"Presumptuous!"

A loud shout rang out from the depths of the palace in Ye Capital.

"Bold."

Immediately afterwards, several figures soared into the sky from the palace.

The leader, clad in black armor and with a face as cold as iron, was none other than the Grand Commander of the Ye Capital Army.

He raised his hand and instantly unleashed a Divine Ability, causing the snowflakes to be swept up from the sky. The thick and vast water qi and Cold Qi connected and transformed into a thousand-foot glacier, pressing down on the man in white.

At the same time, thunderclouds suddenly gathered in the sky, and purple lightning bolts, like snakes, locked onto the figure in white.

"How dare you linger here and reminisce about the previous dynasty! You're courting death!"

Above the sky, dark clouds suddenly gathered, and flashes of lightning appeared, like purple lightning bolts.

Thunder, water, and Cold Qi intertwined, crashing down with a devastating force.

However, the man in white didn't move an inch. He simply turned his head slowly, revealing a face obscured by the wind and snow—an extremely ordinary face, so ordinary that one would forget it after a glance.

Then, he chuckled softly.

"Eek--What a loyal dog protecting its master--"

Another operatic tune was sung.

In the nick of time, the figure suddenly faded away.

Like a traditional Chinese ink painting soaked in water, the ink spreads and blurs on the rice paper.

The water energy passed through, and the thunder was violent, but even though the person was right there, all the attacks seemed to hit nothing but the void, not even touching a single hem of their clothes.

The figure in white had already vanished like snowflakes, leaving no trace.

The commander of the Imperial Guards' pupils contracted, and his divine sense swept out, searching the entire Ye Capital.

There was nothing there.

The aura, traces, and spiritual fluctuations of the person in white—everything vanished into nothingness in that instant.

"Playing tricks!"

A cold snort echoed from the depths of Ye Capital.

The voice wasn't loud, but it made the entire Ye Capital feel slightly heavy. Commoners and cultivators alike knelt on the ground, trembling.

A figure descended through the air.

The man was dressed in a dark royal robe embroidered with a four-clawed dragon. He had a sinister face, long, narrow eyes with slightly upturned corners, exuding an indescribable cruelty.

He was surrounded by a faint, ethereal Cold Qi; wherever he passed, snowflakes froze and ice formed, and the chill was biting.

He had two scantily clad beauties on his left and right arms.

Meiji's thin clothes couldn't hide her wounds. Even though she was terrified, she dared not flinch and could only force a smile as she nestled in his arms.

Prince of Ye, Sima Ying.

Among the princes of the Sima Clan clan, none could surpass him in terms of extreme cruelty and tyranny.

He cultivates Cold Qi and refines yin souls. He uses flesh and blood as firewood and yin qi for killing as a furnace. He is a collateral branch of the lineage of Sima Honglin, the ruler of the Great Jin, and also a trusted minister.

Three hundred years ago, loyal ministers of the Former Wei gathered to plot a rebellion, and within twenty years, the north was thrown into chaos.

The Xun and Cheng families will fight to the death; the Xia and Hou families will share the same vows, even unto death!

He rallied the loyal people of Wei to revive the Wei Imperial House, established the descendant of the Former Wei Prince of Chen of Wei as emperor, and, with the brilliance of the sun and moon, re-established himself in Ye Capital.

He overthrew the Great Jin dynasty. He came from Luoyang by imperial decree, and in less than a hundred days, he slaughtered the Ye Capital of Ye, leaving the land scorched and blood flowing for 300,000 li.

The weather is freezing cold, Blood Qi boils; even the vast ocean cannot wash it away.

The Greater Yang lost its brilliance, the people of Wei cried out in anguish, and corpses piled up like mountains. Even the heads of the Xun and Cheng families were hung high on the city gates, and could not be taken down!

This killing ensured that the Former Wei territory would never again be invaded!

What a sharp knife!

But Sima Ying was thoroughly enjoying himself, even drawing in a Cold Qi into his body.

The Sima Clan even bestowed upon him special honors!

His honors surpassed those of nobles and relatives, and were bestowed upon all cultivators of the Purple Mansion and all the people of the world, second only to the mortal emperor! He was rewarded with the imperial carriage of the Former Wei dynasty, boasting of his achievements!

Now, another century has passed.

He had already attained perfect Divine Ability and was known as the Great True Person of Cangxuan Cold Qi!

Wielding the Golden Core Law Treasure [Heavenly Cold Yin Qi Life and Death Record], his combat power was unparalleled, dominating an entire era.

He was a powerful figure of his time, Sima Honglin described him as someone who could "seal life and death with Cold Qi" and "trample the masses with indifference," and was also known as the "King of Slaughter in Ye Capital"!

Sima Ying stood where the person in plain clothes had disappeared, her nostrils twitching slightly as if she were sniffing something.

"The sour and rotten air of the Former Wei."

He spoke calmly, a cruel smile playing on his lips. His hands squeezed the snow-white breasts of the beautiful women nestled against him, causing them to furrow their brows and forcefully force a smile to appease him, despite the pain.

"A few old ghosts dare to jump around in front of me?"

The commander of the imperial guards knelt in mid-air, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. "Your Highness, please forgive me, this humble general is incompetent—"

"Kill him."

Two words, light and airy.

The imperial guard commander froze, and before he could beg for mercy, a Cold Qi shot from Sima Ying's eyes and pierced his brow.

The next moment, his body turned into an ice sculpture, and his soul, Divine Ability, and even the essence of his flesh and blood were continuously drawn out and poured into Sima Ying's sleeve.

Then, it fell from the sky, crashing into the gaps in Ye Capital and shattering into pieces.

Sima Ying held the beautiful concubine in his arms, his gaze sweeping down upon the Ye Capital, filled with scrutiny, a surge of murderous intent and tyranny welling up within him.

The capital of the Former Wei Dynasty was the place where the Cao Clan rose to power and a sacred place for cultivators from all over the world to worship.

On the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, Prince of Chen composed a poem; by the Black Tortoise Pool, the young master played the zither. What a magnificent and elegant era the Great Wei was!

Now, the Bronze Sparrow Terrace has collapsed, the ancestral temple is in ruins, and the once powerful nobles of the Wei Imperial House have either bowed down to their allegiance or... become a handful of dust on Mount Beimang. No, they can't even leave a handful of dust behind!

This empire belongs to the Sima Clan!

He couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

"It's been too long since they've killed anyone... they've forgotten."

The people and cultivators in Ye Capital City have long since changed batch after batch.

The old ones died, and the young ones grew up.

But those memories, those hatreds, those things etched into our very bones, are like the snow that never melts on Mount Beimang, never fading away.

Sima Ying knew.

Therefore, he never relaxed his control over Ye Capital.

He wanted the people of this city to understand one thing: the Former Wei is dead, the Great Jin lives on forever. Anyone who clings to the past will only meet the same end.

die.

But today, the appearance of that man in plain clothes made him realize that he hadn't done enough.

"Whether it's the Xun and Cheng families, or the Wu Clan, or even... whoever it is, they cannot escape my grasp."

He silently released the two beauties, then took out the [Heavenly Cold Yin Qi Life and Death Record] from his sleeve. It shone brightly, as if it were alive, especially after being stained with blood.

Gently opening this record, a wisp of the man in white robes could still be seen in Ye Capital.

Sima Ying immediately gave the order.

"Great search for Ye Capital."

"Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free."

As soon as the words were spoken, countless figures emerged from all parts of Ye Capital, rushing towards every corner of this ancient capital.

The city gates of Ye Capital slammed shut.

Countless black-armored cultivators, like ghosts, surged into the streets and alleys, their footsteps echoing through the snow.

They went from house to house, breaking down doors and entering.

The screams of women, the cries of children, and the pleas of the elderly mingled with the wind and snow, creating a thick, cacophony of noise.

Some people were dragged out of the labyrinth and tortured in the snow, their skin torn and bleeding.

Some people were found to have some relics from the Former Wei Dynasty—a faded jade pendant and a half-rolled, tattered manuscript of poems—and their hands were chopped off in the street.

Some people, simply by shifting their gaze slightly, were deemed to have a guilty conscience, subjected to an immediate soul search, their souls shattered, leaving them as mere walking corpses.

Half an hour later...

"Eeya--"

"Wei Wu-- "

Sima Ying, who was already enjoying himself in the palace, seemed to hear a theatrical tune carried on the wind.

Sima Ying frowned.

He glanced down at the two beautiful women beside him and suddenly smiled.

A cruel pleasure lingered in his smile, "So, where do you think that singer is hiding?"

The two beauties trembled with fear and shook their heads repeatedly.

Sima Ying didn't press for answers. She stood up, pinched her chin, seemingly deep in thought, a hint of tyranny flashing in her eyes. Then she looked at them, ordered them to kneel on the ground, and raised their heads.

She froze for a moment, then her voice slowly turned into a sob, filled with terror...

"They must be Former Wei dynasty! They absolutely must be!"

"Hahaha, if that's the case, they definitely won't be able to stand it, they won't be able to stand it!"

Sima Ying continued on her own, while another fun idea popped into her head.

"Since you insist on using the tunes of the old dynasty... then I, the king, will shatter all your dignity and pride!"

"Someone, pass on the order!"

"Let the Twelfth Prince... go."

Ye Capital.

Nearly ten million people, including cultivators, were forcibly dragged from their homes and mansions and lined up on both sides of the street, kneeling in worship amidst the falling snow.

Then, not long after, a thousand black-armored cultivators escorted a huge carriage, which slowly drove out of the palace.

The carriage was entirely black, with intricate cloud and dragon patterns carved on its body.

Instead of horses, the carriage was pulled forward by 999 prisoners with their hands and feet shackled, moving with heavy and slow steps.

The scraping sound of shackles dragging on the ground and heavy breathing echoed through the snow-covered streets.

This is the imperial carriage of the Former Wei Dynasty, used by Former Wei when he went on tours.

It represented the majesty and dignity of the Former Wei Dynasty.

Now, however, it has been used by Sima Ying as a war trophy to flaunt his power and bully the former people in the capital of the Former Wei!

A young man sat upright in the carriage.

The young man's face bore a slight resemblance to Sima Ying, but he was younger and more frivolous, his pale face suggesting a frail and weak body.

He leaned back on the soft couch of the carriage, toying with a jade-shaped folding fan in his hand, a cynical smile on his lips.

Sima Hui, the twelfth son of Sima Ying, was the most notorious playboy in Ye Capital.

At his feet stood six women, dressed in rags but with beautiful faces.

Judging from her features, she appears to be the wife and daughter of Former Wei dynasty.

They were branded with marks around their necks and subjected to all sorts of humiliation by Sima Hui, who treated them like objects.

Inside the carriage, their eyes were filled with humiliation and fear, yet they dared not even utter a sound of crying.

He glanced outside the carriage, seemingly finding it uninteresting, and then gestured to his attendants to make a move.

"Get out of here, you bunch of lowly slaves!"

Upon receiving the order, the armored soldiers immediately raised their weapons and whipped the old man at the front of the cart onto his back.

The old man swayed and nearly fell, but gritted his teeth to steady himself and continued to slowly pull the heavy cart forward.

He was once a hero of his time, but his cultivation and Spirit Root were destroyed, and now he couldn't even speak. Humiliated by the Sima Clan like this, his eyes were bloodshot...

"Hahaha--"

Sima Hui burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the empty street.

His voice was shrill and sarcastic, just like his father's. "These are the descendants of you loyal ministers of the Former Wei! Don't you want loyalty? Don't you want righteousness?"

How about now? These guys are crawling at my feet like dogs! Hahahaha!

The surrounding people lowered their heads and backed away.

Some clenched their fists, their nails digging deep into their palms, and bit their lips, blood trickling down their chins.

But no one dared to step forward.

century.

The carnage taught this Former Wei dynasty to fall silent.

Seeing this, Sima Hui couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

I haven't met my father's expectations, what should I do when I go back!

Are these people really so tolerant?

His gaze then swept over the six ragged women around him, and suddenly stopped on one of them, a woman with a younger face.

His smile faltered slightly, and a strange glint flashed in his eyes.

"You." He made a hand Method Formula, and the woman felt a sharp pain in her soul.

"Raise your head and let this young master see you."

The woman trembled, clenching her teeth, seemingly in resistance.

Sima Hui waved his hand impatiently, and two attendants immediately stepped forward. The girl looked up.

It was a disheveled and broken face, with strands of hair tangled in the wind and snow.

Her eyes were full of stubbornness.

Sima Hui stared at her for a moment, then suddenly said, "You do possess a scholarly and refined air. You must be a woman from the Yingchuan Xun Clan, a prominent official of the Former Wei, descended from Lord Xun?"

The girl did not answer.

Sima Hui laughed, his smile turning somewhat sinister, "In the Wei dynasty, Xun and Cheng, generation after generation of ministers, were treated with honors surpassing even kings and marquises! Xiahou, a relative of the emperor, enjoyed the same privileges, yet they were not merely chosen as prominent ministers! How illustrious and favored they were!"

"You are the pine and cypress, I am the green mountain... A beautiful tale of ruler and subject, yet alas... How tragic and lamentable... Since that upheaval, your four clans have been slaves, servants, and people of lowly status for generations."

"What a huge contrast, hahaha..."

"I recognize you... Heh, I'll make your life miserable and humiliate you. Aren't you four families supposed to support the Wei Imperial House? The more you are humiliated, the more you humiliate that person!"

I am certain that person is connected to you lowly servants!

The girl raised her eyes, showing no fear, no pleading, and not even anger.

There was only a deep-seated weariness and indifference.

"Good."

She only said one word.

hoarse voice...

Then she suddenly smiled.

"The Sima Clan is utterly shameless and wicked!"

Sima Hui suddenly flew into a rage, and the young girl felt a sharp pain, a truly pitiful sight...

Outside the carriage, the surrounding crowd remained silent and subdued.

Sima Hui did not block out the sound, but let the mournful, humiliated voices spread.

Among the onlookers, several pairs of eyes were fixed on the scene with fury.

Meanwhile, inside a dilapidated house, with a hint of bewilderment from just waking up, the boy propped himself up and looked around at everything.

The boy's clothes were tattered, his frostbitten toes peeked out from his shoe holes, and his lips were cracked.

An ordinary citizen of Ye Capital. Thin, humble, and powerless.

His name is Cao Huan.

All he remembered was that his uncle hid the imperial sword on his person and had a trusted minister escort him to the Great Peace Temple.

Then, riding on his Divine Ability, he collapsed and drowned in the vastness of the bright heavens.

"I'd rather die than suffer humiliation at the hands of a traitor!"

"Huan means grand, magnificent, and radiant!"