Lord of the Earth

"senior……"

Just as Li Ling looked at this human god who seemed to have touched the realm of "quasi-true god" with a determined gaze, about to say something.

The latter suddenly swung his axe at Li Ling, and the seemingly simple axe in his hand instantly locked onto Li Ling with a terrifying aura that seemed capable of splitting chaos and severing the river of time!

"not good!"

"careful!"

This scene surprised everyone.

After all, Wu Gang's phantom hadn't reacted at all to Li Kui's reckless attack earlier.

At this moment, Li Ling merely asked for permission, yet it triggered such a violent reaction. How could this not be alarming?
However, faced with this sudden, seemingly earth-shattering, sharp aura, Li Ling stood firm and unmoved, his eyes instead bursting forth with an even more intense light!
"Om-!"

The ancient axe, imbued with divine light, did not strike down. Instead, a dark golden axe-shaped Daoist aura, condensed to its extreme and seemingly compressed from countless rules, flew out from it!

This Daoist aura is not vast, yet it contains the sharpness to "slay" all things, the immortality to "uphold" one's true nature, the stubbornness to "confront" the rules, and the sedimentation to endure the "solitude" of eternity.

It tore through the void, ignored all defenses, and went straight into Li Ling's brow!

"Well--!"

Li Ling's body suddenly trembled violently, as if struck by lightning, with veins bulging on his forehead, as if his head was about to explode.

That axe-shaped Daoist aura was like a spark, instantly igniting a torrent of memories buried deep in his heart, and scenes of the rise and fall of his family flashed rapidly through his mind.

The tragic and resentful suicide of his grandfather Li Guang after losing his chance to fight in the northern desert; the injustice and anger of his uncle Li Gan being shot and killed by Huo Qubing; and the heavy expectation he himself, as a posthumous child, had carried since childhood on the shoulders of the family's revitalization and the washing away of humiliation...

As a young man, he was determined to improve himself and diligently practiced horsemanship, archery, and military tactics.

After coming of age, he spoke eloquently before His Majesty, requesting to emulate the Marquis of Champion, Huo Qubing, to penetrate deep into the northern desert, wipe out the enemy's stronghold, and vindicate the Li family with his outstanding military achievements; how spirited he was at that time!

However, leading five thousand warriors from Jingchu beyond the Great Wall, they encountered a siege by tens of thousands of Xiongnu cavalry. The whistling of arrows piercing the air filled their ears, and their comrades fell one after another around them.

It was a fierce and bloody battle fought by infantry and cavalry!
They annihilated countless enemies, striking fear into the hearts of the Xiongnu, but ultimately ran out of ammunition and food, and were isolated and without support...

In order to save the lives of his remaining soldiers, and also because of his belief that he should "remain alive to serve in the future," he laid down his weapons.

After surrendering, although he was treated well in the land of the Xiongnu, he missed his homeland day and night, and the flame in his heart to return to Han to serve the country and prove himself never went out.

He imagined himself like Su Wu, returning to Han with imperial credentials, and like his grandfather, fighting his way back from the Xiongnu to don the armor of the Han Dynasty...

However, what awaited them was the devastating news that their entire family had been executed!
At that moment, the world lost its color, and faith collapsed.

"The general has fought a hundred battles and his reputation is ruined, but when he looks back, his old friends are gone forever!"

A general who has fought a hundred battles has not gained merit, but rather disgrace, ruin, and the destruction of his family!
These memories, which had been deliberately sealed away, were now transformed into countless invisible arrows, piercing his mind wildly, under the influence of Wu Gang's Daoist aura.

A deep, bone-chilling pain, resentment, and anger almost consumed him...

The pain in his heart, his anger, his resentment... all these intense emotions did not break him. Instead, they collided and merged wildly with the true meaning of "fighting against fate," "enduring loneliness," and "persevering in desperate situations" contained in Wu Gang's Taoist philosophy!
But it was in this extreme emotional storm that Li Ling's stubbornness was completely unleashed!

"A man's heart is as firm as iron until death; he will try his hand to mend the crack in the sky!"

A line from a poem by the commander of the "White Tiger Legion" of the Qianxia Dynasty, a "dragon among poets" of later generations, suddenly resounded in his heart!

It is a tenacious will that never retreats, even when faced with dire straits, burdened with immense weight, or heartbroken and devastated.

At this moment, Li Ling understood the state of mind of this great god who was ordered by the Heavenly Emperor to "cut down the cassia tree"!
That eternal logging is not simply a punishment, but a stance, a stance of resistance that never stops or bows down in the face of seemingly unshakable rules and the punishment of eternal loneliness!
This ceaseless sound of chisels and axes is his battle song against fate!
"I understand!"

Li Ling shouted in his heart.

"It is not because of punishment that I am bound by it, but because I am practicing my way! Even if the road ahead is long and I am all alone, my heart will be as firm as iron and my will will never waver!"

At this moment, the originally violently surging axe-shaped Daoist aura instantly became gentle and majestic, like rivers flowing into the sea, perfectly merging with Li Ling's long-trained and tenacious will!

"boom!"

A surge of powerful inherited information rushed in, revealing how to forge one's will into an indestructible "heart axe," how to draw strength from seemingly hopeless predicaments to nourish oneself, and how to transform eternal "solitude" and "repetition" into the supreme method for honing one's "battle spirit" in a crucible!

"Look! General Li Ling!"

Li Ling's aura began to rise at an astonishing speed. The barrier to his realm, which had been stagnant due to his inner conflict, was shattered, and he officially stepped into the "Second Heaven of Godhood" realm!
Li Ling opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning, and deep within his pupils seemed to flash the shadows of two miniature axes that seemed to split the heavens.

His aura was as solid as a mountain, yet it also contained a sharpness capable of splitting the heavens.

He clasped his hands in a deep salute to the fading phantom of Wu Gang in front of him.
it is more than words.

This is a tribute between warriors across time and space, a mutual recognition of frustrated souls and immortal will.

With this legacy of "slaying and perseverance," he was confident that he could overcome all the difficulties and obstacles on his path.

For the human race, for Qianxia, ​​and for himself, he forged a completely new path and reached the summit!
Even more surprisingly, before Wu Gang's phantom completely dissipated, he made a gesture with his large hand toward the stone urn under the laurel tree.

A stream of amber-colored, crystal-clear wine, exuding a rich spiritual energy and a cool osmanthus fragrance, flew out as if it had a life of its own. In the air, it automatically condensed into a jar of "Osmanthus Fairy Wine" that was only a foot tall, and slowly flew to Li Ling's front.

An ancient and vague divine thought then arrived.

"I bestow upon you courage, temper your spirit, and cleanse your heart of worldly dust."

Li Ling solemnly accepted the jar of celestial wine, which seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, with both hands, and bowed deeply to the void once more, his voice resounding.

"Thank you for the wine, senior! I will remember this kindness and this path, and I will use this body and this 'axe' to pave the way for our human race and cut through the thorns!"

He turned to face Xia Tian and the others, raised the Osmanthus Wine in his hand, and reported in a deep voice, his voice filled with unprecedented confidence and power.

"Your Majesty! I have been fortunate enough to fulfill my mission and have gained the approval of the great god Wu Gang, receiving the teachings of the 'Slaying and Perseverance' and being bestowed with Osmanthus Immortal Wine! I, Ling, wish to offer this teachings and this wine to the court, to help my sons of Qianxia to strengthen their will, overcome obstacles, and forge an indomitable fighting spirit!"

"it is good!"

Summer was overjoyed and said loudly.

"Commander Li Ling proved the Dao with his heart, awakening Wu Gang's divine seal and making a great contribution to our China! He is awarded one million Heavenly Yuan Gold Coins. If this Osmanthus Immortal Wine is mass-produced or sold in the future, one-tenth of the profits will be given to Commander Li Ling to recognize his merit!"

Xia Tian knew clearly that the significance of this inheritance, which was close to the strength of a "quasi-true god," was extremely important.

For example, Wu Song was able to easily reach the "Peerless God" level of the Third Heaven. This was not only because of his extraordinary talent, but also because he was an elder of the Qianxia Dynasty and had successfully traversed the three "Peerless Paths," demonstrating his profound knowledge and experience.

As for the outstanding talents like Gan Ning and Li Ling, who joined later but possess superior or even top-tier potential, many may find it difficult to break through the shackles of the third level in their entire lives due to the limited time for growth and the increasing difficulty of breakthroughs.

Now, Li Ling has obtained Wu Gang's inheritance, which is comparable to the level of a "quasi-true god". This is equivalent to opening a door to a higher realm for him and greatly increasing his chances of ascending to the fourth heaven in the future!

Just as some of the Liangshan generals had previously obtained the "108 Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends Demon Stars" mark, many Earthly Fiends members who might have otherwise stopped at the Saint Realm or Demigod Realm had a major opportunity to break through to the God Realm.

"Unfortunately, the core inheritance mark of the Fairy Chang'e remains hidden. I wonder what kind of extraordinary talent would be needed to finally gain her approval?" While everyone was delighted with Li Ling's gains, they couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

In the Moon Palace, Wu Gang and the Jade Rabbit can both be considered "subordinates," but Chang'e, as the master of the Moon Palace, is the most crucial figure, and her succession is even related to the ownership of this "Moon Palace."

"It seems that the fairy Chang'e has very high standards... It is probably difficult for ordinary people to gain her approval."

Someone sighed softly.

"Perhaps we should go and seek out some outstanding individuals..."

Wu Yong gently waved his feather fan and pondered for a moment.

"For example, I know a person... who, for some reason, has had a tragic fate, yet is exceptionally talented and is known as the greatest female genius of all time... Her life is adrift, and her mind is solitary, which may resonate with the spirit of Chang'e."

Summer's thoughts raced, and she already knew who he was referring to.

Indeed, the legendary poet who lived during the transition between the Northern and Southern Song dynasties, whose life was marked by wandering and whose later state of mind was filled with loneliness and desolation, bears a striking resemblance to the legend of the Moon Palace.

However, this woman's whereabouts are currently unknown, and she has not joined Qian Xia's camp.

Seeking an invitation is not something that can be done overnight.

"Emperor Xia, may we send someone to give it a try?"

At this time, Sun Ce and Cao Ang, who led troops under Cao Cao, volunteered to Xia Tian almost simultaneously.

During this exploration, there were also outstanding individuals from other factions accompanying the team. Seeing that Qian Xia had made no progress, they naturally did not want to miss such an opportunity.

"can."

Summer nodded in agreement.

The first to step forward was a woman from the Cao Wei camp.

She held a scorched-tail guqin in her arms, her gentle demeanor carrying a hint of serene composure born of experience.

She was not enlightened; she simply plucked the strings with her slender fingers, and a mournful yet resilient melody began to play.

The music began with a mournful tone, as if weeping and lamenting, expressing the sorrow of being far from home and the endless longing for one's homeland; then it turned into a deep and somber tone, containing a profound understanding of the vicissitudes of fate, as well as the resilience that has never been worn down by hardship.

The ethereal music caused the surrounding moonlight to ripple slightly. The illusory figure of Chang'e under the cassia tree seemed to sense something, and the jade rabbit in her arms twitched its ears. Its cool gaze fell on the woman playing the zither, carrying a hint of melancholy as if recalling its own wandering.

A few glistening osmanthus petals drifted down from the treetops, blending into the music of the zither. A moonlight imprint, imbued with the magical powers of "calming the mind and spirit" and "expressing grief," slowly merged into the woman's body.

"It's 'Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute'! Could this woman be Cai Wenji, the daughter of Cai Zhonglang?"

Zhou Yu, a master of music, was deeply moved at this moment.

"The sorrow of separation and the pain of homesickness contained in its music truly touched upon the fragments of memories of 'separation' and 'drifting' in the heart of the fairy Chang'e, thus attracting the blessing of the moon and obtaining this part of the inheritance imprint that leans towards 'tranquility' and 'entrustment'."

"However, this sorrow and suffering ultimately lean towards the vicissitudes of the mortal world and fail to fully touch the deeper state of mind of the Lord of the Moon Palace."

Zhuge Liang, who was also an expert in music, waved his feather fan and began to speak.

This person was none other than Cai Wenji.

Her life was full of hardships. She was captured by the Xiongnu and later ransomed by Cao Cao. After that, she created the poem "Eighteen Songs of the Hu Ji" and was known as the greatest female talent in the Three Kingdoms period!

Unfortunately, it still couldn't elicit much of a reaction from Chang'e.

"Miss Long, thank you for your trouble."

Seeing this, Sun Ce turned his gaze to a silent white figure in his own camp. The woman, known as Miss Long, nodded silently and slowly stepped out.

This young woman… judging from her demeanor, she is aloof and ethereal, as if she has long lived in a secluded valley, untouched by worldly concerns. Could she be the descendant of the Ancient Tomb Raider, Little Dragon Girl?

Someone who knew them spoke up.

Without any musical instruments or words, Xiaolongnu simply stood quietly under the moonlight.

That profound loneliness and purity, born from growing up in the Tomb of the Living Dead and being almost completely isolated from the world, seems to be a natural reflection of the aura of the Moon Palace on earth.

As if drawn by the source, the moonlight spontaneously converged upon her, forming a clear yet solid halo of light around her, far surpassing the brilliance of Cai Wenji's earlier radiance.

The illusory image of Chang'e under the cassia tree was clearly moved by the extreme "cold loneliness," and the jade rabbit in her arms even curiously poked its head out.

A pure and clear divine power of the moon surged into her body, bestowing upon her a powerful "mark" inheritance, which included the agile movement technique of the "Jade Rabbit Heart Sutra" and the fierce offensive technique of the "Cold Moon Sword Art," both of which are extremely practical Taiyin divine abilities.

The life experiences of Xiaolongnu are highly similar to those of "Chang'e," so theoretically she should have achieved some success... However, she still failed to obtain the "core mark"!
"It seems that neither the sorrow of drifting through the world nor the tranquility of being born of nature are the correct answers."

Some people sighed softly, feeling helpless.

In the midst of this somewhat quiet atmosphere, a voice suddenly rang out from beside Xia Tian.

"Gentlemen, why don't I give it a try too?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Huang Rong smiling sweetly. Her white dress made her skin look even whiter than snow, and her eyes were full of wit and liveliness, which was quite different from the image of the cold and sad fairy Chang'e in the legend.

"Rong'er, are you sure?"

Xia Tian looked somewhat surprised.

Not only him, but many people around him also showed expressions of confusion.

"Miss Huang's lively and outgoing personality seems to have little in common with the aloof and elegant temperament of the Moon Goddess Chang'e?"

"The mica screen reflects the deep candlelight, the Milky Way fades as the morning star sinks. Chang'e must regret stealing the elixir, her heart yearning for the blue sea and sky every night!"

In the traditional understanding of the public, Chang'e was separated from Hou Yi forever because she stole the elixir of immortality. Her state of mind should be mostly one of long-lasting regret and sorrow, which is quite different from the impression Huang Rong usually gives people.

Amidst the astonished and puzzled gazes of many, Huang Rong did not display any martial arts skills or talents. She simply stood quietly, her gaze involuntarily and deeply fixed on the direction where Xia Tian was.

Her eyes, which were always filled with a smile.

At this moment, however, it becomes complex and profound, containing endless emotions.

Just then, something unexpected happened!
Beneath the towering laurel tree, the usually aloof and self-possessed phantom of Chang'e showed a clear and proactive reaction for the first time!

She didn't just gaze at him; she slightly raised her head, and the jade rabbit in her arms leaped down gracefully, looking up at Huang Rong. Even more astonishing was...

On Chang'e's eternally beautiful face, seemingly frozen in frost, a faint yet undeniably real emotional fluctuation seemed to flicker across it! (End of Chapter)