I searched for corpses in the Wuding River to extract entries

As soon as Xie Que stepped out of the Illusory Realm, he saw a silent crack appear before his eyes.

An ordinary-looking old man emerged from the crowd, but his face showed an indescribable weariness.

The old man smiled and said softly, "Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on finally reaching the realm of Immortal Emperor. From now on, your path to cultivation will be bright, and your life will be prosperous. It is truly a cause for celebration!"

Xie Que nodded slightly in gratitude upon hearing this.

His gaze fell on the old man, scrutinizing this man who called himself the Heavenly Emperor, and he secretly pondered the purpose of his visit.

The Celestial Emperor Tianyan raised his head, exchanged a glance with Xie Que, and slowly said, "This is the first time in five million years that a Celestial Emperor has fallen!"

His voice revealed a hint of感慨 about the passage of time.

Xie Que simply shook his head and calmly replied, "On the path of cultivation, competition is fierce, and life and death are commonplace."

However, the Heavenly Emperor's tone suddenly changed, becoming cold and resolute, with a hint of resentment mixed in:

"However, there is only one path to enlightenment, and the opportunity to attain it is fleeting."

"I have been searching for millions of years and finally caught a glimpse of an opportunity, but because of my own mistakes, I ultimately missed it."

A bitter smile appeared on his lips as he shook his head self-deprecatingly, a hint of pain flashing deep in his eyes.

"Back then, how arrogant I was! I actually dared to try to create a path that could rival that ethereal 'fate'."

"For this reason, I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to divination, trying to calculate all the secrets of the world..."

"But all of this is just an illusion, like a flower in a mirror or the moon in the water, seemingly beautiful but forever unattainable."

"In the end, not only did I fail to achieve my goal, but I also suffered a backlash from the Great Dao, which almost severed my path."

Xie Que listened quietly to his story. Although he did not fully understand what the other person meant by "destiny" and "the Great Dao," he still nodded in response.

Just then, a fanatical light flashed in the eyes of the Heavenly Emperor.

"However, as the saying goes, 'when you are put in a life-or-death situation, you will find a way out,' and unexpected opportunities often lie hidden between life and death."

His voice was slightly low, but it revealed a sense of determination and longing.

"I have spent countless years searching for the Way, but I have found no one who dares to discuss the Way with me on the topic of life and death."

"But seeing you today, my fellow Daoist, I feel as if I have seen a glimmer of hope."

The Heavenly Emperor stared intently at Xie Que, his fervor growing ever stronger, as if a flame were burning within him.

"Therefore, I hope that you, fellow Daoist, can grant me this last shred of obsession and engage me in a life-or-death duel!"

Xie Que instantly understood the Heavenly Emperor's intention. It turned out that what he was pursuing was a kind of ultimate deduction Dao similar to "fate" or "cause and effect".

However, this path is too defying the heavens, making it almost impossible to truly and perfectly attain the Great Dao and become a Dao Lord.

Now, he has found himself, hoping to make up for the regrets in his heart through a life-or-death battle, and to achieve the perfection of the Great Dao.

Xie Que's path in martial arts has always been one of courage and unwavering determination.

Therefore, when faced with the challenge from the Heavenly Emperor, he naturally did not hesitate or refuse in the slightest.

In fact, Xie Que had long anticipated this. He knew that since there could only be one person to prove the Dao, he would inevitably encounter endless bloodshed after embarking on the path of cultivation.

Just like the Immortal Emperor of the Void, he was sent into the Void Illusionary Realm without any warning.

On that day, with a wave of his hand, Emperor Yanxian caused the void to tremble, and a huge chaotic chessboard spanning billions of light-years appeared before the two of them.

This chaotic chessboard, with the Milky Way as its warp and the serpent of time as its weft, features flowing light and shadow, and countless historical fragments can be vaguely seen rising and falling within it.

This is also a symbol of the "Heavenly Evolution" Dao of the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Emperor.

The Celestial Emperor Tianyan looked at Xie Que and said in a deep voice, "Today, let's use this game to gamble on the end of our paths! What do you say?"

Xie Que's martial will reached its peak at this moment, and he answered without hesitation: "When the Great Dao clashes, there is no way to avoid it!"

"I accept this challenge! Today, I will test the Immortal Emperor's 'Heavenly Evolution' Dao through martial arts!"

The Celestial Emperor Tianyan nodded slightly in agreement, and smiled as he said to Xie Que, "In that case, please make the first move with the black pieces, fellow Daoist!"

Xie Que's heart stirred upon hearing these words.

He raised his head and stared at the Heavenly Emperor, thinking to himself that the other party was so generous in letting him make the first move, which undoubtedly gave him an opportunity to gain the upper hand.

It seems that the Celestial Emperor Tianyan is truly determined to go all in this time.

Xie Que's gaze slowly fell on the chessboard, where countless lights and shadows appeared and disappeared, as if they contained endless mysteries.

He gazed at the light and shadow, pondered for a moment, and finally fixed his gaze on a corner of the chessboard.

In that corner, Xie Que saw Emperor Xin indulging in wine, women, and sensual pleasures, showering Daji with affection, while the people complained bitterly and suffered greatly.

Meanwhile, at Mount Qi, King Wu of Zhou, Ji Fa, was devoutly worshipping Jiang Ziya as his prime minister. A world-shaking battle seemed about to break out, and many immortals and gods of the Chan Sect were about to gather together.

Xie Que took a deep breath, and the black piece in his hand seemed to come alive as it gently landed on the chessboard.

In an instant, Hei Zi transformed into a warrior dressed in black.

The warrior appeared in the bustling city of Chaoge, his eyes sharp as he quietly observed everything around him.

Several days later, when King Zhou went on an inspection tour, the warrior walked to the front of the crowd without hesitation and began to practice his martial arts.

This movement seems ancient and simple, yet it contains the true meaning of strength, as if it can cause the primordial energy between heaven and earth to ripple slightly.

What's even more remarkable is that this action also exudes a vigorous and indomitable will to live, which is truly moving.

King Zhou originally intended to reprimand the guards and drive Xie Que away, but when his gaze fell upon the pure power and spirit Xie Que displayed during his practice, a long-lost sense of pride and power suddenly welled up in his heart.

This feeling was as if some long-dormant power within him had been subtly awakened.

King Zhou himself didn't know why this was happening; he only felt that this warrior was somewhat unusual. So, as if possessed, he ordered Xie Que to be summoned.

In a simple side hall, Xie Que met King Zhou.

He spoke frankly and respectfully: "Your Majesty possesses immense strength, a gift from heaven. However, Your Majesty is indulging in wine and women, like a precious jewel covered in dust, which is truly a pity."

Then, Xie Que continued, "My martial arts are not about immortal techniques or supernatural powers, but rather the foundation for strengthening the body, bones, and mind."

"If Your Majesty can cultivate this path, you will surely feel the foundation of 'proving the Dao through strength,' and thus truly grasp your own destiny in the palm of your hand." King Zhou was already extremely talented, and receiving this enlightenment and cultivation method was like a sudden awakening.

He no longer indulged in Daji's beauty, but began to diligently practice martial arts every day. His body grew stronger and stronger, his spirits were refreshed, and his dazedness disappeared.

He returned to power, dismissed treacherous officials, appointed virtuous ministers, rectified officialdom, reduced taxes, and ordered the promotion of martial arts in the army.

Over the years, the Shang army's elite troops have mastered martial arts, and their individual combat strength far surpasses that of the allied forces of the feudal lords.

With Xie Que's secret guidance, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong was even more powerful.

King Wu of Zhou originally intended to raise an army, but he saw that the Shang Dynasty was showing signs of renewal, King Zhou was working hard to govern, the people's hearts were gradually won over, the army was strong, and the reputation of "tyranny" had been lost.

The auspicious omen of the phoenix singing in Qishan has also become dim and powerless.

Seeing that the fortunes of the mortal dynasties were stable and the focus of the conflict had disappeared, the immortals of the Chan and Jie sects restrained their disciples, and the Investiture of the Gods could not be opened for a long time.

At this moment, on the chessboard of the Celestial Emperor, the pillar of fortune representing the black pieces of the Shang Dynasty became stable and strong, while the causal line representing the Zhou Dynasty's war with the gods became blurred and dim.

Upon seeing this, the Celestial Emperor Tianyan remained calm, but the Taiji diagram appearing between his brows began to rotate rapidly, clearly indicating that he was quickly deducing subsequent variables.

"What a fine martial art! It has broken my 'Change of Destiny' situation."

"However, the rise and fall of humankind cannot be determined by the power of a single ruler. Let us see what the next move will bring."

The Celestial Emperor Tianyan had clearly given up on fighting Xie Que, his fingertip placing a white chess piece on the "Late Qin Dynasty" timeline.

The chessboard instantly conjured up the magnificent scene of Qin Shi Huang conquering the six states, building the Great Wall, and standardizing the written language.
However, Bai Zi transformed into a stream of light and merged into the torrent of history, which unexpectedly triggered the prophetic statement, "Even if Chu has only three households left, it will surely be Chu that destroys Qin."

Images of heroes such as Liu Bang slaying the snake and Xiang Yu lifting the tripod flash on the edge of the chessboard, foreshadowing the "change of destiny" in the traditional historical timeline.

The Celestial Emperor Tianyan spoke, saying, "The rise and fall of humanity is like the eastward flow of a river, which cannot be reversed by the power of a single emperor. Even if the Ancestral Dragon could unify the world, he would ultimately be unable to withstand the 'cycle of destiny'."

The Tai Chi symbol between his eyebrows rotated faster, and the black and white energies intertwined to form a "rise and fall" hexagram, clearly indicating that it was deducing the possibility of Xie Que breaking the deadlock.

Seeing this, Xie Que placed another black piece.

Hei Zi then transformed into a white-haired, youthful-looking, otherworldly figure, appearing at Langya Terrace during Qin Shi Huang's eastern tour and sacrificial ceremony.

The sorcerer ignored the guards, walked calmly, and went straight to the front, his voice booming like a bell:
"Your Majesty has unified the six kingdoms and brought order to the world, your achievements surpassing those of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Yet you seek immortality and search for ethereal immortals overseas. Isn't this putting the cart before the horse?"

The alchemist held out a pill the size of a longan, radiating golden light and brimming with vitality in his palm.

"After taking this pill, it can strengthen the body's foundation, cure diseases, prolong life, and maintain vitality."

"However, the foundation of longevity lies in the root!"

Ying Zheng was already exhausted from years of war and failed attempts to seek immortality. Seeing that the alchemist ignored the imperial guards but had no ill intentions, and hearing the words "abandoning the essential for the trivial," his imperial mind was exposed, and his eyes sharpened: "What is the 'essence'?"

The Taoist priest said in a deep voice, "The essence lies in the physical body and in all people! Martial arts can strengthen oneself, strengthen the army, and establish a foundation for all generations!"

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng immediately exclaimed, "Excellent!"
He then swallowed the golden elixir. Instantly, a surge of powerful energy erupted from Ying Zheng's body, causing the bronze cauldron beneath his dragon throne to hum with the force of this surge of life.

His white hair turned completely black, his wrinkles disappeared, his knuckles cracked as he gripped the sword, and his martial will resonated with the imperial dragon aura.

The Heavenly Emperor's fingertip emitted another beam of white light, pointing to the timeline of the "Chu-Han Contention," attempting to find a new breakthrough in subsequent history.

Bai Zi drifted down to the time-space node of Mangdang Mountain, transformed into the phantom of Huang Shigong, and appeared after Liu Bang slew the snake, bestowing upon him the "Three Scrolls of Heavenly Evolution".

Each page of the book is engraved with the seal script "Heaven's Mandate," implicitly containing the heavenly rule of "punishing the guilty on behalf of Heaven."

The Celestial Emperor stroked his beard and chuckled, saying, "Gathering heroes through the 'Dao,' let's see how you break this 'punishing the guilty on behalf of Heaven' situation."

"You yourself said that your path... is not perfect and harmonious." Xie Que placed another black piece, Xu Fu's fleet that had sailed east was recalled, and Ying Zheng built the "Martial Arts Academy" in Xianyang.

As the image of "Heroes' Uprising at the End of the Qin Dynasty" receded from the chessboard like a tide, the Celestial Emperor Tianyan watched...
Instead, the scene depicts the Qin army sweeping across the Baiyue region and attacking the Xiongnu in the north using martial arts formations, with a wisp of black energy suddenly bursting out from the Taiji diagram between their eyebrows.

He couldn't help but stroke his beard and sigh softly: "What a brilliant 'overpowering fate'... but the game of chess is not a one-time event."

The Celestial Emperor Tianyan sent down another white piece, which fell into the Wujiang River in Kuaiji County and transformed into the "Overlord Halberd," with the words "Destroy Qin" engraved on its body.

Xiang Yu was blessed by Heaven; he alone could be the leader of ten thousand men!
During the Battle of Julu, Xiang Yu single-handedly broke through the Qin army. As he roared, "He can be replaced!", the heavenly thunderclouds revealed the character "Chu", directly shattering the Qin general's seal.

Xie Que remained calm and composed. The black stone at his fingertip fell rapidly to the north, transforming into a sorcerer and advisor in Meng Tian's court. He then rebuilt the Great Wall in the north and used it to create the "Hun Yuan" and "Zhou Tian" formations.

When Xiang Yu's army reached Hangu Pass, the Great Wall suddenly erupted with a dazzling light, instantly scattering 30% of the Chu army, and the light of the Overlord's Halberd dimmed abruptly.
Blood spilled from Xiang Yu's tiger's mouth as he looked up to the sky and cried out, "This is not human power!"

Xie Que also laughed at this moment, pointing towards the Great Wall, and said to the Immortal Emperor:
"How can the might of Heaven's army possibly withstand the will of the people to strive for self-improvement?"

The Celestial Emperor flicked his five fingers in quick succession, and several white pieces landed in places such as Chen County and Linzi, forcibly manifesting the flags of the six kingdoms, including "Zhang Chu" and "King of Qi".

The laws of nature prompted Wu Guang to "hide a book in the belly of a fish" and Tian Dan to "kill and restore Qi," causing the restoration wave in the original historical timeline to erupt three months ahead of schedule.

The Celestial Emperor Tianyan looked at Xie Que and smiled: "Even with the blessing of martial fortune, how can you stop the world from suffering under Qin for so long?"

Xie Queheizi fell into oblivion again, and the Qin state began to implement the "martial arts examination".

Han Xin, having won first place in the military examination in Xianyang, was appointed as the deputy general in the northern campaign against the Xiongnu and did not join the Chu camp.

Xie Que said calmly, "Destiny is in the hands of Heaven, but martial arts are up to man. When everyone in the world can wield a sword, what is there to fear about the changing of destiny?"

As soon as the piece was placed, several white pieces were immediately swallowed by the black pieces.

A trickle of blood welled up from the corner of the Heavenly Emperor's mouth. He frowned and said, "Using their own methods against them... You truly deserve to be called worthy of killing the Taixu Immortal Emperor. You have quite the skill!"

At this time, Liu Bang's rebel army was so terrified of the Qin army that half of them abandoned their weapons and surrendered.

The Celestial Emperor Tianyan was now at his wit's end, and the white stone in his hand instantly transformed into a Heavenly Dao talisman that merged into Xiang Yu's body.

At the same time, the black and white energies of the Tai Chi diagram between the eyebrows of the late Emperor Tianyan went berserk, and he gave a bitter smile:

"Now... I am like that overlord, with no choice but to fight you to the bitter end!"

Seeing this, Xie Que placed another piece.

Then Han Xin led a million Qin soldiers who had practiced martial arts and forced Xiang Yu to Gaixia.

When the Celestial Emperor saw that Xiang Yu was trapped at Gaixia, Bai Zi instantly transformed, causing the waters of the Wujiang River to flow backward, disrupting the Qin army's formation.

He looked at Xie Que, his eyes already bloodshot: "Although Xiang Yu was defeated, fate cannot be changed! No matter how strong Han Xin is, how can he defy this calamity of destiny?" (End of this chapter)