Upon hearing the words "Goddess Guankong," Zhao Xi's expression changed, and a look of surprise immediately appeared on his face.
He had already heard of Lady Guan Kong's great name from the two guest elders in the manor. She was one of the most famous and powerful figures of the time, and her status was only below a few saints and religious leaders.
Even the ruler of Heaven might not be as noble as her...
"I wonder what brings Your Majesty to see me?" Zhao Xi asked, puzzled.
The girl smiled and replied, "I am merely a servant girl beside Your Majesty. How could I possibly know such things? You will understand once you meet Your Majesty."
Zhao Xi nodded. So be it. He wasn't afraid that Lady Guankong would harm him, after all, this boy had just saved his life…
Next, led by the boy, the two walked more than half a mile along the mountain path, turned around a hill, and suddenly the view opened up, revealing a grove of green bamboo not far away.
Deep within the lush bamboo grove, a Taoist temple with red bricks and green tiles is faintly visible.
The two walked through the bamboo forest path and arrived in front of the Taoist temple. Zhao Xi looked up and found that there was a couplet on the left and right gates of the temple: "The seed of immortality in the floating mortal world, the Taoist family of the Xuanhuang beyond the heavens."
At this moment, the temple gate was half-closed. The boy stepped forward and gently pushed it open, and the gate was fully opened. Then the two of them walked into the temple.
The boy did not immediately lead Zhao Xi to see Guan Kong. Instead, he took him to the backyard, where Zhao Xi bathed, washed, and changed into clean clothes. Only after he was properly dressed did they arrive at the main hall.
The boy entered the main hall first, reported his arrival, and received permission from Guan Kong. Only then did Zhao Xi nervously step into the hall, where he immediately saw a Taoist deity sitting upright on the altar.
The Taoist priest had an indifferent expression. He wore a golden crown and a purple robe, carried a bamboo staff that was shrouded in purple mist, and had a primordial, chaotic-colored bell hanging at his waist.
The owner of the statue was none other than Hu Le, the founder of Taoism.
Before the statue of the deity was an incense table with an incense burner on it. At this moment, wisps of smoke rose from the burner, and the fragrance wafted into the air, bringing a sense of joy and tranquility.
A dignified and noble-looking man in yellow robes was sitting upright on a prayer mat in front of the incense table.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Xi stepped forward, knelt down, and greeted them.
"Yes, Your Majesty, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise," Guan Kong said calmly.
As a mere prince of a king, he was naturally not taken seriously by Guan Kong.
If it weren't for the calamity, these filthy mortals wouldn't even have the right to stand before her.
"Thank you for saving my life, Your Majesty." Zhao Xi got up from the ground, still very respectful.
"This is simply a matter of chance."
Guan Kong raised his hand and pointed, and a flash of light appeared in front of Zhao Xi, revealing a futon filled with purple mist.
"Please sit down and I will explain things to you."
Zhao Xi waved his hands repeatedly, "There is no place for me in front of Your Majesty. If there is anything you need me to do, just give the order. I will go through fire and water for you."
Guan Kong shook his head and laughed, "Hehe... I do have something to tell you, but you don't need to go through fire and water. Moreover, it will not only not do you any harm, but it will be a great opportunity and a great fortune for you."
"ah……"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi felt a surge of fervor.
Given the status of Lady Guankong, she wouldn't possibly deceive a mere mortal like him...
"Please speak plainly, Your Majesty."
Guan Kong laughed and said, "Do you know that the fortunes of your Great Song Dynasty are declining and it may be difficult to maintain order. In a dozen years, the dynasty will be overthrown."
As the saying goes, "When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken." You are a prince of the Song Dynasty; if the Song Dynasty falls, your fate is self-evident.
"this……"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi was greatly shaken and became extremely flustered.
Honestly, he was very unwilling to believe it.
But reason told him that Guan Kong's words were true.
After all, he wasn't stupid. The court officials were acting recklessly, and there were rioters everywhere in the provinces. It was clearly a scene of the end of a dynasty.
"Please teach me, Your Majesty!"
After his initial panic subsided, Zhao Xi quickly knelt down and pleaded on the ground.
"Hehe... You're lucky. Now, several sages intend to use the change of dynasties to create a calamity of gods and immortals. At that time, not only will there be war everywhere in the human world, but gods and immortals will also fight each other."
"You are a prince of the Song Dynasty, possessing the dynasty's destiny. Once war breaks out, you will become a regional warlord, and may even have the opportunity to contend for the throne."
"But...but Her Majesty also said that our Great Song Dynasty has entered a period of decline and is showing signs of destruction. Even if we ascend the throne, what good will it do? We will still end up with the death of the monarch and the destruction of the state."
As Zhao Xi spoke, his heart was filled with bitterness.
Guan Kong shook his head. "Even so, you have the potential to be a carp that swallows a dragon. If you can eliminate other potential dragons in the future, you will surely be able to seize their destiny. At that time, the Song Dynasty can naturally continue its dynasty's fate."
A bitter smile appeared on Zhao Xi's face again.
At the end of a dynasty, numerous powerful figures inevitably rise up, and with the arrival of immortals and gods, how easy is it to wipe out the other potential dragons?
He was confident, but not arrogant.
He didn't even realize that a mere tremor of his body would cause the other hidden dragons to obediently kneel and surrender...
His mind was racing, his thoughts in turmoil. He looked up unintentionally and saw the statue of the saint. He then boldly stared directly at Guan Kong.
Guan Kong was looking at him with a smile.
Suddenly inspired, he knelt down again and said, "Please, Your Majesty, show me the way."
"Hehe... I called you here today with the intention of helping you. You should go back first. When the calamity begins, my disciples will come down the mountain to lend you a hand." Guan Kong said, taking out a treasure seal from his sleeve.
He casually tossed it in front of Zhao Xi.
"This is the Kongtong Seal, a supreme treasure of the human race. In the past, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors all used it to achieve the status of the Human Sovereign. Today, I will lend it to you temporarily to nurture the dragon energy of the Human Sovereign."
Zhao Xi respectfully accepted the Kongtong Seal, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Then, he went to the statue of Hu Le, lit an incense stick for him, and then took his leave.
After leaving the Taoist temple, they had only taken a few steps when they suddenly sensed something amiss behind them. Turning around, they were shocked to discover that the Taoist temple had vanished in the blink of an eye.
"These immortals' methods are truly extraordinary!"
Zhao Xi stood there in a daze for a while, sighed to himself, and then walked down the mountain again, eventually finding the grove where the horse was tied up.
The two guards who stayed there to watch over the horses immediately came forward to greet them.
Seeing that the other guards were not with Zhao Xi, one of them asked the question.
When Zhao Xi explained the situation, both of them changed color.
Upon learning that his comrades had perished in the jaws of the tiger demon, he felt a mixture of grief and relief.
If they hadn't been left here to guard the horses, they probably would have ended up like those other people...
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