The Heavens: A Qing, the Yue Girl at the beginning

"Knowing only what you want, but not what others want, that is the greatest sin! Wang Jingmeng is like that, and so is Yuan Wu." Zheng Xiu muttered to herself, her tone cold and murderous: "Treat people as perfect ornaments, looking down on all living beings from a superior position, and belittling the efforts of others..."

Although they wouldn't express this sentiment verbally, their every word and action conveyed this mindset—you, Zheng Xiu, are the most outstanding genius in the history of Jiaodong County, with swordsmanship, military strategy, and wisdom far surpassing your peers, but you can never compare to me, you'll always be half a step behind.

There was always just a slight gap, and there was never a chance to surpass it.

But is it really that insurmountable?
The once invincible Sword Master of Bashan was still outmaneuvered and killed by her schemes, leaving no trace of his body. What destiny is there in this world? I will never be subservient to others forever.

Over the years, Emperor Yuanwu spent most of his time cultivating himself, and he gave almost all the power of the Qin Dynasty to himself, making the name of the Empress resound throughout Changling and spread throughout the various dynasties. This seemed to be a great respect and trust, a model of mutual respect between the emperor and empress.

But the crimes of suppressing dissidents and killing too many people, and the time wasted on dealing with political affairs, are also a kind of intentionally imposed shackles.

He deliberately kept himself entangled in court intrigues and exhausted from dealing with various forces, leaving him no time to focus on cultivation and never catch up with him. He could only be content to be a good wife.

"With your shallow shrewdness and cunning, you probably still think that I gradually accepted your overtures, that genuine feelings developed from our mutual exploitation and cooperation, and that I became accustomed to the illusory pleasure of this overwhelming power? But from the very beginning, I only felt disgust, and as time went on, I felt more and more disappointed."

"No one can arbitrarily tell me what to do anymore, I will no longer feel the gaze of those who consider themselves superiors, planning my life, and I will no longer have to distort or go against my truest desires... This is my obsession."

Holding the extremely mysterious Lonely Mountain Jade Talisman, Zheng Xiu coldly swore an oath of battle:

"Yuanwu! From this day forward, we are sworn enemies!"

The so-called enmity of being blocked is never about broken swords or injured people, but about how he dared to turn her into a weak person who had to depend on him!
Unless she completely pulls him down from his pedestal and tramples him under her feet, her Dao heart will never be clear, and any breakthrough will be nothing but wishful thinking!

Zheng Xiu roared silently in her heart: Yuan Wu... must be crippled! Crippled by my carefully crafted plan! These spiritual lotus seeds were "deadly poison" that had been prepared for many years, but it was still not enough. A sufficiently powerful external force had to be introduced to create a fierce conflict and battle, so that he would be forced to take the "healing holy medicine" that she had cultivated.

The Lushan Alliance? Three or five Grandmasters at the peak of the seventh realm, even if some of them are close to the combat power of Yan Xinlan and Mo Bieli back then, may not be able to pose any threat to Yuanwu. Mo Shoucheng and some other Grandmasters will definitely provide assistance nearby. Injuries are an overestimation, and they may be completely unharmed.

If they still retain the combat power of the eighth realm afterward, the spirit lotus seeds are not a necessity, and providing them rashly would only arouse suspicion.

Where is the breakthrough?

She examined the target that had to be destroyed more closely and quickly noticed the new policy that Yuan Wu had been repeatedly mentioning recently: "promoting basic cultivation and integrating it into people's livelihoods and all industries." This policy aimed to benefit the poor and needless, and to rely on more and more cultivators to enhance the overall national strength of the Qin Dynasty and increase output in all aspects...

The more seventh-realm grandmasters he cultivates, the more power in the court will rely on him.

As more and more new seventh realm cultivators emerge, the gap between himself and this eighth realm cultivator will not only be a chasm in terms of cultivation level, but also an insurmountable chasm in terms of popular support. As his prestige grows, his own foothold will become increasingly cramped, and he will only become a dim and increasingly insignificant backdrop under his towering figure!
For the past ten years or so, the vast majority of people have had enough to eat and drink, and have lived a prosperous and stable life, all thanks to her governance. However, once she sounds the clarion call for new reforms, it is only natural to push for the "giving up" of more benefits and to reap the related rewards.

This situation is absolutely intolerable.

A cold, mocking smile curled at the corners of Zheng Xiu's lips.

"You want to build an everlasting legacy, win the hearts of all the people, ensure the eternal stability of the Qin Dynasty, and become a sage ruler unparalleled in the glorious history books... Ha, what a clever plan!"

“From a long-term perspective,” she thought with a cold laugh, “at best, he was just a… good emperor for a time in his own self-compiled history books.”

Zheng Xiu picked up the jade teacup on the table, took a small sip, and the bitterness of the tea made her thoughts clearer:

"After many generations of people, when cultivation becomes widespread and everyone can seek the Dao, when the praise of 'sage rulers' and the advocacy of 'benevolent governance' become words heard every day without any novelty, how can someone like you, Yuanwu, suppress those newly emerging desires?"

In the long history books of the past, which one has not recorded the emperors who were once praised as "wise rulers"? How many great deeds did they accomplish in governing diligently and benefiting the people?

But what about their later years?
After living to be over a hundred years old, they often become tyrannical and cruel... abusing the people's labor, engaging in extravagant construction projects... indulging in pleasure until extravagance becomes rampant... becoming so engrossed in illusions and alchemy that they become muddle-headed and negligent... listening to slander and slaughtering loyal ministers...

Are these tainted final chapters simply a result of the fear of impending death gripping one's mind?

Or could it be simply attributed to old age and declining physical strength, leading to a loss of wisdom and severely impaired judgment, thus causing the death of one generation?

No, under Zheng Xiu's keen observation, it was closer to a kind of... psychological imbalance and the collapse of the "threshold"!

An emperor, a being who can control the rise and fall of hundreds of millions of lives, has long been numb to actions like "loving the people," which initially brought immense spiritual satisfaction and a moral high ground.

Day after day, year after year, benevolent governance, grace, and restraint... these things that once brought him the glory of a "sage ruler" have long since drained him of any fresh, joyful energy.

They became a heavy burden, a crown that had to be worn properly, a monument that suffocated the soul.

He exploits the people, squanders the nation's wealth to satisfy his own selfish desires; or he crushes potential geniuses like insects in their infancy; or he controls and manipulates the people's minds like livestock...

These acts of manipulating life and death and trampling on order allow them to rediscover the thrill of being alive, bringing a twisted, all-powerful pleasure—look, the life and death, joy and sorrow of billions of living beings are all in my hands! A single thought can bring them life, a single thought can bring them death!
Just like a child who gets tired of playing with a docile doll, he will turn to tearing and destroying it, just to seek new stimulation.

The same applies to emperors. When peace and prosperity and the submission of all people become the norm, they will try every means to break this "peace," even if the price is the destruction of the country and the suffering of the people.

"The longer a person lives, the more darkness they see, and the less pure their heart becomes..."

She stroked the jade talisman in her hand and whispered almost silently: "When it was first born, it was as clear as crystal. But it became tainted by the filth of the world, gradually turning into turbidity, and finally... it became as dark as the night, and could no longer be seen through."

Where is the boundary between good and evil? What is the yardstick for right and wrong?

The illusory image on the glass lampshade swayed slightly.

"They're all blurred together, a thick, chaotic mixture that can't be torn apart anymore. How can you... retain that belief and 'persistence' that you thought was unbreakable when you were young?"

"Ha, it's nothing but an unpolished dream."

Life is like beautiful jade, death like withered bones. Time... is most adept at carving the cruelest transformations with its gentle blade!
Having figured all this out, the violent, dark fire in Zheng Xiu's eyes slowly died down, condensing into a bottomless, icy pool.

Reason has regained its advantage.

She extended a crystal-clear jade finger and gently brushed across the scorched mark on the surface of the jade box, bringing with it a faint, chilling aura, completely smoothing and covering the raised scorch mark.

Anger and destructive impulses can only bring fleeting illusions; calm calculation is the sharp fangs of a viper biting its prey.

She needed a trigger, a key to break through the impasse, a chess piece powerful enough to shake Yuanwu's authority! Zheng Xiu's gaze returned to the Lonely Mountain Jade Talisman in her hand. This item might have limited value for her self-comprehension, but... in another person's eyes, it was absolutely priceless!
"Zheng Husha, my dear uncle! You've been stuck at the eighth realm for a long time, haven't you? Just one step away?"

She muttered to herself, "In order to obtain this complete Lonely Mountain Sword Collection, clarify the correct path to enter the eighth realm, and complete the missing inheritance of the Zheng family, you should be able to accept the deal of lending the ancestral hall's ultimate foundation, the 'Sea King's Seal'? At the same time, I will also take a step back and 'follow' your wishes again?"

Even during the years when Zheng Xiu entered Changling, became the Empress of Qin, and wielded unparalleled power, different voices still frequently emerged from Jiaodong County, her maternal home. The people behind these voices were Zheng Husha and his faction.

There are many reasons for this. For example, Zheng Xiu was trained by him and Zheng Sha together, and they have long controlled her and everything around her, like a huge shadow hanging over her head.
Anything she truly loved was taken away from her family; her beloved dog was killed; and her playmates, with whom she studied and practiced, were arranged to be assassins to kill her, all to leave her without any weaknesses.

But the most crucial factor is cultivation level and combat strength: even after comprehending these unparalleled techniques of the Lonely Mountain Sword Sect and improving her strength considerably, Zheng Xiu still doesn't have much confidence in defeating this uncle, and may even suffer a crushing defeat. After all, her family knows her inside and out and is aware of all her trump cards.

It's not that she lacks talent, but rather that some people cultivate different techniques and have different physiques, resulting in the power of their true essence and the amount of true essence accumulated in their bodies being completely different from normal cultivators, far exceeding those of their peers.

Wang Jingmeng was one of them back then, and Zheng Husha is one of them now.

Ding Ning's assessment of Zheng Sha, who was slightly inferior, was that he had the potential to reach the eighth realm. However, because he had cultivated the Starfire Sword Scripture incorrectly, his innate vital energy was mixed and had been eroded by too much star energy, which caused him to lose his chance. Therefore, Zheng Husha, who cultivated the pure Canghai Technique, had a great chance to successfully cross over!

As far as Zheng Xiu knew, the earliest ancestors of the Zheng clan should have had a lineage leading to the Eight Realms. However, not long after those books were unearthed from the ancient tombs overseas, the clan encountered an insurmountable external calamity (involving the Tianliang factional conflict), resulting in the loss or destruction of most of them and interrupting their rise.

Therefore, what Zheng Husha, a person with such profound knowledge, lacks is that the path to the Eighth Realm is hidden in the fog, making it difficult to truly comprehend the relevant methods to pry open this threshold.

Secondly, his obsession had not subsided, and he had not gained the full approval of his family to become the absolute leader of the Zheng family. He was unable to integrate all the power of Jiaodong Prefecture with his own will, and to unite them in one direction. With this enormous power, he was unable to officially step onto the stage of Changling and become famous throughout the country, rather than becoming a maritime giant who was content with a corner of the country.

"To merely become the head of a local aristocratic family and 'march into' Changling, thereby gaining an unshakeable and transcendent position in the Qin Dynasty, even to the point of suppressing your empress niece—such stinginess and shortsightedness have actually become 'advantages' for his easier cultivation and breakthroughs?" Zheng Xiu sneered, how ironic!

"Let's hope he can break through to the next level as scheduled! Then, what's wrong with putting on a few grand performances of filial piety and family harmony?"

The Zheng family needed a radiant empress as a facade to solidify their power and influence, extending deep into Changling and even the entire country.

As for himself, he needed to hold the newly acquired Lonely Mountain Sword Collection, and impatiently squander the power of Jiaodong County, crashing headlong into the vast ocean of Changling to touch the largest and most dangerous reef beneath the surface—Yuanwu!
Zheng Bainiao? This uncle seems to be secretly contacting court officials, plotting some conspiracy, wanting to use the new policy as a pretext? But he has no idea that every step this person takes is on his own chessboard, being tentatively pushed onto the stage, just to stir up the stagnant waters of Changling.

Whether he succeeds or not, the tentacles of Jiaodong Commandery will penetrate deep into the core of the Qin Dynasty's power under the watchful eyes of the public, thereby attracting Zheng Husha's ruthless methods, constantly adding resources, and even personally getting involved, in the face of the unstoppable momentum of the new policies, forcefully reclaiming the benefits that the Zheng family "deserves".

Uncle, your obsession, your mindset, and all your weaknesses will become the sharpest spear and the heaviest iron weight in my hands, just as you used me in the past.

Zheng Xiu slowly raised her gaze, looking over the high palace walls and glazed eaves, towards the deep, boundless dark blue night sky.

Sparse, ancient stars dot the landscape, cold and distant, their radiance piercing the boundless river of time, overlooking the rise and fall of dynasties, as insignificant as ants in the human world.

The snipe and the clam fought... When the eldest uncle, this greedy and ferocious but doomed mad shark, was torn apart by Yuanwu's thunderous force, and when Yuanwu was continuously distracted by this sudden wave until he paid a heavy price... then that fleeting crack appeared in the impenetrable sky above the deep well of the Qin Palace!

And all she needs to do is step gently into the Gate of Awakening that belongs to her the moment that gap appears!
At that time, even if Zheng Husha was shattered to pieces, even if Jiaodong County was severely punished by Yuanwu, even if the entire Qin Dynasty was divided and destabilized as a result, and even if it eventually disintegrated...

As long as she can reach the eighth realm of Enlightenment—so what?!

"Some people are content with a simple and ordinary life, while others need to have everything glamorous and dazzling to love their lives."

"Some people exhaust their efforts to build a perfect empire that lasts for eternity, just like a fool gazing at the eternal and indestructible starry sky, fantasizing about reaching out to pluck it down to earth and embed it into his crown called 'eternal achievement'."

"But to me... anything that is considered perfect, once established, is ultimately meant to be destroyed!"

"To crush a colossal mountain, painstakingly built and flawlessly erected, into dust overnight... by one's own hands! The sound and light of that instantaneous collapse, the deathly silence and nothingness after its annihilation, are the most beautiful music in the world!"

"The more dazzling and seemingly eternal something is, the more breathtaking and awe-inspiring its destruction will be. They are destined... to be as fleeting as a shooting star, destined to burn out completely and streak across the eternal night!"

All sounds are silent.

Only the unmelted snowflakes at the corner of the palace fell on the fine bronze incense burner with the wind, making a very slight rustling sound.

……

Several hours later, the morning light spread over Lingxu Mountain.

Nestled beside a great river, this mountain seems to be isolated from the harsh winter cold of the outside world—the occasional chirping of insects echoes through the mountains, devoid of any sense of desolation. Below the halfway point, white mist swirls like waves; above the halfway point, however, the sky is crystal clear, and the entire mountain appears to float on the azure water and drift above the clouds.

It is not too far from Changling, but apart from a very few cultivation geniuses deliberately selected by the people of this mountain gate, the rest of Changling can never enter the gate in their entire lives.

This mountain is where the Lingxu Sword Sect is located.

As is widely known, the Minshan Sword Sect and the Lingxu Sword Sect are the two strongest cultivation sites in the world today.

However, compared to the former, the Lingxu Sword Sect is even more mysterious.

It's not just that their sword manuals and techniques are rarely passed on to outsiders, but also that the five most powerful elders in the sect—their whereabouts and even their names are almost unknown to the outside world.

Qi Jinshan, who is listed as one of the Five Sects of Lingxu, is such a mysterious figure that even his own true disciples have never seen half of him.

The reason he broke with tradition and left his secluded place today was because he had heard rumors early in the morning that Sect Master Gu Huai was about to end his seclusion in Void Sword Valley and personally receive a distinguished guest from afar.

"What distinguished guest? Could it be a maid sent by Zheng Xiu to deliver an 'edict' to our sect's lackeys and scum?"

With disheveled hair and no trace of a master's demeanor, Qi Jinshan turned to look at the sky above a quiet valley and casually made a sarcastic comment.

In his view, whether it was Gu Huai, who betrayed his teachers and friends to serve Yuanwu Zhengxiu and thus secured his position as the sect leader of Lingxu Sword Sect, or the outer disciples who had been sent into the sect by the imperial court for further study through special channels over the past ten years, they were all weeds that had to be eradicated, and he insulted them without any restraint.

If it weren't for his insufficient cultivation level and the presence of others who would stop him, Qi Jinshan would have loved to draw his sword and kill this lousy sect leader right now.

"Let's wait and see what kind of techniques Gu Huai has mastered during his years of seclusion, having monopolized the long-term output of the Sword Cleansing Pool."

...(End of chapter)