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

Deer Mountain.

The reason why the grand alliance meeting was chosen to be held at Lushan was firstly because of its unique location. From the top of the mountain, one can see the territories of several dynasties: to the east, the land of Qi stretches for thousands of miles; to the south, the territory of Chu is vast and boundless; to the west, the Qin Pass is rugged and towering; and to the north, the Yan Pass is cold and barren.

Climbing this mountain, one can see all the scenic wonders of the world.

Another reason is Gao Heping of Lushan.

Although Mount Lu is high, its top has a large flat area, open and wide, stretching for several miles from east to west and several miles from north to south, enough to accommodate 100,000 armored soldiers in formation and thousands of chariots moving about.

Horses gallop without leaving a trail of dust, and formations stand without raising a cloud of dirt.

But now, the place where the alliance once met, where the heroes of the dynasties fought each other with their martial arts and banners covered the sun, no longer exists.

Its original site has been transformed into a charred giant pit, irregularly oval in shape, with a circumference of over a hundred miles and an unknown depth.

The rock strata rolled up like boiling water poured on snow, while the bottom of the pit faintly glowed with a purplish-gold color, all of which were the embers left after the primordial energy of heaven and earth had been burned and transformed.

The lingering clouds were torn into wisps by an invisible force field, forming a slowly rotating vortex. At the center of the vortex, a corner of the night sky, so clear it was almost unreal, was revealed, where the stars shone exceptionally brightly, as if looking down upon this land baptized by heavenly fire.

In the center of the giant pit, a golden-armored deity stands majestically.

Its body is over ten feet tall, and its entire body seems to be made of celestial iron and mysterious crystal. Its texture is harder than diamond, yet it is as transparent as glass.

Moonlight shines through its translucent body, refracting countless tiny rainbows within. Layers of scales rise and fall, like dragon scales growing backward or phoenix feathers turned upside down, pulsating slightly as if a living creature were breathing. Ancient seal script flickers and fades, seemingly absorbing the surrounding purple-gold embers.

Its face is a single, slightly curved metal surface, without eyes, nose, or facial features. Only a thin, elongated prism runs across it, sometimes opening like a vertical pupil, sometimes closing like a sword mark, exuding an inhuman indifference that looks down upon all living beings.

The ten fingers are long and slender, and the tip of each finger is transformed into a three-edged sword, the blade as thin as a cicada's wing, trembling slightly.

……

More than a hundred miles away.

Wancheng.

This area originally belonged to the territory of Han. When the Han Dynasty was destroyed, the Great Chu Dynasty divided up a piece of territory here. It was only a few cities away from Lushan. Therefore, although the land was rich, it was still a border town.

The temporary Chu Palace was delicate and exquisite, situated on a high slope in the northeast corner of the city. Backed by the foothills of Wushan Mountain and facing a tributary of the Han River, its feng shui layout, though not as majestic and grand as Changling or Yingdu, possessed its own unique charm.

The winding corridors are built around the pond, which is filled with white lotuses. Although it is not yet the blooming season, the lotus leaves are already lush and swaying in the evening breeze.

Inside the palace, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the candlelight flickered red.

The Chu Emperor leaned back on his pure gold dragon bed.

His aged face appeared particularly withered in the dim lamplight, and his eyes were cloudy and lifeless. It was hard to imagine that he was the same powerful monarch who confronted Yuan Wu across the distance at the Lushan Alliance, taking every step with careful planning, forcing the Great Qin to renew the treaty, cede territory, and return defeated.

He's too old.

It's so old it's like a candle that might burn out at any moment.

Yet his fingers remained strong, gently tapping the sandalwood armrest beside the couch. With each tap, a glint of light, barely perceptible to others, would flash in his murky eyes.

"Report—"

Hurried footsteps came from outside the hall. A captain in blue armor rushed in, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, that thing... has been on the ground for three quarters of an hour. Its energy has been contained, but there is still purple-gold light emanating from it. All the grass and trees outside the pit are withered and scorched, and the earth's veins have stopped pulsating."

"When I tried to probe it from afar with my divine sense, I felt that its vital energy was gradually waning, as if I had fallen into an ice cave or was standing on the edge of an abyss. I dared not get any closer."

The Chu Emperor's finger stopped.

"Investigate further," he said. "Send down the order: martial law in Wancheng. Entry is permitted, but exit is not. Double the number of sentries within the city; increase the number of scouts along the post roads in all directions. Any rumors must be nipped in the bud!"

"Yes, sir!" The blue-armored captain accepted the order and left.

Several court attendants emerged from the shadows, their expressions solemn.

A water mirror suddenly appeared out of thin air, its surface shimmering, reflecting the giant pit and the golden-armored deity.

Centered on the latter, the surrounding void resembled shattered glass, scattered with countless fragments of varying sizes, their edges shimmering with iridescent light, all reflecting numerous illusions like mirrors:

There are celestial palaces and jade towers, with countless auspicious clouds; there are celestial ships and cloud vessels, lined up to patrol the sky, with banners waving; there are magical treasures and rare flowers, which swirl and gather in the air, transforming into canopies and necklaces; and there are even more golden and purple auspicious rays, like dragons and snakes, leaping endlessly within them.

This scorched wasteland is transformed into a fairyland, yet it exudes a breathtaking ethereal and sacred atmosphere.

"It appears as if it were right before my eyes, yet I cannot perceive it as if it were not here..."

The Chu Emperor murmured, "What a brilliant technique of concealing one's form in the void, what a domineering aura of descent. To command such a colossal object in the heavens is beyond the capabilities of mortals. Qi Yan lacks this ability, and his Yuanwu cultivation is also several points inferior. This thing... comes from beyond the heavens."

"From beyond the heavens?" An elderly elder, dressed in a black Taoist robe and with white hair and beard, narrowed his eyes, his hand unconsciously tightening his grip on his whisk. "Your Majesty means... a demon god from beyond the realms? The legendary..."

"My lords, there is no need to panic," the Chu Emperor said calmly as he swept his gaze over the crowd. "Although extraterrestrial beings are very different from human species, it is difficult to find such pure metal bodies. Moreover, judging from their imitation of our appearance, only their size is far superior, so they must be war puppets or weapon puppets."

This places the other party's position within the category of giant talismanic artifacts such as the "Flying Goddess" of the Great Chu Dynasty and the "Yuanfu Golden Man" of the You Dynasty.

Nevertheless, judging from the pit where it was born and the strange signs all over its body, it is undoubtedly a creation that far surpasses the technology of previous dynasties.

Faced with such an existence, let alone an ordinary seventh-realm grandmaster, even an eighth-realm cultivator would be in great danger.

Not to mention the unknown manipulators behind the scenes.

"It is a great taboo for the enemy to be in the dark while we are in the light. Rather than sitting and waiting for things to change and feeling uneasy, it is better to... take the initiative to explore and find out their strength and weakness."

Behind the beaded curtains and jade screens of the imperial bedchamber, Consort Zhao, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke, issuing orders on behalf of the Emperor of Chu:
"Yangshan and Yunmeng are each equipped with ten 'Sky Kites' and three thousand sets of talismanic armor, under the command of Fan Dongliu and Fan Wugou, to stand by at the Wushan defense line; Zhao Mu is appointed commander-in-chief and is to conscript one million Chu soldiers in the southern border to prepare for war!"

"All units are required to complete the initial deployment within twelve hours of receiving this order. Those who delay will be subject to military law!"

"Your Majesty?!"

"Your Majesty, this..."

An elderly worshipper was shocked, his white eyebrows twitching.

Is it really necessary to make such a big fuss? If the other side has no hostility, and there is no conflict, and it turns out to be a false alarm, wouldn't it be a waste of national strength and resources, leaving the heartland of Great Chu empty? At that time, there will be criticism from the court and the public, and foreign countries will laugh at you. Where will Your Majesty's prestige be then?

"We follow the words of my beloved consort." The Chu Emperor then directly stated: "Qin seems to intend to attack Yan. Our dynasty should follow suit and wait for the right opportunity to act in order to gain an advantage. This strategy will not be changed by the visitors from outside the world."

"Issue the decree: secretly increase the number of garrison troops in all border prefectures; and assign additional military supervisors to key supply depots. Report any unusual activity immediately."

"Summon Dou Yifu to the palace!"

"Summon Dou Qing to the palace!" the eunuch announced in a shrill voice.

As soon as he finished speaking, an old man with a long sword like white jade at his waist strode in. Sensing the Emperor Chu's gaze, he quickly bowed deeply in respect.

"Dou Qing," the Chu Emperor sat up straight, reached out to support him, and said in a gentle voice, "I see that you look even more haggard than you have a few days ago."

Dou Yifu felt a chill run down his spine and prostrated himself on the ground, saying, "This old minister is useless, wasting the court's salary and failing to live up to Your Majesty's grace."

"I remember your grandson Bingsheng should be twenty years old this year?" The Chu Emperor suddenly changed the subject. "His talent is a bit dull. He didn't even reach the third realm before he turned twenty. Judging from common sense, he probably has no hope of reaching the sixth realm in his lifetime and will only be able to reach the divine sense. The family business is going to decline and there is no successor. You must have been having a hard time these past few years."

These words, each one sharp as a needle, pierced the softest spot in Dou Yifu's heart.

He lay prostrate on the ground, his shoulders and back trembling slightly, but his voice was as steady as he could be: "This old minister...this old minister is incompetent and ashamed before our ancestors."

"In this world, there are as many talented people as there are mediocre ones."

The Chu Emperor's voice continued to drift in, sounding both sighing and comforting:

"The Dou family has been distinguished for ten generations. By your generation, the direct line is still able to maintain its lineage, but the branch family has withered away. Although you are from the branch family, you have managed to reach the sixth level of the upper realm and become the last seat of the Imperial Academy, enjoying the salary of the 'Qing' rank. You have done your part for that lineage."

"But if the descendants don't carry on the family line, this life can't be continued for long."

Dou Yifu touched the ground with his forehead, not daring to reply.

How could he not know what His Majesty's words meant?
This is saying: You are old and frail, and your descendants are mediocre. Without a great opportunity, this branch of the Dou family will fade into obscurity within three generations, falling from a family of cultivators to an ordinary, poor family.

And a tremendous opportunity lies in that scorched pit a hundred miles away, waiting for him to make the right choice.

The beaded curtain opens and closes.

A scroll of jade and silk floated lightly to Dou Yifu's feet: "This is an imperial edict written by His Majesty himself. Take a look."

Written in his own hand? The Chu Emperor had been bedridden for a long time; when had he ever picked up a pen to write anything? Dou Yifu picked up the jade scroll with both hands, unfolded it, and examined it closely. He found the vermilion ink still fresh, and it was clearly—

"The imperial edict reads: Dou Yifu, a minister of the Imperial Academy, is loyal, diligent, and devoted to public service day and night. He was ordered to investigate the strange celestial phenomena at Lushan Mountain. He braved hardships and dangers, and his loyalty and courage are commendable. He is hereby promoted one rank, granted ten thousand yi of gold, one hundred hu of spirit stones, and granted a fief of three hundred households in Yuanyang County. One of his sons is granted the privilege of being included in the direct line of the Dou family genealogy, enjoying the same privileges as the direct line. His grandson, Bingsheng, is exceptionally admitted to the 'Neighboring Star Tower' and enjoys the 'Approved Admission' privilege of the Imperial Academy. All relevant elixirs and classics shall be allocated by the relevant authorities without error. This is the imperial decree."

At the end of the jade and silk scrolls, the imperial seal of the Great Chu Dynasty was prominently displayed.

Dou Yifu's hands, holding the jade and silk, trembled slightly.

It wasn't because he recognized that the characters were actually written by Consort Zhao, since the Chu Emperor had already tacitly approved it, but because the reward was too generous. As long as he accepted the imperial decree, even if he didn't return from this trip, the Dou family's lineage could continue for at least three more generations.

"This old minister...kowtows in gratitude to Your Majesty for your divine grace! I am willing to die for Your Majesty!"

The Chu Emperor leaned back on the couch, his expression unchanged. He merely raised his hand slightly to stop the other man from kowtowing: "Get up. That thing may be powerful, but it may not truly be aimed at my Great Chu."

"You only need to go and inquire, find out their intentions, and observe their true intentions, and that will be a great achievement. If you can engage in conversation and find out some details, that would be even better." He paused, and at the right moment, a jade box was sent out from behind the beaded curtain, containing two leaping talismans and a silver Rakshasa thumb ring, which landed lightly in Dou Yifu's hand.

"Remember, first test them with courtesy. If they can speak, ask about their origin and purpose; if they are not good with words, observe their reaction; if... if they suddenly attack, you only need to escape with all your might, and I will be there to protect you from a hundred miles away."

The term "supporting the enemy" is just a polite way of saying something to comfort people.

Dou Yifu was fully aware of this.

However, with his cultivation level, he was certainly no match for such an existence, but as long as he kept a low profile and spoke respectfully enough, the other party might not attack an old man who was just delivering a message.

"Your subject will obey Your Majesty's decree." Dou Yifu rose and bowed again.

"Go. Before dawn, I want to hear you tell me the story of what happened in the pit yourself." The Chu Emperor said no more, only waving his hand wearily.

Dou Yifu cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and left.

As he reached the palace gate, he suddenly stopped and looked back.

In the brightly lit main hall, the Chu Emperor sat listlessly on his dragon throne, while Consort Zhao stood beside the beaded curtain. The elegantly dressed attendants stood silently in the shadows. The hall was adorned with brocade, yet it was also filled with coldness.

Dou Yifu grinned silently, turned and disappeared into the night, embarking on what might be the last leg of his life.

……

The moonlight was desolate, like frost and snow.

It covered the desolate outskirts and ferry crossings outside Wancheng.

Dou Yifu stood on the broken stone steps and saw ancient pines along the riverbank, their gnarled branches twisting and turning, many of them thicker than a person could hug.

“A thousand-year-old tree, growing in such a remote place,” he gently stroked the trunk. “It’s a pity no one cares, it just grows old in vain, no different from rotten wood.”

The hand had just left the branch when it broke.

Once it falls into the water, it becomes a small wooden boat.

Dou Yifu landed at the bow of the boat, his true energy surging, propelling it forward without oars or twigs, without wind. The water scenery on both banks receded rapidly, the mountain shadows looming like ghosts, and occasionally a night bird was startled and fluttered away into the distance.

When it encounters a reef, it will go around it; when it encounters a waterfall, it will slide down along the curtain of water; when it encounters a backwater, it will turn around.

Dou Yifu stood with his hands behind his back at the bow of the boat, his beard and hair fluttering in the wind, truly giving him the air of an immortal crossing the sea.

Unfortunately, he was not an immortal.

He was just a wretched old man sent to scout ahead and die.

……

The river channel grew wider, but the water became increasingly scalding hot.

The surrounding vegetation had long since withered, and the carcasses of wild rabbits and deer floated in the water, mingling with dead fish and shrimp, emitting a foul stench.

Dou Yifu frowned, covered his nose, and lightly flicked his sleeves to clear away the filth. After all, he was a scion of a prominent family and valued cleanliness. After traveling another ten miles or so, they rounded a mountain bend, and the scenery suddenly opened up before them—the old site of Deer Mountain had finally arrived.

The streams and rivers above, diverted by the sinkhole, transformed into dozens of white ribbons that crashed down from the cliffs with thunderous roars, stirring up a cloud of mist. The mist was then vaporized by the heat waves from the bottom of the sinkhole, condensing into thick clouds that slowly swirled in mid-air.

Dou Yifu sensed the sole of his shoe—the two leaping talismans were firmly attached—and then took out the silver Rakshasa thumb ring and put it on his thumb.

He channeled his true essence into it, and immediately a warm sensation gushed out.

Thick, mercury-like vital energy gushed out from the ring, spreading rapidly along his palms and arms to his entire body, reaching his neck, cheeks, and even his seven orifices.

It transformed him into a shimmering, silvery human form.

In this state, the enhanced physique will be no less than that of a ferocious beast of the same realm, and its defense will be several times stronger than that of an ordinary cultivator.

The skin and flesh, which had become slightly loose due to old age, have now become firm and strong again, as if they have returned to their prime.

“Good stuff,” Dou Yi’s father looked down at his gleaming silver hands, then at the metallic-colored figure in the center of the giant pit in the distance, and couldn’t help but sneer, “Is this how you make people think you’re one of them and get special treatment?”

The gift of this vessel was actually for another purpose!
The waterway had ended, and the wooden boat plunged off the cliff.

Temperatures are rising rapidly.

Ordinary creatures would quickly dehydrate and wither here, their flesh turning to ash. Without the protection of the Silver Rakshasa, they would find it difficult to survive for long.

"That's enough." He sighed, and just as he was about to hit the bottom, his true energy burst forth, crashing heavily against the brittle rock layer. He then stepped over the soft, scorching ash, leaving two deep silver footprints, each step sending sparks flying and dust swirling in the air.

Without using the Leap Talisman, the trump card must be hidden.

……

They traveled several more miles.

Dou Yifu stopped a hundred feet away from the divine being.

He forced up his increasingly sluggish true energy, cupped his hands in greeting, and amplified his voice: "Dou Yifu, Minister of the Imperial Household Department of the Great Chu Dynasty, has come by order of His Majesty to pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

The sound echoed in the vast, empty pit, making the place seem even more desolate.

The golden-armored deity remained completely still.

Dou Yifu's mind raced, and he continued speaking, his tone becoming increasingly respectful, yet neither servile nor arrogant:
"Your esteemed presence, with your divine bearing, has graced our realm, a truly unprecedented event. However, Deer Mountain is a place where dynasties meet and wars are still raging. Your arrival here is a grand affair, leveling mountains and displaying this divine miracle. We wonder if this was a chance encounter or a deliberate visit?"

"If you are a visitor, our Great Chu is willing to extend the hospitality of a host, providing ceremonial guards and palaces for your rest; if you require assistance, we can also discuss it as appropriate. We hope that you will not hesitate to grant us this favor, so as to ease the anxieties of the people in this land, and also to ensure that our court knows how to proceed and avoid misunderstandings and conflicts."

After the words were spoken, there was a deathly silence.

Only the hot wind howled and ashes swirled.

After a long while, the golden-armored deity slowly turned his head, and the angular light on his face suddenly burst open, like an eye without pupils "gazing" at the tiny silver creature. Then, a vast divine thought surged into Dou Yifu's sea of ​​consciousness like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami: "Your humble people."

His tone was devoid of joy or anger, and after a pause, he said:

"I am an angel from the upper realm, ordered by the Hidden Heavenly Emperor to patrol all directions, observe the rise and fall of human fortune, and record merits, demerits, sins, and blessings. The primordial energy of this realm is surging, and anomalies are frequently occurring, deviating from the norm. Therefore, I have descended to this body to trace the source, investigate the cause, search for remnants, pursue the rebellious traces, and bring down calamity to cleanse it!"

"You common people should be grateful and submit to my command. If you obey the decree and convert, you will receive good fortune; if you disobey, you will be exterminated!"

"Find them, report them, reward them; hide them, protect them, kill them!"

"The upper realm... angels?"

Dou Yifu's expression changed slightly, but he did not immediately give in and accept the status of "commoner" for the Great Chu, becoming a servant-like being.

In any case, the Chu Emperor was still watching from a distance and was aware of the general situation. If the dignity of the state was lost and the monarch was displeased, the bestowed edict and the promised protection would likely vanish instantly.

His mind raced, and he bowed again with his hands clasped in respect.
"The arrival of angels is truly a blessing for humankind."

"However, I am of low rank and have little influence. I have only come to pay my respects and inquire by imperial decree and dare not presume to make a decision. If the imperial envoy has issued a decree, I am willing to convey it and present the imperial edict to Your Majesty for Your Majesty's judgment."

"As for the term 'common people'..."

He paused briefly, carefully choosing his words: "The human world is not a land without a master. Although those who have awakened to the Eight Realms are rare, they are not unique. Emperor Yuanwu of Qin, Tuoba of Tianliang... were all extraordinary figures in this realm. Our Great Chu is also the legitimate dynasty of humanity, ruling over the southern border, with hundreds of millions of people, and its rites and music are well-known."

"Even angels from the heavens, when surveying the earth, should act according to propriety, so as to demonstrate the vastness of heavenly power and the breadth of its blessings. I hope..."

"Noisy!" The golden-armored deity's divine sense suddenly turned fierce, like billions of ice needles piercing Yi Fu's sea of ​​consciousness, causing him to groan, his silver body trembling wildly, and his true essence almost collapsing.
"Emperor Chu? A mere dying old man dares to call himself 'I, the Lord'? I behold your mortal realm, where spiritual energy is corrupted, the Daoist tradition is crumbling, and cultivators are as blind as the blind, wasting their lives. I now bestow upon you a path to heaven!"

Having finished speaking, it raised its right hand, its three sword-like fingers lightly touching the void. In an instant, a purple-gold talisman materialized out of thin air, its intricate patterns resembling an inverted galaxy, obscure and difficult to decipher, yet also like countless tiny living creatures swimming, gnawing, and recombining.

The talisman transformed into a stream of light and went straight into Dou Yifu's brow.

The latter trembled violently, feeling as if countless stars were falling into his sea of ​​consciousness, crashing down and creating endless desolation. Ice waves and snow surged back, and a deep, dark cave at the bottom absorbed the light, causing the world to suddenly return to darkness and emptiness, and also erasing some indescribable barrier.

Thus, Dou Yifu's natal energy began to produce brilliant colors, like flowers blooming, like butterflies fluttering, ethereal as gauze, transforming into shadows and resonating with the images reflected in those fragments of emptiness.

They drew in waves of purplish-gold tides, weaving countless mysterious patterns throughout his body.

A massive pillar of lightning, over ten spans in circumference, shot upwards against the sky, instantly piercing through countless miles of clouds and reaching the starry sky. A mysterious, ghostly light then fell back down, pouring into the body and transforming into countless crystalline droplets that fused with flesh and blood, cleansed the bone marrow, and reshaped the internal organs.

His aged appearance visibly recovered its rosy glow, his white hair turned black, his wrinkles smoothed out, his skin became radiant, and all traces of decay vanished. He looked decades younger, like a young man.

With a single finger, he broke through the Seven Realms and entered the Mountain Moving Realm!
"This……"

Dou Yifu was overjoyed and immediately prostrated himself on the ground: "Thank you, Lord, for your grace in giving me a new life! If you have any requests, I will do them even at the cost of my life!"

"Get up." His divine sense remained indifferent as always.

Dou Yifu stood up in response, his hands clasped respectfully, his posture ten or a hundred times more humble than when facing the Chu Emperor, his eyes filled with piety.

The imprint of the Dharma has been formed, leaving no room for maneuver.

All the thoughts that led him into this abyss—to investigate the truth, to observe people's expressions, to act according to circumstances, and to make a clean getaway—vanished completely at this moment, as if they had never existed.

He was even somewhat grateful to the Chu Emperor for sending him to his death.

Otherwise, how could he have obtained such a great opportunity?
Deep within Dou Yifu's consciousness, a three-dimensional purplish-gold talisman slowly rotated, as unchanging as a star throughout the ages.

With each pulse and resonance, his awe of this angel from the upper realm deepened, his loyalty to the Great Chu and his attachment to his family diminished, and his fervor for his newly acquired power intensified.

……

Wancheng Imperial Palace.

The Chu Emperor had dismissed his attendants and put away the Water Mirror Technique taught by Zhao Qing. His gaze pierced through the layers of curtains and fell upon the deep night sky outside the palace. He remained silent for a long time, seemingly deep in thought.

The hall was so quiet that only the faint sound of burning sandalwood could be heard.

"Your Majesty, what about Dou Yifu's side..." Consort Zhao spoke softly.

“Your Majesty,” Consort Zhao Xiangfei suddenly spoke, her voice cold, “you saw the lightning pillar in the pit and the radiant light from the sky.”

The Chu Emperor nodded: "Dou Yifu... has broken through to a higher realm."

"Our Great Chu Imperial Academy has gained another Mountain Moving Realm Grandmaster."

"Is Your Majesty not surprised?" Consort Zhao asked.

"What's so surprising?" Emperor Chu lightly flicked his sleeve and took out a small, exquisite black jade lamp from a hidden compartment beside the couch.

The lamp was no more than an inch tall, its entire body dark and heavy, its surface engraved with dense runes, much finer than a hair, and a small blue flame the size of a bean burning at the wick, yet it produced no heat.

My natal soul lamp.

Using the "Sparkling Sword Manual" as a guide, Zhao Qing recreated an ancient technique that allows one to remotely observe life and death and perceive anomalies with a wisp of one's natal energy.

With nothing else to do, she had already collected the corresponding life essence of more than half of the grandmasters and some of the sixth realm masters in the world, for future use.

In addition to comprehending and verifying the true meaning of everyone's cultivation and the subtle differences in the laws of primordial energy, and developing secret techniques such as "Qi Plague" and "Primordial Ember Sacrifice to Spirits", it also has the effect of monitoring the invasion of extraterrestrial demonic consciousness.

It should be noted that if only a very small amount of one's own vital energy is received, it is impossible to actively act on the target; one can only passively observe it.

The Chu Emperor stared intently at it.

The lamplight was dim and brighter, but its color was slightly different from half an hour ago—the originally clear blue flame core was now tinged with a very faint purple hue, which was gradually spreading and diluting, and would be difficult to detect without careful observation.

But the Chu Emperor was staring at it, and so was Consort Zhao.

“It’s turned purple,” Zhao Xiangfei said.

"As expected." The Chu Emperor sighed deeply.

Few people know that Dou Yi's father and mother, Zhen, were descendants of the You Dynasty's Xunwang. According to the genealogy of Tianliang provided by Tuoba Wuchou, they can be traced back thirty-one generations, so they have some lineage ties.

But it is clear that this so-called "You Tian Yin Yao Zhen Ming Di Jun" (You Di) does not care much about this thin connection. It seems that he thinks Dou Yi Fu is too inferior and would rather use him as a tool to extract all his value.

"It seems that..." Zhao Xiangfei thought for a moment, "This should be the method of 'borrowing the will of law', which involves placing the activated Dao pattern into the sea of ​​consciousness and meridians of others. It seems to have entered the seventh realm, but in reality, it is the power and cultivation carried by the Dao pattern that allows the external will to enter."

"It sounds a lot like 'borrowing the sword's intent.'" Emperor Chu put the soul lamp back in its place, then drew an ancient and simple sword from beside the bed, examined it briefly, and said respectfully, "There is borrowing and lending, like a bank or a trading company..."

What "angel"? He really couldn't take it seriously, after all, he was an enemy, not a friend. But the next one was undoubtedly a high-ranking immortal cultivator that the Great Chu wanted to win over—he didn't know his appearance before, but now he understood his intentions and followed him.

“‘Borrowing’ only involves the method of ‘bewitching’ in the eighth realm, but ‘lending’ directly points to the mystery of the ‘myriad transformations’ characteristic in the ninth realm.”

The sword hummed softly, conveying Zhao Qing's thoughts projected from thousands of miles away: "Actually, it's more like a measure to extend the 'Green Sprout Law' to the cultivation world, a benevolent policy that benefits the people and cultivates young talents."

“Good governance?”

"To lend people their spiritual realm, to demand their true essence, and to further bind their spirit with the will of law, driving them like dogs and horses... can this be considered benevolent governance?"

"It was indeed a good policy at first."

Zhao Qing replied calmly, "The Nether Emperor came from a region where many demonic sects and evil sects roamed. Take the Netherworld Sect as an example. When one entered the sect, one had to swear a blood oath, offer a soul lamp, and entrust one's life and fortune to the master. The master could decide life and death with a single thought, and the sect leader could annihilate the entire sect in a fit of rage."

“Disciples and followers are called seekers of the Dao, but in reality they are servants, miners, and death warriors. The sect takes their labor, exhausts their energy, and seizes their opportunities, euphemistically calling it ‘tempering.’ When they grow old and weak, or when their path to the Dao is cut off, they are discarded like worn-out shoes, or even refined into human elixirs.”

"This is similar to land consolidation."

“When the poor suffer from famine, they have no seeds to sow in spring and no grain to harvest in summer. During the lean season, they can only look to the doors of wealthy people to borrow money at exorbitant interest rates, or sell their children to survive. By the time the autumn harvest comes, the grain has not yet been stored in the granary, and the creditors have already arrived. All their hard work throughout the year has been for the benefit of others, and they themselves are still not spared from freezing and starvation.”

"In the past, the poor borrowed money from wealthy people; now, the poor borrow money from officials." The Chu Emperor recited half a line that Zhao Qing had mentioned before. "Are you saying that Emperor You was once an 'official'? Using the power of the dynasty to implement that... 'Green Sprout Law' for the path of cultivation?"

"It was done by my own strength."

"When Emperor You first entered the Eight Realms, he established the 'Lending Law,' which was engraved on the Nine Nether Sword Shadow Wall and proclaimed to all directions. The text reads: 'From this day forward, all those in the world who aspire to the Dao but are hindered by lack of resources or blocked by bottlenecks, regardless of their background, may go to the Netherworld Palace to present their identity, explain their reasons, draft their own debt contracts, and request the lending law.'"

"Those who borrow money only need to repay a certain percentage of their true essence on time. Apart from that, their personal freedom is not restricted, their whereabouts do not need to be reported, they do not need to give away any gains they obtain, and they do not need to ask about their choices on the path."

"If you encounter calamities, injuries, or bottlenecks, you can temporarily postpone paying interest, or even seek help from Emperor You himself. At the same time, you can join Emperor You's forces, fight against enemies, and make meritorious contributions, which can also be used to pay off your debts."

"But if someone is truly unworthy of being cultivated and has a mediocre character, would Emperor You allow him to sign a contract to seek a loan?" Emperor Chu asked.

"The 'Loan Law' is certainly not limited to lending out the essence of Dharma for cultivators at the sixth realm and above, providing guidance, bestowing elixirs, and imparting cultivation techniques; it encompasses all of these," Zhao Qing continued.
"If there are those with exceptional talent and the potential to ascend to heaven, the Nether Emperor will not even take them, but will instead bestow upon them generous gifts and invite them to join the court in the future to study the Great Dao together."

Do you know the difference between "loan method" and bank lending?

She answered: "Firstly, when a bank borrows money, it lends gold, silver, and copper coins, and repays the principal and interest. But gold and silver do not grow, do not cultivate, and do not increase in value a hundred or a thousand times in the hands of the borrower. However, the true essence of a cultivator will become increasingly profound as their realm improves and they gain opportunities."

“If a cultivator at the fifth realm can advance to the sixth realm through the ‘Loan Technique,’ their efficiency in producing true essence will be several times greater than before. Even if they have to pay 30% or 50% as tribute, the remaining portion will still far exceed what they originally gained through arduous cultivation, not to mention the other benefits brought by the advancement in realm.”

"Secondly, the 'loan method' will never drive people to desperation. Although the true essence is paid, the remainder can be used by oneself. There is absolutely no reason to 'use a loan to repay a loan', let alone 'interest compounding'. In a sense, one can choose not to repay if one wants, and there is no problem in defaulting. There is no need to worry about the Nether Emperor coming to urge and collect the debt."

"The method is simple: just stop practicing."

"As long as the body stops producing true essence, there is no need to pay any share. If a fifth-realm cultivator does this and refuses to pay, their combat power will certainly be at the bottom of their level, and they will never have the chance to break through again. However, they are still better than most fourth-realm cultivators. In critical moments, they can regain the prestige of the fifth-realm."

"But in this world, how many practitioners can truly 'stop' from their current practices?"

...(End of this chapter)