Chapter 1624 Extra: The New Era (Part 2)
What kind person would come up and ask if I'm selling my planet?
Shen Tang took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to hit someone.
Of course, it wasn't about hitting the red-haired woman.
Although the red-haired woman was actually over two hundred years old, which would be considered very old by human standards, her age was barely a fraction of what Shen Tang was, and she was still just a baby. Furthermore, she was the younger one in terms of seniority, and Shen Tang wouldn't be so shameless as to bully someone younger.
She wanted to hit the "father" the red-haired woman had mentioned.
"That stinky fox is quite wealthy."
He is wealthy in every sense of the word.
He was extremely wealthy, both in the secular world and elsewhere.
Even if Wu Hui and the others are talented enough to join the demon race in the future, they can't grow up just by living on air and dew. They still need to invest in educational resources, and she is currently in an awkward stage where she is poor in every sense of the word. She was angry when the red-haired woman said that.
The red-haired woman could hear the gritted teeth in her words.
He immediately betrayed his unreliable adoptive father: "If Your Highness hits your father, you can't hit your junior."
As far as she knew, the higher the rank of a prince, the stronger he was.
Her adoptive father was the tenth child, and at the bottom of the list.
If he really makes a move, he'll get beaten up.
Shen Tang: "You're quite 'filial'."
This adoptive father and daughter were not as loving and filial as they appeared on the surface.
The woman pretended not to hear, adopting a humble and submissive demeanor, and said in a sarcastic tone: "This is what a daughter should do."
Shen Tang couldn't help but laugh to himself.
That stinky fox, Lao Shi, is still getting his comeuppance.
The red-haired woman took Zhang Yang away.
The tribulation patterns on Zhang Yang's body were already showing signs of going out of control, and he could enter the tribulation at any time. Shen Tang worriedly said, "Bo Yuan, if you're not confident, do you want me to help you?"
Shen Tang has just finished her tribulation.
The next calamity will be at least tens of thousands of years from now.
During this period, I didn't have to worry about Niao Tiandao's attitude and was relatively free.
If they were careful, they might be able to deceive the Heavenly Dao and provide some assistance to Zhang Yang. Zhang Yang's physical condition is not optimistic; if he fails to transcend this tribulation, he will likely pay a heavy price. Zhang Yang politely declined, saying, "No need. You've just finished dealing with your own affairs."
Among them, Zhang Yang had the longest interaction with the Way of Heaven.
She naturally understood that being caught in this calamity meant she would be under constant surveillance by the Heavenly Dao. If Shen Tang intervened, she would most likely be of little help and might even get dragged into it, needlessly burdened with karma. She had finally managed to get ashore; why would she want to jump back into the mire?
Zhang Yang was the first to leave.
"Enough, enough, a hundred years should be enough to see the result..." This amount of time was just a blink of an eye for her, and Shen Tang decided to wait patiently. She was just curious about what methods the red-haired woman had. "Do you really have a way to help her successfully overcome this calamity?"
The red-haired woman said, "I'll give it a try."
She added, "The process may be a bit complicated."
Shen Tang's lips twitched: "Who doesn't have a tortuous process when undergoing tribulation? That old man from the Heavenly Dao definitely didn't have a good plan. He said that as long as you succeed and become a human, that's enough. However, human beings are spread across billions of worlds, big and small. There are all kinds of birds in a big forest, and all kinds of people in many worlds. Who can give a 'standard for a qualified human'? Whether you succeed or not, in the end, it's still up to that old man from the Heavenly Dao to decide."
At first, she thought that Old Deng had changed his ways and had a change of heart.
Upon closer examination, it became clear that things were not so simple.
The right of interpretation rests with the initiator.
If Heaven does not allow it, Zhang Yang's tribulation is destined to fail.
The plan that Lao Shi and they devised was indispensable.
Hearing Shen Tang refer to the Heavenly Dao as "Old Deng," the red-haired woman inwardly agreed, but refrained from expressing her opinion. After all, while the Heavenly Dao was helpless against Shen Tang and her few companions, it still had plenty of strength and methods to deal with her—even though the red-haired woman was currently enjoying great fortune.
With Zhang Yang gone, Shen Tang finally had some free time.
She stayed in the capital for several months and saw that the royal court was functioning as usual and that the courtiers and the new king were getting along well, so she suggested that she go sightseeing.
The expressions of Shen De and the others underwent subtle changes.
They were all clearly reminded of the scenes they had seen in the movie years ago—Shen Tang abdicated in favor of Ji Mofeng, using the excuse of traveling and sightseeing, and passed away a few months later. They knew rationally that the Shen Tang before them was healthy and would not die, but they could not control their instincts.
Each of them experienced a traumatic reaction.
_(:з」∠)_
Shen Tang seemed oblivious to the changes in everyone's expressions, continuing to instruct Shen De to always listen to the people's voices. If she ever lost touch with the people, she would clean house without anyone else having to lift a finger. Shen De roused himself: "Your subject swears to never forget your teachings."
Looking at the eldest daughter whom he had raised with his own hands for decades.
Shen Tang also softened a bit: "Do a good job."
"Your subject will remember this."
Shen Tang continued, “The world is bound to be united for a long time and divided for a long time. If you want to avoid this ‘curse,’ you and your successor must remember an ironclad rule—it is not scarcity that is a concern, but inequality, especially in terms of wealth and power. You must ensure that everyone has the opportunity to move up in society, not just provide them with enough to eat and wear. When the path to upward mobility is blocked, you will find it difficult to hear the true feelings of the people.”
Shen De hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and agreed.
"Your subject remembers!"
This is something that sounds simple, but it's not easy to do.
As society develops, wealth and land will inevitably concentrate in one direction and among a small group, and these groups largely overlap with Shen De's supporters. Shen De's acceptance of this promise means that her future rule may involve antagonizing the court officials.
Even her most trusted ministers who were completely loyal to her.
Shen Tang patted her shoulder: "If you feel too tired, you can always retire when necessary. People will eventually find the way of life that suits them best, and the period when we need a master may end soon... Don't be afraid when that time comes, your mother will be here."
With tears welling up in his eyes, Shen De said, "Yes, my daughter knows."
Shen Tang wiped away her tears with his thumb.
"My daughter has come of age."
Shen De chuckled and said, "My daughter is already fifty."
How could it be just beginning to grow up?
Shen Tang smiled and said, "Knowing one's destiny? You're still too young."
The following day, the retired emperor vanished without a trace.
From the third year of the new reign, veteran officials of the Yanhuang era began to retire one after another, and the new emperor withdrew from office for several years. After several years, the court had a new look. During these years, people in the common people often encountered people who looked like the retired emperor, and when they discussed politics with them, the nobles did not show any displeasure. Time flies, and several decades have passed in the blink of an eye. When Emperor Taizong turned one hundred, he reported to Heaven and the founding emperor that he had designated his only daughter as his heir.
The Kangguo dynasty lasted for 350 years and was ruled by four emperors.
As the seasons cycle through the human world, a new era dawns once again.
In this era, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth has revived, and numerous sacred temples have emerged. Literary and martial prowess is no longer the exclusive domain of a lucky few. The pace of the times is pulling people forward at breakneck speed, with countless new things either arising or repeating themselves, a flourishing of diverse talents.
Shen Tang came out of the studio and stretched.
The instruments beside me kept beeping.
Open it, and the trending topics list is filled with red and black keywords.
Shen Tang scratched her slightly messy hair, slipped on her slippers, and floated out of the studio, muttering, "What trouble has she caused now?"
#Breaking News! Major Discovery in the Deep Sea#
#Explosive Discovery: An Ancient Civilization Beneath the Deep Sea#
#Breaking News: Undersea Civilization Emerges#
Shen Tang glanced at it and basically knew what was going on. He tossed the instrument aside, pulled out a chair, and sat down. A short while later, a fair and strong hand handed over a fruit plate. Even more striking than his skin were the several deep green rings; anyone with a discerning eye would know they were incredibly valuable. The newcomer also noticed the markings on the instrument.
"Is the salvage operation in the deep sea progressing so quickly?"
"Tsk, they're going to keep making a fuss again."
Archaeological teams from all sides are eager to head to that sea area.
Two questions that humanity spends its entire life exploring: Where do we come from, and where are we going? When one of the answers begins to surface, how can they not get excited? Shen Tang took a bite of fruit, opened the chat page with the client, and was speechless to find that she had been blocked yet again.
He sat up abruptly.
"Another order cancellation?"
"It's because they don't understand His Highness's masterpiece."
Shen Tang accepted this comfort in less than a second.
He nodded naturally and said, "What you said makes sense."
If these paintings were given to someone knowledgeable, they would surely reveal the countless profound meanings hidden within the lines. In ancient times, they would have been priceless treasures that would have caused countless races to fight tooth and nail for them. But in this era where spiritual energy is just beginning to revive, nobody recognizes their value; even the author thinks they are just scribbles.
Tsk, how could it be scribbles?
Look at these lines, look at these brushstrokes...
A masterpiece by a true master!
A moment later, there was a slight noise at the door, and two strikingly similar young men returned one after the other. The one behind was still muttering complaints, while the one in front was soothingly calming him down. Shen Tang leaned back, her wheelchair carrying her quite a distance: "How did the job interview go?"
Gong Xichou said irritably, "I was eliminated."
Who would believe that he was rejected during his interview with Gong Xichou?
These people in the new dynasty are really bored out of their minds, insisting on gossiping about people from the previous dynasty and making some kind of historical drama. Gong Xichou was so bored that Shen Tang got annoyed with his nagging that she kicked him out of the house. If you're bored, go work; being a beast of burden will make you feel fulfilled.
There's an online audition for actors in a historical drama.
Gong Xi Chou went to audition for the role of Gong Xi Chou, but was rejected.
"What's the reason?"
“They said I don’t resemble Gongxi Chou.”
Gong Xichou nearly turned into a pufferfish in anger.
I wish a pearl could pop out and blow the director's head off.
"Pfft—how could that be? I think you look quite like it."
Gong Xichou said, "They said I was too lively, lacked the spirit of a fierce general in a chaotic world, lacked a bit of killing intent, and wasn't physically imposing enough."
How much taller and more imposing could he possibly be?
Is the director looking for Gong Xichou or a humanoid Gundam?
In conclusion, Gong Xichou was not selected.
However, the director thought he had a good complexion and suggested that he consider interviewing Gu Chi. Gong Xichou pondered for a few seconds after hearing this.
Do I look sickly?
The director angrily rebuked Gong Xichou and kicked him out.
"How did your history teacher let you graduate?"
"roll!"
As is widely known, Gu Chi was one of the people who left the most historical traces during the reign of Emperor Yanhuang. Historical records describe him as "unrestrained, chivalrous, and of imposing appearance," and there are numerous tales of his chivalrous deeds throughout the country. His historical image is that of a Confucian general who was both skilled in combat and eloquent.
This image has been verified by multiple sources.
After all, as the head of the Censorate, if he couldn't fight and didn't have a strong physique, how could he have lived to retirement in the Yanhuang Dynasty, where martial arts were prevalent? In addition, there are similar records in countless folk tales and unofficial histories, and that's how Gu Chi's image was established.
Gongxi Chou, on the other hand, is historically known as a fierce general exuding an aura of dominance. Before being subdued by the Kang Kingdom, he worked as a mercenary and even fought several battles with Emperor Taizu. In recent years, thanks to his portrayal in various popular films and television series, he has been further labeled as an illiterate man who cannot read a single character, fierce yet simple-minded, and quick to attack wherever he is told.
Gong Xichou was so angry he almost jumped up and down.
"...This is slander!"
It's only been a little over three hundred years, not over three thousand years.
Gong Xiqiu suspected that he had been set up.
Shen Tang waved his hand and said, "I already said it's just a joke, why are you arguing with these kids? As long as they can fight, that's fine..."
It can be spoiled, but it can't be rotten.
She opened the short video, watched it for a few seconds, and then immediately closed it.
Gong Xichou took a few steps closer.
"I heard my name called."
Shen Tang laughed and said, "You misheard."
If Gong Xi Chou heard that blogger say things like, "According to unofficial historical records, Gong Xi Chou's most powerful skill was his ** (a type of slang term), which allowed him to spin around while balancing a plate on his head," "According to unofficial historical records, Gong Xi Chou once gave birth to a son for so-and-so," or "According to unofficial historical records, Gong Xi Chou loved the original flavor of bitter tea seeds"... Shen Tang was initially taken aback when she saw this, but the more she listened, the more outrageous it became. After some calculation, she realized that the blogger was a descendant of the victim.
Emmm...
To be precise, they are descendants of some unfortunate soul whose trousers were stolen by Gongxi Chou. Gongxi Chou's outrageous reputation in modern times owes much to the descendants of these aggrieved victims. Their ancestors, back then, made up some outrageous stories, and that's how they've been passed down through generations…
well--
Some things shouldn't be said carelessly.
Gong Xichou really does climb through windows and beat people up in the middle of the night.
Just as she was about to browse something else, Gong Xichou, who had just returned to the room, slammed the door open and angrily jumped out the window.
"...A-Nian, this is the 26th floor. I told you to take the elevator, not the window. If kids see us, they might be corrupted, and it'll have a bad influence." Ji Moqiu looked out the window; Gong Xichou was long gone. "A-Nian, are you getting angrier and angrier? Are you going to hit the director?"
Shen Tang remained silent.
She thought that the blogger might be taking a break from updating for a while.
Just then, a shout rang in my ears.
Qin Li's face flushed red with anger: "Absurd!"
Shen Tang turned her head to look over: "Oh, this blogger? I saw it yesterday. It's just a bunch of kids playing around."
These days, there's always a group of people who like conspiracy theories.
The video Qin Li saw featured a blogger who loves digging into the "truths" of history, with everything leaning towards a darker theme. The blogger is supposedly the historical consultant for the historical drama that Gong Xichou interviewed for. Currently being serialized—"The True Historical Face of Emperor Kangxi."
Shen Tang is an extremely cunning and scheming monarch who is adept at plotting and scheming. After succeeding, he tries to poison his ministers but fails.
"When has the lord ever killed a meritorious official like Yuan Cong?"
He's killed quite a few people, but Yuan Cong has never killed anyone.
How come the Lord is so despicable in the mouth of this young man?
Slander, utterly slander!
Shen Tang said, "I saw this update last night. The evidence he gave was the food poisoning incident from back then, saying that I imitated the so-called 'releasing military power over a cup of wine.' He also said that I was just giving you a lesson, and that I was trying to kill you and take back power but made a mistake."
Considering the frequent rotation of officials in the capital and the provinces during the reign of Emperor Yanhuang, coupled with the supplementary system of "six days on, one day off," it all seems like a series of coordinated moves, reeking of conspiracy. Many history enthusiasts have analyzed that Shen Tang feared that Yuan Cong's power was too concentrated and threatened the imperial authority, so she deliberately proposed this system to suppress the officials and prevent them from truly threatening her.
"That's just food poisoning."
Shen Tang couldn't help but chuckle: "Nobody believes that."
In the marketing accounts, her historical image is portrayed as cunning and ruthless, with an intense lust for power and a morbid desire to control her officials—a stark contrast to the overly restrained and reserved official image in historical records. How else can she grab attention? Take, for example, the unofficial histories of Gongxi Chou; how can they generate traffic if they aren't outrageous?
Shen Tang opened the app: "Huh? You've started a live stream?"
In the video, the blogger continued his rambling tales of Gong Xi Chou, the screen filled with notes. Then, Shen Tang saw a familiar hand appear in the live stream, followed by the blogger's panicked and furious shouts, threatening to call the police for trespassing. Gong Xi Chou's large face appeared on screen, and the live stream chat exploded: "Handsome guy, who are you?!"
"I?"
Gong Xichou tilted his head.
The braid slipped down with the movement.
He smiled brightly: "My name is Gong Xichou."
The chat was filled with "!!!"
Gong Xichou grabbed the blogger's collar with one hand and turned the camera away with the other, muttering, "Some scenes are not suitable for children."
Viewers in the live stream heard the blogger screaming in agony.
The sudden movement caused the phone to bump, shaking the camera. Through the blur, you could see the handsome guy claiming to be Gong Xichou forcefully ripping out the blogger's bitter tea bag. This bitter tea bag was of good quality, squeezing the blogger until he screamed in pain. The comments section was filled with: "?"
"No, is this something we can see?"
"Why do I feel like this handsome guy is rewarding the blogger?"
"Yes, I made him feel good..."
The blogger screamed, "My eggs are going to break! Waaaaah—"
In the end, Ji Moqiu arrived just before the bitter tea seed was shoved into the blogger's mouth, stopping his younger brother's rampage. The comments section was flooded with exclamation marks, all copying the same comment: "Such an incredibly handsome face, there are actually two like it in the world!"
Shen Tang munched on an apple, crossed her legs, and watched the show.
Suddenly, her expression turned serious.
He turned to the busy people in the kitchen and said, "Gongsu, news has come from the demon realm. Wuhui and the others are about to hatch."
The demon master, whom the demon race had long ago designated, is about to be born.
On the other side, the live chat exploded.
The subway project in the former site of Ganzhou was temporarily suspended. A stone statue of Gongxi Chou, which had sunk underground due to an earthquake, was unearthed at the site. Experts restored the appearance of the stone statue, and it matched the appearance of the young man who had just appeared with 99% accuracy.
"Hey streamer, did you actually run into the person in question?"
"How is that possible? How old would you be if you were alive now?"
"That's not necessarily true. Back then, he was a 20th-rank Marquis. That's some kind of power! If he were alive today, he'd only be around 400 years old, right? Who knows if any of those old relics are still living in seclusion in some remote corner... Host, are you alright?"
"Waaah, I'm fine, but my balls are burning."
He was now the only one left in the room.
It was as if the young couple were just his illusion.
Meanwhile, in a living room on the 26th floor.
The house was empty.
The television was broadcasting the announcer's voice: "...The salvage operation of the underwater ruins is underway. According to current excavation results, it has been confirmed that this continent sank 2,700 years ago..."
|ω`)
Once the first chapter of the Demon Master arc is published, this story can be officially concluded.
(End of this chapter)
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