Summoning the Peak of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 2982 Ying Hao: Li Shimin of Longxi pays respects to the Ancestor
Chapter 2979 Ying Hao: Li Shimin of Longxi pays respects to the Ancestor
Ying Hao had already tried to overestimate Hongjun. After all, according to Zhu Rong's description, Hongjun, who appeared to be at the Great Perfection of the Half-Profound Realm, actually possessed a true power that was in no way inferior to the legendary immortals and gods.

However, what Ying Hao never expected was that Hongjun could traverse the river of time and space, and although he was in the past, he could communicate with himself a hundred years in the future.

Such astonishing methods are probably unparalleled even among the gods and immortals of ancient mythology.

Upon realizing this, Ying Hao felt a sudden chill intensify in his heart, and fear grew wildly like vines.

"Hongjun can tear apart the river of time and space with ease. If he wants to trace my past and understand my background, it shouldn't be too difficult, right? Wait a minute!"

A crucial detail pierced the fog like lightning.

“He just called me ‘the chosen one,’ instead of addressing me by my given name…”

A thought suddenly arose in Ying Hao's mind: perhaps Hongjun, like other people skilled in divination, was still unable to see through his true nature even with the support of the power of the Heavenly Dao.

As for the reason? Ying Hao's mind raced:
Perhaps it was the absolute isolation barrier formed by his own 'destiny' skill?
Or perhaps the surging and prosperous Qin Dynasty behind him transformed into an invisible protective dragon aura, obscuring his own karma?
Ying Hao couldn't say for sure which one it was at the moment, but he was certain of one thing: the Hongjun recorded in historical records was definitely a benevolent person who cared about the world and valued loyalty and righteousness.

If he knew that I had killed Taiqing, and while he still retained his self-awareness, even if he didn't directly attack me, he obviously wouldn't be so kind and amiable.

This clear deduction acted like a shot of adrenaline, instantly dispelling most of the panic in Ying Hao's heart, and his eyes regained their sharpness and depth.

"Since he hasn't figured out my background yet, the room for maneuver with him has greatly increased."

As long as Ying Hao can safely overcome this hurdle, and once Hongjun's last wisp of "self" consciousness completely dissipates and merges into the impartial and ruthless Heavenly Dao, then no one will be able to threaten his life, not even a powerful half-profound level expert who looks down upon the world.

Just as Ying Hao was resolute in his decision and secretly plotting, Hongjun's grand and ethereal voice, like a great bell that has traversed endless ages, once again resounded across the river of time and space, clearly reaching his and Zhu Rong's ears:

"Young man... what is your name?"

Hongjun's simple question was like an invisible thunderclap, striking Ying Hao's tense heartstrings and instantly making him nervous.

"His name, he asked me my name."

In Ying Hao's understanding, those powerful beings with extraordinary abilities can often deduce a person's past life, destiny, and karmic fate by searching high and low based on their real name.

Therefore, once Hongjun learns of Ying Hao's true name, he will likely be able to deduce his life story through this name, and then his secret of murdering Taiqing will be exposed to Hongjun.

Although Ying Hao didn't think Hongjun would cross time and space to kill him, he obviously didn't want to gamble with his life. So at this moment, he had only one thought in his mind: he absolutely could not reveal his real name.

"What should we do? We need to find an identity that can both confuse the public and prevent him from suspecting anything."

Under the pressure of life and death, Ying Hao's mind raced, and he instantly thought of a "perfect" substitute: Li Shimin.

Li Shimin is dead, and he is of noble status and has a deep connection with Taoism. He is a direct descendant of the Taiqing Taoist family!
"Brother Shimin, I'm sorry, but I need to borrow your identity for a moment."

A resolute glint flashed in Ying Hao's eyes. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging blood and wildly beating heart, and tried his best to make his voice sound calm and steady. After bowing deeply to the blurry yet majestic figure on the other side of the river of time, he spoke in a Kansai accent:

"This junior, Li Shimin of the Longxi Li clan, pays respects to our ancestor."

The moment the lie was uttered, Ying Hao's entire body tensed to the limit, like a prisoner awaiting trial.

He could clearly feel that the gaze that pierced his soul seemed to have become more focused, carrying the power of scrutiny and deduction, lingering in the chaotic mist of fortune surrounding him.

Fortunately, the double shield formed by the 'Mandate of Heaven' and the fate of the Qin Dynasty was powerful enough, like the strongest fortress, perfectly concealing the aura of lies. Even when Hongjun examined time and space again, he still could not see any deeds related to Ying Hao. He could only sigh: "Truly worthy of being the Mandate of Heaven."

Aside from not being able to tell the difference between the real and fake, Hongjun himself actually thought it made sense, after all, the Li family was not only a prominent Taoist family with a deep foundation, but also the family to which Taiqing belonged.

With a chosen one emerging from their family, how could Taiqing, the patriarch of the Li family and the chief disciple of the Jade Void Palace, not do his utmost to support him?

Hongjun understood Taiqing's talent; he would surely break through to the Half-Profound Realm in a hundred years. With this super strong Half-Profound Realm expert backing him up, Li Shimin's future success in usurping the throne and replacing the already corrupt Han Dynasty was not too difficult in Hongjun's eyes.

Besides, although Hongjun could not see any information about Ying Hao, he glimpsed in the long river of time that the future new dynasty would be named "Qin".

Longxi has been part of the Qin territory since ancient times. If the Li family started their power in Longxi, it would be reasonable and logical for them to adopt "Qin" as the name of their country after the founding of the nation, tracing their historical origins.

It was precisely because of this that when Ying Hao revealed his identity as "Li Shimin," Hongjun found it exceptionally reasonable, even perfectly matching some of his deductions about the "chosen one."

Hongjun suddenly understood and had no more doubts about 'Li Shimin's' identity. Instead, he sighed with emotion, "I never expected that the one destined by Heaven would be a member of our Daoist sect."

How can one not feel moved? Hongjun accomplished two great things in his life: first, he killed Rahu; second, he protected the Han dynasty and, after the fall of the Western Han, he supported Emperor Guangwu in re-establishing the Eastern Han.

However, the great man he and the Taoist sect had been protecting were ultimately replaced by their own disciples, which naturally made Hongjun feel that fate was playing tricks on him.

Just as Ying Hao was waiting anxiously, he keenly noticed the puzzled look on Zhu Rong's face beside him. Clearly, she hadn't yet realized why Ying Hao was lying.

Upon seeing this, Ying Hao felt a great alarm bell ring in his heart. At this moment, any slight flaw could lead to utter destruction.

He dared not make any big moves, but merely grasped Zhu Rong's hand and cast a swift, extremely subtle glance—a glance filled with urgency, pleading, and an undeniable warning. Although Zhu Rong and Ying Hao had not yet had a physical relationship, they were, after all, husband and wife in name only. Furthermore, she knew about the siege of Taiqing, so she instantly understood Ying Hao's intentions.

"Hiss... If the Dao Ancestor finds out about Taiqing, he wouldn't actually take action against His Majesty, would he?"

Zhu Rong dared not think any further, for if anything were to happen to Ying Hao, it would surely cause chaos in the world once again.

In a flash, Zhu Rong quickly concealed the astonishment in her eyes, lowered her gaze, and tried her best to maintain an expression of awe for the Dao Ancestor. She showed no objection to the name Ying Hao had given, and her actions silently indicated her acquiescence to the identity of "Li Shimin".

Seeing Zhu Rong's perfect cooperation, Ying Hao finally felt a huge weight lifted from his heart. He remained bowed, waiting for Hong Jun to continue.

Inside the study, the candlelight still flickered eerily, and the phantom of the river of time flowed overhead. A dialogue woven from lies, concerning the future of destiny, continued.

"Li Shimin".

Hongjun's voice carried a weariness that seemed to have seen through the ages, yet it also contained an undeniable solemnity. Upon hearing this, Ying Hao quickly replied, "With Shimin here, I wonder what the Ancestor has to entrust to me?"

"Li Shimin, I have fueled this lingering will, flowing against the current of time and space to perform this heaven-defying act. Besides wanting to see your true face, there is another top secret concerning the survival of the nation that I must personally tell you."

At this point, above the river of time and space, Hongjun's illusory figure became increasingly ethereal, as if it would completely merge into the ceaseless flow of light and dust in the next moment.

Upon hearing this, Ying Hao became even more alert. He knew that Hongjun's crossing of a century of barriers was not simply to ask for his name.

The weight of the message that could make the Dao Ancestor Hongjun, who was about to completely transform into the Dao, so cautious, even at the cost of breaking through the River of Time and Space, is self-evident.

Ying Hao and Zhu Rong were filled with intense curiosity and solemnity, holding their breath and waiting for the earth-shattering maxim.

Then, Hongjun's lips moved slightly as he began to convey the message he wanted to pass on to Ying Hao. Upon hearing this, Ying Hao's body trembled violently, his pupils contracted sharply, and his face was filled with shock and disbelief.

Ying Hao even subconsciously took half a step back. This information was too unbelievable and too subversive to his understanding. If it weren't for his imperial temperament forcibly suppressing it, he would have almost cried out in shock.

Ying Hao and Hong Jun were chatting enthusiastically, but from Zhu Rong's perspective, all she could see was the silent opening and closing of Hong Jun's lips and Ying Hao's constantly changing expression. As for what they were saying, she couldn't hear a thing.

The crucial secret was as if it were blocked by an invisible barrier, and an absolute power originating from the Heavenly Dao determined that only the chosen one could hear it.

Seeing the two picking their noses in conversation, Zhu Rong asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, what did the Dao Ancestor say?"

Ying Hao looked surprised and asked, "Didn't you hear that?"

"No, I only saw your mouths moving."

Hearing this, Ying Hao seemed to understand something, and then said, "It's a good thing you don't know. When it's your time to know, you will naturally know."

"Li Shimin, this is all I have to say..."

Hongjun gave Ying Hao, who was still in shock, a deep look. His gaze held a final expectation, a warning, and a hint of indescribable complexity. He said indifferently, "You... take care of yourself."

"Thank you for the message, Ancestor..."

Before Ying Hao could finish speaking, Hongjun's illusory figure began to dissipate, like quicksand blown away by the wind.

The ethereal echoes still reverberated in the river of time and space, while Hongjun's figure had already disappeared into the rushing light and shadow, and the violent fluctuations that tore through time and space were quickly healed.

The distorted scene in the study returned to normal in an instant, the candles were relit, and only Ying Hao's rapid heartbeat, the lingering shock on his face, and Zhu Rong's thirst for knowledge proved that the earth-shattering meeting that spanned a century had truly happened.

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One hundred years ago, in the Jade Void Palace on Mount Kunlun.
Hongjun, with his last remaining wisp of consciousness, had his soul return to his Dao body, and at this moment he was like a candle flickering in the wind, his light uncertain.

Hongjun, clinging to his last shred of clarity, summoned his first disciple, Taiqing Daoren, who had been waiting anxiously by his side.

"Taiqing, my disciple."

Hongjun's voice was so faint as to be almost inaudible, yet it still carried the majesty of the Heavenly Dao and the weight of a dying entrustment.

Taiqing knelt before the cloud bed, his voice choked with emotion, and said, "Master, your disciple is here."

"This humble Taoist priest, traveling against the flow of time, has finally met the future chosen one."

Hongjun's voice was broken and intermittent, each word as if burning with the last of his life, yet he still said it slowly and deliberately: "His origin is the Li family of Longxi, and his name is Li Shimin."

"What? The Li family of Longxi? Li Shimin?"

Taiqing was shocked upon hearing this. After all, there were not many powerful clans in Longxi, and there was only one family with the surname Li, which was his own bloodline. His master said that the future chosen one would come from his own family. How could he not be shocked?