Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

After the ceremony, Lin Zhu looked at the still devastated battlefield and the Indian army that could be vaguely seen in the distance regrouping and setting up defenses. He then spoke solemnly to Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, this place is dangerous. Although the White Lotus Boy has retreated, the conspiracy in the Western Paradise may not be over. You are responsible for the safety of the nation and should not stay in this dangerous place for long. You should return to the imperial city of Chang'an as soon as possible to take charge of the central government and stabilize the overall situation."

However, upon hearing this, Li Shimin slowly shook his head.

He straightened his back, which was slightly hunched from grief and exhaustion, and his eyes, which had just been filled with tears, now shone with an unprecedented, resolute light, like tempered steel.

"No, Lord Prison God."

Li Shimin's voice was clear and firm, carrying an unquestionable determination.

"I am not going back."

"Ok?"

Lin Zhu raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. In his view, it was unwise for the emperor to personally go to such a dangerous place; now that the crisis was temporarily averted, returning to safety was the only logical course of action.

Li Shimin's gaze swept over the ruins of Tiebi Pass, over the sorrowful yet resolute faces of the soldiers around him, and finally looked towards the direction of the western Indian army, speaking each word clearly.

"I have made up my mind to wage a full-scale war against the Buddhist Kingdom of India! It will be a war to the death! I will stay here, on the border, to personally oversee the battle and command the army! 'Having fought a hundred battles in golden armor, I will not return until India is defeated!' These words have been spoken, and I will not go back on them!"

"War?"

Lin Zhu's surprise deepened.

He understood Li Shimin's grief and hatred at that moment, but as the ruler of a nation, dragging the entire country into a war that seemed to be of unequal strength and involved both immortals and Buddhas due to a momentary rage was by no means a wise move. "Your Majesty, the desire for revenge is universal. But to gamble the fate of an entire nation for the sake of a single city's grievances, and to plunge millions of people into the flames of war, is that...?"

"Lord Prison God, you have misunderstood."

Li Shimin interrupted Lin Zhu, his eyes unusually calm, not at all like someone blinded by hatred.

"This declaration of war is not a spur-of-the-moment decision, nor is it merely for the revenge of the 140,000 innocent souls at Iron Wall Pass. In fact, the war against the Buddhist Kingdom of Tianzhu... has been planned and prepared by me and the Great Tang for over five hundred years!"

"More than five hundred years?"

Lin Zhu was genuinely surprised this time.

Five hundred years ago, it was around the time when he first crossed paths with the Western Paradise, when Sun Wukong wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, and when the chaotic storm affected the Three Realms.

A complex smile appeared on Li Shimin's face, a smile that contained bitterness, reminiscence, and even a hidden ambition and strategy.

He gestured for him to enter.

"This is not the place to talk. If Your Excellency has the time, please move to the main tent in the army so that I may... explain in detail. There are some things that Your Excellency may find... interesting."

Lin Zhu gave Li Shimin a deep look. In the eyes of this mortal emperor, he no longer saw simple grief and anger, but a wisdom, decisiveness and... a kind of amazing plan that had been accumulated over hundreds of years.

He nodded.

"it is good."

……

Moments later, behind the border, in a fortified border town called "Snowstorm City," which had not yet been affected by the war, the main hall of the general's mansion was temporarily requisitioned.

He dismissed everyone else, leaving only Yuchi Gong, Li Jing, and a few close confidants.

Li Shimin did not sit in the main seat, but sat opposite Lin Zhu.

He personally poured Lin Zhu a cup of hot tea, then slowly opened his mouth. His voice was not loud, but it seemed to unveil a grand scroll that had been sealed for a long time and concerned the fate of the entire Southern Jambudvipa people.

"Lord of the Prison, do you know what changes have occurred in my Great Tang Dynasty, and even in the entire human dynasties of the Southern Jambudvipa, since the 'Chaotic Storm' that swept through the Three Realms five hundred years ago?"

Li Shimin asked.

Lin Zhu's heart stirred slightly, and he nodded.

He gifted Li Shimin a basic body-refining cultivation technique, intending it to strengthen his body, prolong his life, and enable him to handle some extraordinary troubles. However, he later became preoccupied with many matters and did not pay much attention to the specific developments in the human world.

"That cultivation technique, like a spark, rekindled the long-dormant flame of cultivation within our human race."

A glint shone in Li Shimin's eyes.

"More importantly, since then, although the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is still thin, it seems to have become more 'active,' making it more suitable for mortals to draw energy into their bodies and refine their physical and spiritual bodies. Our Great Tang took advantage of this opportunity and worked diligently for five hundred years, secretly promoting this policy, and it is no longer an ordinary mortal dynasty."

He paused, his tone tinged with pride.

"The Tang Dynasty today boasts unparalleled military might in the Southern Continent; its number of powerful figures far surpasses that of any previous dynasty! While we dare not claim to rival the great immortal sects, in terms of mortal dynasties, the Tang Dynasty's dominance over the Southern Continent is beyond doubt. As for the Buddhist Kingdom of India? If it weren't for the support of the Western Paradise, its own national strength would no longer be a match for the Tang Dynasty!"

Lin Zhu listened quietly; these were all within his expectations.

A cultivation method suitable for ordinary people to start with, after five hundred years of peaceful development, is indeed enough to create a powerful dynasty that far surpasses that of ordinary times.

But Li Shimin's next words truly surprised him.

"However, my thoughts and plans go far beyond dominating Jambudvipa and confronting India."

Li Shimin's gaze deepened.

"Lord of the Prison God should know that in these three realms there are gods, Buddhas, immortals, demons, and monsters. Gods and Buddhas are high above, regarding mortals as ants and weeds, and often use living beings as pawns to carry out their scheming and games. Demons and monsters also mostly regard humans as food and sustenance."

"I have always wondered why my human race seems to be inferior from birth? Why are my human dynasties always at the mercy of immortals and Buddhas, with their fortunes rising and falling depending on the word of others?"

Li Shimin's voice gradually rose, carrying a long-suppressed indignation and resentment.

"Although I did not personally experience what happened five hundred years ago, I still know a little about it."

What a hero Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven! In the end, wasn't he also imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain, becoming a pawn in someone else's hands? Must my Southern Continent forever live in the shadow of the Western Paradise, at their mercy?

Lin Zhu's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Li Shimin, as if he were seeing this emperor of the mortal world in a new light.

"Therefore, I have implemented a national policy."

Li Shimin said firmly, "Education should be provided to all, regardless of social class, and the law should be the standard!"

"Education should be provided to all without discrimination?"

Lin Zhu repeated it.

"Not bad!"

Li Shimin nodded.

"By imperial decree, all those who aspire to the Dao and whose hearts are with the Great Tang, regardless of whether they are human, demon, ghost, monster, or even... those rogue immortals and gods who are tired of the strict rules and regulations of the Heavenly Court or Mount Ling and are willing to descend to the mortal realm to follow human laws, may undergo rigorous examinations to be registered in the Great Tang, enjoy the same treatment as citizens, and may also serve as officials in the court and join the army to serve the country!"

He looked at Lin Zhu's slightly surprised expression and explained.

"This is not like the ancient Jie Sect, which blindly accepted all comers. I have established the 'Evaluation Department' to handle this matter. The evaluation criteria are, first, moral character, then intelligence and ability, and finally loyalty. One must swear a solemn oath to abide by the laws of the Tang Dynasty and agree with the ideals of the Tang Dynasty. Only those who pass will be granted status."

Those who commit crimes, regardless of their status, will be severely punished according to the law, without any leniency!

"I do not believe in the inherent nobility of gods and Buddhas, or the baseness of demons and monsters."

Li Shimin sneered.

"Among gods and Buddhas, there are those who appear virtuous but are ruthless, like that White Lotus Child! Among demons, there are also those who are loyal, righteous, and reasonable. I will regulate words and deeds with laws and guide people towards goodness with education, rather than determining good and evil based on birth or dividing people into friend and foe based on their allegiance!"

His gaze was intense.

"What I want to build is not a 'dynasty of incense' that is controlled by gods and Buddhas and whose fortunes rise and fall according to the will of the immortals and Buddhas."

What I desire is a true 'human world' that belongs to mortals, is led by mortals, has strict laws, and where all beings are relatively equal under the law, able to control their own destiny! Gods and Buddhas are subject to the same punishments as commoners! This is the 'great benevolence' in my heart, not empty slogans and discriminatory 'righteousness'!

Lin Zhu listened, utterly shocked. Li Shimin's ideas were simply astonishing! This was a challenge to the deeply ingrained order since the beginning of time, the distinction between immortals and mortals, the separate paths of gods and humans!

Furthermore, he aimed to establish a new order independent of the Heavenly Court and Mount Ling, centered on the laws of the mortal dynasties and encompassing multiple races! His ambition and vision far surpassed those of ordinary emperors!

"Then... what is the direct connection between this and attacking the Buddhist kingdom of India?"

Lin Zhu asked the key question.

A glint of light flashed in Li Shimin's eyes.

"It's naturally related! India is the most important foundation of faith and extension of influence for the Western Paradise outside of the East. Attacking India is not only for revenge, but also to cut off the Western Paradise's reach into the human world! To weaken its influence in the Western Continent! More importantly..."

He paused, his tone carrying a deeper meaning.

"In the conquered territories, I will also implement the national policy of 'education for all, with the law as the standard'! We will receive, settle, and educate those beings of all races who were originally influenced or controlled by the Western Paradise, whether they are devout Buddhists, dependent demons, or even some disgruntled Arhats and Vajras!"
As long as they are willing to abide by the laws of the Tang Dynasty and accept the assessment, they can become citizens of the Tang Dynasty, spared from the ravages of war, and thus add strength and depth to our Tang Dynasty! This is… a strategy of winning hearts and minds, and striking at the heart of the problem!

Lin Zhu finally understood. Li Shimin was using this war of revenge as a pretext for expansion and reform! He wanted to extend the laws and ideals of the Tang Dynasty to a wider world! This was no longer just a war in the mortal realm, but a far-reaching plan concerning the future of the Three Realms, especially the direction of human order!

"Emperor Tang... what a grand gesture!"

Lin Zhu sighed sincerely. At this moment, he no longer dared to underestimate this mortal emperor. His will, his strategies, and his courage were far beyond what ordinary people could match.

"Therefore, I must stay here."

Li Shimin spoke with a firm tone.

"This battle concerns the fate of the nation, and even more so, the ideals I have pursued all my life. How can I remain content in the rear?"

Just then, a general rushed in from outside to report.

"Your Majesty! As per your previous secret order, with 'Wind and Snow City' as the front-line hub, troops and supplies from all directions are being urgently mobilized! The declaration of war has been sent to all prefectures, sects, and gathering places of independent cultivators in the Southern Continent through all channels, including post stations and cultivator communications!"

The manifesto already details the crimes of the Ming Dynasty's Buddhist kingdom in breaking the agreement, colluding with the Western Paradise, and massacring 140,000 soldiers and civilians in our border city!

"it is good!"

Li Shimin suddenly stood up, walked to the window, and looked into the distance.

"Next, we just have to wait for a response."

Lin Zhu also walked to the window, his divine sense quietly spreading out.

He soon “saw” or rather sensed that as the proclamation filled with grief and fighting spirit spread throughout Jambudvipa in various ways, astonishing changes were taking place on this ancient land!
In a remote border town, an ordinary-looking middle-aged man buying vegetables at the market suddenly turned grim when he saw a newly posted proclamation on a street bulletin board, bearing the imperial seal and the Ministry of War's official seal. As he listened to the storyteller's impassioned interpretation, his face darkened.

He slammed his fist on the meat counter in front of him, and the solid, heavy wooden counter shattered into pieces! He roared at the bustling market behind him.

"Old Liu! Old Wang! Gou Dan! Grab your weapons! Those bald monks from India are at our doorstep! 140,000 of our fellow villagers from Tiebiguan are gone! If you're a man, come with me!!"

Before the roar had even faded, more than a dozen figures immediately stepped out from the crowd, each with a deep and imposing aura, all of them cultivators at or above the Golden Core stage!
Further away, dozens or even hundreds of auras of varying strengths rapidly converged on this side, quickly forming a team of over a hundred cultivators. Led by the uncle, they either rode swords, rode clouds, or used divine speed spells to speed towards the western border!

Inside an academy in a bustling prefecture, an elderly teacher with white hair was lecturing on "The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen" when suddenly a student hurriedly brought him a copy of a manifesto.

The old man took it, glanced at it quickly, and his originally calm and refined face instantly turned red with anger, his white beard trembling uncontrollably.

He slammed the ruler in his hand onto the lectern, and it snapped in two! A powerful spiritual force, imbued with a chilling demonic aura, erupted from his hunched body!
To the students' astonishment, the old man's body rapidly expanded and changed, his head transforming into a majestic silver wolf's head, which roared to the sky with a power that could shatter clouds and split rocks.

"The Western Paradise has gone too far! India has slaughtered my compatriots! My sons, follow me into battle—!!"

Before his roar had even faded, he had already transformed into a streak of silver demonic light, smashing through the roof of the academy and heading straight west! Inside and outside the academy, the hidden demon cultivators, or those whose intelligence had been awakened by his influence, all responded, their demonic energy soaring into the sky as they followed closely behind!
Even more so, in some famous mountains and rivers, places where spiritual energy gathers, Taoist sects that usually keep their gates closed and quietly cultivate their spirituality are now experiencing a sudden upheaval!

Deep within a misty, ethereal mountain, the gate of an ancient Taoist temple suddenly burst open.

An old Taoist priest, whose hair and beard had been in seclusion for countless years and whose aura was as deep as the ocean, stepped out. Faint phantom images of dragons and tigers surrounded him. He was actually an old monster in the Nascent Soul stage! His eyes were like lightning as he looked westward. His voice was old but contained boundless anger and killing intent.

"Five hundred years ago, that Indian bastard killed my senior brother and seized the spiritual veins of my sect! This grudge remains unavenged, and today he dares to invade my Great Tang again and slaughter my people! Does he really think my Daoist sect has no one left?! All disciples, heed my command! Follow me out of the mountain to defend our land and avenge this blood feud—!!"

"I will obey the ancestral decree!!"

Inside and outside the Taoist temple, hundreds and thousands of sword lights and magical treasures shone brightly, exuding a murderous aura. They were no longer in a state of quiet cultivation and transformed into a vast stream of light, rushing out of the mountain gate!
Similar scenes unfolded throughout Jambudvipa. An auntie sweeping the floor would draw a hidden three-foot-long sword from her broom and soar into the sky; a blacksmith would drop his hammer, shoulder a massive axe the size of a door, and stride forward, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly. (End of Chapter)