Qin Renhuang just became an immortal, and you told me this is the prehistoric time

Even with Ying Xuan's powerful primordial spirit, he felt waves of exhaustion.

But he didn't stop there. Once a reservoir was completed and filled with water, he immediately moved on to the next site selection.

He roamed the vast lands of the Northwest like a tireless god.

Whenever they reached a suitable valley or depression, they used Taoist magic to move mountains and fill valleys, building dams and forming the prototype of a reservoir.

Then, invoke global authority to gather clouds and bring rain.

Finally, at the cost of consuming his primordial spirit essence, he forcibly diverted water from the Yellow River and even other rivers further away!

A whole day and night!
Ying Xuan's figure kept flashing in the northwestern sky.

When he stopped, hundreds of huge reservoirs of varying sizes, nestled in the valleys, had appeared on the once desolate Northwest land!

These reservoirs, shimmering under the starlight and moonlight, reflect the newly built dams and exude a moist mist, completely transforming the atmosphere of this land!

"not enough."

Ying Xuan was slightly out of breath, his primordial spirit power having been depleted by more than half.

He gazed towards the vast ocean in the east.

Forcibly diverting water from inland rivers over long distances would be too costly.

And the skies above the ocean are never short of clouds rich in water vapor.

He once again communicated with the fundamental will of the world, this time targeting the massive rain cloud systems over the East China Sea, South China Sea, and other oceans.

"The wind rises! The clouds shift!"

A gentle yet persistent monsoon, guided by Ying Xuan's will, propelled the thick, moisture-laden clouds over the ocean slowly and continuously drifting toward the northwest inland.

This process is much slower than forcibly drawing water, but it consumes very little of Ying Xuan's primordial spirit.

Several days later, under the combined influence of natural winds and the guidance of the wind, abundant water vapor from the ocean was continuously transported to the northwest, resulting in sustained, mild rainfall.

Rainwater nourishes the parched land, replenishes newly built reservoirs, and subtly improves the natural environment of the entire Northwest region.

When the first gentle rain, formed from ocean moisture, fell on the surface of the newly built reservoir, the local official in charge of observation was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes, and he wrote the report with trembling hands.

"A hundred massive reservoirs have been newly built in the Northwest, filled with water from the Milky Way. Now, the sea clouds bring forth continuous and sweet rain. The scourge of drought is now gone! Your Majesty's divine power has benefited all living beings!"

Outside Bianliang city, banners and flags obscured the sun.

The four massive military camps, like four lurking beasts, guarded the four gates of Bianliang City: east, west, south, and north.

Above the military camp, four banners fluttered in the wind: one with the bold and powerful character "戚" (Qi), another with the ancient and dignified character "韩" (Han), another with the menacing character "吕" (Lü), and the third with the steady and unwavering character "王" (Wang).

The camps were linked together, with watchtowers and watchtowers standing guard. A chilling atmosphere permeated the entire city of Bianliang, making it hard for the city to breathe.

Inside the central command tent, Qi Jiguang, dressed in military attire, sat in the main seat.

Several pale-faced, trembling officials knelt before him; they were the prefects and magistrates of several prefectures outside Bianliang City who had been captured by the Qin army's vanguard.

“Listen up, all of you.”

Qi Jiguang's voice was calm, yet carried an air of authority.

"I, the commander, have been ordered by His Majesty the Emperor of Qin to lead the army here. The 400,000 troops outside the city are the troops of my three supreme generals, Han Xin, Wang Jian, and Lü Ze, along with my own forces."

You shall immediately enter the city and meet with Emperor Zhao Ji of Song, and convey my message: His Majesty the Emperor of Great Qin, whose benevolence extends throughout the four seas and whose majesty awes the eight directions, out of consideration for the suffering of the people, grants you a way out. Order Emperor Zhao Ji of Song to immediately open the city gates, surrender the entire nation, and present the letter of surrender and the imperial seal.

In this way, the Zhao clan's ancestral temple can be preserved, the imperial bloodline can continue, and the people of Bianliang can be spared the ravages of war. If they stubbornly resist, the day our army breaches the city will be the end of the Song dynasty and the extermination of the Zhao clan! Do not say you were not warned!

"Yes...yes! We...will certainly report the Commander's words...to His Majesty without missing a single word!"

The prefects and magistrates were terrified and kowtowed repeatedly, their voices trembling uncontrollably.

"Go."

Qi Jiguang waved his hand.

As if granted a pardon, the group scrambled out of the tent and, "escorted" by Qin soldiers, stumbled and staggered toward the gates of Bianliang.

The Imperial Palace of Bianliang, Zichen Hall.

The once solemn and majestic hall was now filled with a suffocating sense of panic.

On the dragon throne, Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, was deathly pale. He held the "final ultimatum" presented by several local officials who were crying and wailing, his hands trembling like leaves in the autumn wind.

The four banners bearing the names "Qi," "Han," "Lü," and "Wang" weighed heavily on his heart, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

"An army of 400,000... Han Xin, Wang Jian, Lü Ze, Qi Jiguang..."

Zhao Ji's voice was dry and hoarse, filled with endless fear.

"These...these four...are all unparalleled military strategists and generals recorded in history...The Great Qin...the Great Qin actually sent them all here...This...this is going to destroy our Great Song!"

He suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes sweeping over the silent officials below.

"Speak! Speak up, all of you! Don't you all pride yourselves on being the pillars of the nation? Now that a powerful enemy is pressing in, and the country is on the verge of collapse, do any of you have a good plan to repel the enemy?!"

The hall was deathly silent. The ministers all had their heads bowed, wishing they could bury their heads in their chests.

The might of the Qin army had long been known throughout the world.

Now that the four great generals have gathered in Bianliang, and an army of 400,000 fierce warriors has besieged the city, this is not a battle; it is clearly a crushing mountain!
After a long while, Prime Minister Cai Jing stepped forward shakily. His hair and beard were all white, and his face was bloodless. His voice carried a desolate resignation.

"Your Majesty... this old minister... this old minister dares to speak frankly. Great Qin's move is bound to succeed. The 400,000 troops outside the city are all battle-hardened elites, and are commanded by four renowned generals of our time... Our Bianliang... has only 100,000 defenders, and they have been out of practice for a long time... how can we possibly defeat them?"
If...if we resist by force, on the day the city falls, everything will be destroyed, and Your Majesty's ancestral temple...I fear it will be difficult to preserve!

He seemed to have used up all his strength.

"The only course of action now... is to submit to the will of Heaven, open the city gates... and surrender. Presenting a letter of surrender and the imperial seal might... might save His Majesty and the princes' lives, and continue the Zhao bloodline... This is... this is a last resort, and... the only way out!"

Cai Jing's words were like a boulder thrown into stagnant water. A moment of silence fell over the hall, followed by a chorus of agreement.

"The Prime Minister is absolutely right! Your Majesty, as long as the living remain, there is hope!"

"His Majesty the Emperor of Great Qin is benevolent. If His Majesty surrenders, he will certainly not treat you harshly!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, the bloodline of the ancestral temple should be the priority!"

Some generals who still had the will to fight lost their last thought of resistance when they saw that the court officials almost unanimously supported surrender, and when they looked at the emperor on the dragon throne who was already terrified. They could only close their eyes in anguish and remain silent.

"Surrender...surrender..."

Zhao Ji muttered to himself, his face full of struggle.

He suddenly stood up, as if grasping at the last straw.

"No! I am a true immortal descended to earth! I am protected by the Heavenly Court of the Upper Realm! My Imperial Preceptor! Where is the Imperial Preceptor?!" He shouted hoarsely, as if he had gone mad.

"Quickly! Summon the Imperial Preceptor Lin Lingsu! And... and all the Taoist masters and cultivators in the capital! Summon them all to the palace! Quickly!"

The emperor's decree was like a death warrant.

Soon, led by Lin Lingsu, hundreds of Taoist priests dressed in various colored robes and holding whisks were hurriedly led into the Zichen Hall.

Most of them had solemn expressions and their eyes were filled with surprise and uncertainty.

The soaring malevolent aura and the oppressive force of the 400,000-strong army outside Bianliang City were felt more clearly by these cultivators than by ordinary people.

As if seeing a savior, Zhao Ji rushed to Lin Lingsu, grabbed his arm tightly, and his voice was trembling with tears.

"Grand Preceptor! Grand Preceptor, save me! The Qin army outside the city is raging fiercely, and four killing gods are at the city gates! I am a true immortal descended from the mortal realm, and the Heavenly Court will never stand idly by and watch me suffer this calamity! Grand Preceptor, your Taoist magic is profound, quickly set up an altar and perform a ritual to reach the ears of the Heavenly Court! Please send down heavenly soldiers and generals to annihilate the Qin invaders and protect my Great Song Dynasty!"

His eyes were filled with fervor and a final glimmer of hope.

"Yes! I am a true immortal! The Heavenly Court will not abandon me!"

Lin Lingsu's arm ached from Zhao Ji's grip. Looking at the nearly insane emperor before him and feeling the chilling aura of the military formation outside the palace, he felt a chill run through him.

He remained silent for a moment, then gently pulled his hand away from Zhao Ji's, took a step back, and bowed deeply to Zhao Ji. His voice was low and clear, carrying an indescribable complex emotion:

"Your Majesty...this humble Taoist...this humble Taoist has just traveled through the vast void and met with the Great Heavenly Venerable of the Heavenly Court..."

"oh?!"

A startling light flashed in Zhao Ji's eyes.

"What did the Great Celestial Venerable say? Does he intend to send celestial soldiers down to earth to assist me?"

Lin Lingsu raised her head and looked directly at Zhao Ji. Every word she spoke struck Zhao Ji and all the court officials like a heavy hammer blow.

"The Great Celestial Venerable said: The mortal realm has been in chaos for too long, and the people have suffered from war for far too long. In order to pacify the mortal world and restore order, the Great Celestial Venerable has personally descended to the mortal realm, taking on the form of a human..."

He paused, his voice carrying an indescribable awe and... submission.

"The incarnation of the Great Celestial Venerable is none other than... His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Qin Dynasty, Ying Xuan!"

boom!
It was like a bolt from the blue that exploded in the Zichen Palace!

The ecstasy on Zhao Ji's face froze instantly, turning into a deathly despair and unbelievable horror!
The entire court, including the Taoist priests, were dumbfounded, their minds blank!
Lin Lingsu's voice continued, carrying a profound weight of insight into the secrets of the world.

"And outside the city... those four generals who commanded the troops... Qi Jiguang, Han Xin, Wang Jian, and Lü Ze... are all... celestial deities who descended to earth, carrying out the decree of the Great Heavenly Venerable, to... restore order to the chaos!"

"No...impossible...this is impossible!"

Emperor Huizong staggered backward and slumped onto the dragon throne, his eyes glazed over, muttering unconsciously.

"I am the true immortal...I am the true immortal...How could this be...How could this happen..."

Last hope was utterly extinguished.

The last pillar supporting his beliefs collapsed.

Lin Lingsu looked at the distraught Zhao Ji, sighed inwardly, and bowed again.

"Your Majesty... the Mandate of Heaven has been decided, and cannot be defied by human power. The Great Heavenly Venerable has personally descended, and divine generals have come down to earth... This is... the will of Heaven! Please, Your Majesty... obey the Mandate of Heaven, for the sake of all living beings, and also for the sake of... the bloodline of the Zhao clan..."

His final words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back. Zhao Ji slumped on the dragon throne, his eyes vacant as he stared at the magnificent coffered ceiling of the palace, as if all his energy had been drained away.

After a long while, a single, cloudy tear slid down his cheek.

He slowly raised his hand, his voice hoarse like a broken gong.

"Draft...draft decree...open...open the city...surrender..."

Inside the Zichen Palace, the deathly silence was completely shattered by Lin Lingsu's words, only to solidify again in a deeper despair.

Emperor Huizong slumped on the dragon throne, his face ashen, his eyes vacant as he stared at the auspicious paintings on the ceiling, feeling as if the mythical beasts and birds were silently mocking him.

A true immortal descended to earth? Heaven's protection?
It turns out that the immortal destiny I so firmly believed in was a huge joke! The Great Celestial Venerable who reigned high in the nine heavens had already transformed into a human, becoming the Qin Emperor who was eyeing the city with predatory intent!

"His Majesty……"

Lin Lingsu's voice, filled with compassion, rang out again, breaking the suffocating silence.

"We, the humble Daoists, are well aware of Your Majesty's sorrow. However, the will of Heaven is clear and cannot be reversed by human power. The Great Heavenly Venerable, incarnated as Emperor Ying Xuan, has descended to the mortal realm with one hundred and eight Heavenly Generals and Star Lords, not solely for the sake of our Great Song Dynasty. This is an act to restore order to all realms and restore order to chaos!"

The Great Song Dynasty is but a corner of the hundreds of worlds under Your Majesty's rule. If Your Majesty insists on resisting, not only will the Great Song Dynasty crumble in an instant, and millions of lives be lost in Bianliang, but Your Majesty yourself... will likely not escape the overwhelming wrath of Heaven, and your celestial status will be revoked, leaving you with no hope of redemption!

Behind Lin Lingsu, hundreds of Taoist priests bowed in unison, their voices low and heavy.

"Your Majesty, please follow the will of Heaven, for the sake of the common people, and for the sake of the ancestral temple!"

"A hundred thousand worlds...one hundred and eight heavenly generals..."

Zhao Ji murmured, each word like a red-hot iron branding his heart.

He looked around and saw that all the civil and military officials, including those who usually spoke eloquently and boasted of their loyalty, were now bowing their heads like wilted eggplants.

Prime Minister Cai Jing was moved to tears and shook his head silently at him.

His last glimmer of hope and delusion were utterly crushed. Overwhelmed by immense fear and helplessness.

He raised his hand with trembling hands, his voice hoarse like a broken bellows, each word requiring all his strength.

"Draft...draft an edict...issue...issue an order...open...open all four gates...welcome...welcome the Great Qin army...enter the city...the Great Song...surrender..."

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

Cai Jing was the first to kneel down, his voice trembling with sobs, yet also conveying a sense of relief and liberation.

All the civil and military officials in the hall, whether sincere or not, knelt down at this moment, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" but their cries were filled with endless sorrow and humiliation.

In Bianliang City, the massive city gates slowly opened with a heavy creaking sound.

Outside the city, Qi Jiguang stood at the front of the battle line, looking at the wide-open city gate and the Song officials kneeling on the ground behind it, holding the surrender document and the imperial seal. His face showed neither sorrow nor joy.

He waved his hand, and the Qin army's iron cavalry, like a forest behind him, silently and orderly surged into this once prosperous imperial capital.

Meanwhile, on the border between the Song and Liao dynasties.

Han Xin reined in his horse and stood on a high slope, with 100,000 Qin cavalrymen standing guard behind him.

He frowned slightly as he gazed at the wisps of smoke rising from the Liao army camp in the distance, and further still at the heavily fortified camps of the Song border troops.

To stop the Liao army from advancing south and take over the Song border troops? (End of Chapter)