Chapter 40 He's Back. Zhu Ming Was Framed.
Zhu Ming and Bi Tao were both stunned by the scene on the Silver River Net.
When the lightning tribulation dissipated, everyone looked up at the clouds and saw the Dharma form of True Immortal Yunchuan appear.
The fire-attribute immortal spirit has been released, and has already advanced from the True Immortal realm to the Celestial Immortal realm.
The God of War, clad in armor, stood tall and strong, like a pillar supporting the sky. He unfurled the fan in his hand, which, in a showy manner, instantly transformed into blades.
Yun Chuan Fa Xiang flipped the fan and sent it flying. The fan immediately disintegrated in mid-air, and then pieced itself back together, forming a double-edged sword.
The sword, imposing and awe-inspiring, swept around its master as if it possessed a spirit, unleashing an unstoppable gale and a raging fire capable of burning away all evil in the world. The surrounding clouds, as if ignited, turned into a golden-red hue of "radiant light."
Yun Chuan's Dharma Image reached out and grabbed the slashing saber that had swirled in front of him. Using the momentum of the swirling blade, he unleashed a powerful and sweeping attack—a move capable of splitting mountains and cleaving seas.
The crimson-gold clouds, whose lightning had not yet completely dissipated, were instantly cleaved in two like a chasm of lava, with a chasm split in the middle.
Yun Chuan stands suspended between the rolling cracks, expressionless as he looks down, his gaze sharp and unyielding, a sight that none can withstand.
As the saying goes, one's appearance reflects one's heart; one's appearance is like a mirror, allowing one to return to one's true nature.
The celestial being of Yunchuan was usually elegant and graceful, like still waters running deep. Now, her image stands in the clouds, revealing her power to support the heavens and earth, and to make all spirits retreat.
This scene should have been awe-inspiring to all the immortals.
However, on his majestic and imposing figure suspended in the clouds, a tiny merman is now standing, clinging to his thigh and supported by his tail, "sitting" on his feet.
With its head tilted back and mouth agape, it cried out, "Immortal Yun Chuan, how did you split the clouds? I'm just a fish, I can't fly!"
Everyone: "..."
Zhan Kui Jinli's true form has been revealed, but it has not been able to achieve Dharma form because it is avoiding the lightning tribulation.
Instead, human limbs grew on the body of a large carp, making it look like some kind of low-class, incompletely transformed demon.
Yun Chuan glanced down and almost used his horse-slaying saber to cleave this wretched creature in two!
Although Zhan Kui's Dharma form was not yet complete, the water-attribute immortal spirit on her body did indeed indicate that she had already advanced to the lower level of immortals.
Although it was a bit of a sly and cunning act, it was still a proper divine position.
How could there be a deity in this world whose true form is so wretched, so like a demon or monster?!
Yun Chuan could no longer tolerate it. He could tolerate being used as a tool to transform lightning tribulations, but he didn't want to be with such a "thing" for even a moment!
So he kicked Zhan Kui away—
"Waaaaaahhhhhh—I really can't fly! Thunder King, save me!"
She revealed her true form, forgetting even that she was a deity. In mid-air, she stared wide-eyed, already enormous eyes, like a dead fish tossed about by the waves, while her human limbs flailed wildly in the air...
The lightning general who was guiding the way pressed down on the throbbing veins on his forehead, and managed to unleash a bolt of lightning from his palm, which transformed into a long whip to bind Zhan Kui.
The next instant, as if throwing away something dirty, she was flung directly to the entrance of the Heavenly Realm.
She landed, or rather, she landed like a fish—still looking neither human nor fish, neither demon nor monster, and certainly not a fairy.
This is a small punishment from the heavenly rules for this little koi fairy who dared to evade the tribulation of lightning.
The celestial official who received her, a deity of divine status, uttered a soft "pfft..."
The crowd on the Silver River: "..."
No wonder some meritorious immortals, after ascending to the celestial realm, could not tolerate the indignity of the heavenly realm and even gave up their immortal status to descend to the mortal realm.
If all celestial positions were like this lucky koi fairy... then being a celestial being in the heavenly realm wouldn't be so great!
Some of them didn't even know this Koi Fairy before, but after this experience, although they still didn't know her, they began to associate with her from afar.
Looking at Bitao in Yinhan Gu, Weiwei felt a little ashamed of Zhan Kui, but it was just Weiwei.
But he was still quite worried about Zhan Kui's current situation, so he turned to Zhu Ming and asked, "...Can someone who hasn't achieved the Dharma form really be considered a deity?"
Zhu Ming, standing next to her, tactfully touched the pendant beside his cheek: "...I guess...I've never seen anything like this before, but since we've already passed through the Five Thunder Formation, we can't really be considered a demon, right?"
Bitao nodded, "That makes sense."
Even if escaping the tribulation results in some punishment, it's not enough to turn you into a demon after passing the tribulation.
Zhu Ming wanted to laugh, but the thought of this koi fairy frequently visiting his Jade Bone Palace and wanting to be his servant along with Bi Tao made him hesitate.
Although he didn't agree... he was probably already being seen as being on her side.
He immediately stopped laughing; the corners of his mouth kept twitching.
Finally, he exclaimed, "As expected of the Lucky Koi Fairy, not only was she born into a good family in the mortal realm... but she even managed to have someone else withstand her tribulation lightning for her."
"I'll go get her..." Bitao quickly went out of the Jade Bone Palace to meet Zhan Kui, not because she disliked Zhan Kui for embarrassing himself in public...
Okay, she just thinks Zhan Kui is embarrassing in public!
Zhu Ming nodded: "Go, go, go quickly."
Fortunately, the Silver River Net automatically cut off its tracking of the victorious Koi Fairy, preventing further amusement for the other immortals.
Seeing Bitao walk to the door, Zhu Ming also stood up and said, "I'd better go ask the Eastern King Duke..."
In his limited life as an immortal spanning over a thousand years, Zhu Ming had never seen any deity escape the tribulation of lightning during their ascension...
Originally, Zhan Kui, the Koi Fairy, was at least the second to die. In addition, given her extraordinary luck, several immortals wanted to take her into their palaces.
But because she made such a fool of herself in heaven, those with any sense of shame gave up the idea.
When Bitao arrived at the entrance to the Heavenly Realm, she saw the celestial official who was guiding her, directing two of his subordinates to carry a simple hammock.
"Let's carry the deity Zhan Kui up there..."
Zhan Kui lay on the ground. Because the human limbs that grew on her fish body were not long enough, she had to use her tail to support herself if she wanted to stand up.
It really hurts to poke her tail. She's a goddess now, she can't just crawl on all fours, can she?
So Zhan Kui remained lying down, in a position with his legs in the air.
Upon seeing this, Bitao covered her face and turned to leave.
But in the end, her strong friendship overcame her shame.
This shameful thing must be carried back to her palace and hidden away immediately.
So when they were carrying Zhan Kui, Bi Tao went up to help.
Once the two celestial officials who were guiding the way lifted Zhan Kui up, Bi Tao covered her plump carp body with her outer robe.
During the walk, Zhan Kui kept talking to Bi Tao.
She kept babbling on with her fish-like face and mouth: "I didn't mean to avoid the lightning tribulation, I was just in pain!"
"Besides, I'm already a deity, why can't I turn back?"
"But it seems alright this way, don't you think I'm pretty cute? And my body isn't dry at all!"
If it were anyone else, they would probably be dying of shame and indignation by now. But instead of being worried about not being able to change back, she actually thinks she's cute.
Bitao walked beside the hammock, but didn't say a word.
Hearing this, he couldn't help but turn to look at her. He originally wanted to tell her to shut up, but when he met her two bulging big eyes and the big fish mouth that could be seen into her belly, he actually found her kind of cute.
Bitao felt she must be going crazy.
But she didn't answer Zhan Kui, lest she make him proud and wander around the world with that look on his face.
"Putting everything else aside, isn't your original form a bit too fat?"
Bitao said, "It's like a ball."
Zhan Kui: "So what? Carp are just fat. My belly is full of luck!"
Bitao: "..." Okay, you're not wrong.
If we're talking about luck alone, no one in the entire Nine Heavens is stronger than Zhan Kui, this carp.
Once Zhan Kui was brought back to his palace, Bi Tao's large group of friends swarmed around him.
After her friends got over their initial disgust at her embarrassing situation, they remembered that during the competition in the lower realm, she not only acted as a princess but also did almost nothing, returning home without even lifting a finger.
Because of his immense merit, he was promoted from a supreme immortal to a deity. Although it was only a lower-level deity, it was still a genuine deity position!
So a group of envious friends started—to slack off together.
"Give me some of the lucky charm's fortune! The palace maid's assessment is coming up soon, let me be number one!"
"If I remember correctly, you have nearly two hundred fairy maidens in the palace of the Six Ding Goddess. Isn't it a bit too much for you to claim first place?"
"I don't ask for that much. I just hope I can magically level up after sleeping!"
"Hahaha, I hope my beloved Immortal Doctor will reply to my letter soon!"
"I want water-type fairies, lots and lots of water-type fairies!"
...
The crowd touched Zhan Kui's plump carp body and expressed unrealistic wishes.
Bitao sat on a stool not far away, opened the Silver Han Gu (a type of ancient Chinese fishing net), and continued to watch the game.
Upon opening the Silver River Net, one could see the celestial throne that had been returned to heaven once again appearing above the clouds in the sky.
This time, it was General Kunyi Zuo who personally came to pick them up.
It wasn't that General Kunyi was treating people differently, accepting the third person instead of the second.
However, there were too many immortals who died together this time, and the generals of the Thunder Department were a bit flustered in forming an array.
The clouds were almost completely enveloped by the golden light of merit, making it seem as if a golden crow was slowly rising in the sky.
On the Milky Way, the Left General of the Kunyi (Earthly Branch) announced the celestial positions of those who had returned to heaven.
"The Celestial Immortal of the Netherworld, Cangling... Merit of 306,664..."
"You Tian Supreme Immortal Rank Qiu Bai... Merit of 307,520..."
"The Supreme Immortal of the Netherworld, the position of Taiyin... Merit of 302,360,000..."
"The Immortal Rank of the Netherworld Spiritual Immortal is in late winter... Merit of 306,600..."
"The Immortal Rank of the Netherworld Spiritual Immortal on the Dragon Boat Festival... Merit of 31,070,000..."
"The Immortal Rank of Lotus Moon in the Netherworld Spiritual Immortal Realm... Merit of 301,220..."
"The Immortal Rank of Youtian Lingxian in Late Autumn... Merit of 300,550..."
"Your rankings in the Immortal Selection Competition are tied for third place. By order of the Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor and the responsibility of the immortals who participated in the competition, I will guide you back to your rightful place in Heaven. Are you ready to step into the Five Thunder Formation to draw your spirits into your bodies?"
"Ready! I trouble General Kunyi and all the Thunder Generals to guide us!"
Everyone spoke in unison, and then a torrent of lightning poured down from the sky. The golden light of merit was transformed into pure immortal spirits by the lightning and drawn into the formation.
There were too many people who died together, and their merits were too great. Nothing could be seen above the clouds, and the people on the Milky Way could only temporarily shield themselves from the dazzling area where the lightning was gathering.
They quietly discussed other things below.
"I thought the second to return to their positions would be Mingguang Tianxian and the others, but not only was the second one not, why wasn't the third one either?!"
"It's all because some despicable villain injured the Celestial Immortal Mingguang in his attempt to win!"
"If you can't handle losing, don't participate in the Immortal Selection Competition. What do you mean by despicable? That was clearly a fair competition!"
"The Celestial Immortal Mingguang is still in the mortal realm leading people to correct the celestial sundial, unlike these immortals from the Netherworld who all gained their positions through merit by riding on the faith of the Eastern Azure Emperor..."
"How dare you say such a thing? The Great Emperor of the Eastern Azure Flower has personally acknowledged you as his attendant. If you're not satisfied, go down to the mortal realm and preach to the Great Emperor of the Eastern Azure Flower! Then you'll be an attendant too!"
"Hmph, putting everything else aside, the ancient immortal clan is not just concerned with the outcome of the competition. Correcting the star dial and restoring the life plate of the common people is the real merit! It is a long-term achievement that benefits future generations."
"Does not resorting to power and influence make one inferior?"
"Shouldn't their efforts to restore order, improve people's livelihoods, transport grain, build dikes, and alleviate the famine and floods be recorded in history and remembered for eternity?"
"Stop arguing! When it comes to working for the common people, neither side is inferior!"
“Everything needs to be done by someone. Whether it is to establish a livelihood for the people or to create peace for all generations, these are all things that we immortals should take as examples.”
...
Bitao glanced at the comments on the Silver Han Gu a few times and then tracked down everything Mingguang had done during this period.
The time difference between the celestial realm and the mortal realm is enormous. Fortunately, immortals possess unparalleled senses, and their eyes can even detect the direction of lightning, easily bridging the gap in the flow of time.
After Mingguang was rescued, he was forced to postpone his plan to ascend to the throne as the Crown Prince.
He even publicly claimed to be seriously ill and incurable, lying low in the Danxi Prince's Mansion, thus opening a loophole in the power he held.
Using this as bait, they lured out the old emperor's true intentions and schemes. Instead of intervening immediately, they went with the flow, letting him believe he had already won.
Mingguang originally thought that Emperor Huiwei was just old, greedy for power, and forced by Buddhism and his own princes. He was a hero in his twilight years, how pitiful.
However, when he truly understood the old emperor's scheme, even he was speechless at the absurd and shocking plan.
This is actually a shocking conspiracy that began decades ago.
Emperor Huiwei, whose real name was Liang Yingwei, was born in Jing'an Temple sixty-three years ago.
She was an abandoned baby who had been dumped at the entrance of a Buddhist temple.
He grew up with the old monk and was born with a superhuman physique and a powerful build. He trained hard in the coldest and hottest winters and summers, and by the time he reached adulthood, he had a swallow's jaw and tiger's beard, and his power was unstoppable.
At that time, Qingliao was just a small country. Every year, it had to pay a large amount of tribute to the four surrounding countries. It was subservient and barely survived. The people suffered greatly.
At that time, Jing'an Temple was located on the border between Qingliao Kingdom and the neighboring Fenglian Kingdom.
Children raised in temples, over time, develop a kind heart and will naturally stand up for the people in towns who are oppressed and plundered by enemy countries.
At first, he simply formed an army of orphans who, like himself, came from temples.
They did only one thing: resist when the enemy's iron hooves trampled their people.
Later, homeless people and strong men with families to protect spontaneously joined the group.
Gradually, a rebel army formed on the border.
Even in times of peace, some people still suffer from the pain of war and chaos.
At that time, four countries were strong and one country was weak. Naturally, everyone in the weak country, from the ruler to the common people, was a slave to the other country.
When the people, oppressed for generations, could no longer endure it, someone raised their voice and a hero was born.
The army spread like wildfire across the plains, and the orphan from the temple became a lord supported by all.
Our lord is wise, brave, and skilled in battle; he is also exceptionally intelligent and resourceful in his ability to recognize and utilize talent.
Leading a group of talented individuals gathered from all directions, they swept through enemy lines with unstoppable momentum, routing the enemy forces on all sides.
Having received a "recruitment" from his own country, and originally harboring lofty ambitions to serve his country, he brought his men to the capital.
Unfortunately, the king, who had been kneeling and begging for mercy from all sides for years, was weak and muddleheaded. He actually colluded with spies from the surrounding countries and planned to poison this folk hero and his group of passionate and righteous followers in the capital of Qingliao Kingdom.
Fortunately, Liang Yingwei was naturally quick-witted and saw through this utterly despicable scheme in time.
He led his men to break through the encirclement and fought their way out of the capital overnight. After returning to the military camp, he immediately dispatched troops back.
Ignoring any curse of divine punishment for treason, they first sacrificed the weak king to the heavens, then killed the spies from all sides, impaling their bodies on wooden sticks and displaying them bloodily at the palace gate.
They then cut off all their heads, returned them to their rulers, ascended the throne, and formally declared war on the four surrounding countries.
The four kingdoms originally didn't take this man of humble origins seriously at all.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Huiwei, Liang Yingwei, was a brilliant strategist, invincible in every battle and attack. After ascending the throne, he opened up granaries to relieve the suffering of the people.
Corrupt officials who exploit the people should be severely punished.
In the year he ascended the throne, the high-ranking officials and nobles killed by the Qingliao Kingdom alone had already piled up into several "jingguan" (a mound of corpses) in the market.
Under an iron fist, there are only two outcomes: either the people submit, or they rise up against you.
However, Liang Yingwei only killed powerful and high-ranking officials, and never used cruel methods against ordinary people.
At that time, nine out of ten government offices in the entire Qingliao Kingdom were empty.
But the lives of ordinary people became better than ever before.
He also led his troops to fight in various places, sometimes marching thousands of miles in one night, and was able to defeat the enemy so badly that they lost their armor and weapons.
As the name of the God of War gradually spread, he unsurprisingly won the hearts of the people under these extreme circumstances.
He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world.
As his territory expanded step by step, he never practiced the "discard the bow after the birds are gone" mentality, and he arbitrarily delegated power to his subordinates.
If a person is truly concerned for the country and its people, then he is like the Duke of Zhou, who spat out his food to welcome guests and appointed people based on merit.
If that person harbors selfish desires and disrupts the government and civil administration, he won't even bother to give a reason. He will simply lead his troops, swords in hand, to that person's residence and cut off their head as a sacrifice to the heavens.
Such a method of governance was bound to be short-lived. As the territory expanded, it needed to be governed by someone. How could a country be supported by just one emperor?
However, he once again defied convention, as he had seized power through rebellion, was of humble origin, and had no family or clan to speak of.
Therefore, he appointed capable people from all directions as kings of different surnames to jointly govern the Qingliao Kingdom.
These kings who rose to power were all soldiers personally led by him.
He once stood shoulder to shoulder with him in founding the nation and fighting for the people.
Four kings of different surnames occupied the four directions, becoming powerful tools for protecting the country.
For a time, the four realms truly allowed him to settle down forcefully.
The Qingliao Kingdom then began a period of recuperation and development.
He recruited talented individuals from all directions to rise to positions of power, established special examinations, and made good use of the great talents recommended by the clans.
Although governing a country is different from fighting a war and is often full of loopholes, the kings from different surnames in the four directions are loyal and have absolute power of life and death in their hands. Liang Yingwei even often personally leads the army into battle.
They even reached the capital of Fenglian Kingdom.
However, because Fenglian Kingdom is surrounded by the sea on three sides and has very little border with the plains of Qingliao Kingdom, and Qingliao Kingdom is still in its infancy and in need of reconstruction, it is not suitable to govern from afar.
They simply made the other side sign an agreement to never wage war and to pay tribute every year.
After plundering some valuable items from Fenglian Kingdom, they led their troops back.
After several years, the Qingliao Kingdom, like a beast that had caught its breath, became a force to be reckoned with by the four kingdoms.
Buddhism, which raised him, silently supported him throughout his campaigns, doing good deeds for him, building his reputation, and controlling the voices of the people.
Ultimately, it was naturally adopted as the state religion of the Qingliao Kingdom.
If you don't know how to govern a country, you can learn slowly.
Even if the kings of different surnames in the four directions were to harbor rebellious intentions in the future, and Liang Yingwei could no longer personally behead the court officials, the many capable people in the court could still prevent such troubles for him and help him govern with benevolence and virtue.
If this is the case, then he could be considered a hero who has emerged out of nowhere.
However, no one knew that all of this was a shocking conspiracy from the very beginning of the nation's founding.
The common people of Qingliao Kingdom, as well as the kings of different surnames from all directions, including the various forces cultivated and raised in Liang Yingwei's harem, who fought to the death, and even the princes, were all included.
During Liang Yingwei's tenure, he once ruled by doing nothing.
However, while he appeared to be a wise and benevolent ruler, he secretly supported powerful clans and plundered the people's livelihood.
They sent people to corrupt officials in various prefectures and counties, gradually emboldening them to deceive their superiors and enrich themselves.
They incited kings of different surnames from all directions to expand their territories, raise armies, and occupy a region.
Furthermore, they secretly rewarded and supported monks within Buddhism who were consumed by greed and even ate flesh and vomited Buddha images, while suppressing the true masters who were self-disciplined and cultivated their pure and noble character. This made them unable to bear the corruption within the sect and they retreated to the deep mountains.
For decades, Liang Yingwei himself gradually eroded and hollowed out the impregnable fortress of Qingliao Kingdom, which he had personally built.
And all of this is because—
"You mean, you sacrificed the entire population of Qingliao Kingdom to plan this day decades ago?"
"Just for... to die for one's country and ascend to immortality?"
On the Milky Way, in the Qingliao Kingdom, summer had already arrived, but the bright light still shone through his fox fur coat. His pale face appeared particularly sinister in the magnificent, empty light of the palace.
Inside the magnificent and ancient Flying Dragon Hall, there were no officials or palace guards present.
Only Mingguang, seated on his palanquin, and Emperor Liang Yingwei, who no longer feigned idiocy and whose eyes gleamed with shrewdness, could not conceal his imposing presence even when bound by ropes.
"If it weren't for you, you bastard, ruining my grand plan, I would have already ascended to the upper realm and lived for thousands of years without ever dying!"
"Cough cough cough... cough cough..." Mingguang huddled on the palanquin, so thin that he looked almost like a precipitous cliff.
He coughed a few times, then asked Emperor Huiwei, who was trapped on the dragon throne: "So from the beginning there were no imperial grandsons of the Empress Dowager who were left outside."
"You are merely using this grandson of the emperor to incite conflict between various factions within the capital and the princes."
"So that the whole country will be thrown into complete chaos."
"That's right."
Liang Yingwei was very satisfied with his years of strategic planning, so he looked at Mingguang with particular resentment.
“Back then, I knew you weren’t the ‘grandson of the emperor’ I had prepared, yet I still bestowed upon you the title of Prince Danxi, allowing you to enjoy wealth and honor. You should be grateful and submit to my will!”
"However, you actually managed to defeat the powerful and deeply rooted First Prince in just three years, and forced the Second Prince, who was backed by Buddhism, to cut off his wings and survive. This is truly beyond my expectations."
When he talked about his sons, he didn't even use the term "royal sons" but rather referred to them as "princes" in a more unfamiliar way.
He never called himself "I" (朕), feeling that the position of supreme ruler was unworthy of his great ambition and talent.
What Liang Yingwei wanted was never the throne; he wanted to ascend to the upper realm and become a god in the heavens!
Therefore, even though he married and had children over several decades, he was still revered by thousands.
He regarded this position and the people of the entire Qingliao Kingdom as merely a ladder he had built to ascend to heaven.
The lamplight flickered in the main hall, and Liang Yingwei remained obstinate to this point.
Instead, he tried to seduce Mingguang: "Didn't you already see that ancient stone that records the method of ascension to immortality?"
"You have more talent for wielding power and governing the country than any of the princes. What's wrong with me handing over the Qingliao Kingdom to you?"
"As long as you don't block my path to heaven, once we reach the celestial realm, I can guarantee you a reign as emperor for generations!"
The ancient stone that Liang Yingwei mentioned, which records the way people ascend to immortality, now stands between the two of them.
It is only the size of a stone lion, covered with the marks of time. The stone is indeed genuine, and the inscription on it is ancient script from a thousand years ago in this star realm.
Before the competition in the lower realm, Mingguang learned about all the history of this star realm and also did some research on these ancient scripts.
His gaze was unwavering as he looked at the stone that had been moved from the Emperor's secret chamber to the Flying Dragon Palace.
Memorial to the Emperor – The Record of the Crown Prince's Virtuous Transformation
In the years of the Tiger and the Fiend, those of different surnames will claim the title of king, causing chaos and turmoil in all directions.
In the imperial court, infighting and backstabbing raged, with officials vying for petty gains, disregarding the plight of the common people, leading to their decline and ruin.
When the royal army invaded the capital, only the prince born to the dancer was hastily established as the crown prince.
He then led the isolated Imperial Guard in a bloody battle to repel the enemy, and together with the people of the capital, they defended the ancestral temple and the state.
However, the two armies were vastly different in strength. After the Crown Prince was defeated, he risked his life to brave the flames in order to save his soldiers and the people.
He sacrificed his life for his country, and the people mourned. Suddenly, divine light descended from the sky and covered the Terrace of Benevolence and Heroism.
Prince De underwent a fiery rebirth, achieving perfect merit, and ascended to heaven in broad daylight, attaining the rank of immortal. ①
Mingguang's gaze lingered on the three characters "Crown Prince De" for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly as if deep in thought.
Continuing down, I found another line of hastily written characters, worn smooth and blurred from being rubbed together.
—However, not long after Crown Prince De ascended to heaven, officials searched his residence and found secret evidence: the source of the chaos in all directions was actually De.
He intended to sacrifice the people to prove his own immortality. All the "benevolence" of the past was a facade.
Mingguang stared at the line of small characters for a long time, while Emperor Huiwei Liang Yingwei thought that he also believed in this method of becoming an immortal recorded a thousand years ago!
He continued, "It's not too late to make your men stop now. I can personally write the edict of succession to make you emperor."
"Once I die for my country, you will be able to rightfully ascend to the throne and rule the world!"
"You can slaughter all the princes and the harem, and burn them all down."
"Then no one will know that you are not of royal blood, and you will be the rightful king."
"With your talent, it is not difficult for you to turn the tide and restore order to this chaotic world."
"When you reach old age, if you also wish to ascend to the upper realm, you may follow the method inscribed on the stone tablet to attain immortality!"
By the time he roared the last word, Huiwei Di Liang Yingwei had gone completely mad.
The sounds of fighting outside had never ceased, and now they were getting closer and closer.
It seemed as if it would break through the Flying Dragon Palace at any moment and rush to the two of them.
At this moment, Mingguang slowly stood up, holding onto the handrail of the palanquin.
He did not walk towards the stone tablet, but instead went to the dragon throne.
Looking down at Emperor Huiwei Liang Yingwei, he asked, "Where did you obtain this stone tablet?"
Liang Yingwei did not hide anything: "It was obtained from the emperor's secret chamber when we stormed the capital of Fenglian Kingdom years ago."
"Did they tell you that you could obtain a celestial position through merit in this way?"
"Of course not! I killed twelve imperial princes and their heirs and forced them to reveal it!"
Liang Yingwei recalled the past with great emotion: "At that time, the emperor of Fenglian Kingdom regarded this stone tablet as a divine object."
"They would rather hand over the entire Fenglian Kingdom than let me move the stone tablet."
"Moreover, I also discovered that he has already been doing what is engraved on the stone tablet. Miracles have already appeared on him. Although he is clearly in his twilight years, he has white hair and a youthful face, which is precisely because he is facing this stone tablet day and night!"
"If I had defeated Feng Lian a few years later, I would have become an enemy that helped him ascend to power!"
Mingguang looked at Liang Yingwei with pity and coldness, but did not tell him that no one in this world could scheme against the will of Heaven and obtain merit and ascend to heaven in broad daylight through such sinister means.
They didn't tell him that he might have been deceived by the emperor of Fenglian Kingdom, and that his lifelong scheming was nothing but a pathetic joke.
However, the people of Qingliao Kingdom remained completely unaware.
Thinking of the monarch they revered and worshipped, the once heroic emperor who dedicated himself to saving the country and ensuring its survival, they wondered when he had transformed into a two-faced, wicked demon who brought disaster to the country and devoured the common people.
I feel that life is only a short hundred years, and we cannot escape the changes of the world and the tricks of fate.
"How about it? Release me now and let me go out to lead the army to meet the enemy. The world will be yours."
This emperor, a beast in human form, was still lost in his own fabricated dream of becoming an immortal, as he looked at Mingguang.
"Guess if the sounds of battle outside are from your army or mine?"
Liang Yingwei was a brave and valiant man throughout his life. Now in his seventies, he still refuses to admit his age.
Spending all day with the stone tablet, he naturally felt that he would be like the emperor of Fenglian Kingdom back then, with divine assistance.
Mingguang coughed lightly.
When a few drops of color returned to his pale face, he clenched the blood-stained handkerchief and then looked at Emperor Huiwei, Liang Yingwei.
There was neither a harsh rebuke nor any mockery or ridicule.
He simply said, "Even if what's on this stone tablet is true, a thousand years ago, Prince De brought chaos to all directions and sacrificed countless people to achieve his immortal status through merit."
"There is one point that is not correct."
Liang Yingwei was arrogant and conceited throughout his life. He thought it was foolish of Mingguang to see his divine power and not believe in the method of becoming an immortal on the stone tablet.
Therefore, even when he was tied to a chair, he still raised his eyebrows with an arrogant expression.
"Oh? Tell me, now that things have come to this, what have I done wrong?"
Mingguang pointed to the stone tablet and said, "Do you know why this Crown Prince De died for his country as the Crown Prince, and never ascended to the throne?"
"Naturally, it was because of the war at the time, and there wasn't time..."
"No... cough cough..."
Mingguang slightly curved his lips, and his handsome, cold eyes revealed a hint of pity.
"No matter how chaotic the situation was at that time, only this one prince remained in the entire capital. In this emergency, was it any different for the people to support him as the crown prince or directly as the emperor?"
"It's just a title; all the rituals can be added later."
Liang Yingwei's expression hardened at this moment, but he still couldn't figure out the key to it.
So he just smiled nonchalantly: "What does it matter whether he is the crown prince or the emperor? The fact is that he died for his country and was able to ascend to heaven!"
Mingguang shook his head: "Of course it's related. If, as you say, he planned in every way to achieve his goal of ascending to the throne after dying for his country, then he never intended to become emperor."
Liang Yingwei took a deep breath, furious at Mingguang for dragging his feet and refusing to give him a straight answer.
I don't even want to talk to him anymore.
But Mingguang continued in a cold tone, "If I'm not mistaken, he should not have married or had any children."
"Even worse, he may be without teachers, friends, relatives, or kin, a jinxed lone star."
"Because to become an immortal, one must first sever all ties with the mortal world."
Liang Yingwei's expression had already changed.
Mingguang casually uttered a few more words, shattering his decades-long plan to become an immortal.
It shattered his ridiculous insistence on not conforming to the world and even regarding his family as strangers passing by.
"The emperor is the supreme ruler on earth, and also the Ziwei Star God in the heavens. He holds a celestial position on earth and guards the Ziwei Star Chart."
Mingguang spoke in a slow, deliberate tone, making sure he could hear clearly: "The horoscopes all have their proper positions and cannot be moved, unless the Purple Star falls and the Emperor Star changes."
"In other words, once you become emperor, you can no longer be a celestial being in the heavens."
"You have been a celestial being in the mortal realm for decades. Even if you have accumulated immense merit, it is impossible for you to ascend to the upper realm."
"At most, he will be reincarnated and reborn as the Ziwei Star."
"Regardless of whether the inscription on this stone tablet is true or false, I only ask you, in the past few decades, have you ever heard any ancient texts record an emperor ascending to heaven?"
Emperor Huiwei Liang Yingwei was initially surprised and uncertain, but then he thought that he had spent so many years searching through historical records and strange tales of people ascending to heaven in broad daylight, all to verify the authenticity of this stone tablet.
He has read many stories.
Most of them are people who have performed great deeds in the human world and ascend to heaven.
There was a prefect, a philanthropist who dedicated his life to good deeds, a great scholar whose students were spread throughout the land, and a general for whom people built a shrine in his honor...
Including the crown prince who plotted to ascend to heaven, there isn't a single story about an emperor ascending to heaven in broad daylight.
Liang Yingwei's face twitched; the traces of his former heroism remained on his face, but his features seemed to have shifted out of control.
He stared at Mingguang with a look of shock and even hatred. After a long while, he opened his mouth and stammered out a few indistinct words: "Impossible...you're lying to me."
"impossible……"
"impossible!"
He grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, recalling his life of being two-faced and inconsistent in his words and actions, fearing that he might fail to follow the instructions on the stone tablet and ruin his plan to ascend to heaven. Thus, he had followed the instructions meticulously, never daring to make the slightest mistake...
He felt a metallic taste in his throat, and looking at the determined expression on the person in front of him, he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
But he was, after all, a brave and resourceful general who had fought on the battlefield.
He swallowed the metallic taste, chuckled, and steadied himself, saying, "You little brat, you dare to disrupt my mind and ruin my grand plan to ascend to heaven?!"
His voice unconsciously rose in pitch, a powerful male voice echoing in the empty Flying Dragon Hall.
Like the dying roar of a dragon, its power was utterly desolate.
However, the person he thought had been exposed did not show the slightest change in expression.
Instead, he looked towards the doorway.
Right now—
With a loud "bang!", the doors of the Flying Dragon Hall were smashed open.
A line of heavily armored soldiers, wielding blades, charged in, their bloodlust palpable.
The leader, covered in blood, strode out from the crowd with a powerful and imposing presence.
He walked to the palanquin where Mingguang had been sitting, knelt down facing the dragon throne, and said, "All the traitors have been executed. Your subordinate has not failed in his mission!"
Liang Yingwei, sitting on the dragon throne, burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! I told you, how could you, a mere brat, possibly stand in my way to immortality?!"
Mingguang coughed lightly; having stood for so long, he was already swaying precariously.
His health has been deteriorating ever since that sword strike, and now he struggles to stand for long periods of time.
He held onto the dragon head of the throne and softly reminded Emperor Huiwei, "Why don't you take a closer look and see if the person who came is truly your subordinate?"
Hui Weidi's laughter stopped abruptly.
He glared angrily at Mingguang: "Under the vast heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king. How can the person who comes not be a subordinate of the emperor?!"
For a moment he remembered that he was an emperor, but unfortunately he forgot that he was trapped on the dragon throne and was already a prisoner of it.
Despite the tide turning against them, they continued to deny everything.
However, no matter how much he tried to hold back his tears when facing death, his spirit, which he had been forcing, was still visibly crumbling.
Especially after the general took off his helmet and wiped the blood off his face, Emperor Wuying could no longer deceive himself.
He knew this young player.
Initially, he appointed this young general as a minor deputy commander in the Imperial Guard based on the recommendation of Prince Danxi.
When did he begin to train that group of cockfighting and dog-racing playboys into elite soldiers guarding the capital?
When did he become the commander of the Imperial Guard?
Hui Weidi Liang Yingwei seemed to have no recollection at all.
It was at this moment that he realized he couldn't remember many things.
The only thing I can remember is that he was about to ascend to heaven.
May you ascend to the celestial throne, enjoy eternal life and prosperity.
What was he going to do...?
He looked at the blood-soaked general standing in the hall with complicated emotions, and suddenly remembered how he had once been just as heroic and righteous.
However, time is the cruelest sculptor, which has long since carved the heroes of yesteryear into hideous demons.
Liang Yingwei was heartbroken and at his wit's end. The mouthful of metallic taste that he had forcibly swallowed finally came out.
He fought on the battlefield his entire life without ever suffering a defeat, but ultimately fell victim to the dead end he had meticulously planned.
As he spat out the blood, his facial features seemed to lose control once again; his eyes became bloodshot, and saliva uncontrollably dripped from the corners of his mouth.
He had indeed developed a speech disorder, just as he had pretended for months.
When he opened his mouth again, his voice was completely indistinct, but he still subconsciously made "uh uh ah ah" noises, not knowing what he was shouting.
Mingguang didn't look at Emperor Huiwei again, but instead asked the blood-soaked general below who was holding his helmet, "Is the Nineteenth Prince still alive?"
"They are safe! The rebels were let in through the main gate of the palace. The nineteenth prince is staying in the secluded Zhong'an Palace, which has not been affected."
"good."
Mingguang said, "Summon the court officials and tell them that the emperor is critically ill and has left a secret edict, promising that the nineteenth prince, Liang Xi, will ascend the throne."
"Yes!" someone replied and left.
The Imperial Guard commander below, who was holding a helmet, saw that Mingguang was putting on a brave face and immediately threw off his helmet to come forward and help him up.
"Mingguang, you should rest for a bit..."
Mingguang boarded the palanquin and was carried out of the Flying Dragon Hall, coughing lightly all the way.
At this moment, Emperor Huiwei Liang Yingwei finally lost consciousness and fainted.
Little did they know that the Heavenly Realm, which Liang Yingwei had planned to reach his entire life but had never been able to, was now being stirred up again by him, sparking a frenzy of discussion.
To be precise, it wasn't because of his dramatic and poignant life, but because of the stone tablet from a thousand years ago that was hidden in a secret chamber by two emperors.
The inscription on it should have been a source of amusement for the celestial beings.
However, due to the accumulation of many factors such as "Prince Virtue", "self-immolation", "son of a dancer", and "conspiracy to ascend to immortality through merit", each and every one of them points directly to the position of the Mysterious Immortal of Merit in the Netherworld - the Immortal Supervisor of the Zhu Ming Dynasty.
Before his ascension to heaven, Zhu Ming's secular name was Li Lingde.
A stone tablet sparked a frenzy of discussion among the immortals.
"This is a frame-up! It's utterly alarmist!"
Zhan Kui stretched out the fish head, but his lower body had returned to human form, though he still had a fish head on his head. He slammed his fist on the table, standing up for Zhu Mingxian.
After all, Zhu Ming is Bi Tao's backer. If something happens to him, Bi Tao will probably be implicated!
Bitao was also speechless: "This stone tablet is a despicable way of framing someone. You have been in the Heavenly Realm for a thousand years. Regardless of whether you ascended in this Star Realm or not, according to the time conversion between Heaven and Earth, more than three million years should have passed in this Star Realm... Was it carved by a mayfly?"
After countless cycles of birth and death, those who ascend to the Heavenly Realm, let alone a thousand years, or even a hundred years of immortal status, will never be able to find their original star realm again.
Zhu Ming sneered: "Their methods are indeed clumsy, but they have probably already achieved their goal."
As expected, as soon as he finished speaking, an ancient immortal clan member came from outside the Jade Bone Palace and said, "We invite Immortal Zhu Ming to accompany us to the Upper Clarity Realm to meet the Supreme Origin God."
Bitao didn't know much about the Shangqing Realm, only about the Nine Realms of Heaven and Earth.
Taiqing Realm governs the three realms: the human realm, the underworld, and the heavenly realm.
—The Taiqing Realm is where all beings hold the rank of "Immortal".
The Shangqing Realm governs the realms of demons, monsters, and chaotic beasts.
—The Shangqing Realm is all in the "True" position.
Those in the Jade Purity Realm knew even less, only that they were all "Saints". They had almost no contact with the Supreme Realm and the Upper Realm.
It is said that the Holy Ruler has broken free from the shackles of the Nine Realms' Heavenly Rules, is not bound by human form, and is mostly of strange shapes, ruling over the Three Realms of the Heavenly River, the Primordial Wilderness, and the Outer Heavens.
The "Shangyuan Divine True Man" that these ancient immortals wanted to take Zhu Ming to see was a well-known True Man in the Shangqing Realm.
There are two reasons why this True Lord is famous in the immortal realm.
First, he abducted Dongjun, the eldest son of the Immortal Emperor and General Kunyi.
Secondly, it is his ability to trace back to the source.
He possesses the Eye of All Laws, which can not only penetrate the myriad realms of Yin and Yang and the spiritual platform of immortals, but also trace the origin of everything.
Its abilities are almost equivalent to the Soul Searching ability of the cultivation world below the Xuanxing Realm.
Past events, and even many unrealized thoughts, were laid bare before his eyes.
Bitao's heart sank. Zhu Ming saw through her; the frame-up was laughable, but the person behind it was malicious.
The Heavenly Rules state that one must be pure and immaculate to attain immortality, and not take shortcuts.
Now that there are doubts about Zhu Ming's path to ascension, it is natural that an investigation must be conducted.
Zhu Ming was taken to see this Supreme God. Even if nothing was found out in the end, having someone spy on him from within his spiritual platform was almost the same as having his underwear exposed.
That's a minor matter. If any past misconduct of concealing heavenly rules is discovered, the lightest punishment will be demotion from immortality, and the heaviest punishment will be stripping away immortal bones and sending one to the mortal realm!
Zhu Ming, however, seemed completely unconcerned. Apart from sneering and showing disdain towards the two ancient immortal clans who came to escort him, he showed no sign of panic.
Having climbed to this position, he had been rallying the Nine Heavens Merit Immortals to fight against the Ancient Immortal Clan for many years, and he had long anticipated that the Ancient Immortal Clan would become impatient.
He spoke to Bitao as if it were a casual conversation, saying, "You have passed away and attained the rank of immortal. I haven't had a chance to give you the gift I prepared for you yet."
"It's on the very bottom layer of my inner dressing case. Take it yourself."
Having said that, he and the two immortal officials from the ancient immortal clan transformed into spirits and headed straight for the Shangqing Realm.
Since the matter was sudden, Bitao could do nothing else but go to Dongwanggong.
Zhu Mingxuanxian was his servant; to put it nicely, he was his man, but to put it bluntly, even when beating a dog, one should consider its owner.
The Eastern King Duke was always just a head, and his whereabouts were as elusive as a ghost. Bi Tao couldn't find him in his palace, so she searched for him all night in the places he frequented.
I didn't even see a ball.
The next day, they finally found him on the Six Imperial Platforms of Chongxiao!
Having not slept all night, Bitao was extremely anxious.
Since he was not the immortal supervising the competition, he could not directly ascend the high platform.
They could only pinch fairy butterflies and birds from below, trying to attract the attention of the Eastern King.
However, the Eastern King was focused on his task, and the rank of the Peach Blossom Immortal was too low. Those spirit objects he casually conjured could not even get close to his body... head.
He was watching the immortals return to their thrones on the Milky Way.
The crowd gradually grew noisy, with unprecedented sounds of excitement and joy filling the air.
Bitao turned her head and saw the radiant image of the Dharma standing on the cloud layer on the silvery net.
He's back.
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