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

"People's hearts are set on rising higher; when have they ever seen falling lower?"

"Those cultivators who broke through realms, extended their lives, and glimpsed higher realms through the loan method have tasted the increase in power and seen a wider world. How could they be willing to cut off their own path forward?"

"Upon reaching this step, one sees that the next step is even higher; having gained this power, one desires that opportunity. Cultivation is like rowing against the current; if one does not advance, one will fall behind, but to retreat even a step is to be unwilling."

"Desire is like a vine, climbing endlessly."

Zhao Qing continued, "Moreover, handing over 30% of one's true essence does not mean that one's cultivation speed will be reduced by three points."

"how do I say this?"

"Consider this: if a cultivator dedicates 30% of their time each day to sword practice, will their progress necessarily be 30% slower than someone who spends all day meditating and breathing exercises but never practices swordsmanship?"

"Not only will it not be slower, it may even be faster."

Zhao Qing changed the subject slightly, "Practicing swordsmanship itself accelerates the flow of true energy, tempers the resilience of the meridians, and enhances the control over power. The time and energy that seem to be 'consumed' are actually transformed into a more solid foundation and a more powerful staying power in another form."

"Regularly and quantitatively 'drawing out' a portion of true essence is certainly a loss, but there are gains as well as losses. Overall, it may not be much slower than those normal cultivators."

"The Nether Emperor has his own methods to allow the corresponding true essence to flow away while simultaneously tempering the body, washing away impurities, and making the Qi Sea and meridians cleaner and clearer, which is equivalent to improving one's aptitude."

Just like the Yellow River flowing into the sea, carrying away countless silt and sand.

Farmers dredge ditches, which may seem to reduce the water flow, but in reality, they make irrigation more even.

"From this perspective, the 'Loan Law' is indeed a path to heaven and a lifeline for countless independent cultivators and poor scholars who are trapped outside the sect's walls or suffer from the oppression of the sect."

The Chu Emperor pondered, "I suppose that when this decree was issued in the past, it shook the entire region, and people flocked to Youdu Palace to apply for loans!"

"Indeed!" Zhao Qing said calmly, "Moreover, this is only the beginning of the rise of the Nether Emperor. Since the promulgation of the 'Loan Law,' he has raised the banner of conquest, pointing his sword at numerous sects and local dynasties across the land. He destroyed the Netherworld Sect, the Winged Sect, and the Blood River Temple, and shattered the Netherfire Sect, the White Bone Sect, the Star Worship Hall, as well as hundreds of other large and small demonic sects such as the Jade Head Palace, the Heartless Mansion, and the Original Self Embryo Sect. All of them were wiped out!"

"For each faction destroyed, their treasury was seized, their spiritual veins were excavated, and the plundered spiritual herbs, rare minerals, and cultivation manuals piled up like mountains, amounting to a massive quantity. Emperor You did not hoard most of these plundered resources for his own use, but instead generously distributed them as rewards! They were given to his generals and meritorious officials who had 'taken on debt to follow him'!"

"You should know that the spiritual essence contained in a single high-grade pill is equivalent to the cultivation of an ordinary cultivator for a hundred or a thousand days. To obtain such a harvest and make one's cultivation advance by leaps and bounds, let alone repaying 30% of one's true essence, even 50% or 70% would be something countless 'debtors' would yearn for and gladly accept!"

She continued her analysis: "No matter how many rare and precious medicines there are, if only Emperor You refines them, even if he is a master of creation, it will take thousands or tens of thousands of years. Rather than letting them rot in the warehouse, it is better to reward them to useful people and let the idle assets circulate."

"Subordinates who benefit from this will advance their cultivation level faster, produce more true essence, and play a greater role in battles."

"For the 'debtors,' the debt contracts are not shackles at all. Instead, they become proof that they can share the spoils of conquest and improve rapidly. They can receive constant maintenance and nourishment from the Nether Emperor, such as setting up spirit-gathering arrays, drawing on the energy of stars, or even shifting the earth's veins to create grotto heavens. The treatment is beyond imagination!"

"Wonderful! Wonderful!"

"What a brilliant strategy of using war to sustain war, using the resources of the world to support the people of the world, and then using the people of the world to seek more resources!" The Chu Emperor exclaimed in admiration, "This is a more ingenious positive cycle than 'military merit titles'!"

The stronger the people of the world become, the richer the true essence of the Nether Emperor becomes!
"This is Emperor You's plan," Zhao Qing said. "He threw out bait that could drive any cultivator crazy—faster advancement, greater power, and a broader future. While heroes from all over the world were scrambling to swallow the bait, they were already unknowingly following the path he had paved, willingly becoming the spokes that propelled the massive war chariot of the You Dynasty."

"The high walls and barriers of the sect in the past crumbled in the face of such naked interests and hopes."

“Countless rogue cultivators, disciples of minor sects, and even disgruntled members of powerful families flocked to him. Emperor You was able to gather an unprecedentedly large force of cultivators, unimaginable in the old era, and command them with perfect ease and strict discipline. This was the fundamental reason why he was able to sweep away all obstacles and establish an unparalleled empire. It was not only due to the superiority of his military and armor, but also to the superiority of his system and the calculation of the people’s hearts.”

The Chu Emperor and Consort Zhao listened intently, as if they could see the magnificent era when, with just a debt contract and endless rewards, they could gather thousands of talents under their command and trample mountains and rivers with their iron hooves.

"And then what happened?" the Chu Emperor pressed. "Such an ingenious system, such a powerful dynasty, why did it ultimately fall?"

He had naturally read many historical books, but due to the separation of the desolate Linghuang and hundreds of years of war, there were many omissions in the records of the You Dynasty. The "Loan Law" was also lost long ago, with fragments and dried ink, making it difficult to describe the collapse of people's hearts at that time. Therefore, it was very necessary for someone like Zhao Qing, who was familiar with the truth, to disclose and interpret it.

The collapse of a dynasty is often more worthy of warning and reflection for future rulers than its rise, serving as a mirror for them.

"Because heaven and earth have an end, but the human heart has no end."

Zhao Qing's tone turned somber: "When the You Dynasty was first established, the four directions were not yet settled. There were countless strange beasts entrenched in the deep mountains, countless undiscovered ruins, and countless sects that did not submit to the king's rule. Every time a place was conquered, new resources came in; every time a sect was subdued, new borrowers joined. The momentum was getting stronger and stronger."

"But the world has its limits. When all the strange beasts have been subdued or exterminated, all the spiritual herbs have been plundered, and all the ruins have been excavated—what will happen next?"

The Chu Emperor frowned.

Zhao Qing continued, "Even without any extra gains, the amount of true essence that the borrowers need to repay will not decrease. They still have to pay on time, and still have to contribute 30% or 50%."

"The contradictions that were initially masked by rapid advancement and generous rewards began to quietly emerge. The 'creditors' suddenly realized, upon reflection, that the burden on their shoulders was indeed so heavy."

"The debt relationship is the most honest relationship, but also the most ruthless one." She sighed softly, "When you borrow, you are truly grateful. When you repay, it is truly hard."

"When debts accumulate over a long period and become excessive, it's inevitable that some people will have the thought—if there were no creditors, would the debts simply need to be repaid?" Emperor Chu continued in a low voice, a knowing sneer appearing on his withered face: "Thus, people's hearts rise and fall, and prosperity leads to decline."

“That’s right,” Zhao Qing affirmed. “There are certainly those who are absolutely loyal, and quite a few of them, after all, what Emperor You bestowed upon them far exceeds what their birth could have afforded. But the human heart is as deep as an abyss; how can everyone be the same?”

"The resentment and bitterness that fester in the shadows, like termites on rotten wood, are silent yet have already hollowed out the foundation of this colossal edifice. And what broke the back of this behemoth, the You Dynasty, was far more than just this one straw?"

She explained in detail: "The primary reason is that the 'debt contract' was broken."

"The Nether Emperor controls the debt network that covers the entire world and lends money to all living beings. Its fundamental reliance lies in the original secret technique derived from the supreme cultivation technique he relied on to achieve enlightenment, the Primordial Heavenly Dragon Mantra."

"The core of all debt contracts, the void channel for the surrender of true essence and the constraints of the laws of primordial energy, are all based on this law."

"It was regarded by Emperor You as a closely guarded secret, more precious than a jade seal. Even the Empress and the Crown Prince could not see its full extent. Only he alone held the reins and enjoyed the benefits of governing the world."

Zhao Xiangfei listened, holding her breath. She could hardly imagine how exquisite, complex, and incredibly powerful that restriction was, that it could control the cultivation lifeline of thousands of cultivators in the world with the power of a single person.

"However, no law is permanent, and no secret can be kept forever."

"When the territory of the You Dynasty reached its peak and the You Emperor's power was at its zenith, this core secret technique was ultimately discovered by a person of extraordinary talent who, through the subtle workings of countless debt contracts, found a way to secretly intercept, erode, and steal the flow of true essence, while the payers remained completely unaware of it..."

"Through his skillful cover-up, Emperor You initially thought that those people had simply made a mistake in their cultivation, and that the decrease in tribute was due to stagnation in their cultivation. He even issued a decree, bestowing pills to strengthen their foundation and hoping that those whose cultivation was 'not progressing' would recover as soon as possible and continue to pay tribute."

How ironic!

"Later, the accounts became increasingly inconsistent, and the gaps grew larger and larger. Emperor You finally noticed something was amiss and arrested and interrogated those who had 'failed to pay taxes,' sealed off the prefectures and counties where the incident occurred, and thoroughly investigated with the great power of searching the heavens and the earth. However, the real mastermind was like a ghost in the clouds, nowhere to be seen, which instead alienated him from his subordinates."

"As the 'Crossing the Origin and Crossing the Sea Technique' spread wider and wider, dozens of Grandmasters and Eighth Realm giants were secretly stealing and devouring it, causing chaos everywhere. The exact amount of True Origin Tax became an immeasurable 'black box,' making it impossible to know whether it had been stolen or how much had been stolen! The court and the public were shaken, and people were filled with fear."

This is the chain of suspicion: everyone could be a parasite secretly gnawing at the foundations of the empire, or a loyal minister who has been wrongly accused...

"Being able to exploit Emperor You's loan decrees to leech off others is a world apart from the past when one could only sign contracts to repay debts and pay tribute every ten days or so. There are loopholes to exploit, and one can reap enormous profits. Even if being caught means certain death and the extermination of one's clan, countless powerful individuals still flock to it! As a result, the laws and regulations gradually crumble, and bloodshed becomes a constant companion..."

"Emperor You was well aware of the harm it caused, and repeatedly revised the secret techniques and debt contracts. However, just as old loopholes were plugged, new ones arose. That person once again spread another version of the 'Robbery of the Primordial Essence Crossing the Seat Technique,' continuing to lure ambitious individuals into the ranks of 'stealing the primordial essence'..."

"This cycle of repairing, cracking, repairing again, and cracking again has continued for a century."

"The strong are always at a disadvantage, while the skillful are always at ease."

"This tug-of-war without the smoke of gunpowder has greatly depleted the national strength of the You Dynasty, and has also exhausted the mental strength and prestige of Emperor You."

"The battles of the ancient masters were so profound! They were not merely about the sharpness of swords and the strength of blood and qi, but also about the patterns of laws and the subtleties of the human heart." Zhao Xiangfei sighed, "Who exactly was that powerful master who could create such a miraculous technique right under the nose of the Nether Emperor? Did he leave his name in later generations?"

“It should be that the Sword Tomb Ancestor is the main one, and Lingxuzi is the assistant.” Zhao Qing thought for a moment: “I have fully comprehended the inheritance of the Sword Tomb and Lingxu Sword Sect, and I have indeed deduced and created this kind of Yuan Stealing Technique.”

She said this in a casual tone.

The Samsara Sword Realm can intercept and absorb the sword intent of all living beings, transforming it into sword grass for propagation; the Void Mirror can temper countless life energies, and neither is inferior to the other.

"Furthermore, according to later records from Gushan, Lingxuzi and Chetian Shenjiang of Youchao were actually siblings, which greatly facilitated the infiltration and corruption of the entire tributary system—after all, the latter was the powerful figure in charge of supervising officials and generals at the time."

They may not have actually become traitors, but to prevent their elder brother from being captured by the Emperor You and implicating their own family, turning a blind eye or even secretly tipping them off was enough to be fatal.

Later, when the Goddess Chetian passed away, a portion of her cultivation techniques were inherited by the Lingxu Sword Sect and the Minshan Sword Sect.

"This is an external threat, but there are also internal worries."

"Nine Deaths Silkworm," Zhao Qing uttered the name of this extraordinary skill.

The Chu Emperor's sleeves trembled, revealing his concern.

His greatest and most respected enemy in the past, now Zhao Xiangfei's "senior brother," Wang Jingmeng, the sword master of Bashan, was the former owner of the "Nine Deaths Silkworm" divine skill, and disappeared from the world with that person's death.

No, perhaps it hasn't disappeared.

If the Nine-Death Silkworm truly has the ability to revive from the dead...

"Emperor You observed silkworms in the Northern Dark Abyss and, through enlightenment, created the 'Nine Deaths Silkworm,' which directly points to the secrets of longevity in the nine realms," Zhao Qing continued. "Practicing this method requires undergoing multiple 'cocoon transformations and rebirths,' shedding the old body and being reborn as a new self, thereby getting closer to the ultimate realm of 'Eternal Law'..."

The so-called constant law means that even if the true essence is lost, one can still manipulate creation and remain eternally existing solely through supreme laws and transcendent will.

“Each time the cocoon is reborn, there is a period of weakness of varying length, during which the strength will drop to a low point. After the debt contract network was destroyed, the Nether Emperor’s recovery rate also became much slower, making it difficult for him to quickly return to a level that could suppress the world.”

Simply put, the total amount of true essence that the Nether Emperor usually possessed far exceeded that of an ordinary eighth-realm cultivator by a hundred times, like a vast ocean. He could freely use all kinds of supreme techniques without worrying about depletion.

Under such circumstances, even figures like the Sword Tomb Ancestor, Ling Xuzi, and the Three Emperors Sect Master, though top figures in the Eight Realms, could not directly confront him and could only launch guerrilla attacks from the side.

However, during the weakened period of transformation, the Nether Emperor's original absolute advantage was reversed, and he was suppressed by the true essence of his enemies.

"However, it should be noted that Emperor You actually set a trap for this 'Nine Deaths Silkworm'."

"He had long suspected that after the Empress died of old age, the Crown Prince, whose lifespan was also nearing its end, often harbored ulterior motives. So, with a test in mind, he passed on the fake Nine Deaths Silkworm Technique, which contained a fatal flaw."

The first step of the Nine Deaths Silkworm is to die once. A false scripture that prevents someone from reviving is, of course, the most fatal consequence of all.

"If the Crown Prince were to collude with those traitors and the technique were to be leaked, it would likely cause the most despicable creator of the 'Crossing the Origin and Crossing the Sea Technique' to cultivate this fake scripture and bring about his own downfall. In fact, it did indeed kill several ambitious and reckless 'rebel' leaders."

The crown prince himself never dared to practice, thus avoiding a disaster.

But if one were to actually practice it, Emperor You would most likely possess healing techniques.

"For a long time afterward, the Crown Prince of You Dynasty was regarded as an accomplice who helped the tyrant do evil and poisoned righteous people, and the Nine Deaths Silkworm became a synonym for deception and fraud... thus concealing the secret of Emperor You's weakness and serving as a cover."

"However, the crown prince was determined to go all the way. Knowing that Emperor You no longer trusted him and that it would be difficult for him to succeed to the throne, and in order to prove that he was not a treacherous official who plotted to frame 'loyal and good people,' he simply went all out. While Emperor You was in seclusion, he publicly announced that his father had made a mistake in practicing martial arts and had died suddenly deep inside the Forbidden City!"

"Immediately afterward, he forged Emperor You's 'last edict,' urgently ordering his uncle, the 'Eastern Inspector King,' to send his elite troops to the capital to 'assist in the government' and 'stabilize the court'..."

"Called a funeral procession, but in reality, it's a coup!"

"What a fine example of paternal love and filial piety!" Emperor Chu sneered. Half a year ago, he had also executed several of his sons in the same way.

Such is the way of the imperial family since ancient times.

"Extremely foolish, courting disaster." Zhao Xiangfei shook her head. Such actions, regardless of success or failure, will leave a lasting stain on one's reputation.

"Although the Eastern Patrol King is the second strongest in the You Dynasty, he is far from being a match for the You Emperor. Moreover, he is burdened with debt contracts, and his true essence is not under his control. If the You Emperor had not been cultivating the Nine Deaths Silkworm in seclusion, and if the Nine Deaths Silkworm did not have a period of weakness, then he would have been suppressed in an instant."

Zhao Qing paused for a moment: "Since the Crown Prince did not reveal the full plot of the rebellion, the Eastern Inspector King was both shocked and horrified when he entered Youdu. Although he did not want to join the rebellion, he found it difficult to make a decision and carry out the act of sacrificing his own family for the greater good. Knowing that turmoil was about to break out in the world, he could only temporarily take over the defense of Youdu and send his nephew into the palace to investigate the Emperor's true situation."

"He said: If the God Emperor is unharmed, I will surely kill you, you wretched creature, to appease the world! If the God Emperor truly meets with misfortune... we will discuss the aftermath later."

"That being said, this hesitation has already made a grave mistake."

"The Crown Prince entered the palace, slaughtered hundreds of guards, and searched deep within the forbidden area, where he found a huge pale white silkworm cocoon floating in the center of the main hall! Who else could it be but the You Emperor in the process of metamorphosis?"

"Upon seeing this, he was overjoyed and immediately began to inscribe Dao patterns, wield his magic weapon, and unleash the divine power 'Crescent Moon'. He used his mid-level eighth-realm cultivation without reservation and slashed fiercely at the giant cocoon!"

"And then?" the Chu Emperor pressed.

"Then it failed to break through the defenses," Zhao Qing said with a hint of sarcasm. "The entire hall was reduced to ashes, the mountains and rivers for miles around trembled, and the palace walls collapsed in sections, but the cocoon remained completely unharmed! This is because the Nether Emperor's Technique is actually a complete overhaul of the Crown Prince's Method, covering all of its primordial energy laws, thus making it invincible from the start."

"His first attack failed, and in a flash, the Crown Prince's mind raced. He knew the situation was hopeless. Killing his father and seizing the throne was now a pipe dream, and what had happened today could not be concealed! His escape route was exhausted, and there was only one way out..."

"escape!"

"He caught sight of a gray jade talisman and the Nine Netherworld King Sword lying side by side in the hole exposed by the collapse of the main hall. He immediately used his true essence to sweep them over, snatched them into his arms, and flew out of the palace like a madman!"

"The Eastern Patrol King had already heard the commotion and saw a dazzling streak of light shooting out from afar. He immediately understood the situation and was about to give chase to capture the fiend when he saw the giant cocoon slowly crack open, unleashing a torrent of Netherworld Fire that filled the sky and turned the palace into scorched earth..."

"Emperor You forcibly emerged from seclusion?!" Zhao Xiangfei's mind raced, and she already knew the reason: "Although the Crown Prince cannot break free from his cocoon, the Eastern Patrol King certainly can. The auras of these two appeared alternately, and Emperor You, sensing the latter's sudden approach, mistakenly thought that he was about to attack again!"

"Such a 'coincidence,' how can we not be suspicious?" Zhao Qing said calmly. "Moreover, this so-called visit to the palace is a tacit consent: if the Crown Prince really has the ability to kill his father, then it proves that the Mandate of Heaven has passed, the old emperor should perish, and a new emperor should be established."

"'Looking back and forth, hesitating and indecisive!' After a moment of silence, the Nether Emperor muttered a few curses, but did not severely punish the Eastern Patrol King. He merely stripped him of his military power and ordered him to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors, forbidding him from stepping out of the Eastern Divine King's Heavenly Palace in Nether Capital."

"That being said, the main reason is that we broke out of our cocoon prematurely and suffered heavy losses. We need to keep such strong people on the sidelines to guard against the many potential traitors, suppress the court, appease the people, and quell the panic caused by the rebellious son spreading rumors of the emperor's death."

"But those forces that had been secretly watching for a long time had already raised the banner of 'punishing the wicked and punishing the tyrannical' before the news was clear. They thought the time was right and rose up in droves, rebelling one after another. The flames of war spread across the thirty-three states, and the number of righteous armies was countless!"

"The world has suffered from 'disturbance' for too long! Once the dikes break, the floodwaters will be overwhelming."

"For hundreds of years, many of the generals under the command of Emperor You have practiced demonic arts and evil magic. Although they did not slaughter innocent lives, they were ruthless and cruel in their actions, and relied on harsh laws and punishments to turn thousands of prisoners into resources. This has long caused widespread resentment and the people's hearts were boiling."

"The remnants of those sects that were wiped out, the suppressed righteous forces, the 'creditors' who harbored resentment and even 'stole' and devoured talent, all rose up in rebellion at this moment, gathering into a surging torrent and towering waves, vowing to completely overturn this dark cloud and majestic imperial palace that weighed on their heads!"

The Chu Emperor sighed deeply, whether lamenting the fate of the You Dynasty or warning himself: "This is what it means to be betrayed by everyone and abandoned by all. No matter how powerful you are or how profound your skills are, when the whole world rebels and you lose the hearts of the people, you will be all alone, facing the vast ocean."

Zhao Qing continued her narration:

"Although Emperor You issued an edict upon leaving the pass, summoning the border troops back to aid the capital: 'The Emperor is unwell, and villains are causing trouble. Upon receiving this edict, lead your elite troops to rush to the aid of Youdu day and night. Along the way, exterminate any rebellious tribes and destroy their lineage!' However, the territory of the You Dynasty is unprecedentedly vast, and the various patrol kings and divine generals are stationed thousands of miles away..."

Even if one travels day and night, how can one arrive in a day or two?

"Moreover, the rebellion has become a raging fire, and they will inevitably face endless harassment, interception, and ambush on their way back!"

"How can they compare to the rebel leaders who traversed the void to arrive, namely the Sword Tomb Ancestor, Ling Xuzi, and Lonely Mountain Sword Saint, among other top-tier beings of the Eighth Realm? These people had already learned of the Crown Prince's previous rumors and arrived even earlier than the Eastern Patrol King, having been lying in wait all along!"

"In an instant, they swarmed forward and engaged in battle with the Nether Emperor, the Eastern Patrol King, and the Heaven-Piercing and Annihilation God Generals who were also in the capital. Numerous demon servants, god-king warships, and Yuanfu golden men ascended to the sky. The sky above Nether Capital instantly turned into a meat grinder, and tens of thousands of cultivators fell like rain, their blood staining the entire sky red!"

"Although his true essence was scarce and his body was only just beginning to solidify, the Nether Emperor could draw upon the surrounding Yin and Nether Death Qi and had the Nether Dragon under his command to assist him in replenishing his magical power, so he should not have been defeated. However, at the beginning of the great battle, his natal magic weapon, the Nether Divine Silkworm, was tacitly thrown into the void turbulence and drifted into the sky, which laid the foundation for the victory of the righteous army."

"After several days of fierce fighting, both divine generals and the Nether Dragon have perished. The newly arrived Western Patrol King and Northern Patrol King are being held back by the Eight Realms of the Righteous Army and a large number of Grandmasters who came to their aid at the same time, and are unable to spare any attention."

"The Nether Emperor fought alone against three major enemies, and the Eastern Patrol King managed to hold off the remaining one, but it was ultimately unsustainable... In the end, the Sword Tomb Ancestor pierced his skull with a single sword strike, Ling Xuzi shredded the Emperor's body into pieces, and the Three Emperors Sect Master was blasted apart by the counterattack, his body and soul annihilated..."

"Emperor You died just like that."

"An era has come to an end."

"The Eastern Patrol King charged in desperately, snatching more than a dozen pieces of the remains. Ling Xuzi did not stop him, and also collected the corpse of the Heavenly General, letting it leave in despair. Then, he turned around and attacked the Western and Northern Patrol Kings—Don't fight or get entangled with those who are at their wits' end. This is a lesson that someone just learned with their life."

"After breaking through the encirclement, the Eastern Patrol King did not flee far. Knowing the direction the Crown Prince had fled, he followed the trail of his aura and successfully found the Crown Prince's trace in front of a cliff in a desolate mountain range."

"Or rather, corpses."

"It turns out that the Crown Prince fled Youdu in a panic, heading south, intending to seek refuge with the powerful families and clans in the southern states with whom he had long been in cahoots, and then seek protection from the Southern Xunwang clan, which was related to his grandson by marriage, in order to plan his next move."

"If the other party refuses to accept, after all, I have the imperial weapon and the true method of immortality in my hands, which are rare commodities. Even if I lose the country, I may not be unable to start anew, or wait until my father is defeated and killed before I plan to return."

"But he never expected that the pursuit would come so quickly, and that it was not from the forces directly under the You Emperor, nor from the rebels."

"Oh?" The Chu Emperor's eyes flashed. "Could it be the accomplices, relatives, and descendants of those who were 'harmed' by his fake scriptures?"

“Exactly,” Zhao Qing said. “In this world, cause and effect, retribution is inevitable.”

"These people seeking revenge were quite lucky. On the way, they were bewitched by a Supreme Elder from the Sword Tomb and led in the wrong direction. They happened to abduct the Crown Prince who was resting and recuperating. More than a hundred Seventh Realm Grandmasters surrounded him outside Qiyun Cave and set up a trap."

"As a result, the Crown Prince unleashed thirty-two sword strikes, wiping them all out. The direct line of the Nether Emperor is not to be shaken by such a rabble. Even though he fled a thousand miles in blood and his true essence was depleted, he was still an eighth-realm cultivator who had awakened the heavens. He wielded the Emperor's Sword and was invincible, killing enemies as easily as weeds."

"It's incredibly powerful!" The Chu Emperor was suddenly shocked.

Earlier, he was described as a useless fool who couldn't break through the opponent's defenses and fled in a sorry state. However, the actual number of casualties in this battle was like a thunderclap, demonstrating the weight of an eighth-level expert.

"After wielding the thirty-two swords, the prince died from exhaustion. Before his death, he sealed the jade talisman containing the true text of the 'Nine Deaths Silkworm' deep into the cliff face. Then he sat upright, leaning on his sword, facing north. His eyes held no trace of regret, hatred, resentment, or shame. In the end, he turned into a skeleton."

The Chu Emperor remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "He is... a man of character. It's a pity he's born into an imperial family."

When the Eastern Patrol King arrived, he found the body already cold, the sword marks still fresh. He couldn't help but shed tears, weeping as he embraced the sword. He then lit several strands of ghostly fire, burning the prince and his enemy to ashes and refining them into his life essence. He used his divine eyes to examine the jade talisman in the cliff, created a copy, and gave it to his clansmen, so that the imperial weapon, the imperial body, and the imperial technique could be buried together.

"On the seventh day after Emperor You's death, the patrolling king returned to Youxu alone and attempted to assassinate the founder of the Sword Tomb, but failed and was beheaded on the spot. The new generation of the strongest in the world sacrificed his man and issued a sword decree to support the new emperor. From then on, the Sword Tomb became the supreme authority of all nations and sects. Whenever a feudal lord from all directions ascended the throne, he had to present a precious sword as a congratulatory gift in order to obtain permission."

"However, the Sword Tomb had no interest in worldly affairs, and its actual control was only one province. Before a hundred years had passed, the illustrious ruler had been removed, and the world returned to division from unification. Various countries stood together and attacked each other. Among them, the nine eastern provinces, also known as the 'Central Lands,' gradually evolved into the current pattern of multiple dynasties standing side by side."

"And that former Youdu is now... Yan territory."

"Although Emperor You was defeated and his system was destroyed, how profound was his influence? Hundreds of years have passed, but even today, some people still firmly believe that he has never truly died and yearn for his return to the world."

In truth, Emperor You was not inherently evil. On the contrary, those who overthrew him were mostly greedy and treacherous. Moreover, he was most unlucky to encounter the political master, the Sword Tomb Ancestor, who gradually guided and molded him into the image of a tyrant, and the latter had the help of the runaway king, Ling Xuzi.

"How could the poison have lingered for so long?"

Zhao Xiangfei frowned slightly: "The rise and fall of dynasties and feudal lords throughout history is a common occurrence. For those who lose their country, their remaining people and supporters often scatter within three generations. Even if they miss their former masters and cherish the glory of their ancestors, it is nothing more than a touch of melancholy and a few sighs in the poems of literati."

"How could someone hold onto a belief for hundreds of years without letting it fade away?"

"Isn't this a bit too fanatical!"

“Fanatical beliefs stem from unwavering faith and worship,” Zhao Qing said casually, revealing this kind of mentality. “Techniques that transcend the ‘human world’ level are the spiritual pillar for the remnants of the You Dynasty to commemorate the past.”

"Unlike the remnants of the previous dynasty who gradually become ordinary, this group has maintained great power for generations, claiming that they are no less than the imperial nobles outside the capital in every aspect, and may even surpass them..."

"In fact, there are quite a few who insist that their family bloodline is no different from that of the 'gods' and that they are born superior to all people."

"The former leaders of the rebel army were nothing but 'carrion-eating' thieves who stole the true essence and the country. Their methods were despicable and disgraceful."

"This is a typical example of a nihilistic sense of superiority created through hierarchical cognition and scripted portrayal, which is used to cover up the current destitute situation of being forced to shrink to the periphery. In order to 'correct' the 'distorted' reality and realign the 'divine blood' with its rightful status, they are obsessed with such long-term activities of resurrecting the Nether Emperor and rebuilding the Great Nether, and are unwilling to give it up."

To put it bluntly, it's exactly the same as the obsession of the Murong clan of Gusu with restoring their kingdom. If they didn't have high martial arts skills generation after generation, how could they maintain this ridiculous identity as part of the Great Yan? And how could they attract followers willing to get involved?
She has some authority to speak on this mentality.

"Are there many descendants of the You Dynasty? How did they manage to convince people from other clans to believe their story?" Zhao Xiangfei asked. "Even if there were, it would be quite rare for them to rush to become lowly 'commoners'."

As is well known, the "god race" does not engage in intermarriage to spread their bloodline, in order to maintain purity. Therefore, in their narrative framework, the ordinary "native" people are at most servants who can be driven and tamed, rather than equal "people of the race".

This clearly presents a natural obstacle to the absorption of external forces.

“In most of the past, fabricating a false origin to deceive outsiders and serve them was no different from a poor family attaching themselves to a powerful family and pretending to be an aristocratic family,” Zhao Qing replied calmly. “But now that it involves tampering with the Lushan Alliance, which may be detrimental to the Yan Dynasty, it is difficult to hide it anymore.”

"Therefore, in the past two or three months, a large number of vassal clans have been specially told several times about the glorious and tragic history of the Great You Dynasty, truly understanding the origins of the 'Lord' and receiving the promise of the 'Lending Law'. By welcoming the You Emperor back as a creditor, everyone has a chance to advance, and aptitude and resources are no longer obstacles on the path of cultivation!"

Thanks to this, her understanding of the history of the You Dynasty has increased significantly, and she has gained a lot without having to deliberately seek it out.

Emperor You himself and Ding Ning also provided a lot of important information.

This allowed Zhao Qing to successfully piece together the pattern hidden in the mist.

They saw clearly the gains and losses, merits and demerits of the You Dynasty and the righteous army.

"Yan territory..." Emperor Chu stroked his beard: "Among the Yan people, there are countless remnants of the You Dynasty hidden among them. Presumably, during the Lushan Incident, many such 'interested individuals' infiltrated Emperor Yan's entourage and ceremonial procession. They took advantage of the alliance meeting to secretly set up rituals and mechanisms, and used some means to allow that 'golden-armored god' to descend from the heavens?"

This is a conclusion that can be easily derived.

"But why Deer Mountain of all places? Over the past few hundred years, those remnant clans must have tried more than once, so why did they succeed this time?" His eyes sharpened: "This is what I don't understand."

He did not believe in the vague and illusory concept of destiny.

The choice of Lushan as the location for the alliance meeting was largely due to considerations of geographical and political balance. However, there are many other cultivation sites in the world with richer spiritual energy and more powerful earth veins than Lushan. It wouldn't even rank in the top 100.

"Could it be... a blood sacrifice?" Zhao Xiangfei guessed.

"Fifty thousand elite Qin soldiers?" the Chu emperor interjected.

“Not just,” Zhao Qing said.

……

Changling, corner tower.

Spring is cold.

The long-bearded old man in the rattan chair drank two bowls of hot tea, picked up the dark blue longsword beside him, placed it in front of his knees, and carefully sensed it with his divine sense, recalling one dangerous scene after another on the day of the alliance meeting.

Emperor Han Chen's Danhuo Sword should have been tangible but intangible, yet his true realm had actually risen to a level infinitely close to the eighth realm. The sum of two half-step eighth realms was equivalent to the eighth realm.

Yan Ying's heart meridian was pierced by a sword, transforming him into a pure Yin Yuan ghost body. He should have died after the battle due to exhaustion of his consciousness, but he did not die. Not only did he not die, but he even reshaped his body and restored his physical form, and Emperor Qi welcomed him back to the imperial palace in ecstasy. (End of this chapter)