The air seemed to stand still, filled with an overwhelming murderous aura. Even the occasional gust of wind that drifted by carried with it a strong stench of blood.
King Tian Xuan of Qi led Lian Po, Li Mu, and the strategist Zhuang Zhou to the front of the ranks, while Grand Marshal Wang Jian of Qin also led the strategist Wei Liao to the front of the ranks.
The two armies have been locked in a stalemate for a long time. Both Qin and Qi have highly skilled advisors, extraordinary individuals, and those with the ability to predict the future. Therefore, both sides know each other inside and out, and the moment one side makes a move, the other side knows immediately. This is why the stalemate continues.
Suddenly, a figure appeared, and five-colored golden light descended from the sky, accompanied by a fragrant aroma. A celestial official arrived, and Zhuangzi and Tian Xuan stepped forward, saying, "May I ask where the celestial official has come from?"
The celestial official was the same one who had gone to see Yunxiao last time. The celestial official said, "By imperial decree of the Jade Emperor, the Supreme Emperor of the Mysterious Vault, I hereby appoint Tian Xuan, the ruler of the Qi Kingdom, as the Human Emperor. The Qin Kingdom's army is a remnant of the Witch Clan, who intends to harm the Three Realms and the Six Paths. Therefore, I hereby appoint the Human Emperor to raise an army as soon as possible and unify the Southern Continent. So be it."
Upon hearing this, Tian Xuan was overjoyed and said, "Your subject thanks the Jade Emperor, the Supreme God of the Mysterious Vault."
Zhuangzi was well aware of these matters. The establishment of a Human Emperor sounds impressive, but there are four possible locations for one: the Human Religion, Penglai Island, Nuwa Palace, and finally, the Heavenly Court. The Human Religion can establish a Human Emperor because Laozi is its leader, and all humans are subject to his teachings. Nuwa Palace, because she created humanity, has the grace of nurturing, so establishing a Human Emperor there is not unreasonable. As for the Heavenly Court, nominally acting on behalf of the Heavenly Dao, nominally governing the Three Realms and Six Paths, establishing a Human Emperor there is also possible. However, it seems that the actions of the Xuan Tian Sage caught all of them off guard.
Back then, Xuan Tian created the Nine Dragons Star Crown. On the day Xuan Yuan attained enlightenment, the Three Sovereigns jointly swore an oath that the Nine Dragons Star Crown would serve as a symbol of the Human Emperor, and anyone without it would not be recognized by the human race. What a brilliant move! Even the Eastern Zhou Dynasty can only barely maintain its national fortune by relying on the suppression of the Taiji Diagram of the Human Sect. This shows just how deep the human race's faith in the Nine Dragons Star Crown truly is.
Even Laozi had to use the sacred object of the Human Sect to suppress the nation's fortune, let alone the Jade Emperor of the Azure Heaven. Establishing a Human Emperor? That's just talk; no one would actually listen to him.
Forty is still not enough
The King of Qi had just received a bestowal from the Jade Emperor, and now the Qi army's morale was soaring. The next day, Zhuangzi stepped forward and shouted to the Qin army camp: "My King of Qi was personally bestowed by the Jade Emperor, and the Heavenly Court was personally established by the Dao Ancestor. It is the legitimate authority of the Three Realms. Why do you not understand the times, disobey the Dao Ancestor's Heavenly Way, and become our enemies!"
What a huge accusation! The label of "violating the way of Heaven" and "violating the Dao Ancestor" was just slapped on him like that.
Li Si stepped forward and said, "What a eloquent Zhuangzi! He's flattering us. We're just ordinary people; how could we possibly understand the ways of Heaven?"
Before Zhuangzi could reply, Li Si continued, “My Qin king possesses the Nine Dragons and Stars Crown bestowed upon him by the Holy Father. The Three Sovereigns of antiquity swore that no human being could be trusted without this crown. Since my king possesses this, it must be ordained by the Dao Ancestor and the Heavenly Way. Our campaign against him is in accordance with the will of Heaven. How could it be contrary to the Dao and the Heavenly Way? On the contrary, it is Tian Xuan who is contrary to the Heavenly Way. The Jade Emperor of Heaven was deceived and could not discern the truth. He did not understand the secrets of Heaven and wrongly judged this emperor. How could the Heavenly Way be defied? Therefore, our leading a large army to attack him is precisely an act of following the Heavenly Way.”
Li Si, you're something else. You use the Nine Dragons Star Crown as a talking point. Anyway, this thing is the symbol of the legitimate succession of the Human Emperor. You also represent the Heavenly Way, so you don't offend the Heavenly Emperor. Instead, you say that the villains are being misled. You turn around and attack others. You are indeed a disciple of the Legalist school. You argue with reason and clarity.
How could Zhuangzi be someone who could be easily deceived? Anyone who can descend to the mortal world to establish a school and spread the Way must be a person of great wisdom and perseverance. As one of the most famous among the Hundred Schools of Thought, how could Zhuangzi's debating skills be underestimated?
Zhuangzi laughed loudly, “Although the Nine Dragons Star Crown was sworn to by the three Holy Emperors, it is ultimately an inanimate object that cannot choose its own master. The reason it is in your hands is because you used petty and despicable means to obtain it. How could it be ordained by Heaven? Our attack on you this time is in accordance with the will of Heaven, to welcome the treasure back to the court and restore order to Heaven.”
Li Si angrily said, "You are ignorant of the times and the will of Heaven, and you have committed such a rebellious act. How can this be reasonable?"
Wang Jian, standing to the side, saw that this was not a solution. The two sides had been locked in a stalemate for a long time, and dragging it out would be detrimental to the Qin army. The Qin Dynasty was located west of the Southern Continent, which was far away. Transporting supplies would be laborious and time-consuming, which was not good.
Before Zhuangzi could reply, Wang Jian interrupted, "Since our two armies are destined to clash, why waste time with nonsense? I, Wang Jian, am here today. Anyone who disagrees with me is welcome to come and fight me one-on-one!" With that, he took a step forward and shouted, "Who will fight me one-on-one!" His voice was like thunder, exploding above the three million Qin soldiers and lingering for a long time.
Wang Jian was, after all, a Great Shaman. Although he wasn't as powerful as quasi-saints like Xing Tian, Hou Yi, or Chi You, his strength was still considerable. Ordinary Great Luo Golden Immortals were no match for him. With his shout, an immense wave of energy surged towards the three million Qi soldiers. The Qi soldiers felt the earth shake and were about to fall backward, filled with great horror.
Cultivators cannot attack mortals, but Wang Jian doesn't care about such things. The Wu Clan doesn't cultivate their primordial spirit or merit, so why would they care about such things?
Suddenly, a cold snort rang out from the opposite side, and everyone immediately felt a powerful force blowing like a gale. Just as everyone was about to fall, it caught them and neutralized the oppressive aura that Wang Jian had exerted on them.
Wang Jian narrowed his eyes and recognized the person who had just snorted—it was Zhuangzi.
Zhuangzi was the reincarnation of the Grand Master Xuandu. Through countless lifetimes, he used the merit of spreading the Dao to sever his physical body as Zhuang Zhou, and then, with the wrathful thought, "As long as sages live, great thieves will not cease," he severed his physical body as the True Man of Nan Hua, achieving a quasi-sage level of severing two corpses—far beyond what Wang Jian could compare to. The opposing Qi army was overjoyed, seeing their strategist's prowess greatly pleased.
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